December 16, 2020: SOAP #4031: 1Peter 1-5
As I was reading the Bible this morning, I believe the Lord told me to re-visit the passage of the woman with the issue of blood.  Mark 5 and Luke 8. 

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 8:43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no-one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. 45 “Who touched me?” … 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” 47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

OBSERVATION:   The crowd almost crushed him.  They jostled against him.  The did not realize who they were touching; they expected nothing; they got nothing.  But what a difference with the woman.  She touched him on purpose.  She touched him with expectation.  Her touch was noticed by him.  Her touch made a difference in her life.  She received what she expected! 

APPLICATION:   Does Jesus know when I touch Him?   Are my prayers just like the small talk of the crowd or do I touch Him in faith?  Do I expect things to change when I touch Him?  Am I willing to let the change be in me?

PRAYER:  Lord, I reach out to touch you with my faith.  As the issue of blood stopped for this lady, bring a quick end to the drainage from my chest. Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

Personal note:  The doctors have formulated a plan.  1.  Between now and next Monday, they will feed me via IV to allow the injured area to have an opportunity to heal itself.  If the drainage stops, they will introduce food slowly back into my diet.  2.  Monday a time has been scheduled for the radiologist to run a wire into the lymph system to plug the leak.  I should be out of the hospital in a day or so after that.  3.  As a last resort, a surgeon will go into the chest cavity to tie off the lymph vessels.   I too have formulated a plan.  I will continue to walk with the Lord.  I will keep in touch with Him. Since He did not come with me to the hospital; He told me I would be going with Him.   I will continue to take every opportunity to make Him look good.  😊                                                      

December 15, 2020: SOAP #4030: James 1-5

SCRIPTURE:  James (NIV) 5:13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

OBSERVATION:   The instructions James gives to the church are aimed at Leon.  I am in trouble.  I am happy.  I am sick.  In between “trouble” and “sick,” James talks about “happy.”  Yes, I am in trouble; God help me.  Yes, I am sick, I was anointed with oil and still in the hospital. But yes, I am happy.  I made up this little chorus a couple of days ago.  It was late at night but I wanted to sing another song to the Lord:  “One more song for you, Lord.  One more song for you.  You made me happy.  You filled me with joy.  You keep me singing; all day long.  Jesus, here’s one more song for you.” 

APPLICATION:   So, what is James logical conclusion to the above?  16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” Do not let pride keep us from confessing our sins to “each other.”  Do not let a lack of compassion keep us from praying for “each other.” 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, anoint us to minister to “each other.”  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

Personal note:  The doctors believe they have found the problem.  Praise the Lord!  In a recent surgery, a lymph duct was injured and it is leaking chyle and lipoids into my chest cavity.  (I cannot remember ever hearing of those substances but now I can see them flowing through the drainage tube! One can find information on the internet.)   Tomorrow they will discuss the best way to proceed. Thanks to you, heaven has heard my name a lot lately!  Pray for a miracle; pray for a new anointing on the SOAPs.  😊