2 Chronicles 7:14 - If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will hear their land. (NIV)
Exodus 20:3 - You shall have no other gods before me.
Exodus 20:4 - You shall not make for yourself an idol.
Exodus 20:7 - You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
Exodus 20:8 - Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
Exodus 20:12 - Honor your father and mother.
Exodus 20:13 - You shall not murder.
Exodus 20:14 - You shall not commit adultery.
Exodus 20:15 - You shall not steal.
Exodus 20:16 - You shall not give false testimony.
Exodus 20:17 - You shall not covet.
Good Afternoon, my dear brothers and sisters. It is a beautiful, very hot day here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. The last of the snow has melted away!! Please pray today for the family of Ron Leidigh. Ron went home to be with Jesus and is waiting for us there. Please support Donna and the family with your prayers. Thanks. Prayers also this day for our nation, and I would ask that we just keep praying for our nation at least through Independence Day, that falls on July 4th. Please also pray for our leaders and our military. Also please pray for me, as I have been sort of struggling to sit down and write the messages each day. I guess I am getting older and the brain does not engage as fast as it once did. Please remember also our picnic, one week from tomorrow, and my cooking brain still works. Let me get moving on with the message ... Please refer to the scriptures above. All are from my NIV Study Bible.
Today I just want to make this note. Most of our laws that govern our lands come from the commandments. For those who do not believe in God, they might find it hard to believe that our laws really came from God ... How about that!!! Now while we are all aware that there are laws on the books about stealing, about murder, and about giving false testimony, not many realize that there are still laws on the books about adultery. But don't just look at those commandments that cover a lot of our laws, I am talking about asking God to keep on blessing this nation and when I look at 2 Chronicles 7:14 and I see how we need to, as a people, as a nation, need to humble before God and then I look at all the commandments and see how many we break ... Oh my gosh, it is a wonder that God blesses us as a nation at all and yet we are still one of the best blessed nations in the world.
While I ask you as you look at those commandments, how many of them do you think are broken each day by our elected officials in Washington and in our State houses, but before I ask that I want to ask you to go to that mirror and talk to the one looking back at you and ask this question ... How many of these have I broken? Now let me let you know that if you have broken some and have asked God to forgive you, you have been forgiven and do not let anyone bring them up and hold them against you, except maybe those that will require you to answer to man.
But as a nation, as a people as a whole, we have broken all of God's commandments, and yet we ask Him to bless us ... This year we need to humble ourselves as a people, as a nation, and we need to come to God and I know no better place to start this than by doing it myself and then asking you folks to join me. So today will you join me, will you humble yourself before God asking for God to forgive you and also forgive us as a nation and then do your part to get the word out to others so we may turn this country around? I am not talking here about sending this message ahead, I am talking about each of us talking to a few people in person or by phone or even email asking them to humble to God so our nation can be healed. Think of it, if we all would ask, say five people, and then those five would ask five, how it grows. But it must be personal, from the heart. I will commit to it. I will start it right now, and lead all of you in this prayer.
Dear Lord, forgive me, Lord, for I have sinned and am not worthy of the blessing You have given me and given us as a nation ... Today, I do ask that You forgive me and that You bless this nation and may the blessings for the nation start with our troops regardless of where they may be today. Lord, may the blessings extend to Washington, DC, and for all those who do not humble to You and are bowing to others may they lose in the next elections. Help us, Lord, to seek out people who will run our country based on the Bible and The Word You have given us, and Lord, may all of our nation stand by our mother land which is Israel. Lord, we need to get back to the Bible, and Lord, it must start with me. So help me get cracking on this. More than I do now, help me go forward this day telling others we are indeed one nation under You and really have them look at it that way. May we teach our folks not to trash our nation. Lord, You are in charge of this nation, and I know that, and I know You have the power to change all of us and this nation, Lord, please stop the fires in the West and Midwest. Lord, I also know we are unworthy of even asking this request. I pray that those in the gulf area will start to humble to You. I would like to see prayer lines and not protest lines. I would like to see folks concerned about the wildlife and not their wallets, Lord. Humble Your people, Lord, and on this our Independence Day that some people think is just the 4th of July let us really remember who gave us this land ... You did, Lord, and You blessed it. Thanks for hearing me, Lord, and thanks for blessing me by forgiving me of my sins. And Lord, thanks for blessing our nation. I am sorry for how we have turned from You and I am going to work even harder this year for You ... In the name of Jesus, I pray and even promise that I will try and do better. And Lord, bless Donna and her family and hug them tight. And Lord, I am having trouble writing lately and You know that, please, Lord, get me back on track. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Go forth now sharing your blessings, and sharing the Love of Jesus, and humbling yourself to God, and please take care of you ... Look for a message this Saturday as we round out June. Can you believe we are half way through 2012 already? Hey, folks ... I love ya ... Pastor Dan.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Wednesday 6/27/12 God and Country 3
Genesis 1:26 through 2:3 - Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground ... So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Then God said, "I give you every seed bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth an all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground everything that has the breath of life in it I give every green plant for food." And it was so. God saw all that He had made and it was very good and there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all His work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it Holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done. (NIV)
The Constitution. Article 1: All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
Article one then goes on to tell all about how the Senate and the House of Representatives should be elected, their age requirements and duties and so forth and so on.
