April 20, 2018: SOAP #3060: 1Samuel 23; Psalm 31,54; Matthew 7

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 31:19 How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.
20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues.

Observation:   Verse 19 makes me think that God has a plan to give me special goodness.  He has abundant goodness just because that is who He is.  But He has goodness stored up specifically for me.  He knows what I will be needing, and has the right goodness just waiting for me.

Application:   It is good for me to hide the thoughts of those against me among the many thoughts of Him who is for me!   When God’s thoughts are hidden among the thoughts of the world, I am in trouble.

Prayer:    Holy Spirit, help me to meditate on God’s thoughts about me.  Help me keep my mind so full of God’s thoughts that there just is not any room or time for Satan’s thoughts.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

April 19, 2018: SOAP #3059: 1Samuel 22; Psalm 17,35; Matthew 6

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 6:31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Observation:   The ones who make God’s kingdom their priority will find that God makes their needs His priority.

Application:   Am I struggling to fill my needs (food and clothing)?  These are priorities for people in the world.  But I am a part of God’s kingdom!  Sharon and I have set our lives to make His kingdom our priority.  We are finding that God is making our needs His priority.  My retirement plan is tithing.  Where can I find a better return than the open windows of heaven?  (Malachi 3:10)

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, you know my needs better than I do.  You are more capable of taking care of my needs then I am.  How foolish to take the responsibility for my needs out of your care   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

April 18, 2018: SOAP #3058: 1Samuel 20-21; Psalm 34; Matthew 5

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.  5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.  6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.  7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.  8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Observation:   The Psalmist “sought” the Lord.  He looked with the purpose of finding.  He did not just walk along and happen upon the Lord.  He was actively looking.
-People who look to God with expectation find their faith rewarded.  They are not just giving God a quick glance.  They will keep looking until they know God is looking back and they move on rejoicing that the God of the universe saw and heard them.
-Even the poor man who had called on many others for help, only to be ignored and passed by, found that the LORD heard him and answered his prayers.

Application:   This passage reminded me of a time I joined Samoan brothers in Turtle Bay, Hawaii.  They were looking for the eggs from sea urchins.  I heard them talk, I watched them, then they gave me a taste I will long remember.  I just took a very small taste as I wanted to be sure they had enough for their celebration later that night.  Ha!

I cannot be satisfied hearing someone else describing their relationship with God, as exciting as their experience may be.  I must try it for myself.  I must seek, I must look, I must call for myself.  I must “take a bite” and “taste” it for myself!

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, my faith is in Your Word, and the truth of Your Word is experienced in my life.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

April 17, 2018: SOAP #3057: 1Samuel 19; 1Chronicles 7; Psalm 59; Mat. 4

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 59:1 [Of David.  When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house to kill him.] Deliver me from my enemies, O God; protect me from those who rise up against me….
9 O my Strength, I watch for you; you, O God, are my fortress, 10 my loving God. God will go before me and will let me gloat over those who slander me.

Observation:   David was living in danger.  King Saul was trying to kill him.  But David’s focus was not on King Saul; his focus was on God!  He was watching for God.  He would wait until he saw God moving, then he would follow, letting God go first—letting God take the lead.

Application:  In times of trouble I may feel desperate.  Something has to be done, –and done now!   I do not have time to wait to see what God is going to do.   And in stepping out before God, I make the situation worse.  God, following behind me often has to step in and clean up my mess.

If I wait and watch for God, then I can fall in behind Him, letting God go before me.  And as I follow God, I will be able to witness what He has done to those who slander me.  He always does a much better job than I could ever do!

Prayer: “My loving God,” I need you to take the lead.  I need you to “go before me.”  I trust your wisdom and guidance much better than mine.  Thank you for loving me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

April 16, 2018: SOAP #3056: 1Samuel 18; 1Chronicles 6; Psalm 11; Matthew 3

Scripture:  1Samuel (NIV) 18:14 In everything he [David] did he had great success, because the LORD was with him. 15 When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.

Observation:   The recognizable presence of God in a David’s life was a sign of God’s favor.  It brought success in assignments.  It caused people to love David.  But, it also caused King Saul to be afraid of David and to try to kill him.

Application:   When God deals with people about surrendering to His love and control, they may feel uncomfortable when around someone who loves Jesus.  When they become aware of God’s presence, they, like King Saul, may react in hateful ways.  Others may be drawn to God’s presence and like having us around.  I must remember that they are not reacting to me, but to the ONE who lives in me.

The presence and favor of God is my most valuable possession.  It is greatly to be desired!  It is the one essential for life.  It is worth any sacrifice to maintain.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, what a special blessing—to experience the favor that comes when walking with you.  I pray your presence to be seen and felt by those around me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

April 15, 2018: SOAP #3055: 1Samuel 17; Psalm 9; Matthew 2

Scripture:  1Samuel (NIV) 17:26 David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

Observation:   David had a different perspective than his brothers and the others in King Saul’s army.  David was just a young man, maybe a little younger than most of the soldiers.  David was small compared to Goliath.  But David was not focused on WHO he was, but WHOSE he was!   Goliath was not defying Saul or Saul’s army. Goliath was not defying David.  He was defying the “armies of the living God!”  Maybe David was too young to be in Saul’s army, but for sure he was in God’s army!  Comparing Goliath to David; Goliath was a sure winner.  Comparing Goliath to The Living God; Goliath was a sure looser!

