Monday: Tempted

Where for forty days, He was tempted by the devil.

Praise God, Praise God, Praise God ... About a year ago we were praying for a lad, a one year old who had cancer. His name is Alexander. Last week they pulled a chemo port from him and sent him home ... HIS CANCER IS GONE. Praise The Lord! Last week a dear friend of my wife Dolores, Wanda Hoch, went to the hospital with pains in the belly area which she had for a while. After days in the hospital it was determined by the doctors she had a blockage of some type so surgery was scheduled, but not in a hurry. She as a patient was taken down in the late afternoon on Thursday. She was opened, her appendix had broke, but instead of the deadly fluid going all through her, it was in a bigger sack. Can you say praise the Lord? This lady is soon 80 and I am giving her age because I want you to see that age does not matter to God when healing, but FAITH DOES.

And that sort of wraps up last week's message on faith and healing ... and do I hear and AMEN?

Good Morning, brothers and sisters, it is Monday and the day we pray for our Leaders, and regardless of who you voted for in the elections past, we need to uplift our President and his family and all of our other leaders. Please pray for Hilary Clinton as she travels. Have you seen her lately, looks like she jumped 10 years in age. Today is also the day when we pray for all those who protect us in their line of work. Military, Police, firefighters, etc., all of them. And let me plug right now the sixth annual Support the Troops rally on the steps of the Capitol of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, this coming Saturday at noon. I will be opening and closing the event with prayer, so I would be honored if you would come in support of the troops, and also keep me in prayer for this event.

Tempted (1): Luke 4: 1 - Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days and at the end of them He was hungry. (NIV)

Let's put the not eating aside for now and just look at the devil tempting Jesus for 40 days. Can we relate to that, does the old devil tempt us day after day after day? Do you notice as the seasons change so do the temptations of the devil. You are asking what I mean. Well, let's just back up to the Christmas season, while most will tell you that they like the giving of the season, and I would tell you the same, is it not true that deep inside we are wishing for some special things? And the devil hangs those things out in front of us, things like the big screen television, newer and better computers, and of course all those new lines of clothes. How in the world can I go to school with new jeans if they don't come with a hole in the knee? Gosh, do you remember paying good money for jeans that look worn out? Why if my dear late mamma was alive she would be buying up all those iron-on patches and a new sewing kit. And yes, I still wear socks with a hole in them (need the hole to put them on). I am so funny some days (yea, right!!)

Moving on to spring, and does the devil tempt us. Well, let me tell you if you were out to the mall or one of these places like Lowes this past weekend, you would have seen it all. Ladies, you could have looked at the heaping muscles of the men jumping from under those cut off sleeves or even seen some fat that would have turned you away, but enough to look at and be tempted by the devil in your thinking. And men, and yes I noticed also, the way some women were dressed. I mean some for going out did not have much clothes covering them. And we men looked, and yes God gave us eyes, but we get to sinning. I said to my son Matthew when at Lowes that Satan is well at work to tempt people. Folks, we must overcome those temptations of the devil and the only way to do it is by getting tighter and tighter with our Lord Jesus. Today I want you to think about how Satan is tempting you, and how you can get nearer and nearer to Jesus to prevent the temptations from getting to you. Lets pray.

Father in Heaven, we first give Praise for those healings I have mentioned, and give You all the honor and glory. Regardless if your hand is direct or on the doctors, we give You the honor, for if the healings come through the medical people we know that got their talent on loan from You. Lord we ask that You are with our Leaders in Washington and today I pray for Hilary Clinton by name for Your protection. First I pray that she is born again, and loves You and next for You to keep her safe and sound. Lord, be with our troops and all others who work so hard to keep us safe. Lord, two more police officers killed this weekend, Lord, Lord please protect them. And Lord help us to not be tempted by the changes of spring, but to enjoy the rebirth of Your crops and growing things. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen. And Lord, did I thank You for getting my email back and working? If I did not, let me do it now. Thanks Jesus, I love you. Amen.

Go forth now and watch out for temptations. Shortly Dolores and I will be leaving for our six-hour vacation, going to the railroad in Paradise Pa. We love the place. It takes you back to a slower time. Go forth sharing your blessings with all you meet. love ya, dan.