"Peace be with you!" "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. What a beautiful morning today, just beautiful. Yesterday at this time we were being hit by some really bad storms. Please, please pray today for all God's warriors who work the fields of harvest to bring in the lost. Please pray for all those who lost loved ones, and pray for those who were injured in the storms of yesterday. Please pray for those who lost their homes or even had damage.
Please pray also this weekend for Nathan Becker and Brittany Lehman, and also for this old pastor, as I marry them tomorrow. This is my granddaughter, the one that God gave us back a few years back after a very, very, very bad traffic accident in which one of God's angels restarted her in the car on the accident location. THANK YOU JESUS... and now He has sent her a wonderful young man, who is Born Again, as is Brittany.
Personal Appearances 4: John 20:26 - A week later His disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27 Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." 28 Thomas said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" (NIV)
When Jesus made His Personal Appearance with His disciples as we discussed yesterday, Thomas was not with them. The other disciples told Thomas they had seen Jesus. Thomas told them unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put his finger into the nail holes and put his hand into the side of he, Thomas, would not believe. Thus you have that term, doubting Thomas!
So folks, what about us, we do not have the chance to put our fingers in the nail holes or in His side, we cannot see the scars on His head from the crown of thorns... So we must believe, and so many people do not. There once was a saying that you should not believe anything you hear, and only half of what you see. But let me tell you this, if you really, really love Jesus, if you have had that one on one relationship with Jesus and you close your eyes in prayer and you just try and picture Jesus and those nail scarred hands, you will see them in your heart. I had a teacher in the first or second grade who would, when teaching us to memorize something, would say, "Look at it, then close and picture."
So Thomas got to see first hand and touch Jesus, and He believed. Then Jesus said this. And this is what applies to us this day...
John 20:29 - Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed: Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (NIV)
And Blessed we are, my dear brothers and sisters. Being a Christian, a real believer in our Lord Jesus requires us to "have faith." Our religion is REALLY NOT a religion, but a relationship with Jesus. SOMEONE SHOUT AMEN. It is a one on one relationship... And of all the personal appearances that God has made, not just after His death on the cross, but before, and He made many, and He talked with people (no teleprompter needed, thank you) and He healed people and He drove out demons, and He fed thousands with little, and I could go on and on, but the most important Personal Appearance that He can make is when He comes one on one, a personal appearance with you, or with me, the personal appearance He makes when WE STEP OUT IN FAITH AND BECOME A BELIEVER, when we embrace that personal appearance, and love Him... I look forward to the day I can touch those hands and His side, till then I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE, AND I AM SAVED BY OUR LORD JESUS.
Dear Father in Heaven... Thanks for all You do and all You have done... Protect Your workers in the fields, protect those who were hurt in the storms, protect and heal the wounds of those who lost loved ones, and Lord bless a marriage... In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Now go forth sharing those blessings and walking in faith... and close your eyes and picture those nail holes in His hands... love ya, Pastor Dan.
Friday, April 29, 2011
April 28, 2011 Personal Appearances 3
"Peace be with you!" "Peace be with you! As The Father has sent me, I am sending you."
Folks, stop right now and pray, over the night there have been a lot of twisters. According to our local weather, we have been getting hit hard in our area, and right now we are under a severe Thunderstorm warning with high amounts of rain and heavy hail. But this is NOTHING like what has been reported coming up the Eastern Sea Board, including Alabama, which had twister with speeds of OVER 200 MPH. Early reports over 82 dead overnight from this line of storms. Over 140 twisters reported overnight.
So let's praise God this morning as we pray for others, yes, Praise God, for some folks have lost it all last night and if you are reading this, you have awakened and your roof is still on your house.
Last evening Dolores and I were both ready for bed (we retire early), then the storm warnings were posted in our area with those twister warnings, so I went to her and said, "please get dressed again in case we need to head to the basement." We got ready, made a plan for taking animals down with us. Second step was to head to our one small bathroom in the center of the house.. We wanted to be ready. So let me ask you, are you ready if the storm would hit, do you have a plan in place, HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE LORD TO BE SAVED, for that needs to be the first stage of the plan..Think of those people who lost their lives last night, were they saved? It is personal, between God, and each of us. LATE BREAKING - a tornado is right now over Gettysburg Pa. More in the message today...
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, it is Thursday and the day we pray for our schools and families, and how they both need it today. Along with the above prayers for people in the storm areas, please pray for all families, and most of all the family of God. Also please pray for Vicki.
Ok, I am back, we went under a tornado warning, so I took a break from the computer, and put on some clothes, and gathered our blind dogs into a small bathroom. We are ok, still being pelted by very, very heavy rain. Death toll update, 159.
Personal Appearances 3, John 20:19 - On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 20 After He said this, He showed them His hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw The Lord. 21 Again, Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As The Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22 And with that He breathed on them and said. "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven, if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." (NIV)
So let's put us in the room, we are the disciples, and we are the disciples of today, we are to carry out the work of the Lord. Anyway we are sitting in the room, we are together and we are of course talking about Jesus, our beloved Jesus who we watch die. Now we, the disciples have been told that the Lord had been risen, and because of worries about others coming to get us, we have locked the doors. When He just appears in the room with us. He did not walk through the wall, if He did the Bible would have said, He walked through the wall, He just appeared. Now today if we wanted to I. D. someone we would ask for Photo I. D. But what did Jesus show for I. D.? Jesus show them His nailed scarred hands and His side that was pierced by a sword.
I am waiting the day when I meet my dear Jesus face to face and see those scars, not that I will need the I. D. from Him, I just want to see them. Ok, we are sitting there, and we hear the voice, "Peace be with you, would we not just be jumping for joy as the Bible said the disciples were, overwhelmed would be more like it.
Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you!" and added this, "As The Father has sent me, I am sending you." And He breathed on them the Holy Spirit. Does this take your mind back to Adam where God made man from dirt and breathed life into him. Excuse me, but when the Holy Spirit comes over you, YOU COME TO LIFE! Until you receive the Holy Spirit, I think you are "dead." When do we receive the Holy Spirit? When we are Born Again, washed in the blood...
Now I want to research this some more and welcome people weighing in on this. "If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven, if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." To me, this looks like Jesus is giving those disciples the power to forgive others and let the choice up to them... As disciples of today, do we not have that same choice, if people ask us to forgive them, do we not have a choice? But be careful here, for we are forgiven by Jesus just as we forgive others. But surely and again I want to bring this out, Jesus is our only way to heaven and we know that He will forgive us. If we go to someone and ask them to forgive us, and they will not forgive us, that does not mean we cannot get into heaven. But we as Christians, and disciples of Jesus need to forgive others so we can be forgiven by our Lord. While those early disciples have the power to forgive others so do we, and Jesus has also given special gifts to all of us, and some will have the power of healing in the name of Jesus.
Ok, I need to wrap this out today, the storms are still in the area, and while there is no lighting in the area and we still have power, I need to shower, as we have a hymn sing this morning at the Bridges and I don't want people to drop over because I did not take a shower.
Dear Father in Heaven, our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones overnight and also to those who are injured, please be with them. Also I pray for our schools and families. In the name of Jesus, also touch Vicki this day... Amen.
Now go forth sharing your blessings, and folks, if you have not been hit by a storm, you have been spared, stand ready to help your brothers and sisters. And brothers and sisters, before you go another step be sure you have had your Personal Appearance before Jesus. As we see with the storms, we do not always get a warning. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Folks, stop right now and pray, over the night there have been a lot of twisters. According to our local weather, we have been getting hit hard in our area, and right now we are under a severe Thunderstorm warning with high amounts of rain and heavy hail. But this is NOTHING like what has been reported coming up the Eastern Sea Board, including Alabama, which had twister with speeds of OVER 200 MPH. Early reports over 82 dead overnight from this line of storms. Over 140 twisters reported overnight.
So let's praise God this morning as we pray for others, yes, Praise God, for some folks have lost it all last night and if you are reading this, you have awakened and your roof is still on your house.
Last evening Dolores and I were both ready for bed (we retire early), then the storm warnings were posted in our area with those twister warnings, so I went to her and said, "please get dressed again in case we need to head to the basement." We got ready, made a plan for taking animals down with us. Second step was to head to our one small bathroom in the center of the house.. We wanted to be ready. So let me ask you, are you ready if the storm would hit, do you have a plan in place, HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE LORD TO BE SAVED, for that needs to be the first stage of the plan..Think of those people who lost their lives last night, were they saved? It is personal, between God, and each of us. LATE BREAKING - a tornado is right now over Gettysburg Pa. More in the message today...
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, it is Thursday and the day we pray for our schools and families, and how they both need it today. Along with the above prayers for people in the storm areas, please pray for all families, and most of all the family of God. Also please pray for Vicki.
Ok, I am back, we went under a tornado warning, so I took a break from the computer, and put on some clothes, and gathered our blind dogs into a small bathroom. We are ok, still being pelted by very, very heavy rain. Death toll update, 159.
Personal Appearances 3, John 20:19 - On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 20 After He said this, He showed them His hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw The Lord. 21 Again, Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As The Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22 And with that He breathed on them and said. "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven, if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." (NIV)
So let's put us in the room, we are the disciples, and we are the disciples of today, we are to carry out the work of the Lord. Anyway we are sitting in the room, we are together and we are of course talking about Jesus, our beloved Jesus who we watch die. Now we, the disciples have been told that the Lord had been risen, and because of worries about others coming to get us, we have locked the doors. When He just appears in the room with us. He did not walk through the wall, if He did the Bible would have said, He walked through the wall, He just appeared. Now today if we wanted to I. D. someone we would ask for Photo I. D. But what did Jesus show for I. D.? Jesus show them His nailed scarred hands and His side that was pierced by a sword.
I am waiting the day when I meet my dear Jesus face to face and see those scars, not that I will need the I. D. from Him, I just want to see them. Ok, we are sitting there, and we hear the voice, "Peace be with you, would we not just be jumping for joy as the Bible said the disciples were, overwhelmed would be more like it.
Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you!" and added this, "As The Father has sent me, I am sending you." And He breathed on them the Holy Spirit. Does this take your mind back to Adam where God made man from dirt and breathed life into him. Excuse me, but when the Holy Spirit comes over you, YOU COME TO LIFE! Until you receive the Holy Spirit, I think you are "dead." When do we receive the Holy Spirit? When we are Born Again, washed in the blood...
Now I want to research this some more and welcome people weighing in on this. "If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven, if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." To me, this looks like Jesus is giving those disciples the power to forgive others and let the choice up to them... As disciples of today, do we not have that same choice, if people ask us to forgive them, do we not have a choice? But be careful here, for we are forgiven by Jesus just as we forgive others. But surely and again I want to bring this out, Jesus is our only way to heaven and we know that He will forgive us. If we go to someone and ask them to forgive us, and they will not forgive us, that does not mean we cannot get into heaven. But we as Christians, and disciples of Jesus need to forgive others so we can be forgiven by our Lord. While those early disciples have the power to forgive others so do we, and Jesus has also given special gifts to all of us, and some will have the power of healing in the name of Jesus.
Ok, I need to wrap this out today, the storms are still in the area, and while there is no lighting in the area and we still have power, I need to shower, as we have a hymn sing this morning at the Bridges and I don't want people to drop over because I did not take a shower.
Dear Father in Heaven, our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones overnight and also to those who are injured, please be with them. Also I pray for our schools and families. In the name of Jesus, also touch Vicki this day... Amen.
Now go forth sharing your blessings, and folks, if you have not been hit by a storm, you have been spared, stand ready to help your brothers and sisters. And brothers and sisters, before you go another step be sure you have had your Personal Appearance before Jesus. As we see with the storms, we do not always get a warning. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
April 27, 2011 Personal Appearances 2
"Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, "I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"
Salvation Wednesday, Salvation Wednesday, Bring the lost to Jesus to be saved. Salvation Wednesday, Salvation Wednesday, Bring the lost to Jesus to be saved. Jesus is a wonderful Savior and the Only Savior, and we need to be working for Him, helping to bring in the harvest, so please, please say or sing this today.
Salvation Wednesday, Salvation Wednesday, Bring the lost to Jesus to be saved. Salvation Wednesday, Salvation Wednesday, Bring the lost to Jesus to be saved.
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, it is Salvation Wednesday and the day we pray for the lost and then go to work bringing in the lost to Jesus to be saved. Once again I would like to point out, we cannot save anyone as far as salvation is concerned, that is the work of Jesus and only Jesus, but you can help save those lost souls by being a "fisher of men." AMEN.
Please take time to read the message at the end of my message today, it is about the National Day of Prayer next week. Also remember this date... Saturday May 7th at high noon, a support our troops rally. I once again have the honor of doing the prayers. Please note, this is not a support the war rally, it is a rally to SUPPORT OUR MILITARY! And hear me on this, if it were not for our veterans and our current military, we would not be able to pray on those Capitol Steps and/or inside the Capitol. THANK YOU, MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR MILITARY, PAST AND PRESENT. I love you!!
Personal Appearances 2: Luke 20:17 - "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, "I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news. "I have seen the Lord!" and she told them that He had said these things to her. (NIV)
Let's take a look at the scriptures that God has given to me this day. "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father." Now we know that our Jesus is alive, and we know that He had been put to death on the cross, for that is also recorded in the scriptures and we studied them coming into Easter. We watched as the Tomb of Jesus was found empty and we watched as Jesus first appeared to Mary and then was greeted by Jesus. So what is Jesus telling us now? "Do not hold on to me." Why, could it be He was like a ghost like we see in the movies and we would just not be able to feel Him? I don't think so, for the words of Jesus did not say, do not touch me, it said "Do not hold on to me." It sounds to me that He wanted to get Mary started out and telling others that she has seen Jesus and He indeed is ALIVE AND WELL. It is also telling me that Jesus will be going Home, going to Heaven, and this is where I want to point out this scripture to you. Jesus said, "For I have NOT YET returned to the Father."
John 14:1 - "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house there many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me, that you also may be where I am." (NIV)
In some versions of The Bible, rooms is referred to as a mansion, meaning a big home with many, many rooms. Now let's look at this part another way. "For I have not yet returned to the Father."
