January 24, 2021: SOAP #4070:  Exodus 9-11; Luke 24

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 24:5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” 8 Then they remembered his words.

OBSERVATION:  This should have been no surprise.  This had all been explained to them earlier.   Now it was coming back.  Their minds found their way back to the words of Jesus.  Yes, He had said this would happen.  They remembered His words. 

How much better it would have been for them if they had remembered earlier.  The cross would have not seemed so final.  They would have looked forward to this day with expectation!  They could have left their spices brought to perfume the body of Jesus—they could have left them at home. 

But only afterward did they remember! 

APPLICATION:   I considered the past two and a half months of surgery recovery as a challenge.  Four or five times a day I reminded God (and myself) of what He said to me few hours before checking into the hospital.  “He was not going to go with me; I was going to go with Him!”  He was not there for my purpose; I was there for His purpose. 

Remembering His words kept me living in victory, even when in quarantine for the virus.  Remembering His words caused me to look for opportunities to witness and minister to those coming into my room.  Remembering His words filled my heart with joy that the Creator of the Universe would speak to me personally.  When it was discovered that an accident during the heart repair was causing my chest cavity to fill with fluid, and I was readmitted to a hospital, I remembered His words. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, continue to bring God’s words to my memory.  Let me not forget.   Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

My personal SOAP saga:  Today as yesterday!   Praise the Lord! 

January 23, 2021: SOAP #4069:  Exodus 6-8; Luke 23

SCRIPTURE:  Exodus (NIV) 6:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. 2 You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt, 4 he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites. 5 And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.”

OBSERVATION:  It was time for God to keep His promise to Abraham.  The Israelites would need to fight to take over the Promised Land.  The book of Joshua describes their battles. 
     But before they could conquer their Promised Land, they must first get out of Egypt!  The deliverance was to be God’s work.  God did not give Moses a battle plan; He only gave Moses information of what HE would do!  This whole sixth chapter of Exodus is God declaring what HE was going to do! 
     Deliverance from Egypt—God did the fighting.  Conquering of the Promised land—Israel did the fighting.   

APPLICATION:   In considering the above, I see a large picture of God’s plan for me/each believer.  My deliverance from sin comes totally at Christ’s expense.  As the Israelites could do nothing to save themselves, so I can do nothing to save myself! 
     Now that I am saved, God gives me instructions on how to live.  Through His Word He shows me how to live and establish His kingdom in my life. 

PRAYER:  Jesus, thank you for delivering me from sin.  And now, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, and in following Your example, you want ME to bring my life into the fullness of your Kingdom.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

My personal SOAP saga:  Day three of bus driving!   Monday, I have a follow-up appointment for an x-ray and meeting with a surgeon to see if there is any fluid in my chest cavity.  I am believing he will find all as God created it, within normal limits.  😊 

January 22, 2021: SOAP #4068:  Exodus 3-5; Luke 22

SCRIPTURE:  Exodus (NIV) 4:30 and Aaron told them everything the LORD had said to Moses. He also performed the signs before the people, 31 and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshipped.

OBSERVATION:  What joy! What relief!  God knew about their troubles with the Egyptians!  God was concerned!  They were to hold a holy day to the Lord in the desert.  God was going to deliver them from Egypt!!!  BUT in the next chapter we read:

SCRIPTURE:  Exodus (NIV) 5:15 Then the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why have you treated your servants this way? 16 Your servants are given no straw, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.” 17 Pharaoh said, “Lazy, that’s what you are—lazy! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’

OBSERVATION:  The Egyptians stopped supplying the straw, but demanded they continue meeting the same quota of bricks every day!  They beat them if they fell short. 

APPLICATION:   Did God keep His promises?  Absolutely!  But it did not happen as quickly as the Israelites would have liked.  Troubles increased as the Egyptians demanded the impossible. 

I have heard many promises of revival!  God wants to bless His church with a time of miracles.  BUT my heart tells me that it will not come as quickly as we would like.  There is a time of trouble coming, and in many places already here.  In the trouble we will call out to God and God will answer, God will send miraculous provision, God will deliver, God will heal those who have no doctor, God’s presence will be heavy on His people, God will be glorified. 

PRAYER:  Father, in your love and wisdom keep us in your care.   Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

My personal SOAP saga:  Day two of bus driving!  What a joy to see the students again.  God specifically told me to.  So, I will continue until He makes it clear that he has somewhere else for me to spend my time. 

January 21, 2021: SOAP #4067:  Exodus 1-2; Psalm 88; Luke 21

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 21:1 As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

OBSERVATION:  My observations:  1. Offerings are open to all.  No one can give too much; no one can give too little.  2. There are people who can see our giving.  3. The Watcher, Jesus sees our giving.  4. People consider the gift according to its monitory value.  5. Jesus considers the gift according to the sacrifice required; He knows what is left after the offering has been given. 

