February 23/24, 2010 The Journey 58

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord He is God; it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.

Good Tuesday Night and/or Wednesday morning, my dear brothers and sisters. Tuesday and Wednesday together, let's see, Tuesday is Schools Day and Wednesday is Salvation Wednesday. While I did not plan this ahead, why not... let's pray for Salvation for all those attending schools, working for schools, helping at schools and going through the doors of our schools. All schools, public, private, early childhood to those in higher education and even the professional student.

Thanks for your prayers for our family. Here is an update... Dolores is home... PRAISE GOD, PRAISE GOD. Our son Matthew is back in the hospital (this is a good thing for now). Please keep praying for him. The infection in my left arm is under control. And yes, our baby goat is doing very God... After having a really, what I wanted to call, a bad day on Monday I looked at it this way... I checked my hands and feet and found no nail scars... I am so blessed. Thank You, Jesus, for the scars on your body that help me daily. On my very worst day of my life I was not nailed to a cross. Jesus was, and it was done for you and me... Praise God.

The Journey 58:

Psalm 100:1 - Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the Lord He is God; it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations. (KJV)

God led me to this passage as I was talking to Him on Tuesday. You see with all that was going on I had shed a few tears. Yes, I cry, and I am not ashamed of it, for real men can wear pink (shirts not undies) and shed some tears. I did a lot of crying this past week, wife in the hospital and she was bad, lost one of my most loved school teachers who lived at the Bridges, several others are really sick. Our son had to go back into the hospital, one of our twin goats died (silly me, I cry over pets). While I could go on and on about this week, that is enough to let you know that yes, even pastors have bad weeks. I appreciate all the prayers that went up for the family and for the cards and flowers that came to the hospital and home for Dolores. But at night, even with a few dogs (never mind how many) in the house it seem so empty, lonely. Then I got to thinking, how lonely was it when Jesus was on the cross? Yes, there were people all around and angels standing by, but He was on the cross and was He alone... OF COURSE NOT. He had the sins of the world on His back... and I just need to be more thankful and I need to MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE TODAY... Will you join me...

Look, one of my brothers in Christ just lost his job of 31 years. We have a son who needs a job, we have people on this line who are ill, we have people who need prayers, and deep down right now we all need just what I need... TO MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE. We need to sort of take a break from thinking about us and think about Jesus on the cross, and we need to REJOICE in it... and this is not going to be a one day event. While Thursday and Friday my time schedule might be different because I must pastor a funeral and do some snow plowing (yep, it is coming again). Good time to use those words again... Yep, He is coming again also. Will He get here before the snow? Could happen! Are you ready? Anyway, let's MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE...

"I'm satisfied with just a cottage below, a little silver, and a little gold. But in the city where the ransomed will shine, I want a gold one that's silver lined." "I've got a mansion just over the hill-top, in that bright land where WE'LL NEVER GROW OLD. And some day yonder we will never more wander, but walk on streets that are purest gold."

"Tho' often tempted, tormented and tested and like the prophet my pillow a stone. And tho I find here, no permanent dwelling, I know He'll give me a mansion my own." "I've got a mansion just over the hill-top, in that bright land where WE'LL NEVER GROW OLD. And some day yonder we will never more wander, but walk on streets that are purest gold."

"Don't think me poor or, deserted or lonely I'm not discouraged, I'm heaven bound. I'm just a pilgrim in search of that city. I want a mansion, a harp and a crown." "I've got a mansion just over the hill-top, in that bright land where WE'LL NEVER GROW OLD. And some day yonder we will never more wander, but walk on streets that are purest gold."

Dear Father in Heaven, use us this day to bring joy into the hearts of others, help us to put aside those things on our mind that might upset us this day and just be joyful... Lord, also use us to reach others in Your name... and Lord, please in the name of Jesus heal those on our lists on are sick, Allison, Ruth, Hilda, Matthew, Kathrine, Pastors Charles and Tony and others who names escape me now. And help those on the line that need jobs find them. Lord, those are Mark, Joan and now Rick. Lord, and help us to remember all the really good days when we come across one that is not quite as good... In Jesus name, Amen.

Now go forth, jumping for joy, singing and rejoicing and sharing your blessings in the name of Jesus. Love ya, Pastor Dan.

Carry The Light Ministries
16 Dewalt Drive.
Mechanicsburg, Pa. 17050
Phones. Home 717 691 8200 Cell 717 991 0754
icarrythelight4God@msn.com