June 24, 2010 My Fortress My Rock!

The Lord is my Rock, my fortress and my deliverer!

Good Family Day Morning to all of you, my dear brothers and sisters. It is a tad hot here at the Southern Location but things are good. I picked our first vine ripened tomatoes and a nice squash yesterday. God is good. We sliced up the tomato and had it at lunch. Coming soon, bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches with mayo. Want to try something good... Years ago Helen Witmer made some of these and I loved them then and still love them today. Here is how you make them. Toast some bread and fry up some bacon, but not quite crisp. Take your toast and on a tray for your broiler lay them out, place a slice of cheese on top of that toast, then a nice slice of tomato, on top of that put a slice or two of that bacon. Put in the broiler and watch it, it will not take long, the cheese will melt and brown on the edges a tad and the bacon juices will run into the tomato. Pull them out, put on a tad of salt and eat open face. Wow, I am hungry. Please pray for Helen today on this family day... Pray for her family... including Harold and Mazie Goddard.

Also we have a new and major prayer request, it is for Trent Strokecker. A complete request will appear at the end of this message today. Trent is five years old and in short will need brain surgery.

My Fortress My Rock!: Psalm 18 - I love you, O Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my ROCK, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my ROCK, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (NIV)

A fortress is described in the dictionary as being a fortified place and most often a large place used by military. From the days of old, military would build a fortress, with walls around it to keep out those trying to hurt others. Our military today has these type places where we have wars. Often now referred to as safe places. I remember growing up watching some of those old cowboy movies and seeing the forts. Today I have a fortress, and it is not a building, it is not our home, yet there are many times we use our property as a fortress. We do come in and lock doors, and we have dogs that tell us of strangers (and friends and family) who might have pulled in the driveway. Our home is a fortress from storms of weather, from the rain and snow and the wind and hail.

However, I have a personal Fortress that I want to tell you a little about today. My personal Fortress has a few names, one of which is Jesus, who I love dearly. Another name for my Fortress is just that, FORTRESS, for He is a place where I can get protection from those of evil who might want to harm me or my family. There is coming a day when we will get to the main Fortress, the one where we will be 100% protected from pain and suffering, and from dying, as there will be no more dying there. This Fortress will be perfect, it is a place we call Heaven and I know it is coming for Jesus has told us that, in fact He went there to get it ready for us and some sweet day He will come and get us out of our earthly fortresses and take us to be with Him. Listen to these words from Jesus.

John 14:1 - "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (NIV)

Then Jesus said this.

John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (NIV)

So, folks, we have a rock, a fortress that awaits us in Heaven, one that cannot be breached by anyone. One that was built just for us and others who have invited The Rock, our Lord Jesus, into their Hearts and also their lives. Folks, I must bring this up, it is not enough just to bring Jesus into your heart and do nothing more, you must truly bring Him into your very life, into the way you live. While I am writing this message today my mind is going out just a tad and in my heart I am hearing a bunch of friends, Tim, Larry, Neil, Duane and Dave standing and singing with all their hearts... "A Mighty Fortress is my God" ... A powerful song sang by might men of The Rock...

Today is family day on the line and may I suggest that all of you who head up your house head it up under God, put your family together here on earth with the Rock, the Solid Rock. All of us here on earth will fail at one time or another, I know I have failed a lot in my life, but The Rock will never fail you, never, ever. Pray with me just this short prayer...

Dear Father in Heaven, keep me safe, put me in Your Fortress here on earth and protect me from evil, help me to work for You and then someday and I pray soon come back for me and take me home. And till that day help me live to serve You. In the name of Jesus, my Rock and my Fortress, I pray. Amen.

Now go forth and share your blessings, share the Rock, for you do indeed have the Rock if you have Jesus, no need to get a piece of the Rock when you can have it all in Him. Love ya, Pastor Dan.

And now the word from Pastor Larry Hale about Trent. (Note, I received this yesterday)

TRENT STROHECKER: It has been confirmed today that Trent Strohecker (5 years old) must have brain surgery. The Surgeons' are trying to schedule it as soon as possible. Trent told his mom that there are people in his head telling him to shoot his head and run to the woods. Jess (Trent's mom) is trying to keep her job she carry's the health insurance I take Trent to work with me but that is hard for me and not fair to Trent. If anyone knows of anyone that could help out with daycare until surgery please let me know. (Trent has a sister Tori she would help watch him (she is 7) Trent is not having seizures the medicine is helping he just needs to be watched a little closer than other children. Please pray for that Trent will get through his surgery, that there is someone that can help with daycare temporary, age and most of all that the Lord will comfort Trent and his family and be with the surgeons the guidance. TRENT STROHECKER UPDATE: It has been confirmed today that Trent Strohecker (5 years old) must have brain surgery. The Surgeons' are trying to schedule it as soon as possible. Trent told his mom that there are people in his head telling him to shoot his head and run to the woods. Jess (Trent's mom) is trying to keep her job she carry's the health insurance I take Trent to work with me but that is hard for me and not fair to Trent. If anyone knows of anyone that could help out with daycare until surgery please let me know. (Trent has a sister Tori she would help watch him (she is 7) Trent is not having seizures the medicine is helping he just needs to be watched a little closer than other children. Please pray for that Trent will get through his surgery, that there is someone that can help with daycare temporary, age and most of all that the Lord will comfort Trent and his family and be with the surgeons the guidance. Trent and his family live in Halifax. However, Jess works in Camp Hill at the Rite Aide Corporate Office. She has to be at work by 7:30 and gets off at 4:30
TODAY: Trent Strohecker will be admitted to Hershey Medical Center on Monday for testing before his surgery on Friday. Trent's liver is enlarged and now he must under go more tests. At this time it looks like he will not be able to come home once he is admitted to the hospital as previously thought. Trent and his family will be going to the shore tomorrow until Sunday to have some quality family time. Please pray that they have a safe trip and are blessed with a great time. I just want to add one thing Trent has a 7 year old sister, Tori who has grown up so fast through this, that sometimes we forget she is only 7. I pray that during their family time, the next 4 days, she can be 7 again. All of your prayers are appreciated more than you will ever Know. God Bless Us All.