Devotionals by Chaplain (Col) Stephen W. Leonard, USA, Ret.
Soul Restoring
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” In the busy, constantly hectic, stress-filled, mishmash of life in the twenty-first century it is nearly impossible for the soul »
Trumpeting the Great and Awesome Day
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of »
Holding It All Together
“...and in Him all things hold together.” - Colossians 1:17 Sticky rice, super glue, invisible spirits? What really keeps all matter in its beautiful configuration? Water in stunning lakes or massive oceans. Mountains and hills in spectacular vistas. Wooded forests. Cactus deserts. Sheer rock cliffs. Tables, chairs, »
Living Dangerously
Therefore, let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he falls.” - 1 Corinthians 10:12 Some memories of Vietnam never leave me. They are so sharp it seems like they happened yesterday. A few of my enlisted men had come across what they thought was »
A Life Necessity?
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation.” – Psalm 51:12 Watching the news at the close of most days normally opens your mind to the opposite of glad tidings. Most news is not happy news. Typically it is not anywhere near a lullaby by which you »
The Magnificently Perfect Response
“As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you.’ But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he spoke to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See »
Easter is Past
“As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you.’ But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he spoke to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See »
Accomplished
“It is finished.” - John 19:30 Choosing goals for your life? I imagine you can name a number of them, once required to answer the question. But from His understanding youth to his death, Jesus had only one goal for His life on earth: the salvation of men, women, »
First Last Word
“And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’” Luke 23:34 They treated Him with sheer contempt! With a despicable violence, they destroyed His body. They truly meted out the fiercest pain imaginable. And Jesus had the “gall” to plead with God for their forgiveness. This »
Valentine Redux
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes »
Surely a Sinner, Yet Blameless?
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” »
Is the Parousia Going to Happen?
“Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.’ For »
