Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 11, 2026:  SOAP #5883   Genesis 27-28; Psalm 4; Luke 11

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 4:8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

OBSERVATION:   One day in 1969, while serving with the US Marine Corps in Viet Nam I heard the Lord speak this scripture to me.  Up to that time, like the Marines sleeping around me,  I slept with my boots on.  There would be no time to put on boots if the enemy attacked. But the Lord’s word was specific to me, so from that day on I took off my boots to sleep. We never had any trouble from the enemy at night, not at our home base nor camped on the mountain side.  I would take off my damp socks that I had been wearing that day and put them down my pant legs to be dried by my body heat.  I would then put on dry socks and set my boot close by to let them air out while I slept.  My feet and toes were also able to air out during the night.  And I slept in peace, for the LORD made me dwell in safety!

APPLICATION:  What was once foolish made perfect sense when I heard God’s promise.  Only God knows if He ever needed to confuse the enemy or direct them away from our camp because one of His children was sleeping with his boots off.  Only God knows if my simple act of faith had impact on the enemy, but it had an impact on my life.  My God was trustworthy and I could sleep!  

It has been 57 years; God is still trustworthy, and I can still trust Him.  In a few weeks, others will be making decisions that may affect my circumstances but cannot affect my God!  So, I have very little trouble sleeping.  As long as I trust and obey, I have confidence in His love, His wisdom and provision! 

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for personally speaking to me and teaching me that I can trust you!  My faith is still expressed in small actions that I can do to honor You.  Hear my prayers for the SOAP readers whose worried and troubled minds keep them awake at night.  “You, alone, Oh Lord, make me dwell in safety.”  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 10, 2026:  SOAP #5882   Genesis 25-26; Psalm 6; Luke 10

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 10:1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

OBSERVATION: Many churches and faith organizations have an emphasis on prayer at the beginning of each new year.  Many times they have a central scriptural theme guiding the prayers. 

When God’s people gather to pray, often people are given opportunity to make a “prayer request.”  So many times, those requests are for God to heal a sick relative or friend.  Even personal requests usually are for healing. 

If we would stop and ask Jesus what he would have us pray about, His answer surely would be like verse 2 above.

APPLICATION:  We are the ones who should be praying about the harvest.  We are the ones He is sending.  Every day we are walking in the harvest field as we go through our regular daily activities.

Let us always have someone in our thoughts for whom we are praying for their salvation.  The next time we are in a prayer meeting, let us honor the Lord by praying for His request.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, your Son, Jesus, told us to pray for people who will work in your great harvest field.  We pray for those who have taken SOAPs into the streets as a tool for evangelism.  Bless them.  We pray for those who have recently taken Jesus as their Savior and committed their lives to you.  Help them grow in their faith.  We pray for you to use us in answer to your prayer request.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 19, 2025: SOAP #5769: Ezekiel 47-48; Luke 2

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 2:49 “Why were you searching for me?” he [Jesus] asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 
Luke (KJV) 2:49 And he said to them, How is it that you sought me? knew you not that I must be about my Father’s business?

OBSERVATION:  It is good to note the first recorded words of Jesus; He mentions His Father.  It shows us the priority of God the Father in His life. 

In a Bible study this morning we read through John 14 where we see the priority of His Father continuing to be emphasized.  He was doing His Father’s will and speaking His Father’s words. “…The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves…13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. (John 14:10-13)

In the most difficult time of His life, just before He was arrested, taken to trial, and then sent off to be crucified, He prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”  (Luke 22:42)   In dying He was clearly doing His Father’s will. 

APPLICATION:  If we call ourselves Christians and want to be like Jesus, we will have a desire to honor the Father.  We give glory to Father God as we honor and obey the Son!  Jesus completes the honor we give to the Father when He answers the prayers that we pray in His name. 

Praying “in Jesus name,” means we are praying prayers that Jesus would be praying.  We are praying prayers to accomplish God’s will.  The better we know Jesus, the more effective our prayers will be. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, it is my desire to honor you as your Son, Jesus honored you.  Thank you for sending him as a gift of your love for us.  May you receive the glory and honor you so richly deserve.  Amen

Leon
making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 21, 2028: SOAP #5679: 2Kings 6,7; 2Chronicles 20; 1Timothy 3

Armor of God #12)

SCRIPTURE:  Ephesians (NIV) 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

OBSERVATION:   Paul concludes his list of the whole armor of God with prayer.  What would the armor be without prayer, after all a soldier must be in communication with his superior?

We are instructed how to pray: “pray in the Spirit.” From within the context of Paul’s writings we could understand that this would at least include praying in tongues.  It is good to know that our spirit can continue praying even when our mind is occupied elsewhere.  Of course, even praying in our native tongue (or as Paul writes to the Corinthians, praying with understanding) should be under the guidance and anointing of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit understands the need perfectly; how we need His help today!

We are also to pray on all occasions.  Pray without ceasing. Pray in the pit of despair, pray on the mountain top, and at all places in-between.  There is no occasion in which prayer is inappropriate.

