Author Archives: SOAPs by Leon

Unknown's avatar

About SOAPs by Leon

At the end of my first year in Bible College, the Lord sent me into the US Navy. It was at a serviceman's center in San Diego where I met and married Sharon. During the final years of the ten years I spent in the US Navy, most with the US Marine Corps as a hospital corpsman, I became the pastor of Bayview Chapel A/G in Kaneohe, Hawaii. After 17 years, the Lord sent us back to my birth state, Kansas, where we were pastors of Andover Assembly of God for 20 years. In retirement, the Lord has given me two assignments: first is to write these daily devotions. You are being allowed to eves drop in on what He is saying to me. You will notice the applications are usually in the first person. The second assignment is to drive a school bus. What a privilege to serve others in this practical way and to interact with people outside the church environment. My heart smiles as I continue to joyfully serve my God and others. :) A third assignment from the Kansas Assemblies of God is to be the ministry coordinator for the Kansas Senior Adult Ministries. My wife, Sharon and myself enjoy traveling around the state of Kansas, visiting the churches and encouraging ministry to senior adults and the ministries of senior adults.

Called, Chosen, & Faithful

Posted on by
Reply

September 12: Daniel 3-4; Psalm 81; Revelation 17

Scripture: Revelation 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Observation: Jesus was introduced to the world by John the Baptist as the Lamb. The context of this verse shows a ten nation confederacy submitting their power to Satan’s kingdom to make war against the Lamb. The outcome of this war is not in doubt.

With the Lamb are those who have been called, then they have been chosen, and finally they have proven faithful.

Application: I cannot do the calling. God calls me as the Holy Spirit convicts me of sin and draws me to His forgiveness. I cannot do the choosing. God chooses to place His Spirit within me. But I can be faithful. I can be faithful to listen and to obey.

Prayer: Lord, you have loved me and proved again and again your love for me. How can I not be faithful to you! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Provision

Posted on by
Reply

September 11: Daniel 1-2; Revelation 16

Scripture: Daniel 1:16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
17 ¶ To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

Observation: At Daniel’s request, he and his friends were allowed to set aside the royal food prepared for the king. The guard then gave them a simple diet of vegetables.

In these verses, my attention was drawn to the difference between what man can provide and what God can provide.

Application: There are things that God may use other people to provide but there are some things that only God can provide. I am foolish to value what man can provide above what God can provide. I am foolish to look to man to give what only God can give. I am foolish to settle for what man can provide when my loving Creator has offered to accept me as His son!

Prayer: Lord, My life comes from you and only You can provide what I really need. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

…from every generation

Posted on by
Reply

September 10: Lamentations 3-5; Revelation 15

Scripture: Revelation 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

Observation: The song mentioned in the previous chapter is a new song; in this chapter the singers sing an old song, all the way back to Moses.

Each generation has its own songs, its own style of music, and its own instruments.

Various styles of music are somewhat like the various languages. People may be saying the same thing I am saying, but if I do not understand their language I am left out of the conversation.

Application: It is my opinion that all the styles of music will be present in heaven. When I am in a worship service where I cannot understand the melody, or rhythm, I focus on the words and join the worship with my heart. If I cannot understand the words, I observe the other worshippers and am thankful that God receiving glory from their lives.

Prayer: Lord, You are worthy of the worship of every generation! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Fresh Praise

Posted on by
Reply

September 9: Lamentations 1-2; Obadiah; Revelation 14

Scripture: Revelation 14:2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.
3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No-one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

Observation: I remember when one of my high school teachers took a few of us to Lindsborg, Kansas where Bethany College, with people from the community, performed Handle’s Messiah. I had never heard such a large choir, with a full orchestra, and special soloists. It was awe inspiring! But what will it be to hear a choir of 144,000 voices, singing their new song before the throne.

Application: I believe the Lord wants a new song from me—a song that only I can sing because I am the only one who has experienced it. It doesn’t have to rhyme; it doesn’t have to have a beautiful melody. It only has to come from my heart. Every day provides something for which to praise Him in a different form.

Prayer: Lord, May my heart be full of fresh praise. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

…in the city!

Posted on by
Reply

September 8: Jeremiah 42-44; Psalm 48; Revelation 13

Scripture: Psalm 48:1 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.

Observation: God is greatly to be praised. The psalmist saw God as great in the city of Jerusalem where he lived.

Application: I can see God is great and greatly to be praised where I live. As I drive the school bus through the rural areas around the city of Andover, Kansas, I can praise Him for the beauty of the sky and the earth, the trees and the hills, the wild turkeys and the deer. As I drive through Andover, I can praise Him for setting people in families and in neighborhoods, for giving people who serve in city government and for those serving in our schools, for the parks and the roads, for the banks and restaurants…Indeed God is greatly to be praised!!! Reasons to praise Him abound!

