Monday: Ask, Seek, Knock 1

Ask and it will be given to you.

Happy Columbus Day, my dear brothers and sisters. Do you who have a paid day off know just why you have it? You say it was in 1492 when old Columbus discovered America. Is that the real reason you have a paid day off? NO, it is because business men and women all over the United States of America are going to work to pay for it. Oh, I know some of your very own tax dollars help, I will give you all that. But in the most part, you will not see the owner operated business closed on a day like this, in fact you will see them having sales, etc. Happy Columbus Day Folks, and remember Columbus might have discovered America, but God made it.

It is Monday and the day we pray for our leaders, our military and all others who are working hard to keep us safe and free. Jesus died for our personal freedom and we always need to remember that. Folks, today I want you to pray real hard for our "Nobel Peace Prize" winning President, so that he might just work with our military and maybe, just maybe, act like the commander in chief instead of a rock star. Pray first for his salvation and for that of his family and also for his safety. And please pray for and support our military. I cannot believe what is being done to them. PRAY, WARRIORS, PRAY.

Prayers today also for Pastor Charles, Pastor Tony, for Dave, Duane and Neil as they hit the road for a big singing trip. Prayers also for Vicki who is having a cyst drained today and to be healed from the fall she had just yesterday. Also for Don Saylor who is gravely ill... Pray also for his family.

We have a busy week this week, singing on Wednesday at the Bridges and Saturday at Perry Village... both concerts are at 2.00 PM and you are welcome.

Ask, Seek, Knock 1 - Matthew 7: 7 - "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (NIV)

How often in life did you get exactly what you wanted without asking for it, or in case of a gift, hinted over and over again? I mean in our younger days we even went and asked Santa for what we wanted. Now, even Santa does not know that does not work, well, except for maybe Mrs. Claus asking. But here we find our Lord Jesus telling us that if we "Ask" we will receive. Now we must ask in faith and we also must remember that over and over again we need to ask that God's will be done just as Jesus did. I want to give you some homework today, please take time to read Matthew 7: 7/12. The matter of fact is that each day you should be reading scriptures to see if I am correct in what I am writing.

How often in life have you turned down a really serious request from your children if they ask you for something? I am not talking about one of your kids coming home and asking for your house, but if they were to need help paying for the rent for a month or two and if you had the money, would you not do all you could to help them, even, even if you had to float a loan to do it? The Bible tells us that we would do that even though we are evil and since our Father in Heaven loves us so much and is good, would the gifts not be much better...

Matthew 7: 9 - "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him? (NIV)

Today I want you to share a gift with others, I am asking you to give someone a hug and a word of kindness, and men, stop at the food store and pick up some flowers for your honey. Surprise them, you can do this for about 5 or 6 dollars. Yesterday after church I was asked by a couple of the workers at the Bridges, "Pastor, what did you tell the people in church? We have gotten more hugs today then ever before." Folks, I asked them, like I am asking you and have asked you before, share some hugs... don't put it off. Hug someone today. And remember to talk to God, ask when you really need something and like good children, please remember to say THANK YOU.

Dear Father in Heaven, please, Lord, protect our President and his family and, Lord, may he and his family come to You seeking salvation through our Lord Jesus and then, Lord, may he always run things past You before acting on them for us. Lord, please be with our Military and all others who work to keep us free and safe. Lord, be with Vicki, with Don, with Pastor Charles and Pastor Tony, and with Dave, Duane and Neil. And Lord, on this Columbus Day in America, we give You thanks for our country. Thanks Jesus... I ask in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Go forth sharing your blessings and some hugs and love... and share them in the name of Jesus... love ya, dan.