Fri April 13, 2012 Road to Emmaus 4

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying "it is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when He broke the bread.

Good Friday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, it is a beautiful morning here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. Being Friday it is the day we pray for all those who step out in faith and go working for Jesus. While we think of our pastors, missionaries, great gospel singers, etc., please do note some of the others, like Sunday School teachers, those who work tirelessly without pay taking care of their local churches, there are all sorts of ways to work for our Lord Jesus, and I just know all of you are doing your part. Please keep praying for Ronald Leidigh whose cancer has returned. Pray for Pastor Larry and the Glenvale Church of God. And please keep praying for Dolores. Here is a short update. I had Dolores to the surgeon who put this "third knee" in and he pulled fluid from the knee, you did not need to test the fluid to see it was a "mess".  Dolores is on home meds being put right into her blood stream. Next Wednesday the surgeon is going to go in and clean out the knee, again the following Wednesday he will do it again, this is done by the scope and not cutting her open, so to speak. Then if the infection does not clear, she will require major surgery, removing her knee and putting in a straight rod or pin, then after a while, another surgery to put in another new knee. We have faith that the infection will clear. So please keep praying.

April 13, 2012 The Road to Emmaus 4 Luke 24:33 - They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying "it is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when He broke the bread. (NIV)

Before I start with this scripture, I want to go back to yesterday to part of the scripture I used yesterday.

Luke 24:30 - When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks and broke it and began to give it to them. 31 "THEN THEIR EYES WERE OPENED AND THEY RECOGNIZED HIM."

Yesterday I related His breaking of the bread and how that had happened before, but God pointed out something else this morning as I was reading this scripture in our morning studies here at home. "THEN THEIR EYES WERE OPENED." Brothers and sisters, how many of us, besides me, sat in a church pew for years and years with their eyes closed, and I am not talking about sleeping through the message".  Let me call this kind of sight today, and you can quote me on this, I was suffering from "20/20 blindness".  To quote me again you might say "I knew Jesus but I did not KNOW Him." How many of you can relate to this, you might have gone to church as a child and youth, and even sing in the choir as I did. My eyes could see the words of the songs, and even watch our choir director, the pastor's wife. I could see the pictures of Jesus, but I had this "20/20 blindness" when it came to really seeing Jesus. Now my eyes are open, really open, and brothers and sisters, when I look around it is hard for me NOT TO SEE Jesus. I can pick out people who love Jesus by the way they carry themselves. Some people have told Dolores and I that we should be cutting back when it comes to what all we do. No, no brothers and sisters, in fact just the opposite, we have pledged to work even harder. What if Jesus would have given up after He was arrested, or He would have called in the angels that were standing by as Jesus was "nailed to the cross."

And Jesus did not stop there, He went on after He was risen, and even after He returned to Heaven, for He is working for us each day. Some have told us to get rid of our dogs and other animals, and our dogs are old and handicapped, most are almost blind.

These two men walking toward Emmaus knew a lot about Jesus as they discussed Him with Jesus Himself, but they did not know Him enough to have seen Him while walking, but Jesus opened their eyes as He broke bread...

ARE YOUR EYES OPEN TODAY to see Jesus? Forget the sinners' prayer today, I am asking You point blank, CAN YOU SEE JESUS, DO YOU KNOW HIM TODAY? I don't mean do you know of Him, I am asking DO YOU REALLY KNOW AND LOVE HIM? DO YOU LOVE JESUS? Without a doubt, it is important for your salvation, and it is important for our ministry. Dolores, Pam, Wanda and Grant along with all of those who come to help at the food pantry, feeding the soul is more important to us than feeding the body with soup and veggies, etc. And folks, we care enough to ask people just like I am asking you. DO YOU KNOW AND LOVE JESUS NOW? IF JESUS WOULD RETURN RIGHT N------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------OW, WOULD YOU MAKE THE CUT, MAKE THE GRADE? Think about it, pray about it, and folks, if you are not sure, if you are not sure, talk to your pastor, or call me, I will talk to you and pray with You. My cell phone is 717 991 0754.

Dear Father in Heaven, open our eyes as You forgive our sins, PLEASE, PLEASE, help us to get Your word out, and also to be sure it sticks. Help us to follow up on those who hear it from us and from Your words. Hear our prayers today, Lord, and honor our requests for healing according to Your will. And Lord,  open blind eyes today. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Now go forth and share your blessings and be sure one of those is sharing your love of and for Him, share your story of how much you love Jesus. Do not be afraid, for if someone had not told you about Jesus, where would you be today? Would your eyes be open or closed? Love ya, Pastor Dan.