Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 09, 2026:  SOAP #5940:   Deuteronomy 10-12; Mark 16

SCRIPTURE:  Mark 16:6   “Don’t be alarmed,” he said.  “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified.  He has risen!  He is not here.  See the place where they laid him. 
7   But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee.  There you will see him, just as he told you.’”  (NIV)

OBSERVATION:  The ladies came looking for a dead body in a sealed tomb.  They found an open tomb with a living messenger telling them that Jesus was alive!  They came prepared to anoint a dead body, but they were sent away with a message!  They were sent to remind Peter that Jesus would do just as Jesus had told Peter.  (Mark 14:28)

APPLICATION:  How important it is for me to remember what Jesus has told me.  Sometimes I need Jesus to send people my way to remind me of what He has said to me.    

But He already knew I would need help remembering S0… He sent the Holy Spirit who lives inside me—He is always that close.  AND He speaks to me.  He helps me remember the words of Jesus.  (John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.)

PRAYER:  Lord, you know how quickly I can forget what you have said to me.  Thank you for the scriptures; thank you for the Holy Spirit; and thank you for people you use to remind me of what You have said!    Amen

Pastor        
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 07, 2026:  SOAP #5938:   Deuteronomy 5-6; Psalm 43; Mark 14

SCRIPTURE:  Deuteronomy (NIV) 5:3 It was not with our ancestors that the LORD made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today. 
4 The LORD spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain.   

OBSERVATION:  Before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, Moses in his farewell address reminds the people of Israel that they had personally seen and heard God. 

Every generation needs their own encounter with God.  How right it is that new worship songs are continually being written by people experiencing their own encounters with God.   

Writing out SOSAPs are a good way to emphasize that God is speaking today, to me!  Starting with a sheet of paper that has “SOAP for Saturday, March 7, 2026 at the top.  Make a list down the left side of the chapters you will be reading today.  List the verses that seem to hold special meaning to you.  After completing your reading, choose one to use for your SOAP. 

APPLICATION:  I will always enjoy what God has done in my past.  The songs of the past will continue to stir my heart.  But I desire to continue rejoicing with the younger generation as we together experience God and lift our voices in praise with new expressions of worship.         

PRAYER:  Lord, Continue to remind me of what you have said to me and done for me in the past.  Use me to remind others of your personal involvement in our lives.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
Also on:  https://soapsbyleon.com

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 04, 2026:  SOAP #5935:   Numbers 34-36; Mark 11

SCRIPTURE: Mark (NIV) 11:20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig-tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig-tree you cursed has withered!” 22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

OBSERVATION:  Faith is a mental conviction strong enough to affect my actions.  As I see it, faith does not release my power and ability; it releases the power and ability of the one in whom I place my faith.  Acting in faith is a confession of my weaknesses and dependence on the one in whom I have faith.

Faith is only as strong as the foundation on which it rests.  The greatest faith has the greatest foundation.  Jesus said, “Have faith in God.” 

APPLICATION:  To have faith in God, I need to know what He is like.  Is He trustworthy?  What pleases Him?  And of course, does He speak?  What has He said? 

For example, I know what God has said about giving.  My faith in God makes me a giver.  My giving releases God to fulfill His word of blessing, of reward, of provision, etc. to me.  He does more than I could ever do.  God’s actions in response to my giving causes my faith to grow. 

I also know what God has said about forgiving…about relationships…about fellowship…about…  When my faith in God causes me to obey His word, I release His wisdom and power on my behalf. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, in great wisdom, you gave us the Bible so we would know you are, how I can trust you, and what you have said.  Thank you.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
Also on:  https://soapsbyleon.com

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 03, 2026:  SOAP #5934:   Numbers 32-33; Mark 10

SCRIPTURE:  :  Mark (NIV) 10:46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. …49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.”  …51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” 52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

OBSERVATION:  Blind Bartimaeus was not blind any more!  I believe he was at the front of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem that we read about in the next chapter!  

APPLICATION:  This last November I was reading this chapter and wrote some great testimonies of God moving in Sierra Leon.  Today I got a report of SOAP ministry in Liberia.  Different people, different places, different situations, but the Same God!!!   Sick people healed, blind people seeing, lame people walking, just like Jesus ministry and the book of Acts.  Thousands of Muslims responding to the Spirit of God and making Jesus the Lord of their lives!!  

Pray for God to provide Bibles and churches.  Presently they are meeting three times a week to encourage the new believers.  Pray for churches to be planted. 

