January 21, 2016:  SOAP #2240:   

Scripture:  Exodus (NIV) 1:22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.” Exodus (NIV) 2:3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.

Observation:   Pharaoh said to throw them in the Nile to destroy them.  Moses mother put him in the Nile to save him.  Many times we can see that God uses the very thing meant for our harm to bring our salvation.

Application:   I must always walk in faith.  God is able to take what is meant for my harm to be used for my good.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me remember that greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. (1John 4:4) Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 20, 2016:  SOAP #2239:   

Scripture:  Genesis (NIV) 50:25 And Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.” 26 So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.

Observation:  Joseph had died, but he left something behind.  He left them an assignment.  And with the assignment came with something to keep their focus on the future.  A day would come when they would be leaving Egypt.   The Bible only says his body was placed in a coffin but not in a tomb.  He had died, but his journey was not complete!  The assignment was to carry Joseph’s body with them when they left Egypt.  (Exodus 13:9 gives the completion of this assignment.)  I am certain that Joseph’s coffin was placed in a place of importance where it could be seen.  And whenever it was seen, they would remember his words.  A day was coming when they would be leaving!

Application:  Several years back I entered the “senior” generation.  Should the return of Jesus not happen during my lifetime on earth, my body will be left to be placed in a coffin.  But I want to leave something else.  Jacob and Joseph left words, prophetic words (Genesis 49) and words of instruction with a promise (above).  I too want to leave words—words of truth, of encouragement, of hope—Holy Spirit anointed words of blessing and God’s promise.  A day is coming when we will be leaving!

Prayer:   Lord, Like Jacob and Joseph, us “seniors” to leave something that will bless the generation that follows.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 19, 2016:  SOAP #2238:   

Scripture:  Genesis (NIV) 47:10 Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from his presence.

Observation:  Pharaoh was the leader of a great nation and Jacob the head of a family of 70.   Logically one would think that Pharaoh would bless Jacob.  But Jacob’s heart was full.  He had just been reunited with his son whom he thought was dead.  But more than that, Jacob carried the blessing of the Most High God.  He blest Pharaoh.  He asked God to show His favor in some special way to Pharaoh.  It takes a blest person to pass along a blessing.  No one is more able to bless others than those in whom God’s Holy Spirit dwells!

Application: “God bless you” are powerful words, but they must be more than just words I say without thinking.  I have been blest by God who lives in me.  I have no personal way to bless anyone other than with the blessing God has given me.  I can only give what I have been given.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, use me to bless those around me.  May I not hesitate to pass along what I have received. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 18, 2016:  SOAP #2237:

Scripture:  Genesis (NIV) 45:4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be ploughing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

Observation:   What a great God; He took the evil done to Joseph to bring about salvation for his family, even for those who sold him into slavery!  What a great attitude; Joseph considered what they had done as God personally directing his life.  He counted it a privilege to be the one chosen by God to provide for his family in the time of famine.

Application:  God is big enough and wise enough to turn bad things I experience into things for which I can give Him glory!  The way I speak and live demonstrates how much I believe that to be true.

Prayer:   Sovereign Lord, I trust you to work out everything for my good and your glory.  My desire is that you can trust me to live my life and make decisions that bring joy to your heart!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 17, 2016:  SOAP #2236:   

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 5:11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. 12 For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Observation:   What a blessing—to be surrounded with God’s favor!  In Genesis we read that his brothers sold Joseph into slavery.  They could separate Joseph from his father’s favor, but they could not separate Joseph from God’s favor!   He was favored in Potiphar’s house.  Then Potiphar’s wife falsely accused Joseph and he was thrown in prison but that did not separate Joseph from God’s favor.  The prison warden showed Joseph favor.  Later Pharaoh showed favor when he put Joseph in charge of all Egypt.

