Thursday, March 31, 2011
March 31, 2011 Are You A Good Guy? 4
In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him', 'he said, and when I return', I will reimburse you for your extra expense you may have.'" Good Thursday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. It is Thursday and the day we pray for our schools and our families, so please do just that. This morning my message is going to be different, different in the fact that I have a guest writer this morning and the guest does not know he is doing this. Yesterday I had a response from one of the readers of the line and a very dear friend of mine and, well,, all need to look at it. I am sure this gentleman will not mind me sharing his word about Jesus with all of you. Who is my guest writer today? He is Neil Enloe, long time lead singer with one of the greatest gospel groups of all times, The Couriers. Now singing under the names of Dave, Duane and Neil, and often referred to as The Original Couriers and after all these years, these men still have that gift, and still use it to bring in the lost. Neil is a gifted (gifts from God) singer, song writer and pianist. He is one of about ten people who follow this line that I can call on for advice. One of his songs is "The Cross is My Statue of Liberty". Neil, thanks for sharing with me, and it is just too good not to share with the hundreds on this line. And now, word for word from Mr. Neil Enloe... Quote "Good word today, Dan. I’ve preached this parable and let me give you my angle on it. The parable of the Good Samaritan gives in great detail the plan of redemption. There are characters in this parable that represent factors in God’s great scheme to redeem. This certain man went down from Jerusalem unto Jericho. CERTAIN MAN: Adam, who represents all of humanity. Us. JERUSALEM: Represents Heaven. A city high in elevation. A place of authority, even unto today. Geographical location of the Temple and the Holy of Holies; the very presence of God. JERICHO: Represents Hell; a place of alienation from God. Lowest place on the face of the earth (1,200 feet below sea level). Hot. Forbidding. Site of the DEAD Sea where there is no living creature whatsoever. INN: A place of restoration and recovery. INNKEEPER: The Holy Ghost. In the parable this “Certain Man”, this Adam, this “us” was being removed from the perfect presence of God because of his sin. He fell among thieves (the “fall” of man): Jerusalem (God) must have seen mankind on his way to Hell and had him arrested on his downward journey. Beaten, robbed and left for half dead, he lay on the byway dying. Hopeless. Three people came along. PRIEST: Pastor, man of God, leader. Passed by. Not the uncaring, bad guy he has been erroneously represented to be, but he knew that he didn’t have the appropriate cure for the poor Adam who was alienated from God. Your pastor can do some wonderful things to aid and assist you on your journey with God, but he can’t save you. So the priest passed by on the other side of the road. LEVITE: Levites cared for and tended the Temple. An organization set up by God Himself. Angels? Again, the Levite knew he didn’t have the appropriate cure (salvation) for the pour soul on the ground, so he didn’t bother to stop. SAMARITAN: Represents Jesus Himself, who spoke the very parable. Samaritans openly hated the Jews and the man on the ground knew it. But the Samaritan (Jesus) knew full well that He had the appropriate cure; salvation. So he “came to where he was” stooped down and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil (healing) and wine (celebration). He then put him on His own beast and took him to an inn (a place of renewal, healing, rest and recovery. The Samaritan (Jesus) said to the innkeeper (Holy Spirit), “Here’s some money; take care of this poor man. I have to go away but I’m coming back, and if he has spent more (sinned again) I’ll pay for that too.” And the most glorious part of the story is that when Jesus returns He’ll take us back to Jerusalem to be in His very presence again. Because of the sacrifice of Calvary, our debt for sin has been paid in full and we don’t have to continue our journey toward Hell and alienation from God. Redemption is a perfect, and perfectly played out, plan. And this parable pretty much explains it all in great detail. Neil" End Quote Dear Father in Heaven: Thanks for your gifts that You bless all of us with, and thanks for Neil and all his work for You. Thanks for blessing men and women who really like to share those gifts You have given them. Lord, please be with our families today and please be in our schools. Lord, most of all help all of us work to help Your church grow by working to bring in the lost to Your feet to be saved. In the name of Jesus, Amen. Now my dear brothers and sisters, go forth and share the gifts our Lord has given unto you. My Brothers and sisters, we are truly "BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING" (Pastor, Dr. Richard Denison). Truthfully, what good is a blessing if you just keep it to yourself? Go and share... Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
March 30, 2011 Are You A Good Guy?
In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him." Good Salvation Wednesday Morning to all of you, my dear brothers and sisters. Please pray today for the souls of the unsaved and ask God to use all of us who are saved to help bring in the harvest, so that they also may be saved by the loving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Big Trip 15-3 Are You A Good Guy (Girl) 3 Luke 10:30 - In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wind. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him." (NIV) Ok, let's bring this up to today, what it might be like. A man is walking toward town when he is jumped by a gang of robbers, they strip him of his clothes, take his sneakers and his cell phone and beat him and maybe even shoot him. Now along comes some folks, they see the man lying there bleeding and hurting so they talk among themselves. I am not going to help this man, the robbers might be just hanging out waiting to jump ones who help, said one man. The next man says if we go and help him and he dies his relations will sue us saying we did something wrong. I am not going to get sued. The next man says we must do something and called 911 on his cell phone and got an ambulance rolling. Then along comes another person who covers the man with his coat, cleans his wounds with his shirt and waits till that ambulance arrives. Today, so many people do not want to stop and help as they are afraid they might get sued, but fear not, there is a good Samaritan law that will protect them. In fact, folks, if you witness a vehicle accident it is the law you stop and assist. In the above scriptures Jesus uses the example of what we now call the story of the "Good Samaritan" to teach who our neighbors really are. So I ask you today, who are your neighbors? Your neighbors are everyone except you and of course Jesus. Even your spouse is your neighbor. Your neighbor can be living in your same house. Love God and Love your neighbor and please, please do not be afraid to help others. A few good rules to remember when helping others. If you come upon an accident or witness an accident what is the first thing you do to help your neighbors? You protect the area from another accident. Do not move an injured person unless they are in danger of more injuries. Example, a person is injured, maybe even a back injury and they are in a car. Do you get them out or wait for an ambulance and for those first responders? In most cases the injured should not be moved, but if you see the car is leaking gas, get help and get the people out of the car. What you can do in advance, so that if the time comes... Why not take a Red Cross Safety course, learn how to "Stop Bleeding and Start Breathing." Now let me point this out today before I leave... If you really love your neighbor as you do yourself you will prepare for what might happen. You will be ready. And most of all, you will do what Jesus has commanded us to do and tell our neighbors the good news of Jesus Christ. We need to work the harvest, and help our neighbors. If you help a neighbor with food, or some used clothes, or help them clear the snow from their walk, etc, the neighbor will soon notice you care about them, not just to preach to them, but to have honest love for them, that you care about them all the time, and that will make it so much easier to tell them about God. And caring about others can also be a lot of fun. Yesterday I made some veggie soup and I mean a lot of it. I shared it with others and then I had this one big container in the car and was coming home. My neighbor across the street had just pulled in their driveway, a working family. Mom and dad work hard. I carried the soup up to the door and said, "You don't want to cook tonight do you?" and handed her the soup. She was thrilled (at least till she tasted it). Help someone today, be a good Samaritan today. You don't need to wait for someone to be robbed, help them today by sharing your blessings... Someone say Amen. Dear Father in Heaven, help me to always help my neighbors and to love them and help me to remember that my neighbors come in all colors and sizes and with all different looks, all made in your image. Lord, help me to learn to love as You love others. In the name of Jesus, I pray, also praying today for the lost. May the harvest be good today and may we help. Amen. Go forth now and share those blessings with your neighbors... love ya, Pastor Dan.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
March 29, 2011 Are You A Good Guy?
He Answered: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and Love your neighbor as yourself." "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters and I bid you a fine Tuesday in the name of Jesus, the one who died for you and me. Today, Tuesday, we pray for cures for diseases, and let's really pray for a cure for cancer. So pray for Ron and Kathleen and please, you remember Addison, the young lady who got cancer when in high school, recovered, and now she has some serious infections. This in from my dear pastor friend, Pastor Larry Hale, Glenvale Church of God, Marysville Pa. Urgent Prayer Request... Addison's body rejected the antibiotic so they had to operate again today. She survived the operation which drained large amounts of pus from her vaginal area. She now has 2 drains with constant flows of pus. The Dr. said he had never had a patient with both kinds of serious infection--MRSA and STAPH. She has been asleep most of the day, but did wake up a little and talked to her mom and dad. There is a new drug just released--Addison would be the first patient to take it--that they are going to try on her. Right now she is stable and holding her own, but if they can't get an antibiotic that her body will accept, then the infections will continue to spread throughout her body. So, tonight--thank God--there is a little hope, but she is far from being okay. She will be in the hospital at least 14 days--and that is a minimum. If the infection continues to spread, they are not sure if there is any more they can do. Please keep the family in your prayers. Addison has a sister who is 6 years old and just had ear surgery a few weeks ago so she is still in the recovery period, also. Please continue to pour the prayers into heaven for little Addison. Thanks. So dear prayer warriors, lets get in some serious talks with God, WHO STILL HEALS TODAY, and let's also remember to give thanks... The Big Trip 15-2 Are You A Good Guy (Girl)? 2: Luke 10:27 - He Answered: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and Love your neighbor as yourself." 28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." (NIV) The above scripture, quoted above by a teacher of the law and told by Jesus that he answered his question correctly. The above are the TWO GREAT COMMANDMENTS. If you really obey these two, you will be in line with all the others. Here these words of Jesus as record in Matthew 23. Matthew 23:34 - Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question. 36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?" 37 Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." 38 "This is the first and greatest commandment." 39 "And the second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself." 40 "All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (NIV) I want all of you to think about this. Last week when I wrote on Salvation, I talked about John 14:6 and Romans 10:9/10 and other scriptures, and here we find it very, very simple. What must we do, and we find just this. We need to love our Lord Jesus, our Lord God, with all of our heart and with all of our soul and with all of our mind. Now that does not sound all that hard, and if we do love our Lord just like that, then we will follow Him and we will not break any of the "Ten Commandments." I say that because if we really and truly love God, really love Him, then we will ACT LIKE IT!! Now the second great commandment is we must love our neighbors as ourselves. Wow, did you ever meet a person who you felt not just hated others but did not like himself or herself? Gosh, folks, if you cannot respect yourself and love yourself how in the world can you love others and if you don't love yourself how can you say you are loving Jesus? God made us in His image and for myself I am happy the way I look, yes, God did a good job on me as far as looks go, except maybe he got just a tad too much hair on my face. And after all these years I have also learned and I must confess that I struggled with this for a while... I would look at some people and not see the beauty that I saw in others. But when you really, really look into the fact we are all made in the image of God and GOD DOES NOT MAKE JUNK, then I learned to appreciate beauty in a different way. But we ask as the teacher of the law asked, who is our neighbor? Is it the one next door above us and below us, is it the ones across the street or who live behind us? Tomorrow we are going to take a deep look at just who our neighbor is, and it might surprise some of you... Today as I close I am going to ask you to do this. The next time you are in your bathroom, take a good look in your face, and then tell yourself, this is the image of God looking back at me, and I really love God so I must love myself. It is ok to love yourself, just don't get stuck there, for the Bible goes past that and teaches us to love others. When I look at my computer screen and look deep into it, I find that you all are pretty good looking, and just wonderful people, God did a good job on all of you, but make no mistake about this... HE IS STILL WORKING ON US, yes, He's still working on me, to make me what I ought to be... He built everything else in six days, but I just ain't done yet. Dear Father in Heaven, please cure cancer in everyone... Thank You for hearing that prayer today. I love You, Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. Now go forth loving who you think your neighbors are and let me know who you think they are. And share your blessings also, and maybe some of them with your neighbors. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Monday, March 28, 2011
March 28, 2011 "Are You A "Good Guy?"
On one occasion an expert to the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the Law?" He replied. "How do you read it?" Good Monday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. It is Monday and it is cold here at the Southern Location of the North Pole, but what a beautiful day we had yesterday. Please take time to pray today for our leaders and please pray for our President to come to Jesus. Please pray that all of our leaders go to Jesus in sincere prayer asking direction before bringing anything to the people of our country and the world. By the way, they always refer to the President of the United States as the leader of the free world... Not in my book, I believe that God is still the leader, at least in my home He is and I pray He is in your home also. Pray for our veterans, our military, our police, firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians and pray for your doctors and that God will guide their hands. Pray for Shelia to have a save trip home, and pray for the Harman family as they attend the graduation services of husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather from earth to heaven. Yes, pray for the family of Jonas Harman. The Big Trip 16-1 Are You A Good Guy? 1: Luke 10:25 - On one occasion an expert to the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 "What is written in the Law?" He replied. "How do you read it?" (NIV) As we read our Bibles and look into following Jesus we see again where people were really trying to either stump Jesus or maybe make Him look like He did not know what He was doing. Here in this scripture of today we find it again. "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" While Jesus just sort of turned the question to Him, back to the person asking the question. My answer might have been something like this. After writing all these years and if someone would come to me and say, "Pastor Dan, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" My answer more than likely would not have been as nice as what Jesus said. My answer might have been, where have you been all these years, have your ears been closed, are you just hitting the delete key? Of course my answer said like that would have been wrong, for I should have just told them and showed them in the scriptures just how Jesus set this up for all of us. You see, this is why pastors those who have a flock in front of them week, after week, after week, and maybe someone has been there each week, but for whatever reason was not listening to the messages with THEIR HEART. This is the reason that most all pastors review salvation each and every week as we just do not know when hearts will be opened to receive the message. Come back tomorrow as we look at how this expert on the law looked at what Jesus said, and how Jesus sort of had them answer their own question. Dear Father in Heaven, teach us this day that You are the same and You still answer questions for us, when we talk to You about them. We call it prayer, Lord, and Lord, please help us understand that when we pray it is Your will we want, it really is, and help us also remember that NO is an answer to questions. Lord, protect those on our prayer list, heal those with cancer, and Lord, comfort those whose family members were called home by You. In the name of Jesus I ask that You get us ready for this Easter season. I love You, Lord. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. Now go forth, sharing your blessings and remembering that all of your blessings come from God, either directly or through the hands of others. Enjoy them and share them. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Friday, March 25, 2011
March 25, 2011 Faith Not Works
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions it is by grace you have been saved. -- For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works so no one can boast.
Brrrrrrr, Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, it is Friday again and it is cold here at the Southern Location of the North Pole, or did I get shifted to the Northern North pole? Anyway, it is Friday and the day we pray for all those who go working in the fields of Harvest for our Lord Jesus. Today's message will fit right in with this. Please pray for Mary Jane from the Bridges and for Kathleen Sansoni, and all others who have cancer. Also please keep praying for the unsaved as we continue our review of salvation.
The Big Trip 15-5 Salvation review: Ephesians 2:4 - But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions it is by grace you have been saved. -- 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, 9 not by works so no one can boast. (NIV)
Maybe I should have called this review of steps of Salvation what I have titled my message for Sunday at The Bridges... "Am I Heaven Bound?" The answer I pray is that you are, but the reason for the review is so you are sure. It is between you and our Lord Jesus. You know the gift of Salvation is free, but it surely was not cheap for Jesus gave His life for our salvation.
We talked about those scary words, scary to some, "Born Again". Do you remember those signs on the side of the barns years ago... Chew Mail Pouch? No Dan, you dummy, it was Ye Must Be Born Again. Anyway, we reviewed that yesterday, and today let's take a look at the scriptures that God led me to today.