PRAYER:  Lord, as you were walking on this earth, as you were moving by your Holy Spirit in the book of Acts, as you were moving two months ago in Sierra Leon, and as you are moving this week in Liberia, so move in our hearts and our neighborhoods, cities, areas, and nations.  Move across the whole world, we pray.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
Also on:  https://soapsbyleon.com

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 2, 2026:  SOAP #5933:   Numbers 30-31; Mark 9

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 9:7  Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus often referred to the God in Heaven as “his Father.”  He even taught his followers to pray, “Our Father which art in heaven…” 

But in this verse, it is not Jesus making the claim that God is his Father, but the Father claiming that Jesus is His SON!  

The God in Heaven is over all.  He was present enough to hear what was happening on that mount.  He made Himself a part of the narrative!  He verified the relationship that Jesus had claimed. 

What encouraging comfort this must have been to Jesus who was here on earth, living as a man, having laid down His God-like attributes, taking on the great task of making the sacrifice to erase the sins of all who would receive Him!   THE FATHER CALLED HIM “MY SON!”   

APPLICATION:  Anyone can call God, God.  I can speak of Him as God.  I can even call Him “my God.”  Oh, but when He calls me “His son,” or “His child.”  He is saying I am a part of His family!  He is saying I belong to Him.  He is saying that I am locked into a special relationship with Him. 

I can expect Him to treat me as His child or His son.  I know He loves me.  I know He is working for my good.  I can expect him to correct me and discipline me. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, help me grow in understanding this wonderful relationship we have together.  As your child, I have grown to be your son.  As your son, I am growing to understand your ways and express your character here.  May I bring you honor.  As Your son, may I bring joy to your heart.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
Also on:  https://soapsbyleon.com

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 01, 2026:  SOAP #5932:   Numbers 28-29; Mark 8

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 8:1 During those days another large crowd gathered.  Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2 “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” 4 His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?” 5 How many loaves do you have? Jesus asked.  “Seven” they replied.     

OBSERVATION:  The crowd was hungry and needed something to eat.  Jesus had compassion—he understood the need.  The miracle of feeding the 4,000 with only seven loaves and few small fish ended with seven basketfuls of leftovers!  It all started with Jesus asking what they had. 

It is good to note that feeding the people was Jesus’ idea.  The disciples were participating in His ministry.  Jesus was not accompanying them to support them and to make sure that their ministry was successful.  They were with HIM.  They were assisting HIM.  They had not gathered the crowd and then realized that they did not have enough.  They were with HIM and doing what HE gave them to do. 

APPLICATION: The hungry people were not the disciple’s problem, but His.  Many times, the need I face is because I have not carefully been following His directions.  Something seemed good to me, and I rushed ahead to do something great for the Lord.  The problems are mine! 

If I am in step with Jesus, not running ahead nor lagging behind, I will discover that He has already made provision.  What He has provided may seem insufficient, but He is the “Great Multiplier!”  

PRAYER:  Jesus, thank you for letting me be a part of what you are doing.  You make what seems to be insufficient to be sufficient—even more than sufficient!   (Note: this SOAP ministry is YOUR ministry!) Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
Also on:  https://soapsbyleon.com

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 28, 2026:  SOAP #5931:   Numbers 24-27; 1Corinthians 13

NOTE: 02/28/26:  God is still talking to me through this SOAP.  It breaks my heart to think of how much God loves me, and, in comparison, how little I love Him. Lord, fill me with you and express your love through me. Amen

NOTE 11/25:  Today’s SOAP is a repeat from earlier this year.  After doing these SOAPs for 15+ years, I do repeat some, usually taking an old one and prayerfully re-working it.  This is the first time I have ever taken one so recent to repeat, and with so little editing.  I try to listen to the Lord and send out a SOAP that HE is speaking to me.  Maybe this SOAP is only for me, but the Application is breaking my heart.  

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

OBSERVATION:   Put prophecy, wisdom and faith in verse 2 and generosity and sacrifice in verse 3 – all on one side of God’s scale.  Then put love as the lone quality on the other side.  It will not be balanced!  What is it about love that makes God give it so much value?  I asked the Lord and He dropped these words in my heart: 

Having prophecy, wisdom, faith, generosity, and sacrifice makes people love me.  Having God’s love makes me love others, even those who do not love me. 

APPLICATION:   The important thing is not how much others love me, but how much I love others!   It is not about being so “nice” that people love me, it is about being so full of God that I love people, especially those hard to love. 

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, surely, no one has ever loved you the way you have loved us. I am certain that I have never loved you the way you have loved me.  Holy Spirit, help me grow in loving God.  Help me faithfully express my love to God by loving those around me, not only in the big ways, but especially in the little ways, and especially when no one is watching but You.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
Also on:  https://soapsbyleon.com