January 01, 2020: SOAP #4047:  Genesis 1-2; Luke 1

SCRIPTURE:  Genesis (NIV) 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said…

OBSERVATION:  A fresh revelation came to me as I read the above verses.  When I read these verses, I commonly think of God being the Creator and God being a Speaker.  This time I saw something new for me.  The great darkness that existed before the sun, moon and stars filled the sky with light could not stop the Spirit from moving!  The Spirit was moving in the darkness! 

The Holy Spirit still moves in darkness.  The darkness cannot stop Him.  He can see as clearly in darkness as in noon-day light.  Those led by the Spirit need never fear the darkness. 

APPLICATION:   Much about the future lies in darkness, but of one thing I am sure.  The Spirit of God is already there and already moving.  To borrow some words from Bill Gaither, “I believe, help thou my unbelief.  I walk into the unknown (darkness) trusting all the while.” 

The darkness ahead in our nation, in our world, in my circumstances will not hinder the presence and working of the Holy Spirit!!! 

Though the Spirit of God was present, the work of creation did not begin without the spoken word of God.  The Spirit of God does not move at my words, but when I speak the words of God. The better I know the written Word of God, the better I will know Jesus, the living Word of God.  Then more and more my words will line up with the spoken words of God. 

PRAYER:  Jesus, as you spoke the words of your Father, so help me to faithfully speak your words—words of faith and not doubt—words of love and not disgust—kind words and not hurtful words.  Holy Spirit, set a watch over my mouth and nudge me when I start to speak from human weakness.    Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 31, 2020: SOAP #4046:  Revelation 10-14

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

OBSERVATION:  As we come to the last verses of the last chapter of the last book in the Bible, we find the gracious Spirit of God, the One there in the first verses of the first chapter of the first book (Genesis 1:2).   He is extending an invitation to join Him.  He is not saying “go,” but “come.”  He is not telling us to go away but calling for us to join Him!

APPLICATION:   It is for those who hear His voice to join him, not only in His presence, but also join Him in extending the invitation, “Come!”

How ungrateful I would be if I received the “free gift” of salvation but did not extend the invitation to others! So, I invite you to join me in asking God to forgive our sins and to be our Lord. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, I see that you and the bride, of which I am a part, are saying the same thing: “Come.”  There is power in agreement, especially when my words are Your words!  May I always be sensitive to what You are saying, and may I be faithful to join you in proclaiming Your invitation to “Come!”  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

My personal SOAP saga:  I have now been home for 6 days.  My strength and stamina are not where they were, but I have been feeling great!  Every ten to fifteen minutes I stop and take a few deep breaths.  I am praying for God’s continued hand on the leaking lymph vessel.  Originally the leak was so slight that it took over a week to fill my chest cavity with enough fluid to be noticeable.  So, the next few days should tell us more.  My appointment with the nurse practitioner yesterday went well.  My heart is still in A-fib as it has been for about 20 years, but the blood pressure is better.  Best of all, I am still going with HIM!  😊

December 30, 2020: SOAP #4045:  Revelation 15-18

SCRIPTURE:  2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Revelation (NIV) 18:6 Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Mix her a double portion from her own cup. 7 Give her as much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself.  8 Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.
10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: “‘Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!
17 In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’
19  They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out: “‘Woe! Woe, O great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth! In one hour she has been brought to ruin!

OBSERVATION:  God is as holy as He is loving.  In His love, He will seem slow in keeping His promises of judgment.  His desire is to give people every opportunity to repent.  Yet, some people to their eternal loss, consider God too weak to bring judgment, or too uncaring and disinterested about things on earth.  They continue to live their day-to-day life with no thought of preparing for eternity. 

APPLICATION:   A volcano seems to be sleeping while the magma and steam continue to build under the ground; it suddenly burst forth in a great display of power and destruction.  It is nature’s warning and display of God’s power to bring judgment.  It is a warning of the suddenness of God’s wrath.  A volcano is small compared to what Creator God will do to His rebellious creation. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, I do not want you to just get me ready on Sunday, or in times of nature’s destruction when I am surrounded by the storm; Holy Spirit, help me to LIVE READY!     Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 29, 2020: SOAP #4044:  Revelation 10-14

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 12:14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach.

OBSERVATION:  Throughout the Bible we find that God always has a plan.  In so many ways, the Bible is a book about preparation.  It is a major topic!  Although, His servants may be required to walk by faith, God is never taken by surprise and is never without a plan.  He is always prepared! 