Sure does sound to me like He was risen from the dead and He is alive and well and walking the earth again, and will at a later time return for us... Next...
"Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"
Now we find Jesus telling Mary to go and tell His Brothers. And folks, His brothers were His disciples, and folks, I want you to really look at this, for who are His disciples of today? We are, so again we find what Jesus said back then means the same today and once again I want to support that with scripture.
Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, please remember this, Jesus is not just our Savior, our Lord, our Judge, and many more things, but He is also our Brother! Now you can go out and tell people that Jesus is your brother, and watch them look at you. It is plain to me. Amazing... And we have known that God our Father in Heaven is our Father, and here it is in scripture in the words of Jesus. "I am returning to my Father and your Father, my God and your God."
I have been too long today, time to close out...
Dear Father in Heaven, forgive me of my sins, and help me repent and walk each day in the footsteps of Jesus our Lord and Savior. Help me walk with Jesus, my brother, Jesus, each and every day. Help all of us get working in the fields of Harvest for Jesus our Lord and take the Good News to the masses. And Lord, help us start by looking deep into the heart of the one we see in the mirror each day... In the name of Jesus, Amen.
One more date to leave you with, put it on your schedule. Saturday, July 2, 2011. at noon, for our annual family picnic. We have again rented the pavilion at Willow Mill Park. All food and drinks will be furnished. This is a thank you picnic for our personal family, our family flock from The Bridges and our online Family and also the family of supporters of Carry The Light Ministries food pantry. If you are coming, we need to know and how many. I am the cook!! Also if you wish and that is up to you, you may bring canned goods for the food pantry...
Now go forth and share those blessings, and know that I love ya... Pastor Dan.
Please Announce. . . .Thank You!
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
60th Annual Observance
A MIGHTY
F O R T R E S S
IS OUR G O D
"I will say of the Lord,
He is my refuge and my
fortress, my GOD, in
whom I trust." Ps 91:2
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Capitol Steps
Third and State Streets
Harrisburg PA 17120
11 am Worship
12 noon Service
In case of RAIN we will meet in the East Wing Rotunda
Everyone is Welcome!
Salvation Wednesday, Salvation Wednesday, Bring the lost to Jesus to be saved. Salvation Wednesday, Salvation Wednesday, Bring the lost to Jesus to be saved. Jesus is a wonderful Savior and the Only Savior, and we need to be working for Him, helping to bring in the harvest, so please, please say or sing this today.
Salvation Wednesday, Salvation Wednesday, Bring the lost to Jesus to be saved. Salvation Wednesday, Salvation Wednesday, Bring the lost to Jesus to be saved.
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, it is Salvation Wednesday and the day we pray for the lost and then go to work bringing in the lost to Jesus to be saved. Once again I would like to point out, we cannot save anyone as far as salvation is concerned, that is the work of Jesus and only Jesus, but you can help save those lost souls by being a "fisher of men." AMEN.
Please take time to read the message at the end of my message today, it is about the National Day of Prayer next week. Also remember this date... Saturday May 7th at high noon, a support our troops rally. I once again have the honor of doing the prayers. Please note, this is not a support the war rally, it is a rally to SUPPORT OUR MILITARY! And hear me on this, if it were not for our veterans and our current military, we would not be able to pray on those Capitol Steps and/or inside the Capitol. THANK YOU, MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR MILITARY, PAST AND PRESENT. I love you!!
Personal Appearances 2: Luke 20:17 - "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, "I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news. "I have seen the Lord!" and she told them that He had said these things to her. (NIV)
Let's take a look at the scriptures that God has given to me this day. "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father." Now we know that our Jesus is alive, and we know that He had been put to death on the cross, for that is also recorded in the scriptures and we studied them coming into Easter. We watched as the Tomb of Jesus was found empty and we watched as Jesus first appeared to Mary and then was greeted by Jesus. So what is Jesus telling us now? "Do not hold on to me." Why, could it be He was like a ghost like we see in the movies and we would just not be able to feel Him? I don't think so, for the words of Jesus did not say, do not touch me, it said "Do not hold on to me." It sounds to me that He wanted to get Mary started out and telling others that she has seen Jesus and He indeed is ALIVE AND WELL. It is also telling me that Jesus will be going Home, going to Heaven, and this is where I want to point out this scripture to you. Jesus said, "For I have NOT YET returned to the Father."
John 14:1 - "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house there many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me, that you also may be where I am." (NIV)
In some versions of The Bible, rooms is referred to as a mansion, meaning a big home with many, many rooms. Now let's look at this part another way. "For I have not yet returned to the Father."
Sure does sound to me like He was risen from the dead and He is alive and well and walking the earth again, and will at a later time return for us... Next...
"Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"
Now we find Jesus telling Mary to go and tell His Brothers. And folks, His brothers were His disciples, and folks, I want you to really look at this, for who are His disciples of today? We are, so again we find what Jesus said back then means the same today and once again I want to support that with scripture.
Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, please remember this, Jesus is not just our Savior, our Lord, our Judge, and many more things, but He is also our Brother! Now you can go out and tell people that Jesus is your brother, and watch them look at you. It is plain to me. Amazing... And we have known that God our Father in Heaven is our Father, and here it is in scripture in the words of Jesus. "I am returning to my Father and your Father, my God and your God."
I have been too long today, time to close out...
Dear Father in Heaven, forgive me of my sins, and help me repent and walk each day in the footsteps of Jesus our Lord and Savior. Help me walk with Jesus, my brother, Jesus, each and every day. Help all of us get working in the fields of Harvest for Jesus our Lord and take the Good News to the masses. And Lord, help us start by looking deep into the heart of the one we see in the mirror each day... In the name of Jesus, Amen.
One more date to leave you with, put it on your schedule. Saturday, July 2, 2011. at noon, for our annual family picnic. We have again rented the pavilion at Willow Mill Park. All food and drinks will be furnished. This is a thank you picnic for our personal family, our family flock from The Bridges and our online Family and also the family of supporters of Carry The Light Ministries food pantry. If you are coming, we need to know and how many. I am the cook!! Also if you wish and that is up to you, you may bring canned goods for the food pantry...
Now go forth and share those blessings, and know that I love ya... Pastor Dan.
Please Announce. . . .Thank You!
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
60th Annual Observance
A MIGHTY
F O R T R E S S
IS OUR G O D
"I will say of the Lord,
He is my refuge and my
fortress, my GOD, in
whom I trust." Ps 91:2
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Capitol Steps
Third and State Streets
Harrisburg PA 17120
11 am Worship
12 noon Service
In case of RAIN we will meet in the East Wing Rotunda
Everyone is Welcome!
Monday, April 25, 2011
April 25, 2011 Easter Monday
"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with Gladness, come before His presence with singing."
Good Easter Monday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. I pray your Easter was as wonderful as mine. Easter really started out for me on Thursday with a communion service at the Bridges, and on Good Friday with a gospel concert also at the Bridges. Then Saturday our daughters, Danelle, and Leann, along with two of our grandchildren, Tyler and Janelle and Leann's boy friend, Dino, we worked in the food pantry and our family loaded cars with food as needy families came to the Carry The Light Ministries food pantry for food.
On Saturday evening I got food ready to cook for Easter, ham, turkey, so I was up and down all night checking on them as I slow roasted them. Sunday Morning I went to a Son/sun rise service, then to the Bridges to preach... Then home to deliver the food I had cooked. God has blessed us and I just love to cook for others (and so far none of them have died from it). Then it was off to a very large family dinner as guests of Wanda Crockett and her family. When we got home, did some work with our family of dogs, and it was off to bed. I should not tell you this, but I had a really big glass of chocolate milk and I took it along to bed. About 1:00 AM I got the milk and started to drink it and I fell asleep, waking when I dumped the glass all over me and the bed. Then I had to get up and wash the bed clothes (not the first time I have dumped something on me while sleeping). So that was Easter for us, and it was great, why was it so great, BECAUSE OUR, SAVIOR JESUS, IS ALIVE. So send me an email and tell me about your Easter.
Praise the Lord our Lord Jesus is alive and still answering prayers... On Palm Sunday I was called to the bedside of William Sanders, as the family thought William was heading home. We prayed and prayed and anointed him with oil. Last Monday he seemed worse, but our faith got stronger, and we also placed William on the list for prayer. On Easter Sunday Morning, William was in church, and looking great. GOD IS GOOD, GOD STILL ANSWERS PRAYERS AND GOD STILL HEALS.
Today being Monday, we pray for our president, our other leaders, our veterans, our military, our police and firefighters and all those working to keep us safe and healthy. I also have prayer requests for Vicki, and for Kathleen Sansoni, also for Pastor Tony and Pastor Charles. Also in prayer request for our granddaughter, Tiffany Lehman, who has "Limes." And my dear, dear wife Dolores is in so much pain, so please pray for her.
Easter Monday: Psalm 100:1 - "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 2 Serve the Lord with Gladness, come before His presence with singing." (King James)
I had picked another scripture and while writing about Easter above and what we did, God was telling me that Easter Monday should be a day of praise and singing. So let's get started with prayer and then hit some singing, and maybe, just maybe, we can get a song or songs in our minds and in our hearts so that we might be singing wherever we go this Easter Monday.
Dear Father in Heaven, we just want to praise You and sing to You and sing to others and lift You on this fine day. Yes, we have prayer requests which You have heard as I typed them, and I ask that You act on them according to Your will and not ours. Thanks, Father, for Jesus and thanks for giving Him to us, to save us from our sins. Jesus, thank You for all You have done and still do. You are wonderful, You are Holy and to be Praised, help us through this day and help us at work or play, and help us in all we do, for we give thanks for another day and I pray that all of us on this line will live this day for You and to please You, and I pray the same for me, I want to follow You, walking in Your footsteps and trying my very best to repent of sin and work for You. In Your wonderful name I pray for Your will to be done... I love You, Jesus... Amen.
Folks, I often pray on this line in the first person, asking God to help me, I do pray that when you read over my prayer you put yourself in the first person slot and pray as if the "I" part of the prayer is from Your heart also. Now let's sing just a few songs, and let's get them on your heart.... ready, set, go.
"This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long, This is my story, this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long."
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of His spirit, washed in His blood.
"This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long, This is my story, this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long."
Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest: Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His Love..
"This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long, This is my story, this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long."
"This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long, This is my story, this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long."
I pray as all of you go about each day you just love telling others about our Lord Jesus. I know I do!
"I love to tell the story! 'Twill be my theme in glory, to tell the old, old story, of Jesus and His love."
"I love to tell the story! 'Twill be my theme in glory, to tell the old, old story, of Jesus and His love."
"Up from the grave He arose, with a MIGHTY TRIUMPH o'er His foes, He arose a Victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever with His saints to reign, He arose! He arose!!, Hallelujah! Christ Arose!"
"Up from the grave He arose, with a MIGHTY TRIUMPH o'er His foes, He arose a Victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever with His saints to reign, He arose! He arose!!, Hallelujah! Christ Arose!"
Oh, "This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made. We will rejoice, we will rejoice, and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord that the Lord has made."
Oh, "This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made. We will rejoice, we will rejoice, and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord that the Lord has made."
"Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, How great Thou art, HOW GREAT THOU ART."
Come on, let's put this one on our minds, lips and hearts as we go forth this day. And please remember to share your blessings as you go forth, and also remember this. I love ya. Pastor Dan.
And now let's lock it in real, real tight and sing it out loud and clear.
"Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, How great Thou art, HOW GREAT THOU ART."
"Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, How great Thou art, HOW GREAT THOU ART."
Good Easter Monday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. I pray your Easter was as wonderful as mine. Easter really started out for me on Thursday with a communion service at the Bridges, and on Good Friday with a gospel concert also at the Bridges. Then Saturday our daughters, Danelle, and Leann, along with two of our grandchildren, Tyler and Janelle and Leann's boy friend, Dino, we worked in the food pantry and our family loaded cars with food as needy families came to the Carry The Light Ministries food pantry for food.
On Saturday evening I got food ready to cook for Easter, ham, turkey, so I was up and down all night checking on them as I slow roasted them. Sunday Morning I went to a Son/sun rise service, then to the Bridges to preach... Then home to deliver the food I had cooked. God has blessed us and I just love to cook for others (and so far none of them have died from it). Then it was off to a very large family dinner as guests of Wanda Crockett and her family. When we got home, did some work with our family of dogs, and it was off to bed. I should not tell you this, but I had a really big glass of chocolate milk and I took it along to bed. About 1:00 AM I got the milk and started to drink it and I fell asleep, waking when I dumped the glass all over me and the bed. Then I had to get up and wash the bed clothes (not the first time I have dumped something on me while sleeping). So that was Easter for us, and it was great, why was it so great, BECAUSE OUR, SAVIOR JESUS, IS ALIVE. So send me an email and tell me about your Easter.
Praise the Lord our Lord Jesus is alive and still answering prayers... On Palm Sunday I was called to the bedside of William Sanders, as the family thought William was heading home. We prayed and prayed and anointed him with oil. Last Monday he seemed worse, but our faith got stronger, and we also placed William on the list for prayer. On Easter Sunday Morning, William was in church, and looking great. GOD IS GOOD, GOD STILL ANSWERS PRAYERS AND GOD STILL HEALS.
Today being Monday, we pray for our president, our other leaders, our veterans, our military, our police and firefighters and all those working to keep us safe and healthy. I also have prayer requests for Vicki, and for Kathleen Sansoni, also for Pastor Tony and Pastor Charles. Also in prayer request for our granddaughter, Tiffany Lehman, who has "Limes." And my dear, dear wife Dolores is in so much pain, so please pray for her.
Easter Monday: Psalm 100:1 - "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 2 Serve the Lord with Gladness, come before His presence with singing." (King James)
I had picked another scripture and while writing about Easter above and what we did, God was telling me that Easter Monday should be a day of praise and singing. So let's get started with prayer and then hit some singing, and maybe, just maybe, we can get a song or songs in our minds and in our hearts so that we might be singing wherever we go this Easter Monday.