APPLICATION:   Tax time is drawing near.  This is the month businesses are required to provide each employee a record of earnings for 2020.  It is also a month when charitable organizations (including churches) send a record of donations to those who gave to them in 2020. 

As I consider the money I received and the money I gave, I wonder what my heavenly receipt record would show.  If Jesus were preparing my 2020 giving report, would He have any comments?   

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you are the one who has promised to supply all the needs of a giver.  And you are the one whispering into my mind to increase a certain area of giving.  Since you are our Provider, how can I say no.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

My personal SOAP saga:  Praise the Lord!!!  Today I drove both my morning and afternoon school bus routes!    It was good to be back with the students.  To God be all the glory! 

January 20, 2021: SOAP #4066:  Genesis 49-50; Psalm 8; Luke 20

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 8:4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: 7 all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

OBSERVATION:  God is mindful of man.  God cared for Adam and Eve, and for all who have been born of their decedents.  God has set his thoughts on man.  God is interested in how man responds to Him and His Word. 

In ability, knowledge, and strength, man does not measure up to angels, yet God has placed all His creative works in the earth under man’s care and supervision.  All creation is affected by man’s decisions.

I believe the greatest power given to man is the ability to influence the emotions of God.  Because of God’s immeasurable love for man, man can cause God great pain or bring God great joy.

APPLICATION:   I am His by creation and by the death of Jesus (He made me, and He bought me).  He loves me for just being me.  I am His child.  So, as I mature, I want to grow in living this life that He shares with me in a way that honors Him and makes Him look good.  Loving God, it is my joy to bring Him joy—to make Him smile.  Loving God, it makes me sad to think that something I have said or done cause Him pain. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I want to live a life that brings you great joy.  May my love for You be well known. Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

My personal SOAP saga:  Praise the Lord!  Today I was able to get everything accomplished for the medical approval for the CDL.  This afternoon, I rode along on the route that I have driven for 10 years.  It made my heart rejoice to see the students again!  I know this is in answer to the many prayers that have been made to our Heavenly Father.  😊 

January 19, 2021: SOAP #4065:  Genesis 47-48; Psalm 10; Luke 19

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 10:12 Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. 13 Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, “He won’t call me to account”? 14 But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.

OBSERVATION:  The Psalmist makes it clear; God is the helper of the fatherless.   

APPLICATION:  Here is an excerpt from “George Muller” by J. Gilchrist Lawson:   Greatest of all Muller’s undertakings was the erection and maintenance of the great orphanages at Bristol. He began the undertaking with only two shillings (50 cents) in his pocket; but in answer to prayer and without making his needs known to human beings, he received the means necessary to erect the great buildings [5 orphanages] and to feed the orphans [10,000] day by day for sixty years. In all that time the children did not have to go without a meal, and Mr. Muller said that if they ever had to go without a meal, he would take it as evidence that the Lord did not will the work to continue.   

          When we ask man to help us, we get what man can provide.  But when we ask God to help, we get what God can provide!   Of course, God will use man in many ways to be a part of His answer, but the glory must go to God alone for He alone heard the prayers.  And those participating in God’s answer rejoice in hearing His voice and being a part of His answer. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, anoint me to build faith in your Word.  I pray especially for those who have the responsibility to provide for the helpless and fatherless children.  Build their faith.  May their ministry be proof that you hear and answer prayer.  Give them testimonies like the one above, testimonies that can encourage others.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

My personal SOAP saga:  Tomorrow I go to the VA to get a printout of my night-time breathing machine, then back to the medical off to get the physical finalized, then to the Driver’s License Office, and finally to the Bus Barn!  Should start driving Wednesday morning!   Praise the Lord!!!  

January 18, 2021: SOAP #4064:  Genesis 44-46; Luke 18

SCRIPTURE:  Genesis (NIV) 46:2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied. 3 “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 4 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.”

OBSERVATION:   God is speaking to Jacob and giving him direction to move ahead and travel to Egypt where he will see his son Joseph.  The emphasis in this passage is not in what God wants Jacob to do, but on what God is going to do for Jacob!  

APPLICATION:   When God gives me an assignment, He is not depending on my ability to accomplish the assignment, but on His ability to work through me.  In giving me an assignment, He is looking for an opportunity to demonstrate His power, His wisdom, His provision.  He is looking to display His all-surpassing ability through my weaknesses.  He is looking to display His provision through my lack.   He is looking to display His wisdom through my obedience. 

