March 29, 2010 Vine and Branches

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the Gardener."

Good Monday morning, my dear brothers and sisters. It is Holy week and today, the day we pray for our leaders and all of those who work to keep us free and safe... Our veterans, our military, our police, firefighters, EMTs, Heath Care workers, and today I want to add a few more... Pray for those who work at retirement homes and nursing homes. Prayers also today for Alan, Alan is in the Pocono Hospital and has had a stroke. In the past he has had four heart attacks. Also today please take time to pray for our Jewish brothers and sisters as they celebrate Passover.

This week we are going to be walking with Jesus to the cross, to the grave and then celebrate as He is risen. On Wednesday I will be working with the last supper, and then Thursday going to the garden with Jesus to pray. Wednesday, which is Salvation Wednesday, we are going to have that last supper, meaning we will have communion on the line. I don't know how many of you really celebrate this with me online, but folks, please, please try and do it this week. I am telling you it will be special. If you read at home and your family is at home, have communion with them.

Vine and Branches: John 15:1 - "I am the true vine and my Father is the Gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." (NIV)

This past week Dolores and I purchased Palms so that we could give Palm Branches out to those coming to church on Sunday at The Bridges. We ordered a lot of them and this past Thursday two of our granddaughters got them ready by trimming them from the main branches that had already been cut from the tree. When I picked them up at the florist they were in a big cooler to help keep them fresh. Even before our church service you could see how they were drying up because they were no longer attached to the tree... I also purchase cut flowers for Dolores often (ain't I good?), I bring them home, cut them down and put them in water with stuff they give to keep them fresh. Still they wither and die because they are cut from the plant...

Folks, we are the same way, if we become detached from Jesus we are going to wither up and just die. I am talking about your soul dying and when your soul starts to die, what do you have left? A brain and body that wants to work on its own. I have tried that, I have tried walking without Jesus and it was not easy, although I thought it was then. But since I found Jesus, and truly walk with Him, that got better. I did not say it was easy, folks, because we still have trouble, but we are attached and we have a Lord and Savior who will help us each step of the way. Folks, if anyone is going to cut you off from the Lord, guess who it will be? A gardener cut off the palms, a florist cut those flowers, but who cuts us off from the Lord? Who cuts us off from that True Vine? Brothers and sisters, if you said Satan you are wrong, really and truly wrong. Oh, he will come after you, he will try and get you away for Jesus, but the one and only one who will prune you away from Jesus is none other than YOURSELF. Freedom of choice... Picture yourself as Howdy Doody, that puppet from our youth... He had strings attached and the puppet master would pull those strings. If the puppet master would cut the strings, Howdy would fall. But God did not make us to be puppets, no strings attached to us, He gave us free will, but He also gave us a way to stay attached. He gave us Jesus, He gave us His Word... He gave us all we need... We just need to take it. If Howdy Doody were to get scissors and reach up and cut the lines he would fall, he would not work. Folks, God did not have strings on us, just His word, and if we reach up and cut from Him we will also fall and fail.

Folks, all of this is in The Book, The Book we call The Bible. Let's get really attached this week as we walk nearer and nearer to God and try to understand just why this man named Jesus died for us.

Let's go to Him now in prayer... Lord, let us walk with Thee. Hold us tight as we struggle each day in our walk here on earth. Thanks for keeping us afloat and helping to hold us up. We know if we become detached we will surely fail. Lord, we have faith in You and ask in Faith that You would look over our long prayer list and answer it according to Your will. We thank You this day for all things and pray in the name of Jesus... Amen.

Now go forth and share those blessings our Lord has bestowed on You. "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you," That is another blessing from God... Love ya, Pastor Dan.

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