Dear Father in Heaven, we just want to praise You and sing to You and sing to others and lift You on this fine day. Yes, we have prayer requests which You have heard as I typed them, and I ask that You act on them according to Your will and not ours. Thanks, Father, for Jesus and thanks for giving Him to us, to save us from our sins. Jesus, thank You for all You have done and still do. You are wonderful, You are Holy and to be Praised, help us through this day and help us at work or play, and help us in all we do, for we give thanks for another day and I pray that all of us on this line will live this day for You and to please You, and I pray the same for me, I want to follow You, walking in Your footsteps and trying my very best to repent of sin and work for You. In Your wonderful name I pray for Your will to be done... I love You, Jesus... Amen.
Folks, I often pray on this line in the first person, asking God to help me, I do pray that when you read over my prayer you put yourself in the first person slot and pray as if the "I" part of the prayer is from Your heart also. Now let's sing just a few songs, and let's get them on your heart.... ready, set, go.
"This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long, This is my story, this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long."
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of His spirit, washed in His blood.
"This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long, This is my story, this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long."
Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest: Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His Love..
"This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long, This is my story, this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long."
"This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long, This is my story, this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long."
I pray as all of you go about each day you just love telling others about our Lord Jesus. I know I do!
"I love to tell the story! 'Twill be my theme in glory, to tell the old, old story, of Jesus and His love."
"I love to tell the story! 'Twill be my theme in glory, to tell the old, old story, of Jesus and His love."
"Up from the grave He arose, with a MIGHTY TRIUMPH o'er His foes, He arose a Victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever with His saints to reign, He arose! He arose!!, Hallelujah! Christ Arose!"
"Up from the grave He arose, with a MIGHTY TRIUMPH o'er His foes, He arose a Victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever with His saints to reign, He arose! He arose!!, Hallelujah! Christ Arose!"
Oh, "This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made. We will rejoice, we will rejoice, and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord that the Lord has made."
Oh, "This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made. We will rejoice, we will rejoice, and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord that the Lord has made."
"Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, How great Thou art, HOW GREAT THOU ART."
Come on, let's put this one on our minds, lips and hearts as we go forth this day. And please remember to share your blessings as you go forth, and also remember this. I love ya. Pastor Dan.
And now let's lock it in real, real tight and sing it out loud and clear.
"Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, How great Thou art, HOW GREAT THOU ART."
"Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, How great Thou art, HOW GREAT THOU ART."
Sunday, April 24, 2011
EASTER SUNDAY 2011
Luke 24:1 - On The first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them. "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, HE HAS RISEN!" (NIV)
Let’s go to the Tomb of Jesus. Let us just go along with the women who were going there to put perfume on the body of Jesus. Now when they arrived they found the stone that had been placed in front of the tomb and even sealed was rolled away. They also found the guards that were watching over the tomb standing like stone. Let’s see, the men were like stone and the stone was like a wheel and rolled away… Then we go with the ladies and look into the tomb. Jesus is gone and two men appear, looking like angels of the Lord, asking us, why are you looking for Jesus among the dead, for Jesus is alive, He has been risen from the dead. He has been brought back to life as He said He would be.
Today we sing praises to our Lord Jesus for He did die for us, all of us, and on the third day He was risen from the dead.
JESUS IS ALIVE!!!! Happy Easter, my dear brothers and sisters, and it is a beautiful day here in Central Pennsylvania and all over the world because of Jesus. And did I say: JESUS IS ALIVE!!!
Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o'er His foes. He arose a Victor from the dark domain, And He lives forever with His saints to reign. HE AROSE! HE AROSE! Hallelujah! Chris arose!
Alive, Alive, Alive forever more, my Jesus is alive, alive forever more. Alive, alive, alive forever more, my Jesus is alive. Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah my Jesus is alive forever more, sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah, my Jesus is alive.
Alive, Alive, Alive forever more, my Jesus is alive, alive forever more. Alive, alive, alive forever more, my Jesus is alive. Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah my Jesus is alive forever more, sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah, my Jesus is alive.
JESUS IS ALIVE!!!! My dear friends, as we sing praises and lift our Lord Jesus, remember this, that Jesus was risen from the dead so that someday we also might be risen from the grave.
Now I want you to place yourself in the shoes of those who went to the tomb of Jesus on the first day, in the shoes of Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James who found that the "Stone" that was not just placed in front of the tomb, but also sealed and then guarded was rolled away. Angels of the Lord rolled away that stone and our Lord Jesus was risen.
Now I want you to think about your being to a service for a family member or loved one at a cemetery. You watch as the casket is placed in position over the grave site and you go through the service, and then walk away. Now if you are like me, when my mamma and daddy and also my brother were buried, I went back to the cemetery a few days later to see if they did a good job of finishing off the site. Was the grave closed neatly, was the headstone in place. And of course just to visit the gravesite of my just departed loved one. Now think about this. What if you would have found the grave site open, the lid off the vault, the casket open and the body gone? Oh my gosh, how would we react? Like the women did that morning at the Tomb of Jesus? Think about it, and place yourself back in time to the day Jesus was risen from the dead. Not only was Jesus not in the tomb when the ladies looked, and they were told by the angels of the Lord that He has risen.
While they were heading out to tell others this happened... In Matthew 28: 8/9 it tells of this, and while the ladies were heading out to tell the others, “suddenly Jesus met them... Greetings, He said.”
Oh my gosh, what if you had just buried your son and had gone to the grave, he was gone and now he was standing talking to you? What would your thoughts be? Just really think about that, and then my friends also think why Jesus did this. Why be killed, put to death on the cross, and then risen three days later? Why did God The Father put His Son Jesus through this? This is a really easy question, my brothers and sisters. God The Father put His Son Jesus through this for this reason. For you and for me, to save us from our sins. That's it. It was done for us, God The Father, I am sure felt every hit, every spit, every nail that was used on Jesus that day. He watched as this was done, even knowing He could stop it. It had to hurt God The Father as much as it did Jesus. As parents we know how we tell the kids when we punished them, this is going me more than you! And it really did. God had to feel the same way about His Son. However Jesus died on the cross, He suffered and died so that we might live. He was risen from the dead, so that we also might be risen from the dead if we just believe in Jesus. All this was done for us, for you and for me... Please, please don't ever take this lightly. Jesus went through a lot of pain, to give us a way to get to Heaven when we leave this earth. All the hard work is done, we just must confess our love to Jesus (See Roman's 10: 9 & 10).
So now I want you to picture going to the cemetery one day to visit the grave of a loved one and you find a lot of graves, maybe half of them open, and the bodies gone. What is going on? What is going on is, if you are seeing this, you missed out when Jesus came back... You were "left behind."
Up from the grave He arose!!! With a mighty triumph o'er His foes!! And just by taking Jesus as your Savior, you also will be doing that same thing some day. Up from the grave we will rise!! To meet our Savior in the sky!!! And yes, we will have that mighty triumph o'er our foes. Free, free, free at last, thank God, we are free at last. The words of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will ring really clear that day. Don't be left behind. If today you are not really sure where you stand with Jesus, will you pray with me in faith and give yourself over to Jesus right now? This is an "I" prayer, I cannot pray this one for you, only lead you. Have faith now, ask Jesus into Your life, or ask Him to renew you today, to clean you if you are already saved. Let's start this day together with Jesus, clean, clean, clean... Please, in faith.
Dear Father in Heaven, Thanks for going to the cross, thanks for taking the punishment that I should have had. Thanks for taking my place, thanks for giving me a way to be risen from the dead and to be able to join with You in Heaven. Now Jesus, hear my confession of faith, and come into my heart and stay... Lord, forgive me of my sins, I do love You, Jesus, and I believe that You died for me on the cross, so I might be set free from my sins, from evil. Lord, I believe also that You did not just die on the cross but You were taken down and buried and on that third day, the first day of the week You were risen up from the dead, so that we might also be risen if we just believe in You. I believe in You, Jesus, and ask that You right now save me. Teach me to repent from my sins, and walk the other way when it comes to evil. Lord, place my name on the list of those to be left into Heaven. Save me, Jesus, save me. I ask this in the name of the one who went to the cross for me, my Savior, my Lord, my dear sweet Jesus. Amen.
The Bible tells us in John 3: 16/18 ... "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. For God did not send His Son into the World to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." (New International Version)
My dear brothers and sisters, there will be a day when folks will see graves opened at the cemetery and it will not be grave robbers, for when our Jesus returns, those who loved Him will be brought up from the graves, those buried at sea will also rise up to meet our Lord in the clouds, then those believers who are alive will go next. I pray today that you are not one standing looking at the open graves for it could only mean one thing... You missed the call. The others who did not believe and have died will also be risen to be condemned. Listen to these words from the book of John 5: 24/29 - "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself. And He has given Him authority to judge because He is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out. Those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned." NIV
In short, those who love Jesus and have confessed themselves over to Him will be saved. Please read Romans 10: 9/10 for this. So as I say to you Happy Easter, if you are not born again, please, please consider praying IN FAITH the prayer. If you are saved, this is a great day to renew your love for Jesus again. Let's face it, Jesus is the groom and we are His bride, and as for me, I would marry Him again and again... how about you!!
"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; HE HAS RISEN!"
HE'S ALIVE, HE'S ALIVE, HE'S ALIVE, HE HAS BEEN RISEN FROM THE GRAVE. HE'S ALIVE SO WE MIGHT LIVE ALSO.
My dear Brothers and sisters, what a great morning... what a great day to be alive and even greater when you are alive in our Lord Jesus... Please let's just start the day with prayer...
Dear Father in Heaven, we are so blessed because of You and Your Son Jesus, we are so blessed because we serve a Risen Savior and not someone or something with no hope for us. Today we want to give thanks to Jesus for going to the cross for us, for taking our sins with Him to the cross. Father thanks to the cross, we can be free this morning. Bless Your children today, Lord, as you have washed us clean of all sin and shame, let us with Your help, repent of sin and walk with You. Keep us safe this day, oh Lord, and may Your churches be full today and all Pastors preach the truth, the truth of our risen Savior. In the mighty name of Jesus, I humble, bow, and give thanks. Amen.
Go forth now, have a great Easter, and remember to share your blessings. love ya, dan.
He's Alive!! Amen.
Let’s go to the Tomb of Jesus. Let us just go along with the women who were going there to put perfume on the body of Jesus. Now when they arrived they found the stone that had been placed in front of the tomb and even sealed was rolled away. They also found the guards that were watching over the tomb standing like stone. Let’s see, the men were like stone and the stone was like a wheel and rolled away… Then we go with the ladies and look into the tomb. Jesus is gone and two men appear, looking like angels of the Lord, asking us, why are you looking for Jesus among the dead, for Jesus is alive, He has been risen from the dead. He has been brought back to life as He said He would be.
Today we sing praises to our Lord Jesus for He did die for us, all of us, and on the third day He was risen from the dead.
JESUS IS ALIVE!!!! Happy Easter, my dear brothers and sisters, and it is a beautiful day here in Central Pennsylvania and all over the world because of Jesus. And did I say: JESUS IS ALIVE!!!
Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o'er His foes. He arose a Victor from the dark domain, And He lives forever with His saints to reign. HE AROSE! HE AROSE! Hallelujah! Chris arose!
Alive, Alive, Alive forever more, my Jesus is alive, alive forever more. Alive, alive, alive forever more, my Jesus is alive. Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah my Jesus is alive forever more, sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah, my Jesus is alive.
Alive, Alive, Alive forever more, my Jesus is alive, alive forever more. Alive, alive, alive forever more, my Jesus is alive. Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah my Jesus is alive forever more, sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah, my Jesus is alive.
JESUS IS ALIVE!!!! My dear friends, as we sing praises and lift our Lord Jesus, remember this, that Jesus was risen from the dead so that someday we also might be risen from the grave.
Now I want you to place yourself in the shoes of those who went to the tomb of Jesus on the first day, in the shoes of Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James who found that the "Stone" that was not just placed in front of the tomb, but also sealed and then guarded was rolled away. Angels of the Lord rolled away that stone and our Lord Jesus was risen.
Now I want you to think about your being to a service for a family member or loved one at a cemetery. You watch as the casket is placed in position over the grave site and you go through the service, and then walk away. Now if you are like me, when my mamma and daddy and also my brother were buried, I went back to the cemetery a few days later to see if they did a good job of finishing off the site. Was the grave closed neatly, was the headstone in place. And of course just to visit the gravesite of my just departed loved one. Now think about this. What if you would have found the grave site open, the lid off the vault, the casket open and the body gone? Oh my gosh, how would we react? Like the women did that morning at the Tomb of Jesus? Think about it, and place yourself back in time to the day Jesus was risen from the dead. Not only was Jesus not in the tomb when the ladies looked, and they were told by the angels of the Lord that He has risen.
While they were heading out to tell others this happened... In Matthew 28: 8/9 it tells of this, and while the ladies were heading out to tell the others, “suddenly Jesus met them... Greetings, He said.”
Oh my gosh, what if you had just buried your son and had gone to the grave, he was gone and now he was standing talking to you? What would your thoughts be? Just really think about that, and then my friends also think why Jesus did this. Why be killed, put to death on the cross, and then risen three days later? Why did God The Father put His Son Jesus through this? This is a really easy question, my brothers and sisters. God The Father put His Son Jesus through this for this reason. For you and for me, to save us from our sins. That's it. It was done for us, God The Father, I am sure felt every hit, every spit, every nail that was used on Jesus that day. He watched as this was done, even knowing He could stop it. It had to hurt God The Father as much as it did Jesus. As parents we know how we tell the kids when we punished them, this is going me more than you! And it really did. God had to feel the same way about His Son. However Jesus died on the cross, He suffered and died so that we might live. He was risen from the dead, so that we also might be risen from the dead if we just believe in Jesus. All this was done for us, for you and for me... Please, please don't ever take this lightly. Jesus went through a lot of pain, to give us a way to get to Heaven when we leave this earth. All the hard work is done, we just must confess our love to Jesus (See Roman's 10: 9 & 10).