The key is to know His voice and to do what God directs.  If it is His will, He will be responsible for everything.  If I am doing what I think is best, then it becomes my responsibility.  I have faith for His provision when I know that I am doing His will.  I have His presence promised to me! 

My goal is not to show what I can do, but to be an avenue for God to show what He can do.  My life is to be a window through which people can see Jesus! 

PRAYER:  Lord, make me a clean window so that it will be easy for people to see you in me and working through me.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

My personal SOAP saga:  Nothing new to report.  God’s healing work continues to be evident in my physical body!   Again: thanks for your prayers and all the glory goes to Jesus! 

January 17, 2021: SOAP #4063:  Genesis 42-43; Psalm 5; Luke 17

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 17:3 So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”
5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

OBSERVATION:   It takes faith to forgive. 

APPLICATION:    It takes faith that God has forgiven me.  Being forgiven with the Great Forgiver living inside me, I am not given a choice, I must forgive. 

It takes faith that God will work in my feelings.  I must understand that forgetting is a process, but forgiveness is a choice.  When I choose God’s way, I can count on Him to help me.  As I meditate on what God has done for me, the many times He has forgiven me, the hurt of the memories fade and soon become like something I read in a book instead of personally suffered. 

It takes faith that God works through all things for good.  The process that brought us to owning the house in which we live, started with our rent being raised $100/month not once, but twice in one year!  There was anger; there was hurt feelings; we had been wronged.  But God used it for good! 

PRAYER:  Great Forgiver, you are my Lord; you are working to make me like you.  When I sin and you forgive me, you do not hold me at arm’s length away, but you draw me near to your heart.  Help me do the same to those who sin against me. Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

My personal SOAP saga:  It has been nine days since the doctor drained 2.4 liters of fluid from my chest.  I have had no return of symptoms of fluid restricting my lungs.  I give God praise and I give thanks to all who have prayed for me!  God is the victor!  To Him be the glory! Tuesday I will go to the VA Hospital to get a readout of my CPAC use then take it to the clinic so they can finish my CDL physical.  A week from Monday I will have a chest x-ray and visit with the doctor to verify what God has done. 

January 16, 2021: SOAP #4062:  Genesis 39-41; Luke 16

SCRIPTURE:  Genesis (NIV) 41:47 During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully. 48 Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. … 53 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food.

Luke (NIV) 16:9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

OBSERVATION:   In Genesis we read the story of Joseph storing up the abundance from seven fruitful years to be used in the seven years of famine that would follow.  They were looking ahead and preparing for the future. 

In Luke we read Jesus parable about the steward who was about to lose his job.  He used the money in his authority to make friends for when he was out of work.   He was preparing for the future.  Jesus concludes his story telling those listening to use their worldly wealth to make friends that would welcome them into heaven. 

APPLICATION:    Financial advisors advise us on what should happen to our money after we die, but they say nothing about what will happen to us after we die.  They plan our present life as though we have no future life.  To them death is the end all.  Jesus did not make that mistake!   You need a financial advisor with the big picture!  Do not just invest your money to plan for your retirement, invest your money to plan for your eternity!

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to invest in your kingdom.  I can invest my service, my talents, my possessions, my experience, my money, and my time.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

My personal SOAP saga:  Another good day!  Contacted the VA for another printout from my CPAC machine.  Monday is a holiday, so, I will go Tuesday.  That should complete the bus driving physical.  Praise the Lord! 

January 15, 2021: SOAP #4061:  Genesis 37-38; Psalm 7; Luke 15

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 15:5 And when he finds it [the lost sheep], he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent…

9  And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” … 

32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

OBSERVATION:    If one can understand the joy of finding a lost sheep, if one can understand the joy of finding a lost coin, if one can understand the need for a father’s celebration—then one can understand the rejoicing in heaven when a sinner repents.  It is natural.  It is logical.  It is proper.  It is expected.  It is what you do when something of value that was lost is restored!  And what is of more value than a person! 

Every sinner that repents is another validation of the death of Jesus! 

APPLICATION:  Anyone wanting to bring joy to the Father and anyone wanting to honor Jesus for His great sacrifice should be working to rescue others from sin.  If I want to bring joy to the courts of heaven and cause a celebration, I should be witnessing every day to someone.  After all, “It is no secret what God can do. What He’s done for others, He’ll do for you!” 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, make me aware of every opportunity to let others know what Jesus has done for me and what He can to do for them. Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

My personal SOAP saga:  Went back to the clinic doing the DOT physical, showing proof that I had met the CPAC requirements, but since it was not so noted on the first page, they would not accept!  I’ll try again Monday.  Physically, I am doing great, thanks for all the prayers!