"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Good Monday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters... Can you believe that this is the last day of January already? Today the day we pray for our leaders, veterans, current military, police, firefighters, ambulance attendants and drivers, EMT's and all others who work to keep us safe and healthy. Please pray for members of the Brost family, Pearl, the mother, is gaining some weight, she is up to 82 pounds, Beverly, who is getting married, needs to sell her home. Pray for Billie Jo who was in a serious traffic accident, pray also for Mike, her friend who was driving. Prayers today also for Marysue Bulcavage whose husband passed away with a massive heart attack on Christmas day. He was only 49. Their daughter also needs prayers as they are still struggling about this.
Today as you pray for veterans, please pray for Stanley who just moved from the Bridges into a Veterans' home in Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Also, the message might be late tomorrow, seems that the weather is going bad tonight, and as you know I will be going plowing. I ran that plow 8 different times in January, I love to plow, but a tad of rest between the storms would be nice.
The Big Trip, week 8, day 1: The calling of the first disciples:
Matthew 4:18 - As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. There were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 20 At once they left their nets and followed Him. (NIV)
Here we see Jesus calling the first two of His twelve disciples. I do have a few questions of you this morning... If Jesus walked up to you today and said, lay down what you are doing and follow me, what would you do? If you were single and no job it might be easy to answer, but let's say you have a good job and a family, meaning a wife and children. Folks, I want you to really think about it real hard for indeed Jesus is calling all of us to be disciples. Jesus did not just need a few guys to hang out with, He needed disciples, folks to travel with Him and help with His work, and it is the same today, He still needs disciples, those who will carry out His work. What is that work? Telling the Good News and of course that the end is coming. In other words, the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Same message, folks. Now brothers and sisters, I don't believe at any time Jesus wants you to pack up and leave your family that you are working hard to support, but you can follow Jesus, working for Him and also having your family involved in it. Jesus said we are to take the Good News to all the corners of the world, and we sometimes forget that as we witness there are neighbors, people who live next door or across the street that also need to hear the word of God.
So you are already a disciple for Jesus and you are working hard to get out the Good News, I ask that you go to prayer and pray hard to see if Jesus wants you to work harder and harder for Him, expanding what you are doing. I ask that you pray today for Carry The Light Ministries as we are praying about reaching out to folks in Harrisburg, working through the Harrisburg City Police Department. Folks, we all need to be disciples of Jesus and for Jesus, so today I repeat those words of Jesus, the ones He said to Simon, also known as Peter and his brother Andrew... Brothers and sisters, in the name of Jesus, I call on you to "Pick up your nets" and follow Him and He will make you fishers of men (women and children also).
Dear Father in Heaven, as we study about Your calling of Your disciples, we ask that You look us over as we also want to be called according to Your will for us. Heal us of our sins and put us into service for You. I am ready and I am sure there are many on this line that stand ready to pick up their nets. I know there are also many on the line who have picked them up and have not put them down, some for over 50 years, and Lord, some for a lot more than that. I think of Pastor Tony, Lord, and I ask You touch him. He is indeed a pastor's, pastor, and I pray for his healing. Bless Tim as He goes forward in the ministry, and bless Pastor Larry as he and his dear wife work with and for You to grow Glenview Church. Lord, there are many more I could pray for today. For Pastor Phil, and also Dave, Duane and Neil... Lord, men of God who have long ago picked up the nets... Lord bless them. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Now go forth, picking up your nets and sharing your blessings. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Monday, January 31, 2011
January 27/28 2011
"I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, I am sorry about yesterday. I got up at 3:30 AM on Wednesday, did my household things, wrote a message and took care of our animals. Then it was off to plow snow which I love to do, got back home about 5:00 PM, did a few things and it was snowing again big time, so at 9:00 PM on Wednesday evening I went back out, returning this time about 4:00 AM. Did the household things, took care of animals and it was just time to shower and get moving out for a Sing-A-Long at the Bridges and from there to the Doctors for Dolores to have a nerve block in her back... Got home and did the household things, got something to eat and went to bed and "died". When I was young a long time ago I would do those two days no sleep thing a lot, but now I am a tad older and gosh it ain't so easy anymore.
World Cancer day, Please pray for the following who have cancer: Ron Leidigh (read his update at the end of the message), Kathleen Sansoni, Jo Aguirre (she has a tumor behind her eye, pray that there is no cancer), Margaret Schwear, and Melanie. Other prayers for Sharon who is taking care of her mother and for Vicki and yes, my dear wife. Prayers also for Stanley Bingham, who is moving from The Bridges to a Veterans Home.
The Big Trip 7-4 Jesus Heals 3: Luke 4:42 - At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for Him and when they came to where He was, they tried to keep Him from leaving them. 43 "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent." 44 And He kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea. (NIV)
I love how Jesus teaches by example, and I want you to look at Luke 4:42 and see that it is ok to have some "me time", some time to be alone, to pray and to think. Look, Jesus is showing us that it is ok, and He showed us that other places in the Bible. Sometimes, brothers and sisters, you just need some time to be alone with God. In the background on the news they just happen to be talking about men caves and women caves, places in a home to be alone (other than in the bathroom).
Now let's move on to Luke 4:43 - "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent." Now look at this example and let's line it up right now with Mark 16:15: He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."
Now let me line them up together:
Luke 4:43 - "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."
Mark 16:15 - He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."
First, He is telling others He must go into the world and preach the good news of the kingdom of God, then He is telling us to do it. Have you ever known people who would say, Do as I say and not as I do? A lot of people, parents mostly, do that. Most often they do not have to say it, they show by example. They drink and curse and then expect for that not to happen by their children. CAN WE start setting good examples like Jesus set for us? Oh my, how I wish I would have learned that one early on in my life. On a day when we pray for those working the fields of harvest for the Lord it is a great day to point these scriptures out to you. God is good, sets good examples, let us follow them... Amen.
Dear Father in Heaven, we thank You for setting good examples, we thank Jesus for setting good examples and we give thanks for the Holy Spirit for being with us to help us follow You. Come over us this day and help us to fall deeper and deeper in Love with You. Please cure cancer from all who have it and end the health problem we call cancer. Let it be done, Lord, in the name of Jesus. World cancer day, Lord, heal Your people. Lord, I just want to confess that I need to do a better job in following You. Help me with it, in the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
Now go forth sharing your blessings, and please take time to read the update from Ron, in his own words. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
HI PASTOR DAN, JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A UPDATE ON ME, LAST FRIDAY I HAD A PET SCAN, GOT RESULTS ON FOLLOWING MONDAY AND IT SHOWED I AM NOT IN REMISSION YET. SO I WILL BE DOING MORE CHEMO, ONE DAY A MONTH FOR THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS, EACH TIME IS FOUR TO FIVE HOURS IN DURATION, BUT PRAISE THE LORD IT DOES NOT MAKE ME SICK, BUT DOES LEAVE ME A LITTLE TIRED THE NEXT DAY, BUT AFTER THAT HAVE MORE ENERGY, SO AS THE AGES ROLL I WILL KEEP PRAISING HIM, JUST A BUMP IN THE ROAD, AND CAUSE ME TO DIG MY HEELS IN A LITTLE DEEPER TO KILL THIS GIANT WITH WORD OF GOD AND TO REMIND THIS GIANT, THAT GOD SAYS I AM THE LORD THAT HEALS ME. WELL ENOUGH OF ME. I HOPE YOU ARE PROSPERING AND IN GOOD HEALTH AND PRAYERS TO YOU AND DELORES. HAPPY PLOWING SNOW.
BLESSINGS, RON LEIDIGH
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, I am sorry about yesterday. I got up at 3:30 AM on Wednesday, did my household things, wrote a message and took care of our animals. Then it was off to plow snow which I love to do, got back home about 5:00 PM, did a few things and it was snowing again big time, so at 9:00 PM on Wednesday evening I went back out, returning this time about 4:00 AM. Did the household things, took care of animals and it was just time to shower and get moving out for a Sing-A-Long at the Bridges and from there to the Doctors for Dolores to have a nerve block in her back... Got home and did the household things, got something to eat and went to bed and "died". When I was young a long time ago I would do those two days no sleep thing a lot, but now I am a tad older and gosh it ain't so easy anymore.
World Cancer day, Please pray for the following who have cancer: Ron Leidigh (read his update at the end of the message), Kathleen Sansoni, Jo Aguirre (she has a tumor behind her eye, pray that there is no cancer), Margaret Schwear, and Melanie. Other prayers for Sharon who is taking care of her mother and for Vicki and yes, my dear wife. Prayers also for Stanley Bingham, who is moving from The Bridges to a Veterans Home.
The Big Trip 7-4 Jesus Heals 3: Luke 4:42 - At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for Him and when they came to where He was, they tried to keep Him from leaving them. 43 "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent." 44 And He kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea. (NIV)
I love how Jesus teaches by example, and I want you to look at Luke 4:42 and see that it is ok to have some "me time", some time to be alone, to pray and to think. Look, Jesus is showing us that it is ok, and He showed us that other places in the Bible. Sometimes, brothers and sisters, you just need some time to be alone with God. In the background on the news they just happen to be talking about men caves and women caves, places in a home to be alone (other than in the bathroom).
Now let's move on to Luke 4:43 - "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent." Now look at this example and let's line it up right now with Mark 16:15: He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."
Now let me line them up together:
Luke 4:43 - "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."
Mark 16:15 - He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."
First, He is telling others He must go into the world and preach the good news of the kingdom of God, then He is telling us to do it. Have you ever known people who would say, Do as I say and not as I do? A lot of people, parents mostly, do that. Most often they do not have to say it, they show by example. They drink and curse and then expect for that not to happen by their children. CAN WE start setting good examples like Jesus set for us? Oh my, how I wish I would have learned that one early on in my life. On a day when we pray for those working the fields of harvest for the Lord it is a great day to point these scriptures out to you. God is good, sets good examples, let us follow them... Amen.
Dear Father in Heaven, we thank You for setting good examples, we thank Jesus for setting good examples and we give thanks for the Holy Spirit for being with us to help us follow You. Come over us this day and help us to fall deeper and deeper in Love with You. Please cure cancer from all who have it and end the health problem we call cancer. Let it be done, Lord, in the name of Jesus. World cancer day, Lord, heal Your people. Lord, I just want to confess that I need to do a better job in following You. Help me with it, in the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
Now go forth sharing your blessings, and please take time to read the update from Ron, in his own words. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
HI PASTOR DAN, JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A UPDATE ON ME, LAST FRIDAY I HAD A PET SCAN, GOT RESULTS ON FOLLOWING MONDAY AND IT SHOWED I AM NOT IN REMISSION YET. SO I WILL BE DOING MORE CHEMO, ONE DAY A MONTH FOR THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS, EACH TIME IS FOUR TO FIVE HOURS IN DURATION, BUT PRAISE THE LORD IT DOES NOT MAKE ME SICK, BUT DOES LEAVE ME A LITTLE TIRED THE NEXT DAY, BUT AFTER THAT HAVE MORE ENERGY, SO AS THE AGES ROLL I WILL KEEP PRAISING HIM, JUST A BUMP IN THE ROAD, AND CAUSE ME TO DIG MY HEELS IN A LITTLE DEEPER TO KILL THIS GIANT WITH WORD OF GOD AND TO REMIND THIS GIANT, THAT GOD SAYS I AM THE LORD THAT HEALS ME. WELL ENOUGH OF ME. I HOPE YOU ARE PROSPERING AND IN GOOD HEALTH AND PRAYERS TO YOU AND DELORES. HAPPY PLOWING SNOW.
BLESSINGS, RON LEIDIGH
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
January 26, 2011 Jesus Heals 2
When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying His hands on each one, He healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But He rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Christ.
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, and welcome to Salvation Wednesday, the day we pray for the lost souls and for God to use us to help bring in the lost to be saved by Jesus. Again, I want to remind you that we cannot save a soul, but we sure can tell the people the good news and try our best to lead them to Jesus. Prayers also for "Tim's mom" and I am trying to get a name, but she has cancer and really bad. Doctors have told her that she is past her time here, but we know DOCTORS ARE NOT IN CHARGE, JESUS IS.!! Pray, warriors, pray. Prayers for the family of Pastor Tom Weber, formerly from this area, now South Carolina, who went home to be with Jesus.
Praise report, Norma Orner is home from the hospital, however prayers are still needed.
The Big Trip, 7-3 Jesus heals 2: Luke 4:40 - When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying His hands on each one, He healed them. 41 Moreover, demons came out of many people shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But He rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Christ. (NIV)
Once again we look in on Jesus in the early stages of His ministry and find Him still at the home of Simon where, as you recall we talked yesterday, about His healing of Simon's mother-in-law. Today we see that as the sun was setting, people brought those needing healing to Jesus. Please note the wording that "all who had various kinds of sickness, and Jesus laid hands on them and they were healed." Let's look at the word "all" meaning all who were sick. And again Jesus will heal all, it does not make one bit of difference to Him what color the folks are, red, yellow, black or white, and now, folks, all the shades that have been blended, Jesus will hear their prayers and according to His will, He will heal them. And another word, "various", and that means to me there is hope for all regardless of what the sickness is. This is worldwide cancer Friday, and yes, Jesus can cure people of cancer, along with "All" and this time, all meaning every kind of sickness you can think of and some you cannot. So brothers and sisters, please have faith, your healing is coming, it is coming.
Now let's look at something else... Why did the people start to show up when the sun was setting instead of coming during the day? You will recall that when Jesus stopped at Simon's home He was coming from the synagogue. The Sabbath was over at sundown, so as the sun was going down, the folks knew where to find Jesus and wanted those who were sick to be healed. Folks, and they were healed, all of them. Also we see demons also came out, for my dear brothers and sisters, demons cause a lot of problems and not just for those who have them but for those around them also. As the demons they were shouting "You are the Son of God" and just rebuked them and shut them up. Now if demons know that Jesus is the Son of God, why then do we still have people who question it or just do not believe at all? And, yes, there are people who do not believe we have demons.
Dear Father in Heaven, Please, please heal your people today from their sins and set us out new, white like the snow that is falling at our home right now. Lord, equip us to help others to come to You for Your saving grace. Cure and heal today, Lord, as You did at Simon's home. And Lord, help us all to believe in all that is in the Bible. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now a short story, as you know I like all animals, but sometimes we must be on our guard. We came home yesterday after Dolores was at a doctor appointment. Today is trash day, so after getting all the stuff that is in our home to the door, I went out, was heading for the trash and there about 4 feet ahead of me was one very, very sick Opossum had just crawled there. At once I turned away, knowing that if this animal is out in the daylight, he is more than likely to have rabies. All of our animals were secured, except those cats that just come to eat. I did call for help from our local police as being in an area where there are children I did not want to chance a shot and have it take a bounce and hit someone or something, including our own big bus windshields. So our local police came and he felt the same way, so, now what? Then the officer, well trained in what to do said, how about I just run over it? Again, I hate to kill any animal, sometimes it is needed. I guided the officer's police car tire right up to the animal, and then I walked away. I did not want to see it, nor did I need a splash of, well inners of a sick animal. He was a pro, killed it and not one drop of anything came out. I shoveled it up, and put it in bags and in the trash. All glory and honor to God for this animal not getting into our garages and getting to any of our animals. Thanks also to a great police officer who then looked over our food pantry and took some cards for when he might find people who need help.
Ok, time to say this, please share your blessings. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, and welcome to Salvation Wednesday, the day we pray for the lost souls and for God to use us to help bring in the lost to be saved by Jesus. Again, I want to remind you that we cannot save a soul, but we sure can tell the people the good news and try our best to lead them to Jesus. Prayers also for "Tim's mom" and I am trying to get a name, but she has cancer and really bad. Doctors have told her that she is past her time here, but we know DOCTORS ARE NOT IN CHARGE, JESUS IS.!! Pray, warriors, pray. Prayers for the family of Pastor Tom Weber, formerly from this area, now South Carolina, who went home to be with Jesus.
Praise report, Norma Orner is home from the hospital, however prayers are still needed.
The Big Trip, 7-3 Jesus heals 2: Luke 4:40 - When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying His hands on each one, He healed them. 41 Moreover, demons came out of many people shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But He rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Christ. (NIV)
Once again we look in on Jesus in the early stages of His ministry and find Him still at the home of Simon where, as you recall we talked yesterday, about His healing of Simon's mother-in-law. Today we see that as the sun was setting, people brought those needing healing to Jesus. Please note the wording that "all who had various kinds of sickness, and Jesus laid hands on them and they were healed." Let's look at the word "all" meaning all who were sick. And again Jesus will heal all, it does not make one bit of difference to Him what color the folks are, red, yellow, black or white, and now, folks, all the shades that have been blended, Jesus will hear their prayers and according to His will, He will heal them. And another word, "various", and that means to me there is hope for all regardless of what the sickness is. This is worldwide cancer Friday, and yes, Jesus can cure people of cancer, along with "All" and this time, all meaning every kind of sickness you can think of and some you cannot. So brothers and sisters, please have faith, your healing is coming, it is coming.
Now let's look at something else... Why did the people start to show up when the sun was setting instead of coming during the day? You will recall that when Jesus stopped at Simon's home He was coming from the synagogue. The Sabbath was over at sundown, so as the sun was going down, the folks knew where to find Jesus and wanted those who were sick to be healed. Folks, and they were healed, all of them. Also we see demons also came out, for my dear brothers and sisters, demons cause a lot of problems and not just for those who have them but for those around them also. As the demons they were shouting "You are the Son of God" and just rebuked them and shut them up. Now if demons know that Jesus is the Son of God, why then do we still have people who question it or just do not believe at all? And, yes, there are people who do not believe we have demons.
