Monthly Archives: December 2011

Palms up

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December 31: Revelation 19-22

Palms up

Scripture: Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

…three verses later…

Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Observation: As in Genesis chapter 2 we find Adam and Eve were given only two choices, either to eat or not to eat, so here at the end of the Bible we find only two destinations: the “lake of fire” and “heaven.” The choice is ours.

Application: Sometimes in playing with young children I hide a small toy in my hands behind my back then bring my closed hands to the front asking them to choose in which hand is the prize. God is not like that at all. He holds the choices before us in His open hands, palms up.

Prayer: Lord, living for you is not a guessing game. Through your word and by your Spirit I can know which choice honors you. Sometimes I may not know clearly which one honors you, but I can clearly see which one does NOT honor you. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

I am glad I am on His side!

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December 30: Revelation 15-18

I am glad I am on His side!

Scripture: Revelation (NIV) 17: 12 "The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.
13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.
14 They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings— and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."

Observation: He is the “Lord of lords and the King of kings.” The question is not, “Is He on my side?” but “Am I on His side?”

Application: “I am glad I am on his side,” were the exact words I said to myself one night in a fox hole in Viet Nam. “Puff” had responded to our call for air support to drive back an enemy attack. In a three second burst a bullet was being placed in every square yard of a target the size of a football field. Although only every fifth bullet was a tracer, it looked like it was raining fire against the dark night sky. We marked our perimeter by burning heat tabs in the bottom of our fox holes so Puff would know where to start strafing.

The more I read the book of Revelation, the more I find myself saying, “I’m glad I am on His side.” I may not understand all of the symbolic language, but I can understand enough to say, “I am glad I am on HIS side!”

Prayer: Lord, I’m glad I am on YOUR side! Thank you for forgiving my sins and accepting me as your child. May I never stray outside your parameter of safety and when I do, draw me back quickly. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

More new songs…

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December 29: Revelation 10-14

More new songs…

Scripture: Revelation (NIV) 14:2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.
3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No-one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

Observation: In the book of Psalms we find people encouraged to sing a new song. And here in the book of Revelation we again see people singing a new song.

Application: As I walk with the Lord, there should always be a new song in my heart. I should rejoice when I hear new songs being sung to the Lord. Since I know so many “older” songs/hymns I am doubly blest. I can sing the old ones all week long wherever I am and learn new ones when I gather with other believers. I can rejoice that out of the labors of my generation a new generation is arising with a new song.

Prayer: Lord, What blesses you, blesses me. My heart rejoices when I hear new expressions of praise and worship. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

No Surprise!

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December 28: Revelation 5-9

No surprise!

Scripture: Revelation (NIV) 6: 15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.
16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

Observation: It is very understandable that a mother would become extremely angry when someone tries to harm the child she loves so dearly. It seems that the amount of her anger could be in proportion to the amount of her love.

God the Son loves God the Father so much that He was willing to come to earth to redeem those created in His image.

God the Father loves God the Son so much and wants Him to be honored by those for whom He died.

When those for whom Christ died reject Him, no one should be surprised that it makes the Father angry. He loves His Son!

Application: It is good for me to remember that this Holy God who loves me also loves His Son, Jesus. I should not be surprised to discover that the Father takes personally how I treat Jesus. (John 5:23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.)

Prayer: Lord, you remain perfectly holy and perfectly loving at all times, even when you are angry for your anger is never expressed outside the boundary of justice and it is against those who dishonor the Father you love so much. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Still discovering…

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December 27: Revelation 1-4

Still discovering…

Scripture: Revelation (NIV) 2:4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Observation: The excitement of first love is somewhat like the excitement of discovering something new. If we have not seen the value of our new discovery by the time its newness wears off, it is easy to move our attention and devotion elsewhere.

What a joy it is to see someone experience the joy of being forgiven and committing their life to Jesus. How sad it is to see them forsake that first love because they did not grow in appreciation of their salvation and did not continue to discover new things about the One who provided it for them.

Application: The newness is gone from this laptop computer I am using, however, because I have learned how to use it every day, it has become too valuable to forsake. And should I apply myself, every day I could discover something new about the computer or the programs I am using.

