January 12, 2010: The Journey 26

"Man does not live on bread alone."

Schools day, schools day, dear old golden rule days. Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters and it is cold! How cold is it, you ask? In Florida the frozen orange juice is coming right off the trees already frozen. Hey Bobbie, are you staying warm down there? Yes, we have prayer warriors in the south, and we need to pray for all folks in the south as they do not have the heat in their homes as we in the colder climates have. I guess this is a really good example of "global warming". Folks, God is in charge of the weather, always was, and always will be... and someone say AMEN.

Pray for our schools and all who go through the doors, pray for the bus drivers also. Please today pray also for Edgar, Pastor Tony and Ruby, Pastor Charles, the Saylors, Vicki, and for Skip Shoemaker, also for Dale and Blanch.

"Stanley", one of our seniors at The Bridges (past 85 years young), recently went Elk hunting in -14 degree weather. He bagged an elk and a deer and has promised half of each to our food bank, he is also having them butchered for us. God is good.

The Journey 26: Matthew 4:4 - Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (NIV)

Today we take another look at the temptations of Jesus and some of temptations that we face and also a little more into fasting. The Bible tells us that Jesus had fasted for forty days and forty nights and when this was over He was hungry. We also see that the devil was trying to tempt Jesus into doing what he wanted Him to do. Satan said to Jesus "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." And of course Jesus did not listen to Satan and turn the stone to bread but we know that Jesus could have done just that. After all, He did feed thousands on two fish and five loaves of bread and had leftovers. so we know He could have done it. But Jesus was not giving in, and folks, He is giving me this word today, regardless of how hungry or thirsty you might be, do not, I say do not give into temptations. I might relate this to someone who has a drinking problem and comes clean and then goes "off the wagon" by being tempted by the booze again. Or a person who needs to lose weight and goes on a real good diet and then gets tempted by some ice cream and cake. Even some good diets will tell you that you can have that small piece but so often when we, and that includes me, when we are trying to lose weight and we take a bite of ice cream we then want to go to the Hershey Creamery in Harrisburg and eat all of it. Hershey Creamery makes the best Ice Cream and this has nothing to do with Hershey Candy Company. Gosh, did I just tempt all of you wanting to lose weight? See how easy it is to be tempted? And not all temptations come from evil doers and I wrote it this way to prove just this point. We often give credit to Satan when it really was not his to get, we need to stop giving him so much credit as I think Satan gets glory when we do just that. So folks, put the blame of giving into temptation right where it belongs, right on us. We also need to be in prayer and love with Jesus each minute of each day of our lives asking Jesus to help us and not just with this, but to help us in all things.

While Jesus did not bow down to the temptations of Jesus, we do find that Jesus went with the devil to the holy city. Tomorrow we find out why... I do just want to give you this little bit, Jesus was and is and always will be strong enough to stand with the devil and not give in. Tomorrow I will tell you why I think this is one thing that we should not follow Jesus in doing..

Dear Father in Heaven... All glory and honor and praise to You for all things good. Dear Father, please help us block evil and temptation from our lives, from our ears so we do not listen to evil, from our eyes so we do not see evil, from our smells so we do not smell evil, from our brains so we do not think evil, and last,ly Lord, block evil from our hearts so that we do not fall in love with evil. Bless our schools and all who have anything to do with them. Lord, we ask that You go into our schools daily on the hearts of those who believe and help them to share the word with the non-believers or the fence sitters. Lord, please place your healing hand on Edgar, Pastor Tony and his wonderful wife Ruby, and on Pastor Charles and his wonderful wife Katie and on the Saylor family and Vicki, and Lord, also on Skip Shoemaker. Lord, we give you all honor and glory for the healing that has occurred in Skip and the others. In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.

Folks, after my closing today you will find a detailed update on the health of Skip Shoemaker and also another prayer request. I have also asked Pastor Larry Hale to put me on the list to receive names of those needing prayer. I will be placing those names out for you to pray. You are so faithful to God for doing this... and remember, we give the glory to Him. Now go forth and yes, share those blessings... love ya, Pastor Dan (I have been told by some that I should use my title).
Carry The Light Ministries
16 Dewalt Drive
Mechanicsburg, Pa. 17050
Home phone 717 691 8200
Cell phone 717 991 0754

This now from Pastor Larry Hale... Pastor, Glenvale Church of God, Marysville Pa.

"I spoke with Rhonda a few times throughout the day today. They had Skip out of bed and in a chair today. The doctors said that he is doing well, but they also indicated that he is losing blood somewhere, so they're going to have to do some tests to find out where. Rhonda also said that Skip was in good spirits today. Please pray that the blood loss will stop, whether it be through a miracle or through the doctors.

Please pray for Rhonda. She got home last evening to find that they had no water. Skip had replaced a capacitor on the old 3 wire well pump that they had and it has worked, but it quit. She has had some problems today trying to find someone to look at it. She just said that she reached someone who is coming today. Let's pray that it will not be an expensive repair and can and will be done swiftly.

Someone asked what an aortic dissection is, so here is the scoop: Aortic dissection is a tear in the wall of the aorta that causes blood to flow between the layers of the wall of the aorta and force the layers apart. Aortic dissection is a medical emergency and can quickly lead to death, even with optimal treatment. If the dissection tears the aorta completely open (through all three layers), massive and rapid blood loss occurs. Aortic dissections resulting in rupture have an 80% mortality rate, and 50% of patients die before they even reach the hospital. If the dissection reaches 6 cm, the patient must be taken for emergency surgery.

Quick praise report, since I have your attention: Dale Hockenberry was on the way to work today and someone went through a red light and hit him. He is home but just sore. So, let's praise the Lord!!"

Pastor Larry