Dear Father in Heaven, Please, please heal your people today from their sins and set us out new, white like the snow that is falling at our home right now. Lord, equip us to help others to come to You for Your saving grace. Cure and heal today, Lord, as You did at Simon's home. And Lord, help us all to believe in all that is in the Bible. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now a short story, as you know I like all animals, but sometimes we must be on our guard. We came home yesterday after Dolores was at a doctor appointment. Today is trash day, so after getting all the stuff that is in our home to the door, I went out, was heading for the trash and there about 4 feet ahead of me was one very, very sick Opossum had just crawled there. At once I turned away, knowing that if this animal is out in the daylight, he is more than likely to have rabies. All of our animals were secured, except those cats that just come to eat. I did call for help from our local police as being in an area where there are children I did not want to chance a shot and have it take a bounce and hit someone or something, including our own big bus windshields. So our local police came and he felt the same way, so, now what? Then the officer, well trained in what to do said, how about I just run over it? Again, I hate to kill any animal, sometimes it is needed. I guided the officer's police car tire right up to the animal, and then I walked away. I did not want to see it, nor did I need a splash of, well inners of a sick animal. He was a pro, killed it and not one drop of anything came out. I shoveled it up, and put it in bags and in the trash. All glory and honor to God for this animal not getting into our garages and getting to any of our animals. Thanks also to a great police officer who then looked over our food pantry and took some cards for when he might find people who need help.
Ok, time to say this, please share your blessings. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
January 25, 2011 Jesus Heals
Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So He bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.
Good Tuesday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. It is Tuesday and I am late again, had to get my vehicle inspected and make a call on a veteran at the Bridges. Today being Tuesday is the day we pray for Jesus to cause cures for things like cancer and heart problems. Please take a look at a request I received from one of our prayer warriors, I call him Big John Henry. "In memory of our moms, dads, brothers and sisters, friends and loved ones of whom there are so many. This year has been one with too many diagnoses too close to home. For all the friends, family, loved ones, and those we don't even know... A small request... Just one line. Dear God, I pray for a cure for cancer. Amen. This coming Friday is world cancer day"... I am putting this out today because it is our day to pray for a cure... Please note I did change the order of his request a tad.
Praise Report, please, please take time to go to the end of the message today and look at the young man we pray for that was injured really bad in a car crash on Labor Day. Praise God. It is word for word as I received it.
The Big Trip 7-2 Jesus Heals: Luke 4:38 - Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. 39 So He bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. (NIV)
As we follow the life of Jesus, and I am sure we will not always have it in the order it occurred, today we are going to look at one of those first healings, one of the first miracle healings. Yesterday we talked about Jesus driving out demons and it was just one place in the Bible and we will talk more and more about God's healing hands... We notice today that Simon's mother-in-law had a high fever, and most of us I am sure have had high fevers. I can remember holding our kids on my lap in those tender years with a cool wet cloth on their heads to help break a high fever. I also remember having high fevers and when you have one, you are weak and you just want to stay in bed till you get rid of it. Take this, take that, drink a lot of fluids, was the doctors orders. And when the fever would break you would be soaked and hot and sweaty, and you for days did not get up to strength. But when Jesus, our Lord and Savior and healer, rebukes the fever I want you to notice that this lady got right up and went to work. I am sure that all of us believe and wish that when we had a problem Jesus would just reach out and touch us and heal us. I don't know why He heals some right away and others wait, but I do know it is in His will we should pray and it is in His time that He heals us. I know I do believe in the direct healing of Jesus, just like happened to Simon's mother-in-law. I know others do also. It happened on the golf course when a pastor was playing a round with a few friends, and the friends were talking about a stiff shoulder, a bad knee and a bad back. The pastor laid hands on the first one with a bad shoulder asking Jesus to heal him, and that man said the shoulder felt better at once. Then the pastor, again in the name of Jesus, touched the bad knee of another one of his friends and at once the knee was feeling better. Then the pastor went to the man with the bad back and was ready to pray in the name of Jesus for him to be healed, when the man said wait a minute, pastor, please do not pray for me, I am on workers comp!!! While that story is a joke there are some folks who truly do not want to be completely healed, because they are enjoying playing golf and/or doing other things while collecting some benefits.
Tomorrow we will look at more of those healings by our Lord Jesus. Again I want to remind you that Jesus still heals, and I know He does this because it tells us in the Bible that Jesus is the same today as He was back then and tomorrow He will still be the same. So if you are praying for healing, keep your faith, it is coming, it really is. Dolores and I have faith it will and I have already been healed from cancer.
Dear Father in Heaven, we pray today for the cure for cancer and those other diseases and we pray that those healed are cleared of all that is wrong. The first healing I am praying for today is that folks will come to You and be healed of sins, and Lord, we sure will give all the honor and glory to You. I again give You honor and praise and glory for all you do for us. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth and share those blessings, and pray for healing and then rise and be healed in the name of Jesus.. Now read on for a praise report. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Well today has been a wonderful day well it had a wonderful ending. You all should remember Zach the man that was injured badly in the bad car wreck on labor day ? Well remember how we all prayed and prayed for him? Well the guys kept telling me tonight that they had a surprise for me and I kept saying telling what the surprise is and they said no then it wont be a surprise. Well when nick got off work he went to pick up Zach and bring him here. And I only knew that nick was coming here after he got off work. Well here came zack in the door first and then nick. I was over whelmed with happy ness. He walked into my home with no longer a walker or cane and sat on my loveseat he looks amazing he looks wonderful I cried when he left I was so happy. To think how bad he was 4 months ago and then to see him walk into my home was major prayers answered. Please all continue to keep him in your prayers but they sure are working. I will attach a picture of him to let you all see how great he looks and is doing. And remember his pelvis was shattered and bleed in his brain and all the time he was barely alive in ICU well he is doing great. Please continue the prayers for me also. Still dealing with health issues . Love you all Vicki
With God all things are possible
Love Vicki
Good Tuesday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. It is Tuesday and I am late again, had to get my vehicle inspected and make a call on a veteran at the Bridges. Today being Tuesday is the day we pray for Jesus to cause cures for things like cancer and heart problems. Please take a look at a request I received from one of our prayer warriors, I call him Big John Henry. "In memory of our moms, dads, brothers and sisters, friends and loved ones of whom there are so many. This year has been one with too many diagnoses too close to home. For all the friends, family, loved ones, and those we don't even know... A small request... Just one line. Dear God, I pray for a cure for cancer. Amen. This coming Friday is world cancer day"... I am putting this out today because it is our day to pray for a cure... Please note I did change the order of his request a tad.
Praise Report, please, please take time to go to the end of the message today and look at the young man we pray for that was injured really bad in a car crash on Labor Day. Praise God. It is word for word as I received it.
The Big Trip 7-2 Jesus Heals: Luke 4:38 - Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. 39 So He bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. (NIV)
As we follow the life of Jesus, and I am sure we will not always have it in the order it occurred, today we are going to look at one of those first healings, one of the first miracle healings. Yesterday we talked about Jesus driving out demons and it was just one place in the Bible and we will talk more and more about God's healing hands... We notice today that Simon's mother-in-law had a high fever, and most of us I am sure have had high fevers. I can remember holding our kids on my lap in those tender years with a cool wet cloth on their heads to help break a high fever. I also remember having high fevers and when you have one, you are weak and you just want to stay in bed till you get rid of it. Take this, take that, drink a lot of fluids, was the doctors orders. And when the fever would break you would be soaked and hot and sweaty, and you for days did not get up to strength. But when Jesus, our Lord and Savior and healer, rebukes the fever I want you to notice that this lady got right up and went to work. I am sure that all of us believe and wish that when we had a problem Jesus would just reach out and touch us and heal us. I don't know why He heals some right away and others wait, but I do know it is in His will we should pray and it is in His time that He heals us. I know I do believe in the direct healing of Jesus, just like happened to Simon's mother-in-law. I know others do also. It happened on the golf course when a pastor was playing a round with a few friends, and the friends were talking about a stiff shoulder, a bad knee and a bad back. The pastor laid hands on the first one with a bad shoulder asking Jesus to heal him, and that man said the shoulder felt better at once. Then the pastor, again in the name of Jesus, touched the bad knee of another one of his friends and at once the knee was feeling better. Then the pastor went to the man with the bad back and was ready to pray in the name of Jesus for him to be healed, when the man said wait a minute, pastor, please do not pray for me, I am on workers comp!!! While that story is a joke there are some folks who truly do not want to be completely healed, because they are enjoying playing golf and/or doing other things while collecting some benefits.
Tomorrow we will look at more of those healings by our Lord Jesus. Again I want to remind you that Jesus still heals, and I know He does this because it tells us in the Bible that Jesus is the same today as He was back then and tomorrow He will still be the same. So if you are praying for healing, keep your faith, it is coming, it really is. Dolores and I have faith it will and I have already been healed from cancer.
Dear Father in Heaven, we pray today for the cure for cancer and those other diseases and we pray that those healed are cleared of all that is wrong. The first healing I am praying for today is that folks will come to You and be healed of sins, and Lord, we sure will give all the honor and glory to You. I again give You honor and praise and glory for all you do for us. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth and share those blessings, and pray for healing and then rise and be healed in the name of Jesus.. Now read on for a praise report. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Well today has been a wonderful day well it had a wonderful ending. You all should remember Zach the man that was injured badly in the bad car wreck on labor day ? Well remember how we all prayed and prayed for him? Well the guys kept telling me tonight that they had a surprise for me and I kept saying telling what the surprise is and they said no then it wont be a surprise. Well when nick got off work he went to pick up Zach and bring him here. And I only knew that nick was coming here after he got off work. Well here came zack in the door first and then nick. I was over whelmed with happy ness. He walked into my home with no longer a walker or cane and sat on my loveseat he looks amazing he looks wonderful I cried when he left I was so happy. To think how bad he was 4 months ago and then to see him walk into my home was major prayers answered. Please all continue to keep him in your prayers but they sure are working. I will attach a picture of him to let you all see how great he looks and is doing. And remember his pelvis was shattered and bleed in his brain and all the time he was barely alive in ICU well he is doing great. Please continue the prayers for me also. Still dealing with health issues . Love you all Vicki
With God all things are possible
Love Vicki
Monday, January 24, 2011
January 24, 2011 Evil Spirits
"Be quiet!" Jesus said sternly. "Come out of Him!"
Good Monday morning, my dear brothers and sisters, and folks, I think during the weekend the wind blew us to the real North Pole, for, folks, it is 4.4 degrees here at the "Southern(?)" Location of the North Pole. I just saw on the news pictures of snow on the beaches and that was in "South Carolina".
Let's pray today for the homeless, be it by choice or just folks without money, pray for them that they get to shelters. Also pray for people who have homes but no money to purchase fuel to heat them. Pray for our son in law, Jeff, and other plumbers, as I am sure they are working hard to fix broken pipes and/or deal with frozen water lines. Also our son Glenn, who is a property manager, deals with about 700 units in the cities of Harrisburg and York. Pray for all those who work jobs like this.
At the end of the message today, please find a Praise Report from Rob Campbell for his daughter, and please keep praying for her.
Monday and the day we pray for our leaders, our veterans, and pray for WW2 veteran Stanley Bingham. Pray also for our current military, for our police and pray please for the Detroit Police Department as someone entered one of their stations, pulled a gun and shot 4 officers, all are still alive, the shooter is not! Also pray for our firefighters, and brothers and sisters, it is cold out there and there seems to be more fires in cold weather. Also remember these fine men and women go to vehicle accidents and most of them do it for free.
The Big Trip 7-1 Evil Spirits: Luke 4:33 - In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice. 34 "Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are the Holy One of God!" 35 "Be quiet!" Jesus said sternly. "Come out of Him!" Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. 36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power He gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!" 37 And the news about Him spread throughout the surrounding area. (NIV)
Do demons still live, are they still alive in people? Do bears still go, oh never mind that saying! Yes, of course demons are still alive, and alive and well in some people. Have you ever known someone about whom you and others have said: "I think that person is demon processed."? Have you ever been to a church service where they pray for the demons to come out? I have never been to a service like that, but I have friends who have and said they have seen the demons coming out of the ones being prayed for. Folks, please do take this very, very seriously. I DO BELIEVE that there are demons and I do believe that when praying in the name of Jesus, you can pray and they will leave those who have them. I have faith in that and why do I have faith in that? Because it is in the Bible and because Jesus is still the same today as He was yesterday and He will be the same tomorrow. And He will say to the demons, "Be quiet and come out of Him." Or her, whatever the case may be.
Now for you folks who might not want to believe in this, are you picking and choosing in what is in the Bible? Are you saying that You believe in Salvation through Jesus but do not believe in this actions of Jesus? Since I have been saved, I have learned to trust Jesus and trust what is written in my Bible. And yes, I believe that creation was spoken, except for the creation of Adam, and I believe that Jesus made man from the dust of the earth and Eve from the rib of Adam, and I believe that creation was done in six days and that God rested from His work on the seventh.
So if you have demons, or you know others who have them, pray and pray and pray. God is good and He is still in control. Tomorrow and maybe for a few more days we are going to talking about healing... And yes, God still heals, He really does...
Dear Father in Heaven, I trust in You, I trust Your Son, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and I believe in the Holy Spirit. I believe that You still drive out demons and that You still are in the healing business. Lord, please take a look at our prayer list and honor our requests in the name of Jesus according to Your will. Lord, it is Your will we pray for, as we know Your will is better than ours. Thanks be to You for your working with Jennifer Campbell, and thanks for Your healing hand on so many others that we have prayed for and thanks for healing things in our bodies before we ever know that they were happening; in other words, Lord, thanks for protecting. Lord, please heal those police officers that were shot yesterday. Lord, heal also the community. Lord, protect our leaders and heal Gabby, and protect our military and heal those who have been wounded in the line of duty. Lord, please keep blessing this line. In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.
Now go forth, believing in God, and trusting in Him to heal and drive out demons, trust Him to help you raise your families, and please, folks, look over the praise and prayer report that follows. And brothers and sisters, please, please share your blessings. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Praise report! First the weather held off on Friday so that I could take Jennifer to the doctor by Hershey Medical Center. We met with a nurse practitioner that specializes on lungs and breathing at University Physician's Center behind the hospital. Jennifer failed many of her tests which is a good thing. It pinpointed the cause behind her problems. She has swelling in her vocal cords that causes her to not be able to get enough air in or out of her body. This causes her throat area to swell as well. Then while playing basketball this all goes haywire and she hyperventilates, then her legs and arms get numb. So we finally have a possible cause for her problems. An inhaler has been prescribed to use right before games and practice. There is also acid reflux which is being treated with medicine. Plus we are doing some old fashion treatments with flushing her sinuses with a salt water solution in a hot shower. But the biggest prayer request is that Jennifer needs to give up as much soda, orange juice, and chocolate as possible to help with the acid reflux. Thankfully, it appears that God has put us with the right doctor to finally help Jennifer. Thank you all so much.
Robert Campbell
Good Monday morning, my dear brothers and sisters, and folks, I think during the weekend the wind blew us to the real North Pole, for, folks, it is 4.4 degrees here at the "Southern(?)" Location of the North Pole. I just saw on the news pictures of snow on the beaches and that was in "South Carolina".
Let's pray today for the homeless, be it by choice or just folks without money, pray for them that they get to shelters. Also pray for people who have homes but no money to purchase fuel to heat them. Pray for our son in law, Jeff, and other plumbers, as I am sure they are working hard to fix broken pipes and/or deal with frozen water lines. Also our son Glenn, who is a property manager, deals with about 700 units in the cities of Harrisburg and York. Pray for all those who work jobs like this.
At the end of the message today, please find a Praise Report from Rob Campbell for his daughter, and please keep praying for her.
Monday and the day we pray for our leaders, our veterans, and pray for WW2 veteran Stanley Bingham. Pray also for our current military, for our police and pray please for the Detroit Police Department as someone entered one of their stations, pulled a gun and shot 4 officers, all are still alive, the shooter is not! Also pray for our firefighters, and brothers and sisters, it is cold out there and there seems to be more fires in cold weather. Also remember these fine men and women go to vehicle accidents and most of them do it for free.
The Big Trip 7-1 Evil Spirits: Luke 4:33 - In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice. 34 "Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are the Holy One of God!" 35 "Be quiet!" Jesus said sternly. "Come out of Him!" Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. 36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power He gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!" 37 And the news about Him spread throughout the surrounding area. (NIV)
Do demons still live, are they still alive in people? Do bears still go, oh never mind that saying! Yes, of course demons are still alive, and alive and well in some people. Have you ever known someone about whom you and others have said: "I think that person is demon processed."? Have you ever been to a church service where they pray for the demons to come out? I have never been to a service like that, but I have friends who have and said they have seen the demons coming out of the ones being prayed for. Folks, please do take this very, very seriously. I DO BELIEVE that there are demons and I do believe that when praying in the name of Jesus, you can pray and they will leave those who have them. I have faith in that and why do I have faith in that? Because it is in the Bible and because Jesus is still the same today as He was yesterday and He will be the same tomorrow. And He will say to the demons, "Be quiet and come out of Him." Or her, whatever the case may be.
Now for you folks who might not want to believe in this, are you picking and choosing in what is in the Bible? Are you saying that You believe in Salvation through Jesus but do not believe in this actions of Jesus? Since I have been saved, I have learned to trust Jesus and trust what is written in my Bible. And yes, I believe that creation was spoken, except for the creation of Adam, and I believe that Jesus made man from the dust of the earth and Eve from the rib of Adam, and I believe that creation was done in six days and that God rested from His work on the seventh.