Prayer: Lord, You are great and greatly to be praised! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

The devil’s work

Posted on by
Reply

September 7: 2Kings 25; 2Chronicles 36; Jeremiah 40-41; Revelation 12

Scripture: Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.

Observation: In this verse we get some insight on the work of our enemy, the devil. He is a tattle-tale. He brings up all the wrongs of God’s people. He wants to make us look bad and make God disappointed in us. He wants to convince God that the plan to create a body of people from the earth to rule and reign has failed. He would like to prove that Jesus died for nothing so he points out the failures of those for whom Jesus died.

Application: I need to remember that when I sin, I am giving the devil opportunity to accuse me before God. I want to be quick to seek God’s forgiveness, turn away from sin, and live in such a way that the devil has nothing to throw in God’s face.

And also I need to remember that when I am talking bad about my brothers and sisters I am helping the devil in his work.

Prayer: Lord, Today let my mouth be filled with praise for you and encouragement for others. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

What a difference!

Posted on by
Reply

September 6: Ezekiel 29-32; Revelation 11

Scripture: Revelation 11: 13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 ¶ The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.
15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God,

Observation: In my reading this morning my attention was drawn to the difference between what was happening on earth and what was happening in heaven. The inhabitants of earth are reaping the rewards of evil. Those on earth, who give glory to God, do so motivated by terror. The inhabitants of heaven are enjoying the Presence of Almighty God. Those in heaven, who give glory to God, do so motivated by honor and appreciation for this Perfectly Holy Being who is all powerful and in control.

Application: It is good to consider the differences between the Kingdom of Heaven and the kingdoms of this earth. There are so many! I am so blest to be a part of the Kingdom of Heaven! I hope it is obvious to everyone!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for living in me and making me a part of your kingdom. May it be obvious to others that I consider myself greatly blest to be a part of your kingdom. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

God, still keeping His promises!

Posted on by
Reply

September 5: Ezekiel 25-28; Revelation 10

Scripture: Ezekiel 28:25 “‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: When I gather the people of Israel from the nations where they have been scattered, I will show myself holy among them in the sight of the nations. Then they will live in their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob.
26 They will live there in safety and will build houses and plant vineyards; they will live in safety when I inflict punishment on all their neighbors who maligned them. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God.’”

Observation: I have had people ask me if I thought the church had taken the place of Israel in God’s plan and if the prophecies concerning Israel were really for the church. I cannot see any interpretation of the verses above other than the nation of Israel living in the land God promised Abraham. I believe a time is coming when they will dwell there in safety.

Application: The rainbow in the sky serves for me as visible proof that God keeps His promise made to Noah. The existence of Israel back in the land God promised Abraham serves for me as visible proof that God still keeps His promise made to Abraham. My time in the US Navy, my wife, our ministry in Hawaii, our son, our ministry in Kansas all serve to remind me that God is still keeping His promises to me!

Prayer: Lord, among so many other titles, Promise Keeper fits You well. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

God’s Army Headquarters

Posted on by
Reply

September 4: Ezekiel 22-24; Revelation 9

Scripture: Revelation 9:13 The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is before God.
14 It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.
15 And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.
16 The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number.

Observation: In these verses I see heaven as God’s kingdom headquarters. It is the place from which He leads His armies. From there His war against evil is directed. God’s generals/angels are not there to advise the Commander-in-chief, but to carry out His orders. There is a clear chain of command and only those willing to be under authority are put in authority.

Application: In the family it is called “obedience.” In the army it is called “carrying out orders.” I love my father, so I obey him. I respect my commander-in-chief so I carry out his orders. As a youth I entered my home with, “Hey Mom, what’s for dinner?” In the Navy, I left my Commanding Officer’s quarters saying, “Yes sir!”

When I first accepted the Lord as my Savior, I entered my Father’s house. He did so much for me. Later I learned that my Father is also the Commanding General and I am in His army. He had orders that were specific for me to carry out. I had to learn about authority, how to be under authority and how to be in authority. The Lord sent me into the Navy where I spent most of ten years with the Marine Corps. I found to be promoted to a place where I could give orders, I had to first prove myself in a place where I could take orders.

Prayer: Lord, it is my desire to lovingly carry out your orders as you lovingly give them. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Trust–it just makes sense!

Posted on by
Reply

September 3: Ezekiel 20-21; Psalm 111; Revelation 8

Scripture: Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

Observation: Anyone who has some concept of the greatness of God’s power and hatred of sin is wise to fear Him. The fear of the Lord is the beginning, but there is so much more. As we follow His directives, our understanding increases. Our understanding of life, of who we are, of why we are here, of suffering, of tribulation, and so many other things begins to logically find its place around our faith in a loving Creator.

Application: I want to grow in my knowledge of God and understanding of the world into which He placed me. I believe God knows what is happening and has a plan for this world and for me. The more I understand about His wisdom and love, the more I can trust Him with matters that I do not understand. It just makes so much sense!

Prayer: Lord, the more I know you, the more logical it is to trust you with things I do not understand. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!