Ephesians 2:4 - But because of His great love for us. This is the real reason, and we find backup scripture in>>>
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)
You know out of all the gifts God has given us Love is the best, and number one. Out of all the gifts in life you can give to someone it is love for them. If you love someone you will really treat them nicely, and this love comes from God and please do not confuse the word love with sex. Folks, if I were to be taking bags and bags of food to someone's home, it could be said I am out making love. If you were at your neighbor's home helping mow the grass because they are old, you could call it love making. See where I am coming from? When Jesus went to the cross for us, it was because of His great love for us. It was not then, nor now, nor will it ever be a sex thing.
Now let's go back to more of that scripture.
Ephesians 2:8 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, 9 not by works so no one can boast.
Ok, now we see it is by Grace of God, which this Grace comes from Love, and it is by that Grace and Love we are saved. This is what God did when He went to the cross for us. Now it becomes our turn, our part. You see my dear friends, a gift, a gift, if it is a true gift, needs both a giver and in this case it is God the Father giving His Son Jesus, who in turn gave His life for us... They are the givers, and now to be a gift it needs receivers and that would be those of us who are "Born Again" for we have truly received the gift. Some might laugh it off or walk away from it, others might try and earn or work their way into heaven, but that cannot be done folks. Again, take a look at the scriptures, I am not making this up. Let's read it one more time...
Ephesians 2:8 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, 9 not by works so no one can boast.
Now not to confuse you, but after you are saved you need to go and work for God, and we will talk about that, maybe tomorrow, maybe a Saturday special for I have gone on long enough today.
Let's Pray... Thank You, Dear Father, for Your true gift of Love when You sent Your Son to give His life to us as a Gift to us. Thank You, Lord, for forgiving me of my sins, and now, Lord, I know I can't work my way into heaven, but I do need to work for You, send me assignments of work you want me to do for You. And Lord, sent others work that needs done. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now, folks, go forth and share your blessings. And wait till you see what is coming. What the Bible tells us about those people who "will not work." It might just surprise you... Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Brrrrrrr, Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, it is Friday again and it is cold here at the Southern Location of the North Pole, or did I get shifted to the Northern North pole? Anyway, it is Friday and the day we pray for all those who go working in the fields of Harvest for our Lord Jesus. Today's message will fit right in with this. Please pray for Mary Jane from the Bridges and for Kathleen Sansoni, and all others who have cancer. Also please keep praying for the unsaved as we continue our review of salvation.
The Big Trip 15-5 Salvation review: Ephesians 2:4 - But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions it is by grace you have been saved. -- 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, 9 not by works so no one can boast. (NIV)
Maybe I should have called this review of steps of Salvation what I have titled my message for Sunday at The Bridges... "Am I Heaven Bound?" The answer I pray is that you are, but the reason for the review is so you are sure. It is between you and our Lord Jesus. You know the gift of Salvation is free, but it surely was not cheap for Jesus gave His life for our salvation.
We talked about those scary words, scary to some, "Born Again". Do you remember those signs on the side of the barns years ago... Chew Mail Pouch? No Dan, you dummy, it was Ye Must Be Born Again. Anyway, we reviewed that yesterday, and today let's take a look at the scriptures that God led me to today.
Ephesians 2:4 - But because of His great love for us. This is the real reason, and we find backup scripture in>>>
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)
You know out of all the gifts God has given us Love is the best, and number one. Out of all the gifts in life you can give to someone it is love for them. If you love someone you will really treat them nicely, and this love comes from God and please do not confuse the word love with sex. Folks, if I were to be taking bags and bags of food to someone's home, it could be said I am out making love. If you were at your neighbor's home helping mow the grass because they are old, you could call it love making. See where I am coming from? When Jesus went to the cross for us, it was because of His great love for us. It was not then, nor now, nor will it ever be a sex thing.
Now let's go back to more of that scripture.
Ephesians 2:8 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, 9 not by works so no one can boast.
Ok, now we see it is by Grace of God, which this Grace comes from Love, and it is by that Grace and Love we are saved. This is what God did when He went to the cross for us. Now it becomes our turn, our part. You see my dear friends, a gift, a gift, if it is a true gift, needs both a giver and in this case it is God the Father giving His Son Jesus, who in turn gave His life for us... They are the givers, and now to be a gift it needs receivers and that would be those of us who are "Born Again" for we have truly received the gift. Some might laugh it off or walk away from it, others might try and earn or work their way into heaven, but that cannot be done folks. Again, take a look at the scriptures, I am not making this up. Let's read it one more time...
Ephesians 2:8 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, 9 not by works so no one can boast.
Now not to confuse you, but after you are saved you need to go and work for God, and we will talk about that, maybe tomorrow, maybe a Saturday special for I have gone on long enough today.
Let's Pray... Thank You, Dear Father, for Your true gift of Love when You sent Your Son to give His life to us as a Gift to us. Thank You, Lord, for forgiving me of my sins, and now, Lord, I know I can't work my way into heaven, but I do need to work for You, send me assignments of work you want me to do for You. And Lord, sent others work that needs done. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now, folks, go forth and share your blessings. And wait till you see what is coming. What the Bible tells us about those people who "will not work." It might just surprise you... Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
March 24, 2011 "Born Again"
"I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. It is Thursday and that means it is Families and Schools day on this line. Please center your prayers on our families and also our schools, and you know when you pray for families remember to pray for your own family and also the family of God. Let's get back to the review I started yesterday, reviewing some of the things we must do to get into heaven...
The Big Trip week 15 day 4: Salvation Review 2: John 3:3 - In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying 'You must be born again.'" (NIV)
These two words, Born Again, really scare a lot of people, even some Christians. I think they don't really understand what it means to be "Born Again" so I am going to do my best to explain it to you and do it so that all understand it.
When you are born the first time you come from your mother with a seed planted by your earthly father. After nine months of being ALIVE in your mother's womb you are born, you arrive and that is referred to as being born of the Flesh. You indeed are a BRAND NEW PERSON, a baby, different from all others, even having a different DNA. Pretty much that tells you about your first birth. As we grow as a person, we learn things and we sin and we pick up habits, good and bad, and of course all of you know this. You have been born once. Maybe you go to church and all of those things, and maybe you even think you are a Christian because you said one of those prayers, Lord please forgive me...
But to be "BORN AGAIN" you must be born of the Spirit. Now let me make this very easy for you to understand. You fall in love with Jesus, you invite Him into your life and then, and then, you follow in His footsteps and YOU BECOME A BRAND NEW PERSON. You are changed, you put away your sins, or try your best to, you repent and turn from those old ways, you are starting over. If you are claiming to be a Christian and you are the same as you were before, then "YOU HAVE NOT BEEN BORN AGAIN!" Trust me when I say when you become "BORN AGAIN" you will even see the change in yourself. You will not want to be around those people who curse, who cut down God and who talk about others, and also those who want to bring up your past. When you become "BORN AGAIN" God will wipe out those bad parts of your past, He will not bring them up again, and neither should others, including yourself.
To be "BORN AGAIN" you need to work for Jesus and I do not mean just sending something forward on the email that someone said "if you want to be blessed send this to ten others and one back to the one who sent it." Going to work for God does not stop at ten people, it means living for God and letting all others see the change in you. When you become "BORN AGAIN" don't be surprised when people say to you, "you have changed". And to set the record straight, if you aint BORN AGAIN, you aint a Christian. PERIOD!!!
I had a person tell me once their spouse was a "rough Christian" so I asked what that was, well he went to church sometimes and he did good things for people and he was a nice guy, but he would still curse, he could not get over that. No such thing as a rough Christian, only "BORN AGAIN" Christians. And here it is one more time in the words of Jesus... "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." So if you don't believe me, trust Jesus.
Once again, Born Once, you come out of your mothers womb. "BORN AGAIN", and you are a brand new person, following Jesus the very best your can.
Lord, I want to be new in you daily, I want to refresh in You each day so my past is gone. I want to be Born Again right now. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now if you prayed that, you are NOT BORN AGAIN, you must repent of sins, put down your past and pick up Jesus and walk with Him. And yes, of course along the way, share His blessings and His love with others. YOU ARE A NEW PERSON, WHEN YOU START OVER WITH JESUS... You are then "BORN AGAIN." love ya, Pastor Dan.
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. It is Thursday and that means it is Families and Schools day on this line. Please center your prayers on our families and also our schools, and you know when you pray for families remember to pray for your own family and also the family of God. Let's get back to the review I started yesterday, reviewing some of the things we must do to get into heaven...
The Big Trip week 15 day 4: Salvation Review 2: John 3:3 - In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying 'You must be born again.'" (NIV)
These two words, Born Again, really scare a lot of people, even some Christians. I think they don't really understand what it means to be "Born Again" so I am going to do my best to explain it to you and do it so that all understand it.
When you are born the first time you come from your mother with a seed planted by your earthly father. After nine months of being ALIVE in your mother's womb you are born, you arrive and that is referred to as being born of the Flesh. You indeed are a BRAND NEW PERSON, a baby, different from all others, even having a different DNA. Pretty much that tells you about your first birth. As we grow as a person, we learn things and we sin and we pick up habits, good and bad, and of course all of you know this. You have been born once. Maybe you go to church and all of those things, and maybe you even think you are a Christian because you said one of those prayers, Lord please forgive me...
But to be "BORN AGAIN" you must be born of the Spirit. Now let me make this very easy for you to understand. You fall in love with Jesus, you invite Him into your life and then, and then, you follow in His footsteps and YOU BECOME A BRAND NEW PERSON. You are changed, you put away your sins, or try your best to, you repent and turn from those old ways, you are starting over. If you are claiming to be a Christian and you are the same as you were before, then "YOU HAVE NOT BEEN BORN AGAIN!" Trust me when I say when you become "BORN AGAIN" you will even see the change in yourself. You will not want to be around those people who curse, who cut down God and who talk about others, and also those who want to bring up your past. When you become "BORN AGAIN" God will wipe out those bad parts of your past, He will not bring them up again, and neither should others, including yourself.
To be "BORN AGAIN" you need to work for Jesus and I do not mean just sending something forward on the email that someone said "if you want to be blessed send this to ten others and one back to the one who sent it." Going to work for God does not stop at ten people, it means living for God and letting all others see the change in you. When you become "BORN AGAIN" don't be surprised when people say to you, "you have changed". And to set the record straight, if you aint BORN AGAIN, you aint a Christian. PERIOD!!!
I had a person tell me once their spouse was a "rough Christian" so I asked what that was, well he went to church sometimes and he did good things for people and he was a nice guy, but he would still curse, he could not get over that. No such thing as a rough Christian, only "BORN AGAIN" Christians. And here it is one more time in the words of Jesus... "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." So if you don't believe me, trust Jesus.
Once again, Born Once, you come out of your mothers womb. "BORN AGAIN", and you are a brand new person, following Jesus the very best your can.
Lord, I want to be new in you daily, I want to refresh in You each day so my past is gone. I want to be Born Again right now. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now if you prayed that, you are NOT BORN AGAIN, you must repent of sins, put down your past and pick up Jesus and walk with Him. And yes, of course along the way, share His blessings and His love with others. YOU ARE A NEW PERSON, WHEN YOU START OVER WITH JESUS... You are then "BORN AGAIN." love ya, Pastor Dan.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
March 23, 2011 Mid Week Review.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
"I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
"I am the way and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Good Salvation Wednesday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, and this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it... PRAISE THE LORD, God is so good. Brothers and sisters, please keep praying and keep your faith. Pray for healing for Kathleen Sansoni from cancer and also for God to comfort her from the pain. She has a lot of cancer including 7 tumors on her brain, but keep your faith for God still heals...
Each Wednesday we pray for Salvation, we call it on this line and we have for years and years, "Salvation Wednesday". We ask God to use us to help bring in the lost to be saved. Today I want to take a look at just a few scriptures about Salvation and in fact, I want to look at some for the rest of this week... Two things here.
One, I want to be sure that all of you have the message of Salvation and fully understand that the only way to heaven is with Jesus...
Two, you will be welcome to use these notes (as you always may use what I write) to help you lead others to the feet of Jesus to be saved. Once again I want to point out, we, none of us, can save anyone, we can only lead them to Jesus. The rest is up to Jesus, it is a one-on-one thing, it is personal, that is why it is called "Personal Salvation".
Next, I am not going off the top of my head on this, I am quoting from the Bible and most often in the words or quotes of Jesus.
Let's pray first today... Dear Father in Heaven, clean me of my sins and clean right now all who ask to be cleaned, we want to come to You clean, and to be fully restored this day. In Jesus' name, Amen.
First of all, who really needs Jesus to get into heaven? Just those who really want to get in and see the Father... For that I refer you to John 14:6. Jesus answered: "I am the way and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (NIV)
You say you go to church each week, you are not just a C and E person, and you work hard at the church. So what do you mean, I must know Jesus? I know who he is, you might add. My response is, do you really, really know Him, and have you left Him in your heart? And do you live each day for Him? Not just Sunday, but each day? You might work around the church and that is great, but do you go into the fields of Harvest and work for the Lord?
Now here is a starting point for you and then tomorrow we will dig into this some more. I would really hate to have someone on this line with me for years and years and then find out they are not saved because I missed something. So next step, we find out that God gave us His Son...
John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (NIV)
And now we confess and believe, and for that we look at Romans 10:9/10 9 - If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (NIV)
Now I could stop there and I am going to for today, but I am really just getting started. All so often you will see Altar Calls being made, and they should be made, and you see people coming forward, but then no one follows up with them. Let me put it like this, in my words, that Jesus is giving me right now. An unsaved person is sitting at a concert or in a big church and they hear the call, and they go forward and confess... Ok, that is like getting your garden started, you go out and get the seeds (you heard the message). You put them in a hole in the ground, (you went forward). Then you went back to your seat, but is the seed going to grow? No, you need to cover it, water it, etc.
Tomorrow we are going to review some more on being saved and being "Born Again", and folks, have you ever had anyone ask you if you are a Christian? More than likely you have. Has anyone asked you if you are a Born Again Christian? Folks, if you are not "Born Again" you just are not a Christian.
Pastors whom I know, and who have singers or missionaries in to their church and they see new faces coming forward will get their names and follow up with them. Which, my friends, is what I am going to do tomorrow and Friday on this line. We are going to find out about being "Born Again." Oh, and those two words are so scary to some. Please, please be with me the rest of the week.
Now go forth and share your blessings, which is one of those things you do once you are Born Again, for that is called working for Jesus. Sharing your blessings, working for Jesus. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
"I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
"I am the way and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Good Salvation Wednesday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, and this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it... PRAISE THE LORD, God is so good. Brothers and sisters, please keep praying and keep your faith. Pray for healing for Kathleen Sansoni from cancer and also for God to comfort her from the pain. She has a lot of cancer including 7 tumors on her brain, but keep your faith for God still heals...
Each Wednesday we pray for Salvation, we call it on this line and we have for years and years, "Salvation Wednesday". We ask God to use us to help bring in the lost to be saved. Today I want to take a look at just a few scriptures about Salvation and in fact, I want to look at some for the rest of this week... Two things here.
One, I want to be sure that all of you have the message of Salvation and fully understand that the only way to heaven is with Jesus...
Two, you will be welcome to use these notes (as you always may use what I write) to help you lead others to the feet of Jesus to be saved. Once again I want to point out, we, none of us, can save anyone, we can only lead them to Jesus. The rest is up to Jesus, it is a one-on-one thing, it is personal, that is why it is called "Personal Salvation".
