February 15, 2016:  SOAP #2265:   

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 25:14 The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.

Observation:  Creation is full of evidence that points to God.  That He exists is obvious.  Yet the only hope man has of knowing God is if God chooses to make Himself known.  This He has done through the scriptures and through God the Son coming to live among us and die for us.  In this verse, God reveals that He opens up His heart to those who believe He exists and that He is worthy of high respect.

Application:  My attitude toward God is super important.  Believing that He is the Almighty, ever-existing, all powerful One, causes me to put great value on His word.  What He says is of great importance to me.  As long as I have that attitude I can expect Him to confide in me.

Prayer:   Lord, You are the supreme being of all creation.  Your words are my great treasure.  That you speak to me is my great honor.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 14, 2016:  SOAP #2264:   

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 21:3 After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo.  4 Finding the disciples there, we stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.

Observation:   When one’s life is built around a single purpose; it is understandable that one would seek out others with that same passion.   Paul found the disciples in Tyre (then in verse 7, Ptolemais; then in verse 8, Caesarea).  Paul would be encouraged to hear how they had become believers in Jesus.  They would be encouraged as Paul could teach them and explain things they may be wandering about.

Application:   Finding others who share our love for Jesus should always be a mutual blessing.  One of the joys of my 10 years in the US Navy was finding the believers in a new duty station.  Looking for people who would bow their heads to give thanks for their meals was a good way.

Prayer:   Lord, today I will meet new people who love you as much as I do.  May we find Your Presence easily recognizable in each other.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 12, 2016:  SOAP #2262:   

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 19:1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples … 8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.

Observation:   One can read many chapters in a short time and get the idea that everything happened quickly, back to back.  The passage above shows a time of three months of preaching in the synagogue and then a time of two years of holding daily discussions in a lecture hall.  During this two-year period, everyone who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord!

Application:   Some of the things God is doing in my life take time.  First, I must be patient and not get in a hurry to move on.  Surely there were days in those two years when Paul did not see any results but during that time everyone in that province heard about Jesus!  Second, I must be faithful to continue what God has given me to do.

Prayer:   Lord, patience and faithfulness are of great value to you.  May they both be foundation rocks of my character.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 11, 2016:  SOAP #2261:   

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 18:1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.

Observation:   Until Silas and Timothy arrived (verse 5) Paul supported himself by working as a tent maker.  He took room and board with a husband and wife who were also tent makers.  Every Saturday (the Sabbath) he was at the synagogue talking with people about Jesus.  Paul did not let lack of financial support stop him from ministry.  That God used Paul’s own hands to provide for his needs and ministry was fine with Paul.  I am sure that as Paul worked on the tents, he took advantage of opportunity to talk about Jesus in the workplace.  After all, Paul’s calling did not just work speaking in the synagogue.  He was just as much an apostle when making tents as when he was speaking in public.

Application:  Help me remember that ministry happens wherever I am.  I want God to use my life as an example to people who believe they are called to minister, but think that they must have some specific assignment in the church in order to fulfill their calling.  I am just as much of a pastor when driving a school bus as when preaching.

Prayer:   Lord, I am your servant!  Use me when, where, and how you desire.  You know how you can best use me.  I want my service to bring joy to your heart.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 10, 2016:  SOAP #2260:   

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 17:29 Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone— an image made by man’s design and skill.

Observation:  Some people like to design their god in the way they think he should be.   Their god looks at things the way they look at things.  What is important to them is important to their god.  What is not important to them is not important to their god.  But, in truth, the opposite is reality.  Man did not create God in man’s image BUT God created man in God’s image.

Application:    Being created in God’s image, I find that my life works best when He is in control.  Surrendering my choices to Him brings several desired results:  First, it honors God.  Second, it causes things to work together for my good.  Third, it raises the level of my faith; God is actively working in my life!

