Monthly Archives: December 2011

Listening

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December 21: John 9-11

Listening

Scripture: John (NIV) 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

Observation: As the relationships with an earthly parent progresses through many levels, so the relationship with our Heavenly Father progresses/grows through many levels. I see the first level described in the Bible as a Shepherd and sheep. Before one can be sent as a servant, one has to first learn to recognize the voice of the Master. The emphasis on being a sheep is to recognize His voice and follow.

Application: Before I can listen to understand what God is saying to me, I must first learn to recognize His voice. Using SOAP as an outline helps me focus on the Bible as God’s primary avenue of speaking to me and to listen to what He is saying personally to me. The more I understand the Bible, the more I am able to recognize His voice when He speaks through other means. If what I am hearing goes contrary to what God has said in His word, I can rest assured that it is not His voice.

Prayer: Lord, I am so glad that you speak to me! What a special privilege it is to hear your voice. Keep speaking till I learn to listen carefully to every word. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Walking in the light

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December 20: John 7-8

Walking in the light

Scripture: John (NIV) 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Observation: Jesus is the creator of all things and one cannot walk very long with Him without growing in appreciation for creation and the many expressions of life He has placed on this earth. He is the “light of life.”

Application: I had flown on many planes in my life but now having lived twenty years in an area known for building planes, I have a greater appreciation for the details in planning and manufacturing planes. And having walked with the Lord even longer, I can say that I continue to be amazed by God’s details in the planning and creating of life, both physical and spiritual. He brings me out of darkness into the light.

Prayer: Lord, you amaze me. Your creation amazes me. In walking with you I am walking in the light. The more your light reveals, the more amazed I am! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Top Priority

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December 19: John 5-6

Top Priority

Scripture: John (NIV) 5: 19 Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.

Observation: In this verse, and in this passage, Jesus reveals the special relationship he has with His Father. There is no question; the Father had top priority in Jesus life.

Application: Jesus suffered and died on the cross that I might be able to be a part of this special relationship. There should be no question of priorities in my life either. Anyone who knows Leon, should know that Jesus is his Lord and Leon lives for the glory of his Heavenly Father.

Prayer: Lord, I join you in living for the Glory of Our Father which art in heaven…” Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Why involve the Lord? …because…

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December 18: John 2-4

Why involve the Lord? …because…

Scripture: John 2:3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”
5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Observation: While Jesus and His mother were at a wedding, Mary brings a problem to Him. Jesus responds with a question, “Why do you involve me?” It is not a question without an answer. Jesus became involved because He was present. He became involved because His mother had faith in Him. Faith in Jesus proved to be well placed!

Application: Why will I involve the Lord in my life today? …because he will be with me every moment of this day. …because there is nothing I will face that He does not understand completely. …because I know He loves me. …because…

Prayer: Lord, I involve you in my life today because you are present and able! You are amazing! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

John’s Christmas Story

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December 17: 2Peter 1-3; John 1

John’s Christmas Story

Scripture: John (NIV) 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Observation: The “Christmas Story” in John does not give the account of the angels, the shepherds or the magi from the east. It tells us nothing of Joseph, or Jesus’ earthly mother, Mary. We read nothing of the Bethlehem nor of the reason Jesus was born there. But what we read is so important! The Word who is as much God as God became flesh, as much man as man!

Application: Jesus walked and lived in time and space, in history and geography. We know the years in which he lived and the cities in which he walked. He is very much aware of the struggles I face. He knows what it is like to live among people like the ones around me. He is well able to help me because He has personal knowledge and understands.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for coming to earth and living among people like me. Thank you for your personal involvement in my salvation. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Useful/Useless

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December 16: 1Peter 1-5

Useless/Useful

Scripture: 1Peter (NIV) 4: 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

Observation: Everyone has received gifts, talents that make us useful in life. These are gifts, given and not earned. We may have worked to develop them, but they are likes, tendencies, and abilities that came with birth. They have been given to us to make us useful to others. They are not primarily for our benefit, but for the benefit of others.

Application: God did not design me to be selfish but selfless. He has equipped me to serve others and equipped others to serve me. I am discovering that I am mutually dependent on the other members of the body of Christ. To keep myself away from the fellowship (church) is to withhold the benefit I can give as well as the benefit I can receive. I hurt others as I am robbing them of the benefit they could otherwise receive from me. I hurt myself as I am robbing myself of the benefit I could otherwise receive from them.

Prayer: Lord, it is a terrible thing to feel useless. Work in me an attitude that makes me useful. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

What is wisdom like?

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December 15: James 1-5

What is wisdom like?

Scripture: James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him
James 3:17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Observation: Wisdom is valuable and when short in supply, obviously one needs a good source from which to gain wisdom. What better source of wisdom could one find than God! And He is not grudging, but generous in giving out wisdom.

Application: Many times I have asked for wisdom; however I do not ever recall taking the time to consider the various characteristics of this wisdom from heaven. “Giving someone a piece of my mind” may show my worldly wisdom, but it does not display the wisdom from above. “Submissive” was the characteristic I needed today when someone told me I could not do what I needed to get done. It was something I have done many times in the past without even a question.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the book of James that that gives me specific ways to live out this new life you have given me. Help me better learn the submissive expression of your wisdom. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Those in prison…

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December 14: Hebrews 12-13; Jude

Those in prison…

Scripture: (NIV) Hebrews 13:3 Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow-prisoners, and those who are ill-treated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Observation: Among the many exhortations in this closing chapter of Hebrews, is this one to remember those who are being persecuted for their faith. This is more than a casual acknowledgment that we have brothers and sisters in the Lord who are suffering; this is remembering them as though we were in the same prison cell or enduring the same persecution.

Application: If I was in prison or suffering persecution, I would not need to be reminded to pray. The Voice of the Martyrs web site (www.voiceofthemartyrs.com) is one of several that can provide me current information about persecution happening around the world. I will begin getting their email news alerts so I can keep informed and pray.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, make me aware when people around me are being mistreated. Make me a channel of your justice and grace. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

A city prepared by God!

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December 13: Hebrews 9-11

A city prepared by God!

Scripture: Hebrews 11:15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Observation: As people age, they often think about places they have been and would like to return. I’m sure some would like to visit places they have only heard about. However if our aging has been done in the Lord, we should be looking for a better country and a city prepared for us by God!

Application: Having lived in Hawaii for many years, when I hear people say how much they would like to visit the Aloha state, I like to tell them, “It is indeed beautiful, but if you are going to heaven, you will not feel like you missed a thing.”

Prayer: Lord, May I be as diligent in preparing my heart for you as you are in preparing a place for me! May you enjoy living in my heart as much as I will enjoy living in the place you are preparing for me! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

The perfect fit!

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December 12: Hebrews 5-8

The perfect fit!

Scripture: Hebrews 7:25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
26 Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.

Observation: Jesus is the perfect High Priest who made the perfect sacrifice for sin. He meets my need perfectly!

Application: So many times I have had to settle for less than what I really needed. From two or three choices I had to choose the one that would come closest to meeting my need. It was not exactly what I needed, but it would have to do. However, the more I understand Jesus, the more I am convinced that he perfectly meets my need.

Prayer: Lord, it is a perfect match: my need and your supply! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!