So now I want you to picture going to the cemetery one day to visit the grave of a loved one and you find a lot of graves, maybe half of them open, and the bodies gone. What is going on? What is going on is, if you are seeing this, you missed out when Jesus came back... You were "left behind."
Up from the grave He arose!!! With a mighty triumph o'er His foes!! And just by taking Jesus as your Savior, you also will be doing that same thing some day. Up from the grave we will rise!! To meet our Savior in the sky!!! And yes, we will have that mighty triumph o'er our foes. Free, free, free at last, thank God, we are free at last. The words of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will ring really clear that day. Don't be left behind. If today you are not really sure where you stand with Jesus, will you pray with me in faith and give yourself over to Jesus right now? This is an "I" prayer, I cannot pray this one for you, only lead you. Have faith now, ask Jesus into Your life, or ask Him to renew you today, to clean you if you are already saved. Let's start this day together with Jesus, clean, clean, clean... Please, in faith.
Dear Father in Heaven, Thanks for going to the cross, thanks for taking the punishment that I should have had. Thanks for taking my place, thanks for giving me a way to be risen from the dead and to be able to join with You in Heaven. Now Jesus, hear my confession of faith, and come into my heart and stay... Lord, forgive me of my sins, I do love You, Jesus, and I believe that You died for me on the cross, so I might be set free from my sins, from evil. Lord, I believe also that You did not just die on the cross but You were taken down and buried and on that third day, the first day of the week You were risen up from the dead, so that we might also be risen if we just believe in You. I believe in You, Jesus, and ask that You right now save me. Teach me to repent from my sins, and walk the other way when it comes to evil. Lord, place my name on the list of those to be left into Heaven. Save me, Jesus, save me. I ask this in the name of the one who went to the cross for me, my Savior, my Lord, my dear sweet Jesus. Amen.
The Bible tells us in John 3: 16/18 ... "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. For God did not send His Son into the World to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." (New International Version)
My dear brothers and sisters, there will be a day when folks will see graves opened at the cemetery and it will not be grave robbers, for when our Jesus returns, those who loved Him will be brought up from the graves, those buried at sea will also rise up to meet our Lord in the clouds, then those believers who are alive will go next. I pray today that you are not one standing looking at the open graves for it could only mean one thing... You missed the call. The others who did not believe and have died will also be risen to be condemned. Listen to these words from the book of John 5: 24/29 - "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself. And He has given Him authority to judge because He is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out. Those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned." NIV
In short, those who love Jesus and have confessed themselves over to Him will be saved. Please read Romans 10: 9/10 for this. So as I say to you Happy Easter, if you are not born again, please, please consider praying IN FAITH the prayer. If you are saved, this is a great day to renew your love for Jesus again. Let's face it, Jesus is the groom and we are His bride, and as for me, I would marry Him again and again... how about you!!
"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; HE HAS RISEN!"
HE'S ALIVE, HE'S ALIVE, HE'S ALIVE, HE HAS BEEN RISEN FROM THE GRAVE. HE'S ALIVE SO WE MIGHT LIVE ALSO.
My dear Brothers and sisters, what a great morning... what a great day to be alive and even greater when you are alive in our Lord Jesus... Please let's just start the day with prayer...
Dear Father in Heaven, we are so blessed because of You and Your Son Jesus, we are so blessed because we serve a Risen Savior and not someone or something with no hope for us. Today we want to give thanks to Jesus for going to the cross for us, for taking our sins with Him to the cross. Father thanks to the cross, we can be free this morning. Bless Your children today, Lord, as you have washed us clean of all sin and shame, let us with Your help, repent of sin and walk with You. Keep us safe this day, oh Lord, and may Your churches be full today and all Pastors preach the truth, the truth of our risen Savior. In the mighty name of Jesus, I humble, bow, and give thanks. Amen.
Go forth now, have a great Easter, and remember to share your blessings. love ya, dan.
He's Alive!! Amen.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Good Friday Holy Week 5
Jesus said "Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing."
Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
Dear Father in Heaven, forgive me of my sins, for I am a sinner, one of those who You died for. Thank You for saving my very, very unworthy soul, Help me to repent and come even nearer to You... In Jesus' name, Amen.
Brothers and sisters, we call it good Friday, but on this day our Lord Jesus died. We call it Good Friday for on this day God gave us the best gift we will ever have a chance to receive, He gave us Jesus (John 3:16). We call it Good Friday for on this day Jesus suffered and died for us (Luke 22:47 through Luke 23:49). We call it Good Friday, HOWEVER, it is only good for us if we accept the love of Jesus (John 14:6). While I could sit and type all of this from the Bible, I will ask you to just open your Bible and read it... AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BIBLE, please let me know and Carry The Light Ministries will have one in the mail for you right away.
However, I do want to go over a few scriptures and ask you to pray for all pastors this weekend, and pray that they do not miss the chance to get a good salvation message to the ones coming to their assigned churches. Yes, we get to see people in church that might not have been there since Christmas. I call them our C and E people. Hey, I was one of them a long time ago.
Luke 23:34 - Jesus said, "Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." (NIV)
I picked this scripture to bring out that while Jesus was at His lowest point, when He was being put on the cross, His love was on others, HIS LOVE WAS ON US, for these words said back when Jesus was on the cross, hold good today and He wants to forgive us. I ask you to pray today for a lady, whose name I do not know, who last night as I was leaving our church service told me she does not believe in God. You see, these words, "forgive them for they do know know what they are doing," ring loud for me this morning, for I am thinking, this lady does not know what she is doing. While we who are saved now know what we are doing, we were all at one time lost, all of us, not a one who has walked this earth with the exception of Jesus walked without sin. We need to repent, and today is a great day to do just that... get on your knees and ask to be forgiven.
Luke 23:43 - Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (NIV)
Years and years ago I was told by a pastor that he did not believe in what we Christians call a bedside conversion, or someone who is about to die being led to confess their sins and be forgiven by Jesus. He told me it was not in the Bible. While I wish everyone would come to Jesus now and not wait til the last minute, for you might not get that last minute chance and also because it is so much better living for Jesus then the way one lives without Him... Anyway I was told that I could not back up what I was saying by using scripture... And while there is no scripture that says, if you are laying in bed dying, Jesus will still save you, you can find the same thing with Luke 23:43 for indeed one of those criminals on the cross beside Jesus spoke out for Jesus and was saved.
Please take time to read your Bible and the scriptures above and I will be back on Easter Morning, early, very early...
Now while I part today saying these things, share your blessings and I love ya... I also want to leave you with these words, the words of Jesus on the cross, the very last words...
Luke 23:46 - Jesus called with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When He had said this, HE BREATHED HIS LAST...
I love You, Jesus... and I love all of you... Pastor Dan.
Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
Dear Father in Heaven, forgive me of my sins, for I am a sinner, one of those who You died for. Thank You for saving my very, very unworthy soul, Help me to repent and come even nearer to You... In Jesus' name, Amen.
Brothers and sisters, we call it good Friday, but on this day our Lord Jesus died. We call it Good Friday for on this day God gave us the best gift we will ever have a chance to receive, He gave us Jesus (John 3:16). We call it Good Friday for on this day Jesus suffered and died for us (Luke 22:47 through Luke 23:49). We call it Good Friday, HOWEVER, it is only good for us if we accept the love of Jesus (John 14:6). While I could sit and type all of this from the Bible, I will ask you to just open your Bible and read it... AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BIBLE, please let me know and Carry The Light Ministries will have one in the mail for you right away.
However, I do want to go over a few scriptures and ask you to pray for all pastors this weekend, and pray that they do not miss the chance to get a good salvation message to the ones coming to their assigned churches. Yes, we get to see people in church that might not have been there since Christmas. I call them our C and E people. Hey, I was one of them a long time ago.
Luke 23:34 - Jesus said, "Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." (NIV)
I picked this scripture to bring out that while Jesus was at His lowest point, when He was being put on the cross, His love was on others, HIS LOVE WAS ON US, for these words said back when Jesus was on the cross, hold good today and He wants to forgive us. I ask you to pray today for a lady, whose name I do not know, who last night as I was leaving our church service told me she does not believe in God. You see, these words, "forgive them for they do know know what they are doing," ring loud for me this morning, for I am thinking, this lady does not know what she is doing. While we who are saved now know what we are doing, we were all at one time lost, all of us, not a one who has walked this earth with the exception of Jesus walked without sin. We need to repent, and today is a great day to do just that... get on your knees and ask to be forgiven.
Luke 23:43 - Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (NIV)
Years and years ago I was told by a pastor that he did not believe in what we Christians call a bedside conversion, or someone who is about to die being led to confess their sins and be forgiven by Jesus. He told me it was not in the Bible. While I wish everyone would come to Jesus now and not wait til the last minute, for you might not get that last minute chance and also because it is so much better living for Jesus then the way one lives without Him... Anyway I was told that I could not back up what I was saying by using scripture... And while there is no scripture that says, if you are laying in bed dying, Jesus will still save you, you can find the same thing with Luke 23:43 for indeed one of those criminals on the cross beside Jesus spoke out for Jesus and was saved.
Please take time to read your Bible and the scriptures above and I will be back on Easter Morning, early, very early...
Now while I part today saying these things, share your blessings and I love ya... I also want to leave you with these words, the words of Jesus on the cross, the very last words...
Luke 23:46 - Jesus called with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When He had said this, HE BREATHED HIS LAST...
I love You, Jesus... and I love all of you... Pastor Dan.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Maundy Thursday Holy Week 4
And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you, do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after the supper, He took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."
Good Maundy Thursday Morning to you, my dear brothers and sisters. Please remember today that we are going to have communion together. Let's get right to the message, and I must confess today I am using my notes for my message tonight, or I am using my message from this morning for my message today at church.
Message, Supper with the King
And Praying with Jesus
A Special Message for Maundy Thursday, or Holy Thursday
Supper with the King: Please take time to read Luke 22 verses 7 thru 22.
As we walk with Jesus this most Holy week, we are going to just take time to sit down and break bread with Him. But first let's take a look at what it might be like to just sit down at the table with Jesus at the head of it and have supper with Him. Not necessarily the Passover meal, but just sit at the table and have supper with the King, and also add this into the mix, we had to cook the meal.
Ok, we have done the drill, this will be easy, it will be like a church social, a covered dish, and we just all bring what we most like to make. You know each of us has that "best of the best" that we make. Now as an online prayer line, I am going to ask you if we indeed were sitting down as a group, you know this prayer group, what would we serve, so please just tell me, what dish you would bring to Carry The Light Ministries "Supper with the King"? Ok, since I am up first here, let me tell you that I will make a Double Meat Loaf, always a good choice at a church type social. So how would I make it? Well, it just needs to be the best for I am going to serve it to Jesus. So here goes. It is Double Meat, so I start with very lean ground beef, really good stuff, and use about 66% of that, and then Have 34% Ground Turkey, ground after all the skin is removed. I would put them together in a very large baking pan, one that might be used to cook your 25 pound turkey on Thanksgiving. Mix, and mix and mix. Then I would add in toasted English Muffins cut up into very small pieces. I would also put in about 4 or 5 raw eggs (yes, out of the shell) and also some onions, celery, a few cut up carrots, and then season it with a few of those, I am not telling you things. Then bake it up real good.
So I have the meat, what are you bringing? Come on, tell me tomorrow, and let's just see how balanced our meal would be. Remember it is supper with Jesus.
But now let's get past the food, let's just start to think about how we would act if we knew Jesus was coming, and let's move the supper from a church to one of our homes. Let's face it, Carry The Light Ministries does not have a social hall. So the first thing we are going to do is clean and clean and clean. Oh and I hope you are not one who needs to "Dust off your Bible" or throw out those playboy or playgirl books. Now I can say that there are no books like that in our house, and the Bible is used, so it is not dusted, except for the big old Bible on the coffee table, that might need a dusting.
Anyway, we will get out our dishes and for us it will be our everyday stuff for we do not have that "good china" or special silverware to put out. But we for sure will not use paper plates and plastic flatware. So we set the table, and get ready. When Jesus arrives, how will we act? Oh, I pray that I would act the same as if I were greeting any one of you into our home, except Jesus is one up from You. I love all of you, but Jesus is first. I would also give up my seat at the head of the table for our Lord Jesus would have that place. And then we would all find a place and pass around all those foods that we made. Gosh, how great would this be, and how long till one of us spills something in our laps. Just thing about it my friends we are having supper with The King. Of course I would ask Jesus to grace the food, and I wonder, how would He pray. Would He open with Dear Father like we do? I think so, as I think Jesus would be very polite with His Father, and when finished, I believe He would thank Him and close with an Amen. Gosh, does it get any better than this? Of course it does, for someday we are going to go to Heaven and we are going to sit with Jesus and have a supper. But for now, we are back to the one in our mind.
Now Supper is over and Jesus leans back, and picks up this loaf of bread. I noticed that during the meal, He did not eat from the bread or cut into it. Nor did He drink from the wine we had on the table. Yes, we served wine, as we wanted to serve the best. So now Jesus leans back and picks up the bread gives thanks and broke it and gave it to us. "This is my body given for you: do this in remembrance of me." So now brothers and sisters, please take your bread or crackers and let's pray. Dear Father in Heaven, today in our minds we had supper with You and oh how wonderful it was just thinking about it, and oh how we look forward to the day when You call us all home and we supper with You and You with us each day. Lord, please now bless the bread and the juice as we take communion with You. Lord, bless us and forgive us our sins as we do this in remembrance of You... In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Now please eat and remember the body that was broken for us... Now take your juice, and hear these words of Jesus. "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." Now please drink your juice...
This is so special today, or at least it was for me, just thinking of what it might be like to sit with Jesus, and believe me I could have written a book on this one. But just thinking about all of us, most of you I have never seen, or even talked to, and here in our minds we are sitting together with Jesus. This is special, and then to get cleaned up again by Jesus as we ask Him to forgive us and start us new. We are so blessed... Today we had supper with Jesus and now we will go to the Garden and pray with Him, and again this will be special. To get ready for this, I want you to think about your favorite praying place, and maybe sometime on Thursday evening you might go to that place and pray as Jesus went to the Garden to pray.