So if you have demons, or you know others who have them, pray and pray and pray. God is good and He is still in control. Tomorrow and maybe for a few more days we are going to talking about healing... And yes, God still heals, He really does...
Dear Father in Heaven, I trust in You, I trust Your Son, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and I believe in the Holy Spirit. I believe that You still drive out demons and that You still are in the healing business. Lord, please take a look at our prayer list and honor our requests in the name of Jesus according to Your will. Lord, it is Your will we pray for, as we know Your will is better than ours. Thanks be to You for your working with Jennifer Campbell, and thanks for Your healing hand on so many others that we have prayed for and thanks for healing things in our bodies before we ever know that they were happening; in other words, Lord, thanks for protecting. Lord, please heal those police officers that were shot yesterday. Lord, heal also the community. Lord, protect our leaders and heal Gabby, and protect our military and heal those who have been wounded in the line of duty. Lord, please keep blessing this line. In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.
Now go forth, believing in God, and trusting in Him to heal and drive out demons, trust Him to help you raise your families, and please, folks, look over the praise and prayer report that follows. And brothers and sisters, please, please share your blessings. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Praise report! First the weather held off on Friday so that I could take Jennifer to the doctor by Hershey Medical Center. We met with a nurse practitioner that specializes on lungs and breathing at University Physician's Center behind the hospital. Jennifer failed many of her tests which is a good thing. It pinpointed the cause behind her problems. She has swelling in her vocal cords that causes her to not be able to get enough air in or out of her body. This causes her throat area to swell as well. Then while playing basketball this all goes haywire and she hyperventilates, then her legs and arms get numb. So we finally have a possible cause for her problems. An inhaler has been prescribed to use right before games and practice. There is also acid reflux which is being treated with medicine. Plus we are doing some old fashion treatments with flushing her sinuses with a salt water solution in a hot shower. But the biggest prayer request is that Jennifer needs to give up as much soda, orange juice, and chocolate as possible to help with the acid reflux. Thankfully, it appears that God has put us with the right doctor to finally help Jennifer. Thank you all so much.
Robert Campbell
Saturday, January 22, 2011
January 21/22, 2011 Tempations 5
Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
Good Early Saturday Morning from the Southern Location of the North Pole, where at this time it is 8 degrees. Southern Location?? I am so sorry about Friday, I was up very early in the morning and plowed snow, came home, took care of animals, cleared a few cars at home of the snow. By then it was about 1.00 PM and I sat down to write the daily message and my head kept getting in the way of my fingers. That's is correct, as I was falling asleep and bouncing my head off the key board. Brings back the days of my high school, except the keys were on a manual typewriter, you know one of those with no electric and no screen. I learned on one of those and for a few years after I got this computer I would swing my left arm to hit that carriage return and knock the printer on the floor! Ok, so I did not knock the computer on the floor, but when those electrics came out I did have problems. I do remember well Mrs. Railing who just made me learn to type. I need to thank God for her as her teaching back then sure helps me now as I can type near 70 words per minute. Mistakes? Well, I just can't spell.
Today's prayers go out to Norma Orner who is the ICU being checked out and the reasons are not clear yet what is wrong. She is the mother of Jim Orner who along with his wife Beverly have a few daughters including our baby Allie. And please pray for the family... Jim for employment also.
Other prayer requests. Eleanor, who is still in rehab and we are praying she is back home soon with her son and daughter. Pray for Sally, who lost her husband recently. Please pray for Pastor Tony and Ruby Mayaski. Pastor Tony, who I have always said is a pastor's pastor, has lost most of his sight and his hearing and his memory is starting to go also. Please pray for Pastor Tony and his wonderful wife Ruby. And yes, folks, please pray for my dear wife Dolores who is in so much pain I don't know how she keeps moving, but she does. Also, it is this day we pray for those who work in the fields of Harvest for God. Let me get to the message; again, I am sorry I am late on this.
The Big Trip 6-5 Temptations 5: Luke 4:9 - The devil led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. 10 "For it is written: 'He will command His angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 14 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your food against a stone.'" 12 Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" (NIV)
First, we all know that if Jesus did not want to point out things to the devil and more so to us, He would not be letting the devil lead Him around. This all has a point and Jesus is very, very strong and my dear brothers and sisters, we are not, so we cannot let the devil lead us around. Example, a person who has a drinking problem who has come to Christ and has come clean of all drinking and even drugs. They decide to go as ordered into the fields of harvest to get the word out for Jesus. They want to go back to the bars and talk to those folks. Bad, bad idea, for people are weak, we do not have the strength to sit there and not drink again while talking about Jesus. And getting drunk and talking about the Lord is not a good witness. Now there are some good examples of going back to where one might have been to talk about the Lord. One is at the coffee pot at work, you might have been there cursing and being in on the rumor mill when you come to Christ, you change those those at work who will see that in you, they will soon ask about the change and you can start to witness. Another place is, you might have spent some time in prison, and after finding Christ and that might have happened in prison, but anyway, after you get released, you want to work for Jesus by going to the prisons. I think there is no danger in this one, the devil might talk to us, but I don't think those who are out and have Christ in their hearts want to go back in. In fact, it might remind them of how much they hated it in there. Point, Jesus is strong and we are not. Keep going on the scripture and follow the lead of Jesus.
So Jesus is standing on the highest point in the temple and He is being told or tempted by the devil to jump and God will have angels catch Him... Jesus does not jump, saying we should not put the Lord your God to the test. Trust me, you just do not want to go to the top of a building and jump off, for there will be a big mess on the sidewalk. I don't care how much we love God, we just do not want to test Him except on one thing. Oh, yes, there is one thing we can test our Lord on, one thing and I am sure that most of you know what it is. And let me point out a few things first... There is a difference between trusting God and testing Him. We trust God to lead us and to answer our prayers, and if we follow Him, He really will lead us and He will never lead us down the wrong path, we go down the wrong paths when we drift. He also hears and answers all of our prayers. You say, He has not heard or answered your prayers. Remember this, when talking to God and asking Him for things it is in His time and on His terms. And also remember that, like when we were kids and asked our parents for things, sometimes we must remember that "NO" is an answer. Sometimes we don't understand why this happens, but it does. Why is one person healed from cancer while another is not, and sometimes it is the one who does not follow Jesus who gets healed and the one who has trusted and worked for God does not get healed. I want you to look at it this way. One who loves God and gets called home is healed, really, really healed. The one who did not know Jesus and was healed, maybe Jesus did that giving them more time to come to Jesus to be saved. Just think about it. Now there are people who love our Lord Jesus dearly and who have been healed, I know I have been cleared of cancer, and so has our ministry partner, Pamela! Also the biggest healing when praying to Jesus and coming to Christ is YOU HAVE BEEN HEALED OF YOUR SINS! Someone please say Amen on that one...
Now for the one place that you can test our Lord Jesus. It is in your giving, your sharing of your blessings, YOU JUST CANNOT OUT-GIVE THE LORD.
Malachi 3:8 - Will a man rob God? Yet your rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse, the whole nation of you, because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. TEST ME IN THIS," Says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessings that you will not have room enough for it." 11 "I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit." Says the Lord Almighty. (NIV)
So there you have it, want to test God, put your dollars working for God, and don't worry about tomorrow. Folks, this really works, it really, really does. Trust me on this one folks, no, don't trust me, trust God. It is in the Bible, folks, and our Lord God does not lie to us. But folks, there is one thing you must do, YOU MUST DO IT IN FAITH. Don't put a dollar in the offering and buy a dollar ticket for the lottery. I have had people tell me that they do not have money to give to God after paying their bills. Answer, Give to God first, give God the best. If you give to God first, in time you will find you have enough to pay your bills. Of course you cannot put money working for the Lord and expect He will see you have two new caddies in your garage, well not for a while anyway. Trust God, and folks, test Him on this one, but do it in faith...
Dear Father in Heaven, thanks for again setting examples for us to follow, thanks for the messages of this week and I am so sorry that I am late on this message. Lord, bless those on our prayer requests list today and also please bless those on the lists of others including Glenvale Church of God. In the name of Jesus, we pray. AMEN.
Now go forth, go forth and share your blessings with others. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Good Early Saturday Morning from the Southern Location of the North Pole, where at this time it is 8 degrees. Southern Location?? I am so sorry about Friday, I was up very early in the morning and plowed snow, came home, took care of animals, cleared a few cars at home of the snow. By then it was about 1.00 PM and I sat down to write the daily message and my head kept getting in the way of my fingers. That's is correct, as I was falling asleep and bouncing my head off the key board. Brings back the days of my high school, except the keys were on a manual typewriter, you know one of those with no electric and no screen. I learned on one of those and for a few years after I got this computer I would swing my left arm to hit that carriage return and knock the printer on the floor! Ok, so I did not knock the computer on the floor, but when those electrics came out I did have problems. I do remember well Mrs. Railing who just made me learn to type. I need to thank God for her as her teaching back then sure helps me now as I can type near 70 words per minute. Mistakes? Well, I just can't spell.
Today's prayers go out to Norma Orner who is the ICU being checked out and the reasons are not clear yet what is wrong. She is the mother of Jim Orner who along with his wife Beverly have a few daughters including our baby Allie. And please pray for the family... Jim for employment also.
Other prayer requests. Eleanor, who is still in rehab and we are praying she is back home soon with her son and daughter. Pray for Sally, who lost her husband recently. Please pray for Pastor Tony and Ruby Mayaski. Pastor Tony, who I have always said is a pastor's pastor, has lost most of his sight and his hearing and his memory is starting to go also. Please pray for Pastor Tony and his wonderful wife Ruby. And yes, folks, please pray for my dear wife Dolores who is in so much pain I don't know how she keeps moving, but she does. Also, it is this day we pray for those who work in the fields of Harvest for God. Let me get to the message; again, I am sorry I am late on this.
The Big Trip 6-5 Temptations 5: Luke 4:9 - The devil led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. 10 "For it is written: 'He will command His angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 14 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your food against a stone.'" 12 Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" (NIV)
First, we all know that if Jesus did not want to point out things to the devil and more so to us, He would not be letting the devil lead Him around. This all has a point and Jesus is very, very strong and my dear brothers and sisters, we are not, so we cannot let the devil lead us around. Example, a person who has a drinking problem who has come to Christ and has come clean of all drinking and even drugs. They decide to go as ordered into the fields of harvest to get the word out for Jesus. They want to go back to the bars and talk to those folks. Bad, bad idea, for people are weak, we do not have the strength to sit there and not drink again while talking about Jesus. And getting drunk and talking about the Lord is not a good witness. Now there are some good examples of going back to where one might have been to talk about the Lord. One is at the coffee pot at work, you might have been there cursing and being in on the rumor mill when you come to Christ, you change those those at work who will see that in you, they will soon ask about the change and you can start to witness. Another place is, you might have spent some time in prison, and after finding Christ and that might have happened in prison, but anyway, after you get released, you want to work for Jesus by going to the prisons. I think there is no danger in this one, the devil might talk to us, but I don't think those who are out and have Christ in their hearts want to go back in. In fact, it might remind them of how much they hated it in there. Point, Jesus is strong and we are not. Keep going on the scripture and follow the lead of Jesus.
So Jesus is standing on the highest point in the temple and He is being told or tempted by the devil to jump and God will have angels catch Him... Jesus does not jump, saying we should not put the Lord your God to the test. Trust me, you just do not want to go to the top of a building and jump off, for there will be a big mess on the sidewalk. I don't care how much we love God, we just do not want to test Him except on one thing. Oh, yes, there is one thing we can test our Lord on, one thing and I am sure that most of you know what it is. And let me point out a few things first... There is a difference between trusting God and testing Him. We trust God to lead us and to answer our prayers, and if we follow Him, He really will lead us and He will never lead us down the wrong path, we go down the wrong paths when we drift. He also hears and answers all of our prayers. You say, He has not heard or answered your prayers. Remember this, when talking to God and asking Him for things it is in His time and on His terms. And also remember that, like when we were kids and asked our parents for things, sometimes we must remember that "NO" is an answer. Sometimes we don't understand why this happens, but it does. Why is one person healed from cancer while another is not, and sometimes it is the one who does not follow Jesus who gets healed and the one who has trusted and worked for God does not get healed. I want you to look at it this way. One who loves God and gets called home is healed, really, really healed. The one who did not know Jesus and was healed, maybe Jesus did that giving them more time to come to Jesus to be saved. Just think about it. Now there are people who love our Lord Jesus dearly and who have been healed, I know I have been cleared of cancer, and so has our ministry partner, Pamela! Also the biggest healing when praying to Jesus and coming to Christ is YOU HAVE BEEN HEALED OF YOUR SINS! Someone please say Amen on that one...
Now for the one place that you can test our Lord Jesus. It is in your giving, your sharing of your blessings, YOU JUST CANNOT OUT-GIVE THE LORD.
Malachi 3:8 - Will a man rob God? Yet your rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse, the whole nation of you, because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. TEST ME IN THIS," Says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessings that you will not have room enough for it." 11 "I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit." Says the Lord Almighty. (NIV)
So there you have it, want to test God, put your dollars working for God, and don't worry about tomorrow. Folks, this really works, it really, really does. Trust me on this one folks, no, don't trust me, trust God. It is in the Bible, folks, and our Lord God does not lie to us. But folks, there is one thing you must do, YOU MUST DO IT IN FAITH. Don't put a dollar in the offering and buy a dollar ticket for the lottery. I have had people tell me that they do not have money to give to God after paying their bills. Answer, Give to God first, give God the best. If you give to God first, in time you will find you have enough to pay your bills. Of course you cannot put money working for the Lord and expect He will see you have two new caddies in your garage, well not for a while anyway. Trust God, and folks, test Him on this one, but do it in faith...
Dear Father in Heaven, thanks for again setting examples for us to follow, thanks for the messages of this week and I am so sorry that I am late on this message. Lord, bless those on our prayer requests list today and also please bless those on the lists of others including Glenvale Church of God. In the name of Jesus, we pray. AMEN.
Now go forth, go forth and share your blessings with others. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
January 20, 2011 Temptations 4
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord you God and serve Him only"'.
Good Thursday, pray for families and for schools day, on this pray and message line. More snow expected at the Southern Location of the North Pole tonight into tomorrow morning. Not much, but enough to get that plow truck out again. Pray for the safety of those that must travel on that snow and please as you pray for our schools, pray for those school bus drivers. Do you know that in most cases your school bus drivers, who has up to 90, yes 90, children behind them, have your children in their care more than any one teacher in a day's time, after they are out of elementary school, where in most cases they have one teacher all day. I always found it amazing that teachers, and it is a very hard job, but teachers could not control a student facing them, and had to be taken from class were put on the school bus at the end of the day and put behind the driver. When the roads are bad, bus drivers are expected to go, and let me remind all of you, that very first inch of snow on the road is the worst and snow around 30 to 35 degrees is also the worst. Be careful and please pray for those school bus drivers, and while you are at it, pray for all bus drivers, those city and over the road drivers go on schedules also.
I have another correction on the names of the young men from yesterday. DeVaughn Lee, was spelled wrong on my correction list. Again, please keep these families in your prayers.
I have been asked by many people about how Dolores is doing now that she is home from the hospital. I would love to tell you that she is doing better, but the truth is she went backwards while in the hospital. They did a lot of PT and after doing some of it, then they did the X-rays, and they also did an MRI of her back and neck and said the results were normal. If you have seen Dolores and how she is bent over and twisted, you just know that someone read that one wrong. Next week she is going for another nerve block, they help for a while. We are really trusting that God is going to take away the pain, so she, like a good worker for God, just keeps pushing on. Her twisted fingers can still make that piano sing... PRAISE GOD, FOR SHE IS IN HIS HANDS. Thanks for asking.
The Big Trip 6-4 Temptations 4: Luke 4:8 - Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord you God and serve Him only"'. (NIV)
I worked on part of this scripture yesterday but did not get to complete it as I talked about salvation and safety for our youth.
Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only sounds like one thing that would be very, very easy to do, and folks, it really is, but there is a very fine line when it comes to how we handle our things, our positions, our junk, our stuff, our money, etc. Worshiping does not mean that we need to be getting on our knees and praying to our things of that list I just went through. I think all of us in one way or another tend to do one thing and that is try and build up some treasures here on earth and we really should not. The Lord warns us about building treasures on earth as we should be building them in Heaven.
To help us get around worshiping other things or other people, I think the really best way to do it is be in constant worship with Jesus. CONSTANT, you might be asking me? How can one be in constant worship with the Lord when we have work to do, working for a living and working for others? Well, let me address the working things, for we all should be working for a living, in fact God is very clear about that, say "Those who will not work, should not eat." Now I know there are people who cannot work and there is a big difference between those who cannot work and those who will not work. Those who cannot work, need to be taken care of by God's people, yes, we should be taking care of them and not our governments.
Ok, so how do you go to work, sit at your desk, and do your work while you worship God? Oh, come on, folks, you sit at your desk doing work for the boss and still do some texting or talking on that cell phone. Maybe not all of you, but some of you do. Here is a plan, take your In Touch, or Our Daily Bread or one of a number of daily things to work, put one in your desk drawer with a small Bible. When it is break time, read a bit from your Bible instead of hanging out at the coffee pot, or read it before your start up time and then share what you read at the coffee pot. You can also be silently praying when working. Even us old guys can still do that, in fact I do a lot of praying on the road, after all, the older I get the more prayers I need to drive, and I am a good driver, thanks to Jesus.