Application:  God’s favor was expressed to Joseph through his earthly father, through Potiphar, through a prison warden, and then through Pharaoh.  God’s favor can get to me no matter my circumstances.  As I walk in righteousness, I am surrounded with His favor!
Prayer:   Heavenly Father, truly your favor works through all things for my good and for your glory.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 16, 2016:  SOAP #2235:   

Scripture:  Genesis (NIV) 39:3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.  [Joseph found favor in the eyes of the prison warden (39:21-22 and in the eyes of Pharaoh (41:40-41)]

Observation:  Joseph found favor as a slave in Potiphar’s house.  He was put in charge of the whole household.  Then Joseph found favor in the eyes of the prison warden.  He was put in charge of the prison.   Finally, Joseph found favor in the eyes of Pharaoh.  He was put in charge of all Egypt!  Before Joseph had the favor of men, he had the favor of God.

Application:   Favor is when people see something good in me and are inclined to help open doors for me to realize my potential.   I can recall many times I have been favored in my life.  It makes me know that there were surely times I was favored but did not realize it.  I need God’s favor every day!  I am blest when I am favored by other people.  It is time for me to pass along favor.

Prayer:   Lord, may I be a channel of your favor to someone today!  Draw my attention to someone needing your favor. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 15, 2016:  SOAP #2234:  

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 15:28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Observation:  It is easy to see what the younger son (the prodigal son) had given up in order to travel the world.  He wasted his inheritance and the fellowship he could have had at home.  The older son, though staying at home, had missed out on some things also.  He missed out on enjoying what was his.  More than that, he missed out on getting to know the heart of his father.  He did not know how much the Father loved the wayward child.  And he did not appreciate what was available to him.

Application:   At times I feel our Heavenly Father has to go outside the celebration to draw us “older brothers” who have been in the church for years into the celebration.  We may not like the style of the celebration and withdraw.  But our wonderfully loving Heavenly Father comes to draw us back.  He wants me to participate in the celebration.
Prayer:   Heavenly Father, forgive me for overlooking what I have.  All you have is mine!  Your heart is open to me.  May I not miss the special fellowship we can share.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 14, 2016:  SOAP #2233:

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 14:12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.  13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Observation:  There are several things Jesus reveals to us in this passage.  First, we can do kind things for people for which we will be repaid when they do something kind for us.  Second, we can do kind things for people who have no way to repay us.  Third, life does not end at death.  Fourth, life after death is affected by life before death.

Application:  So I should live my life before death in preparation for my life after death.  If I do not get recognition or repayment or reward for what I do, I should rejoice.  Surely the reward awaiting in heaven will be better by far than any reward man may give me now!
Prayer:   Lord, as the Great Judge, you not only set punishment, you also set rewards.  You are generous in rewarding your children who serve those having no way to repay, especially those who wait until the resurrection for their reward. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 13, 2016:  SOAP #2232  

Scripture:  Genesis (NIV) 31:12 …I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.  13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.

Observation:   Isaac had been mistreated by Laban, his father-in-law.  God was watching and instructed Isaac that it was time to return home.  But the Watcher was also a Listener, and a Rememberer!   He remembered the vows Isaac had made as he was leaving home 20 years earlier.  (Genesis 28:20-22)

Application:   I am thankful that God watches out for me.  He takes note of what happens to me.  God is also a listener.  He listens to the promises I make to him.  He remembers my promises even though I may have forgotten them. He will bless me according to my words and He will hold me accountable according to my words.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I am so glad you are The Watcher.  And I am glad you are The Listener.  You hear my requests, but you also hear my promises.  You remember your promises and keep them; you expect the same from me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 12, 2016:  SOAP #2231:  

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 12:11 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

Observation:   First, here is a promise of God’s awareness.  He knows what is happening to His children.  Second, it is also a promise of God’s presence!  He is close enough to be heard. And third it is a promise of His wisdom being available to those He loves!  The Holy Spirit will teach them at that moment what to do.

Application:   My plan:  First, I need to live panic-free.  My circumstances may not make sense to me, but they are clear to God!   Second, I need to live listening.  I need to keep my ears open to His voice.  Third, I need to live expecting.  I can expect the great promise keeper to keep this promise also.  I expect He will show me what to do.  He may not show me ahead of time, but He will show me in time!

Prayer:   Lord, it is so good to know your promises.  They help me plan for the coming tough times.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!