Article one is very big, so let me say if you have a copy of the Constitution, please read it on your own.
Good Salvation Wednesday, my dear brothers and sisters. Another beautiful day here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. First a praise report, Patsy Emig thanks us for all our prayers and gives glory to God as she came through her surgery last week in good shape and now has the test reports back and there is NO CANCER!! Can we just shout praise the Lord ... PRAISE THE LORD ... There, that was not hard. Prayers again for the following: Vicki, she has many problems. Healing from cancer, Ron, Rick, others who have cancer ... Please pray again for our son, Matthew, and also for Sunshine Ministries where Matthew resides. Please pray for Carry The Light Ministries, and our ministry team as we push forward this week getting ready for our annual picnic. We look forward to seeing all of you. Please call, 717 691 8200, to let us know you are coming and how many. Please fetch along your lawn chair.
Salvation Wednesday, and the day we center our prayers on Salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, and brothers and sisters, there is NO OTHER WAY TO RECEIVE SALVATION AND GET INTO HEAVEN ... Let's get the word out, and all of us need to be working on it ... REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR.
God and Country (Day 3). Please look up and re-read the scriptures at the beginning of the writing for today. Okay, God finished Creation and the framers of our Constitution have set their names to it. Here are the three sets of three words. Which do you hear most often?
"Start your engines," "In the Beginning," and "We the People." If you are like me, you hear those words "Start your engines" more than the others. Our Bible starts with "In the Beginning", and our Constitution starts with "We the People." Now if I look over the scripture above about the creation of man and I look deeper in the book of Genesis about the fall of man and I look into what is going on in Washington, DC, and in our State Houses across this great nation, I do see one thing in common. MAN HAS FAILED!! Think about it, brothers and sisters, it is of course my opinion, but take a look around you. You have read the account of Adam and Eve and if you believe in Salvation through Jesus, then I am sure you believe the events of creation, after all, they are recorded in the same book. Now I do know some folks, and even knew a pastor or two who did not believe in all that was recorded in the Bible. I heard one pastor tell how when Jesus fed thousands with five loaves and two fish, what had happened was a young boy got out his lunch and then others got out their lunches and they all shared them. TOOK JESUS RIGHT OUT OF THAT. So we agree man's failure started right there in the garden God put us in. And yes, I said us, because in one way or another all of us have failed. Well, those in Washington think they have not, but they do. I know how we could make a lot of jobs today, let's pass a law that every time a politician lies he or she gets their mouth washed out with soap (like my mamma did to me). Just think of the soap sales and the new jobs. The only thing that our leaders for the most part ever think about is how to get re-elected. From the day they get sworn in they start on that campaign trail. Those in offices also blame it on others, but, hey, where did they get it? Well, Adam blamed Eve, and Eve, well, she blamed the snake. So folks, I guess what I am saying is that all of us, men and women, have failed from time to time and all of us, even those of us who have been saved, have fallen off the path once in awhile.
Sometimes I like to think about my Salvation, and my taking Jesus as my Savior as trying to go up the down side of a sliding board. I would run from the bottom and get part way up and then slip and slide back down. After awhile I wold run and get farther up but again come back down, maybe not as far, but did slide back some. And so it goes, and the farther up the slide I run, the longer that slide gets. And yes, I still slip and slide as I would think a lot of you would also. I would think that God would get tired of hearing from us asking for forgiveness, but folks, God is in the forgiving business, beside taking care of our needs and all of those things, and giving us life, He indeed forgives us when we go to Him in faith. Folks, please never stop climbing toward God. I know I can pick up the Bible and read a scripture an write about what God gives me. Tomorrow He might open that same scripture up to another writing, completely different than the one I just wrote.
