February 29

The extra…

Scripture: John (The Message) 10:10 A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

Observation: Today is the extra day added in for leap year. The normal 28 days of February have become 29. It makes me think of all the extras that God has placed in this world for us to enjoy. I remember a small box of coloring crayons I had as a young boy. As I recall there were 8 basic colors: red, blue, yellow, green, black, etc. They were beautiful and I enjoyed them. Later I got a box of 16, then one of 32! There was more than just one green; there was a dark green and a light green; there was a blue green and a turquoise. The basic colors had been shaded and mixed!

God could have made the world in eight basic colors, but that would not have displayed the wonderful variety of a God who loves beauty.

Application: Today is an extra day to notice and thank God for the extra things He has brought into my life. I could have made it through life without even missing them, but He put them there for me to enjoy.

Prayer: Lord, I appreciate the variety of colors, the variety of food, the variety of sounds, etc. that You have placed in this world for me to enjoy. Indeed, You are AMAZING!!! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

February 28: Numbers 24-27; 1Corinthians 13

What a promise!

Scripture: 1Corinthians (NIV) 13:12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Observation: What a promise! The limitations of my present knowledge will be gone. Through the smudges on the glass I see now. But a time is coming when there will be no smudges. My knowledge of God will not be through the commentaries and explanations of others, but I will know personally and perfectly.

Application: If what I know now of God is so amazing, I cannot imagine how wonderful it will be to know Him so personally and perfectly! From what I now know of His wisdom, might and power the “how’s” do not bother me too much. But I have trouble at time with the “why’s.” I am finding that when His peace fills my heart, I can leave the “why’s” to later.

Prayer: Lord, to “fully know” you as you “fully know” me! To understand the “whys” of life… Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

February 27: Numbers 21-23; Mark 6-7

In My Heart

Scripture: Mark (NIV) 7:20 He (Jesus) went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean’.
21 For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.
23 All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean’."

Observation: The disciples had been accused for eating with unclean hands because they had not washed their hands before eating. In these verses Jesus is explaining to His disciples what really makes a person unclean.

Application: My problem is not in the world, it is in my heart. The Victor over sin becomes the Forgiver of my sins and takes up residence within my heart as my Helper against sin. He sharpens my conscience to an acute awareness of sin and gives me strength to resist temptation. He imparts His hatred for sin within me yet He forgives and restores me when I fall. He uses His Word to build a strong wall of defense against sin and implants His Word in my memory banks to use as arrows against temptation. He makes my heart a fortress that is both holy and wholly for Him! In the center of the fortress is a fountain of praise in honor of this Victor. My heart becomes a base from which the Holy Spirit can direct my words and deeds. People coming through the gate of this fortress meet Jesus!

Prayer: Lord, like I learned to sing as a child, “Into my heart, into my heart, Come into my heart Lord Jesus. Come in today, come in to stay, come into my heart Lord Jesus.” Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

February 26: Numbers 19-20; Psalm 28; Mark 5

Pigs

Scripture: Mark (NIV) 5:15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well.
17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

Observation: The man had been extremely tormented by the demons (verses 2-5), but was now free. The demons had requested and been given permission to go into a herd of pigs which then stampeded down a hill into a lake and were drowned (verses 11-13). Now the people from the area who all knew of this man were gathering to see if what they had heard was really true. But when they heard about the pigs, they begged Jesus to leave their area! The pigs were more important than the person now free! The pigs were more important than the presence of Jesus!

Application: There are many things in life that can be, or become, like those pigs. They may be my source of income, my hobbies, my entertainment, my preferences, etc. If I am not careful, I can choose “pigs” over Jesus! If I leave the TV on while I am doing my devotions, my mind can be drawn to what the news anchor is saying over what Jesus is saying. Duh! Sometimes getting rid of the pigs is as simple as turning off the TV.

Prayer: Lord, There is nothing as important as You in my life. Holy Spirit help me to say it with my choices and actions as easily as I say it with my mouth. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

February 25: Numbers 17-18; Psalm 29; Mark 4

What’s got my attention?

Scripture: Mark (NIV) 4:18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word;
19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Observation: Jesus was giving a parable about a farmer sowing seed on various types of ground. The same seed (the Word of God) was sown on various types of ground (put within a human heart), but the results were different. In the verses above the growing seed had competition. The seed which had potential of great good was choked out by things that appeared more important and desirable.