Application:   When I consider WHO I am, I may not have much reason for courage.  When I consider my history…when I consider how many times I have failed…when I consider my limitations…when I consider my weaknesses, I may not have much reason for courage.  BUT when I consider WHOSE I am—now that is a game changer!  When I consider that I belong to the living God—that changes everything!

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, I approach the problem in my weakness, but I know you are present in your strength.  I approach the broken relationship in my ignorance, but I know you are present in your wisdom.  I approach the need in my lack, but I know you are present and can meet the need with or without money, with or without medicine, with or without the aid of others!   I just cannot approach anything without YOU!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

April 14, 2018: SOAP #3054: 1Samuel 15-16; 1Chronicles 5; Matthew 1

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 1:17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ. …
22 All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”— which means, “God with us.”

Observation:  The natural qualifications and the spiritual qualifications came together in Jesus.  By His natural birth, He was in line to be the King of the Jews.  AND the Holy Spirit had spoken through the prophet Isaiah (7:14) that He would be the child of a virgin.

Application:   The natural and spiritual qualifications also must come together for me to inherit eternal life.  I must be born of flesh and blood into the human race.  AND I must be born again of the Holy Spirit.  (John 3:5-7)   He and I are joined for all eternity!  We now live together in this tabernacle/tent/human body that people know as Leon.  But a day is coming—what a day that will be—when we will live together in heaven!

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, thank you for the human life that came to me through my mom and dad.  AND thank you for the spiritual life that came to me through Jesus Christ your Son!  I am blest to be a part of your family!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

April 13, 2018: SOAP #3053: 1Samuel 14; 1Chronicles 4; 2Corinthians 13

Scripture:  2Corinthians (NIV) 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize [know] that Christ Jesus is in you— unless, of course, you fail the test?

Observation:  If anyone should know if I am a believer, it should be me!   I do not need to go to a doctor, or a lawyer, or a pastor to have an examination to see if I am a Christian.  I can examine myself.  Does Christ live in me?  How can I know?

First, I know it by faith in God’s Word.  1John 1:9 says “if I confess my sins God is faithful and just to forgive me my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.”   Amazing!    According to Romans 10:9-10 I confess Jesus as Lord and I believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead.  Therefore, according to His Word, I am saved!

Second, I know it by the differences He makes in me!   Oh, the peace of His presence!  All things do work together for good! (Romans 8:28)

Third, I know it because He talks to me.  He is with me and He speaks into my thoughts.  He helps me understand what I read and what I see around me.  He puts thoughts in my mind that show me how to live.  As I read the Bible, I see the things he has brought to my mind.

Application:   I walk, and I talk with Him!  How could it be possible that He is alive in me and I not know it?  (If I am not sure, I need to read the short book of 1John to see what is available for me to KNOW.)

Prayer:    Holy Spirit, what an amazing life that you share with me!  You never leave me.  I can always count on you. I trust you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

April 12, 2018: SOAP #3052: 1Samuel 13; 1Chronicles 2-3; 2Corinthians 12

Scripture:  2Corinthians (NIV) 12:7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Observation:    Some people go to great lengths to define Paul’s thorn in the flesh.  But the priority of this passage is not Paul’s “thorn,” but God’s grace—His all sufficient grace!   God did not remove that which troubled Paul but gave Paul grace to live in victory through the trouble.

Application:   There are times when God delays the deliverance from what troubles me.  The trouble seems to get worse.  The trouble weighs on my heart and worry tries to control my thoughts.  It is then I find that God’s grace is sufficient for me too!   Often, I find that when God gets the victory in me, I get the victory over what surrounds me.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, You are able to deliver me from the trouble, or sustain me through the trouble by your all-sufficient grace.  Either way, I walk in victorious faith because your presence sustains me!  Remind me that You are preparing me for eternity!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

April 11, 2018: SOAP #3051: 1Samuel 11-12; 1Chronicales 1; 2Corinthians 11

Scripture:  2 Corinthians (NIV) 11:3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
(KJV) 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Observation:   Paul was concerned about the believers in the city of Corinth.  From the books of Moses, Paul knew how satan had tempted Eve.  Paul was concerned that satan was trying to do the same to the new Christians in Corinth.

He wanted their sincerity and devotion to remain in Jesus.  It is easier to have pure devotion and sincerity when things are simple.  But when things get complex, and we do not have all the answers to the questions satan brings to our thoughts…we lose the simple joy, simple love, simple devotion.

Application:   When we scrape off all the fluff and glitter my faith is quite simple.  I was a sinner.  I believe Christ died as the payment for my sins.  I asked Him to forgive my sins.  He forgave me and now lives in my heart as my Lord.  Now my goal is to make Him smile by bringing joy to His heart by what I do and say.

Prayer:   Lord, help me to keep it simple!  At the heart of all I know is your great love and that you want me to believe in you.     Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!