Thursday: Blessings 4

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial.

Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. It is 1:30 AM and I am having one of my I can't sleep nights. I want you all to know that if you go past our home at 16 Dewalt Drive you will not find my flag at half staff as ordered by our President due to the death of Senator Kennedy. You will notice that our American Flag is flying high with the Christian flag flying even higher... "One Nation UNDER GOD". As for us not lowering the flag as ordered by our President, I WILL NOT LOWER THE FLAG FOR ANYONE who supported abortion and gay marriages. I must take a stand. Our brave men and women of our military fought so I can fly my flag, and my Lord Jesus died on the cross so I can fly that one. Believe it or not, I have not been questioned about it for a long, long time. "One Nation UNDER GOD"

It is Thursday and that means it is family day on this line. Please pray for the family of God and that it grows and grows and grows. And yes, please pray for the Kennedy family in their loss. Pray for the Saylor family, Vicki and her family, our family at the Bridges and this online family. Also pray for your family and mine.

Blessings 4: James 1: 12 - Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (NIV)

When I started writing about blessings this week I expected to hear from a lot of you about your blessings. According to what I have received, I could cut my mailing list from over 400 to about 10. The fact is we are all blessed, and I could tell about the air we breath, the clothes we wear and all those really neat things, and I did touch on that, but it is all the other blessings we receive...

Like this one! Yesterday, Wednesday. I was blessed to be out in concert with Dolores, and our ministry partner, Pamela Bower, and our trusty little Yorkshire Martin Martin Lehman. But the real blessing was I got to sing to my last remaining Aunt who resides where we sang. And she looked wonderful. I was so blessed to get a hug and she smiled as we sang and was even singing along on some of the songs. When I was but a little guy (and trust me, the streets were dirt by her home), I would go to see my Uncle Lester and Aunt Romaine along with my cousins John and Martha. I was blessed then and you know in my eyes she is just a pretty as back then. She was and still is a very kind and gentle lady as was my mother and when I looked into her eyes I could see her love of Jesus. Am I blessed, you can count on it.

Folks, you notice how we are told over and over again how we are blessed by our Lord when we persevere when others try and take us down for loving Jesus. You know we are so blessed, and WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING YET. When Jesus comes and takes us home we will find out what real blessings are. Listen to these words and REJOICE in them.

James 1: 2 - Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (NIV)

And brothers and sisters, if you do want things here on earth, try asking God for them. No, not the lottery, but again let me go to the Bible, staying in the book of James.

James 1: 5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, HE MUST BELIEVE AND NOT DOUBT, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord. (NIV)

As in all things when talking to the Lord we must have faith, we must believe and not doubt. If we pray for someone to be healed, please expect it to happen. I pray for a lot of people to be healed and I believe in my heart and in my soul that Jesus will heal them. I pray each day for Jesus to take away the pain that Dolores carries and for that matter the pain I have, I EXPECT THAT JESUS WILL HEAL US BOTH. I pray for Pastor Charles Idler (stroke) to get up and walk and preach again. I pray for him to be healed and I believe it will happen. If you do not have faith that God is going to hear your prayers and answer them, then why pray? And folks, if God does not answer your prayer the way you want it answered, keep praying. Remember the bottom line, THY will be done. Have faith, God still answers prayer, He is still in control, and He still loves you and me. And brothers and sisters, can a blessing get any better than having Jesus love us? Come on Christians, WAKE UP, Jesus is coming back...

Dear Father in Heaven, THANK YOU for Jesus! Jesus. please head up my family. and I am praying right now that many people will pray this in faith today. Jesus, please head up my family. Heal those on our sick list, and thanks for the many blessings that we receive each and every day. And Lord, help us to share our blessings. In Jesus name, Amen.

A quote from Pastor Dr. Richard Denison, "we are blessed to be a blessing", and folks, from little old me... "Please share your blessings, love ya dan".