Special Places: Do you have any special places? Maybe a place that you remember from the past, or more so, places that are very special to you now.
For those of you who have pets, have you noticed that they have these special places where they go to take a nap, or just to get away for a while? Maybe it is their little bed, or maybe a spot under the bed, each might have a different place.
I know that I have a few special places. One of those places is a Steam Railroad just outside of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Dolores and I get season tickets each year and try and go ride this old steam train about once every two weeks. We just love the place, just a little over an hour from our home to the train, and then an hour on the train, then some good food and back home. Yes, this train is a special place for us. I have other special places also, one being my home. I am such a homebody, really just do not like to leave anymore. In fact, all my life if I were to go someplace and stay for three days or more, I would get sick and just want to come home. This has caused me to not go on many vacations in my life. Of course I have my big garage out in back of the house, that I can go hide out, take Martin and Martha Mary and sneak a little nap... Even have a bed made up in the back of a pickup truck. (Now you know why they are called a "Truck Bed".) I also have two old hearses and I have been known to crawl in the back of them and take a nap. I also have this other very special place, and it is my "Rock of Hope" a large rock in my front yard. I have a bench by the rock, about ten of my beloved dogs are buried beside the rock, and one cat, and two goats that died at birth. and I have some nice flowers around the rock. It is a very special place for me to just go and sit and talk to Jesus. Do you have any special places? Do you have a special place where you go and talk to Jesus?
Special Places: I believe that Jesus had some special places also, and today I just want to take you to one of them. Please take time to read Matthew 26: 36 thru 46. This place called Gethsemane is where Jesus went to pray the night before He was put to death on the Cross. I think there some very important lessons to be learned from these verses, and I just want to bring out a few of them.
First I think this place is special to Jesus, for Jesus could have talked to His Father anyplace, He could have just leaned back in a chair in the "Upper Room" where He just had supper with His Twelve, but no, He went to Gethsemane to have this "heart to heart" with His Father. So I think we need to know that while we can talk to Jesus anytime, from anyplace we should have a special place where we can just go and be alone with Jesus. I think Jesus points that out to us loud and clear on this one.
Next I think that there are times we need to be alone with Jesus, for, well, for a little "one on one" so to speak. A place and time where You can pour out your heart to the one who really cares about it. Oh, we all have people in our lives that care for us, but my friends, no one ever cared for You like Jesus. Gethsemane, I think was one of those special places for Jesus, why else would He have gone there with death just around the corner? To be alone with His Father was also needed or he would have not told His disciples to "stay here and keep watch for me" as He went on ahead to pray.
Special Places: The last lesson that I want to point out to you today from these scriptures is this, found in Matthew 26: 42 - "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
I think here we see the human side of Jesus knowing He was going to be put to death, going to His Father and saying, Father must this be done, must I go through with this, and then without another question He said to His Father, it is Your will and not mine that is to be done........... Learn from this lesson, my dear brothers and sisters, that in good times and even in bad, we need to pray that God's will be done. GOD'S WILL BE DONE, GOD'S WILL BE DONE, in our lives, here on Earth as it is in Heaven... This was pointed out to us by Jesus when He taught us to pray, in the prayer we now call the "Lord's Prayer".
Now here, on the night before He was to be put to death and just before He was taken prisoner, Jesus is praying to His Father, and also teaching us to pray not just in a special place, but these words, "Thy will be done."
So, my dear brothers and sisters, as you go about this day, the day before we celebrate the death of our Lord Jesus on the cross, (and yes we celebrate that!!) please take time to remember the events of this day, that special supper with His most nearest friends, His disciples, and His going to a very special place to pray, in the gardens of Gethsemane, and the lessons from that Garden.
Dear Father, Thanks for all you do for us, we love You very, very much... In Jesus' name, Amen.
Good Maundy Thursday Morning to you, my dear brothers and sisters. Please remember today that we are going to have communion together. Let's get right to the message, and I must confess today I am using my notes for my message tonight, or I am using my message from this morning for my message today at church.
Message, Supper with the King
And Praying with Jesus
A Special Message for Maundy Thursday, or Holy Thursday
Supper with the King: Please take time to read Luke 22 verses 7 thru 22.
As we walk with Jesus this most Holy week, we are going to just take time to sit down and break bread with Him. But first let's take a look at what it might be like to just sit down at the table with Jesus at the head of it and have supper with Him. Not necessarily the Passover meal, but just sit at the table and have supper with the King, and also add this into the mix, we had to cook the meal.
Ok, we have done the drill, this will be easy, it will be like a church social, a covered dish, and we just all bring what we most like to make. You know each of us has that "best of the best" that we make. Now as an online prayer line, I am going to ask you if we indeed were sitting down as a group, you know this prayer group, what would we serve, so please just tell me, what dish you would bring to Carry The Light Ministries "Supper with the King"? Ok, since I am up first here, let me tell you that I will make a Double Meat Loaf, always a good choice at a church type social. So how would I make it? Well, it just needs to be the best for I am going to serve it to Jesus. So here goes. It is Double Meat, so I start with very lean ground beef, really good stuff, and use about 66% of that, and then Have 34% Ground Turkey, ground after all the skin is removed. I would put them together in a very large baking pan, one that might be used to cook your 25 pound turkey on Thanksgiving. Mix, and mix and mix. Then I would add in toasted English Muffins cut up into very small pieces. I would also put in about 4 or 5 raw eggs (yes, out of the shell) and also some onions, celery, a few cut up carrots, and then season it with a few of those, I am not telling you things. Then bake it up real good.
So I have the meat, what are you bringing? Come on, tell me tomorrow, and let's just see how balanced our meal would be. Remember it is supper with Jesus.
But now let's get past the food, let's just start to think about how we would act if we knew Jesus was coming, and let's move the supper from a church to one of our homes. Let's face it, Carry The Light Ministries does not have a social hall. So the first thing we are going to do is clean and clean and clean. Oh and I hope you are not one who needs to "Dust off your Bible" or throw out those playboy or playgirl books. Now I can say that there are no books like that in our house, and the Bible is used, so it is not dusted, except for the big old Bible on the coffee table, that might need a dusting.
Anyway, we will get out our dishes and for us it will be our everyday stuff for we do not have that "good china" or special silverware to put out. But we for sure will not use paper plates and plastic flatware. So we set the table, and get ready. When Jesus arrives, how will we act? Oh, I pray that I would act the same as if I were greeting any one of you into our home, except Jesus is one up from You. I love all of you, but Jesus is first. I would also give up my seat at the head of the table for our Lord Jesus would have that place. And then we would all find a place and pass around all those foods that we made. Gosh, how great would this be, and how long till one of us spills something in our laps. Just thing about it my friends we are having supper with The King. Of course I would ask Jesus to grace the food, and I wonder, how would He pray. Would He open with Dear Father like we do? I think so, as I think Jesus would be very polite with His Father, and when finished, I believe He would thank Him and close with an Amen. Gosh, does it get any better than this? Of course it does, for someday we are going to go to Heaven and we are going to sit with Jesus and have a supper. But for now, we are back to the one in our mind.
Now Supper is over and Jesus leans back, and picks up this loaf of bread. I noticed that during the meal, He did not eat from the bread or cut into it. Nor did He drink from the wine we had on the table. Yes, we served wine, as we wanted to serve the best. So now Jesus leans back and picks up the bread gives thanks and broke it and gave it to us. "This is my body given for you: do this in remembrance of me." So now brothers and sisters, please take your bread or crackers and let's pray. Dear Father in Heaven, today in our minds we had supper with You and oh how wonderful it was just thinking about it, and oh how we look forward to the day when You call us all home and we supper with You and You with us each day. Lord, please now bless the bread and the juice as we take communion with You. Lord, bless us and forgive us our sins as we do this in remembrance of You... In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Now please eat and remember the body that was broken for us... Now take your juice, and hear these words of Jesus. "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." Now please drink your juice...
This is so special today, or at least it was for me, just thinking of what it might be like to sit with Jesus, and believe me I could have written a book on this one. But just thinking about all of us, most of you I have never seen, or even talked to, and here in our minds we are sitting together with Jesus. This is special, and then to get cleaned up again by Jesus as we ask Him to forgive us and start us new. We are so blessed... Today we had supper with Jesus and now we will go to the Garden and pray with Him, and again this will be special. To get ready for this, I want you to think about your favorite praying place, and maybe sometime on Thursday evening you might go to that place and pray as Jesus went to the Garden to pray.
Special Places: Do you have any special places? Maybe a place that you remember from the past, or more so, places that are very special to you now.
For those of you who have pets, have you noticed that they have these special places where they go to take a nap, or just to get away for a while? Maybe it is their little bed, or maybe a spot under the bed, each might have a different place.
I know that I have a few special places. One of those places is a Steam Railroad just outside of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Dolores and I get season tickets each year and try and go ride this old steam train about once every two weeks. We just love the place, just a little over an hour from our home to the train, and then an hour on the train, then some good food and back home. Yes, this train is a special place for us. I have other special places also, one being my home. I am such a homebody, really just do not like to leave anymore. In fact, all my life if I were to go someplace and stay for three days or more, I would get sick and just want to come home. This has caused me to not go on many vacations in my life. Of course I have my big garage out in back of the house, that I can go hide out, take Martin and Martha Mary and sneak a little nap... Even have a bed made up in the back of a pickup truck. (Now you know why they are called a "Truck Bed".) I also have two old hearses and I have been known to crawl in the back of them and take a nap. I also have this other very special place, and it is my "Rock of Hope" a large rock in my front yard. I have a bench by the rock, about ten of my beloved dogs are buried beside the rock, and one cat, and two goats that died at birth. and I have some nice flowers around the rock. It is a very special place for me to just go and sit and talk to Jesus. Do you have any special places? Do you have a special place where you go and talk to Jesus?
Special Places: I believe that Jesus had some special places also, and today I just want to take you to one of them. Please take time to read Matthew 26: 36 thru 46. This place called Gethsemane is where Jesus went to pray the night before He was put to death on the Cross. I think there some very important lessons to be learned from these verses, and I just want to bring out a few of them.
First I think this place is special to Jesus, for Jesus could have talked to His Father anyplace, He could have just leaned back in a chair in the "Upper Room" where He just had supper with His Twelve, but no, He went to Gethsemane to have this "heart to heart" with His Father. So I think we need to know that while we can talk to Jesus anytime, from anyplace we should have a special place where we can just go and be alone with Jesus. I think Jesus points that out to us loud and clear on this one.
Next I think that there are times we need to be alone with Jesus, for, well, for a little "one on one" so to speak. A place and time where You can pour out your heart to the one who really cares about it. Oh, we all have people in our lives that care for us, but my friends, no one ever cared for You like Jesus. Gethsemane, I think was one of those special places for Jesus, why else would He have gone there with death just around the corner? To be alone with His Father was also needed or he would have not told His disciples to "stay here and keep watch for me" as He went on ahead to pray.
Special Places: The last lesson that I want to point out to you today from these scriptures is this, found in Matthew 26: 42 - "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
I think here we see the human side of Jesus knowing He was going to be put to death, going to His Father and saying, Father must this be done, must I go through with this, and then without another question He said to His Father, it is Your will and not mine that is to be done........... Learn from this lesson, my dear brothers and sisters, that in good times and even in bad, we need to pray that God's will be done. GOD'S WILL BE DONE, GOD'S WILL BE DONE, in our lives, here on Earth as it is in Heaven... This was pointed out to us by Jesus when He taught us to pray, in the prayer we now call the "Lord's Prayer".
Now here, on the night before He was to be put to death and just before He was taken prisoner, Jesus is praying to His Father, and also teaching us to pray not just in a special place, but these words, "Thy will be done."
So, my dear brothers and sisters, as you go about this day, the day before we celebrate the death of our Lord Jesus on the cross, (and yes we celebrate that!!) please take time to remember the events of this day, that special supper with His most nearest friends, His disciples, and His going to a very special place to pray, in the gardens of Gethsemane, and the lessons from that Garden.
Dear Father, Thanks for all you do for us, we love You very, very much... In Jesus' name, Amen.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
April 20, 2011 Salvation Wednesday, Holy Week
He (Jesus) replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming 'I am he,' and 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away." Then He said to them: "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places and fearful events and great signs from heaven."
Good Salvation Wednesday, my dear brothers and sisters, and welcome to the day we pray for those who might be unsaved and for God to use us to bring in the lost to be saved by our Lord Jesus.
PRAISE REPORT. On Sunday Evening I was called by the family of William Sanders, one of our flock at The Bridges. Willie, as I call him, was in bad shape, the family had gathered and hospice was on location. I anointed him with oil and we prayed over him. I was not sure he even knew I was there, until I started to sing his most loved song, Mansion over the Hilltop. His eyes opened and he started to sing. Monday I was back with the family, again we prayed and prayed and he did not open his eyes. But when I sang, he very faintly sang along. Yesterday, he was like a brand new man, still with infections, but sitting up and laughing, this time we prayed a prayer of praise, and we sang some more. God is good, brothers and sisters, and Willie was spared for now. THANK YOU JESUS.
Please pray today for Rick Brouse and his family in the loss of their 14 year old family K-9. Also pray for Radio (WHP) Talk show host Bob Durgun and his family in the loss of their family K-9.
Also pray please for Bob as he has had a bout with a bleeding ulcer. Also please add Don to our prayer list for those having cancer... Don, Ron and Kathleen... Thank You.
Dear Father in Heaven, Thanks for another day, and thanks for Salvation Wednesday, and please help us take Salvation very seriously, help us to be sure we really are saved by checking our own hearts and then help us work to bring in the harvest of the lost to be saved. Thanks for answering prayers about Willie and also about Bob... Thanks for your healing hand. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Holy Week, Salvation Wednesday: Luke 21:8 - He (Jesus) replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming 'I am he,' and 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away." 10 Then He said to them: "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places and fearful events and great signs from heaven." 13 But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name." (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, the scripture that God pointed me to today is one we need to be aware of as we work for Jesus. However, please do not waste time trying to figure out when Jesus is going to return for us, instead use your time wisely in helping to bring in the lost. Think about it, if you were to sit today at your computer and with Bible in hand going through scriptures trying to figure out when Jesus is coming back, what have you gained for Jesus or yourself? Nothing! But if you work to be sure you are in good standing with Jesus and then work to help others do the same, find good standing with Jesus. Just so you do understand, not even Jesus knows the time He will be sent back.
