December 22, 2020: SOAP #4037:  John 12-14

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 13:20 I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”

OBSERVATION:   There are many aspects of our relationship with God.  The words “child” and “son” have to do with our personal relationship.  The words “send” and “sent” have to do with our assignment. 

I have been sent by Jesus as He was sent by His Father.  The relationship I have with Jesus while on earth should mirror the relationship He had with His Father while He was on earth.  The relationship I have with Jesus is a continuation of the relationship He has with His Father.  He emptied Himself of His “Godness” to live totally as a man in relationship with His Father.  I am to live as a forgiven man totally in relationship with Jesus, and through Jesus to the Father. 

APPLICATION:   Knowing that I am sent from God sets three foundational principles for my ministry/assignment.  First:  My main concern is to do His will.   That is the reason I am here.  Second:  When I do His will, I should not take the reaction of others as personal.  They are responding to what He gave me to do so I leave any response up to Him.  Third:  I can trust him to provide everything needed to carry out His assignment.  He may work a miracle, or He may bring help through others who are responding to His voice and not to my pleading or arm-twisting.  They are learning to listen; I am learning to trust; God is getting the glory! 

PRAYER:  Jesus, when I asked you to forgive my sins, I invited you to live               in me as my LORD.  Now, as my LORD, you have me in this hospital to encourage and minister to the ones you bring into my room.  As you depended on our Heavenly Father, I depend on You and the Holy Spirit to use me for your glory.  Holy Spirit, help me make Jesus look good.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

My personal “SOAP” saga:  As the radiologist was preparing for my procedure this morning, it was discovered they had only one vial/container of the dye: they needed three.  So, it was put off until Tuesday around noon.  The goal is to place blocking stents above and below the injured area, then fill the middle with “glue.”  If everything goes as hoped, the doctor said I should be able to go home Wednesday.  The repair should be immediate and permanent.  Meanwhile I have another day to sing and talk about Jesus.  Hopefully, I’ll be home for Christmas.  😊  Someone should write a song! 

December 21, 2020: SOAP #4036:  John 9-11

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 11:3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” …17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. …21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. …37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”…39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”…43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out,

OBSERVATION:   What caught my attention as I read this chapter is that Mary and Martha’s deadline for Jesus to heal their brother was not Jesus’ deadline.  When the deadline passed, so did their faith.  Jesus was not required to live by manmade deadlines.  He refused to do so.  He had something better ahead!!!

APPLICATION:   Sometimes Jesus moves ahead of our deadlines; we rejoice.  Sometimes Jesus moves beyond our deadline; we panic.  My faith in Jesus must not be limited by manmade deadlines.  “Lord if you had only done this by yesterday. Lord, if you had only provided last week.” I cannot put words in His mouth or change the Word to cover my wants.  No!  My faith must solely rest upon His word and my knowledge of His character! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, remind me of this when I start to panic and doubt if you are ever going to help me.  I am your servant.  I trust you.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

Personal note:  The doctor asked me to eat regular food today to see if the fluid draining from me would return to its cloudy appearance as at the beginning.  Shortly after breakfast, it did.  When the nurse assistant came to check my blood sugar before lunch, I gave her a hard time; my fingers are sore from being poked!  I had a bad attitude and took it out on her.  I went into the bathroom (which I needed to do) and took my time (which I did not need to do.)  When I returned, she had called the head nurse and they agreed that I could refuse.  After she left, I realized that I had just eaten my first breakfast in four days and checking my blood sugar would have been the right thing to do.   When she returned, I apologized to her and the nurse for my attitude.  (Last week in the VA hospital I had to apologize to a Resident doctor for purposefully hanging up on her during a phone conversation.)  I get along with everyone quite well; the person giving me the most trouble is ME!  😊  In the morning, the radiologist will do a procedure to block the injured vessel.  This is a rare problem; he did three during his residency, but I will be his third since.   

December 20, 2020: SOAP #4035:  John 7-8

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 8:3-11   4 “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” … 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no-one condemned you?” 11 “No-one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

OBSERVATION:   What an amazing encounter.  That the woman was guilty was not in question.  What the Law commanded was not in question.  The question was: Who was morally able to condemn and bring judgment?  Who was present that had no sin?  Only someone who has passed every temptation without sinning is able to judge.  The ONLY ONE present qualified to condemn, refused to do so.  Not too long afterwards, Jesus made the sacrifice that became the basis for this guilty woman’s forgiveness. 

APPLICATION:  Sometimes we ask forgiveness yet the next day are back doing the same thing.  Jesus’ words should not be interpreted as permission to continue in sin.  This was no approval of sin.  This was no condoning of sin.  Now she was forgiven she could leave her life of sin!    

PRAYER:  Jesus, the Father has passed all judgment to you (John 5:22) for you are the Only One worthy.  Forgive me for heaping condemnation and judgment on people.  Forgive me for thinking I could take over your responsibility. Make me Your holy and merciful servant. Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

My personal SOAP opera:    A second day with Sharon…could not have been any better!  But it was, I spoke about Jesus with several and prayed with two nurses preparing to face a difficult situation.  The fluid draining from my chest has cleared but not stopped.  Tomorrow the doctor wants me to eat all the fatty food I can.  Sharon is bringing in some cookies!  On Monday, if the fluid looks clear or milky, he will better know how to proceed.

December 19, 2020: SOAP #4034:  John 5-6

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 6:7 Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” 8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. 12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

OBSERVATION:  The disciples considered the need with “a bite” sized mentality.  Jesus met the need with an “enough” AND “left over” provision!  He took a boy’s sack lunch placed in His hands and multiplied it into a dinner that fed 5000!  WOW!  And with 12 baskets of left overs!  A double WOW!