Next, I am not going off the top of my head on this, I am quoting from the Bible and most often in the words or quotes of Jesus.
Let's pray first today... Dear Father in Heaven, clean me of my sins and clean right now all who ask to be cleaned, we want to come to You clean, and to be fully restored this day. In Jesus' name, Amen.
First of all, who really needs Jesus to get into heaven? Just those who really want to get in and see the Father... For that I refer you to John 14:6. Jesus answered: "I am the way and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (NIV)
You say you go to church each week, you are not just a C and E person, and you work hard at the church. So what do you mean, I must know Jesus? I know who he is, you might add. My response is, do you really, really know Him, and have you left Him in your heart? And do you live each day for Him? Not just Sunday, but each day? You might work around the church and that is great, but do you go into the fields of Harvest and work for the Lord?
Now here is a starting point for you and then tomorrow we will dig into this some more. I would really hate to have someone on this line with me for years and years and then find out they are not saved because I missed something. So next step, we find out that God gave us His Son...
John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (NIV)
And now we confess and believe, and for that we look at Romans 10:9/10 9 - If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (NIV)
Now I could stop there and I am going to for today, but I am really just getting started. All so often you will see Altar Calls being made, and they should be made, and you see people coming forward, but then no one follows up with them. Let me put it like this, in my words, that Jesus is giving me right now. An unsaved person is sitting at a concert or in a big church and they hear the call, and they go forward and confess... Ok, that is like getting your garden started, you go out and get the seeds (you heard the message). You put them in a hole in the ground, (you went forward). Then you went back to your seat, but is the seed going to grow? No, you need to cover it, water it, etc.
Tomorrow we are going to review some more on being saved and being "Born Again", and folks, have you ever had anyone ask you if you are a Christian? More than likely you have. Has anyone asked you if you are a Born Again Christian? Folks, if you are not "Born Again" you just are not a Christian.
Pastors whom I know, and who have singers or missionaries in to their church and they see new faces coming forward will get their names and follow up with them. Which, my friends, is what I am going to do tomorrow and Friday on this line. We are going to find out about being "Born Again." Oh, and those two words are so scary to some. Please, please be with me the rest of the week.
Now go forth and share your blessings, which is one of those things you do once you are Born Again, for that is called working for Jesus. Sharing your blessings, working for Jesus. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
March 22, 2011 Wars and Rumors of Wars!
"You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed, such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains."
Good Tuesday, I am running late, morning to you my dear brothers and sisters. I was up early and off to a funeral this morning. The gentleman, Ed Pague, was a Navy Veteran from WW2, a Marine Veteran from Korea, and even more dangerous, he drove school bus for 32 years with his back to kids. Mr. Pague, one of his sons and three of his daughters drove school bus for me at Central Dauphin School District. Prayers for M.J. who is in the Holy Spirit Hospital, also ongoing prayers for Allison, for Ron, for Kathleen, and for Dolores. About a week ago Dolores was sitting at the piano and said to me, "I think my ribs just broke." Yesterday we had them X-rayed and sure enough, one was broken. Her pelvis is broken in two places, bones are breaking off her knee cap and now this, and she has not fallen, and no I did not punch her out. Tuesday is also the day we pray for cures for all these major illnesses like cancer and all of them, you know the list.
The Big Trip 15-2 Wars and Rumors of Wars! Matthew 24:6 - "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed, such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes n various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains." (NIV)
Yesterday when I was talking to you about Jesus calming the storms, and some of the storms were earthquakes, and some were tsunamis, and of course I talked about how Jesus could still calm the storms because He is still the same today as He was yesterday and He will be the same tomorrow and forever and ever. Today I want to just look at the Scripture where Jesus is quoted as saying "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed." Right now there are many wars going on around the world, more than I care to even try to count. We as a Nation are involved in many, and if I were to ask you how many some might say one, or two, maybe some might say three. Let us look at just some of them.
We, as a Nation, are involved in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya, and that is making our military pretty thin. But we are also involved in a "war on drugs" in this country, and a "war against crime" and we have gang wars going on in a host of our cities and towns across this Nation. Dare I go on? I think you are getting the picture. Yes, there are, as Jesus said would happen, nations rising up against nations, and kingdoms against kingdoms.
Jesus also said "There will be famines!" and are there not people starving all over the world, and many, many in our own neighborhoods? And you ask how in the world can we have people starving in this "Land of Plenty?" Kids are starving while parents smoke and drink, seniors are hungry because they have little money and are to proud to ask for help. And we have homeless people calling bus stop shelters their homes at night. And yes, we have people who themselves are hungry because they choose to drink and drug each dime they get their fingers on. Even in countries where America as a nation has sent food, not always does it reach those who are hungry... I am bringing this out now, not so much for a plea for help, but to point out the fact that years and years ago, about 2,000 years ago, Jesus told us this would happen.
Jesus also said "there would be earthquakes in various places." And there are earthquakes all over the world, from the big one in Japan, the 9.0, to small ones in Dillsburg, Pa.
Jesus also said this, "But see to it that you are not alarmed, such things must happen, but the end is still to come." Now it is hard not to be alarmed as we watch the news coming out of Japan and other countries where we have had earthquakes, and watch the news of our big bombers on their bomb runs again. Still the end is still to come... AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS WE HAVE WORK TO BE DONE. Yes, the end is still to come and we are commissioned to spread the GOOD NEWS! What, did you say, Pastor Dan? We are to spread the good news in the midst of all this bad news? Well, no, I am just telling you what Jesus said. Oh, how the newspapers and TV news people tell the bad news, and not one of them will stand up and tell you the good news of what is coming.
Folks, yesterday I talked about Jesus calming the storms, and let me tell you the storms that He calms most, if you really really love Him and ask Him into your lives, will be the storms of your life. Will you still have storms in your life? Of course, we all will, some more than others, and sometimes we wonder why. Take the family, the wonderful Christian family who lost seven children in a fire. How would one get through that if they did not love the Lord? Bad things do happen to good people and let me ask you this, how many times have you had something bad happen in your life and you said or thought, how does one get through this without Jesus? How would the family of the seven little ones ever get through it without holding on to Jesus and to family? Oh, I am sure they will never forget it, nor will the hurt go away completely, until the day they all get together again at the feet of Jesus. And that will happen if they keep believing.
So folks, as I wrap this up I just want to suggest this to you, as the storms rage, and the wind blows, and the papers and news is full of the bad news, SING OUT THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS AND HIS SAVING GRACE, HAND IT OVER TO HIM. And go to work for Jesus telling others what He has done in your life, tell of how you might have hit bottom and Jesus brought you back. (No, you did not do it on your own, nobody does.) Hey, all these things going on, to use a term I used a lot, "don't sweat the small stuff," keep on going on and telling others about the "good stuff", JESUS AND HIS LOVE, and it will only get better and better the nearer and nearer we get to Him... AMEN.
Dear Father in Heaven, with all that is going on, I give myself over to You this day, and just say to You, I love You, I trust You and I am going to work for You. And Lord, please look at our prayer requests and honor them according to your will... In Jesus' name, Amen.
Now go forth, walking in glory and not fearing a thing except God Himself, and make that a reverent fear, and share His blessings and work and live for Him. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Good Tuesday, I am running late, morning to you my dear brothers and sisters. I was up early and off to a funeral this morning. The gentleman, Ed Pague, was a Navy Veteran from WW2, a Marine Veteran from Korea, and even more dangerous, he drove school bus for 32 years with his back to kids. Mr. Pague, one of his sons and three of his daughters drove school bus for me at Central Dauphin School District. Prayers for M.J. who is in the Holy Spirit Hospital, also ongoing prayers for Allison, for Ron, for Kathleen, and for Dolores. About a week ago Dolores was sitting at the piano and said to me, "I think my ribs just broke." Yesterday we had them X-rayed and sure enough, one was broken. Her pelvis is broken in two places, bones are breaking off her knee cap and now this, and she has not fallen, and no I did not punch her out. Tuesday is also the day we pray for cures for all these major illnesses like cancer and all of them, you know the list.
The Big Trip 15-2 Wars and Rumors of Wars! Matthew 24:6 - "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed, such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes n various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains." (NIV)
Yesterday when I was talking to you about Jesus calming the storms, and some of the storms were earthquakes, and some were tsunamis, and of course I talked about how Jesus could still calm the storms because He is still the same today as He was yesterday and He will be the same tomorrow and forever and ever. Today I want to just look at the Scripture where Jesus is quoted as saying "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed." Right now there are many wars going on around the world, more than I care to even try to count. We as a Nation are involved in many, and if I were to ask you how many some might say one, or two, maybe some might say three. Let us look at just some of them.
We, as a Nation, are involved in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya, and that is making our military pretty thin. But we are also involved in a "war on drugs" in this country, and a "war against crime" and we have gang wars going on in a host of our cities and towns across this Nation. Dare I go on? I think you are getting the picture. Yes, there are, as Jesus said would happen, nations rising up against nations, and kingdoms against kingdoms.
Jesus also said "There will be famines!" and are there not people starving all over the world, and many, many in our own neighborhoods? And you ask how in the world can we have people starving in this "Land of Plenty?" Kids are starving while parents smoke and drink, seniors are hungry because they have little money and are to proud to ask for help. And we have homeless people calling bus stop shelters their homes at night. And yes, we have people who themselves are hungry because they choose to drink and drug each dime they get their fingers on. Even in countries where America as a nation has sent food, not always does it reach those who are hungry... I am bringing this out now, not so much for a plea for help, but to point out the fact that years and years ago, about 2,000 years ago, Jesus told us this would happen.
Jesus also said "there would be earthquakes in various places." And there are earthquakes all over the world, from the big one in Japan, the 9.0, to small ones in Dillsburg, Pa.
Jesus also said this, "But see to it that you are not alarmed, such things must happen, but the end is still to come." Now it is hard not to be alarmed as we watch the news coming out of Japan and other countries where we have had earthquakes, and watch the news of our big bombers on their bomb runs again. Still the end is still to come... AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS WE HAVE WORK TO BE DONE. Yes, the end is still to come and we are commissioned to spread the GOOD NEWS! What, did you say, Pastor Dan? We are to spread the good news in the midst of all this bad news? Well, no, I am just telling you what Jesus said. Oh, how the newspapers and TV news people tell the bad news, and not one of them will stand up and tell you the good news of what is coming.
Folks, yesterday I talked about Jesus calming the storms, and let me tell you the storms that He calms most, if you really really love Him and ask Him into your lives, will be the storms of your life. Will you still have storms in your life? Of course, we all will, some more than others, and sometimes we wonder why. Take the family, the wonderful Christian family who lost seven children in a fire. How would one get through that if they did not love the Lord? Bad things do happen to good people and let me ask you this, how many times have you had something bad happen in your life and you said or thought, how does one get through this without Jesus? How would the family of the seven little ones ever get through it without holding on to Jesus and to family? Oh, I am sure they will never forget it, nor will the hurt go away completely, until the day they all get together again at the feet of Jesus. And that will happen if they keep believing.
So folks, as I wrap this up I just want to suggest this to you, as the storms rage, and the wind blows, and the papers and news is full of the bad news, SING OUT THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS AND HIS SAVING GRACE, HAND IT OVER TO HIM. And go to work for Jesus telling others what He has done in your life, tell of how you might have hit bottom and Jesus brought you back. (No, you did not do it on your own, nobody does.) Hey, all these things going on, to use a term I used a lot, "don't sweat the small stuff," keep on going on and telling others about the "good stuff", JESUS AND HIS LOVE, and it will only get better and better the nearer and nearer we get to Him... AMEN.
Dear Father in Heaven, with all that is going on, I give myself over to You this day, and just say to You, I love You, I trust You and I am going to work for You. And Lord, please look at our prayer requests and honor them according to your will... In Jesus' name, Amen.
Now go forth, walking in glory and not fearing a thing except God Himself, and make that a reverent fear, and share His blessings and work and live for Him. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Monday, March 21, 2011
March 21, 2011 Jesus Calms The Storms!
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. The thunder rolled and the lighting flashed at our home this morning and then the rains came, and now they are over, just some rain. It was 80 at our home this past Friday, and Wednesday of this week we could have snow... Ahh, the end of winter and beginning of spring and God is in the drivers seat. PRAISE THE LORD.
Since I wrote to you on Friday morning we became involved in yet another war, our bombers are rolling and our Navy is sending in missiles to help a Nation where their leader is killing his own people. It is Monday and the day we pray for our Leaders, our Military, our veterans, and all others who work to keep us safe and healthy. Today also please pray for all those who live in the war zones and as you pray think of what it might be like to be in our beautiful homes as bombs are dropping all around us. God has so blessed America, A CHRISTIAN NATION, and more about this in the message today. Please keep praying for Kathleen Sansoni, and for Ron and others with cancer. Pray for Pastor Charles, and his wife Katherine... and pray for the Saylor family and my dear wife Dolores.
The Big Trip 15-1 Jesus Calms the Storm! Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (NIV)
Matthew 8:23 - Then He got into the boat and His disciples followed Him. 24 Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" 26 He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27 The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" (NIV)
I can tell you right up front on this message today some people will be upset with me. But again I do my very best to listen to God and write what He plants on my mind. I started with the scripture from Hebrews because right up front I want to point out to you that we have the same Jesus today that calmed the storms on the lake that day when He was with His disciples. And you see I believe all of our scriptures, and these are just an example of two of them.
A few short days ago there was a 9.0 earthquake in Japan, and then that big tsunami and thousands of people were lost. Could God have stopped the earthquake? Sure He could have, but the Bible, the scriptures tell us they are going to happen. Could our Lord have stopped the big tsunami that followed? With what I have told you so far, you answer that question with me. Sure Jesus could have stopped it, in fact He could have reversed it when it got to the shoreline. Now let me get into trouble! Is Japan a Christian Nation, or do they bow down to Budah? Okay, so that was in Japan, and what about when storms hit our country, a Christian Nation?? What about Katrina, you might ask? The whole town was wiped out, you say, and I add, yes, even Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Now folks, what goes on, on Bourbon Street? And folks, we rebuilt it again! Oh, by the way, God did not cause that storm, Katrina, President Bush caused it, or at least he got blamed for it.
So God can still block the storms we know that, in fact He blocked out and calmed the one that went through this morning, and in fact blocks out storm after storm from hurting us. But some of the big storms that hit those areas where maybe the sin rate is really high to the point God just could not take it anymore and instead of shutting down the whole thing and sending Jesus back, He fires a warning shot so to speak. Clean up your acts, folks, for I am still in control, God is planting on my mind right now. Clean up your acts, you say you are a Christian Nation, so you say so, start proving it. Brothers and sisters, being a Christian is to be Christ-like and to follow Jesus, and as you look around and please start by looking in the mirror, and as you look around are we really holding up to being a "Christian, a Christ-like Nation? Being a Christian Nation is not just fighting to keep "Under God" in our pledge to our flag. Being a Christian Nation is not throwing God out of places but asking Him in.
Folks, sometimes God needs to get those warning shots in, and sometimes good people, good Christian people get hurt or killed as they come. People will say we serve an all-loving God, but folks, good parents have had to punish their children from time to time to make them listen or to make them behave. Think about that one, folks, I see younger parents say, "if you don't behave I am going to start counting" 1 2 3, I mean it, kids, I am going to count 1 2 3 and maybe, just maybe, those parents after counting so many times do punish those kids. My dad was a great math teacher, but when it came to punishing me, HE FORGOT HOW TO COUNT. How often has God given us those warning shots, or let me say how often has He started to count and then given the warning? Last week, the rivers went bank full with little over flow. Next time it could be worse but don't worry, God will not ever destroy everything by water...
