September 20, 2010 Talking to God

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Good Monday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. It is Monday and the day we pray for our leaders, for our President, for our Military, for our veterans, for our police, firefighters, and all who work so hard to keep us safe and free. Also today please pray for Ruby as she travels to see her sister and for Pastor Tony who is staying behind. I must tell you this about Pastor Tony and Ruby. Pastor Tony is truly a pastor's, pastor, meaning when a pastor needs someone to talk to, he is your man. And his wonderful wife Ruby, well, I would call her a pastor also for a pastor is one who takes care of a flock and she indeed has always stood by our Lord Jesus and the work of her husband. Please keep praying for Janet as she heals from the major back surgery. She is getting better but the move is slow. Pray for Vicki, who is healing at home. Pray for Blanch and Dale and the Saylor family. Also please pray for my wife Dolores who has been ordered to bed for infection in her legs. And please, please keep Kathleen Sansoni in your prayers, flood heaven with them please. Kathleen has cancer.

2 Chronicles 7:14 - If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (NIV)

Folks, as I write again about talking to God, and I know I did it in the past, you will find that this is not a best of, this will be fresh as God gives it to me this week. One thing I will state as I start this series and that is we just do not talk to God enough. I am a board member and vice president and chaplain of the Museum of Bus Transportation in Hershey Pa. For years we have opened our meetings with prayer, we have also opened events and even work sessions. Our president would come to me early at events as we were often the first on location. We would huddle up and pray. Now because one person complained it has been stopped, turned over to what is called a moment of silent prayer and reflection. At our last meeting I timed it, it was 10 seconds. So let me see, we trust God so much to help us with the museum that we give him 10 seconds.

This morning on ABC27 news they were interviewing people about their polling places, the places they go to vote. In many places churches are used for polling places and they interviewed a couple of atheists who said that the polling places should not be in churches. Hold on a minute, if one does not believe in God then why are they afraid to walk into a church? Do they think that God just might be in the building? Notice to all non-believers, and I can tell you right now, there are NONE OF THEM on this line. But in case they might get their mitts on this, I want to tell them... I am sure you will find God outside the churches, but I am not sure you will find him in ALL the churches that are used for polling places as there are a few churches out there who seem to forget about God.

Anyway, this week we are going to talk about talking to God. And let's use this week those words of a good reporter... Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. Who should talk to God, What should we talk about, When should we talk to Him, and Where should we go to talk to God? Why should we talk to our Lord God? And How should we talk to God? Are there any rules on this, and what did Jesus say about talking to God? And did Jesus talk to His Father in Heaven? This week we will take a fresh look at this, but first this.

How often have you tried to get in touch with the phone company or the electric company, or maybe one of the companies on a web site? I have had it happen something like this... The phone rings and rings and then a machine picks up the phone and starts asking questions, and some just want you to talk to the machine. Let me see it might say, let me know what you need, just speak to me, and about that time my dogs bark and the voice will say, I did not understand your answer and they ask that same question over again. My statement to them is most often this... May I please speak to a person? You see, I am spoiled, for when I want to call on my Father in Heaven, I can just start talking to Jesus and Jesus puts my message right through to God the Father. I do it this way because I fully understand John 14:6 - Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (NIV) You see this verse, these words of Jesus, tell me that to get to God the Father our only way is to go to Jesus. Not just our way to Heaven, but our prayers and in all we want to do. Maybe we could say that Jesus is the call screener for God The Father. The good news is that Jesus will never transfer you, never put you on hold, and will always answer your requests and questions and deal with your concerns. I also want to say this, He will not always answer you the way you want, but he will always answer. Often when Jesus answers us, we do not hear it and there is only one reason we don't hear it. WE ARE NOT LISTENING!!

One more thing and then we will check out for this day. When you are alone and you are talking to God one on one, do you talk out loud? I do, and I guess that is why I do not like those 10 second silent prayers. I am sick and tired of people trying to make my Lord Jesus silent. We are to take the good news to all creation, and taking the good news to people is talking to God with them.

Let's pray now, and folks, when you pray with me, please pray out loud. I am going to do just that as I do daily. My mouth is going as fast as my fingers...

Dear Father in Heaven, I love You and give You thanks this day for all things. Thank You for the day, thanks for this line of Yours. Thanks for hearing our prayers when we come to You. Please look at our daily prayer list and heal those who are sick and protect those who need protection, and Lord I pray for our President that He comes to you. Father, when I hear people talking about being a Christian and then find out they believe you can murder unborn babies, children of Yours, I cannot make that connection. Please protect the unborn. Protect our men and women in the military and bring them home safe and soon. Lord, heal Kathleen, and be with Tom. Heal Dolores and also me, and Lord, protect Ruby and bless her sister. And be with Pastor Tony, and Lord, heal him to work more and more for you again. He loves You Lord. In the name of Jesus, I pray... Amen.

Now go forth, talking with God, through Jesus His Son and Jesus our Savior, and remember to share those blessings that have been poured out upon you. love ya, Pastor Dan.