When you read the warnings, when you read the warnings in these verses you can see that things are lining up, and that means we should be working harder and harder in those fields of Harvest. As we follow Jesus these next few days, as we have communion tomorrow and then go to the garden to pray with Him, and on Friday to the cross with Him, we should know we have work to do.
So dear brothers and sisters, as we see the wars and hear about them, do not worry, when you see and hear about earthquakes, do not fret, just work harder for God. When you hear about people with no food, or not enough food, share yours and be thankful you have it to share.
And folks, that last verse, and remember it for it will also happen before Jesus returns for us... Hear this verse again, please...
Luke 21:13 - But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. (NIV)
Has any of that happened to you as you confess your love for Jesus? Before you answer that question, really think about it. It started for some of us when we were young, we read our Bibles in school, and we prayed in school, and we of course pledged our allegiance to our country, one nation Under God. Then that was removed from our schools, and from public buildings. You could no longer pray in public, or at least out loud. What else has happened to you that you might call people persecuting you? Let me tell you about one that happened to me.
As you know I love old vehicles, and I love old buses, and I was a very happy member of the Museum of Bus Transportation located in Hershey, Pa. I was elected to the board of directors and elected as a vice president and was chairman of the fleet committee and was very happy to have been appointed Chaplain for the bus museum. I was happy to open each meeting with prayer and close them the same way, the same with the events. Then all of a sudden a new board member complained and I was not permitted to pray at the meetings, it was changed to a moment of silence. I REFUSE TO GIVE JESUS JUST A MOMENT OF SILENCE and I walked out of that meeting. Other things I did were stopped, because of my standing up for Jesus. So I resigned my board seat. Then other things were taken away, again because of my speaking out for Jesus. Oh, I was just invited to the Car Museum, in the same building to pray before an event, so please note it was just a few people and those are with the BUS Museum. So what have I done about it? Well, I pray for the people on the board, I pray for the museum, and I still love those people because that is what Jesus has told us to do. It just amazes me how much someone who does not believe in Jesus is afraid of Him. For those non-believers, I want them to know, Jesus loves them as much as He loves the believers, but in the end, when Jesus does return and HE WILL, those non-believers are going to go to HELL and that is in the Bible... read John 14:6.
So when those who hate what you do come after you, smile and move forward for the one who really, really counts will always love you. When you are in the fire, He will be there with You... Fear not, these things will happen... how do I know... my Bible tells me so. Now go forth sharing your blessings and spreading the GOOD NEWS OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST... and remember this... I love ya. Pastor Dan.
Good Salvation Wednesday, my dear brothers and sisters, and welcome to the day we pray for those who might be unsaved and for God to use us to bring in the lost to be saved by our Lord Jesus.
PRAISE REPORT. On Sunday Evening I was called by the family of William Sanders, one of our flock at The Bridges. Willie, as I call him, was in bad shape, the family had gathered and hospice was on location. I anointed him with oil and we prayed over him. I was not sure he even knew I was there, until I started to sing his most loved song, Mansion over the Hilltop. His eyes opened and he started to sing. Monday I was back with the family, again we prayed and prayed and he did not open his eyes. But when I sang, he very faintly sang along. Yesterday, he was like a brand new man, still with infections, but sitting up and laughing, this time we prayed a prayer of praise, and we sang some more. God is good, brothers and sisters, and Willie was spared for now. THANK YOU JESUS.
Please pray today for Rick Brouse and his family in the loss of their 14 year old family K-9. Also pray for Radio (WHP) Talk show host Bob Durgun and his family in the loss of their family K-9.
Also pray please for Bob as he has had a bout with a bleeding ulcer. Also please add Don to our prayer list for those having cancer... Don, Ron and Kathleen... Thank You.
Dear Father in Heaven, Thanks for another day, and thanks for Salvation Wednesday, and please help us take Salvation very seriously, help us to be sure we really are saved by checking our own hearts and then help us work to bring in the harvest of the lost to be saved. Thanks for answering prayers about Willie and also about Bob... Thanks for your healing hand. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Holy Week, Salvation Wednesday: Luke 21:8 - He (Jesus) replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming 'I am he,' and 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away." 10 Then He said to them: "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places and fearful events and great signs from heaven." 13 But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name." (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, the scripture that God pointed me to today is one we need to be aware of as we work for Jesus. However, please do not waste time trying to figure out when Jesus is going to return for us, instead use your time wisely in helping to bring in the lost. Think about it, if you were to sit today at your computer and with Bible in hand going through scriptures trying to figure out when Jesus is coming back, what have you gained for Jesus or yourself? Nothing! But if you work to be sure you are in good standing with Jesus and then work to help others do the same, find good standing with Jesus. Just so you do understand, not even Jesus knows the time He will be sent back.
When you read the warnings, when you read the warnings in these verses you can see that things are lining up, and that means we should be working harder and harder in those fields of Harvest. As we follow Jesus these next few days, as we have communion tomorrow and then go to the garden to pray with Him, and on Friday to the cross with Him, we should know we have work to do.
So dear brothers and sisters, as we see the wars and hear about them, do not worry, when you see and hear about earthquakes, do not fret, just work harder for God. When you hear about people with no food, or not enough food, share yours and be thankful you have it to share.
And folks, that last verse, and remember it for it will also happen before Jesus returns for us... Hear this verse again, please...
Luke 21:13 - But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. (NIV)
Has any of that happened to you as you confess your love for Jesus? Before you answer that question, really think about it. It started for some of us when we were young, we read our Bibles in school, and we prayed in school, and we of course pledged our allegiance to our country, one nation Under God. Then that was removed from our schools, and from public buildings. You could no longer pray in public, or at least out loud. What else has happened to you that you might call people persecuting you? Let me tell you about one that happened to me.
As you know I love old vehicles, and I love old buses, and I was a very happy member of the Museum of Bus Transportation located in Hershey, Pa. I was elected to the board of directors and elected as a vice president and was chairman of the fleet committee and was very happy to have been appointed Chaplain for the bus museum. I was happy to open each meeting with prayer and close them the same way, the same with the events. Then all of a sudden a new board member complained and I was not permitted to pray at the meetings, it was changed to a moment of silence. I REFUSE TO GIVE JESUS JUST A MOMENT OF SILENCE and I walked out of that meeting. Other things I did were stopped, because of my standing up for Jesus. So I resigned my board seat. Then other things were taken away, again because of my speaking out for Jesus. Oh, I was just invited to the Car Museum, in the same building to pray before an event, so please note it was just a few people and those are with the BUS Museum. So what have I done about it? Well, I pray for the people on the board, I pray for the museum, and I still love those people because that is what Jesus has told us to do. It just amazes me how much someone who does not believe in Jesus is afraid of Him. For those non-believers, I want them to know, Jesus loves them as much as He loves the believers, but in the end, when Jesus does return and HE WILL, those non-believers are going to go to HELL and that is in the Bible... read John 14:6.
So when those who hate what you do come after you, smile and move forward for the one who really, really counts will always love you. When you are in the fire, He will be there with You... Fear not, these things will happen... how do I know... my Bible tells me so. Now go forth sharing your blessings and spreading the GOOD NEWS OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST... and remember this... I love ya. Pastor Dan.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
April 19, 2011 Tuesday Holy Week
"Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."
Good Holy Week Tuesday, my dear brothers and sisters. Today is the day we pray for cures for cancer, heart problems, kidney problems, pray for a cure for all of those things. So many have cancer and we pray for those who have it. Let's use this day to pray for the cure, for GOD TO TAKE IT AWAY FOR ALL WHO HAVE IT.
I want to take just a minute and give you my schedule for the rest of the week, both on this line and also at The Bridges. And yes, you are welcome at The Bridges for services anytime we have one there.
Holy Week:
On Line:
Today, about giving to the government and to God.
Wednesday, God has not given me this message as of now.
Thursday, we are going to have on-line communion, we are going to the upper room with Jesus for His last supper, and then to the garden to pray with Him.
Friday, His death on the cross and the events leading to it.
Sunday, a special for Easter.
Live at The Bridges: All services on the second floor in the Pennsylvania Room.
Thursday Evening: 6:30 PM. Communion Service, PLUS, anointing with oil and prayers for healing and also the trip to the garden with Jesus for prayer. Have faith in healing folks, God is still healing today and He wants to heal you.
Friday: 1:30 PM Carry The Light, Dan, Pam, Dolores and Martin, live and in concert.
Easter Sunday: service starting time 9:45 AM as The Bridges Choir will open with a short concert, and then our Easter Sunday Service. This will be the very first time for the Choir to sing. Again, you are welcome at any and all services at The Bridges.
Let's pray. Dear Father in Heaven, Thanks for another day of life on this wonderful place we call home for now, as we appreciate it and look forward to the day we call heaven our home forever and ever. And Lord, please send a cure for all the problems we here on earth have with our health. Lord, please forgive us of our sins, and Lord, please forgive me of my many sins. Thank You, dear Lord. Of all of our health problems You have already sent us a cure for our sins, for You sent us Your Son Jesus, who died to take them away from us. Thank You, Father, and Thank You, Jesus. Lord, how I love You, and I want You to be number one in my life, help me, Lord, to always keep You in the top spot, and Lord, help with the message today and help us to follow Your word daily and walk in the shoes of Jesus and in His light... In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Tuesday, Holy Week: Luke 20:22 - "Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" 23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24 "Show me a denarius, Whose portrait and inscription are on it?" 25 "Caesar's" they replied. He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." (NIV)
Yesterday, for some reason, was tax day, or what we call tax day which is normally April 15th. But in all reality every day is tax day. I don't think we can go through one day without being taxed for something, and I want you to think about that. Jesus said we are to give Caesar what is due him and I take that to mean we are to pay all of our taxes regardless of how much we hate to pay them. When I say you can't do anything without paying taxes I really believe that. I am paying taxes right now to just write this message! Yesterday I got my phone bill and all of the taxes on it, a tax for this, a surcharge for that. Surcharge = taxes. And if you think gas prices are high, figure out what the taxes are on a gallon of gas. Oh, not just that, that is added at the pump, but the taxes that all those companies pay for us in advance. When I hear people saying to tax the rich, or tax those big companies I laugh for who pays those taxes, always the end user folks and that would be us. If our Caesars of today put a billion more taxes on Exxon Corp, they are going to build it into the cost of doing business and the gas goes up in price.
Jesus made it plain for us... "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." So what really is God's? Folks, everything we have comes from God, but He does not want it all back. Old Testament talks about ten percent, but what should we all give to God? We know that Caesar or our governments just tax it from us, takes it off our paycheck, adds it to products, but what does our Lord tells us?
2 Corinthians 9:6 - Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having ALL THAT YOU NEED, you will abound in every good work. (NIV)
I don't know of many people that are happy about all the taxes they must pay. Our current Caesar, our President, tells us that the rich should give more. But yet he used all the deductions that he could, telling me this. Give Caesar what is due him but nothing more.
But I tell you this and back it with the Bible... Give from your heart and give from the top, give of your first fruits. If you wait and give to God what is left, there will be nothing left for God, but if you give from the top, and give it cheerfully, you will find that there is enough to pay the bills for your needs.
The Bible tells us we are not to test or tempt God, except in one thing, our giving to Him. And again I am going to back this with my Bible.
Malachi 3:8 - Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, How do we rob you? In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse, the whole nation of you, because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. TEST ME IN THIS, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessings that you will not have room enough for it. (NIV)
There you go, folks, today's lesson, GIVE TO GOD WHAT IS HIS, DO NOT ROB HIM. And test Him on this. Each day I tell you to share your blessings, I do that for I know He will replace them over and over again if you share your blessings from your heart. You DO NOT NEED TO FORWARD this to get those blessings. I always get a kick out of those things on the end of something that tells me if I forward something to ten people and send it back also to the one who sent it I will be blessed. Folks, I don't need to do that, I will be blessed anyway. I have been blessed already today. You see it is raining and my roof is not leaking. PRAISE GOD, PRAISE GOD.
Now it is time to go, so I will say it again, please share your blessings... Jesus loves you, very, very much and I love ya also. Pastor Dan.
Good Holy Week Tuesday, my dear brothers and sisters. Today is the day we pray for cures for cancer, heart problems, kidney problems, pray for a cure for all of those things. So many have cancer and we pray for those who have it. Let's use this day to pray for the cure, for GOD TO TAKE IT AWAY FOR ALL WHO HAVE IT.
I want to take just a minute and give you my schedule for the rest of the week, both on this line and also at The Bridges. And yes, you are welcome at The Bridges for services anytime we have one there.
Holy Week:
On Line:
Today, about giving to the government and to God.
Wednesday, God has not given me this message as of now.
Thursday, we are going to have on-line communion, we are going to the upper room with Jesus for His last supper, and then to the garden to pray with Him.
Friday, His death on the cross and the events leading to it.
Sunday, a special for Easter.
Live at The Bridges: All services on the second floor in the Pennsylvania Room.
Thursday Evening: 6:30 PM. Communion Service, PLUS, anointing with oil and prayers for healing and also the trip to the garden with Jesus for prayer. Have faith in healing folks, God is still healing today and He wants to heal you.
Friday: 1:30 PM Carry The Light, Dan, Pam, Dolores and Martin, live and in concert.
Easter Sunday: service starting time 9:45 AM as The Bridges Choir will open with a short concert, and then our Easter Sunday Service. This will be the very first time for the Choir to sing. Again, you are welcome at any and all services at The Bridges.
