Merry Christmas, my SOAP friends. I trust you are having a wonderful Christmas season, celebrating God’s love packaged in Jesus! Should you know of someone who would like to be added to the SOAP email mail list, send me their address. And if you are receiving too many email and would like your name to be removed, just let me know. Have a great Christmas and New Year’s season. May we enter 2015 with a fresh awareness of His Presence! Leon J

Christmas: Celebrating His Love!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

December 25: 1John 1-5

Scripture: 1John (NIV) 4:9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Observation: How did God prove that He loved us? He sent His Son to be a sacrifice for our sins. How did God send His Son? He was conceived in the womb of a virgin and laid in a manger when born. How did the Son become the atoning sacrifice for our sins? Though sinless, He was crucified on a cruel Roman cross. How do we know His death is acceptable as the payment for sins? On the third day, He rose from the grave! The payment was complete! How does His death make a difference in my life? When I believe in my heart that His death was intended to be for my sins, and I ask His forgiveness; when I give Him my old life and receive His new life—oh, what a change in my life!!!

Application: Now, He lives in me. I live my life through doing, as best I know, what I believe He would be doing. How do I prove my love for Him? I do that by loving the people around me.

Prayer: Happy Birthday, Jesus! May the Father enjoy spending this special day with the people who honor your Name! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!