"In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse, the whole nation of you, because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithes 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."
Good Friday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, and welcome to the day we pray for all of those who go to work for God, wherever He sends them. I was asked just yesterday how an Ordained Minister of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus can play Santa Claus. I told them I am not playing, I am the real one. Ok, let me just get serious with you about this question for I am sure there are others of you who might think the same thing. First of all I would hope and pray that all who do Santa believe in the real meaning of Christmas which of course is the birth of our Lord Jesus. Being Santa to my wife and I (she is Mrs. Claus, the one without the beard!) is another tool to tell people about Jesus, His birth and even talk to them about Salvation. Over the years I have told the real Christmas story to thousands of adults and children. Over the years we have turned down many places where they wanted a Santa and I would ask, can I tell the folks about Jesus? The malls, I was asked to be Santa in center court at Colonial Park, and in Camp Hill, and of course I turned them down. The same with some of the schools. While our main stay is Allenberry Playhouse where we can tell people about Jesus and talk about the real meaning of Christmas, we do have other dates. As this Sunday evening we will be with the Silver Spring Township Police Department, and yes, we will tell the real Christmas story. God loans us talents and we can use those talents for God or we can use them otherwise. Dave, Duane and Neil, the Couriers of those past years had been offered to sing other than gospel music and they turned it down to keep working for the Lord. In some churches you even to this day would not see a trap set (big set of drums) on stage at a church, yet many, many churches and many drummers now drum for the Lord. Folks, for those of you who have seen the Claus' big antique Eagle bus you would see on the side it says "North Pole Lines" our registered fake bus line. You would also see the name of Santa Claus in big letters on the bus. But you also see things like "Jesus Saves" and a big long picture of Jesus in the manager, then praying at the Rock and then on the cross with the wording "From the cradle to the cross." All over the bus it tells the story of our Lord Jesus... and yes, Santa is a figure of Love... and while I don't have reindeer that fly, or go down those chimneys, I do really love cookies and milk and just in case you bake, I love sandtarts. So now you know the rest of that story, and now I ask you, what do you use to share the Love of God with others?
Please pray for Dick Cushionser who has prostate cancer. Folks, prayers heal cancer, as you know I HAD, that same cancer, and it is GONE. Jesus took it away.
The Journey 2011 Day 21: 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 tithes 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)
Starting on Monday we are moving to the New Testament and getting geared up for the birth of Jesus. You surely want to be along for the ride. For today, the top is still up on the sleigh as it is cold outside, and you folks, not being used to riding in a sleigh pulled by reindeer, can't handle the cold. Anyway, as we take one more look at the original testament of our Bibles I want to show you again how we may test God. You will recall we are not to test God except in this one thing and that is in our giving. And folks, as I tell you each day to share your blessings and if you share them in faith, just step back and and watch more and more blessings flow your way. Do not rob God, my dear friends, and we are to turn our tithes and offerings over to God and He will bless us more and more. He tells us that we will have more blessings than we can even store up. Please remember these few tips that you must do when you test God on this one... First of all, give to God from the top, not the leftovers. God gives us His best, as He gave us His Son, we should also give to God from our best. God also sends us the rain, snow and sunshine that is needed to grow all those good foods, God also gave us animals like chickens (two eggs sunny side up with home fries for breakfast). He gave us coffee beans and He gave us cows for milk and steers for steak. And did you have turkey for thanksgiving, yes it came from God. While I think all of TRUE believers and follows of Jesus know that God gives us His best... But do we give of our best back to Him? So from the top we should give, folks... from the top. Yesterday as were were sorting food that came in from some of our food shopping carts, we had to throw some of the food out. Opened and half eaten peanut butter, foods over two years out of date, pasta opened and half used. Folks, this is not giving from the top, this is giving God what they did not want. While on the other hand, we get bread and bakery products from the Giant food store, and it is never out of date, in fact they pull it with one day to go. So we bring it home and fresh freeze it. And while it is outdated when we give it out of our food pantry it is as fresh as just baked. You see the difference, folks... GIVE GOD FROM THE TOP, IN FAITH AND TEST HIM ON IT... And stand back and watch your blessings flow.
Dear Father in Heaven, I do not need to test You on this giving for I know how your math works and Lord, You bless us each day. Thanks for it, and now this weekend we ask for a blessing to all those who come and help pack food. Lord, I love You, and Lord, we need for You to forgive us of our sins. I need You to forgive me for as always I seem to mess up. Lord, be with those on our prayer lists and heal according to Your will for us. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now folks, go and share your blessings and please share them from the top. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
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