The more you worship our Lord Jesus, the less time you might have to get caught in a trap of worshiping others or things. Again, worshiping something does not mean you need to be on your knees in front of it. Most of you know I like vehicles, and I have had a couple in my life time. We give some away once in a while and gosh, we get more. We give away food, and gosh we get more. Tomorrow we will talk about that, today I just want you to watch how you handle your things that I mention and you all know what I am talking about. I mean some of you might have a TV show that you are not going to miss for any reason, but if you cannot walk away from it to help others or to do something else, then you might be near that thin line. And folks, it is a thin line. I think that a lot of people worship money, and then again, a lot of us don't have any to worship (Amen to that one). But if we trust the Lord, He will take care of us.
In the scripture today and the same for yesterday, we found the devil trying to get Jesus to worship him. Again we see that Jesus does not just tell us what was written, but He sets the example for it by not worshiping or bowing down to the devil. Folks, I might ask the question, if in some way the old devil or one of his workers, and there are many, would ask you if you wanted a million dollars cash and said all you need to do is just tell me you love me more than Jesus, would you do it? Careful here with your answer, for some will be saying, if I tell devil worker that I love him more than Jesus and then get the money I can then pray to be forgiven and give Jesus ten percent. I mean I know people who have promised the Lord 25% if they were to hit the big buck drawing.
Folks, while Jesus does want some of our things, he wants them from our heart, and folks, the very first thing that Jesus wants is us. Then He wants us to give and be happy about it. Tomorrow we are going to talk a lot more about that. In closing, let me put it this way... Worship Jesus and be thankful for all the things you have, for if they are good, they came from God. Don't worship what God gave You, worship Him, the one who gave it to you... AMEN.
Dear Lord, I guess I rambled a tad this morning, my thoughts are, well, on a bunch of stuff, and Lord, I believe that is why You gave me what You did to write, You once again directed it right at me. Thank You, Lord, for doing that, I will try really super hard not to cross that line. Lord, we all want to worship You and praise You and give You all honor and glory for deep down we know it all came from You if it is good. Help us not to cross that fine line and not even walk on it, but stay with You daily.... always... In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth and share those blessings. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Good Thursday, pray for families and for schools day, on this pray and message line. More snow expected at the Southern Location of the North Pole tonight into tomorrow morning. Not much, but enough to get that plow truck out again. Pray for the safety of those that must travel on that snow and please as you pray for our schools, pray for those school bus drivers. Do you know that in most cases your school bus drivers, who has up to 90, yes 90, children behind them, have your children in their care more than any one teacher in a day's time, after they are out of elementary school, where in most cases they have one teacher all day. I always found it amazing that teachers, and it is a very hard job, but teachers could not control a student facing them, and had to be taken from class were put on the school bus at the end of the day and put behind the driver. When the roads are bad, bus drivers are expected to go, and let me remind all of you, that very first inch of snow on the road is the worst and snow around 30 to 35 degrees is also the worst. Be careful and please pray for those school bus drivers, and while you are at it, pray for all bus drivers, those city and over the road drivers go on schedules also.
I have another correction on the names of the young men from yesterday. DeVaughn Lee, was spelled wrong on my correction list. Again, please keep these families in your prayers.
I have been asked by many people about how Dolores is doing now that she is home from the hospital. I would love to tell you that she is doing better, but the truth is she went backwards while in the hospital. They did a lot of PT and after doing some of it, then they did the X-rays, and they also did an MRI of her back and neck and said the results were normal. If you have seen Dolores and how she is bent over and twisted, you just know that someone read that one wrong. Next week she is going for another nerve block, they help for a while. We are really trusting that God is going to take away the pain, so she, like a good worker for God, just keeps pushing on. Her twisted fingers can still make that piano sing... PRAISE GOD, FOR SHE IS IN HIS HANDS. Thanks for asking.
The Big Trip 6-4 Temptations 4: Luke 4:8 - Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord you God and serve Him only"'. (NIV)
I worked on part of this scripture yesterday but did not get to complete it as I talked about salvation and safety for our youth.
Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only sounds like one thing that would be very, very easy to do, and folks, it really is, but there is a very fine line when it comes to how we handle our things, our positions, our junk, our stuff, our money, etc. Worshiping does not mean that we need to be getting on our knees and praying to our things of that list I just went through. I think all of us in one way or another tend to do one thing and that is try and build up some treasures here on earth and we really should not. The Lord warns us about building treasures on earth as we should be building them in Heaven.
To help us get around worshiping other things or other people, I think the really best way to do it is be in constant worship with Jesus. CONSTANT, you might be asking me? How can one be in constant worship with the Lord when we have work to do, working for a living and working for others? Well, let me address the working things, for we all should be working for a living, in fact God is very clear about that, say "Those who will not work, should not eat." Now I know there are people who cannot work and there is a big difference between those who cannot work and those who will not work. Those who cannot work, need to be taken care of by God's people, yes, we should be taking care of them and not our governments.
Ok, so how do you go to work, sit at your desk, and do your work while you worship God? Oh, come on, folks, you sit at your desk doing work for the boss and still do some texting or talking on that cell phone. Maybe not all of you, but some of you do. Here is a plan, take your In Touch, or Our Daily Bread or one of a number of daily things to work, put one in your desk drawer with a small Bible. When it is break time, read a bit from your Bible instead of hanging out at the coffee pot, or read it before your start up time and then share what you read at the coffee pot. You can also be silently praying when working. Even us old guys can still do that, in fact I do a lot of praying on the road, after all, the older I get the more prayers I need to drive, and I am a good driver, thanks to Jesus.
The more you worship our Lord Jesus, the less time you might have to get caught in a trap of worshiping others or things. Again, worshiping something does not mean you need to be on your knees in front of it. Most of you know I like vehicles, and I have had a couple in my life time. We give some away once in a while and gosh, we get more. We give away food, and gosh we get more. Tomorrow we will talk about that, today I just want you to watch how you handle your things that I mention and you all know what I am talking about. I mean some of you might have a TV show that you are not going to miss for any reason, but if you cannot walk away from it to help others or to do something else, then you might be near that thin line. And folks, it is a thin line. I think that a lot of people worship money, and then again, a lot of us don't have any to worship (Amen to that one). But if we trust the Lord, He will take care of us.
In the scripture today and the same for yesterday, we found the devil trying to get Jesus to worship him. Again we see that Jesus does not just tell us what was written, but He sets the example for it by not worshiping or bowing down to the devil. Folks, I might ask the question, if in some way the old devil or one of his workers, and there are many, would ask you if you wanted a million dollars cash and said all you need to do is just tell me you love me more than Jesus, would you do it? Careful here with your answer, for some will be saying, if I tell devil worker that I love him more than Jesus and then get the money I can then pray to be forgiven and give Jesus ten percent. I mean I know people who have promised the Lord 25% if they were to hit the big buck drawing.
Folks, while Jesus does want some of our things, he wants them from our heart, and folks, the very first thing that Jesus wants is us. Then He wants us to give and be happy about it. Tomorrow we are going to talk a lot more about that. In closing, let me put it this way... Worship Jesus and be thankful for all the things you have, for if they are good, they came from God. Don't worship what God gave You, worship Him, the one who gave it to you... AMEN.
Dear Lord, I guess I rambled a tad this morning, my thoughts are, well, on a bunch of stuff, and Lord, I believe that is why You gave me what You did to write, You once again directed it right at me. Thank You, Lord, for doing that, I will try really super hard not to cross that line. Lord, we all want to worship You and praise You and give You all honor and glory for deep down we know it all came from You if it is good. Help us not to cross that fine line and not even walk on it, but stay with You daily.... always... In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth and share those blessings. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
January 19, 2011 Temptations 3
The devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to Him. "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for all has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only"'.
Good Salvation Wednesday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. You know we have our work cut out for us telling others about Jesus, it is not enough just to pray that people get saved, we must "Put some feet on the prayers" (Pamela Bower) and get to work bringing people to the feet of Jesus.
Let me tell you about four young men, Nicholes Bryson, John Griffith, Cody Hollinger, DeVaught Lee, all were students at Manheim Central High School (Lancaster County Pa.) All the young men between 15 and 17 by all accounts were yet "kids" which is why I referred to them as young men. All were good in school, played sports together and hung out together. On Sunday Morning they were at a sports breakfast and after the breakfast borrowed a friend's car. Then it happened, the mistake was made and they went out speeding and they are looking into the fact they were making a video to place on the computer and were going over a hump in the road which would of course put the car in the air... They crossed into the other lane, all were killed. Now first let me ask you to pray for the families as the funerals are starting and the families lost one of their loved ones. Now I do have a few questions and I am going to use it in the message so please, please read it today. So let's get going. Remember to pray for the unsaved, help work to bring in the lost by "Putting feet on those prayers".
The Big Trip 6-3: Temptations 3 - Luke 4:5 The devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to Him. "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for all has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours." 8 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only"'. (NIV)
What nerve, what nerve the devil had trying to tell the One whose Father made all the things that it was he who had the control over it. I know that Jesus could have just walked away and not have been "Led" but Jesus wanted to show all of us some examples out of this. Let's look at just a few of them.
There are a lot of non-believers out there who do not believe that God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in it. They believe it just happened and as far as I am concerned they might as well be thinking the devil made it for someday those non-believers are going to face him face to face. So there stands Jesus and the devil on a high place and looking out over as far as the eye could see. And the devil telling Jesus, I will give you control over it if you worship me. Now how many people have been promised things by people who cannot make it happen? Think about it, folks, it is very, very deep and maybe you have been one who has made a promise to someone that you just knew before you made it you just could not do it. I am not talking about a promise that you made in good faith and then the bottom fell out of things and you messed up on the promise, I am just saying maybe you have been on the making the promise or having it made to you.
Maybe you went to the bank and were promised a loan by a manager who did not write the loan and then the board turned it down. The manager should not have made a promise that he could not back up. It happens... Maybe you were promised a car at a price, maybe it was even in an ad, but you find that promise was not made in good faith. It happens daily. And if you don't think the devil is still making promises, think again. He makes those temptations really look good sometimes but the master of evil could not make a fool out of Jesus and I pray you will not let him make a fool out of you.
Now let me look at some of the temptations of today. Let's look at these four dear young men who on this past Sunday morning were all killed in one crash due to speed and maybe a video being made. In a borrowed car they went out and got killed. The temptations of making a hit with friends and then posting them... Folks, we see it all the time on those famous home videos how people do stupid things to try and win a few dollars. Yes, I am calling it temptations, and folks, we all get them. I have seen it over and over again where kids, good school kids are wiped out in car crashes, and folks, I have not called it an accident because in my mind when someone is really setting out to break the law it is not an accident, it is a crash waiting to happen. I want you all to pray for the families of these kids, but I want you all to take your teens aside and talk to them. EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT A DRIVER, tell them not to get into cars of other kids without your permission and even at that you are taking chances.
Now I want to go off the subject of temptations for a few minutes and just talk to you about a few other things... First of all right now people in the area are going to churches for prayer about these kids, these young men, school officials are asking for prayer. Now here is my question. Why did they have a sports breakfast on a Sunday Morning? What if all these kids would have been in church? Now that might not have prevented the accident for a few years back in Palmyra, Pa., there were teens and I think maybe two or three that were killed when they were speeding and pulled out to pass a car and hit another head on. They were on their way home from a church teen meeting. Just recently in our school district there was a head on crash on kids going to school. Speed, yes. And I want to take you way back to when I was about 11 and one of the youngest kids in our group from church. Our advisor who was young took a group of us to another church for a party. On the way home and there were six of us in a 1946 Plymouth and I was in the front set in the center, I was the little guy... It was fall, the leaves were on the ground and it was raining, and you know what wet leaves do in the rain, or you should. No seat belts back then. On the way back to our church which was on one side of a park with a lookout where the lovers went and the church we were at was on the other side we came through the park. Our advisor and youthful man had a spotlight on or in his car and was shining it into the parked cars of those lovers. One started his car and the chase was on... Short story we went off the road and hit a tree dead center. No one was hurt, the driver remarked his brakes would not hold. Right, sliding on wet leaves on wet grass after the car left the road. Put that same crash into a car of today and even with seat belts people would have been hurt or killed as the cars are smaller and lighter (the trees are about the same).
You pastors on line who have teen groups, please, please take time to sit your teens down, not just the drivers but all of them and talk to them about driving and the temptations of speeding, and if you are local and want a good safety person to come and talk to them... CALL ME. Yes, you can tie it to the Bible because speeding is a sin!
If you are on the line and your pastor is not, please this is one time I ask you, in fact, I plead with you to talk to them about safety in the teen groups. I don't care if the church is big or small, get to those teens before it is too late. In fact a good safety course about driving could be tied nicely into an evening service.
To save money in schools a lot of them have dropped the subject of Driver Education or at least the on the road part. Folks, I must be getting old for I am going to say this, a teen in school of school age, no passengers except for parents. None, zip... But what about a date? The parents could drive or hire a limo. We must get to our children and grandchildren and talk to them about temptations. And you are right if you say, well, Dan, you did not always set a good example... That is right, but after teaching safety for years and years and years, I have changed my thinking.
Ok, back on subject... It is salvation Wednesday and that makes me ask this question, did the four young men, who by all accounts were really good kids, did they know the Lord one on one? I don't know and I will not judge, but I do know this, if one or all did not know the Lord they according to OUR BIBLES will not make it into heaven. That is very, very clear and that is why it is so important to get the word out and not just to old folks, but to all folks. And just because someone comes to church it does not mean they are saved. Ok, I went on very long today, but it needed said... let's pray.
Oh, Lord, please be with the families who lost those loved ones, not just in this one crash but all families who lost loved ones. And Lord, help us to get the word out about You and Salvation through Jesus. And Lord, help us to get the word out about what can happen on the roads. Please, Lord, protect our kids and help us get the message out... In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now folks, I am going to say this... I am ready and willing to "put some feet on my prayers" when it comes to helping get the word out to those teens... now it is time for me to say, please share your blessings. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Carry The Light Ministries Inc.
16 Dewalt Drive
Mechanicsburg, Pa. 17050
Phone 717 691 8200
Cell 717 991 0754
And it is ok to call....
Good Salvation Wednesday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. You know we have our work cut out for us telling others about Jesus, it is not enough just to pray that people get saved, we must "Put some feet on the prayers" (Pamela Bower) and get to work bringing people to the feet of Jesus.
Let me tell you about four young men, Nicholes Bryson, John Griffith, Cody Hollinger, DeVaught Lee, all were students at Manheim Central High School (Lancaster County Pa.) All the young men between 15 and 17 by all accounts were yet "kids" which is why I referred to them as young men. All were good in school, played sports together and hung out together. On Sunday Morning they were at a sports breakfast and after the breakfast borrowed a friend's car. Then it happened, the mistake was made and they went out speeding and they are looking into the fact they were making a video to place on the computer and were going over a hump in the road which would of course put the car in the air... They crossed into the other lane, all were killed. Now first let me ask you to pray for the families as the funerals are starting and the families lost one of their loved ones. Now I do have a few questions and I am going to use it in the message so please, please read it today. So let's get going. Remember to pray for the unsaved, help work to bring in the lost by "Putting feet on those prayers".
The Big Trip 6-3: Temptations 3 - Luke 4:5 The devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to Him. "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for all has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours." 8 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only"'. (NIV)
What nerve, what nerve the devil had trying to tell the One whose Father made all the things that it was he who had the control over it. I know that Jesus could have just walked away and not have been "Led" but Jesus wanted to show all of us some examples out of this. Let's look at just a few of them.
There are a lot of non-believers out there who do not believe that God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in it. They believe it just happened and as far as I am concerned they might as well be thinking the devil made it for someday those non-believers are going to face him face to face. So there stands Jesus and the devil on a high place and looking out over as far as the eye could see. And the devil telling Jesus, I will give you control over it if you worship me. Now how many people have been promised things by people who cannot make it happen? Think about it, folks, it is very, very deep and maybe you have been one who has made a promise to someone that you just knew before you made it you just could not do it. I am not talking about a promise that you made in good faith and then the bottom fell out of things and you messed up on the promise, I am just saying maybe you have been on the making the promise or having it made to you.
Maybe you went to the bank and were promised a loan by a manager who did not write the loan and then the board turned it down. The manager should not have made a promise that he could not back up. It happens... Maybe you were promised a car at a price, maybe it was even in an ad, but you find that promise was not made in good faith. It happens daily. And if you don't think the devil is still making promises, think again. He makes those temptations really look good sometimes but the master of evil could not make a fool out of Jesus and I pray you will not let him make a fool out of you.
Now let me look at some of the temptations of today. Let's look at these four dear young men who on this past Sunday morning were all killed in one crash due to speed and maybe a video being made. In a borrowed car they went out and got killed. The temptations of making a hit with friends and then posting them... Folks, we see it all the time on those famous home videos how people do stupid things to try and win a few dollars. Yes, I am calling it temptations, and folks, we all get them. I have seen it over and over again where kids, good school kids are wiped out in car crashes, and folks, I have not called it an accident because in my mind when someone is really setting out to break the law it is not an accident, it is a crash waiting to happen. I want you all to pray for the families of these kids, but I want you all to take your teens aside and talk to them. EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT A DRIVER, tell them not to get into cars of other kids without your permission and even at that you are taking chances.
Now I want to go off the subject of temptations for a few minutes and just talk to you about a few other things... First of all right now people in the area are going to churches for prayer about these kids, these young men, school officials are asking for prayer. Now here is my question. Why did they have a sports breakfast on a Sunday Morning? What if all these kids would have been in church? Now that might not have prevented the accident for a few years back in Palmyra, Pa., there were teens and I think maybe two or three that were killed when they were speeding and pulled out to pass a car and hit another head on. They were on their way home from a church teen meeting. Just recently in our school district there was a head on crash on kids going to school. Speed, yes. And I want to take you way back to when I was about 11 and one of the youngest kids in our group from church. Our advisor who was young took a group of us to another church for a party. On the way home and there were six of us in a 1946 Plymouth and I was in the front set in the center, I was the little guy... It was fall, the leaves were on the ground and it was raining, and you know what wet leaves do in the rain, or you should. No seat belts back then. On the way back to our church which was on one side of a park with a lookout where the lovers went and the church we were at was on the other side we came through the park. Our advisor and youthful man had a spotlight on or in his car and was shining it into the parked cars of those lovers. One started his car and the chase was on... Short story we went off the road and hit a tree dead center. No one was hurt, the driver remarked his brakes would not hold. Right, sliding on wet leaves on wet grass after the car left the road. Put that same crash into a car of today and even with seat belts people would have been hurt or killed as the cars are smaller and lighter (the trees are about the same).
You pastors on line who have teen groups, please, please take time to sit your teens down, not just the drivers but all of them and talk to them about driving and the temptations of speeding, and if you are local and want a good safety person to come and talk to them... CALL ME. Yes, you can tie it to the Bible because speeding is a sin!
If you are on the line and your pastor is not, please this is one time I ask you, in fact, I plead with you to talk to them about safety in the teen groups. I don't care if the church is big or small, get to those teens before it is too late. In fact a good safety course about driving could be tied nicely into an evening service.
To save money in schools a lot of them have dropped the subject of Driver Education or at least the on the road part. Folks, I must be getting old for I am going to say this, a teen in school of school age, no passengers except for parents. None, zip... But what about a date? The parents could drive or hire a limo. We must get to our children and grandchildren and talk to them about temptations. And you are right if you say, well, Dan, you did not always set a good example... That is right, but after teaching safety for years and years and years, I have changed my thinking.
Ok, back on subject... It is salvation Wednesday and that makes me ask this question, did the four young men, who by all accounts were really good kids, did they know the Lord one on one? I don't know and I will not judge, but I do know this, if one or all did not know the Lord they according to OUR BIBLES will not make it into heaven. That is very, very clear and that is why it is so important to get the word out and not just to old folks, but to all folks. And just because someone comes to church it does not mean they are saved. Ok, I went on very long today, but it needed said... let's pray.
Oh, Lord, please be with the families who lost those loved ones, not just in this one crash but all families who lost loved ones. And Lord, help us to get the word out about You and Salvation through Jesus. And Lord, help us to get the word out about what can happen on the roads. Please, Lord, protect our kids and help us get the message out... In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now folks, I am going to say this... I am ready and willing to "put some feet on my prayers" when it comes to helping get the word out to those teens... now it is time for me to say, please share your blessings. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Carry The Light Ministries Inc.
16 Dewalt Drive
Mechanicsburg, Pa. 17050
Phone 717 691 8200
Cell 717 991 0754
And it is ok to call....
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
January 18, 2011 Temptations 2
He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them He was hungry. The devil said to Him, If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.
Good Tuesday afternoon, my dear brothers and sisters. Yes, I was out running that old snow plow again this morning. When I got ready to leave the house at 3:30 AM this morning I said to myself... Self, you are just getting too old for this. And then I answered myself... Self, you are only as old as you feel! Went and got into the truck and plowed snow. Truly I love to plow snow. I would much sooner be plowing it at 70 degrees; well, one can sort of dream, right? One thing about going out early in the morning and plowing snow. It is so pretty, so very, very pretty.
Tuesday and the day we pray for cures for cancer, heart problems, etc., and please add to that list, mental illness. Also I need for you to pray for a lady for me, and I cannot give you her name because it is a mental and drinking issue. Let's just refer to her as a daughter of God.
The Big Trip 6-2, Temptations 2: Luke 4:2B - He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them He was hungry. 3 The devil said to Him, If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread. 4 Jesus answered, "It is written 'Man does not live on bread alone."' (NIV)
Matthew 4:4 - Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."' (NIV)
Don't you love it, the Bible tells us that Jesus ate nothing for 40 days and also in Matthew he tells us 40 days and 40 nights. I think it is important that we point out from Matthew that Jesus fasted day and night, for in some religions when they fast, they just do not eat in the daytime. So one could say they fasted for 40 days and never drop a pound of weight, and if you were really fasting for God, be it a day or a few days, really. what good is it to fast for the day if you are going to pig out at night?
Have you ever fasted, I mean really went without eating? I can tell you at the end of those 40 days and 40 nights you, like Jesus would be hungry. I would think one would become very open to temptations of food if they had not eaten for that long a period. Think about it, would it not be one of your weakest points and would you not be ready to eat if someone would, say set a pizza in front of you?
In the scripture we find the devil tempting Jesus and it went on for some time, I would think that the devil might have been there for all or most all of those 40 days and nights, trying to get Jesus to eat something. If you are the Son of God turn the stone into bread. "Man does not live on bread alone." And I wanted to bring in Matthew on this as it tells us "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Now we all know we need food to keep on living, and we need to replenish our system often and we need to drink a lot of fluids. But what does Jesus mean when He tells us that it is written Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God?
While we have food all around us this day and age, what is it we really, really need? Do we not need to really feed on the word of God? What do we really have if we do not have God in our lives? Nothing, we might as well not even eat. But if we feed on THE WORD, THE WORD OF GOD, and we really trust in Him, we will find that one of the things He does is supplies our needs. Each and every need (not wants) are supplied. How long has it been since you missed a meal because you did not have anything to eat? We would be far better off if we gave up one meal a day and took that time to read the Bible, do some feasting on the Word of God. How long has it been since you feasted on His word? Really took time to read it and digest it? Why, folks, most all churches now have coffee and cookies or something like that between Church and Sunday school. Maybe we could get more people coming to church if we put in "golden arches". While I do not have anything against churches having that coffee or juice and some cookies on a Sunday Morning, I wonder what would happen if just for a month, or maybe just on Sundays where there was going to be communion that the coffee bar was closed down. Again I don't have anything against offering up the coffee as a way to get people to come to church. Serve up lobster and steak if we can get the people in and then of course we need to fill them with the Word, not just the lobster and steak. Well I am drifting off the subject today. The devil tried and tried to tempt Jesus into working His miracles, but Jesus was just letting God The Father take care of Him... NEAT, RIGHT? Maybe we need to be trusting more and more.
Ok, got to run, the Pizza guy's is at the door... JUST KIDDING!!
Dear Father in Heaven, If we don't have food beside us at all times we start to worry. If our shelves are getting empty, we start to get concerned about where our next bite is coming from. Father in Heaven, we always need to remember that our next bite of food, like our next breath of air, comes from you. It might come through the hands of Your workers, but it comes from You. Lord, teach us to fish, teach us to work the fields and teach us to help each other and share what we have. Lord, help people lean more and more on You... In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth and share your blessings, and folks, if you do stop on your way to work for a breakfast sandwich, why not get two and take one in and put it on the desk of another? In your workplace you, if you look, will find people who need help with food. Help them, and if from this area, put them in touch with us. Love ya, Pastor Dan. Go forth and feast, feast on the word of God!! AMEN.
Good Tuesday afternoon, my dear brothers and sisters. Yes, I was out running that old snow plow again this morning. When I got ready to leave the house at 3:30 AM this morning I said to myself... Self, you are just getting too old for this. And then I answered myself... Self, you are only as old as you feel! Went and got into the truck and plowed snow. Truly I love to plow snow. I would much sooner be plowing it at 70 degrees; well, one can sort of dream, right? One thing about going out early in the morning and plowing snow. It is so pretty, so very, very pretty.
Tuesday and the day we pray for cures for cancer, heart problems, etc., and please add to that list, mental illness. Also I need for you to pray for a lady for me, and I cannot give you her name because it is a mental and drinking issue. Let's just refer to her as a daughter of God.
The Big Trip 6-2, Temptations 2: Luke 4:2B - He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them He was hungry. 3 The devil said to Him, If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread. 4 Jesus answered, "It is written 'Man does not live on bread alone."' (NIV)
Matthew 4:4 - Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."' (NIV)
Don't you love it, the Bible tells us that Jesus ate nothing for 40 days and also in Matthew he tells us 40 days and 40 nights. I think it is important that we point out from Matthew that Jesus fasted day and night, for in some religions when they fast, they just do not eat in the daytime. So one could say they fasted for 40 days and never drop a pound of weight, and if you were really fasting for God, be it a day or a few days, really. what good is it to fast for the day if you are going to pig out at night?
Have you ever fasted, I mean really went without eating? I can tell you at the end of those 40 days and 40 nights you, like Jesus would be hungry. I would think one would become very open to temptations of food if they had not eaten for that long a period. Think about it, would it not be one of your weakest points and would you not be ready to eat if someone would, say set a pizza in front of you?
In the scripture we find the devil tempting Jesus and it went on for some time, I would think that the devil might have been there for all or most all of those 40 days and nights, trying to get Jesus to eat something. If you are the Son of God turn the stone into bread. "Man does not live on bread alone." And I wanted to bring in Matthew on this as it tells us "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Now we all know we need food to keep on living, and we need to replenish our system often and we need to drink a lot of fluids. But what does Jesus mean when He tells us that it is written Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God?
While we have food all around us this day and age, what is it we really, really need? Do we not need to really feed on the word of God? What do we really have if we do not have God in our lives? Nothing, we might as well not even eat. But if we feed on THE WORD, THE WORD OF GOD, and we really trust in Him, we will find that one of the things He does is supplies our needs. Each and every need (not wants) are supplied. How long has it been since you missed a meal because you did not have anything to eat? We would be far better off if we gave up one meal a day and took that time to read the Bible, do some feasting on the Word of God. How long has it been since you feasted on His word? Really took time to read it and digest it? Why, folks, most all churches now have coffee and cookies or something like that between Church and Sunday school. Maybe we could get more people coming to church if we put in "golden arches". While I do not have anything against churches having that coffee or juice and some cookies on a Sunday Morning, I wonder what would happen if just for a month, or maybe just on Sundays where there was going to be communion that the coffee bar was closed down. Again I don't have anything against offering up the coffee as a way to get people to come to church. Serve up lobster and steak if we can get the people in and then of course we need to fill them with the Word, not just the lobster and steak. Well I am drifting off the subject today. The devil tried and tried to tempt Jesus into working His miracles, but Jesus was just letting God The Father take care of Him... NEAT, RIGHT? Maybe we need to be trusting more and more.
Ok, got to run, the Pizza guy's is at the door... JUST KIDDING!!
Dear Father in Heaven, If we don't have food beside us at all times we start to worry. If our shelves are getting empty, we start to get concerned about where our next bite is coming from. Father in Heaven, we always need to remember that our next bite of food, like our next breath of air, comes from you. It might come through the hands of Your workers, but it comes from You. Lord, teach us to fish, teach us to work the fields and teach us to help each other and share what we have. Lord, help people lean more and more on You... In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth and share your blessings, and folks, if you do stop on your way to work for a breakfast sandwich, why not get two and take one in and put it on the desk of another? In your workplace you, if you look, will find people who need help with food. Help them, and if from this area, put them in touch with us. Love ya, Pastor Dan. Go forth and feast, feast on the word of God!! AMEN.
Monday, January 17, 2011
January 17, 2011 Temptations 1
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days He was tempted by the devil.
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. Can you believe it, we are starting our sixth week of the big trip. But you will notice I have now gone back to subject titles. Hey, today is Monday and a holiday for a lot of people, but for some just another work day. It is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, please take time to remember why the holiday.
Monday and the day we pray for the leaders of our nation, state, local, and all others who lead us. This does not mean we need to agree with all they do, but we do need to pray for them. Also it is the day we pray for our veterans and please remember we now have veterans that are just 18 years of age and living in hospitals with some limbs missing. And remember this, as we pray and pray for the congresslady who was shot in the head, please remember how many of our military have those injuries and we NEVER HEAR ABOUT THEM. Shame on our country for forgetting about our military heroes. Also pray for our active military, for our members of the AIR FORCE, NAVY, ARMY, MARINES, COAST GUARD, MERCHANT MARINES, ALL THE RESERVE UNITS. (Go Navy.) (Dolores and I have a grandson, Daniel Lehman, in the Navy.) Pray for our police and firefighters and remember most firefighters in the United States do it for the love of it and are not paid. Pray for all those who work to keep you safe and healthy... Take this day to pray for others.
Temptations 1: Luke 4:1 - Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2 where for forty days He was tempted by the devil. (NIV)
How long has it been since you were tempted by the devil? How long since you have just been tempted by something that causes you to sin? During this week we are going to find out how the devil tempted Jesus and how Jesus handled it, and again we need to follow the examples of Jesus.
I know, we are weak and He is strong, but I am sure if you are like me, we all could do a much better job of handling the temptations by the devil and his workers, and do you know that some of those workers might not even know they are working for the devil? MEN, let me talk to you first since I am a man, and guys, lets not blame it all on the devil, let's just say it is us. Now I am just a few months away from 70, but, ok, when a lady walks up to you and she has on clothing with a top with a diving neckline, do you find it hard to look her in the eyes or do your eyes drop down about a foot? Come on, guys, be honest about it, don't add a lie to the sin. If you are just looking and not looking in lust, well, ok it is a fine line, is it not? Oh, and the temptations are even more... And ladies, let me ask you this, when a man walks by, are you looking at him when he is coming and thinking now that is a nice looking man, or are you looking as he is walking away thinking, nice buns? Ok, so we failed that one, and yes, I used the word we!! Now I have heard that one about God gave us eyes to look, and it is ok to look, just do not look and lust, unless of course you are married to the one you are lusting over.
Ok, let's look at some more of the temptations for we have them each and every day. It seems that a lot of folks have temptations that come in a bottle, I call it Booze, and while one drink is not a sin, when people drink up their paycheck or don't even go to work because they are too drunk to work it becomes a sin. Let me tell you that a lot of folks who come to the food pantry for food have spouses that do just that, drink up the check and don't worry about putting food on the table for the family.
What can be a temptation for one might not be for another. One of the newest temptations for a lot of people is that cell phone, or the texting on them, they cannot put them down. When you drive pickup trucks as I often do or big SUV's you sit high and can see in the cars, and so many are texting while driving. Is it a sin to talk on a cell phone or texting? In some cases I would need to say yes. If it is putting the lives of those in the car or in other cars in danger then it is a sin and no one, no one, I said NO ONE can text and drive and drive having one's attention on the road.
Today I want to look at some things that tempt you, and I am going to do the same thing. I want to look at my temptations real close and I also want to be sure that I am not doing anything to put temptation in front of others. Don't let others tempt you, and don't blame it all on Satan. Let's put the blame of the sins of temptation right where they belong, and they belong to that person we see when looking in the mirror... Follow the examples of Jesus and this week we will see how He deals with it. Let's pray.
Dear Father in Heaven, we have a long list of prayer requests for our leaders and all those in the military and we are just going to ask You to look at our list and honor our requests per Your will. And Lord, we ask this day that we repent from sins and we deal with temptations in life that are sins or lead to sins, and we pray that we can look to Jesus for the example of the way to live. We know Jesus wants us to do that, Father, but we struggle so we need help. Help us, and Lord, help me with the daily messages. Help me really get into Your Word... In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth, turning from temptations and sharing your blessings, and I do pray you are TEMPTED TO SHARE. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. Can you believe it, we are starting our sixth week of the big trip. But you will notice I have now gone back to subject titles. Hey, today is Monday and a holiday for a lot of people, but for some just another work day. It is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, please take time to remember why the holiday.
Monday and the day we pray for the leaders of our nation, state, local, and all others who lead us. This does not mean we need to agree with all they do, but we do need to pray for them. Also it is the day we pray for our veterans and please remember we now have veterans that are just 18 years of age and living in hospitals with some limbs missing. And remember this, as we pray and pray for the congresslady who was shot in the head, please remember how many of our military have those injuries and we NEVER HEAR ABOUT THEM. Shame on our country for forgetting about our military heroes. Also pray for our active military, for our members of the AIR FORCE, NAVY, ARMY, MARINES, COAST GUARD, MERCHANT MARINES, ALL THE RESERVE UNITS. (Go Navy.) (Dolores and I have a grandson, Daniel Lehman, in the Navy.) Pray for our police and firefighters and remember most firefighters in the United States do it for the love of it and are not paid. Pray for all those who work to keep you safe and healthy... Take this day to pray for others.
Temptations 1: Luke 4:1 - Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2 where for forty days He was tempted by the devil. (NIV)
How long has it been since you were tempted by the devil? How long since you have just been tempted by something that causes you to sin? During this week we are going to find out how the devil tempted Jesus and how Jesus handled it, and again we need to follow the examples of Jesus.
I know, we are weak and He is strong, but I am sure if you are like me, we all could do a much better job of handling the temptations by the devil and his workers, and do you know that some of those workers might not even know they are working for the devil? MEN, let me talk to you first since I am a man, and guys, lets not blame it all on the devil, let's just say it is us. Now I am just a few months away from 70, but, ok, when a lady walks up to you and she has on clothing with a top with a diving neckline, do you find it hard to look her in the eyes or do your eyes drop down about a foot? Come on, guys, be honest about it, don't add a lie to the sin. If you are just looking and not looking in lust, well, ok it is a fine line, is it not? Oh, and the temptations are even more... And ladies, let me ask you this, when a man walks by, are you looking at him when he is coming and thinking now that is a nice looking man, or are you looking as he is walking away thinking, nice buns? Ok, so we failed that one, and yes, I used the word we!! Now I have heard that one about God gave us eyes to look, and it is ok to look, just do not look and lust, unless of course you are married to the one you are lusting over.