Folks, let's take a good look at what is going on around us and start to "put feet on our prayers" (Pamela Bower) and start getting out on the road telling others about God, about our Lord Jesus, and remember, folks, our freedom of speech should be permitted just like the other side gets. Is Jesus talking to you today saying, "You of little faith, why are you afraid?'' Is He saying that because you do not have enough faith in Him to work for Him?" Have faith, my brothers and sisters, for Jesus is still in control.
Ok, who is mad at me for that one? I could go on, but you got the message. Tomorrow maybe wars and rumors of wars... That is in the Bible also...
Dear Father in Heaven, we tell all folks that the United States of America is a Christian Nation, yet we have so many who do not believe in You and others who say they believe but the sins keep growing and growing and yes, Lord, I am a sinner and I need to repent also, and Lord, help me with that and help me get out and work with these words telling others as You told us... Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is near. I pray for all those people in Japan and I pray that they humble and come to You. Help them through the storm, Lord, for I am sure You will, Lord. Work on our prayer list today, Lord, and answer our prayers according to Your will. In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.
Go forth now, spreading the word of God, yelling out "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Ah, you say people will say you are nuts? Did they say it to Jesus? Some do by their actions, others hung Him on the cross. Now share those blessings and know that Jesus loves you, and yes... I love ya also. Pastor Dan.
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. The thunder rolled and the lighting flashed at our home this morning and then the rains came, and now they are over, just some rain. It was 80 at our home this past Friday, and Wednesday of this week we could have snow... Ahh, the end of winter and beginning of spring and God is in the drivers seat. PRAISE THE LORD.
Since I wrote to you on Friday morning we became involved in yet another war, our bombers are rolling and our Navy is sending in missiles to help a Nation where their leader is killing his own people. It is Monday and the day we pray for our Leaders, our Military, our veterans, and all others who work to keep us safe and healthy. Today also please pray for all those who live in the war zones and as you pray think of what it might be like to be in our beautiful homes as bombs are dropping all around us. God has so blessed America, A CHRISTIAN NATION, and more about this in the message today. Please keep praying for Kathleen Sansoni, and for Ron and others with cancer. Pray for Pastor Charles, and his wife Katherine... and pray for the Saylor family and my dear wife Dolores.
The Big Trip 15-1 Jesus Calms the Storm! Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (NIV)
Matthew 8:23 - Then He got into the boat and His disciples followed Him. 24 Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" 26 He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27 The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" (NIV)
I can tell you right up front on this message today some people will be upset with me. But again I do my very best to listen to God and write what He plants on my mind. I started with the scripture from Hebrews because right up front I want to point out to you that we have the same Jesus today that calmed the storms on the lake that day when He was with His disciples. And you see I believe all of our scriptures, and these are just an example of two of them.
A few short days ago there was a 9.0 earthquake in Japan, and then that big tsunami and thousands of people were lost. Could God have stopped the earthquake? Sure He could have, but the Bible, the scriptures tell us they are going to happen. Could our Lord have stopped the big tsunami that followed? With what I have told you so far, you answer that question with me. Sure Jesus could have stopped it, in fact He could have reversed it when it got to the shoreline. Now let me get into trouble! Is Japan a Christian Nation, or do they bow down to Budah? Okay, so that was in Japan, and what about when storms hit our country, a Christian Nation?? What about Katrina, you might ask? The whole town was wiped out, you say, and I add, yes, even Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Now folks, what goes on, on Bourbon Street? And folks, we rebuilt it again! Oh, by the way, God did not cause that storm, Katrina, President Bush caused it, or at least he got blamed for it.
So God can still block the storms we know that, in fact He blocked out and calmed the one that went through this morning, and in fact blocks out storm after storm from hurting us. But some of the big storms that hit those areas where maybe the sin rate is really high to the point God just could not take it anymore and instead of shutting down the whole thing and sending Jesus back, He fires a warning shot so to speak. Clean up your acts, folks, for I am still in control, God is planting on my mind right now. Clean up your acts, you say you are a Christian Nation, so you say so, start proving it. Brothers and sisters, being a Christian is to be Christ-like and to follow Jesus, and as you look around and please start by looking in the mirror, and as you look around are we really holding up to being a "Christian, a Christ-like Nation? Being a Christian Nation is not just fighting to keep "Under God" in our pledge to our flag. Being a Christian Nation is not throwing God out of places but asking Him in.
Folks, sometimes God needs to get those warning shots in, and sometimes good people, good Christian people get hurt or killed as they come. People will say we serve an all-loving God, but folks, good parents have had to punish their children from time to time to make them listen or to make them behave. Think about that one, folks, I see younger parents say, "if you don't behave I am going to start counting" 1 2 3, I mean it, kids, I am going to count 1 2 3 and maybe, just maybe, those parents after counting so many times do punish those kids. My dad was a great math teacher, but when it came to punishing me, HE FORGOT HOW TO COUNT. How often has God given us those warning shots, or let me say how often has He started to count and then given the warning? Last week, the rivers went bank full with little over flow. Next time it could be worse but don't worry, God will not ever destroy everything by water...
Folks, let's take a good look at what is going on around us and start to "put feet on our prayers" (Pamela Bower) and start getting out on the road telling others about God, about our Lord Jesus, and remember, folks, our freedom of speech should be permitted just like the other side gets. Is Jesus talking to you today saying, "You of little faith, why are you afraid?'' Is He saying that because you do not have enough faith in Him to work for Him?" Have faith, my brothers and sisters, for Jesus is still in control.
Ok, who is mad at me for that one? I could go on, but you got the message. Tomorrow maybe wars and rumors of wars... That is in the Bible also...
Dear Father in Heaven, we tell all folks that the United States of America is a Christian Nation, yet we have so many who do not believe in You and others who say they believe but the sins keep growing and growing and yes, Lord, I am a sinner and I need to repent also, and Lord, help me with that and help me get out and work with these words telling others as You told us... Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is near. I pray for all those people in Japan and I pray that they humble and come to You. Help them through the storm, Lord, for I am sure You will, Lord. Work on our prayer list today, Lord, and answer our prayers according to Your will. In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.
Go forth now, spreading the word of God, yelling out "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Ah, you say people will say you are nuts? Did they say it to Jesus? Some do by their actions, others hung Him on the cross. Now share those blessings and know that Jesus loves you, and yes... I love ya also. Pastor Dan.
Friday, March 18, 2011
March 18, 2011 Ask, Seek, Knock 5
"So in everything do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
Good Friday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, it is Friday and what a beauty we are to have today here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. It was great yesterday, and is to be even better today, however, every day of life here on earth is a gift regardless of the weather. Please pray for Kathleen Sansoni to be healed from cancer. Her husband, Tom, called us last evening to ask how we were and to update us on his wife. He was at her bedside at Duke Hospital, she was asleep beside him as he talked in a low voice. PRAY, WARRIORS, PRAY!! Also pray today for my dear wife, Dolores, she is in so much pain from a lot of different things, still she pushes on. Yesterday as I cooked six gallons of chili I was listening to her practicing the piano getting ready for Sunday Morning, she was having trouble keeping her fingers from jumping off the keys. Sunday, I am sure she will do fine, for God does not have you go out to work for Him and not send the tools along to get the job done... Amen.
Also today pray for all those who work for the Lord in getting the message out about the Good News and making the announcement to "REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR." (John The Baptist and Jesus)
The Big Trip 14-5 Ask, Seek, knock 5: Matthew 7:12 - "So in everything do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (NIV)
Ok, folks, now we know where the golden rule, as so many people call it, comes from, why, it came from Jesus!! In some religions this was and more than likely still is put out in a negative way, this according to my Bible footnotes. As for the Law, and the Prophets, the law came from the first four five books of the Jewish Scriptures (Our Old Testament). The Prophets were Isaiah, Jeremiah called major prophets but others also. (Again, footnotes from my NIV study Bible.)
So what is God giving me on this today? Well, it is pretty plain to me that if we do good, working for our Lord Jesus, helping others in all you do, those people will see Jesus in you and maybe treat you like you are treating them and prayerfully they will come to Jesus. I do want you to notice this in the scripture... So in everything do to others WHAT you would have them do to you. Jesus did not say, and they will do it, He said WHAT you would have them do to you.
Even if you were to treat others bad, it does not mean that all folks would treat you bad... But folks, let's look at the old saying right now about catching more flies with honey than vinegar. If we want to win folks to the Lord, we must, I say WE MUST set good examples of the way we live so that others do not look at us and say, if that is what a Christian does, I don't want to be one. You know I got caught up in something that I was not proud of, I treated a man, now a dear, dear friend bad, based on what others said about him, and not looking into the gentlemen's heart on my own. And once I got that PLANK out of my eye, I could see clearly that he was not as said...
Folks, the Bible tells us to love everyone and here we are being told to treat others as we would like to be treated. Love others, folks, and most will either love you back, or at least respect you for what you do. Walk with the Lord and live in the Lord and invite Him to live within You and SHOUT IT OUT that you work for Him, you work for the Lord Jesus, and if others see that you live for Him and do good they might just follow you right to the cross and the feet of Jesus.
Today I challenge you to go to work or wherever you go today and practice the Golden Rule, or Matthew 7:12 - "So in everything do to others what you would have them do to you." I challenge you who are saved to go and share your blessings, and set examples, for when you share your blessings in faith, God will replace them in heaps, more than you can store. Let me reword this just a tad... In everything you do to others, do it for the love of Jesus and pray that they will not just do it unto you, but they will do it unto others and also in the name of Jesus. Am I making myself clear here, I sure hope so... Go fishing today folks, treating people nice in the name of Jesus and be a good "Fisher of men." Let's talk to God now...
Dear Father in Heaven, thanks for the messages of this week, and thanks for this wonderful, wonderful rule of Yours, and for sharing this in Your words so we understand it. Help us to Ask, Seek and Knock and when to treat people like we want to be treated. Lord, heal, in the name of Jesus I ask with all respect, faith and love, heal Kathleen and heal Dolores.. Also, protect those working for You, furnish the tools to them to get the job done, and Lord, bless them well, as I am sure You will, but Your word tells us to ask. So we are asking. Lord Jesus, I love You, and pray today that we on this line will help lead people to You. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth and share your blessings and also "in everything do to others what you would have them do to you". Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Good Friday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, it is Friday and what a beauty we are to have today here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. It was great yesterday, and is to be even better today, however, every day of life here on earth is a gift regardless of the weather. Please pray for Kathleen Sansoni to be healed from cancer. Her husband, Tom, called us last evening to ask how we were and to update us on his wife. He was at her bedside at Duke Hospital, she was asleep beside him as he talked in a low voice. PRAY, WARRIORS, PRAY!! Also pray today for my dear wife, Dolores, she is in so much pain from a lot of different things, still she pushes on. Yesterday as I cooked six gallons of chili I was listening to her practicing the piano getting ready for Sunday Morning, she was having trouble keeping her fingers from jumping off the keys. Sunday, I am sure she will do fine, for God does not have you go out to work for Him and not send the tools along to get the job done... Amen.
Also today pray for all those who work for the Lord in getting the message out about the Good News and making the announcement to "REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR." (John The Baptist and Jesus)
The Big Trip 14-5 Ask, Seek, knock 5: Matthew 7:12 - "So in everything do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (NIV)
Ok, folks, now we know where the golden rule, as so many people call it, comes from, why, it came from Jesus!! In some religions this was and more than likely still is put out in a negative way, this according to my Bible footnotes. As for the Law, and the Prophets, the law came from the first four five books of the Jewish Scriptures (Our Old Testament). The Prophets were Isaiah, Jeremiah called major prophets but others also. (Again, footnotes from my NIV study Bible.)
So what is God giving me on this today? Well, it is pretty plain to me that if we do good, working for our Lord Jesus, helping others in all you do, those people will see Jesus in you and maybe treat you like you are treating them and prayerfully they will come to Jesus. I do want you to notice this in the scripture... So in everything do to others WHAT you would have them do to you. Jesus did not say, and they will do it, He said WHAT you would have them do to you.
Even if you were to treat others bad, it does not mean that all folks would treat you bad... But folks, let's look at the old saying right now about catching more flies with honey than vinegar. If we want to win folks to the Lord, we must, I say WE MUST set good examples of the way we live so that others do not look at us and say, if that is what a Christian does, I don't want to be one. You know I got caught up in something that I was not proud of, I treated a man, now a dear, dear friend bad, based on what others said about him, and not looking into the gentlemen's heart on my own. And once I got that PLANK out of my eye, I could see clearly that he was not as said...
Folks, the Bible tells us to love everyone and here we are being told to treat others as we would like to be treated. Love others, folks, and most will either love you back, or at least respect you for what you do. Walk with the Lord and live in the Lord and invite Him to live within You and SHOUT IT OUT that you work for Him, you work for the Lord Jesus, and if others see that you live for Him and do good they might just follow you right to the cross and the feet of Jesus.
Today I challenge you to go to work or wherever you go today and practice the Golden Rule, or Matthew 7:12 - "So in everything do to others what you would have them do to you." I challenge you who are saved to go and share your blessings, and set examples, for when you share your blessings in faith, God will replace them in heaps, more than you can store. Let me reword this just a tad... In everything you do to others, do it for the love of Jesus and pray that they will not just do it unto you, but they will do it unto others and also in the name of Jesus. Am I making myself clear here, I sure hope so... Go fishing today folks, treating people nice in the name of Jesus and be a good "Fisher of men." Let's talk to God now...
Dear Father in Heaven, thanks for the messages of this week, and thanks for this wonderful, wonderful rule of Yours, and for sharing this in Your words so we understand it. Help us to Ask, Seek and Knock and when to treat people like we want to be treated. Lord, heal, in the name of Jesus I ask with all respect, faith and love, heal Kathleen and heal Dolores.. Also, protect those working for You, furnish the tools to them to get the job done, and Lord, bless them well, as I am sure You will, but Your word tells us to ask. So we are asking. Lord Jesus, I love You, and pray today that we on this line will help lead people to You. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth and share your blessings and also "in everything do to others what you would have them do to you". Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
St. Patrick's Day Ask, Seek, Knock
"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!"
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, it is Thursday, and yes, it is St. Patrick's Day, and sorry I need to say this, but it seems to me just one of those holidays made to drink. So today as we pray for our schools and our families let us add safety on the highways for there will be drunk drivers on the road tonight, and more than likely through the weekend. Please be safe. Prayer request for Kathleen Sansoni whose cancer is spreading. She is now in Duke University Hospital. Husband Tom and Kathleen are walking in faith that God still heals. AND HE DOES!!!!! Also pray for Vicki, sounds like she might have a real good case of the flu.
