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.