APPLICATION:   My faith can be as limited as what I have in my hand or as limitless as the One into whose hand I place it.

PRAYER:  Lord, I am a boy with a “sack lunch” — a short devotional thought.   In email, on face book and blogs I release it into your hands.  Make it “enough.” May there be “left-overs” to share with others.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

My continuing SOAP Opera:  This afternoon I was moved out of the 9^th floor COVID area to a room on the tenth floor.  Sharon was able to visit me here for several hours.  What a sweet reunion after eleven days!  Even better, she will be back tomorrow!!!  
–My chest tube continues to put out fluids and the doctors continue to replace it with IV fluids.  I am continuing here with the Lord and He continues to bring people to my room.  It is my privilege to continue to use my mouth, my testimonies, the ukulele, and SOAPs for His glory.  Sharon and I feel your prayers.  😊 

December 18, 2020: SOAP #4033:  John 2-4

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 4:6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, …
18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” …
39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” …
42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

OBSERVATION:  In reading from verse 1 to verse 43 the Lord brought to my attention that He was not offended by this woman’s past.  The things that offended her neighbors did not offend Him.  He was interested in her as a person.  And He was interested in her future.  Later her testimony motivated many people from the city to come out to where Jesus was at the well!  Jesus stayed in their city two days!  Her testimony stirred their interest, but Jesus convinced them to believe. 

APPLICATION:   I cannot allow someone’s to offend me.  I must be motivated by faith in what Jesus can do and how Jesus can use their future! 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, Make me like Jesus, unoffended by someone’s past but full of faith for their future. Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

Personal note:  Good news: today I was through with the COVID quarantine.  Not so good news:  they had no empty room available to which I could be moved.  This hospital is full!  Great news:  Sharon will be able to visit me in another room!  Greatest news:  Every day I get to speak to three or four people about the Lord! 
–This morning a nurse practitioner checked out my drainage tube and found it to be clogged.  When she was done, it drained all day.  I needed some replacement fluids.  They have just set up a new “meals ready to eat” bag which will feed me IV for another 24 hours.  I am trusting God to stop the flow! 

December 17, 2020: SOAP #4032: 2Peter 1-3; John 1

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

OBSERVATION:   Christmas is not only an expression of God’s love in sending His Son Jesus to die for our sins, it is also an expression of God’s holiness. The sacrifice for sin had to be prepared in a way that would stand the scrutiny of the highest court in the universe. Only a sinless sacrifice could pay for the sins of others. The sacrifice had to be proven sinless not because it had no opportunity to sin, but because it had every opportunity to sin, yet resisted and remained pure! Oh, what a Savior! He met the righteous demands of the One and Only Perfectly Holy God!

APPLICATION:   In love, God forgives me and pays for my sins by the death of Jesus. In holiness, He sent the same Holy Spirit that came upon Jesus — that same Holy Spirit to live within me and help me overcome temptation. Oh, what a God!

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you are amazing! You know me perfectly. You have perfectly supplied for my needs! I am blest to be yours! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

Personal note:  Today has been an interesting day.  No food since yesterday morning.  If one thinks hard, ice chips can taste like cherry cheesecake or mashed potatoes.  It is amazing what the mind can do with ice chips. Ha!  My blood pressure has been low today but seems to be doing better with new IV fluids.  In the last three 12-hour periods, the drainage has gone from 530 ml to 370 ml to 20 ml!  I am believing that the same God who took a small boy’s lunch and fed 5000, can take a 10% chance of this treatment working (given by the doctor) and make it 100%!  I am believing that tomorrow I will be moved off the COVID ward to a place Sharon can visit me!!!  It will be eleven days with no symptoms since the positive test.  

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.  😊 

December 14, 2020: SOAP #4029: Hebrews 12-13; Jude

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

OBSERVATION:  Knowing what God HAS SAID, should affect what I SAY.  How I speak in the PRESENT should be grounded in what God has said in the PAST. 

Many times, what God is saying in the present is understood by what He has said in the past.  God is faithfully consistent in who He is and what He says. 

APPLICATION:   The better I know what God HAS SAID, the better I will understand what is happening around me and be able to speak with confidence.  The better I know what God HAS SAID, the better I will understand the personal direction He gives me. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, continue to bring the words of Jesus into my thoughts.  Help me speak with boldness.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

Personal note:  Today was a good day for me.  The resident doctor told me that they may need to do microscopic surgery if I continue to lose the fluids, but today, there has been very little drainage!!!  Praise the Lord!   I do not know what the dr. will say in the morning, but I am expecting a good report!  Thanks to all for your prayer!  

December 13, 2020: SOAP #4028: Hebrews 9-11

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 9:9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshipper…
14  How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
10:1…For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshippers would have been cleansed once for all and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins…
22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

OBSERVATION:   A clean conscience–one of greatest personal benefits of believing in Jesus’ death as the payment for our sins!  When we are justified, we are made just-as-if-we had never sinned.  Where there is no sin, there is no guilty conscience! 

APPLICATION:   When I receive Jesus as my Savior, I am admitting the terribleness of my sins and that I cannot save myself from their penalty.  I am believing that the value of the His sinless death is far greater than the penalty for my sins.  It so far exceeds the penalty I deserve, that it even clears my conscience!  I am assured that no other payment is needed.  The sin debt is paid in full.

PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, you have provided for me what no other can.  Thank you for a clear conscience!  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

Personal note:  I am still in the hospital with a chest tube draining fluid from my lung compartment.  It may need to remain until Monday.  After having the fluid removed yesterday, this morning I weighed 18 pounds less!  When I am allowed to go outside, I will need to be careful that the wind does not blow me over.  Ha!