God's Word is endless and SO IS HIS LOVE FOR ALL OF US. Do you know He loves all of us the same, even those who do not love Him? He still loves. How about it, let's get cleaned up today, let's shower our soul in the Blood of the Lamb and get busy telling others about this Love.
God gave us a great nation, let us work harder to keep it great, and it must start with Me and You ... Yes, I put me ahead of you on this, for I am not telling you to do something that I need not do ... Let's get praying for forgiveness ...
Dear Father in Heaven, please forgive me and help me to repent and then get to work getting out Your word ... Hear our other prayers that are on our lips and minds as we go forth this day. Thanks for the good news that we can share with others ... Lord, I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Go forth now sharing your blessings that have been lent to you by God. Share them good, and stand back and watch God replace them ... Love ya, Pastor Dan.
The Constitution. Article 1: All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
Article one then goes on to tell all about how the Senate and the House of Representatives should be elected, their age requirements and duties and so forth and so on.
Article one is very big, so let me say if you have a copy of the Constitution, please read it on your own.
Good Salvation Wednesday, my dear brothers and sisters. Another beautiful day here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. First a praise report, Patsy Emig thanks us for all our prayers and gives glory to God as she came through her surgery last week in good shape and now has the test reports back and there is NO CANCER!! Can we just shout praise the Lord ... PRAISE THE LORD ... There, that was not hard. Prayers again for the following: Vicki, she has many problems. Healing from cancer, Ron, Rick, others who have cancer ... Please pray again for our son, Matthew, and also for Sunshine Ministries where Matthew resides. Please pray for Carry The Light Ministries, and our ministry team as we push forward this week getting ready for our annual picnic. We look forward to seeing all of you. Please call, 717 691 8200, to let us know you are coming and how many. Please fetch along your lawn chair.
Salvation Wednesday, and the day we center our prayers on Salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, and brothers and sisters, there is NO OTHER WAY TO RECEIVE SALVATION AND GET INTO HEAVEN ... Let's get the word out, and all of us need to be working on it ... REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR.
God and Country (Day 3). Please look up and re-read the scriptures at the beginning of the writing for today. Okay, God finished Creation and the framers of our Constitution have set their names to it. Here are the three sets of three words. Which do you hear most often?
"Start your engines," "In the Beginning," and "We the People." If you are like me, you hear those words "Start your engines" more than the others. Our Bible starts with "In the Beginning", and our Constitution starts with "We the People." Now if I look over the scripture above about the creation of man and I look deeper in the book of Genesis about the fall of man and I look into what is going on in Washington, DC, and in our State Houses across this great nation, I do see one thing in common. MAN HAS FAILED!! Think about it, brothers and sisters, it is of course my opinion, but take a look around you. You have read the account of Adam and Eve and if you believe in Salvation through Jesus, then I am sure you believe the events of creation, after all, they are recorded in the same book. Now I do know some folks, and even knew a pastor or two who did not believe in all that was recorded in the Bible. I heard one pastor tell how when Jesus fed thousands with five loaves and two fish, what had happened was a young boy got out his lunch and then others got out their lunches and they all shared them. TOOK JESUS RIGHT OUT OF THAT. So we agree man's failure started right there in the garden God put us in. And yes, I said us, because in one way or another all of us have failed. Well, those in Washington think they have not, but they do. I know how we could make a lot of jobs today, let's pass a law that every time a politician lies he or she gets their mouth washed out with soap (like my mamma did to me). Just think of the soap sales and the new jobs. The only thing that our leaders for the most part ever think about is how to get re-elected. From the day they get sworn in they start on that campaign trail. Those in offices also blame it on others, but, hey, where did they get it? Well, Adam blamed Eve, and Eve, well, she blamed the snake. So folks, I guess what I am saying is that all of us, men and women, have failed from time to time and all of us, even those of us who have been saved, have fallen off the path once in awhile.
Sometimes I like to think about my Salvation, and my taking Jesus as my Savior as trying to go up the down side of a sliding board. I would run from the bottom and get part way up and then slip and slide back down. After awhile I wold run and get farther up but again come back down, maybe not as far, but did slide back some. And so it goes, and the farther up the slide I run, the longer that slide gets. And yes, I still slip and slide as I would think a lot of you would also. I would think that God would get tired of hearing from us asking for forgiveness, but folks, God is in the forgiving business, beside taking care of our needs and all of those things, and giving us life, He indeed forgives us when we go to Him in faith. Folks, please never stop climbing toward God. I know I can pick up the Bible and read a scripture an write about what God gives me. Tomorrow He might open that same scripture up to another writing, completely different than the one I just wrote.