Application: There is always something that says, “Do me now; I can’t wait. You can read the Bible and pray later.” I have to learn that things appearing most urgent are not always most important. Things that cry for my attention are not always the most deserving of my attention.

Prayer: Lord, help me not to be fooled by all the voices vying for my attention. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

February 24: Numbers 14-16; Mark 3

The Promise-Keeper

Scripture: Numbers (NIV) 15:1 The LORD said to Moses,
2 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘After you enter the land I am giving you as a home
3 and you present to the LORD offerings made by fire…

Observation: Israel had dis-believed God. Even after seeing all the miracles less than a year before when God led them out of Egypt, they refused to believe that God was able to defeat those presently living in the land God had promised them. So God sent them back into the wilderness. However, then they decided that it was OK to go into the Promised Land, and took it upon themselves to move ahead. They were soundly defeated and driven back.

So what is God’s next move? He gives them instruction for when they do enter the Promised Land. It is still His plan! He has not given up on His plan! They are still His people! He keeps the "dream" of a homeland before them by giving them an assignment. It is not "if" they will enter, but "when" they will enter.

God had made a promise to Abraham that this land would belong to Israel. Because one generation did not have the faith to take what God was giving, did not mean that God was giving up on His promise.

Application: Anything I read or hear in the news about the Jews living in the Promised Land should build faith in my heart that God keeps His promises!

Prayer: Lord, I can count on You! You are the original Promise-Keeper! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

February 23: Numbers 12-13; Psalm 90; Mark 2

Special Blessing for Me!

Scripture: Mark (NIV) 2:27 Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."

Observation: Jesus’ disciples had been walking through a corn field on the Sabbath day, they picked some ears of corn and ate them, an act that was breaking the Jewish laws for Sabbath keeping. Jesus makes it clear that man was not created to observe the Sabbath, but the Sabbath was made to be a blessing to man. The Jewish religious leaders had made so many laws about what people should do in order to keep the law that they had become a great burden.

Application: The first Sabbath mentioned in the scriptures was the day after creation was finished and God rested. He rested not because He was tired, but because He was through. The Sabbath, a day of rest, was put into the Ten Commandments, according to Jesus, for my benefit. Becoming tired is natural. God provided for my tiredness; He made rest a necessary part of my day and my week.

Prayer: Lord, from the day you created man, you knew we would need to put aside those things that stress us and rest. Thank you for rest. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

February 21: Numbers 8-9; Acts 28

Limitations Serving for Good!

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 28: 16 When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him….
30 ¶ For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him.
31 Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Observation: Again in the seemingly fast moving book of Acts we see a second pause of two years. Paul had been arrested in Jerusalem then held in Judea in a Roman jail for two years. Upon his appeal to Caesar, he was sent as a prisoner to Rome to appear before the Emperor. The book of Acts ends with Paul being under house arrest for another two years. It is interesting to note that the authority that arrested Paul also provided his transportation to Rome. The soldier who guarded Paul also provided his protection.

Application: The things I dislike the most can often become the source of God’s provision and blessing. Sometimes embracing the things that limit me can work to God’s glory and my good. God often does provide in abundance, but God is not hindered by my lack of provision or limited resources. In fact, my lack can serve to highlight the fact that God is at work in my life as it is obvious that I could not have accomplished it on my own.

Prayer: Lord, You are my source and Your resources never run out. As you used the Roman government to transport and protect Paul, so you can use that which seems to be against me to enable me to do Your will. You are an amazing God!!! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

February 20: Numbers 7; Psalm 23; Acts 27

Breaks

Scripture: Acts 27:3 The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs.
4 From there we put out to sea again and passed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us.

Observation: Paul was traveling as a prisoner by ship from Jerusalem to Rome. As they were taking a short break from the sea, Paul was allowed to spend time with some friends. When the break was over, they picked up the journey where they had left off, back out at sea.

Application: One reason I enjoyed playing football more than basketball was the huddle! Thank the Lord for breaks! Thank the Lord for safe harbors in which I can stop for a rest. I know I have to pick up and go again, but the pause refreshes and I have opportunity to refocus.
NOTE: In visiting a friend in the hospital, I may be able to provide a needed break from the obvious problem they are journeying through. I may be able to help them refocus on their priority.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the “breaks” You have placed in my life. Like a wise basketball coach, You call time-outs at a critical times. Help me to take full advantage of these breaks to enjoy Your presence and refocus on why You have me here. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!