The Big Trip 14-4 Ask, Seek, Knock 4 Matthew 7:9 - "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!" (NIV)
As we look more into asking and we find Jesus telling us, yes, Jesus telling us, remember the words of Jesus were good then and now and forever and ever... how our Father in Heaven will give us good gifts if we ask. It seems to me sometimes that we ask all too much, but God does not tell us that, so ask, but be SURE TO GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE... But what about all those things God our Father gives us, all of us, even those who hate Him or think He does not exist. Sit back and think about it, when you woke this morning did you not have air to breathe? How long since you asked for air to breathe... just a daily gift from God. Hey, you woke up, that was a gift from God. The rain, the snow, the sun, moon, stars, gifts from God and we did need to ask for them. So when you make it personal, like asking for food, does He not send some really good stuff? I mean Jesus is quoted in the Bible as talking about our son asking for bread and fish. Wow, but God will send us surf and turf. How long since you went to the cupboard and/or the fridge and they were really full of nothing to eat? I mean they were loaded, even the freezer had that good Hershey's Ice Cream, but you wanted a flavor that was not in the freezer and you are thinking, I have all of this and nothing to eat. How long since you prayed about having some clothes, oh Lord, I need some new clothes... Gosh, I know people who have closets and closets full of "nothing to wear".
Folks, today, let me try and look at things in this Ask, Seek, and Knock a tad different...
Ask---Let's ASK God today to help us thin things out some, let's go to the cupboard and freezer and take a look and see what we can pull out for the food pantry... Not just Carry The Light's, but the one nearest your home. And don't give outdated stuff, give of your good stuff, after all does not God give you the best? Go to the closet and pull clothes that you do not use, and please be sure it is clean, take it to a used clothing store. Maybe one that gives it away or sells it real cheap and uses the dollars to help others. Now after we have gathered those things then we need to--
Seek---Yes, we need to SEEK out those who might need the things, the food, the clothes, maybe bedclothes and find a place. Maybe even street people. Seek things out, maybe pack some blankets in bags, clean ones, and take them into a big city and give them to the police, they know where to find those street folks...
Knock----Yes, and KNOCK on those doors to seek out those in need if you have to, and KNOCK on those doors to also tell the word of God... AND THOSE DOORS WILL BE OPENED UNTO YOU.
And all of those people who are as excited about what God is doing in their lives as I am excited about what He is doing in my life add this big, big AMEN.
Dear Father in Heaven, I am up and breathing and cooking chili for others and ourselves and I have found You have given unto me all I need to get it done. Thank You, Lord... I am so excited about today, as I plan on working for You all day, and I pray others in all they do also are working for You. Lord, please, please heal Kathleen. Lord, Kathleen and Tom are very special people to this old man, you see, Lord, I married them, but Lord, more importantly they love You so much and are walking in faith for healing. Kathleen hurts, Lord, please heal her. Lord, bless our schools this day and we pray that people will stop throwing You out and start sending You back in on the lips and voices of the kids. Lord, bless families today and Lord, bless that family that lost seven of their children. Bless Your family, Lord, the family of God, and I sure do want to be counted in Your family, so help me repent, help me to live for You. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
I am so excited about Jesus today, I really am... Some days I get more excited than others...
Does that happen to you?
Now go forth, asking God to direct you in all you do, seeking out others to share your blessings with and knocking on doors and telling people about God... share those blessings, love ya, Pastor Dan.
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, it is Thursday, and yes, it is St. Patrick's Day, and sorry I need to say this, but it seems to me just one of those holidays made to drink. So today as we pray for our schools and our families let us add safety on the highways for there will be drunk drivers on the road tonight, and more than likely through the weekend. Please be safe. Prayer request for Kathleen Sansoni whose cancer is spreading. She is now in Duke University Hospital. Husband Tom and Kathleen are walking in faith that God still heals. AND HE DOES!!!!! Also pray for Vicki, sounds like she might have a real good case of the flu.
The Big Trip 14-4 Ask, Seek, Knock 4 Matthew 7:9 - "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!" (NIV)
As we look more into asking and we find Jesus telling us, yes, Jesus telling us, remember the words of Jesus were good then and now and forever and ever... how our Father in Heaven will give us good gifts if we ask. It seems to me sometimes that we ask all too much, but God does not tell us that, so ask, but be SURE TO GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE... But what about all those things God our Father gives us, all of us, even those who hate Him or think He does not exist. Sit back and think about it, when you woke this morning did you not have air to breathe? How long since you asked for air to breathe... just a daily gift from God. Hey, you woke up, that was a gift from God. The rain, the snow, the sun, moon, stars, gifts from God and we did need to ask for them. So when you make it personal, like asking for food, does He not send some really good stuff? I mean Jesus is quoted in the Bible as talking about our son asking for bread and fish. Wow, but God will send us surf and turf. How long since you went to the cupboard and/or the fridge and they were really full of nothing to eat? I mean they were loaded, even the freezer had that good Hershey's Ice Cream, but you wanted a flavor that was not in the freezer and you are thinking, I have all of this and nothing to eat. How long since you prayed about having some clothes, oh Lord, I need some new clothes... Gosh, I know people who have closets and closets full of "nothing to wear".
Folks, today, let me try and look at things in this Ask, Seek, and Knock a tad different...
Ask---Let's ASK God today to help us thin things out some, let's go to the cupboard and freezer and take a look and see what we can pull out for the food pantry... Not just Carry The Light's, but the one nearest your home. And don't give outdated stuff, give of your good stuff, after all does not God give you the best? Go to the closet and pull clothes that you do not use, and please be sure it is clean, take it to a used clothing store. Maybe one that gives it away or sells it real cheap and uses the dollars to help others. Now after we have gathered those things then we need to--
Seek---Yes, we need to SEEK out those who might need the things, the food, the clothes, maybe bedclothes and find a place. Maybe even street people. Seek things out, maybe pack some blankets in bags, clean ones, and take them into a big city and give them to the police, they know where to find those street folks...
Knock----Yes, and KNOCK on those doors to seek out those in need if you have to, and KNOCK on those doors to also tell the word of God... AND THOSE DOORS WILL BE OPENED UNTO YOU.
And all of those people who are as excited about what God is doing in their lives as I am excited about what He is doing in my life add this big, big AMEN.
Dear Father in Heaven, I am up and breathing and cooking chili for others and ourselves and I have found You have given unto me all I need to get it done. Thank You, Lord... I am so excited about today, as I plan on working for You all day, and I pray others in all they do also are working for You. Lord, please, please heal Kathleen. Lord, Kathleen and Tom are very special people to this old man, you see, Lord, I married them, but Lord, more importantly they love You so much and are walking in faith for healing. Kathleen hurts, Lord, please heal her. Lord, bless our schools this day and we pray that people will stop throwing You out and start sending You back in on the lips and voices of the kids. Lord, bless families today and Lord, bless that family that lost seven of their children. Bless Your family, Lord, the family of God, and I sure do want to be counted in Your family, so help me repent, help me to live for You. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
I am so excited about Jesus today, I really am... Some days I get more excited than others...
Does that happen to you?
Now go forth, asking God to direct you in all you do, seeking out others to share your blessings with and knocking on doors and telling people about God... share those blessings, love ya, Pastor Dan.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
March 16, 2011 Ask, Seek, Knock 3
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
Good Salvation Wednesday Morning to all of you, my dear brothers and sisters. Please pray for the unsaved to come to Jesus for Salvation, and please pray that God also uses all who are saved to reach out and tell the good news about Jesus and how to get to Heaven. Also in your prayers today, please pray for our brothers and sisters in Japan. If you really watch the news you can see how bad it is, yet those living in areas not damaged by the earthquake or the tsunami or the melting down of the nuke power plant keep on working. They are very strong people. Also keep praying for the Clouse Family... On the front page of our paper (Patriot News, Harrisburg Pa.) showed seven little caskets lined up in a row. Folks, we don't understand this, but we know that God is in control, please never give up your faith.
The Big Trip 14-3 Ask, Seek, Knock 3: Matthew 7:7 - "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (NIV)
Knock, Knock ---- Who's there? Jesus! Jesus who?
If Jesus were to knock on your door today, and if you were to ask that question, who's there, and Jesus would answer Jesus and you needed to ask Jesus who, you are in need of really Seeking out Jesus and asking questions about His saving grace. Folks, what Jesus is really talking about in this scripture is not Jesus knocking on our doors but we knocking on His and also on other doors in His name... and others might be knocking on our doors in His name. Gosh, how long has it been since someone really knocked on your door in the name of Jesus and wanted to talk to you?
I must tell you it has been since last summer, since we have our brothers and sisters from the Jehovah's Witness Hall and the Mormon Church at our doors, and while I do not invite them into our living quarters, I invite them into Carry The Light Ministries Food Pantry and show them what we do, and I talk to them about Jesus and being saved.
While I am not cutting those two religions down for I do not know enough about them to do that and I am not the Judge... But I can use the time to witness to them. I must think that they are doing what all of us need to be doing, going door to door and KNOCKING on the doors to tell the good news. And folks, as you might have noticed, the folks from the Witness Halls and the Mormon church always travel with at least two and we should also. That, my friends, is for your own protection. Plus before you go out telling the Good News of Jesus and KNOCKING ON DOORS you should look over Matthew 10 where Jesus tells of sending out His disciples...
Also when you go door knocking for Jesus and if you are door knocking for your church it better be for Jesus or you have it all wrong. Anyway again you need to let people see that you have Jesus in you, that you are setting an example for Jesus. After all you are out there to sell others on Jesus, telling the good news of Jesus is selling Jesus.
Also I have found over the years, that when you love Jesus, really love Him, when one door is closed, another will be opened, Jesus will change our plan of attack from time to time, our mission is to tell the GOOD NEWS OF JESUS and His saving grace, but our plan of attack can differ and also each of us get assignments from God. And they are not always the same... Let's look at the scripture one more time today... "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." And remember, knocking on the door or doors for Jesus and telling those who answer the good news of Salvation is just one of the ways to work for Jesus...
Dear Father in Heaven, we really do want to work for you, we also love you very much, and before we go one step more, we, I ask you to forgive me of my sins. Help us to go forth this day and work for You, bringing others to You to be saved by Your Grace. Lord, I also ask that you be with the Clouse family and comfort them, and someday let us understand all of this. Be with those in Japan and comfort them, and Lord, I pray that people come to You by the thousands as they flee areas for their lives. I pray that others learn just how fast things can come to an end and they come to You before it is too late. I pray for my own salvation that I stay tight with You and when things change that I remember that I work for You and Lord, as one door is closed in my life, open another. For I want to work for You till You call me home. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth, sharing your blessings and asking, seeking and knocking for Jesus. Live for Him and live in Him and let Him live in you. I love ya... Pastor Dan.
Good Salvation Wednesday Morning to all of you, my dear brothers and sisters. Please pray for the unsaved to come to Jesus for Salvation, and please pray that God also uses all who are saved to reach out and tell the good news about Jesus and how to get to Heaven. Also in your prayers today, please pray for our brothers and sisters in Japan. If you really watch the news you can see how bad it is, yet those living in areas not damaged by the earthquake or the tsunami or the melting down of the nuke power plant keep on working. They are very strong people. Also keep praying for the Clouse Family... On the front page of our paper (Patriot News, Harrisburg Pa.) showed seven little caskets lined up in a row. Folks, we don't understand this, but we know that God is in control, please never give up your faith.
The Big Trip 14-3 Ask, Seek, Knock 3: Matthew 7:7 - "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (NIV)
Knock, Knock ---- Who's there? Jesus! Jesus who?
If Jesus were to knock on your door today, and if you were to ask that question, who's there, and Jesus would answer Jesus and you needed to ask Jesus who, you are in need of really Seeking out Jesus and asking questions about His saving grace. Folks, what Jesus is really talking about in this scripture is not Jesus knocking on our doors but we knocking on His and also on other doors in His name... and others might be knocking on our doors in His name. Gosh, how long has it been since someone really knocked on your door in the name of Jesus and wanted to talk to you?
I must tell you it has been since last summer, since we have our brothers and sisters from the Jehovah's Witness Hall and the Mormon Church at our doors, and while I do not invite them into our living quarters, I invite them into Carry The Light Ministries Food Pantry and show them what we do, and I talk to them about Jesus and being saved.
While I am not cutting those two religions down for I do not know enough about them to do that and I am not the Judge... But I can use the time to witness to them. I must think that they are doing what all of us need to be doing, going door to door and KNOCKING on the doors to tell the good news. And folks, as you might have noticed, the folks from the Witness Halls and the Mormon church always travel with at least two and we should also. That, my friends, is for your own protection. Plus before you go out telling the Good News of Jesus and KNOCKING ON DOORS you should look over Matthew 10 where Jesus tells of sending out His disciples...
Also when you go door knocking for Jesus and if you are door knocking for your church it better be for Jesus or you have it all wrong. Anyway again you need to let people see that you have Jesus in you, that you are setting an example for Jesus. After all you are out there to sell others on Jesus, telling the good news of Jesus is selling Jesus.
Also I have found over the years, that when you love Jesus, really love Him, when one door is closed, another will be opened, Jesus will change our plan of attack from time to time, our mission is to tell the GOOD NEWS OF JESUS and His saving grace, but our plan of attack can differ and also each of us get assignments from God. And they are not always the same... Let's look at the scripture one more time today... "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." And remember, knocking on the door or doors for Jesus and telling those who answer the good news of Salvation is just one of the ways to work for Jesus...
Dear Father in Heaven, we really do want to work for you, we also love you very much, and before we go one step more, we, I ask you to forgive me of my sins. Help us to go forth this day and work for You, bringing others to You to be saved by Your Grace. Lord, I also ask that you be with the Clouse family and comfort them, and someday let us understand all of this. Be with those in Japan and comfort them, and Lord, I pray that people come to You by the thousands as they flee areas for their lives. I pray that others learn just how fast things can come to an end and they come to You before it is too late. I pray for my own salvation that I stay tight with You and when things change that I remember that I work for You and Lord, as one door is closed in my life, open another. For I want to work for You till You call me home. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth, sharing your blessings and asking, seeking and knocking for Jesus. Live for Him and live in Him and let Him live in you. I love ya... Pastor Dan.
March 15, 2011 Ask, Seek, Knock 2
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, It is a beautiful morning here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. Tuesday and the day we pray for cures for diseases like. but not limited to, cancer, liver problems, diabetes, arthritis, and all other health problems. As we pray today please pray for Tiarra and Adreyan who have strep throat, for my buddy Dave who has crippling arthritis really, really bad. Dave was a long time school bus driver. Pray for Kathleen and also Ron who have cancer. For my wife Dolores who is really getting bad. And today, please remember to pray for the Clouse family as they bury their seven children, and pray that the protest group does not show. Also there have been a lot of major bus accidents this week, one killing 15 passengers. One local where a school bus driver, alone on the bus lost control and then fell out of the bus. She needs prayer as she might lose part of a hand and also leg. Keep praying for our brothers and sisters from Japan and pray for no melt down on those power plants. Pray for peace, and let's pray for God to come get us, and until then GET TO WORK FOR HIM...
At the end of the message today I have a little write-up about John Henry Riddlesberger. Please take time to read it.
The Big Trip 14-2 Ask, Seek, Knock 2: Matthew 7:7 - "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (NIV)
Yesterday I talked about "Ask"; today I want to look at "Seek". When I was but a child (go ahead and say it, back when the streets were still dirt), I would play a game with other kids called Hide and Seek. You remember how you would play, one person would be it, and we would hide our eyes while others hide... After counting to a hundred or cheating a little bit and only going to 50 I would turn and yell "ready or not here I come" and then go and "Seek" out the others and try and beat them back to home base and call them Out. No we did not cheat and yell "Red Robin" and the others came out saying "Yum" (our parents cooked our meals).
Folks, all of our lives we have spent time seeking things, seeking out a girl friend or a boy friend in school, seeking out one for a spouse for life, seeking a house to make into a home. Seeking a used or new car, and now with the computer seeking who knows what? Class mates, family tree things, we seek and we seek and we seek, but are we seeking what really, really counts, are we seeking God?