Let's pray. Dear Father in Heaven, Thanks for another day of life on this wonderful place we call home for now, as we appreciate it and look forward to the day we call heaven our home forever and ever. And Lord, please send a cure for all the problems we here on earth have with our health. Lord, please forgive us of our sins, and Lord, please forgive me of my many sins. Thank You, dear Lord. Of all of our health problems You have already sent us a cure for our sins, for You sent us Your Son Jesus, who died to take them away from us. Thank You, Father, and Thank You, Jesus. Lord, how I love You, and I want You to be number one in my life, help me, Lord, to always keep You in the top spot, and Lord, help with the message today and help us to follow Your word daily and walk in the shoes of Jesus and in His light... In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Tuesday, Holy Week: Luke 20:22 - "Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" 23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24 "Show me a denarius, Whose portrait and inscription are on it?" 25 "Caesar's" they replied. He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." (NIV)
Yesterday, for some reason, was tax day, or what we call tax day which is normally April 15th. But in all reality every day is tax day. I don't think we can go through one day without being taxed for something, and I want you to think about that. Jesus said we are to give Caesar what is due him and I take that to mean we are to pay all of our taxes regardless of how much we hate to pay them. When I say you can't do anything without paying taxes I really believe that. I am paying taxes right now to just write this message! Yesterday I got my phone bill and all of the taxes on it, a tax for this, a surcharge for that. Surcharge = taxes. And if you think gas prices are high, figure out what the taxes are on a gallon of gas. Oh, not just that, that is added at the pump, but the taxes that all those companies pay for us in advance. When I hear people saying to tax the rich, or tax those big companies I laugh for who pays those taxes, always the end user folks and that would be us. If our Caesars of today put a billion more taxes on Exxon Corp, they are going to build it into the cost of doing business and the gas goes up in price.
Jesus made it plain for us... "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." So what really is God's? Folks, everything we have comes from God, but He does not want it all back. Old Testament talks about ten percent, but what should we all give to God? We know that Caesar or our governments just tax it from us, takes it off our paycheck, adds it to products, but what does our Lord tells us?
2 Corinthians 9:6 - Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having ALL THAT YOU NEED, you will abound in every good work. (NIV)
I don't know of many people that are happy about all the taxes they must pay. Our current Caesar, our President, tells us that the rich should give more. But yet he used all the deductions that he could, telling me this. Give Caesar what is due him but nothing more.
But I tell you this and back it with the Bible... Give from your heart and give from the top, give of your first fruits. If you wait and give to God what is left, there will be nothing left for God, but if you give from the top, and give it cheerfully, you will find that there is enough to pay the bills for your needs.
The Bible tells us we are not to test or tempt God, except in one thing, our giving to Him. And again I am going to back this with my Bible.
Malachi 3:8 - Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, How do we rob you? In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse, the whole nation of you, because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. TEST ME IN THIS, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessings that you will not have room enough for it. (NIV)
There you go, folks, today's lesson, GIVE TO GOD WHAT IS HIS, DO NOT ROB HIM. And test Him on this. Each day I tell you to share your blessings, I do that for I know He will replace them over and over again if you share your blessings from your heart. You DO NOT NEED TO FORWARD this to get those blessings. I always get a kick out of those things on the end of something that tells me if I forward something to ten people and send it back also to the one who sent it I will be blessed. Folks, I don't need to do that, I will be blessed anyway. I have been blessed already today. You see it is raining and my roof is not leaking. PRAISE GOD, PRAISE GOD.
Now it is time to go, so I will say it again, please share your blessings... Jesus loves you, very, very much and I love ya also. Pastor Dan.
Monday, April 18, 2011
April 18, 2011 Holy Week 1
Jesus replied, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me, John's baptism, was it from heaven, or from Men?" Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things." Good Holy Week Monday, my dear brothers and sisters, may I start this day by saying to all of you this statement from the bottom of my heart... "I love you!" And may I also say this from the bottom of my heart... "Jesus loves you even more, much, much more!" It is Monday and it is Holy Week and this week I will be writing about just a few of the events of the week. I do want to highlight a few of them. Thursday we are going to have communion with Jesus and then go to The Garden with Him to pray. Friday we are going to watch as Jesus gets beaten and put on the cross. And yes, there will be an Easter Sunday Morning message. Along the way we are going to be praying and praying about giving over our sins and about taking on Jesus as our personal friend. We have a lot to do, so let's get moving. Today we pray for our leaders, and please pray for our President regardless of if you like him or not, we need to love Him and we need to pray for His salvation through Jesus Christ. As we also need to pray for all of our other leaders and also pray for their soul and salvation. Please pray for our veterans, and for our current Military. Pray also for our police and right now for a police officer who was in a very, very, very, very bad crash with his patrol car during the night. His cruiser was crushed, and I mean crushed, the officer was air lifted out during the night. PRAY, WARRIORS, PRAY. Brothers and sisters, also pray for all of our local folks who ride those fire trucks and rescue vehicles and those Medical choppers, and folks, for all those river rescue folks who had to go into high water so many times yesterday to bring out people who tried to drive past those signs. Also please pray for William Sanders, one of our flock at the Bridges, a WW2 Vet who is very, very ill. Dear Father in Heaven, help me this week with the messages as You are so faithful and help me each day. May my messages always be what You want, Your will to be done by me. And Lord, as we call this week "Holy Week" may we also look at it as "Salvation Week?" Lord, a week of messages leading to the cross, the cross on which Jesus died, for us. Save us, Lord Jesus, save us... Help us also understand that we are to get out the word for You and at the same time we cannot save a soul. We are Your workers and we pray it will not just be for this week, but until You call us home. Hear our prayers this day. In the name of Jesus, Amen. Holy Week, Monday, The Authority of Jesus Questioned. The following scriptures are answers that Jesus gave in response to questions from the chief priest, teachers of the law, together with the elders ask this question. By what authority are you doing these things, meaning teaching the gospel... Jesus answered in question form... Luke 20:3 - Jesus replied, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me, John's baptism, was it from heaven, or from Men?" After thinking about an answer they did not give one, so Jesus answered their first question, about who gave Him the authority to teach and preach the gospel this way. Luke 20:8 - Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things." Back when I was a child, when we did not want to answer someone we might have said this... That is none of your "beeswax", but if you were to ask me this question today, that same question that was asked Jesus, "Who gave you this authority?" meaning who gave me the authority to write for Jesus, to sing for Him, to preach His word and teach His word, who gave me that authority... HE DID, JESUS DID. In fact, Jesus did not just give us the authority to teach, preach, sing, write and otherwise tell the "Good News", He really commanded us to do it. Yes, we are under His authority and we are commanded by Him. Here is one place and it is where we in Carry The Light Ministries picked up our name. Mark 16:15 - He (Jesus) said to them, (Us) "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." (NIV) So how did we get the name "Carry The Light" out of that scripture? First, we are to go into all the world and preach the good news. So we are going to "Carry" the good news to all creation. And what is that Good News? It is Jesus and all He has done for us, and who is this Man named Jesus, He is the "Light of the World!" He is "The Light." So there you have it. Carry The Light, and starting out as just gospel singers, we added many things along the way... those Ministries. So, folks, as Jesus answered a question with a question, I have answered it from The Word of God... Therefore I am writing, preaching, teaching, singing, and even working our large and growing food pantry under "The Authority of Jesus Christ." And yes, I have messed up in my life, and then I go to Jesus for more of His life-saving blood, still flowing today, asking Him for a fresh start, and also checking on order changes and additions. And I do that by just talking to Him and most of all, and I really had to learn this one, I had to LEARN TO LISTEN, as listening was not one of my strong points. So in short today, the lesson is this... GET OUT THE WORD, CALLED THE GOOD NEWS, and by all means, share your blessings. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Friday, April 15, 2011
April 15, 2011 The Triumphal Entry
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" "I tell you," He replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." Triumphal Entry: Luke 19: 28 through and including 44: This the account of Jesus heading into Jerusalem that happened just a few days before He was put to death on the cross. Let me go to verse 30 and 31 And this is Jesus talking. 30 - "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell them the Lord needs it." Let's look at something and compare that to today. Look at verse 31 and tell me what might happen to you if you go into a town, find a donkey colt, and untie it and start to walk away with it. Someone runs out and yells that man is stealing my donkey, and you get stopped (maybe shot) and you are asked what is going on, and you tell them the Lord needs it. (Then you get shot for sure, or at least locked up.) Wait a minute, hold on. God paved the way then, and you know my friends, if God sends you to do something today, He will also prepare the way for you so that you might go and do His work. So if you are praying to go to work for God, and you should do that each day, then you need to listen and when you get your orders from Him, you need to carry them out. You need not to be afraid. Let me call to your attention this wonderful couple that works for our Lord Jesus, Ross and Ruth Willard, and they live in West Fairview, just down the road from here. They have this Ministry called. "March for Jesus". These folks go into some very "rough" areas of our cities to talk about Jesus, to share the Love of Jesus, and to help feed people and pray with people. I have been with them a few times and I know they have been on corners in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, that have been known for drive-by shootings. God said take the Good News of Jesus to all the corners of the earth, and believe me, this couple along with many, many others do that daily. So today, like back when Jesus sent ahead for the Donkey colt, He cleared the way. I just want to also touch on this little donkey colt. Did you notice that Jesus tells "which no one has ever ridden". Think of this, how important it must have been to get this colt that no one was ever on. If you go back into 1 Samuel 6: 7 you find that when the Ark of the Lord was being moved it was put into a new cart and pulled with two cows that had never been yoked. (NIV) If you go to Numbers 19: 2 you find this: "This is a requirement of the law that the Lord has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke." (NIV) Do you notice the reverence in these things? Nothing is used, it is without defect or blemish. It was to be perfect for God. When Jesus was born, born to a virgin, a woman unused by a man. Now as He rides into Jerusalem, He rides on an unused donkey colt. You see this lining up, all must be clean for the Lord. Hold on for a minute, God wants to use us, we are to go into all the world and tell the good news. What the Lord is giving me out of this is that when we go to work for the Lord, we need to be clean. Oh, be sure we have been dirty by sin over and over again, but God, through His Son Jesus, has given us a way to be cleaned. So when we go out each day and we witness for Jesus we should be clean. You do witness for Jesus each day right??? "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Hosanna in the highest!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Praise God, praise God, praise God. Let's go back in time now and watch as Jesus is up on the colt, that had been covered with cloaks (coats) for Jesus to sit on, and He comes riding into town. Jesus is now a hero and people wanted to see Him. This Man who has healed many, who had turned a few loaves of bread and a couple fishes into a meal for thousands and then had leftovers. They wanted to see this Man who healed broken spirits, and who had opened blind eyes, drove out demons and even brought the dead back to the living. "Hosanna to the Son of David." Cloaks were laid on the streets ahead of Him! Palm Branches were waved and waved and some were placed on the road for the Donkey that was carrying Jesus to walk over. Children shouted. "Hosanna in the highest!" People cheered, and cheered. Let me see if I can relate that to today just a little. The team just won March Madness, the one who outlasted all in the final four was welcomed home by people as they cheer them on. Now why did I bring this up? Just think about this, how we cheer and have victory parades for those who have been winning, and in a few short months how we drop them if they are not winning. How we turn our backs and walk away if they do not do exactly what we want and like. Even in today's Military... When our troops came home after WW2 there were parades, when they came home after Desert Shield and Desert Storm there were big home coming parades. Now people are lining up to trash our brave men and women who fight to keep America Free. Well, Jesus was given that welcome, one that might look like a ticker tape parade that we, at one time, would give people. He was cheered, He was greeted with shouts of joy and praise. Go to Matthew 21: verses 1 through 11 and read. Oh the joy, the joy, the praises, children greeting Him and singing "Hosanna to the Son of David." What a great day in the life of Jesus, what a great day. Will you join me today in just shouting praises for Jesus as we are here on the Sunday that we call Palm Sunday, the day when pastors from sea to sea and beyond will be preaching on this subject. So will you join me again and shout Praise You Jesus for this bright and cheerful day in the life of Jesus. When people gave Him the respect that He had earned. Join me, for this victory parade for Jesus is not long lived, so let's enjoy it while it is here... HOSANNA, HOSANNA, HOSANNA. Praise You, Jesus, praise You, Jesus. Read Mark 11: 1 through 11. If you followed along in your Bible you would have read the accounts from Matthew, Mark and Luke. We talked about the Donkey Colt, and how Jesus was greeted. Now let's talk about what happened after He entered Jerusalem, and when He went to the Temple. How great it must have been for Jesus to receive such a great greeting, having people shout praises to Him and giving Him such a wonderful welcome. How nice it must have been. Then Jesus entered the temple area and what did He see? Well, it was not what should have been going on in a Temple. Jesus started driving out those people who were selling. According to Luke, it does not say what they were selling, just that they were selling. Hear these words from Luke 19:46 - "It is written," He said to them, "My house will be a house of prayer; but you have made it a 'den of robbers.'" The Bible goes on to tell us that everyday He was preaching in the temple, the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the leaders of the people were trying kill Him. Think about this now, there was this great Triumphal Entry and more than likely even before the Palm Branches that had been placed on the path in front of Jesus were cleared, the tide had turned and people wanted to kill Him. Now I want to ask a question here. I want you to get your brain going today. At your church, and we should call it a temple, right! What goes on? Now I know some churches have built gyms and social halls and they are separate from the worship areas, but let me ask this question... What does Jesus think about some of the activities that go on in our churches today? We have fund raisers and in some cases the churches are used to have "flea markets" or "bake sales" and sometimes that happens in the worship area. Would Jesus like that? I am asking questions, I want You to think about what goes on at your church and ask this, are we crossing the line? What about gambling to raise funds? I know that might be a hot topic, and I know that does not as a rule occur in the worship area, but what about gambling to raise funds? Would this please Jesus? What about basketball, weight lifting, and all the other things that go on at the churches. I think if done in buildings other than the one built for worship that it is ok, but again, I wonder what Jesus is thinking? As we pray for pastors today and all those working in the fields of Harvest for our Lord Jesus, pray about what is going on at your church, is it pleasing to Jesus? It is sad that the churches need to be doing fund raising, for if the flock were to tithe as taught in the Bible, there would be no need for these fund raisers, these flea markets, these games of chance, and I would think those who put in so much time and effort working the events would love to not have them. Again, this message is more fuel for thought than anything else. Let's try to teach, preach, tell, show, etc., the good news of our Lord Jesus in our churches, let's talk and tell of Salvation through Jesus. Yes, a good dinner in the social hall of the church is a wonderful way to get the flock together and share God's word. We just love to eat when we do things. But what about those fund raising dinners open to the neighborhood? Would it not be better to raise the money through donations and then have a "Free" dinner for the neighbors, in hopes to get them coming to church? Again, just putting out fuel for thinking today... Let's pray. Father in Heaven, we lift You in praise this fine beautiful morning and we give thanks unto You. Thanks for the large amount of bread that came to the food pantry today and bless those coming for food. May Your churches be filled this weekend and more important may the pastors, preachers, priests and all who speak the word tell it like it is and talk about Salvation... Lord Jesus, that is the bottom line to me, help me get it out. Lord, thanks for dying for us, and Lord, thanks for dying for me. Thank You, I love You, Lord... and I pray in the wonderful, wonderful name of Jesus, my Lord... Amen. Luke 19:39 - Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" 40 - "I tell you," He replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." (NIV) Remember as we go forth we are to tell the world about the Good News of our Lord Jesus, for we are the disciples of today. Jesus will not rebuke us when we work for Him, and you see what will happen if we keep quiet, even the stones will cry out. Please don't make the stones cry, work for Jesus... Now go forth and share, share your blessings, walk out on a limb and trust God and share extra things, and trust me, NO, TRUST GOD, and you will see that is replaced over and over again and again... God is still in control, He is still head of the United States of America regardless of how many times people try and dump on Him. Our president, President Obama, is NOT god, Jesus is our Lord God Almighty. So put your eyes on the Lord, and trust in Him. Go forth now in Love, and in Peace and may our Lord God of Peace go with You... I love ya, have a blessed Palm Sunday, and may your entry in all you do, be triumphal. Again, I love ya... Pastor Dan.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