APPLICATION:   The more I read the Bible, the more convinced I am that I never need to worry.  I may not know what God is going to do, but I know He will do the right thing.  It will always be a holy thing and a loving thing.  It will always be for my good and His glory. 

Often when God waits until the last minute to bring about His supply or deliverance, and when I consider how God met the need—I come to realize that God was preparing the answer long before the need became a problem. 

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, I believe you are already preparing for the next crisis I will face.  When I am walking with you, I can walk ahead into the storm with confidence.   Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 28, 2020: SOAP #4043:  Revelation 5-9

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 8:3 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came, and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand.

OBSERVATION:  In Exodus (26:30) we read that Moses was told to build the tabernacle according to what he saw when he was in God’s presence on Mount Saini.  In Moses’ tabernacle we see the altar of incense the last piece of furniture before the ark.  It was the final stop where the priest would take the hot coals with incense to wave before the Lord as he approached the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat.  It was piece of furniture closest to the mercy seat. 

Here we see the altar of incense before God’s throne. 

APPLICATION:   The prayers we thought got no higher than the ceiling; the prayers we wondered if anyone heard, but we prayed anyway.  Those prayers mixed with incense help give heaven a beautiful fragrance. 

With all the junk God sees on earth every day (abortion, addictions, slavery, abuse, etc.) surely it must be a healing balm to His heart to hear His people call out to Him. 

PRAYER:    Heavenly Father, may a portion of those prayers be mine.  May they rise as a beautiful fragrance to your throne.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 26, 2020: SOAP #4042: Rework of #2826:  Revelation 1-4

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 3:12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.

OBSERVATION:  Overcomers are those who are so identified with Christ that God wants to be identified with them.  So, Jesus writes on them the name of God.  He writes the address of God.  And He writes on them His new name!   He wants everyone to know that this is His child!  They bring Him joy!  They are the ones referred to in Hebrews 12:2: …who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

APPLICATION:   An artist signs his/her work so everyone can know who created the beautiful work of art. The painter signs the painting. The building is often named after the builders. God wants to be clearly identified with those who have remained faithful and not given in to temptation! 

We can only imagine the joy Jesus has as He presents the overcomers before the throne of heaven!   Father, here is the reason you sent me!  For this one I died! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I want to be one who carries your name! I want you to be glad to be known as my God! Jesus, I want my identity with you to bring you joy while I remain here and when I appear with you in heaven.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 23, 2020: SOAP #4038:  Psalm 117; 119:81-176; 2John; 3John

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 119:130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

OBSERVATION:  Many times, the Word of God is like a rose bud.  It is beautiful as it forms on the branch of the bush.   We like to watch them develop.  We check every day to see how they are developing, because we know something even more beautiful is coming.  Before too long, one petal will unfold itself from the bud.  Then a second and third.  Soon the beauty of the rose is revealed in all its glory.   

This is the way God unfolds His Word to my heart.  I am reading a passage I have read many times before.  But this time a word or phrase catches my attention.  Instead of rushing on, because I have only so much time to spend in God’s Word, I pause to meditate on the “petal” of what the Lord has just showed me.  As I consider that “petal” I find that another “petal” is opening to my understanding. 

APPLICATION:   It takes time for the petals of a rose to unfold; and it make take time for God to fully unfold the “petals” of a specific verse—but it is well worth the wait!  

PRAYER:   Lord, so often the wisdom and understanding I need comes to me as you unfold your word.  No wonder that it is the ones who wait upon the Lord who renew their strength and mount up on wings as eagles.   Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

My personal SOAP saga:  Moving back into the normal flow of my life:  I arose this morning after my first night at home.  What a pleasant feeling.  One of the first things I did was to see how much I weighed.  241 lbs.  Quite a drop from the 272 I weighed when entering the hospital!  After a breakfast of a small portion of scrambles eggs, freshly squeezed orange juice, and one very small chocolate-macadamia pancake, I was full—probably one third of what I used to eat.  After breakfast, another task became very necessary.  I needed to add several holes in my belt!  It was too big to keep my clothes in place.  Ha!  This will probably be my last personal daily saga update, but I may give a report from time to time.  One of the great blessings of this SOAP ministry to me is the prayer support from around the world!  God brought Sharon and me through three tough weeks.  His word to me was true—He was not going with me; I was going with Him!   I was with Him, I stayed close to Him all the way.  I was there to do His bidding.  Thanks for your prayers.  😊 

December 23, 2020: SOAP #4038:  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.