We need to seek out God daily in our lives, we do not stop seeking Him just because we are saved, and that should be the first thing we seek Him for. What do I mean we need to keep seeking God? We seek God for comfort, let me tell you if the Clouse family did not have God how would they get through what they are going through? Folks, bad things do happen to good people. We seek God when we hurt, Dolores and I were praying together this morning and when you are praying, are you not seeking God to help you, or are you not seeking Him out to thank Him?
When we played hide and seek, we were seeking those hiding, but God does not hide from us, He is there waiting for us to seek Him and fall in love with Him. Yes, fall in love with Him. And now let's look back at the game of hide and seek, and this time it is not a game. We need to help others by seeking out the lost and showing them the way to Jesus It does amaze me that God, who is not hiding, some folks cannot see Him. FOLKS, THEY ARE NOT LOOKING. Today, folks, LET'S SEEK OUT THE LORD and then tell others where to find Him. How to start looking, get on those knees and pray for you can reach much higher when you get down on those knees. Too old and beat up to get on your knees, then just talk to God. HANG UP THE CELL PHONE WHEN YOU DRIVE AND JUST TALK TO GOD, Heaven knows you need the help, I saw some of you drive!! Ask, seek, and tomorrow... Knock...
Let's look at the verse one more time... "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Let's pray.
Dear Father, we are seeking this morning, we are seeking Your healing hand on those on our prayer lists, we are seeking Your help in finding cures for cancers, and other health problems. We thank You for not hiding from us, and I am seeking Your forgiveness for my sins. Thank You, Jesus, and I pray in Your name and give thanks for another day of life and my needs being supplied... Amen.
JUST IN. Pray for the baby brought to the USA from Canada to be given treatment. Canada was going to pull the "plug" on the child. PRAY WARRIORS PRAY.
Go forth sharing your blessings and seeking out God and then others to tell them about God... and remember to read about Big John Henry... Love ya, Pastor Dan.
John Henry Riddlesberger, a trusted prayer warrior on this line and also a supporter of Carry The Light Ministries has done some wonderful things for God, at Christian Life Assembly of God Church in Camp Hill Pa. Here is just a tad of what he does. John is a retired school teacher from the Carlisle School District and I believe he still is on call as a substitute teacher. Thank you, Big John Henry for all the work you do for our Lord Jesus, praise the Lord for John. The following from Christian Life Assembly (CLA). I love you, Big John... Pastor Dan.
"John has been a very active member of the CLA Media Team since early 2002. He also ministers to 25 people on a weekly basis by forwarding DVDs of our services as well as other Christian Broadcasting. A big thanks to John for helping to spread the Word ... and Happy Birthday!"
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, It is a beautiful morning here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. Tuesday and the day we pray for cures for diseases like. but not limited to, cancer, liver problems, diabetes, arthritis, and all other health problems. As we pray today please pray for Tiarra and Adreyan who have strep throat, for my buddy Dave who has crippling arthritis really, really bad. Dave was a long time school bus driver. Pray for Kathleen and also Ron who have cancer. For my wife Dolores who is really getting bad. And today, please remember to pray for the Clouse family as they bury their seven children, and pray that the protest group does not show. Also there have been a lot of major bus accidents this week, one killing 15 passengers. One local where a school bus driver, alone on the bus lost control and then fell out of the bus. She needs prayer as she might lose part of a hand and also leg. Keep praying for our brothers and sisters from Japan and pray for no melt down on those power plants. Pray for peace, and let's pray for God to come get us, and until then GET TO WORK FOR HIM...
At the end of the message today I have a little write-up about John Henry Riddlesberger. Please take time to read it.
The Big Trip 14-2 Ask, Seek, Knock 2: Matthew 7:7 - "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (NIV)
Yesterday I talked about "Ask"; today I want to look at "Seek". When I was but a child (go ahead and say it, back when the streets were still dirt), I would play a game with other kids called Hide and Seek. You remember how you would play, one person would be it, and we would hide our eyes while others hide... After counting to a hundred or cheating a little bit and only going to 50 I would turn and yell "ready or not here I come" and then go and "Seek" out the others and try and beat them back to home base and call them Out. No we did not cheat and yell "Red Robin" and the others came out saying "Yum" (our parents cooked our meals).
Folks, all of our lives we have spent time seeking things, seeking out a girl friend or a boy friend in school, seeking out one for a spouse for life, seeking a house to make into a home. Seeking a used or new car, and now with the computer seeking who knows what? Class mates, family tree things, we seek and we seek and we seek, but are we seeking what really, really counts, are we seeking God?
We need to seek out God daily in our lives, we do not stop seeking Him just because we are saved, and that should be the first thing we seek Him for. What do I mean we need to keep seeking God? We seek God for comfort, let me tell you if the Clouse family did not have God how would they get through what they are going through? Folks, bad things do happen to good people. We seek God when we hurt, Dolores and I were praying together this morning and when you are praying, are you not seeking God to help you, or are you not seeking Him out to thank Him?
When we played hide and seek, we were seeking those hiding, but God does not hide from us, He is there waiting for us to seek Him and fall in love with Him. Yes, fall in love with Him. And now let's look back at the game of hide and seek, and this time it is not a game. We need to help others by seeking out the lost and showing them the way to Jesus It does amaze me that God, who is not hiding, some folks cannot see Him. FOLKS, THEY ARE NOT LOOKING. Today, folks, LET'S SEEK OUT THE LORD and then tell others where to find Him. How to start looking, get on those knees and pray for you can reach much higher when you get down on those knees. Too old and beat up to get on your knees, then just talk to God. HANG UP THE CELL PHONE WHEN YOU DRIVE AND JUST TALK TO GOD, Heaven knows you need the help, I saw some of you drive!! Ask, seek, and tomorrow... Knock...
Let's look at the verse one more time... "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Let's pray.
Dear Father, we are seeking this morning, we are seeking Your healing hand on those on our prayer lists, we are seeking Your help in finding cures for cancers, and other health problems. We thank You for not hiding from us, and I am seeking Your forgiveness for my sins. Thank You, Jesus, and I pray in Your name and give thanks for another day of life and my needs being supplied... Amen.
JUST IN. Pray for the baby brought to the USA from Canada to be given treatment. Canada was going to pull the "plug" on the child. PRAY WARRIORS PRAY.
Go forth sharing your blessings and seeking out God and then others to tell them about God... and remember to read about Big John Henry... Love ya, Pastor Dan.
John Henry Riddlesberger, a trusted prayer warrior on this line and also a supporter of Carry The Light Ministries has done some wonderful things for God, at Christian Life Assembly of God Church in Camp Hill Pa. Here is just a tad of what he does. John is a retired school teacher from the Carlisle School District and I believe he still is on call as a substitute teacher. Thank you, Big John Henry for all the work you do for our Lord Jesus, praise the Lord for John. The following from Christian Life Assembly (CLA). I love you, Big John... Pastor Dan.
"John has been a very active member of the CLA Media Team since early 2002. He also ministers to 25 people on a weekly basis by forwarding DVDs of our services as well as other Christian Broadcasting. A big thanks to John for helping to spread the Word ... and Happy Birthday!"
Monday, March 14, 2011
March 14, 2011 Ask, Seek, Knock!
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
Good Monday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. When I look around the world and see all that is going on, I need to say this to you, please keep your faith in our dear Lord. Monday and the day we pray for our leaders, our president (and please pray for his soul first), all of our other leaders, and in fact we should pray for the souls of all first. Next please pray for our Military and remember those in the war zones and also on the mercy missions in Japan. Be thankful that our base in Japan was not hit or hit hard. Pray for our veterans, and remember some of them are just 18 and in military hospitals and some have lost limbs. Remember the families of those who gave their lives. Pray for our police and there has been a rash of police being shot lately. Pray for firefighters, many of whom give of their time.
Pray for our Asian brothers and sisters in Japan, pray for the families of the lost, and pray for the injured, and for those under the rubble to be found. Pray for the Asian families of those killed in the bus crash in New York, and pray for the ones injured. (If you have not heard, a bus rolled on its side and while sliding on its side, hit a pole and sheared the top off at the window level... 14 dead.)
Pray today and tomorrow for the Clouse family who lost seven children in a fire. The viewings are tonight and the funerals tomorrow. And would you believe with all they are going through, the NUT JOBS who think they are working for God, those from the Westboro Church are coming to protest at the funeral. (Folks, I refuse to refer to them as Baptist or Christians,) Oh yes, pray for these folks also.
The Big Trip 14-1 Ask, Seek, Knock 1 Matthew 7:7 - "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, how often have you wanted something in life, maybe when you were little and you asked your parents for it... Mamma, may I have that toy, I asked, and more often than not, my dear mamma who wanted to just say yes, had to say no because she did not have any money to get it for me. Like most kids I thought money grew on the trees, and my pop would remind me often, that "money does not grow on trees" and back in those days there were no credit cards. We had a pay as you go plan back then, and if we would have it today think of how much money you would save not paying interest.
Now when asking God, and this scripture would apply that if you were to ask for a million dollars it would be laid at your feet... Wrong, but if you were to ask for things for others, you might be surprised at what is laid at your feet. In my words, share your blessings, as you ask to be blessed. Let's look at some old testament scripture on this subject... From 1 Kings...
I Kings 5 - At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." 6 Solomon answered. "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to You and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. 7 Now, o Lord my God, You have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?" 10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, not will there ever be. 14 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for both riches and honor so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings."
So, folks, while so many people, when praying, ask for things for themselves we see here how it was with King Solomon when he asked for how to help his people and not things for himself in riches, etc. So God not only gave to King Solomon what he asked for but poured out so much more.
Folks, does our Lord still do this, "Ask and it will be given to you." Yes, for He is still the same, but does He give it to us on the same day we ask? Not always, and folks, I want you to always remember this, when you pray for those riches, and I know you, like me, have done it, and folks, have I received those riches, I really have, I am blessed with children and grandchildren, and blessed with a wonderful wife, and dogs and cats and food to give away to others... Folks, please never count your riches by what is in your bank account, count your riches by counting family and friends. I am blessed and have the riches of BEING ABLE TO WORK FOR GOD... AMEN I like to answer it in this way also. God is not going to give you something you asked for if it is not going to be good for you, and be used for good. In other words, don't ask for a gun to shoot someone for it is not going to happen. Remember always, God is good, He does not hand to You something that is bad. Also remember this, you need to always ask in faith, ALWAYS ASK IN FAITH...
Wow, time to go...
Dear Father in Heaven, please forgive us of our sins, and Lord, please look over our prayer list, and honor our prayers according to Your will for us. And Lord, we ask today that You give unto us, give unto me, what You want for us, for me, in my words, Lord, today, give to us according to your will, and not ours... Oh, that is Your words, Lord, I love You,. Lord.. in Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth sharing your blessings to others from your heart and in faith to God. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Good Monday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. When I look around the world and see all that is going on, I need to say this to you, please keep your faith in our dear Lord. Monday and the day we pray for our leaders, our president (and please pray for his soul first), all of our other leaders, and in fact we should pray for the souls of all first. Next please pray for our Military and remember those in the war zones and also on the mercy missions in Japan. Be thankful that our base in Japan was not hit or hit hard. Pray for our veterans, and remember some of them are just 18 and in military hospitals and some have lost limbs. Remember the families of those who gave their lives. Pray for our police and there has been a rash of police being shot lately. Pray for firefighters, many of whom give of their time.
Pray for our Asian brothers and sisters in Japan, pray for the families of the lost, and pray for the injured, and for those under the rubble to be found. Pray for the Asian families of those killed in the bus crash in New York, and pray for the ones injured. (If you have not heard, a bus rolled on its side and while sliding on its side, hit a pole and sheared the top off at the window level... 14 dead.)
Pray today and tomorrow for the Clouse family who lost seven children in a fire. The viewings are tonight and the funerals tomorrow. And would you believe with all they are going through, the NUT JOBS who think they are working for God, those from the Westboro Church are coming to protest at the funeral. (Folks, I refuse to refer to them as Baptist or Christians,) Oh yes, pray for these folks also.
The Big Trip 14-1 Ask, Seek, Knock 1 Matthew 7:7 - "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, how often have you wanted something in life, maybe when you were little and you asked your parents for it... Mamma, may I have that toy, I asked, and more often than not, my dear mamma who wanted to just say yes, had to say no because she did not have any money to get it for me. Like most kids I thought money grew on the trees, and my pop would remind me often, that "money does not grow on trees" and back in those days there were no credit cards. We had a pay as you go plan back then, and if we would have it today think of how much money you would save not paying interest.
Now when asking God, and this scripture would apply that if you were to ask for a million dollars it would be laid at your feet... Wrong, but if you were to ask for things for others, you might be surprised at what is laid at your feet. In my words, share your blessings, as you ask to be blessed. Let's look at some old testament scripture on this subject... From 1 Kings...
I Kings 5 - At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." 6 Solomon answered. "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to You and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. 7 Now, o Lord my God, You have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?" 10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, not will there ever be. 14 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for both riches and honor so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings."
So, folks, while so many people, when praying, ask for things for themselves we see here how it was with King Solomon when he asked for how to help his people and not things for himself in riches, etc. So God not only gave to King Solomon what he asked for but poured out so much more.
Folks, does our Lord still do this, "Ask and it will be given to you." Yes, for He is still the same, but does He give it to us on the same day we ask? Not always, and folks, I want you to always remember this, when you pray for those riches, and I know you, like me, have done it, and folks, have I received those riches, I really have, I am blessed with children and grandchildren, and blessed with a wonderful wife, and dogs and cats and food to give away to others... Folks, please never count your riches by what is in your bank account, count your riches by counting family and friends. I am blessed and have the riches of BEING ABLE TO WORK FOR GOD... AMEN I like to answer it in this way also. God is not going to give you something you asked for if it is not going to be good for you, and be used for good. In other words, don't ask for a gun to shoot someone for it is not going to happen. Remember always, God is good, He does not hand to You something that is bad. Also remember this, you need to always ask in faith, ALWAYS ASK IN FAITH...
Wow, time to go...
Dear Father in Heaven, please forgive us of our sins, and Lord, please look over our prayer list, and honor our prayers according to Your will for us. And Lord, we ask today that You give unto us, give unto me, what You want for us, for me, in my words, Lord, today, give to us according to your will, and not ours... Oh, that is Your words, Lord, I love You,. Lord.. in Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth sharing your blessings to others from your heart and in faith to God. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Friday, March 11, 2011
March 11, 2011 You Aint The Judge 3
"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to the pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces."
Good Friday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. The rain has stopped and the creeks are rising... "How high's the water, mamma, how high's the water, papa? Four feet high and rising!"
Prayers today for the people in Japan. Japan has been hit by a 8.9 earthquake, Hawaii has been hit by 4.5 earthquake. Tsunami warnings are up, it is bad, folks. One ship carrying a hundred people has been swept away. Also today, pray for people in the United States who are being hit by flood waters, twisters, and really bad weather. Homes have been washed away, and basements are filling up. If you live along the West Coast of the United States of America watch for tsunami. California Dave, please be safe. Those in Hawaii, Elaine and family, please be safe. Yes, folks, there are readers on this line from all over. New Jersey being hit bad. In our area lots and lots of roads closed. Keep praying, folks. Also this is the day we pray for those who work the fields of Harvest for our Lord. Folks, working for the Lord might be helping folks hit by storms, if you are safe, ask others if you can help. I met one of my best friends when I went to help after the side of his house was torn off by a twister years ago. Also please keep praying for the Clouse family, the family that lost seven of their children in a fire a few days back.
