Good Monday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. I pray you all had a wonderful weekend and you are all fired up about going to work and school this day and while you are at work and/or school you are also "talking up Jesus".
Well, the world did not end the other day, and if that very mixed up radio preacher would spend as much time and effort teaching people that they need to repent and be ready for the return of Jesus and teaching them (his followers) that they need to be getting out the word instead of trying to figure out when Jesus is returning, He would be doing what Jesus wants us to do.
Today, Monday, is the day we pray for our leaders and also our veterans and our current military, our state and local law enforcement officers, doctors, nurses, FIREFIGHTERS, and all others who work to keep us safe. Why did I put the FIREFIGHTERS in bold? I did that this week because I want you to really think about them as you pray for them and know that most of them are NOT PAID. Anytime around that clock these brave men and women will jump on that big truck and endanger their lives to help people they do not even know.
Please also pray for the people of Joplin Missouri: If you have not heard, a bad twister went through. Fox News had a recording on of people in a store who went into the cooler and were praying and thanking God... They all lived. Their big hospital took a major hit also.
Great Promises and The Greatest Promise: Luke 24:45 - Then He opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures. (NIV)
This scripture is very personal to me. I confess to all of you this day that I have never, and I mean this and should be ashamed, I have never read a complete book. I could not even read a complete comic book in one sitting in my youth. However, when I came to Jesus He opened my mind so I could read and understand the scriptures. And He did not open them all at once, He opens them each day for me. For over 15 years I have been writing daily messages, and trust me when I say I could not do this if it were not for my loving Savior, Jesus Christ. my Lord.
This scripture sees Jesus talking to His Disciples and really making them understand the scriptures. "He opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures." To this day I cannot quote scriptures like some folks do. I know something is in the Bible and I might tell someone that, and then they want to know where. Many times I have called on some of my dear friends on this line, and asked them, where do I find this in the Bible? God is so good, you see after I found Jesus, then He gave me a great support network to keep me GROWING and moving toward our Lord Jesus. My dear mamma taught me to remember John 3:16, Psalm 23 and I also learned Psalm 100. I have also learned a lot about Jesus through songs from our hymnals and also great song writers like Neil Enloe.
Some of those early hymns have a lot of meat and potatoes in them as I like to say. Over the years I have searched out the songs in the Bible. Like in the third verse of "It Is Well With My Soul" it talks about nailing your sins to the cross, and not one but all of them. And so often from the Hymn, "In The Garden" it talks about I come to the garden alone, and so often I have gone to my garden by the rock and talked to Jesus, just spent some good time, one on one with Jesus.
Today, I am a disciple of our Lord Jesus and work for Him and like those days when He sat with those original disciples and opened their minds to understand the scriptures He is doing the same to me. I pray that all of you sit down and ask Jesus to open His word to you. Folks, there are parts in the Bible I still have not read, I don't understand the genealogy of each person and some of the old testament is way over my head for now, but from time to time Jesus takes me there. As I said, I want to work for Jesus the rest of my life, and Jesus has promised me He will take care of me and He has and He will keep taking care of me and He will you also. So, folks, if you are like me, if you have trouble reading and understanding what you have read, get out your Bible, keep it with you, keep it near you. Read the Gospels asking Jesus to open them. Read some Psalms and then look at Acts and Romans. Again, today, Jesus pointed this out to me and I could make it read like this for this is how it reads to me. Then He opened MY MIND so I could understand the scriptures. And He will do the same for me. Just ask Him and ask Him often.
So one great promise is that He will take care of us, and most often when we think of that we think of food, clothes, shelter, water and air. But today I just want to say, He has added to me the great promise of understanding Him...
Dear Father in Heaven, You have given many promises to us, and You have honored most all of them. So, Lord, I want to tell You that I love You. Lord, thanks for taking care of me, my family and friends, my flock, and for opening Your word to me so I could do what You have ordered me to do, tell the good news to all creation. I love You, Lord, I love You... Lord, help me this day and help me each day to fall deeper and deeper in Love with You as I do Your work. Help me repent of my many sins, and even my sinful thinking. Lord, help me with this line and Lord, heal my wife and also my back and legs so I am stronger to work for You. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Now go forth working for Jesus, singing to Him and for Him, and of course sharing the blessings He has given You... I love ya, Pastor Dan.
Reminder... Saturday, July 2nd... Carry The Light Ministries, annual picnic... Yes, I want to cook for you all... Saturday July 2nd... eating at noon, but come early and stay, bring a lawn chair and your fishing pole (PA license needed) Bring a disc for disc golf. Put on your singing voice for we are going to take some time to sing... And yes, I am going to cook for you...
This is the day that the Lord has made...
Let's sing it... and you know the words... here we go... This is the day, this is the day... you are on your own now...
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