Wednesday: Tempted (3)

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap.

Good Salvation Wednesday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. It is a beautiful day, just beautiful. Please join me in wishing Big John Henry Riddlesberger a prayerful wish for his upcoming retirement from the Carlisle (PA) High School teaching job. Enjoy, John, and thanks for being a good role model with Jesus for our school kids. Folks, teachers touch more young lives than most others, and they can get them started right or they can mess them up. Also please keep praying for Vicki who keeps having more health problems. Prayers also for my wife as she heads for some testing on Friday. She carries a lot of pain, and only those near her know how much. And by all means keep praying for Don to receive his full sight and for Pastor Charles, Pat, Sharon and Jo, to get out of those wheelchairs and walk. And yes, it is Salvation Wednesday, and we need to be praying for the unsaved and then put feet on our prayers and work in those fields of harvest for Jesus and bring the lost to His feet ... AMEN.

Tempted (3): Out of all things, what might tempt us most? Yes, we could put in drugs, booze, smoking, eating too much, but the bottom line just might be the very love of money. Do you remember Donald Duck's Uncle Scrooge? Do you remember his money vault and how he liked to play in his money? And then there was the banker on the Beverly Hillbillies. And might there be a little of this in a lot of people? When we look at what has happened with the savings of many because their investment funds were lost in part or in some cases in almost whole, were we not warned in the Bible to not store up treasures on earth, but in heaven? And while I think people need to save for retirements, how many people go far beyond that? How many people just love that almighty dollar?

1 Timothy 6: 7: For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (NIV)

I want to confess to you right now that Dolores and I are very rich. We love Jesus, we have six children, and enough grandkids and great grandkids to fill one of our buses. And we have all of you on this line and our flock at The Bridges and a food bank to help others. And as long as we GIVE TO THE LORD FIRST, WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THE BILLS. Folks, you just cannot count riches in dollars and cents. So why be tempted? I know of people who live on a welfare check who spend half of it going for broke on the daily lottery. And yes, when the old jackpot gets bigger and bigger in those lotteries it does tempt one to spend a buck for all the dreams. Years ago when the lotteries first started here in Pennsylvania, back around 1970 I think it was, a friend of mine hit the big one at that time ... 50 grand. He got a new car, took a room full of friends out for a night on the town, purchased this and that, and when it came time to pay the taxes, he filed bankruptcy. And he is not the only one that has had to do that. Folks, we need to really look at this love of money and there is not better time. This country is depending on a few people to pay all the bills. Recently we were notified that we would get a small increase in our retirement, as the withholding tax was lowered. Looks nice but wait till next April 15 when we must pay Caesar what is due him.

Folks, on this Salvation Wednesday I ask you to put down your love of money and put your love and trust in Jesus. In our house, I love Jesus more than Dolores, more than our kids. Jesus truly heads this household and makes it a home. Sad to say it was not always that way. I had to "crash and burn" so to speak before I learned to let go and let God ... keep Jesus first. To those I hurt, including my children years and years ago, I told them I was sorry ... but the one I hurt most was Jesus and then me, for back then I failed us both. So on this Salvation Wednesday, put down things you put ahead of Jesus and come to His feet ... Amen.

Dear Father in Heaven, years ago I turned my back on You and You took me back and gave me new chances. I sin and need forgiven, but Lord I promise You this ... I am never leaving You again. There is no temptation too big. Lord, help all of us to work for You bringing in the Lost. Lord, bless my big brother John Henry and help him to enjoy his retirement and working more for You. Lord, hug this guy and hug him more each day. Lord, I pray for Vicki, and for the others on our prayer list and Lord, please, please dear Lord, in the name of Jesus, heal Dolores and Pastor Charles, and Pat and Don, and Sharon, and Greta, and Jo and the others on our list. And Lord, for that 15 year old Gordon, wash out the cancer, and for David, don't let Him fall from Grace. Lord, and be with my brother Bill as he works in that automotive field. Lord, Lord, Lord how we love you ... in the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Saturday at noon on the Capitol steps in Harrisburg Pa. ... bring your flag and support our troops ... one hour, and I would love to meet you. I will be the old guy that looks a tad like Santa. Now get busy sharing those blessings and loving on Jesus ... love ya, dan.