There are wars going on and there are rumors of wars, there are massive earthquakes, and yes, people are starving in places. KEEP WORKING FOR THE LORD. Jesus is coming soon, don't worry about when, for we should not worry, just get yourself ready and tell others because THAT IS GOOD NEWS.
The Big Trip 13-3 You Aint The Judge 3: Matthew 7:6 - "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to the pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces." (NIV)
This is one of the hardest scriptures for me to understand, so I am praying right now for God to give me something on it. Folks, all of us will hit scriptures from time to time we just do not understand, and we need to pray about it and then seek out help. I am sure that there are readers on this line that will respond to me about some meanings. But let me talk just a little and it will be a little about it.
First of all the "dogs" that are being referred to are the dogs of the street, and they were held in low esteem. Here goes, I think the Lord is telling us that we should not feed, meaning feed the word of God, in a fashion that people do not understand, or they might turn on you. I am going to use myself as an example here. As you know I was raised by a Christian mamma and pop, but I drifted for a time after my mamma went home to Jesus. I did not understand all of this but did remember my roots. Later as I was coming back, people would talk to me, they would not slam the Bible under my nose and quote scripture and yell at me. They talked to me and prayed with me. I started going to church and was blessed with pastors that did not use big words, words I did not understand. I was told to get my Bible out and start reading the gospels, and if you notice I have remembered that and work most out of the gospels to this day... I was also told to read and study the book of Psalms. I also started going to Bible study courses, and God would open His word to me as I could handle it.
If, and it is a big if, if people would have put that Bible under my nose and just started out by saying Look at this scripture and would not explain what it meant I might have turned away from God. Yes, well meaning people who work for the Lord, preaching and teaching can drive people away if they give them more than can handle. Pastors that I know also will give salvation messages at the end of each service, and why is that done? Because you just never know how far along someone is and when their hearts are opened to receive the word.
When you go working for the Lord, here are a few examples of what you can do and not scare people away. Set examples as how you live, as nothing will scare someone away from the Lord more than to see a person who is really not practicing what they preach. If a person is sitting on a bar stool drunk as a sunk (just a term) and is talking about being saved to a person who is having a beer and a sandwich, what do you think the one eating might think... Maybe this... IF THAT IS WHAT A CHRISTIAN IS LIKE, I DON'T WANT TO BE ONE. When I started to come back to the Lord, I would talk to a few pastors who were customers, I would ask questions, I talked to a nun who would come for gas and in fact she helped me up when I was at the lowest point of my life.
Now let me tie it into "You Aint The Judge". Folks, when you are out working for the Lord, do not judge those who are the "dogs" (a term, folks), do not judge those who know little or nothing about the Lord, work with them, for remember if you were like me, you were a "dog" out there without the Lord also. Someone led you to the Lord. Yes, some on the line came to the Lord early in life, while others did not. And folks, I don't know if everyone came to the Lord, so I try and keep it simple. But when it comes to this, are you going to Heaven or hell, I must tell it like it is. If you are saved, born again, washed in the blood, and work for the Lord, you are going to Heaven, if you are not saved, born again, etc. you are going in the pit of fire... or Hell.
The signs on the barns that say "Ye Must be Born Again" are facts, but that kind of talk also needs the follow up support. Someday I would like to see a sign like that and play dumb (play dumb? no smart remarks) and just stop in and ask, what does that mean? I would love to see what they say.
Ok, enough, time to pray...
Dear Lord, protect Your people this day, it does not matter who they are, what their color is, protect Your people today from the bad storms. And Lord, teach me more about the scriptures as I think I stumbled on this one today. Lord, have a helper call on me... Lord, bless the Clouse family. In the name of Jesus I ask that You teach all of us who are going out working for You, how to handle our assignments and please keep us in line... In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth serving The Lord and sharing your blessings with others... love ya, Pastor Dan.
Good Friday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. The rain has stopped and the creeks are rising... "How high's the water, mamma, how high's the water, papa? Four feet high and rising!"
Prayers today for the people in Japan. Japan has been hit by a 8.9 earthquake, Hawaii has been hit by 4.5 earthquake. Tsunami warnings are up, it is bad, folks. One ship carrying a hundred people has been swept away. Also today, pray for people in the United States who are being hit by flood waters, twisters, and really bad weather. Homes have been washed away, and basements are filling up. If you live along the West Coast of the United States of America watch for tsunami. California Dave, please be safe. Those in Hawaii, Elaine and family, please be safe. Yes, folks, there are readers on this line from all over. New Jersey being hit bad. In our area lots and lots of roads closed. Keep praying, folks. Also this is the day we pray for those who work the fields of Harvest for our Lord. Folks, working for the Lord might be helping folks hit by storms, if you are safe, ask others if you can help. I met one of my best friends when I went to help after the side of his house was torn off by a twister years ago. Also please keep praying for the Clouse family, the family that lost seven of their children in a fire a few days back.
There are wars going on and there are rumors of wars, there are massive earthquakes, and yes, people are starving in places. KEEP WORKING FOR THE LORD. Jesus is coming soon, don't worry about when, for we should not worry, just get yourself ready and tell others because THAT IS GOOD NEWS.
The Big Trip 13-3 You Aint The Judge 3: Matthew 7:6 - "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to the pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces." (NIV)
This is one of the hardest scriptures for me to understand, so I am praying right now for God to give me something on it. Folks, all of us will hit scriptures from time to time we just do not understand, and we need to pray about it and then seek out help. I am sure that there are readers on this line that will respond to me about some meanings. But let me talk just a little and it will be a little about it.
First of all the "dogs" that are being referred to are the dogs of the street, and they were held in low esteem. Here goes, I think the Lord is telling us that we should not feed, meaning feed the word of God, in a fashion that people do not understand, or they might turn on you. I am going to use myself as an example here. As you know I was raised by a Christian mamma and pop, but I drifted for a time after my mamma went home to Jesus. I did not understand all of this but did remember my roots. Later as I was coming back, people would talk to me, they would not slam the Bible under my nose and quote scripture and yell at me. They talked to me and prayed with me. I started going to church and was blessed with pastors that did not use big words, words I did not understand. I was told to get my Bible out and start reading the gospels, and if you notice I have remembered that and work most out of the gospels to this day... I was also told to read and study the book of Psalms. I also started going to Bible study courses, and God would open His word to me as I could handle it.
If, and it is a big if, if people would have put that Bible under my nose and just started out by saying Look at this scripture and would not explain what it meant I might have turned away from God. Yes, well meaning people who work for the Lord, preaching and teaching can drive people away if they give them more than can handle. Pastors that I know also will give salvation messages at the end of each service, and why is that done? Because you just never know how far along someone is and when their hearts are opened to receive the word.
When you go working for the Lord, here are a few examples of what you can do and not scare people away. Set examples as how you live, as nothing will scare someone away from the Lord more than to see a person who is really not practicing what they preach. If a person is sitting on a bar stool drunk as a sunk (just a term) and is talking about being saved to a person who is having a beer and a sandwich, what do you think the one eating might think... Maybe this... IF THAT IS WHAT A CHRISTIAN IS LIKE, I DON'T WANT TO BE ONE. When I started to come back to the Lord, I would talk to a few pastors who were customers, I would ask questions, I talked to a nun who would come for gas and in fact she helped me up when I was at the lowest point of my life.
Now let me tie it into "You Aint The Judge". Folks, when you are out working for the Lord, do not judge those who are the "dogs" (a term, folks), do not judge those who know little or nothing about the Lord, work with them, for remember if you were like me, you were a "dog" out there without the Lord also. Someone led you to the Lord. Yes, some on the line came to the Lord early in life, while others did not. And folks, I don't know if everyone came to the Lord, so I try and keep it simple. But when it comes to this, are you going to Heaven or hell, I must tell it like it is. If you are saved, born again, washed in the blood, and work for the Lord, you are going to Heaven, if you are not saved, born again, etc. you are going in the pit of fire... or Hell.
The signs on the barns that say "Ye Must be Born Again" are facts, but that kind of talk also needs the follow up support. Someday I would like to see a sign like that and play dumb (play dumb? no smart remarks) and just stop in and ask, what does that mean? I would love to see what they say.
Ok, enough, time to pray...
Dear Lord, protect Your people this day, it does not matter who they are, what their color is, protect Your people today from the bad storms. And Lord, teach me more about the scriptures as I think I stumbled on this one today. Lord, have a helper call on me... Lord, bless the Clouse family. In the name of Jesus I ask that You teach all of us who are going out working for You, how to handle our assignments and please keep us in line... In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth serving The Lord and sharing your blessings with others... love ya, Pastor Dan.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
March 10, 2011 You Aint The Judge! 2
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"
Good Thursday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters... Please note... Watch your weather reports, if you are near us (Central Pennsylvania) the rains are coming. Be sure your sump pumps come on, test them if needed. Also, if you live along those creeks and rivers, watch for flooding. Flooding on the Swatara Creek in Hershey is looking bad, also the Susquehanna River. Pray, folks, for the rains to blow out to sea. If you do not live in Central Pennsylvania area, watch your own weather, I understand that New Jersey is going to have some major flooding.
Prayer requests... Please keep praying for Janelle and Ted Clouse and their family. These are the folks that lost seven of their eight children in a fire in Blain, Perry County, Pa. Please note, the father was listed as sleeping in his truck. He drives a milk tanker and while it is taking on milk, he can get in the cab and take a nap... it was not like he was sleeping someplace, he was working. The mother was in the barn milking cows. When you see family members hug them, when you talk to them on the phone, be sure you tell them you love them.
Other prayer requests... For the Orner family in the passing of their mother, Little Allie's grandmother. Prayers for Donna, Sandy, Beverly and their mother... Prayers also for Sharon, Melanie and Terry... Prayers for healing from cancer for Ronald Leidigh and Kathleen Sansoni. Prayers also for Donna Leidigh and Tom Sansoni as they stand by their spouses. Also remember today being Thursday we pray today for our schools and our families.
Praise Report... Congratulations to David Campbell, who will be graduating from The United States Air Force Boot Camp tomorrow, Friday March 11, 2011. Thanks, David, for SERVING OUR COUNTRY. David is the son of Martha and Rob Campbell, Newport Pa.
The Big Trip 13-2 You Aint the Judge: Matthew 7:3 - "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" 4 "How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?" 5 "You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
Brothers and sisters, here is another example of Jesus driving home an example for us. So just what does the example say? Surely most of us have had some sawdust or dirt in our eyes at one time or another, but a plank?? Again, just an example... So what is it saying to me? First, as we go out to work for the Lord we need to get our own house in order, we need to REPENT and ask to be forgiven of those sins and then again we need to REPENT. We need to be sure we are clean of our sins and repent of them before we start telling someone else how to live free of sins. Still with that said, I am sure you will have people say to you, or even say to others, I remember when he or she (put in your own name) did this and that. I can remember how they used to be, and brothers and sisters, that is the key here, and we need to tell others, yes, USED TO BE, for we have changed and the Lord cleaned us. Let's face it, we are all sinners and while we were still sinners Jesus died on the cross for us.
In the scripture it tells me that I need to stand in front of the mirror and take a good look right at the one looking back at me and get the plank out of my eyes. Jesus asks us this and we must remember that Jesus is the same today as when He made these statements, Jesus is asking, how can we witness for Him about sin if we are indeed still living a big life of sin, or a big, big lie? Again, we need to REPENT AND COME CLEAN TO JESUS, you do not need to confess to the world, just to Jesus. And we need to turn away from sin and then and only then we will see clearly to help our brothers and sisters.
So let's start today by removing the plank from our eyes, and notice, please, I did not say your eyes, I need to come clean each day, even to do what I do on this line. And yes, I am a sinner and clean by God and as hard as I try to repent, I still mess up from time to time. Even in your thinking, because we might not be "mind readers" but Jesus knows our minds and our hearts. Now we are under orders to take "The Good News" to others, but we are also to be clean when we do it.
Dear Father in Heaven, praise and thanks to You for our food, our water, and all of our needs. We pray that the rains stop before the floods come and if they come you stand by those in trouble. Lord, our hearts go out for the family that lost most of their family. Please comfort them, and stand by the community also for they are all working together to help. Lord, be with Jim Orner and his family as they plan for a funeral for their mother. Heal from cancer Kathleen and also Ronald. And Lord, bless David and keep him safe as he moves forward to keep our country free. Bless all of our military. And Lord, please forgive me of my sins this day, and clean me to work for You. Help me get the planks out of my eyes... Be with the others on our prayer list and work within our families and schools... In Jesus' Name, Amen.
I just turned after the prayer and watched some National News, houses gone from the winds, New Jersey waking to water around their homes, and even some homes up on stilts floating away... Count your blessings folks, and share them also... love ya, Pastor Dan.
Need food help, live in the area, call us... 717 691 8200
Good Thursday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters... Please note... Watch your weather reports, if you are near us (Central Pennsylvania) the rains are coming. Be sure your sump pumps come on, test them if needed. Also, if you live along those creeks and rivers, watch for flooding. Flooding on the Swatara Creek in Hershey is looking bad, also the Susquehanna River. Pray, folks, for the rains to blow out to sea. If you do not live in Central Pennsylvania area, watch your own weather, I understand that New Jersey is going to have some major flooding.
Prayer requests... Please keep praying for Janelle and Ted Clouse and their family. These are the folks that lost seven of their eight children in a fire in Blain, Perry County, Pa. Please note, the father was listed as sleeping in his truck. He drives a milk tanker and while it is taking on milk, he can get in the cab and take a nap... it was not like he was sleeping someplace, he was working. The mother was in the barn milking cows. When you see family members hug them, when you talk to them on the phone, be sure you tell them you love them.
Other prayer requests... For the Orner family in the passing of their mother, Little Allie's grandmother. Prayers for Donna, Sandy, Beverly and their mother... Prayers also for Sharon, Melanie and Terry... Prayers for healing from cancer for Ronald Leidigh and Kathleen Sansoni. Prayers also for Donna Leidigh and Tom Sansoni as they stand by their spouses. Also remember today being Thursday we pray today for our schools and our families.
Praise Report... Congratulations to David Campbell, who will be graduating from The United States Air Force Boot Camp tomorrow, Friday March 11, 2011. Thanks, David, for SERVING OUR COUNTRY. David is the son of Martha and Rob Campbell, Newport Pa.
The Big Trip 13-2 You Aint the Judge: Matthew 7:3 - "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" 4 "How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?" 5 "You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
Brothers and sisters, here is another example of Jesus driving home an example for us. So just what does the example say? Surely most of us have had some sawdust or dirt in our eyes at one time or another, but a plank?? Again, just an example... So what is it saying to me? First, as we go out to work for the Lord we need to get our own house in order, we need to REPENT and ask to be forgiven of those sins and then again we need to REPENT. We need to be sure we are clean of our sins and repent of them before we start telling someone else how to live free of sins. Still with that said, I am sure you will have people say to you, or even say to others, I remember when he or she (put in your own name) did this and that. I can remember how they used to be, and brothers and sisters, that is the key here, and we need to tell others, yes, USED TO BE, for we have changed and the Lord cleaned us. Let's face it, we are all sinners and while we were still sinners Jesus died on the cross for us.