How much more this is true of my relationship with God. He is too valuable to forsake! And every day He reveals something new or gives me fresh understanding of things He has previously taught me. He is amazing!

Prayer: Lord, every day is a new day with you. I am still discovering new mercies every morning! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Preparing for the New Year

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December 26: Psalm 117; 119:81-176; 2John; 3John

Preparing for the New Year

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 119:92 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.

Observation: Obviously the Psalmist had gone through some troubled times. Pain and suffering may so capture our thoughts that we lose interest in other things. Yet the Psalmist had something so great that it preserved him through the troubles. The Word of God was more than his interest or commitment; it was his delight!

Application: If delighting in the Word can preserve me, then surely the way to prepare for times of trouble is to delight myself in the Word. I do not know what the year ahead has for me, but I am convinced that the better I know God’s Word, the better I will be prepared.

Prayer: Lord, as your Word enters my life through my eyes and ears, may your Holy Spirit mix it in my heart with my thoughts and knowledge so that I may be prepared to express it in my words and deeds. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Amazing Love

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I am sending a special Christmas greeting to SOAP readers today. May the Lord enjoy spending this day with you! May this be the best birthday He has ever had!

December 25: 1John 1-5

Amazing Love

Scripture: 1John (NIV) 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! …

Observation: Who could ever describe the indescribably great love the Father has for us? Certainly no one in this life. We cannot even begin to understand the heights from which Jesus descended to become man. We cannot even begin to understand the horribleness of sin and its consequences.
And God did not love us in a stingy manner, but lavished His love on us—exorbitant, outlandish, excessive, extreme, unbelievable love.
This result of this love was that we should be called God’s children.
We are identified with Him by name. The world may call us many things, but He calls us His children!
We are not only called children of God–that is what we actually are!
This is reality!

Application: A child of God—that’s what I am! Christmas is a time for exchanging gifts with those we love. He loves me and sent His Son Jesus to die for me. I love Him and give my life to bring Him honor and glory.

Prayer: Lord, As I celebrate your birth today, I do it with appreciation for the love lavished on me. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

The Christmas Story Continues…

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December 24: John 19-21

The Christmas Story Continues…

Scripture: John (NIV) 19:17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).
18 Here they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

Observation: As we are now in the season in which we celebrate the birth of Jesus, it is good to remember the reason He came to earth was to die for our sins. The story of His birth continued to His death, then continued to His resurrection, and continues even to today!

Application: In a small, yet wonderful way, I have become a part of the continuing Christmas story. When Jesus forgave my sins and adopted me into His family, I became a part of the continuing story of Christmas. The Christ who came to the earth to die for me, today by His Spirit lives in me.

Prayer: Lord, as I celebrate your coming to earth, I especially celebrate your coming into my life. The Christmas story continues in me. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Love and Joy

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December 23: John 15-18

Love and Joy

Scripture: John (NIV) 15:11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Observation: We always desire to bring joy to the one we love. It becomes our goal. In this verse we see the joy Jesus has and the joy we have. We are the source of Jesus’ joy. And because we love Him, doing His will becomes the source of our joy!

Application: My goal: to make Jesus smile! May He even get a good laugh from me from time to time!

Prayer: Lord, I know you see all the trouble in the world and it breaks your heart. I want to be one of many who bring you joy. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Cannot be ignored!

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December 22: John 12-14

Cannot be ignored!

Scripture: John (NIV) 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.

Observation: Mary’s act of worship could not be ignored by anyone in the house, because the fragrance of the perfume filled the house.

Application: As I walk through the stores in this Christmas season, my heart rejoices to hear the truth of Jesus filling the stores in the words of the Christmas Carols. The following are words I like to sing to the tune of “I’ll be home for Christmas:”
I’ll be here for Christmas, in worship at Your throne,
With a heart of praise, my voice I’ll raise to Him who was and is.
Others at some manger, may pause then hurry on,
But I’ll be here for Christmas, in worship at Your throne.

Prayer: Lord, Of course it is always a proper time for worship, but this season when we celebrate your coming to earth to live among us and to die for us, worship seems the only appropriate response of a grateful heart. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!