Prayer:   Lord, sin has destroyed many things, but it cannot destroy the potential I have to be your child.  It cannot destroy your love for me.  Though I cannot save myself, I can respond to the call of your Holy Spirit.  You have designed me to be a living temple in which you live.  What a great privilege is mine!!!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 9, 2016:  SOAP #2259:   

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 16:4 As they travelled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

Observation:   As Paul, Silas and Timothy traveled from town to town they delivered the message that Gentiles were welcome in the church without first becoming Jews.  They had a two pronged ministry:  encourage people in their faith and seeing new people become believers.

Application:  At this time in our life, Sharon and I are traveling from church to church.  We are encouraging ministry to senior adults. Strengthening people in their faith and seeing new people added to the Kingdom of God should be the goal of my life wherever I go, be it next door or to another country, be it sitting in a local restaurant or checking into a motel on a trip.

Prayer:   Lord, keep me faithful to the opportunities you will give me today to encourage people in their faith and to witness to people needing Jesus in their lives.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 8, 2016:  SOAP #2258:   

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 15:36 Sometime later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing. … 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Observation:   Paul’s had love and concern for the people who had become believers during his first missionary journey.  He wanted to go back and visit them to see how they were doing.  After some disagreement with Barnabas about who to take with them, Paul chose Silas and headed out.

Application:   When God uses me in someone’s life, it is good to follow-up.  God can use me to review and re-emphasize what God previously did.  God can use me to further what He is doing in their lives.  God can use them to encourage me.

Prayer:   Lord, I know that you are sovereign and that many times you use someone else to follow-up on the ministry you used me to start.  I may plant the seed, a second person may water, and even a third bring in the harvest.  But when you give opportunity for me to follow-up, I pray that you find me useful, willing and joyful.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 7, 2016:  SOAP #2257:   

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 14:26 From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. 27 On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

Observation:  Their journey was complete, but their responsibility was not complete.  They needed to report back to those who had sent them.

Application:   I may have a need or know of a need that only God can meet.  I feel it is my responsibility to request prayer from my family, my church friends, my Facebook friends, and anyone else I can find.  If I am sincere in requesting prayer, I should be sincere about letting people know how God answered the prayers.  My responsibility is not over until I report back to those who have prayed.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, thank you for the power in agreeing together in prayer.   Remind me to be faithful in being thankful to my Heavenly Father and to those who joined me in prayer.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 6, 2016:  SOAP #2256:   

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 13:32 We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus.

Observation:   The Eternal God is a promise maker, a promise remember-er, and a promise keeper.  God is interested enough in people to make promises.  His promises provide vision for the future.  There is something beyond the present trouble we experience.  Even though generations may come and go, God still remembers His promises and fulfills them.  How thankful we should be to those who pass along God’s promises.

Application:  As the Apostle Paul in the verses above, I too have been blest by promises God has given to previous generations.   I pray that promises God gives to me will in turn be a blessing to generations to come.  I must be faithful to pass them along.

Prayer:   Lord, Your plans are bigger than any one generation.  Should your promise to return tarry through another generation, may those who come behind me find that I have been faithful to pass along what you have given me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 5, 2016:  SOAP #2255:   

Scripture:  Exodus (NIV) 39:1 From the blue, purple and scarlet yarn they made woven garments for ministering in the sanctuary. They also made sacred garments for Aaron, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Observation:   God had given specific directions for building the tabernacle and they had done just as he commanded.  (Exodus 25-40) Along with the directions for the tabernacle, God gave specific directions for the clothing the high priest would wear when serving in the tabernacle.  They carefully followed the Lord’s instructions for the garments as they had for the tabernacle.  From man’s viewpoint, this was careful obedience to the One Who had just saved them from slavery in Egypt and was leading them to a land He promised to give them.  But from God’s viewpoint, this was a prophetic picture of the True Sacrifice that would be made by the True High Priest presenting the sinless blood of that sacrifice in the True Temple.

Application:   Many times my obedience has a much higher purpose than I know.  Being careful to the details was important to Moses and it should be to me also.  Only God sees the big picture.

Prayer:   Lord, keep me mindful of the details of obedience to your commands.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!