Tuesday: Jesus, becoming a teenager

School Days, School Days, dear old golden rule days. Reading and writing and arithmetic, taught to the tune of a hickory stick ... ah, those good old days, and we really learned a lot ... Reading, writing, and arithmetic, we call the "three R's". No wonder I was confused ...

Dear Brothers and sisters, today is Tuesday, and that means it is schools' day on this line ... and brothers and sisters, please pray for seven year old Sasha Obama and ten year old Malia Obama as they start their new school in Washington DC. Folks, regardless of who you favored in the election, we now need to unite behind our new leaders (as told to us in the Bible) and we do need to pray for our "First Family Elect". For sure we do not just elect a president; we have elected a family ... I watched as those little girls were loaded into those big SUV's with armor plate on them, and put in a motorcade to take them to school, and while they might like it now, is sure sounds scary to me ... Think of how you would like it be it you at that age (yes think way back, way, way, way back) or if it were your children ...

Now while our Secret Service puts them in those armor plate vehicles, let us put the armor of protection around them in prayer ... and let's do it right now ... no putting it off.

Dear Father in Heaven, we are so blessed in this nation, for the United States of America is a great country, but Lord, there are those who hate us, and even go as far as hating the children of our presidents and/or president elects ... Lord today I ask that You put armor around these girls, around Sasha and Malia, and around their mother Michelle, and their father also ... Lord protect this family ... Lord, while most kids climb aboard a big yellow bus, these kids must be taken by very special transportation and have special protection ... Lord, again, please bless them ... And Lord I pray today for all of our schools, from preschool to schools of higher education. Lord bless all who go through the doors... Lord bless each and everyone and Lord as far as we on this line are concerned, you are welcome in our schools, all of them ... Also, Lord, be with Jackie King and the rest of the family of John (Bob) King who is now with You ... In the name of Jesus I pray ... Amen.


Jesus becoming a teenager: Yes we are still on the bus trip and are now looking at Jesus when He was but twelve ... Think about it, that is just two years older than the oldest Obama daughter. Think about what they might have in common, I am thinking about how some would want to hurt them even at that age ... We know that people wanted to kill Jesus, and I would think that the girls will need protection around the clock ...

Today I am looking at and working from Luke 2: 41/52 and it would be nice if you would read those scriptures for yourself. Luke 2: 41 Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. 42 When He was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. 43 After the Feast was over, while His parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking He was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends. (NIV)

Ok, lets digest that much for today. Lets fast forward to today. You take your family and you go on an outing to another town, something that you might do each year. You take along your children, one who might be 12 years old ... When it comes time to come home you leave without your child. WHAT!! Oh my gosh is this where they got the idea for the "Home Alone" movies ... Think about it, if you did this today, if you were to leave a city or town and not miss your child for a day, and you did not get back for a couple of days to look for them you might just get locked up ... I am sure you would have a visit from the people who check on kids, in our area named "Children and Youth".

I mean when Dolores and I leave the house we take a doggie count, just to make sure they are all in the house ... and that one is not left out in the dog yard ... although they would still be safe in the dog yard ... And brothers and sisters, if this did happen, lets say you have a large family and you are in two different cars, you are driving one and your spouse is driving another ... You think each other has your, well let's say your son. When you get to the first rest stop and all get out, you and your spouse are talking and you start thinking, where is Martin. Then you ask your spouse, have you seen Martin? No, I thought he was with you ... and the panic starts ... first you check the car for a sleeping child, then the rest stop, and then that call to 911 to report him missing ... The police show up to take a report ... and you say, we misplaced our child. Folks how awful this would be ... I think most of us would be watching over our children at all times ... but I know it does not always happen ... Just this weekend in Harrisburg a three year old was playing on the walk in front of his house, and he went onto the road and was hit and killed. Where were the parents, and on the news they interviewed neighbors who said "that child plays there often" WHERE ARE THE PARENTS? And why would not a neighbor talk to someone about this if seeing a three year old playing outside unattended? I would think we were worried about it ... I want you to really think about this side of the story.

How could Mary, who God found favor in, who as a virgin was chosen to carry our Lord Jesus in her womb, and Joseph, the one chosen to be the earthly father of our Lord Jesus, forget their Son? Wow. No one new where he was ... As a parent and I know this has happened to me, you are at a park or in a store, and all at once you find one of your children missing ... They were there just a moment ago ... You are in full panic right away ... You run up and down the store if you are in a store ... You head to the toy section. You should have a meeting place ... I remember as a child, my mother would tell me if I got separated from her in a store to go to the door, but do not go out ... wait at the door ... Folks, always have a meeting place if you get separated from each other ... remember the children do not get lost, their parents do ... Tomorrow we are going to look at what happened to Jesus, and when found, what happened ... Was Jesus rude to His mother? Be back tomorrow and see what this old man thinks about that ...

Now go forth sharing your blessings, and please do it in faith, for you will be blessed over and over again ... and know this ... You are loved, by many and it includes Jesus and yes, I love ya also. dan