We are also to pray with all types of prayer.  i.e.  intercession, petition, supplication, thanksgiving, praise, worship, etc.

APPLICATION:  We are to be alert and never stop praying.  Certainly, if someone is alert, they should have no trouble praying.  There is always more prayer needs than time to pray!

PRAYER:  Lord, You taught your disciples to pray.  You even gave them a pattern prayer which many can repeat without much thought.  Lord, you gave us good examples of praying as you walked along the road and as you went to special places to pray.  And even more than all this, You sent the Holy Spirit to develop a special relationship with each of us and lead us to pray, even to pray through us!  Obviously, prayer is important!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 3, 2025: SOAP #5661: Proverbs 25-27; Romans 15

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 11:2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”
Matthew (NIV) 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

OBSERVATION:   Continuing with the prayer that Jesus gave as a pattern when the disciples asked Him to teach them to pray.  It is given in both the books of Matthew and Luke.  That the wording is somewhat different, says to me that it is a pattern for prayer, not necessarily a word for word memorized prayer. 

Prayer is to be an expression of our relationship to our loving Heavenly Father.  It is an expression of worship and appreciation.  It is also an expression of our dependence on Him.  We need His provision and we need His guidance!  

APPLICATION:   If I am going to ask God for provision, then I must be content with what He provides.  If I realize that my possessions all come from Him, then I must use them as He directs.  What I have, much or little, is not only meant to bless me, but to make me a blessing to others. 

If I am going to ask God to lead me, then I must be willing to follow.  If I believe my Heavenly Father is all knowing (omniscient) then following His guidance makes perfect sense.  He knows the way I should go.  He will lead me away from temptation and into a path where I can grow and be a blessing to others. 

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, you are so awesome!  It is my privilege to serve you.  May you enjoy having me as your child, for I surely enjoy having you as my Heavenly Father!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 1, 2025: SOAP #5659: Proverbs 19-21; Romans 13

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV)  11:1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.

OBSERVATION:   In teaching his disciples to pray, Jesus gives them a pattern for prayer.  He never told them how many times to pray or gave them any specific time of day.  He just said, “when you pray.”  But from looking at the life of Jesus in the gospels, He prayed often, and so should we. 

We should pray in a way that is based on a Father/child relationship.  A father may be amused by a memorized recitation, but after three or four times, I think most fathers would say, “Don’t you have something to tell me yourself? I want to hear your thoughts, from your heart and in your words!”

God is holy and His name is holy.  In the ten commandments, the third one is not to take the Lord’s name in vain. 

And it is good in prayer to acknowledge that God’s kingdom is a rule of holiness and love.  It was brought to earth by His Son, Jesus, and was established in our hearts when we made Jesus our LORD!  

APPLICATION:   The Holy Spirit will guide us in expressing appreciation for God’s being and character.  As we begin our prayer time, it is good to remind ourselves of how great and awesome our God is.  He is more than capable of answering our prayers.  He is loving and benevolent to us!  We are a key part of His kingdom! 

It is good to remind ourselves that as a part of God’s kingdom, He is KING!   He has all authority.  Not only is His Kingdom established in our lives, we want to see His Kingdom grow to include others. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, help us to pray prayers that bless our Heavenly Father and to pray prayers that He will enjoy answering.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 31, 2025: SOAP #5658: Proverbs 16-18: Romans 12

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 11:1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:” ‘Father…

OBSERVATION:   Prayer was such an important part of Jesus’ life, and He wants it to be an important part of our lives.  The disciples saw how important it was to Jesus, so they asked him to teach them to pray. 

Today let us consider to whom we are praying.   We are praying to the God of the universe, but Jesus tells us to address Him as “Father!”  Only once did Jesus not use the word “Father” when praying; that was when He was dying in payment for our sins which had separated us from our Loving Heavenly Father.  On the cross, Jesus cried, “My God, why have you forsaken me.”  Jesus was experiencing the results of our sin, he was separated from His Heavenly Father.   All other times, He prayed to His “Father,” and that is how He taught us to pray. 

APPLICATION:   When we ask for our sins to be forgiven and invite Jesus to live in our hearts, we become children of God.  We are a part of God’s family.  God is our Father!  It is natural for children to talk to their fathers.  In prayer, we are children talking to their Father!  

We are not just praying to our Father, He is our Heavenly Father.  He is above everything in the universe!   We are a part of a His family!  

We are not just praying to our Heavenly Father, we are praying to our Loving Heavenly Father!  He loves us so much He sent His One and Only Begotten Son to die in payment for our sins.  He has sent The Holy Spirit to teach us how to follow the example of Jesus in our daily lives.  He is the perfect one to do this because He came upon Jesus when He was baptized and walked with Him every day.  Now he is with each of us every day.  He helps us pray.    

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, thank you for the Holy Spirit who helps me in so many ways!  Holy Spirit, guide my thoughts as I write these SOAPs.  May they be a blessing to all who read them.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon