December 20, 2010 The Big Trip 2-1

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David because he belonged to the house and line of David.

Good morning, my dear brothers and sisters, and welcome to Christmas week. I love Christmas, I really do. I must take a minute and thank all of you who have prayed for Carry The Light Ministries, for the food pantry and for our distribution that we had this past Saturday. And thanks also for all who supported the mission and all who came to help on packing day and then on distribution. This past Saturday the helpers arrived about 1.00 PM and we formed a circle and each stated in short why they came to help, we then prayed and went to work for God handing out food to the poor and needy. We set out ten shopping carts, the first five holding bags 1-5, next was a cart with 5 pound bags of potatoes, and then a cart with turkeys, and one with hams, the next in line was the one with the pies, and then we had one with lots of extra goodies. We had three prayer warriors being sure that all those who arrived were prayed for and I mean they were prayed with and for. Wanda, Joanne and Mike with my help once in a while handled that work for the Lord. It seems we had a helper for each cart and some to help keep the carts full. And then they came, car, after car, after car into our driveway.. Rob Campbell took it upon himself to be the street man, going to the end of the driveway and keeping things moving. We tried to load three cars together and then after prayer, move them out. Dolores, AKA Mrs. Claus, handled the books inside where each family had to sign in. Chief Elf, Pamela, handed each person a Bible along with our card and a track from Billy Graham Ministries showing the steps to get into heaven. I thank each party who came and informed them we are not just here for Christmas. One Grandmother who raised her grandchildren had no money to buy Christmas Gifts. Well, you should seen that car when it left, as this old Pastor who is also Santa, just loaded it with toys, and even a bike donated through the museum and left in that truck. From 1.30 to 3.30 it was a steady line of cars. We also had the youth group here from the Tree of Life Church in Carlisle Pa. Those wonderful, wonderful kids worked so good, they were given the detail of sorting incoming food. I had made Hamburg BBQ and it was all gone at the end of the day as the work crew ate it up... What did I forget, coffee, my wife said next year make coffee as it was very cold. Now with all the crews I want to give thanks to where it belongs... THANK YOU, JESUS, THANK YOU, JESUS, THANK YOU, JESUS... for without Jesus having people share their blessings it would not have happened. Now you remember how Jesus fed thousands with just a few loaves and two fishes, well, folks, after giving food to all these folks, WE HAVE LEFTOVERS and I mean a lot of left overs. On that evening after all the work we went to a neighbor's for a private party where all coming brought food for the food pantry. I was tired, and I laid down on the floor with all the children in front of me, and with not much voice, I told all the kids and their parents also the story of Christmas as seen through the eyes of the donkey. Then they had to pick me up from the floor.

Last night was Allenberry's private party for employees, they had a ton of door prizes, a couple of really big smoked hams. One of the first numbers drawn was a waitress who went up, got a ham and donated it right to our ministry. And old Santa's number was drawn and I took the other ham.

Folks, today we go out and pick up more food that is coming in. We also have food packed up ready to go for about 15 more families, some of which I will be taking to some schools on Friday.

God is so good, and now let me just get started with the message...

The Big Trip 2-1: Luke 2:1 - In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone went to his own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David because he belonged to the house and line of David. (NIV)

Again I invite you to read the full Christmas Story in your Bible... Now I will keep this part short today as I just needed to tell you about the food pantry and how your work, your donations, your prayers are so important to us and the ministry.

So Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken. I wonder just how the decree would get sent around back in those days, I know we did not have telephone, or email or Facebook, and I guess we just had to rely on those messages getting through by riders on horseback, and this decree more than likely sent out by Caesar was delivered by his military, but again I am not sure about that. I do know this, when God sent out messages on this first Christmas, He used His Angels, and He used a star and yes, God still sends us messages using those methods, yes, sir, He does, as He is the same today as He was yesterday and will be the same forever. God is so good...

Anyway the message got to Joseph, who, being from the line of David, had to go to the City of David and to the town of Bethlehem. Tomorrow we are going to load out with Joseph and move out with Mary and Joseph on the journey to sign up to pay taxes and the census also was a way to find out who is where for the military.

Dear Father in Heaven, I am humbled, humbled and thankful for all the help you sent to us for the food panty work days. I am humbled by all the food You supplied through the hands of others, and I am humbled and very thankful that You trust us to work for You. Dear Father in Heaven, please be with our leaders today, our President, our Vice President, and all our leaders in Washington and with our leaders in the state houses. Be with them, Lord, and give them wisdom and strength and also some common sense. Also be with all those in our Military, regardless of where they serve this great nation of ours. Be also with our veterans, keep them strong and those wounded, make them whole again. Be with those that have been on our prayer lists, and watch over them and heal those who are hurting, heal those with cancer, heal those with heart problems, and bring rest to the weary. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.

Now go forth sharing your blessings. And remember as those who came to help know, working and sharing for the Lord can be done many, many ways... Love ya, Pastor Dan.

Carry The Light Ministries Inc.
16 Dewalt Drive
Mechanicsburg, Pa. 17050
Phones Home and Ministry 717 691 8200
Pastors Cell Phone. 717 991 0754