Tuesday Dec. 20, 2011 The Journey 2011-33

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because He belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

Good Tuesday morning, my dear brothers and sisters. Tuesday and the day we pray for a cure for the diseases, diseases like cancer, liver diseases, kidneys, etc. Also pray for Burt Emig who had a bad fall, and for a man from Dayton, Ohio (no name given), injured in a car crash. Pray for Glenn, still in the hospital, and for Curtis Reed, and Doris Lively, two of our flock at the Bridges.

Update on the food pantry. After having so many no shows, God has pointed us to eight additional families who needed help. Also one of the ones who forgot, remember and came in yesterday for their food. The only thing we had that would spoil were potatoes and yesterday all of them were given away to the employees at The Bridges. All else will be good to go as we have freezers and our food pantry is of course year round. So many people that you see getting the headlines because they support a food bank once a year forget that EVEN THE POOR AND HUNGRY EAT YEAR ROUND, so Carry The Light Ministries Food Pantry is open year round, we are on call for the needy. GOD IS GOOD, ALL GLORY TO HIM.

The Journey 2011 Day 33: Luke 2:4 - So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because He belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. (NIV)

And the trip begins... Come on, we are putting the sleigh away and we are going to look at this trip from the eyes of "Jack". Jack is a donkey, and for right now, I am going to be "Jack" the Donkey. While I think I might have told the story last year from the eyes of the donkey, I do not look back to things a year ago, I go with what God gives me fresh each day.

Hi, my name is Jack and I am a donkey and I want you to notice a few things about me, before we start this long trip. First of all check out my back and the back of all other of my relatives, we have a cross on our backs, yes, if you look closely you will find that on a light colored donkey, they have a dark stripe down the back from the base of the neck to the top of the tail, and a stripe across the shoulders, thus forming a cross. The other thing to note is that we donkeys are sure footed, and provide a really nice ride compared to a horse or one of those big camels. By the way, I would never "walk a mile" for a camel, but I have walked many miles with camels. (A little humor from a donkey, folks.)

Anyway, folks, after old Caesar (not a salad dressing) put out the call for all to be taxed, I mean counted, I had this happen. It was cold, and Joseph came out to the stable (a barn) and got me, and while he put a lead over my head, and a blanket on my back, he talked to me. "Jack," we are going to a big trip, and I need you to carry Mary and she is near the time to deliver a baby, and I need you to be smooth. I am thinking, hey, Joseph, you know I am smooth and I will take care of this wonderful lady for you. So Joseph led me up to the house, and then left my lead hang, for he just knew I would not run away. I love Joseph, he feeds me and gives me water and cleans my bed, he is a really neat man, I can see why Mary loves him so much. I don't know Mary really well yet, but I think till this trip is over I will. Oh, hold on folks, here comes Joseph out of the house with Mary. Wow, she is "big"; how will she ever get across me? Then Joseph in a most caring way picked up Mary and put her on my back sideways. I think the present term is called side saddle, but I did not have a saddle on, just a blanket. Oh my gosh, I thought, I must be smooth or this wonderful lady will fall off, I hope she hold onto my hair on the back of my neck, or the top of the cross. Do you folks want to know a secret, I heard that Mary is going to have a baby who will be special, and that is all I am going to tell you right now, but this little clue, this is the very first time this baby gets a ride on a donkey and the first time, he is on the cross. Think of that folks... And we are moving out... Well, as we go we are meeting up with others, camels, horses, other donkeys, and yes, even people. Ok, got to run, no, I mean that is all for today... Please comeback tomorrow as we head to that little town of, do you know the name of that little town... It is in the Bible and also a song...

Dear Father in Heaven, thanks for the words You are giving me, and Lord, we ask today that You look over our prayer requests and as always, Your will to be done. Thanks, Lord, for saving us, and thanks, Lord, for all of our needs that You have supplied for all of us... In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Now go forth and share your blessings, and please come back tomorrow as we head out some more with Jack... Love ya, Pastor Dan.