"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth
and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where
thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is there your heart
will be also."
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. It is Friday
Morning and yes, I did not get the message out last night for after doing some
necessary ministry typing, my hand gave up on me. God telling me to go to bed
and rest, which I did! Prayers today for Churches and all who attend them and
of course their staff and pastor. For Families including the Family of God.
For schools and all who attend them. Also for all those who go into the fields
of harvest and work for the Lord. New to our prayer list today, Pray for Rose,
a 40 year old lady who has colon cancer and is having surgery. For Karen who
broke her arm, and for these on our ongoing list. Ronald (cancer), Donna (Heart), Shelly (Kidneys), Patsy (Pain), Burt (Fall), Barbara Paules,
(cellulitis). Also Kelly Pallone (brain cancer, has been in a coma for three
weeks), Carlene Cunningham (serious breast cancer and also colon cancer). For
the following adult children: Matthew, Laura and Jan. For Vicki who needs to be
on our list each day. Also for Allison (cancer), Kelly's and Bruce's dads are
very ill and need prayer, and pray for Billie Jo and Catherine her grandmother.
For Tom Sansoni and his group heading to the Holy Lands.
Praise reports. Janet and Charles home safe from their big
trip! Carry The Light Ministries' offer was accepted on a building (shed type,
but big) that will be trucked in very soon. GOD IS GOOD. Praise Report. A
surprise visit happened at the Saylor home, when brother Daniel who lives out of
the area in Ohio, showed up at the door. Praise God for that and a safe trip
for him coming and going. GOD IS GOOD.
Feb 16/17 Treasures: Matthew 6:19 - "Do
not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and
where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and
steal. For where your treasure is there your heart will be also."
(NIV)
GUILTY!! Ok, so God is once again having me write on a
subject that I need to be very, very careful with. All my life I have been a
car, truck, motorcycle and bus nut (ok, just a plain nut). Folks, I do not
"worship" these vehicles, I worship God and God alone, but I still have this
hobby as most people on earth have hobbies. Some of them are bigger than
others. Some of the vehicles that I have purchased and stored have been then
donated to museums, given to other charities to be used in their ministries,
etc. But I do not want to labor on this as we are not to be talking about it,
as we will be rewarded in heaven. Still with that said, I am truly a person who
loves automobiles and their history and even the new ones. I must tell you this
story, a few years back two young men, yes, and I mean young as in teenagers were
here helping work on a school bus that was going to a friend. One of the boys
fell in love with an old station wagon I had parked here. It was a nice car but
needed work and he wanted to purchase it. I told him, if his father would
approve the sale, he could purchase the car for 300 boxes of Mac and Cheese for
our food pantry. That same afternoon this lad, still not licensed to drive,
showed up with OVER 300 boxes of Mac and Cheese, for you see this lad found a
buy on the product, which I told him would cost about 50 cents per box and that
would be about $150 and since he got a deal, he purchased more... Good kid
right? God is good.
But let's look deeper into the scripture, for it is not just
about me. Look around your place, if you collect things, ok, but don't worship
them. Everybody collects something, for it is fun. Salt and Pepper shakers,
thimbles, little bells, teddy bears, ducks, I mean most people collect
something, the thing is do not put your collection ahead of God. I know a few
people that over the years moved so slow they collected dust. (That was a joke, folks) Anyway, Jesus is telling us we should build up our treasures in heaven
where they will not be stolen, or rust and the moth will not eat them. How do
we build treasures in heaven, I mean I cannot take a bus and drive up to the
golden gate someday and say I want to put this into heaven. No, how you build
treasures in heaven, I could make it real simple and use this wording that I do
each day... "Share your blessings." Warning, you must be careful on this one for
as you share your blessings that God has given you, you are going to get more
back. And please, folks, do not think that sharing your blessings is always
about sending someone a check, however, that is a good one. Of course we are to
give to the storehouse, in other words, to the place you worship so they
have the means to keep working for God. But giving and sharing can also go to
places like the Red Cross, Salvation Army, your local food pantry, veterans and
I could go on and on. I do say this, if you give to a national organization, the
money does not get used as it does if you stay local. But even still, you might
consider sharing your blessings with a neighbor in need, and I could go on and
on.
This, folks, is how you store up treasures in Heaven, you do
them by doing good things for God here on earth. Folks, giving to help start a
local "strip club" would not be a way to build up treasures in heaven. (Not
kidding on that one.) The story is long, so let me wrap it up this way.
WHATEVER you can do in the name of Jesus, and do it in faith, from your heart,
will help you build up those treasures in heaven... and someone said Amen.
Dear Father in Heaven, we look to You for all things, and
start this day by thanking You and giving You praise for all things good in our
lives. Even in pain, Lord, we give thanks for we know the pain Jesus went through
for us. Lord, guide us in our giving so it reaches whom You want it to reach,
help us to pray about how we share our blessings, and help us to now worship
our collections of "stuff" here on earth, for Lord, we should not have it as
Your word tells us so help us with this. I confess, Lord, I am a vehicle nut,
and always have been, help me not ever bow down to these things. Lord, be with
all those on our prayer list and as we want them healed, we want it to be as
Your will and not ours. We truly respect Your will in our lives, and I confess
sometimes I don't like it, but Lord, I love You and again respect and love all
You do for all of us. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth building your treasures in heaven by SHARING YOUR
BLESSINGS in the name of Jesus... Love ya, Pastor Dan.
To help support the purchase of the building Carry The Light
Ministries has purchased, and to help rebuild the inside to get it ready for
the mission, this will be used for holding toys for those coming to visit Santa,
an outreach of the ministry. All kids who visit Santa are told about the real
meaning of Christmas. Hey, if we cannot get into public schools as Santa, and
we cannot work the malls as Santa and tell about Jesus we will bring the
children to our food pantry for this outreach... Someone please say Amen
here. You may send if you wish, and only if from your heart, a donation to
Carry The Light Ministries
16 Dewalt Drive
Mechanicsburg Pa. 17055
Dollars received above what is needed for the building will be
used in the food pantry.
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