Ok, let's look at some more of the temptations for we have them each and every day. It seems that a lot of folks have temptations that come in a bottle, I call it Booze, and while one drink is not a sin, when people drink up their paycheck or don't even go to work because they are too drunk to work it becomes a sin. Let me tell you that a lot of folks who come to the food pantry for food have spouses that do just that, drink up the check and don't worry about putting food on the table for the family.
What can be a temptation for one might not be for another. One of the newest temptations for a lot of people is that cell phone, or the texting on them, they cannot put them down. When you drive pickup trucks as I often do or big SUV's you sit high and can see in the cars, and so many are texting while driving. Is it a sin to talk on a cell phone or texting? In some cases I would need to say yes. If it is putting the lives of those in the car or in other cars in danger then it is a sin and no one, no one, I said NO ONE can text and drive and drive having one's attention on the road.
Today I want to look at some things that tempt you, and I am going to do the same thing. I want to look at my temptations real close and I also want to be sure that I am not doing anything to put temptation in front of others. Don't let others tempt you, and don't blame it all on Satan. Let's put the blame of the sins of temptation right where they belong, and they belong to that person we see when looking in the mirror... Follow the examples of Jesus and this week we will see how He deals with it. Let's pray.
Dear Father in Heaven, we have a long list of prayer requests for our leaders and all those in the military and we are just going to ask You to look at our list and honor our requests per Your will. And Lord, we ask this day that we repent from sins and we deal with temptations in life that are sins or lead to sins, and we pray that we can look to Jesus for the example of the way to live. We know Jesus wants us to do that, Father, but we struggle so we need help. Help us, and Lord, help me with the daily messages. Help me really get into Your Word... In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth, turning from temptations and sharing your blessings, and I do pray you are TEMPTED TO SHARE. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Friday, January 14, 2011
January 14, 2011 The Big Trip 5-4
I will sing of your love and justice to you, O Lord, I will sing praise.
Good Friday, and we are going to sing to the Lord today... Dolores is coming home and I just want to sing and shout it out... She is no better, still in all the pain, it is just up to God and we must learn to trust in Him to carry us through. I am so thankful that it is not cancer or something like that, but pain is pain and you can see it in her face with each step. PRAY, WARRIORS, PRAY, STORM HEAVEN FOR THOSE WHO HAVE PAIN TO BE RELEASED FROM IT. Also today pray for Troy and that he gets the help he needs to get off the sauce.
The Big Trip 5-4: Psalm 101:1 - I will sing of your love and justice to you, O Lord, I will sing praise. NIV
What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and grief's to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in Prayer! Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer.
When Peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well, It is well, it is well, it is well with my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin, NOT IN PART, BUT THE WHOLE, is nailed to His cross and I bear it no more, PRAISE THE LORD, PRAISE THE LORD, O my soul.
It is well, It is well, it is well, it is well with my soul.
And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll. The trump shall resound and my LORD SHALL DESCEND, Even so, it is well with my soul.
It is well, It is well, it is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well, It is well, it is well, it is well with my soul.
Please let's go back to the verse about sins and pick it up from there again... I love this song, almost every concert that Carry The Light sings ends with this song, so I am going to end our singing right here and now with those last two verses... I pray today for all of you, and I pray that this song will be on your lips and heart all day and all weekend till we meet again on Monday. I must go now to the hospital and pick up Dolores. So remember to please share your blessings, please sing for the Lord, and please attend a GOOD church this Sunday. If you go to a church and week after week you have not heard a call for Salvation, you need to have a heart to heart with your pastor. Salvation messages are needed, and a tag for salvation is needed weekly at all church services. Folks, Salvation through Jesus Christ is what being a Christian is about... Falling in love with Jesus and working for Him. And someone took time to say AMEN... now look again at these two verses, and please note as in coming to Christ, this song tells it like it is. He takes all your sins, not just some of them, and they get nailed to the cross, His cross, the one He died on to take our sins away...
I love all of you, I say it like this and mean it... Share your blessings... love ya, Pastor Dan.
NOW LET'S HIT IT.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin, NOT IN PART, BUT THE WHOLE, is nailed to His cross and I bear it no more, PRAISE THE LORD, PRAISE THE LORD, O my soul.
It is well, It is well, it is well, it is well with my soul.
And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll. The trump shall resound and my LORD SHALL DESCEND, Even so, it is well with my soul.
It is well, It is well, it is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well, It is well, it is well, it is well with my soul.
And one more time, those verses... get them in your heart and soul and mind... and it will be well with your soul as it is mine... one more time...
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin, NOT IN PART, BUT THE WHOLE, is nailed to His cross and I bear it no more, PRAISE THE LORD, PRAISE THE LORD, O my soul.
It is well, It is well, it is well, it is well with my soul.
And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll. The trump shall resound and my LORD SHALL DESCEND, Even so, it is well with my soul.
It is well, It is well, it is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well, It is well, it is well, it is well with my soul.
Good Friday, and we are going to sing to the Lord today... Dolores is coming home and I just want to sing and shout it out... She is no better, still in all the pain, it is just up to God and we must learn to trust in Him to carry us through. I am so thankful that it is not cancer or something like that, but pain is pain and you can see it in her face with each step. PRAY, WARRIORS, PRAY, STORM HEAVEN FOR THOSE WHO HAVE PAIN TO BE RELEASED FROM IT. Also today pray for Troy and that he gets the help he needs to get off the sauce.
The Big Trip 5-4: Psalm 101:1 - I will sing of your love and justice to you, O Lord, I will sing praise. NIV
What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and grief's to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in Prayer! Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer.
When Peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well, It is well, it is well, it is well with my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin, NOT IN PART, BUT THE WHOLE, is nailed to His cross and I bear it no more, PRAISE THE LORD, PRAISE THE LORD, O my soul.
It is well, It is well, it is well, it is well with my soul.
And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll. The trump shall resound and my LORD SHALL DESCEND, Even so, it is well with my soul.
It is well, It is well, it is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well, It is well, it is well, it is well with my soul.
Please let's go back to the verse about sins and pick it up from there again... I love this song, almost every concert that Carry The Light sings ends with this song, so I am going to end our singing right here and now with those last two verses... I pray today for all of you, and I pray that this song will be on your lips and heart all day and all weekend till we meet again on Monday. I must go now to the hospital and pick up Dolores. So remember to please share your blessings, please sing for the Lord, and please attend a GOOD church this Sunday. If you go to a church and week after week you have not heard a call for Salvation, you need to have a heart to heart with your pastor. Salvation messages are needed, and a tag for salvation is needed weekly at all church services. Folks, Salvation through Jesus Christ is what being a Christian is about... Falling in love with Jesus and working for Him. And someone took time to say AMEN... now look again at these two verses, and please note as in coming to Christ, this song tells it like it is. He takes all your sins, not just some of them, and they get nailed to the cross, His cross, the one He died on to take our sins away...
I love all of you, I say it like this and mean it... Share your blessings... love ya, Pastor Dan.
NOW LET'S HIT IT.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin, NOT IN PART, BUT THE WHOLE, is nailed to His cross and I bear it no more, PRAISE THE LORD, PRAISE THE LORD, O my soul.
It is well, It is well, it is well, it is well with my soul.
And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll. The trump shall resound and my LORD SHALL DESCEND, Even so, it is well with my soul.
It is well, It is well, it is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well, It is well, it is well, it is well with my soul.
And one more time, those verses... get them in your heart and soul and mind... and it will be well with your soul as it is mine... one more time...
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin, NOT IN PART, BUT THE WHOLE, is nailed to His cross and I bear it no more, PRAISE THE LORD, PRAISE THE LORD, O my soul.
It is well, It is well, it is well, it is well with my soul.
And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll. The trump shall resound and my LORD SHALL DESCEND, Even so, it is well with my soul.
It is well, It is well, it is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well, It is well, it is well, it is well with my soul.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
January 12/13 2011 The Big Trip 5-3
"This is my Son, whom I love. With Him I am well pleased!"
Good Evening and Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, I am either late or early depending on when you might be reading this. The truth is I was up at 3:00 AM on Wednesday and out plowing snow for the Lord, yep, for the Lord, after all He sent it. About noon from the plowing and a few little side trips and laid down for a short winter nap (Santa is permitted a short winters nap). With five dogs on the bed and Dolores still in the hospital it got really quiet, and the nap went on for a while, until one of our cats jumped on the bed. Always a trouble maker, those cats are. Anyway, I even called Dolores and told her I was too tired to drive up to the hospital, so we talked away and when I woke up again she had hung up. I must have fallen asleep talking to her. (Wow, just like our first date.)
Anyway, Salvation Wednesday and families and schools day Thursday all built into one. Pray, warriors, pray, it is a good day to pray for all those family members and all those entering all schools throughout the world to be saved. Prayer is powerful, use your power today to pray. I will need to catch up on prayer requests on Friday after I bring Dolores home. Yes, she is coming home Friday. Tomorrow, I must clean the house.
The Big Trip 5-3: Matthew 3:15 - Jesus replied, "Let it be so now it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love: With Him I am well pleased." (NIV)
Let's look at something right here, so often we Christians get questioned about God in three persons. Here is a great place to see all three in one. Heaven opened and He (Jesus) saw the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) descending like a dove and lighting on Him (Jesus). And a voice from heaven said, "This is My (God The Father) Son, whom I (God The Father) love: With Him I (God The Father) am well pleased." Pretty neat, right? Folks, we just need to work real hard at making believers out of those who doubt. To me, I have no doubt.
I want to confess something to you today, yes, I need to really confess something to you... You see I am in love, really deeply in love with a Man, yes really, I love Him much more than my wife and children, and I really want you to know it. His name, yes, it is Jesus...
One of the neat things about Jesus is that He never, ever, expects us to do something that He has not shown us first. While there are things that He did that He does not expect us to do, like die on the cross, and of course we know we cannot save people, that is His work alone, but all He wants us to do, if we just read the Bible and follow Him we just cannot go wrong. And here is a great example, He got baptized, and it shows me very plain that is what He wanted me to do. That is the reason I think people need to be baptized when they are old enough to know Jesus in their hearts. Baptize a baby, well, I think we should dedicate them to the Lord. As I told you before, I was baptized as a child, and it meant a lot to my parents but did not mean a thing to me, I did not understand it. But I do now... I also noticed that according to my Bible Jesus was not baptized as a baby... Again, this is my opinion, and I expect to take some heat on it.
Now before I go let's talk about that statement from God to His Son Jesus... "This is my Son, whom I love: With Him I am well pleased." Gosh, I would love to hear from God telling me that. I am a child of God and I would love for God to tell me that He is well pleased, and brothers and sisters, the day is coming when He will tell me that. And that day is the day I go to check in at heaven and the Gates swing open for me... Then I will know, and hear Him say, come on in... And my mother will cry out and say... WOW HE MADE IT!! Ok, I had to put a little humor in it. But folks, we might not hear that voice as Jesus did, but when the gate opens for us, one at a time or all at once, then we will know He was pleased... Now if you get tossed into the fire, well I guess you just did not please God.
Let's please God right now by talking to Him for a minute... Dear Lord, Dear Father in Heaven, I love You and I want to please You. I want to repent and work for You till You call me home. I want to help seek out the lost and bring them to Your feet. I want to thank all those who helped me to find You. You see, I had lost sight of You, but I never want that to happen again. I am sure others on this line have done it also. Help us to keep You in our sight all the time. Thank You, Father, and I do pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Now go forth sharing those blessings from God... love ya, Pastor Dan.
Good Evening and Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, I am either late or early depending on when you might be reading this. The truth is I was up at 3:00 AM on Wednesday and out plowing snow for the Lord, yep, for the Lord, after all He sent it. About noon from the plowing and a few little side trips and laid down for a short winter nap (Santa is permitted a short winters nap). With five dogs on the bed and Dolores still in the hospital it got really quiet, and the nap went on for a while, until one of our cats jumped on the bed. Always a trouble maker, those cats are. Anyway, I even called Dolores and told her I was too tired to drive up to the hospital, so we talked away and when I woke up again she had hung up. I must have fallen asleep talking to her. (Wow, just like our first date.)
Anyway, Salvation Wednesday and families and schools day Thursday all built into one. Pray, warriors, pray, it is a good day to pray for all those family members and all those entering all schools throughout the world to be saved. Prayer is powerful, use your power today to pray. I will need to catch up on prayer requests on Friday after I bring Dolores home. Yes, she is coming home Friday. Tomorrow, I must clean the house.
The Big Trip 5-3: Matthew 3:15 - Jesus replied, "Let it be so now it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love: With Him I am well pleased." (NIV)
Let's look at something right here, so often we Christians get questioned about God in three persons. Here is a great place to see all three in one. Heaven opened and He (Jesus) saw the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) descending like a dove and lighting on Him (Jesus). And a voice from heaven said, "This is My (God The Father) Son, whom I (God The Father) love: With Him I (God The Father) am well pleased." Pretty neat, right? Folks, we just need to work real hard at making believers out of those who doubt. To me, I have no doubt.
I want to confess something to you today, yes, I need to really confess something to you... You see I am in love, really deeply in love with a Man, yes really, I love Him much more than my wife and children, and I really want you to know it. His name, yes, it is Jesus...
One of the neat things about Jesus is that He never, ever, expects us to do something that He has not shown us first. While there are things that He did that He does not expect us to do, like die on the cross, and of course we know we cannot save people, that is His work alone, but all He wants us to do, if we just read the Bible and follow Him we just cannot go wrong. And here is a great example, He got baptized, and it shows me very plain that is what He wanted me to do. That is the reason I think people need to be baptized when they are old enough to know Jesus in their hearts. Baptize a baby, well, I think we should dedicate them to the Lord. As I told you before, I was baptized as a child, and it meant a lot to my parents but did not mean a thing to me, I did not understand it. But I do now... I also noticed that according to my Bible Jesus was not baptized as a baby... Again, this is my opinion, and I expect to take some heat on it.
Now before I go let's talk about that statement from God to His Son Jesus... "This is my Son, whom I love: With Him I am well pleased." Gosh, I would love to hear from God telling me that. I am a child of God and I would love for God to tell me that He is well pleased, and brothers and sisters, the day is coming when He will tell me that. And that day is the day I go to check in at heaven and the Gates swing open for me... Then I will know, and hear Him say, come on in... And my mother will cry out and say... WOW HE MADE IT!! Ok, I had to put a little humor in it. But folks, we might not hear that voice as Jesus did, but when the gate opens for us, one at a time or all at once, then we will know He was pleased... Now if you get tossed into the fire, well I guess you just did not please God.
Let's please God right now by talking to Him for a minute... Dear Lord, Dear Father in Heaven, I love You and I want to please You. I want to repent and work for You till You call me home. I want to help seek out the lost and bring them to Your feet. I want to thank all those who helped me to find You. You see, I had lost sight of You, but I never want that to happen again. I am sure others on this line have done it also. Help us to keep You in our sight all the time. Thank You, Father, and I do pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Now go forth sharing those blessings from God... love ya, Pastor Dan.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
January 11, 2011 The Big Trip 5-2
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
Good Tuesday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, and welcome to let's pray for a cure day on this line. Yes, the day we set aside most prayers for those individuals and pray for cures from diseases for everyone. Cancer and heart problems, strokes, and those bone things that cause so much pain are just a few that top my list today You folks send me your list and I will put them together and next Tuesday we will have a big, big list of diseases to pray over. Please also remember when it comes to diseases that we have mental, and other things like drugs and booze.
The Big Trip 5-2: Matthew 3:13 - Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" (NIV)
In our scripture today we see Jesus coming to the Jordan river where John has been baptizing folks for them to repent from their sins. And I want to add here that if you were not faithfully seeking to repent from your sins, John did not baptize you. I think churches need to look, and I am going to get into trouble for saying this one, but churches that baptize babies, or children long before they can repent from their sins should be taking another look at that. As I see it in the Bible, it seems to me that no one should baptize another unless they are willing to repent of the sins. I was baptized as a very young child and I had no idea what it meant, I just was with my parents who were so proud of me. Later in life, in fact not too many years ago, I wanted to be baptized again, this time knowing full well what it meant. And on that night when Pastor Paul, from Christian Life Assembly was about to baptize me, God got to me first and did it on His own... Then Pastor Paul did it again... Ok, here is what happened, I was in line last of many who were going into that baptismal. They did not have a wet suit that would fit me, so I was going in fully dressed except for my shoes and socks. As the last one before me came out of the "tank" I started down the stairs and my feet went ahead without me and I fell in, going under... I got up and said to Pastor Paul. Jesus got me ahead of you, and looked up and shouted, "Thank You Jesus!" Then Pastor Paul baptized me again...
Anyway, while John was baptizing the masses Jesus walked up and told John to baptize Him. John did not want to do that. You remember John had said he was sent ahead of Jesus and that he was not fit to even carry the sandals of Jesus. So what happens next? You should know, but we will be talking about it tomorrow and also one very, very important statement made by God The Father...