April 14, 2011 A Week of Praise! 4
When He came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for the all miracles they had seen. Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in Heaven and glory in the highest. Good the Son/sun are shining this morning to you, my dear brothers and sisters... Jesus riding into Jerusalem on the colt and receiving well-deserved praise. Can we just do this today, can we just stop and pray and praise God and just sing one song of praise... Dear Father in heaven, we want to praise You and give thanks to You and love on You and hug on You and love some more on You, and only ask today that You forgive our sins and help us to repent. We have seen Miracles also, they happen today, Lord, and we know where they come from and we are thanking You for them in the name of Jesus. Praise You Lord Jesus, I love You, Lord Jesus. Since Jesus came into my heart, since Jesus came into my heart, Floods of joy o'er my soul like the sea billows roll, Since Jesus came into my heart. OHHHHHHH, Since Jesus came into my heart, since Jesus came into my heart, Floods of joy o'er my soul like the sea billows roll, Since Jesus came into my heart. Love lifted me! Love lifted me, when nothing else could help, Love lifted me, Oh, Love lifted me, Love lifted me, when nothing else could help Love lifted me... I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free, for His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me. I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free, for His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me. Last one today. I'm living on the mountain underneath a cloudless sky, I'm drinking at the fountain that never shall run dry, I'm feasting on the manna from a bountiful supply for I am dwelling in Beulah Land... Have a blessed day, share your blessings, sing for the Lord and live for Jesus... love ya, Pastor Dan.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
April 13, 2011 A Week Of Praise! 3
They brought it (Donkey Colt) to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As He went along people spread their cloaks on the road. Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. Today is Salvation Wednesday and the day we give thanks to Jesus as He died so we could have our Salvation through Him. We also pray that He will use us to help bring in those lost sheep. Today also I ask that you look back on your life and think about the day you came to Jesus and who might have led you to His feet. Your parents, a pastor, a singer, a dear friend, a person on TV, or maybe a whole group of those who cared enough about you to see that you learned about the "Saving Grace of Jesus Christ." In a little bit we are going to sing a song of praise about Salvation. Today I also ask that you pray for Kathleen Sansoni, who is really very bad, loaded with cancer. Pray for healing and pray that God's will is done. Pray also for husband Tom to stand strong. Dear Father in Heaven, we praise You this day, and we thank You this day for we know You are in charge today and everyday, and Dear God, we place Kathleen in Your loving arms for care and custody. We of course want her to be healed and to remain with us, however, Lord, her pain is so bad, and we are putting full trust in You, and we are putting full trust in You this day in all we do. Each step, we want to take with You. Not just with Kathleen, but with Ron, and Dolores and Pastor Tony and Ruby and Pastor Charles and Kathleen, and Lord, in all we do, in our food pantry. And Lord, thanks for those 25 hams yesterday, we know they came from You. In the name of Jesus, we give all honor and glory and praise... Amen. Folks, Hope United Methodist Church on the Carlisle Pike donated $500 to the food pantry for me plowing their parking lots this winter. God is good, and we give Him the glory. Yesterday the meat manager at the local Giant made us a great deal. And I used half of the dollars from Hope for the hams, and they will, I am sure, hand me a gift card for a hundred dollars on my next visit to the Giant, making the cost even better. GOD IS GOOD. The Big Trip 17-3 A Week of Praise 19:35 - They brought it (Donkey Colt) to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As He went along people spread their cloaks on the road. (NIV) God is good, and as you look back on your salvation and the days you have spent since being saved, I think you will find this little song fits it well. We just need to get the word out for others to be saved so that they can find out this. "Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before. Every day with Jesus I love Him more and more. Jesus saves and keeps me, and He's the one I'm waiting for. Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before." (Robert C. and Wendell P. Loveless) "Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before. Every day with Jesus I love Him more and more. Jesus saves and keeps me, and He's the one I'm waiting for. Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before." (Robert C. and Wendell P. Loveless) Now one of the reasons Jesus keeps getting sweeter as those days march on, is because we are growing in our love for Him, and while we are doing that, well we find that He's still working on us. He's still working on me, to make me what I ought to be, it took Him just a week to make the moon and stars, the sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and patient He must be!! He's still working on me." (Joel Hemphill) Yes, He really is still working on me, and I think if we all really think about it, He is still working on all of us. God never leaves us nor will He forsake us, and once He has saved us, He is not going to just let us rot, He is going to keep us on fire, or at least try to. Today in our lesson scripture we see that once the colt was brought back, the disciples put their cloaks on it, their clothing you might say, and they put Jesus on its back and then others laid their cloaks along the road for the donkey with Jesus on its back to walk on. Even unto this day the little donkey, the sure footed animal who carried our Lord Jesus first time in the womb of Mary and now on this day for what might seem like a victory parade, even to this day the little donkey carries the cross of Jesus. I would love to have a miniature donkey in with my goats just to show people the cross on the donkey's back. The next time you see a donkey, note the cross on its back. And let that also remind you of Jesus who died on the cross for us, and that we now should also be carrying the cross of Jesus, telling others about Salvation, so they can be saved and find out as we have found out that----- "Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before. Every day with Jesus I love Him more and more. Jesus saves and keeps me, and He's the one I'm waiting for. Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before." (Robert C. and Wendell P. Loveless) "Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before. Every day with Jesus I love Him more and more. Jesus saves and keeps me, and He's the one I'm waiting for. Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before." (Robert C. and Wendell P. Loveless) Have a blessed day, my brothers and sisters, and tomorrow we are going to be singing more and more praises unto the Lord... I am having so much fun... Now share those blessings, and if you know anyone who needs some help with food... Please call us. Home is 717 691 8200 and my dear phone in my pocket is 717 991 0754. Now as you share, also know this... I love ya, Pastor Dan. And remember this also... "Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before. Every day with Jesus I love Him more and more. Jesus saves and keeps me, and He's the one I'm waiting for. Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before." (Robert C. and Wendell P. Loveless) Just one more time with me and then you can sing it all day long to Jesus. Ready, set, GO... "Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before. Every day with Jesus I love Him more and more. Jesus saves and keeps me, and He's the one I'm waiting for. Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before." (Robert C. and Wendell P. Loveless)
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
April 12, 2011 A Week Of Praise! 2
Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as He told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" They replied, "The Lord needs it." Good Tuesday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. It is just a beautiful day to praise the Lord! So let's just take a minute and do just that... Thank You, Jesus, Praise You, Jesus, I love You, Jesus... I really, really do... Amen. Dear Father in Heaven, instead of just asking for things today, we just want to thank You for all You do for all of us all the time... Today You are sending rain in our area, and that rain will fill the wells of we who believe in You and also those who hate You. Thanks for the great example of how we should love those who hate us. So today, Lord, may we just take time to make a joyful noise to You and do it in praise and honor to You... Thanks again for saving us from our own selves... In the name of Jesus, Amen. Majesty, worship His majesty. Unto Jesus be all glory, honor, and praise. Majesty, kingdom authority flow from His throne unto His own, His anthem raise. So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus. Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus the King. Majesty, worship His majesty. Jesus who died now glorified, King of all kings. (Jack W. Hayford) Majesty, worship His majesty. Unto Jesus be all glory, honor, and praise. Majesty, kingdom authority flow from His throne unto His own, His anthem raise. So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus. Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus the King. Majesty, worship His majesty. Jesus who died now glorified, King of all kings. (Jack W. Hayford) The Big Trip 17-2 A Week Of Praise! 2 Luke 19:32 - Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as He told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" 34 They replied, "The Lord needs it." (NIV) As I look at the scripture today, one of the first things that is being pointed out to me is that when Jesus tells us something we can believe it. Looking back at yesterday's scripture and how Jesus sent two disciples ahead for this colt, and today we see they find this colt just as Jesus said... Brothers and Sisters, Jesus knows what is what and still does today. When He talks to you, listen to Him and try your very best to listen and carry out His plans for You. Do I believe this scripture? Do I believe that Jesus knew exactly where to find this colt, this virgin Donkey (never had been ridden)? Yes, I believe it, and just to let all of you know, I believe each and every word in my Bible, I do not pick and choose. Brothers and sisters. if you do not believe this about the donkey, why would you believe that Jesus died so we might live? Now why would Jesus need this donkey colt? Well, that is part of tomorrow's lesson. Today, well let's just say today is another day the Lord has made and I am in a singing mood. So let's put a song on your lips and your heart and your mind and maybe, just maybe you will be singing it all day long... And let's pep it up a tad as we all sing, This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made. We will rejoice, we will rejoice and be glad in it, and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord has made, We will rejoice and be glad in it, This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made. (Les Garrett) This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made. We will rejoice, we will rejoice and be glad in it, and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord has made, We will rejoice and be glad in it, This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made. (Les Garrett) Go forth now sharing your blessings and maybe, just maybe sharing the love of this song with others... Sing it out, make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Love ya, Pastor Dan. One more time... This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made. We will rejoice, we will rejoice and be glad in it, and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord has made, We will rejoice and be glad in it, This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made. (Les Garrett) ok, and just one more... This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made. We will rejoice, we will rejoice and be glad in it, and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord has made, We will rejoice and be glad in it, This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made. (Les Garrett)
Monday, April 11, 2011
April 11, 2011 A Week Of Praise
"Go to the village ahead of you and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you 'why are you untying it?', tell them the Lord needs it." Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight; Angels descending, bring from above, Echoes of mercy, whispers of love. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest; Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, it is Monday and this week I would just love to write all week on Praise. Yes, it is Monday and the day we pray for our leaders and for our veterans and for our military, and for police, firefighters and all others who work hard to keep us safe and healthy. And speaking of veterans, I have the honor today of officiating at the funeral of a dear friend, a brother in Christ and an Army Veteran. Please pray today for the family of Edgar Patterson, who was 94. As you pray for our leaders, pray first for their soul and then that they work through God before coming to us. Let's pray. Dear Father in Heaven, we want to thank You today, we want to love on You this day, and we ask and give thanks to You as You honor our prayers according to Your will for us... Lord, first today we ask to be forgiven of our sins, and then we just jump for joy over our lives which we have turned over to You. Thanks for all You have done for us... I need not rewrite the prayer list as Your word tells us You already know what is on our hearts. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen. We are still on the big trip, walking with Jesus toward the cross and then beyond. Has this not been fun and rewarding? The Big Trip 17 A Week Of Praise! 1: Luke 19:30 - "Go to the village ahead of you and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you 'why are you untying it?', tell them the Lord needs it." (NIV) Today I typed out the song Blessed Assurance, and just thinking of how Jesus sent two of His disciples ahead of Him and told them to bring back this donkey colt, how He knew where it would be, just would give you that Blessed Assurance that Jesus was in full control. As you know, this coming Sunday is "Palm Sunday" and we review this week how Jesus was praised and given glory and honor and then how fast it just went away. From leading and healing people, teaching and feeding people to being trashed, so to speak, and then put to death on the cross. Has anything ever happened to you, something like this? You are well received at work and even received a reward for doing a great job. Then just after that, someone comes on board and starts to go after you and soon you are on the outside looking in. I saw it happen to others and yes it has happened to me. Why, well because of my stance for Jesus. But this week we are just going to sing the praises of Jesus and to Jesus... Let's get going. Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. Now this verse, you are singing what? You are singing the glory because Jesus is Yours. You have been saved... "Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine!" Now I know I can sing this, and I pray you can also for you see, Jesus wants to be yours, He wants in your heart to stay. BLESSED ASSURANCE, JESUS IS MINE... and now we sing Heir of Salvation... Yes Jesus went to the cross for our salvation, He died for us and we inherited Salvation from Him, through the Blood He shed on the cross. Listen to the rest of the verse, then we will sing it again. Purchased our salvation, we are Born of His Spirit, yes, brothers and sisters, this would be our second birth. And we are washed in His Blood. Clean as clean can be... and folks, that is my story and I pray it is yours also. Let's hit it. Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. Tomorrow I will be back and we are going to be praising God again, and again... Now one more time for the complete song, and yes, we are going to sing this at the funeral today. A request from the family. Now go forth and share your blessings and know that Jesus loved you enough to die for you... and I love ya also. Pastor Dan.
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