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! 

December 12, 2020: SOAP #4027 (from 2010): Hebrews 5-8

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews 5:8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him

OBSERVATION:   I had to read it again.  Did it really say what I thought?  Did it really say that Jesus was made perfect?  Wasn’t He already perfect?  The answer is Yes and No. 

“Yes,” Jesus was the perfect, sin-free Son of God.  He was God in the flesh!  He was the perfect God-man. 

And “No,” he was not the perfect sacrifice until he had been tempted and tested.  To be the perfect sacrifice for sin, He had to be tested.  His was a proven sacrifice.  His was a sacrifice of demonstrated worthiness.  

APPLICATION:   Being tempted and tested is important in my life too.  God already knows my heart, but Satan does not and neither do the people around me.  They get to know me when they see me under pressure.   When people witness my life under pressure, and they see Jesus shining through, I become a credible witness because it is under pressure the inside of my life becomes visible to those on the outside. 

PRAYER:   Lord, here I am in the hospital.  Shine through me.  Use me to encourage those who come into my room.  May they leave with a thought about you in their heart and a smile on their face.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

Personal note:  The doctors talked me into letting them place a tube into my lung cavity for several days.  Today was tough day for me, but very productive.  Day before yesterday they drained 1.5 liters of fluid from my chest.  Today the tube drained continuously for 4 liters before having a break in the flow!  (Note: I do not recommend this as a weight loss plan!  Ha!)  I will be in the hospital for ? days, but I have great company.  Can you believe it?  II am with the King of kings!!!  

December 11, 2020: SOAP #4026:  Philemon; Hebrews 1-4

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

OBSERVATION:  When one realizes the terribleness of sin and how much it displeases God, they come to the obvious conclusion.  They cannot save themselves!   They cannot go back and undo their sins.  They cannot rid themselves of their past.  Somewhere they need to find mercy. 

Where does one go to find mercy?  Where does one go to find mercy strong enough to remove sin and its stains?  Where does one go to find a mercy that can make me just-as-if-I’d never sinned?  There is a place, but there is only one place:  the throne of grace!   It is there the intense love of God for man freely provides such a forgiveness! 

APPLICATION:  At the throne of grace we find a God who is both merciful and just.  He is much too just to ignore our sins. He is much too loving to leave us without a way of salvation.  By faith we receive the death of Jesus as the payment for our sins!  He is much too wise to leave us alone in a world of temptation, so He provides grace to help us.  He provides His presence to accompany and empower to overcome the temptations of the world.  

PRAYER:  Great Creator, you made us; you knew what we needed!  You provided perfectly to meet our need.  May we not be so foolish to ignore what you have so freely provided.  May we never live a day without appreciating your justice, your love, and your wisdom.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

Personal note:  I remain in the hospital for a few more days.  My blood and the 1.5 liters of fluid removed show no infection.  All antibiotics are stopped until a further check in two days.  Meanwhile they are working removing excess fluids from my body.  I still do not recognize any COVID symptoms.  I continue to feel great.  It is like I am on a spiritual retreat.  I trust God is enjoying my ukulele.  Thanks to all for your prayers.  Sharon is doing great, working on projects at home.  We are thankful for video phones!  

December 10, 2020: SOAP #4025:  2Timothy 1-4

SCRIPTURE:  2Timothy (NIV) 2:21 If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

OBSERVATION:  In verse 21 I see some worthy goals for each believer.  First: being an instrument for noble purposes speaks to me about limiting my intake of questionable things.  Some things may not be wrong, but they detract from honoring God. 
Second: no one can be holy by their own works.  We must be MADE holy by the applied blood of Jesus. 
Third:  when we know and live by our noble purpose, we become “useful to the Master.”  Jesus is not a useful add-on to our lives.  We are useful to Him!  We are use-able.  He is able to use us!  
Then we are living on His timetable.  Our will is secondary to His.  We are prepared to interrupt our schedule to be useful in His schedule.   Being “prepared to do any good work,” even the humble assignments. 

APPLICATION:  It is tempting to push ahead in ministry; we see the need; we see the potential; we run ahead to meet the challenge.  Then when the challenges overtake us, we look around to see who we can get to put their finances in our need.  If we would follow Him, instead of running ahead of Him, we would be working on His timetable.  When we arrive at the challenge, we would find He already is working on the answer.  The burden is on Him to provide for His plan.  We are free to do His will. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I have contemplated about how I can use you to reach my goals.  Holy Spirit guide my thoughts as to how God can use me to accomplish His will.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

Personal update:  The labs came back to report no bacteria in the fluids removed from the lung cavity.  It was quite cloudy, so they thought there was an infection.  They are stopping any antibiotics and want to do another set of tests in two days.  Having the mitral valve ring and pacemaker, it is very important that there be no infection.  I am still having trouble with the heart rhythm, but that may resolve itself before too long.  Finally, I am still in a quarantine area, but the only symptom I have is the positive test.