November 29 & 30 2010: The Virgin Mary 1

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The Virgin's name was Mary.

Good Tuesday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, I am so sorry about yesterday. I want to thank all who checked on us as most of you know that Dolores is in bad shape and I am pushing at this time of year. Yesterday I got up very early with the intent to write later in the day, I needed to get my truck inspected and was at my son's garage early to have it done. Then home and into our ministry truck with trailer in tow picking up food carts at business places. That went on till after 1.00 PM then I stopped at our food store to pick up a couple of free turkeys. While I was there I was told no one picked up the day out (out of date) bread and cakes, etc. So I loaded that out. I had just received a load on Friday as Grant and Wanda Crockett gifted us with their day for the day outs.

Wow are we loaded with bread and pies and cakes and it is wonderful, except we have 50 turkeys and hams coming Friday and our freezers are full, all four of them. So I am thinking, another freezer is in order. God is good and the food pantry is growing so fast. Families coming most days and we are nearing 75 coming for our Christmas handout. Last year we did one hundred and one families. So this year we have already gone over that at least 75 coming for Christmas, and we have helped over, well over sixty so far this year... God is so good, and we thank all on this line who have sent checks, free turkey slips, and dropped off foo.. Last evening our one daughter and two granddaughters came and sorted food that came in yesterday. On this Saturday we are going to be sorting and packing again, starting at 1.30 PM when we come in from Allenberry. With Dolores hurting so bad it is like someone has cut off one of my arms. She is such a trooper. Please pray this week for all those families who are in need and there are a bunch of them and also for our Ministry and for Dolores, and all those coming to help... and pray for me also. Thanks. Let's get to the message...

The Virgin Mary (1): Luke 1:26 - In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The Virgin's name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you are highly favored ! The Lord is with You." (NIV)

All this week I am going to be writing about Mary and I want all of you (men included) to put your feet in the sandals of Mary. How would you feel? Now in the scripture we see it starts out in the sixth month, and that is the sixth month of Elizabeth being in that motherly way carrying John, or John the Baptist as we know him, the front runner of Jesus. Now we will talk about that after Christmas as we go into the life of Jesus.

This Angel Gabriel was a busy guy, first telling the coming of John the Baptist and now going to Mary and telling her that she is highly favored. What does that mean, you are highly favored? Well, when you are good and you are walking with God, He finds favor in us, all of us, and again I say all of us when we are walking with God, walking daily with God, not an off and on relationship, but solid love for Jesus. You do remember how God found favor in Noah and his family?

So think about this, think about it, how would you feel if one day you are standing in the kitchen of your home, or at the water cooler at work and this angel pulls up and tells you that God has found favor in you? You are standing there and right now you are alone and you look up and it is bright, and you see this angel sitting at your table. And maybe it would go like this... Angel, Hi there! How are you? You say nothing because you are scared to death... You might be reaching for your gun even, who is this guy, how did he get into my house, into our home... and you say, WHO ARE YOU? AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY HOUSE? You reach for your phone to dial 911 you want the police. "Slow down" old Gabriel tells you, "Slow Down" and he tells you who he is. I want you to really think about this today, how would you act, and also how might God call on you.

So you think this could not happen... Go check out Hebrews 13:8 which I have used often. You say that you are not worthy of God using you, think again. God found favor in Noah, and in Elizabeth and now we look at Mary, but what about all of us? Do you think for one minute that God has not found some favor in me! I am so unworthy of it, but God has GIFTED ME, with this writing, and for a guy who struggles even to read God is using me and He wants to use you also, all of you.

Did the Angel of the Lord, old Gabriel, come and sit on the end of my bathtub or in a chair in my living room? NO, but God did speak to my heart and if you pray and take time to listen you will find He also speaks to you. Answer the call, folks, answer the call. None of us was worthy, but if we come to Jesus we are clean again, then, brothers and sisters, and only because of Jesus, we become worthy. We are forgiven and cleaned up and if we live for Him, He will call on you for something. Yes, He will, so listen up for Jesus to speak to your heart.

Tomorrow, more on Mary and what it might be like to find yourself carrying a baby and you have never had sex. Men, this might be hard for you to think about, but think about this, how would you feel if your girlfriend came to you saying she was going to have a baby and she had not had sex?

Dear Father in Heaven, thanks for using me, thanks for using all those who walk with You and who answer the call to work for You. Help us this day to walk with you, talk with You and follow You in Your walk. Heal those who are sick, and please, please heal my wife. In Jesus' name, I give thanks for our food pantry and all who are helping with this work for You. In Jesus' name thank You for finding favor in me to work for You. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.

Please follow me daily as we head to the Birth of Christ. Now go forward sharing your blessings, loving others and living for Jesus... Love ya, Pastor Dan .

Carry The Light Ministries Inc.
16 Dewalt Drive
Mechanicsburg, Pa. 17050
Phones 717 691 8200 Pastor Dan's cell 717 991 0754