OBSERVATION:   In these verses we find the purpose of the Christmas story.  The Father “SENT his one and only Son into the world!”  The Baby in the manger was sent with a purpose.   He was sent as “an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

So, why was He sent as a baby?  Why not enter as one among the crowds gathered at the temple?  Why not just appear at the lake as a stranger, calling fishermen to follow him? 

I see two reasons:  First He had to be as human as those whose sins for which he would atone.  He entered humanity as every other human, through the womb of a woman. 

Second, He had to be proved sinless.  He could not just show up and claim being sinless and volunteer to die for our sins.  His was a proven sinlessness.  He was not sinless because he had no temptation to sin, but because he withstood every temptation.  He was sinless as a child.  He was sinless as a teenager.  He was sinless as a young man.  He was sinless as an adult. 

APPLICATION:   The resurrected life that Jesus now shares with me has been proven.  At every stage, He lived in victory.  There is a record!  He is the Only One who can give me the power to resist temptation.  He is willing to live His life through me!   With Him as my Lord and Savior, I too can live in victory!

PRAYER:  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! 

My personal SOAP saga:  Hey, everyone.  I’m home!!!  Merry Christmas from home! There had been such minimal draining from yesterday afternoon that the doctor said, “Pull the tube and send him home!”  Maybe not those exact words, but the meaning was the same.  It is hard to say how much Sharon and I felt the covering of your prayers.  Thank you!  Indeed, the Lord did not go with me; I went with Him.  It was my privilege to serve Him there. 

December 24, 2020: SOAP #4039:  John 19-21

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 19:28 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

OBSERVATION:   Of course, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus into the stream of humanity.  But Christmas would not be Christmas without the death and resurrection.  Christmas would lose its meaning. 

APPLICATION:   Today, the doctor tried to break it to me that I might not be home for Christmas.  I told him, “Its OK, its not my birthday.”  My location does not affect my relationship with the Christ of Christmas.   A number of years ago, I put some new words to an old song I found myself singing today: 
                      I’ll be here for Christmas, In worship at Your Throne;
                      With a heart of praise, My voice I’ll raise
                      To Him who was and is. 
                      Others at some manger, May pause, then hurry on,
                      But I’ll be here for Christmas, In worship at Your Throne!   

PRAYER:   Lord, when you came to earth, you made it all about us.  Today, in my heart, I want it to be all about You!  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

My personal SOAP saga:  The procedure yesterday showed the leaking lymph vessel, but it was too small to enter it to block the leak.  So, the radiologist blocked an area of the larger vessel that supplied the smaller one, above and below the junction.  The drainage was significantly less yesterday evening and through the night.  It is even less this afternoon!  There are some things too big for man, but they are not too big for God.  AND there are some things too small for man, but they are not too small for God!  

December 23, 2020: SOAP #4038:  John 15-18

SCRIPTURE:  John 16:7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:

OBSERVATION:   Something so hard to hear!  Jesus was leaving!  …and it was for their good!   They were about to experience God in a whole new way!  They would no longer need to remember what was planned for the day; where would Jesus be today; what time were we to meet.  The Holy Spirit would never leave them.  He would live in each one!  

APPLICATION:   I see the Corona Virus-19 being one of the many ways Satan is trying to duplicate the work of the Holy Spirit!  It spreads across every man-made barrier; it crosses every national borders.  Governments and pharmaceutical companies have worked around the clock to find a way to stop its spread.  Now great efforts are being made to spread the vaccine. 

If there is anything spreading across the world, it is sin.  If anyone has an answer to sin, it is the church of Jesus Christ.  I should be as diligent in giving the gospel to everyone infected with sin as our government is in spreading vaccine for the Corona Virus. 

If there is anything God wants to spread across the world, it is the power and presence of the Holy Spirit! 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, use me to be a part of the answer for this world.  Fill me and empower me to represent Jesus in a way that makes Him attractive to others.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

My personal SOAP saga:  About noon I was taken to the radiology area.  They put dye in my lymph nodes and watched the x-ray as it spread.  It showed them where to place the blocks.  I still have drainage in my chest tube, hopefully it is the remaining fluids from before.  I have not yet spoken to the doctor.  It was after five pm when I started waking up back in my room.  Getting all that sleep in the afternoon leaves me wide awake to send out this late SOAP.  Thank you, Jesus!  And thanks for everyone’s prayers.  They keep us strong and moving forward.  😊