Devotionals by Chaplain (Col) Stephen W. Leonard, USA, Ret.
Successful Immigration
"So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife." Ruth 4:13 Immigration has been a way of life from time immemorial. Humans have been wanderers of the earth throughout their history. Nomads due to famine, food shortages and safety, and the ability to live and sustain life has often required »
The Path I Take
"Your word is a lamp to my feet, a light to my path" - Psalms 119:105 We were climbing a 14,000-foot peak in Colorado with a large group of teenagers participating in a Christian Youth Leadership Conference. A smaller group of 15 or 20 had for some reason fallen behind »
Predicting a Dire New Year
"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail, and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will »
Epiphany Remembered
"When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him." - Matthew 2:10-11 It was first celebrated, even before December 25th was, as early as the late second century. »
The Days Immediately After Christmas
"This is how the birth of Jesus came about. His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose »
Christmas Then and Christmas Now
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose, Yuletide carols being sung »
Still, Small Voice
The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. – Proverbs 16:9 As we mentioned last week, 2016 did not go as planned for many people. While God gives us freedom to make our own plans and pursue our own desires, our freedom does not »
The Glory of Endurance
"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." - Romans »
Waiting is Not Often Easy
"I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his Word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning." - Psalm 130:5-6 Hey, hurry it up, will you? Few of us are pragmatically »
Health Multiplier: An Attitude of Gratitude
"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name »