God's Word is endless and SO IS HIS LOVE FOR ALL OF US. Do you know He loves all of us the same, even those who do not love Him? He still loves. How about it, let's get cleaned up today, let's shower our soul in the Blood of the Lamb and get busy telling others about this Love.
God gave us a great nation, let us work harder to keep it great, and it must start with Me and You ... Yes, I put me ahead of you on this, for I am not telling you to do something that I need not do ... Let's get praying for forgiveness ...
Dear Father in Heaven, please forgive me and help me to repent and then get to work getting out Your word ... Hear our other prayers that are on our lips and minds as we go forth this day. Thanks for the good news that we can share with others ... Lord, I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Go forth now sharing your blessings that have been lent to you by God. Share them good, and stand back and watch God replace them ... Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Tuesday 6/26/12 God and Country 2
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
Jesus said: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one come to the Father except through me."
Good Tuesday afternoon, my dear brothers and sisters. It is one perfect day here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. Reminder: Coming soon, our annual picnic and your presence is requested. Base/baritone singer will open our picnic with some great gospel music, that will be at 11:00 AM. At noon we will eat, and eat we will do, and if you want you can have your desert first.
Saturday July 7th, 11:00 AM, come early and fellowship, and stay awhile into the afternoon. Enjoy this place we call "Willow Mill Park", just off Route 114 in Silver Spring Township. Bring your disc golf stuff and play a round or two, bring your fishing pole and take a worm swimming (PA license required). Bring a canoe and take a spin. Come and meet our ministry team and lots of our workers, plus our families and our flock from the Bridges. And it is all FREE!! Rain or shine, we are under roof.
Prayers today for Helen Coffin who has bone cancer. Also for Rick Weaver, brain cancer. For Ron, cancer. Also, it is Tuesday, so we pray for a cure for this and other diseases. AMEN.
Psalm 1:1 - Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
John 14:6 - Jesus said: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Today I started out by stating it is a perfect day here at the Southern Location of the North Pole, meaning here at 16 Dewalt Drive, or at our home. We are really blessed, as is the good old United States of America. Why, we even have this song we sing that is a prayer and it is called "God Bless America." When I look around and see the flowers and trees and the fruit on the vine and all the good food around to eat, I know it is from God and I appreciate it all! But do I show that appreciation to God for all of this He has provided? America is truly blessed, yet I see signs today, yes, today, of some of the outrage that God shows us once in awhile. The flooding in the south being caused by a storm called Debbie, and we all know that Jesus can calm the storms. And those fire storms in the Southwest, wow, sort of looks like hell to me with all that fire going on. God could put those storms out in a heartbeat if He wanted to do it. Why do these things happen? How pleased can God really be with us in America when we do things like a few of these I want to bring up ...
A few years ago, I was Vice President and also Chaplain of the Museum of Bus Transportation in Hershey, PA. Before each board meeting we had prayer, before each event we would gather and pray, and before each work session we would pray over that. Then two new board members were appointed to the board and one of those objected to prayer before the meetings, so out president stopped the praying and instead had a "moment of silence." I walked away from the board, did not leave the museum but dropped off the board. Later that same year there was a flood, the water was turned on over the Swatara Creek Basin and the water came up at the Bus museum storage lot. Biggest flood ever, and many antique buses were lost. GOD COULD HAVE STOPPED THAT WALL OF WATER ...
Our Lord Jesus has been put out of our schools and also our government offices and right now most of them are GOING BROKE ... Do you think this is all chance or do you think maybe, just maybe, God is sending a few warning shots over our heads? And even with that we keep singing "God Bless America."
When I look back over my life of 71 years and think of all the things I have done wrong, it is amazing how God still keeps blessing me. But I know why, He loves me! And why does God keep blessing America, do you think it is because we now sing the song "God Bless America" at baseball games? No, it is because He loves us ... Really, with all that we have done, He still loves us.
Brothers and sisters, He has warned us, He really has. The warnings were in the commandments.
