December 21, 2010 The Big Trip 2-2

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. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

Good First Day of Winter, my dear brothers and sisters. Today, the shortest amount of daylight hours and starting tomorrow the daylight time starts to grow longer. Tuesday and the day we pray for those cures for cancer, kidney problems, diabetes, heart problems, liver problems, etc. Cures that God has found for those, and cures we have, under His hands, have found in the past. Think about it... TB, yes one of the biggies that all parents worried about years ago...

Please keep Kathleen Sansoni in your prayers as her cancer has advanced and her treatment schedule is now different. Please keep praying for Ron, who also has cancer, I will try and get an update on him. Prayers for Lonewolf, tumor, for Pastor Charles, stroke, for Pat Parvin, stroke, and for "Les", cancer.

The Big Trip 2-2: Luke 2:4 - 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. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. (NIV)

This really was a big trip back in those days. It would take about three days to travel between Nazareth where Joseph and Mary were living, to Bethlehem in the town of David. Three days... Ladies, you are nine months in the motherly way and your husband puts you on the back of a donkey for a three day ride sitting sideways on this animal. Gosh, most women in those final days do not want to even take a 6 hour ride in a Caddy, let alone 3 days on an animal. Also, think of the planning that had to go into this, water and feed for the animals and I am saying animals for I am sure their would be many travelers going that same route. Also food and water for the men and women and I would think that since all the adults were going, that there would be children going along so that would not be "home alone". Rest stops would need to be planned, not just for the people but for the animals, and think about it, the heat in the daylight hours and the cold of the night. Folks, it was not an easy trip by any means, it was just not easy.

Years ago, I would arrive at work very early in the morning, I would unlock the place and in the summer months when school was not in session I would go for a long walk, about 5 miles, and it took over an hour, I enjoyed it, but was tired when I got back. I want you to think about everyone parking their car for a month, and walking to work or school. All roads would be safe to walk on, because there would be no driving. Kids could walk to school, parents to work. Well, that would never work, never, but think about it... How long would it take you to walk from where you live to where you work? Would you need to build in overnight stops, and I am sure restroom breaks... I am trying to get you to think just how long that trip was back in those days. It might not take all that long today in your Hummer, or in your "LIL BUG" but it is a long, long walk, Joseph leading the donkey and Mary on board, and more than likely walking with friends and neighbors and maybe even enjoying the walk. I wonder, would we enjoy the walk today, knowing we were signing up to pay taxes? However, we would gladly walk it knowing our Lord Jesus was going to greet us at the end of the walk, or would we? Would we walk it right or wrong? Well, folks, look at it today, we are to be walking in the light of our Jesus, walking in His footsteps, and do we do it right? Or do we mess up? You are aware at the end of our walk, our life's walk, if we do it right, if we love Jesus and ask Him into our heart and into our lives and we really do walk it for Him, He will be waiting for us at the end of the walk... Amen.

Dear Father in Heaven, we want to walk each day with You as Mary and Joseph walked from their town where they lived to their home town with Jesus in the womb of His mother. And those who were walking with them got the first look at our Savior. Well, Lord, forgive me of my sins and help me with my daily walk that it is always with and for you. And Lord, I pray others will also take this time as they think about the walk of Mary and Joseph and will walk each day with you. Please heal those on our prayer list today and please take away the pain that my wife is carrying. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Ok, folks, before I say goodbye for today, I want to tell you this, the other night at a large private party I had a really nice, new, all white stuffed Teddy Bear and I wanted to give it to the youngest child at the party... So at this Christmas time when we talk of Jesus in the womb and being born after that big trip, I called for the youngest baby! Is there a baby in the womb here tonight? One lady put up her hand, she was four months along and she took home the Teddy... It gave me a chance to tell each person that the one in the womb is a child, a real living baby. Then with another bear in hand I asked if there was another baby in the womb and seeing no hands, and my dear wife in the very back, I said over the mike, Mrs. Claus, please put your hand down. Well, that got a laugh, and then we gave the other teddy to an 18 month old. Now it is time to say this... Please share those blessings, and do it each day. Love ya, Pastor Dan.

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