January 19, 2010: The Journey 32

Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him.

Salvation Wednesday, Salvation Wednesday, the day we pray for the unsaved and for God to use us to bring in the lost to be saved. I was at my doctors (Dr. Lawrence Cox, DO) on Monday afternoon. He related to me how he had just talked to a couple about being saved, about Jesus, and then led them in a sinners prayer. He then told them about getting involved with a good church to take on the fuel needed to stay tight with God. I am so blessed to have doctors that take time to do this. My doctors, three of them, take time to pray with us. Sort of unheard of. Also while waiting at Doc Cox's office you hear good worship music, which is the best elevator music you can get. Salvation through our Lord Jesus is the most important part of Carry The Light Ministries, we try and get that message across in all we do.

Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, it is 32 degrees here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. Anyone remember this date in 1994? It was -16 and that was the official, and it got lower.

Here is the date I promised to furnish you... Tim Beitzel will be singing with The Couriers on Friday February 19th at 7.00 PM at the Glenvale Church of God (Pastor Larry Hale) on route 850 just outside of Marysville Pa.

By the way, if you are looking for a great church that teaches salvation and indeed reaches out to help others, this is a good one. This would be on the West Side of our big river, a good one on the East side of that river would be Lighthouse Baptist Church (Pastor Kevin Brown) located at 48th and Broadway in the Lawnton section of Harrisburg Pa. (off Derry Street).

The Journey 32: Luke 5:27 - Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him. 28 And Levi got up, left everything and followed him. (NIV)

Levi was also know as Matthew and Jesus had dinner at his house. Jesus was then accused of having dinner with the tax collector and other sinners and asked why He would do this.

Matthew 9:12 - On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (NIV)

Boy am I glad that Jesus came to take care of sinners for I am indeed on of those. So today we see another one of the disciples being called by Jesus and this time a tax collector who on the call from Jesus just got up and went, no questions asked. So again I want to talk to you about being called by Jesus. If you have not heard the call from Jesus calling you into service for Him, you are indeed not listening. Yesterday I was at our local Giant food store picking up a few things and as I went through the checkout the checker and the one bagging the purchases were talking with me about our food pantry. We are supported in part by the Giant store and also by a lot of their employees. Now while we might think we would be to old to be working for Jesus, this lady bagging called me a young man. Wow, I thought, and she was just working away. She said "everyday is a blessing from God." And she was lifting those bags into the cart and in her way witnessing for God. I then thanked her for calling me a young man, and she told me she was 82. There is also a nice gentlemen who shakes my hand each time I walk through the store, he stocks shelves and he is disabled and works hard. A man of about 85 brings the carts in from the parking lot and sweeps up the trash that is thrown on the grown.

All of these have a kind word to say each time I see them and bid me a good day. All witnessing for God in their work. Now when I see these senor plus citizens working daily or a few days a week it does make me wonder why we have so many able bodied people drawing those unemployment checks. While I support those checks for a while, and it is also a good time to further one's education, there are jobs out there, at least in our area for those willing to work for less. In the meantime they can be talking about how good God is. Maybe that is why they have the jobs, maybe they are ones who have answered the calls to be disciples of Jesus even at their age. I watch our flock at the Bridges, ones that can walk will push and help take care of one in a wheelchair. I have watched some cut food for others who can't anymore, and even those who can't in their way witness.

Brothers and sisters, again I ask you to pray to Jesus, get on your knees and pray for an assignment from God to help others. We have many who help with the food pantry, it can't be done alone. Right now you see a lot of people going into Haiti, doctors walking away from their practices for a while, men and women taking off work to be on the search and rescue teams and still pulling people out alive. Do you think these are people who have answered the call to "come follow me and I will make you fishers of men"? I do... Do you know that 11 disciples today would not cut it, thousands, even millions of them, are needed.

Matthew 9:37 - Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field." (NIV)

Do you see where I am coming from? We are to "Ask the Lord of Harvest" for our assignment and we are to get to it. Yes, Jesus said that to His disciples, but who do you think the disciples are today? All of us, you and me, me and you. Even those who are sick, even those with cancer, we are to never stop working for Jesus. Work from the dawn to setting sun... That would be the dawn of your life to the setting sun of your life...

As we go to prayer today, please pray for Ron (stage four cancer), for Donna, his wife, for our son Matthew who was admitted to the Holy Spirit Hospital last night (we have no details at this point). Also LATE NEWS, ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE (6.1) HAS JUST HIT HAITI. I did not hear the details, it just came across the news.

Oh Lord, our Dear, dear Father in Heaven, please, please be with those people in Haiti, those who live there and those who are going in to help. And Lord, please be with those orphans who are being brought out and taken to other countries. Lord, find them good homes with good people who will love them just under You. Lord, heal in full my friend Ron, take the cancer from His body and throw it away. Lord, be with our son Matthew as we give him fully over to You for care. Lord, jobs are needed for many, please help find jobs for those who love You in places where they can witness and jobs for those who might not know You in places where others will witness to them. I pray today for the unsaved and pray that we who are saved will be able to work for You bringing in the lost. Thanks for another day of life. Bless the flocks at churches including Glenvale and Lighthouse and our Flock at the Bridges. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Now go forth sharing your blessings and remember, you cannot outgive our Lord, so give in faith. Love ya, Pastor Dan.

Carry The Light Ministries
16 Dewalt Drive
Mechanicsburg, Pa. 17050
Home 717 691 8200 Cell 717 991 0754