Ask yourself, do you really love your neighbor? Really? God gave us other warnings, He sent John the Baptist who said this ... REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR. Jesus said the same thing, REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR. We show God our love by throwing Him out of schools and public government buildings and places. And dare I say this, we have now gone to THROWING OUR LORD JESUS OUT OF SOME CHURCHES. Well, maybe they don't think so, but when you support the sins of man right in your churches then is that not throwing salt into the open wounds in the nail-scarred hands of our Lord Jesus?
As I write this week on God and Country I want you to really think about how blessed America really is and how we do NOT deserve this ... Yes, by all means please sing out the song "God Bless America" for indeed it is a prayer (a lot of people do not know that).
Sing out the words, "God Bless America, land that I love" as you sit in your car and watch the one in the car in front of you empty his or her ash tray at the intersection or flick his smoke out the window of their car. When you are sitting at the intersection take a look at all those smokers' trash lying there and then sing "God Bless America, Land that I love." I shop at our local Giant store, and it is a nice, a really nice store, but right out front is an employee smoking area. IT LOOKS LIKE A HOG PLACE, OR WORSE. "God Bless America, Land that I love." Do you remember the ad a few years back that showed a Native American Indian sitting on a horse dressed in his headdress with a tear running down his cheek from seeing all the trash, the litter? "God Bless America, Land that I love."
I have had people want to punch me out because when I saw them throw their trash out of the car I told them this is my AMERICA they just trashed up. "God Bless America, Land that I love."
It is time we don't just sing this song, "God Bless America," but we mean it as a prayer and then maybe add another song, one like "Stand up for Jesus." Trust me when I say we are not the only blessed country for God made us all equal, all have great blessings and all seem to not heed the warning ... REPENT ... REPENT ... REPENT for the Kingdom of Heaven is near ... It is one day nearer than it was just yesterday ... So sing out today this song, "God Bless America, Land that I love." AND MEAN IT. Maybe even say amen at the end ...
Can you tell I am upset today? Today let us try to live and please God instead of maybe making Him cry ...
Dear Father in Heaven, please Bless America some more and help us who love You above all else and who love our country to stand up for You and America. Help us to help clean it up. In the name of Jesus, hear our prayers for healing today. Bless them and heal them according to Your will. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Now go forth loving God and loving America and singing "God Bless America" and of course sharing your blessings that God has LENT to you ... Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Jesus said: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one come to the Father except through me."
Good Tuesday afternoon, my dear brothers and sisters. It is one perfect day here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. Reminder: Coming soon, our annual picnic and your presence is requested. Base/baritone singer will open our picnic with some great gospel music, that will be at 11:00 AM. At noon we will eat, and eat we will do, and if you want you can have your desert first.
Saturday July 7th, 11:00 AM, come early and fellowship, and stay awhile into the afternoon. Enjoy this place we call "Willow Mill Park", just off Route 114 in Silver Spring Township. Bring your disc golf stuff and play a round or two, bring your fishing pole and take a worm swimming (PA license required). Bring a canoe and take a spin. Come and meet our ministry team and lots of our workers, plus our families and our flock from the Bridges. And it is all FREE!! Rain or shine, we are under roof.
Prayers today for Helen Coffin who has bone cancer. Also for Rick Weaver, brain cancer. For Ron, cancer. Also, it is Tuesday, so we pray for a cure for this and other diseases. AMEN.
Psalm 1:1 - Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
John 14:6 - Jesus said: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Today I started out by stating it is a perfect day here at the Southern Location of the North Pole, meaning here at 16 Dewalt Drive, or at our home. We are really blessed, as is the good old United States of America. Why, we even have this song we sing that is a prayer and it is called "God Bless America." When I look around and see the flowers and trees and the fruit on the vine and all the good food around to eat, I know it is from God and I appreciate it all! But do I show that appreciation to God for all of this He has provided? America is truly blessed, yet I see signs today, yes, today, of some of the outrage that God shows us once in awhile. The flooding in the south being caused by a storm called Debbie, and we all know that Jesus can calm the storms. And those fire storms in the Southwest, wow, sort of looks like hell to me with all that fire going on. God could put those storms out in a heartbeat if He wanted to do it. Why do these things happen? How pleased can God really be with us in America when we do things like a few of these I want to bring up ...
A few years ago, I was Vice President and also Chaplain of the Museum of Bus Transportation in Hershey, PA. Before each board meeting we had prayer, before each event we would gather and pray, and before each work session we would pray over that. Then two new board members were appointed to the board and one of those objected to prayer before the meetings, so out president stopped the praying and instead had a "moment of silence." I walked away from the board, did not leave the museum but dropped off the board. Later that same year there was a flood, the water was turned on over the Swatara Creek Basin and the water came up at the Bus museum storage lot. Biggest flood ever, and many antique buses were lost. GOD COULD HAVE STOPPED THAT WALL OF WATER ...