In the scripture it tells me that I need to stand in front of the mirror and take a good look right at the one looking back at me and get the plank out of my eyes. Jesus asks us this and we must remember that Jesus is the same today as when He made these statements, Jesus is asking, how can we witness for Him about sin if we are indeed still living a big life of sin, or a big, big lie? Again, we need to REPENT AND COME CLEAN TO JESUS, you do not need to confess to the world, just to Jesus. And we need to turn away from sin and then and only then we will see clearly to help our brothers and sisters.
So let's start today by removing the plank from our eyes, and notice, please, I did not say your eyes, I need to come clean each day, even to do what I do on this line. And yes, I am a sinner and clean by God and as hard as I try to repent, I still mess up from time to time. Even in your thinking, because we might not be "mind readers" but Jesus knows our minds and our hearts. Now we are under orders to take "The Good News" to others, but we are also to be clean when we do it.
Dear Father in Heaven, praise and thanks to You for our food, our water, and all of our needs. We pray that the rains stop before the floods come and if they come you stand by those in trouble. Lord, our hearts go out for the family that lost most of their family. Please comfort them, and stand by the community also for they are all working together to help. Lord, be with Jim Orner and his family as they plan for a funeral for their mother. Heal from cancer Kathleen and also Ronald. And Lord, bless David and keep him safe as he moves forward to keep our country free. Bless all of our military. And Lord, please forgive me of my sins this day, and clean me to work for You. Help me get the planks out of my eyes... Be with the others on our prayer list and work within our families and schools... In Jesus' Name, Amen.
I just turned after the prayer and watched some National News, houses gone from the winds, New Jersey waking to water around their homes, and even some homes up on stilts floating away... Count your blessings folks, and share them also... love ya, Pastor Dan.
Need food help, live in the area, call us... 717 691 8200
Ash Wednesday-Salvation Wednesday
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. Today is Ash Wednesday and also on this line Salvation Wednesday. Today's message will be different, but before I get started, please stop and pray with me for comfort for the Mennonite family who last night had a fire in their home and seven of their 8 children died in the fire. This happened in Blain, Pennsylvania, a small community in Perry County. This area is about 15 miles from our home.
Dear Father in Heaven... We want to thank You for this day and for the blessing of children. Today we come to You saddened from the news of seven children, ages 11 months to 11 years of age. All children of one family dear Lord... Lord, please, please comfort this family and the community around them and also the Mennonite families as they gather in support of the family who lost their children. Praise God we have heaven to look forward to, Lord... Bless them. Please, we ask in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
How does one deal with the loss of a child, let only seven of them at once? Count your blessings, my dear brothers and sisters, and HUG YOUR KIDS AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN.
Remember today is Salvation Wednesday on this line, so please pray hard for the lost and for we who are saved to help bring them to Jesus.
Ash Wednesday: Brothers and sisters, growing up as a child I did not hear much about Ash Wednesday other than it was the start of the Lenten season, and jokingly when asked by my Catholic buddies what I was giving up for lent, I would say... "Church". Back in 1979 when I first came to the Lord, I was waiting on a customer at the gas pumps (full service) and when cleaning the windshield I noticed the lady had black on her forehead. I was not thinking about Ash Wednesday when I informed her she had something on her forehead... I was trying to be nice as I knew the lady and knew she was off to work. She then told me about Ash Wednesday and she just came from church. I wanted to hide under her car.
While not knowing much about this subject and knowing we have many, many Catholics on this line, I write about Jesus and not denominations, I asked a dear friend, Sharon Ogden, who is Catholic if she would help me talk about it. What she did was pulled from a Catholic Website the following information. I think it is important to understand other religions who are Christian and working for the same goal, getting to Heaven. Thank you, Sharon, for your help, I love you, Dan.
Here starts the information I received from Sharon.
"Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption."
Why we receive the ashes
"Remember, Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return."
"Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church, and they help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice.
The distribution of ashes comes from a ceremony of ages past. Christians who had committed grave faults performed public penance. On Ash Wednesday, the Bishop blessed the hair shirts which they were to wear during the forty days of penance, and sprinkled over them ashes made from the palms from the previous year. Then, while the faithful recited the Seven Penitential Psalms, the penitents were turned out of the church because of their sins -- just as Adam, the first man, was turned out of Paradise because of his disobedience. The penitents did not enter the church again until Maundy Thursday after having won reconciliation by the toil of forty days' penance and sacramental absolution. Later, all Christians, whether public or secret penitents, came to receive ashes out of devotion. In earlier times, the distribution of ashes was followed by a penitential procession."
The Ashes
"The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year. The ashes are christened with Holy Water and are scented by exposure to incense. While the ashes symbolize penance and contrition, they are also a reminder that God is gracious and merciful to those who call on Him with repentant hearts. His Divine mercy is of utmost importance during the season of Lent, and the Church calls on us to seek that mercy during the entire Lenten season with reflection, prayer and penance."
That ends the information sent to me.
Now go forth and share your blessings, I will catch up with prayer requests tomorrow.
Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Dear Father in Heaven... We want to thank You for this day and for the blessing of children. Today we come to You saddened from the news of seven children, ages 11 months to 11 years of age. All children of one family dear Lord... Lord, please, please comfort this family and the community around them and also the Mennonite families as they gather in support of the family who lost their children. Praise God we have heaven to look forward to, Lord... Bless them. Please, we ask in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
How does one deal with the loss of a child, let only seven of them at once? Count your blessings, my dear brothers and sisters, and HUG YOUR KIDS AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN.
Remember today is Salvation Wednesday on this line, so please pray hard for the lost and for we who are saved to help bring them to Jesus.
Ash Wednesday: Brothers and sisters, growing up as a child I did not hear much about Ash Wednesday other than it was the start of the Lenten season, and jokingly when asked by my Catholic buddies what I was giving up for lent, I would say... "Church". Back in 1979 when I first came to the Lord, I was waiting on a customer at the gas pumps (full service) and when cleaning the windshield I noticed the lady had black on her forehead. I was not thinking about Ash Wednesday when I informed her she had something on her forehead... I was trying to be nice as I knew the lady and knew she was off to work. She then told me about Ash Wednesday and she just came from church. I wanted to hide under her car.
While not knowing much about this subject and knowing we have many, many Catholics on this line, I write about Jesus and not denominations, I asked a dear friend, Sharon Ogden, who is Catholic if she would help me talk about it. What she did was pulled from a Catholic Website the following information. I think it is important to understand other religions who are Christian and working for the same goal, getting to Heaven. Thank you, Sharon, for your help, I love you, Dan.
Here starts the information I received from Sharon.
"Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption."
Why we receive the ashes
"Remember, Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return."
"Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church, and they help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice.
The distribution of ashes comes from a ceremony of ages past. Christians who had committed grave faults performed public penance. On Ash Wednesday, the Bishop blessed the hair shirts which they were to wear during the forty days of penance, and sprinkled over them ashes made from the palms from the previous year. Then, while the faithful recited the Seven Penitential Psalms, the penitents were turned out of the church because of their sins -- just as Adam, the first man, was turned out of Paradise because of his disobedience. The penitents did not enter the church again until Maundy Thursday after having won reconciliation by the toil of forty days' penance and sacramental absolution. Later, all Christians, whether public or secret penitents, came to receive ashes out of devotion. In earlier times, the distribution of ashes was followed by a penitential procession."
The Ashes
"The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year. The ashes are christened with Holy Water and are scented by exposure to incense. While the ashes symbolize penance and contrition, they are also a reminder that God is gracious and merciful to those who call on Him with repentant hearts. His Divine mercy is of utmost importance during the season of Lent, and the Church calls on us to seek that mercy during the entire Lenten season with reflection, prayer and penance."
That ends the information sent to me.
Now go forth and share your blessings, I will catch up with prayer requests tomorrow.
Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
February 7/8 2011 You Aint The Judge
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Good Tuesday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters... Sorry about yesterday, we got a surprise snow storm on Sunday Night, into Monday morning and as you know, I plow snow. Praise God I still had my plow on the truck, so I was ready in a way. I also had an early morning doctors appointment and then Dolores had one in the afternoon, PLUS, our power was off and on during the snow storm and high wind had caused the computer to go down... I will catch up on the prayer requests tomorrow, but even a warning for that, I am being blessed tomorrow with getting bread and pies for our food pantry and that requires an early morning pickup and then from that to the dentist. I was there last week, and must go back for my teeth (just kidding, folks). Monday and Tuesday, the days we pray for our leaders, our troops and veterans, our police and firefighters and all who work to keep us healthy and safe, and then also a cure for all these things like cancer, heart problems, etc. And once again yesterday at a new doctor, Dolores was told, sorry, nothing they can do about the pain... So we keep our faith as always in Jesus and his healing hand. Do pray today for Marsha, as a dear sweet lady stopped me in the food store yesterday afternoon as I was picking up a few things on the way home from all the running, she told me her daughter Marsha has breast cancer... right in the middle of the store we had a prayer meeting, two adults praying and crying... GOD IS GOOD.
Brothers and sisters, when you are asked to pray for someone, do it on the spot to start. I don't care where you are, grab the person who asked and pray for the request. AMEN.
The Big trip 13-1 Judging 1: Mathew 7:1 - "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, is there a time in our life when we must "Judge" others? Well, I think yes... but wait a minute, I am not talking about if someone will make it into heaven or not, that is now, always was and always will be the work of our Lord Jesus Christ. John 14:6 tells us that the only way we are going to get to see The Father, our Father in Heaven, is by going through Jesus. So then what am I saying about "Judging" and that we must sometimes do some judging? When you go to the store and look over food, fresh food, you make a judgment on which is the best watermelon or bananas or potatoes, etc. So maybe I should use the term "fruit inspector" but again on today's market, maybe that word will get me into trouble. Anyway, when I look back on my days of childhood (back when the streets were still dirt), my parents would tell me that I could not play with (name withheld) for he was bad news. And folks, he was, and spent much time in reform school. (We need them again, folks.) My parents did not pick my friends, but they sure did tell me who I could not run with in my younger days. In life we need to make calls like that, we need to make judgment calls or decisions about others and other things. I do believe that needs to be done, more often maybe now than back when I was growing up. Maybe if some parents would make judgment calls about friends for their kids they would not be in the trouble they are in today.
Where are parents when kids at age 12 and 13 are being arrested for carrying guns and stealing cars for the joy ride? Where are parents when the kids are running around at 2.00 AM? Where were those parents' parents when they were growing up? One of the things that helped to straighten out the boy I was not allowed to play with when growing up was the judge, a court judge sentenced him to go to church... I sang beside him in the choir, and yes, before he passed away, he came to Jesus.
The thing I want you to really take from this message today is that we should never judge someone and say if they are worthy for heaven, because we do not fully understand their hearts. Now I am talking about saying they will not make heaven. We even need to be careful when we say people are saved for do we really, really know their hearts? Now notice I just said that that young man whom I could not play with came to Jesus and I think he did, but I will not know till I get to heaven, if he made it. (And Jesus, He's still working on me,) Also remember that when you do judge someone one it is by that same measure you will be judged.
Dear Father in Heaven, thanks for the message of today, and Lord, help me to not judge others but to look into the mirror each and every day and make some judgment about the one looking back at me. Am I indeed worthy of Your kingdom, and I know that the answer is no, Lord, and I never will be worthy, but You going to the cross for me, dear Jesus, and dying for me, has cleared my unworthy self of getting to heaven if I just have faith and believe in You, and follow in Your footsteps, You will clean me and have me ready. Help me, help us to live for You. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Go forth and serve The Lord and while doing that remember to share your blessings. Your blessings are more fun when you share them. HONEST... Now go and eat a donut. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Good Tuesday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters... Sorry about yesterday, we got a surprise snow storm on Sunday Night, into Monday morning and as you know, I plow snow. Praise God I still had my plow on the truck, so I was ready in a way. I also had an early morning doctors appointment and then Dolores had one in the afternoon, PLUS, our power was off and on during the snow storm and high wind had caused the computer to go down... I will catch up on the prayer requests tomorrow, but even a warning for that, I am being blessed tomorrow with getting bread and pies for our food pantry and that requires an early morning pickup and then from that to the dentist. I was there last week, and must go back for my teeth (just kidding, folks). Monday and Tuesday, the days we pray for our leaders, our troops and veterans, our police and firefighters and all who work to keep us healthy and safe, and then also a cure for all these things like cancer, heart problems, etc. And once again yesterday at a new doctor, Dolores was told, sorry, nothing they can do about the pain... So we keep our faith as always in Jesus and his healing hand. Do pray today for Marsha, as a dear sweet lady stopped me in the food store yesterday afternoon as I was picking up a few things on the way home from all the running, she told me her daughter Marsha has breast cancer... right in the middle of the store we had a prayer meeting, two adults praying and crying... GOD IS GOOD.
Brothers and sisters, when you are asked to pray for someone, do it on the spot to start. I don't care where you are, grab the person who asked and pray for the request. AMEN.
The Big trip 13-1 Judging 1: Mathew 7:1 - "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, is there a time in our life when we must "Judge" others? Well, I think yes... but wait a minute, I am not talking about if someone will make it into heaven or not, that is now, always was and always will be the work of our Lord Jesus Christ. John 14:6 tells us that the only way we are going to get to see The Father, our Father in Heaven, is by going through Jesus. So then what am I saying about "Judging" and that we must sometimes do some judging? When you go to the store and look over food, fresh food, you make a judgment on which is the best watermelon or bananas or potatoes, etc. So maybe I should use the term "fruit inspector" but again on today's market, maybe that word will get me into trouble. Anyway, when I look back on my days of childhood (back when the streets were still dirt), my parents would tell me that I could not play with (name withheld) for he was bad news. And folks, he was, and spent much time in reform school. (We need them again, folks.) My parents did not pick my friends, but they sure did tell me who I could not run with in my younger days. In life we need to make calls like that, we need to make judgment calls or decisions about others and other things. I do believe that needs to be done, more often maybe now than back when I was growing up. Maybe if some parents would make judgment calls about friends for their kids they would not be in the trouble they are in today.
Where are parents when kids at age 12 and 13 are being arrested for carrying guns and stealing cars for the joy ride? Where are parents when the kids are running around at 2.00 AM? Where were those parents' parents when they were growing up? One of the things that helped to straighten out the boy I was not allowed to play with when growing up was the judge, a court judge sentenced him to go to church... I sang beside him in the choir, and yes, before he passed away, he came to Jesus.
The thing I want you to really take from this message today is that we should never judge someone and say if they are worthy for heaven, because we do not fully understand their hearts. Now I am talking about saying they will not make heaven. We even need to be careful when we say people are saved for do we really, really know their hearts? Now notice I just said that that young man whom I could not play with came to Jesus and I think he did, but I will not know till I get to heaven, if he made it. (And Jesus, He's still working on me,) Also remember that when you do judge someone one it is by that same measure you will be judged.
Dear Father in Heaven, thanks for the message of today, and Lord, help me to not judge others but to look into the mirror each and every day and make some judgment about the one looking back at me. Am I indeed worthy of Your kingdom, and I know that the answer is no, Lord, and I never will be worthy, but You going to the cross for me, dear Jesus, and dying for me, has cleared my unworthy self of getting to heaven if I just have faith and believe in You, and follow in Your footsteps, You will clean me and have me ready. Help me, help us to live for You. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Go forth and serve The Lord and while doing that remember to share your blessings. Your blessings are more fun when you share them. HONEST... Now go and eat a donut. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
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