Dear Lord, please keep us safe this day, watch over us and please, Lord, give us a cure for all cancers and all those other diseases, and please, Lord, give us peace from wars and those who want to shoot every one and each other. What I am really praying, Lord, is for You to return. Father in Heaven, please send Jesus back for us, and Father in Heaven, until You do, please keep us working for the Kingdom of God, for we know it is near... Love and blessings to You, dear Father, as I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Now go forth and share those blessings. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Good Tuesday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, and welcome to let's pray for a cure day on this line. Yes, the day we set aside most prayers for those individuals and pray for cures from diseases for everyone. Cancer and heart problems, strokes, and those bone things that cause so much pain are just a few that top my list today You folks send me your list and I will put them together and next Tuesday we will have a big, big list of diseases to pray over. Please also remember when it comes to diseases that we have mental, and other things like drugs and booze.
The Big Trip 5-2: Matthew 3:13 - Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" (NIV)
In our scripture today we see Jesus coming to the Jordan river where John has been baptizing folks for them to repent from their sins. And I want to add here that if you were not faithfully seeking to repent from your sins, John did not baptize you. I think churches need to look, and I am going to get into trouble for saying this one, but churches that baptize babies, or children long before they can repent from their sins should be taking another look at that. As I see it in the Bible, it seems to me that no one should baptize another unless they are willing to repent of the sins. I was baptized as a very young child and I had no idea what it meant, I just was with my parents who were so proud of me. Later in life, in fact not too many years ago, I wanted to be baptized again, this time knowing full well what it meant. And on that night when Pastor Paul, from Christian Life Assembly was about to baptize me, God got to me first and did it on His own... Then Pastor Paul did it again... Ok, here is what happened, I was in line last of many who were going into that baptismal. They did not have a wet suit that would fit me, so I was going in fully dressed except for my shoes and socks. As the last one before me came out of the "tank" I started down the stairs and my feet went ahead without me and I fell in, going under... I got up and said to Pastor Paul. Jesus got me ahead of you, and looked up and shouted, "Thank You Jesus!" Then Pastor Paul baptized me again...
Anyway, while John was baptizing the masses Jesus walked up and told John to baptize Him. John did not want to do that. You remember John had said he was sent ahead of Jesus and that he was not fit to even carry the sandals of Jesus. So what happens next? You should know, but we will be talking about it tomorrow and also one very, very important statement made by God The Father...
Dear Lord, please keep us safe this day, watch over us and please, Lord, give us a cure for all cancers and all those other diseases, and please, Lord, give us peace from wars and those who want to shoot every one and each other. What I am really praying, Lord, is for You to return. Father in Heaven, please send Jesus back for us, and Father in Heaven, until You do, please keep us working for the Kingdom of God, for we know it is near... Love and blessings to You, dear Father, as I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Now go forth and share those blessings. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
January 10, 2011
"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, and before I move forward today I want to go backward for just a minute and do some reviewing on John The Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, before moving ahead with our walk to the cross and beyond with Jesus. OUCH!!! WOW, excuse me, I just got a couple of beard hairs stuck in my watch band.
Monday and the day we pray for our leaders and today please pray for the families of those who were shot in Arizona on Saturday and also pray for those who are shot and fighting for their lives. A moment of silence will happen today at 11.00 AM. Come on, folks, after hearing all the speeches and hearing people say "they will be in our thoughts and prayers", someone needs to just say this... Let's pray for them right now. And please remember to pray for the shooter and his family. Can you even think what the parents of the shooter are going through? Let's pray.
Dear Father in Heaven, we just want to stop and pray for all those who were shot in Arizona the other day. Lord, we do not know why some people must be like this, but I do know this, those people cannot love you and do this to others. Lord, I pray today for the healings to begin, and not just the healing of those shot and wounded, but the healing of the hate toward the shooter. I pray for all those wounded, and their families and that they all lean on you, I pray for the families of those who lost their lives that You will comfort them. I also pray for the family of the shooter and pray that they will find comfort this day in You. I pray also that before this your man who did this hated crime comes to judgment before man, he will come to You and asked to be forgiven. Lord, I never did anything like this, but I have sinned and You went to the cross for me. Teach all people that even this hated crime can be washed away in Your eyes. Help us to all see Roman's 8:28 in this... In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Today we are going to have a review.
Matthew 3:1 - In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the desert of Judea 2 and saying, "repent for the kingdom of Heaven is near. 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.'" (NIV)
"Who was that bearded man that some called wild?" If you recall one of the very first things we heard about John was when he jumped for joy in the womb of his mother when she was in her sixth month and Mary, the mother of Jesus, came and told John's mother about being with child and the child was to save us all from our sins. This child, of course, was Jesus. Maybe if we really think about it, John was giving a big kick maybe wanting out so he could get to work for Jesus. John was the forerunner for our Lord Jesus, walking around telling people to be ready for the Kingdom of God is near. He was telling that to everyone who would listen. Now let's fast forward to today! Should we not all be like John The Baptist, should we not all be telling the GOOD NEWS, of our Lord Jesus coming back? Should we not all be telling everyone who will listen and even finding ways to get the message to those who will not listen? Should that message sound something like this -- Prepare yourself for the Lord will be returning soon. Make way for Him, for He is coming back for His church, His people. Prepare the way for Him, as He made us all a promise and that promise has not been filled yet, and we do not even know when it will be filled. And as a fact, Jesus does not know when He will get the call to return for us, but I am sure it will be soon... REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS COMING SOON, BEHOLD JESUS IS COMING BACK, COMING BACK FOR HIS CHURCH. Prepare the way of your heart, and invite Jesus in. Prepare yourself for Jesus and then announce to others this same message... Prepare your hearts for Jesus, repent of your sins for time is running out. Prepare by confessing with your mouth and believing in your hearts that Jesus is Lord. Prepare the way.
Brothers and sisters, John The Baptist did the job he was sent to do, and it cost him his head. Yes, old John was beheaded, and now I ask you this... It is a very hard question to ask and one that requires some thinking about the answer. Are you willing to go out as John The Baptist did and make those statements? Most would say "yes" until I add in this part. Are you willing to go out as John The Baptist did and make those statements, even if you knew it was going to cost you, well, cost you your head? Your life? Folks, John The Baptist is not the only one that lost his life for our Lord Jesus, there have been many since then, and it is still going on. When we speak out for Jesus, we are really putting our life on the line for Him, but that is ok, for after all, did He not lay His life down for us? So we know that Jesus laid down His life for us to get into heaven, should we not be willing to put our life on the line for Him? I am ready, willing and able. I love Jesus and want to make this statement today as I close.
PREPARE THE WAY FOR JESUS, FOR HE IS COMING BACK SOON FOR HIS PEOPLE, FOR HIS CHURCH. PREPARE THE WAY FOR JESUS FOR HE MIGHT JUST COME BACK BEFORE I GET TO FINISH THIS MESSAGE. Prepare the way for the Lord, for He will be returning to fullfill a promise that He made to us. Be ready, and brothers and sisters, please tell others...
Matthew 3:10 - The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. (NIV)
Let me put that scripture into my words today... The ax is already at the root of the trees. To me that means God The Father is getting nearer and nearer to sending His Son Jesus back for we who are saved and that Judgment is just around the corner. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. To me that means if we are not producing for our Lord Jesus, hear me on this, if we are not producing for our Lord Jesus, we are in danger of being cut down, and tossed into the lake of fire... Meaning we, if we are not producing for Jesus, will be cut down and sent to hell.
Brothers and sisters, we cannot work our way into heaven, we must go to Jesus and confess and believe, and we must work for Him. Brothers and sisters, the way I read my Bible is you just cannot go to church once a week, maybe plow the snow for the church, or work the bake sale, you must work for the Lord, meaning you must be saved and you must work telling others about Jesus... Yes, those other things need done, but you cannot work your way into heaven that way, you must, again according to the Bible, go to the corners of the world and tell the good news. Someone say Amen.
I mean it is ok to work that bake sale, but those coming to purchase your baked goods need to hear the word. Which is the most important part of the ministry of the church, raising money at the bake sale or telling people about the free gift of Salvation through Jesus. But you need the money you make to keep the church running, and yes, you do, but you must work it together. Yes, we must clear the parking lot at the churches but if when people come to church and don't hear about salvation through our Lord Jesus, please tell me, what good it did for the lot to be plowed? If in the summer the grounds around the church are mowed and looking great, but the word inside was not about salvation or was not the COMPLETE truth about our Lord Jesus, tell me, did it do anyone any good to get into heaven because the lawn was nice but the pastor was absent the word, or the flock at the church did not walk in the light of the Lord? Are you getting my point here, you cannot work your way into heaven, you must seek out the Lord, and then, and then, and then go to work for Him. Mow the grass, but when people come to that beautiful church because the lawn looks so nice, tell them about how nice heaven is going to be. Show them around the church, show them that pretty lawn, and show them the blacktop on the parking lot, and then remind them how the paving on the streets of heaven is made of Gold. When Jesus went to the cross for us, He did it out of Love. He had already worked feeding people food, and feeding their minds, He worked healing them from broken hearts, broken homes and even raised the dead. But His love went farther than that, His love for us was death on the cross to take our sins away... And folks, it is only going to get better WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN, and I do pray you are in the ALL of that line. Is the ax at your roots, are you heading for the old brush pile? Cheer up, spark up some love for Jesus and get humping for Him. Plow the snow, cut the lawn, trim the trees, and tell people about the Love of Jesus... and not just about your love of plowing or your love of a nice lawn. A choice needs to be made, and you are the one who must make it. Are you going up, or going down? Are you going to going to have a seat at the feet of Jesus or are you going to go stoke the fires of hell... again, your choice.
Matthew 3:11 - "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." (NIV)
Tomorrow we are going to go with Jesus and watch as John baptizes Jesus.
Now folks, I must run for I have an early morning doctor's appointment. Please pray for Dolores, who is still in the hospital... Go forth and share your blessings. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, and before I move forward today I want to go backward for just a minute and do some reviewing on John The Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, before moving ahead with our walk to the cross and beyond with Jesus. OUCH!!! WOW, excuse me, I just got a couple of beard hairs stuck in my watch band.
Monday and the day we pray for our leaders and today please pray for the families of those who were shot in Arizona on Saturday and also pray for those who are shot and fighting for their lives. A moment of silence will happen today at 11.00 AM. Come on, folks, after hearing all the speeches and hearing people say "they will be in our thoughts and prayers", someone needs to just say this... Let's pray for them right now. And please remember to pray for the shooter and his family. Can you even think what the parents of the shooter are going through? Let's pray.
Dear Father in Heaven, we just want to stop and pray for all those who were shot in Arizona the other day. Lord, we do not know why some people must be like this, but I do know this, those people cannot love you and do this to others. Lord, I pray today for the healings to begin, and not just the healing of those shot and wounded, but the healing of the hate toward the shooter. I pray for all those wounded, and their families and that they all lean on you, I pray for the families of those who lost their lives that You will comfort them. I also pray for the family of the shooter and pray that they will find comfort this day in You. I pray also that before this your man who did this hated crime comes to judgment before man, he will come to You and asked to be forgiven. Lord, I never did anything like this, but I have sinned and You went to the cross for me. Teach all people that even this hated crime can be washed away in Your eyes. Help us to all see Roman's 8:28 in this... In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Today we are going to have a review.
Matthew 3:1 - In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the desert of Judea 2 and saying, "repent for the kingdom of Heaven is near. 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.'" (NIV)
"Who was that bearded man that some called wild?" If you recall one of the very first things we heard about John was when he jumped for joy in the womb of his mother when she was in her sixth month and Mary, the mother of Jesus, came and told John's mother about being with child and the child was to save us all from our sins. This child, of course, was Jesus. Maybe if we really think about it, John was giving a big kick maybe wanting out so he could get to work for Jesus. John was the forerunner for our Lord Jesus, walking around telling people to be ready for the Kingdom of God is near. He was telling that to everyone who would listen. Now let's fast forward to today! Should we not all be like John The Baptist, should we not all be telling the GOOD NEWS, of our Lord Jesus coming back? Should we not all be telling everyone who will listen and even finding ways to get the message to those who will not listen? Should that message sound something like this -- Prepare yourself for the Lord will be returning soon. Make way for Him, for He is coming back for His church, His people. Prepare the way for Him, as He made us all a promise and that promise has not been filled yet, and we do not even know when it will be filled. And as a fact, Jesus does not know when He will get the call to return for us, but I am sure it will be soon... REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS COMING SOON, BEHOLD JESUS IS COMING BACK, COMING BACK FOR HIS CHURCH. Prepare the way of your heart, and invite Jesus in. Prepare yourself for Jesus and then announce to others this same message... Prepare your hearts for Jesus, repent of your sins for time is running out. Prepare by confessing with your mouth and believing in your hearts that Jesus is Lord. Prepare the way.
Brothers and sisters, John The Baptist did the job he was sent to do, and it cost him his head. Yes, old John was beheaded, and now I ask you this... It is a very hard question to ask and one that requires some thinking about the answer. Are you willing to go out as John The Baptist did and make those statements? Most would say "yes" until I add in this part. Are you willing to go out as John The Baptist did and make those statements, even if you knew it was going to cost you, well, cost you your head? Your life? Folks, John The Baptist is not the only one that lost his life for our Lord Jesus, there have been many since then, and it is still going on. When we speak out for Jesus, we are really putting our life on the line for Him, but that is ok, for after all, did He not lay His life down for us? So we know that Jesus laid down His life for us to get into heaven, should we not be willing to put our life on the line for Him? I am ready, willing and able. I love Jesus and want to make this statement today as I close.
PREPARE THE WAY FOR JESUS, FOR HE IS COMING BACK SOON FOR HIS PEOPLE, FOR HIS CHURCH. PREPARE THE WAY FOR JESUS FOR HE MIGHT JUST COME BACK BEFORE I GET TO FINISH THIS MESSAGE. Prepare the way for the Lord, for He will be returning to fullfill a promise that He made to us. Be ready, and brothers and sisters, please tell others...
Matthew 3:10 - The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. (NIV)
Let me put that scripture into my words today... The ax is already at the root of the trees. To me that means God The Father is getting nearer and nearer to sending His Son Jesus back for we who are saved and that Judgment is just around the corner. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. To me that means if we are not producing for our Lord Jesus, hear me on this, if we are not producing for our Lord Jesus, we are in danger of being cut down, and tossed into the lake of fire... Meaning we, if we are not producing for Jesus, will be cut down and sent to hell.
Brothers and sisters, we cannot work our way into heaven, we must go to Jesus and confess and believe, and we must work for Him. Brothers and sisters, the way I read my Bible is you just cannot go to church once a week, maybe plow the snow for the church, or work the bake sale, you must work for the Lord, meaning you must be saved and you must work telling others about Jesus... Yes, those other things need done, but you cannot work your way into heaven that way, you must, again according to the Bible, go to the corners of the world and tell the good news. Someone say Amen.
I mean it is ok to work that bake sale, but those coming to purchase your baked goods need to hear the word. Which is the most important part of the ministry of the church, raising money at the bake sale or telling people about the free gift of Salvation through Jesus. But you need the money you make to keep the church running, and yes, you do, but you must work it together. Yes, we must clear the parking lot at the churches but if when people come to church and don't hear about salvation through our Lord Jesus, please tell me, what good it did for the lot to be plowed? If in the summer the grounds around the church are mowed and looking great, but the word inside was not about salvation or was not the COMPLETE truth about our Lord Jesus, tell me, did it do anyone any good to get into heaven because the lawn was nice but the pastor was absent the word, or the flock at the church did not walk in the light of the Lord? Are you getting my point here, you cannot work your way into heaven, you must seek out the Lord, and then, and then, and then go to work for Him. Mow the grass, but when people come to that beautiful church because the lawn looks so nice, tell them about how nice heaven is going to be. Show them around the church, show them that pretty lawn, and show them the blacktop on the parking lot, and then remind them how the paving on the streets of heaven is made of Gold. When Jesus went to the cross for us, He did it out of Love. He had already worked feeding people food, and feeding their minds, He worked healing them from broken hearts, broken homes and even raised the dead. But His love went farther than that, His love for us was death on the cross to take our sins away... And folks, it is only going to get better WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN, and I do pray you are in the ALL of that line. Is the ax at your roots, are you heading for the old brush pile? Cheer up, spark up some love for Jesus and get humping for Him. Plow the snow, cut the lawn, trim the trees, and tell people about the Love of Jesus... and not just about your love of plowing or your love of a nice lawn. A choice needs to be made, and you are the one who must make it. Are you going up, or going down? Are you going to going to have a seat at the feet of Jesus or are you going to go stoke the fires of hell... again, your choice.
Matthew 3:11 - "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." (NIV)
Tomorrow we are going to go with Jesus and watch as John baptizes Jesus.
Now folks, I must run for I have an early morning doctor's appointment. Please pray for Dolores, who is still in the hospital... Go forth and share your blessings. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Friday, January 7, 2011
January 7, 2011 The Big Trip 4-4
The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. Sorry I am a TAD late, I was out plowing the snow that hit last night. Not much snow, but we here at Carry The Light Ministries have a plow route to clear. Just another way of helping to bring in some dollars for the food pantry. Beside that, I still love to plow snow even if I am getting old. I have an update on Jenny and it will be at the end of the message. Please take time to read it.
The Big Trip 4-4: Matthew 3:10 - The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. (NIV)
Let me put that scripture into my words today... The ax is already at the root of the trees. To me that means God The Father is getting nearer and nearer to sending His Son Jesus back for we who are saved and that Judgment is just around the corner. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. To me that means if we are not producing for our Lord Jesus, hear me on this, if we are not producing for our Lord Jesus, we are in danger of being cut down, and tossed into the lake of fire... Meaning we, if we are not producing for Jesus, will be cut down and sent to hell.
