Devotionals by Chaplain (Col) Stephen W. Leonard, USA, Ret.
The Historical Activity of the Wise
"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.'" Matthew 2:1-2 »
Bethlehem and the Certainty of Advent
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." Micah 5:2 "O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie; above »
Advent Light: The Darkness Has Not Overcome It
"Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:3-5 In the deep darkness of a Vietnam night, »
Humility Produces Authentic Thanksgiving
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3 Martin Luther said, "True humility does not know that it is humble. If it did, it would be proud of the contemplation of so fine a virtue." It is hard to imagine that a man »
The Secret of God's Kingdom of Heaven
"Jesus replied, 'The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.'" Matthew 13:11 Not everyone connects with the Gospel when they first hear it, not even after they have heard it repeatedly. Nor do they always connect for the long »
Life-Giving Friends
“Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 As daylight broke upon the Normandy coast, thousands upon thousands of soldiers stuffed in landing craft made their way out of the lowered doors into several feet of surf, in some »
Earthquake Apocalypse
As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, “Tell us, they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? Jesus answered, “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many »
The Weightiness of Life
“Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is »
Ears to Hear
“The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. He opened his mouth to blaspheme God and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. He was given power to make war against »
Like Father, Like Son, for Good or Evil
"Please let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying, ‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third »
Is That Really True?
Every day in our technologically advanced world we receive (it might be more accurate to say we are flooded with) information which we will accept, filter, or reject. There doesn’t even have to be an immediate decision what you do with it; information purposefully sifted and tucked away or not even dealt with when heard can still influence your thinking somewhere down the road, framing your perceptions rightly or wrongly.
The Abundance of Good in Your Life
“He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs; there he brought the hungry to live, and they founded a city where they could settle. They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest; he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased, »
