Tag Archives: christmas

Furnished and Ready

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 22, 2026:  SOAP #5894   Exodus 3-5; Luke 22

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 22:9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.  10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there.”

OBSERVATION:  I wonder about the history of this house.  Was it built with a guest room?  Had a son or daughter once lived in the room?  When they moved out, did it become the guest room?  Whatever, it was now a designated guest room.  It was furnished and ready for guests. 

Jesus was not making his permanent residence in this “guest room.”  It was just a short stop on the way to the cross.

APPLICATION:  So it is with my physical body.  This is not my permanent residence.  When I die, I will leave it behind.  At the resurrection, it will be changed to be like his glorious body!  This worldly residence I live in is not my permanent home.  I am just passing through.  I should consider it as a “guest room.” It is to be furnished and ready as a guest room for Jesus to use as He desires. 

PRAYER:  Jesus, this body is yours to use how and when you desire.  You may want to use it as a meeting place for some of your disciples.  You may want to use it to meet with people who have not yet made you their Lord and Savior.   What a special honor that you would use me as your “guest room.” Amen

Pastor Leon
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My celebration!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 24, 2025:  SOAP #5865: John 19-21

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 19:17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).
18 Here they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

OBSERVATION:  As we are now in the season in which we celebrate the birth of Jesus, it is good to remember the reason He came to earth was to die for our sins.  The story of His birth continued to His death, then continued to His resurrection, and continues even to today! 

APPLICATION:  In a small, yet wonderful way, I have become a part of the continuing Christmas story.   When Jesus forgave my sins and adopted me into His family, I became a part of the continuing story of Christmas.  The Christ who came to the earth to die for me, today by His Spirit lives in me.  Everyday is part of the Christmas story for me! 

And for those who have recently committed their lives to Jesus as their Lord and Savior, every day now is part of the Christmas story.  We are the reason Jesus came.  We are the reason Jesus died…He did not die for His sine, but for mine and yours. 

The Bible does not tell us how to celebrate His birth, or even that it is important to have a special celebration, but the Bible is clear on how we are to celebrate His death.  With the broken bread we celebrate His broken body, and with the cup we celebrate His life that is not in us!  We celebrate His resurrection in our baptism, identifying with Him in being buried in the water and brought up from the water as a type of our resurrection. 

PRAYER:  Lord, as I celebrate your coming to earth, I especially celebrate your coming into my life.  The Christmas story continues in me.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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What can I give?

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 19, 2025:  SOAP #5830: Matthew 1-4

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” …11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

OBSERVATION:  People sought out Jesus for many reasons.  Some came to ask questions.  Some came to find fault.  Some came to find relief from some physical ailment.  Most came for themselves, but some came for a child or servant.  But the “Magi from the east” came to worship. 

Many who came to Jesus as an adult expected Him to do something for them.  The “Magi” who we refer to as “wise men,” came to Jesus when he was a child.  They were not looking for what Jesus could do for them, but what they could give Him!  They gave Him worship and gifts appropriate from one king to another, from one royal person to another royal person. 

APPLICATION:  Christian growth and maturity bring changes in understanding of my relationship with Jesus.  He has become a part of my world, now He wants me to be a part of His world.  My consideration of what He can do for me changes to what I can do for Him.  One who has everything, to the One who created the world?

But what does one give to Men give us a good example; they gave Him worship!  I too can give Him my worship.  I do not have gold, frankincense or myrrh, but I do have a heart dedicated as His throne room, ears tuned to His voice, a mouth quick to say, “yes,”  hands and feet ready to go and do His bidding.

PRAYER:  Jesus, you are my Lord and Savior.  I worship you.  Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for me.  All I am, and all I have is yours.  May my service grow in usefulness to you and your kingdom.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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My Mission

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 15, 2025: SOAP #5611:  1Samuel 17; Psalm 9; Matthew 2

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew 2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”…
11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

OBSERVATION:   The Magi traveled many miles and many days to fulfill their mission.  Surely, they were thinking that any king born in Israel would be born in Jerusalem.  But in Jerusalem they were only able to state their mission and get directions to where they would be able to fulfill their mission. 

What was their mission?  They had come to worship the new-born king!   They did not worship in Jerusalem, nor when the star appeared, however they did rejoice upon seeing the star.  It was when they saw the child; it was when they were in His presence that they fulfilled their mission—they worshipped!  

APPLICATION:   I can praise God talking to you; I can give Him glory talking to you; but for worship, I must be aware of His presence.  Simply stated, worship begins with an awareness of His presence.  It is the natural response to His presence.  What we do to Him (worship) leads to what we do for Him (service).  Worship leads to deeper commitment, to service, to evangelism.

PRAYER:  Lord, you alone are worthy of my worship.  You are searching for worshippers.  May you find me to be what you desire. (John 4:23)   My mission is to honor you in all I do. Worship is at the heart of my mission.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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