Brothers and sisters, we cannot work our way into heaven, we must go to Jesus and confess and believe, and we must work for Him. Brothers and sisters, the way I read my Bible is you just cannot go to church once a week, maybe plow the snow for the church, or work the bake sale, you must work for the Lord, meaning you must be saved and you must work telling others about Jesus. Yes, those other things need done, but you cannot work your way into heaven that way, you must, again according to the Bible, go to the corners of the world and tell the good news. Someone say Amen.
I mean it is ok to work that bake sale, but those coming to purchase your baked goods need to hear the word. Which is the most important part of the ministry of the church, raising money at the bake sale or telling people about the free gift of Salvation through Jesus? But you need the money you make to keep the church running, and yes, you do, but you must work it together. Yes, we must clear the parking lot at the churches but if when people come to church and don't hear about salvation through our Lord Jesus, please tell me what good it did for the lot to be plowed. If in the summer the grounds around the church are mowed and looking great, but the word inside was not about salvation or was not the COMPLETE truth about our Lord Jesus, tell me, did it do anyone any good to get into heaven cause the lawn was nice but the pastor was absent the word, or the flock at the church did not walk in the light of the Lord? Are you getting my point here, you cannot work your way into heaven, you must seek out the Lord, and then, and then, and then go to work for Him. Mow the grass, but when people come to that beautiful church because the lawn looks so nice, tell them about how nice heaven is going to be. Show them around the church, show them that pretty lawn, and show them the blacktop on the parking lot, and then remind them how the paving on the streets of heaven is made of Gold. When Jesus went to the cross for us, He did it out of Love. He had already worked feeding people food, and feeding their minds, He worked healing them from broken hearts, broken homes and even raised the dead. But His love went farther than that, His love for us was death on the cross to take our sins away. And folks, it is only going to get better WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN, and I do pray you are in the ALL of that line. Is the ax at your roots, are you heading for the old brush pile? Cheer up, spark up some love for Jesus and get humping for Him... Plow the snow, cut the lawn, trim the trees, and tell people about the Love of Jesus... and not just about your love of plowing or your love of a nice lawn... A choice needs to be made, and you are the one who must make it. Are you going up, or going down? Are you going to going to have a seat at the feet of Jesus or are you going to go stoke the fires of hell... again your choice. I made mine. I am going up...
Dear Father in Heaven, I want to repent, and I want to live for and with You. I need help doing it, I really do, so I am asking You to keep me on the straight and narrow in all things. Thanks for being with those on our healing lists. Help others who want to repent this day, and Lord, thanks for the good, good news from Jenny. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Go forth now loving Jesus, sharing your blessings and working for Him, by showing others the way to salvation through Jesus... Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Prayer update:
Jenny outran the treadmill for 20 minutes during her echo test. She did get dizzy at the very end of the run. The doctor noticed a major change in her breathing when she got dizzy and feels that might be part of her troubles. The best part of the test was that again it proved that her heart did not miss a beat and is in great shape. Therefore, she is not in danger of dropping over during a basketball game. Jenny has low blood pressure all the time. All the activity and sweating during a game causes her pressure to bottom out.
Where do we turn from here? We just need to focus on hydration, eating right, cut out caffeine, and take breaks to rest during a game. In doing a lot of research and reading on some of her symptoms, doctor Dad is going to add a slew of supplements to her daily vitamin. We started this last night.
The even better news to all of this is that the doctors are certain she will grow out of all of this. Just need to be patient. Plus, the doctor will be talking to all of her coaches to compare notes and reassure them about her heart.
But when you have a heart for Jesus like Jenny does, what else could it be but strong!
Robert Campbell
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. Sorry I am a TAD late, I was out plowing the snow that hit last night. Not much snow, but we here at Carry The Light Ministries have a plow route to clear. Just another way of helping to bring in some dollars for the food pantry. Beside that, I still love to plow snow even if I am getting old. I have an update on Jenny and it will be at the end of the message. Please take time to read it.
The Big Trip 4-4: Matthew 3:10 - The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. (NIV)
Let me put that scripture into my words today... The ax is already at the root of the trees. To me that means God The Father is getting nearer and nearer to sending His Son Jesus back for we who are saved and that Judgment is just around the corner. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. To me that means if we are not producing for our Lord Jesus, hear me on this, if we are not producing for our Lord Jesus, we are in danger of being cut down, and tossed into the lake of fire... Meaning we, if we are not producing for Jesus, will be cut down and sent to hell.
Brothers and sisters, we cannot work our way into heaven, we must go to Jesus and confess and believe, and we must work for Him. Brothers and sisters, the way I read my Bible is you just cannot go to church once a week, maybe plow the snow for the church, or work the bake sale, you must work for the Lord, meaning you must be saved and you must work telling others about Jesus. Yes, those other things need done, but you cannot work your way into heaven that way, you must, again according to the Bible, go to the corners of the world and tell the good news. Someone say Amen.
I mean it is ok to work that bake sale, but those coming to purchase your baked goods need to hear the word. Which is the most important part of the ministry of the church, raising money at the bake sale or telling people about the free gift of Salvation through Jesus? But you need the money you make to keep the church running, and yes, you do, but you must work it together. Yes, we must clear the parking lot at the churches but if when people come to church and don't hear about salvation through our Lord Jesus, please tell me what good it did for the lot to be plowed. If in the summer the grounds around the church are mowed and looking great, but the word inside was not about salvation or was not the COMPLETE truth about our Lord Jesus, tell me, did it do anyone any good to get into heaven cause the lawn was nice but the pastor was absent the word, or the flock at the church did not walk in the light of the Lord? Are you getting my point here, you cannot work your way into heaven, you must seek out the Lord, and then, and then, and then go to work for Him. Mow the grass, but when people come to that beautiful church because the lawn looks so nice, tell them about how nice heaven is going to be. Show them around the church, show them that pretty lawn, and show them the blacktop on the parking lot, and then remind them how the paving on the streets of heaven is made of Gold. When Jesus went to the cross for us, He did it out of Love. He had already worked feeding people food, and feeding their minds, He worked healing them from broken hearts, broken homes and even raised the dead. But His love went farther than that, His love for us was death on the cross to take our sins away. And folks, it is only going to get better WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN, and I do pray you are in the ALL of that line. Is the ax at your roots, are you heading for the old brush pile? Cheer up, spark up some love for Jesus and get humping for Him... Plow the snow, cut the lawn, trim the trees, and tell people about the Love of Jesus... and not just about your love of plowing or your love of a nice lawn... A choice needs to be made, and you are the one who must make it. Are you going up, or going down? Are you going to going to have a seat at the feet of Jesus or are you going to go stoke the fires of hell... again your choice. I made mine. I am going up...
Dear Father in Heaven, I want to repent, and I want to live for and with You. I need help doing it, I really do, so I am asking You to keep me on the straight and narrow in all things. Thanks for being with those on our healing lists. Help others who want to repent this day, and Lord, thanks for the good, good news from Jenny. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Go forth now loving Jesus, sharing your blessings and working for Him, by showing others the way to salvation through Jesus... Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Prayer update:
Jenny outran the treadmill for 20 minutes during her echo test. She did get dizzy at the very end of the run. The doctor noticed a major change in her breathing when she got dizzy and feels that might be part of her troubles. The best part of the test was that again it proved that her heart did not miss a beat and is in great shape. Therefore, she is not in danger of dropping over during a basketball game. Jenny has low blood pressure all the time. All the activity and sweating during a game causes her pressure to bottom out.
Where do we turn from here? We just need to focus on hydration, eating right, cut out caffeine, and take breaks to rest during a game. In doing a lot of research and reading on some of her symptoms, doctor Dad is going to add a slew of supplements to her daily vitamin. We started this last night.
The even better news to all of this is that the doctors are certain she will grow out of all of this. Just need to be patient. Plus, the doctor will be talking to all of her coaches to compare notes and reassure them about her heart.
But when you have a heart for Jesus like Jenny does, what else could it be but strong!
Robert Campbell
Thursday, January 6, 2011
January 6, 2011 The Big Trip 4-3
"Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him."
Good Families and Schools day morning to all of you my dear brothers and sisters. Today, the day we pray for our schools and all who go through the doors of them and remember please those who work for the schools and don't often get in the buildings. I am talking about those school bus drivers. Please also pray for families and remember please pray for the family of God. Prayers also for Kathleen, Ron, Eleanor, Dolores and this request in from prayer Rob Campbell:
Jennifer goes for another echo stress test Thursday morning at 11am to check her heart. The doctors are still puzzled as to why she gets dizzy, blurred vision, and numbness after during the basketball games. Let's put it in the hands of the almighty doctor to help direct us in the right direction to find the answer for her. She is very frustrated because they cannot figure out the answer.
Jenny's coaches, Jen Quay, Fultz, and Bill Reighter have been fantastic at helping us with Jennifer and watching over her during practice and games. They can tell exactly when she needs to come out to rest, drink, and eat. Please lift them up in prayers especially Coach Quay as rumblings are beginning to surface about her being fired as the girls basketball coach. She does a fantastic job with the girls and is building a quality program for years to come.
Thank you again.
Rob Campbell
The Big Trip 4-3: Matthew 3:1 - In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the desert of Judea 2 and saying, "repent for the kingdom of Heaven is near. 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.'" (NIV)
"Who was that bearded man that some called wild?" (From the song, John The Baptist, Neil Enloe, singer/song writer.) I was told once that if anyone really looked like John the Baptist, it might have been me. I guess I have that wild look, but hey, it could not have been me, my head is still on, although not always straight. If you recall one of the very first things we heard about John was when he jumped for joy in the womb of his mother when she was in her sixth month and Mary, the mother of Jesus came and told John's mother about being with child and the child was to save us all from our sins. This child of course was Jesus. Maybe if we really think about it, John was giving a big kick maybe wanting out so he could get to work for Jesus. So I have been to concerts when Dave, Duane and Neil sang the song John The Baptist and they look at me as looking sort of wild, and yes, I guess that is a fact, and my coats are not made of camel hair, but some of our riding jackets are leather. But locusts to eat, would they be like eating a shrimp that was on the land? I guess if one was hungry enough you might try them. Gosh, with all those little stink bugs around one might think about a "stinky pie." Let me get serious again... John was the forerunner for our Lord Jesus, walking around telling people to be ready for the Kingdom of God is near. He was telling that to everyone who would listen. Now let's fast forward to today! Should we not all be like John The Baptist, should we not all be telling the GOOD NEWS of our Lord Jesus coming back? Should we not all be telling everyone who will listen and even finding ways to get the message to those who will not listen? Should that message sound something like this... Prepare yourself for the Lord will be returning soon. Make way for Him, for He is coming back for His church, His people. Prepare the way for Him, as He made us all a promise and that promise has not been filled yet, and we do not even know when it will be filled. And as a fact, Jesus does not know when He will get the call to return for us, but I am sure it will be soon... REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS COMING SOON, BEHOLD, JESUS IS COMING BACK, COMING BACK FOR HIS CHURCH. Prepare the way of your heart, and invite Jesus in. Prepare yourself for Jesus and then announce to others this same message... Prepare your hearts for Jesus, repent of your sins for time is running out. Prepare by confessing with your mouth and believing in your hearts that Jesus is Lord. Prepare the way.
Brothers and sisters, John The Baptist did the job he was sent to do, and it cost him his head. Yes, old John was beheaded, and now I ask you this... It is a very hard question to ask and one that requires some thinking about the answer. Are you willing to go out as John The Baptist did and make those statements? Most would say "yes" until I add in this part. Are you willing to go out as John The Baptist did and make those statements, even if you knew it was going to cost you, well, cost you your head? Your life? Folks, John The Baptist is not the only one that lost his life for our Lord Jesus, there have been many since then, and it is still going on. When we speak out for Jesus, we are really putting our life on the line for Him, but that is ok, for after all, did He not lay His life down for us? So we know that Jesus laid down His life for us to get into heaven, should we not be willing to put our life on the line for Him? I am ready, willing and able. I love Jesus and want to make this statement today as I close.
PREPARE THE WAY FOR JESUS, FOR HE IS COMING BACK SOON FOR HIS PEOPLE, FOR HIS CHURCH. PREPARE THE WAY FOR JESUS FOR HE MIGHT JUST COME BACK BEFORE I GET TO FINISH THIS MESSAGE. Prepare the way for the Lord, for He will be returning to fullfill a promise that He made to us. Be ready, and brothers and sisters, please tell others...
Dear Father in Heaven, I want to work for You each day, I waited all too long before I started to work for You, dear Lord, but I am on board now and I want to work for You till You return or till You call me home. I pray others will also pray this same prayer today. Lord, help us to prepare the way for Your return by repenting of our sins and working hard for You getting out the word. The word of Love... In the name of Jesus, I pray... Amen.
Now go forth telling others to "Prepare the way for the Lord." And also take time along the way to witness for Him and to share those blessings He has on loan to You.
Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Good Families and Schools day morning to all of you my dear brothers and sisters. Today, the day we pray for our schools and all who go through the doors of them and remember please those who work for the schools and don't often get in the buildings. I am talking about those school bus drivers. Please also pray for families and remember please pray for the family of God. Prayers also for Kathleen, Ron, Eleanor, Dolores and this request in from prayer Rob Campbell:
Jennifer goes for another echo stress test Thursday morning at 11am to check her heart. The doctors are still puzzled as to why she gets dizzy, blurred vision, and numbness after during the basketball games. Let's put it in the hands of the almighty doctor to help direct us in the right direction to find the answer for her. She is very frustrated because they cannot figure out the answer.
Jenny's coaches, Jen Quay, Fultz, and Bill Reighter have been fantastic at helping us with Jennifer and watching over her during practice and games. They can tell exactly when she needs to come out to rest, drink, and eat. Please lift them up in prayers especially Coach Quay as rumblings are beginning to surface about her being fired as the girls basketball coach. She does a fantastic job with the girls and is building a quality program for years to come.
Thank you again.
Rob Campbell
The Big Trip 4-3: Matthew 3:1 - In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the desert of Judea 2 and saying, "repent for the kingdom of Heaven is near. 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.'" (NIV)
"Who was that bearded man that some called wild?" (From the song, John The Baptist, Neil Enloe, singer/song writer.) I was told once that if anyone really looked like John the Baptist, it might have been me. I guess I have that wild look, but hey, it could not have been me, my head is still on, although not always straight. If you recall one of the very first things we heard about John was when he jumped for joy in the womb of his mother when she was in her sixth month and Mary, the mother of Jesus came and told John's mother about being with child and the child was to save us all from our sins. This child of course was Jesus. Maybe if we really think about it, John was giving a big kick maybe wanting out so he could get to work for Jesus. So I have been to concerts when Dave, Duane and Neil sang the song John The Baptist and they look at me as looking sort of wild, and yes, I guess that is a fact, and my coats are not made of camel hair, but some of our riding jackets are leather. But locusts to eat, would they be like eating a shrimp that was on the land? I guess if one was hungry enough you might try them. Gosh, with all those little stink bugs around one might think about a "stinky pie." Let me get serious again... John was the forerunner for our Lord Jesus, walking around telling people to be ready for the Kingdom of God is near. He was telling that to everyone who would listen. Now let's fast forward to today! Should we not all be like John The Baptist, should we not all be telling the GOOD NEWS of our Lord Jesus coming back? Should we not all be telling everyone who will listen and even finding ways to get the message to those who will not listen? Should that message sound something like this... Prepare yourself for the Lord will be returning soon. Make way for Him, for He is coming back for His church, His people. Prepare the way for Him, as He made us all a promise and that promise has not been filled yet, and we do not even know when it will be filled. And as a fact, Jesus does not know when He will get the call to return for us, but I am sure it will be soon... REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS COMING SOON, BEHOLD, JESUS IS COMING BACK, COMING BACK FOR HIS CHURCH. Prepare the way of your heart, and invite Jesus in. Prepare yourself for Jesus and then announce to others this same message... Prepare your hearts for Jesus, repent of your sins for time is running out. Prepare by confessing with your mouth and believing in your hearts that Jesus is Lord. Prepare the way.
Brothers and sisters, John The Baptist did the job he was sent to do, and it cost him his head. Yes, old John was beheaded, and now I ask you this... It is a very hard question to ask and one that requires some thinking about the answer. Are you willing to go out as John The Baptist did and make those statements? Most would say "yes" until I add in this part. Are you willing to go out as John The Baptist did and make those statements, even if you knew it was going to cost you, well, cost you your head? Your life? Folks, John The Baptist is not the only one that lost his life for our Lord Jesus, there have been many since then, and it is still going on. When we speak out for Jesus, we are really putting our life on the line for Him, but that is ok, for after all, did He not lay His life down for us? So we know that Jesus laid down His life for us to get into heaven, should we not be willing to put our life on the line for Him? I am ready, willing and able. I love Jesus and want to make this statement today as I close.
PREPARE THE WAY FOR JESUS, FOR HE IS COMING BACK SOON FOR HIS PEOPLE, FOR HIS CHURCH. PREPARE THE WAY FOR JESUS FOR HE MIGHT JUST COME BACK BEFORE I GET TO FINISH THIS MESSAGE. Prepare the way for the Lord, for He will be returning to fullfill a promise that He made to us. Be ready, and brothers and sisters, please tell others...
Dear Father in Heaven, I want to work for You each day, I waited all too long before I started to work for You, dear Lord, but I am on board now and I want to work for You till You return or till You call me home. I pray others will also pray this same prayer today. Lord, help us to prepare the way for Your return by repenting of our sins and working hard for You getting out the word. The word of Love... In the name of Jesus, I pray... Amen.
Now go forth telling others to "Prepare the way for the Lord." And also take time along the way to witness for Him and to share those blessings He has on loan to You.
Love ya, Pastor Dan.
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