Friday March 9, 2012 "Help Wanted" 5

As evening approached, the disciples came to Him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered. "Bring them here to me," He said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

Good Friday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. Let me get this out of the way this morning right away... PRAISE THE LORD, PRAISE THE LORD.  I wanted to get that out of me right away for if you get one of them in you and don't let it out, it might hurt you!!

Now let me get this out also... I love you folks, all of you... God is so good, and today, being Friday, it is the day we pray for all of you who have answered that long running ad from Jesus, that long running "Help Wanted" sign. So we pray today for pastors, preachers, priests and all those who go on the road, or in the air for Jesus. Pray for those gospel singers, Tim, Dave, Duane, Neil, and the Jacobs Brothers. Pray for Daniel Stoner and his family, who fly into the back woods to reach out in the name of Jesus, and yes, pray for this line.

On our prayer list today, Betty Deardorff, the 91 year old mother of my classmate and our prayer warrior Bobbie Tucker. Prayers for Grant and also for Stanley and Sterling. Also pray for Carry The Light Ministries and our many outreaches.

March 9, 2012 "Help Wanted" 5 Matthew 14:15 - As evening approached, the disciples came to Him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." 16 Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." 17 "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered. 18 "Bring them here to me," He said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. (NIV)

Let's look at this, Jesus had five loaves of bread and two fish and He fed 5,000 people. And once again I want to remind you that Jesus is the same today as He was yesterday and will be the same tomorrow. Think of the few farmers we have and those little seeds they plant and think of how many people are fed. If you do not think that God has His hand on our food chain, ASK ANY REAL FARMER.

Think of how many people have answered the "Help Wanted" sign for Jesus and are working in that food chain. Even our food pantry is part of that food chain. There are times when we call people to come for food, or they call us and the shelves are low, but God has always seen we had enough to share and NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN TURNED AWAY. Instead of Jesus sending 5,000 people away to buy their food, He, Jesus, fed them. Jesus did not turn them away and neither will we for we are doing our best to follow His examples, and although over the years I have slipped and fallen, Jesus was always around to help me up. Please, try your very best to follow the examples of Jesus, He will never steer you in the wrong direction. He is good.

As I am typing this message, I see out my window that Grant and Wanda came up the driveway and went into our new building to start painting. They are also out working for Jesus this morning...  HOW ABOUT YOU? Don't say you cannot do it, say to Jesus, with Your help, Lord, I can do anything. Lord bless Grant, Wanda, Pamela and Dolores as they work hard for You through Carry The Light and also other missions they work on.

God is good, and while some people have said as we age, we should be cutting back, and I was told once when in business, either you move forward or you go out of business. And folks, when you work for Jesus there is but one way to go, you keep moving forward, for Jesus will from time to time alter the marching orders He has given you. I want to tell you all this and yes you may quote me on this... "It is fun working for Jesus." It is not like working for a pay check, it is because you are working for someone you love dearly and who loves you. People who know me, know that I tend to cry. Yes, I cry when I am happy, I cry if something goes wrong, I cry if one of my beloved animals gets sick, and I even cry when I think of Jesus taking a nail for me. When I worked at the school district, if my boss had to correct me about something, a little tear would always let me down. But Jesus just has a way with me that when the tears flow, He lifts me up and dries my eyes and keeps me looking ahead. I love Jesus very much, and when I was young my mamma told me all about Jesus, but I did a walk-about and then came back. Now I am here forever and ever and working for Jesus. Yes, right now tears of joy are coming down my face. I love you, Lord. I really do.

Dear Father in Heaven, forgive me of my sins, and please, Lord, hear the prayers of others who have sinned and need to be forgiven. Lord, bless those working in Your fields of Harvest and help all of us who are working follow Your plan for us, Your will for us. Be with Dan Stoner and family, be with Dave, Duane, Neil and Doug and others singing at the funeral of Mr. Brunner, and be with his family. Lord Jesus, be with Bobbie and her mamma, Betty, and touch both of them. Help us now and thanks, Lord, for a really nice day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Now go forth sharing your blessings and answering that "help wanted" ad placed by Jesus in your Bible. Love ya, Pastor Dan.