Our Lord Jesus has been put out of our schools and also our government offices and right now most of them are GOING BROKE ... Do you think this is all chance or do you think maybe, just maybe, God is sending a few warning shots over our heads? And even with that we keep singing "God Bless America."
When I look back over my life of 71 years and think of all the things I have done wrong, it is amazing how God still keeps blessing me. But I know why, He loves me! And why does God keep blessing America, do you think it is because we now sing the song "God Bless America" at baseball games? No, it is because He loves us ... Really, with all that we have done, He still loves us.
Brothers and sisters, He has warned us, He really has. The warnings were in the commandments.
Ask yourself, do you really love your neighbor? Really? God gave us other warnings, He sent John the Baptist who said this ... REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR. Jesus said the same thing, REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR. We show God our love by throwing Him out of schools and public government buildings and places. And dare I say this, we have now gone to THROWING OUR LORD JESUS OUT OF SOME CHURCHES. Well, maybe they don't think so, but when you support the sins of man right in your churches then is that not throwing salt into the open wounds in the nail-scarred hands of our Lord Jesus?
As I write this week on God and Country I want you to really think about how blessed America really is and how we do NOT deserve this ... Yes, by all means please sing out the song "God Bless America" for indeed it is a prayer (a lot of people do not know that).
Sing out the words, "God Bless America, land that I love" as you sit in your car and watch the one in the car in front of you empty his or her ash tray at the intersection or flick his smoke out the window of their car. When you are sitting at the intersection take a look at all those smokers' trash lying there and then sing "God Bless America, Land that I love." I shop at our local Giant store, and it is a nice, a really nice store, but right out front is an employee smoking area. IT LOOKS LIKE A HOG PLACE, OR WORSE. "God Bless America, Land that I love." Do you remember the ad a few years back that showed a Native American Indian sitting on a horse dressed in his headdress with a tear running down his cheek from seeing all the trash, the litter? "God Bless America, Land that I love."
I have had people want to punch me out because when I saw them throw their trash out of the car I told them this is my AMERICA they just trashed up. "God Bless America, Land that I love."
It is time we don't just sing this song, "God Bless America," but we mean it as a prayer and then maybe add another song, one like "Stand up for Jesus." Trust me when I say we are not the only blessed country for God made us all equal, all have great blessings and all seem to not heed the warning ... REPENT ... REPENT ... REPENT for the Kingdom of Heaven is near ... It is one day nearer than it was just yesterday ... So sing out today this song, "God Bless America, Land that I love." AND MEAN IT. Maybe even say amen at the end ...
Can you tell I am upset today? Today let us try to live and please God instead of maybe making Him cry ...
Dear Father in Heaven, please Bless America some more and help us who love You above all else and who love our country to stand up for You and America. Help us to help clean it up. In the name of Jesus, hear our prayers for healing today. Bless them and heal them according to Your will. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Now go forth loving God and loving America and singing "God Bless America" and of course sharing your blessings that God has LENT to you ... Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Monday 6/25/12 God and Country
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
Good Monday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. What a beautiful morning here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. While writing for God this morning I am enjoying a big tall glass of ice cold "Butter Milk." It is Monday and the day we pray for our leaders, our veterans, our military, our police, and firefighters, and all others who work to keep us safe and healthy. As you pray for our leaders, pray for their souls first. If we write to the president or other leaders, maybe we should include the scripture above which is 2 Chronicles 7:14.
As we move forward to our Nation's birthday, which is called Independence Day and happens to fall on July 4th, I want to do a review or rewrite of a message God gave me a few years back. I am praying He will give it to me fresh again. Let's get started, but first this day, let's pray for forgiveness of our sins.
Dear Father in Heaven, I am indeed a sinner, and I ask today that You forgive me of those sins of mine. I also pray today for our president and other leaders and pray first that they are saved, that they have come to You to seek and find salvation, for most of all I care that they have a life in heaven and not in hell. Lord, I pray for our veterans and our troops this day. And Lord, for our police, and as I just heard on the news how the police had to shoot a person who tried to shoot them, and also about a female police officer who was shot to death just last night ... Protect our warriors, military, police, firefighters, and Lord, please put out those wildfires. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
6/25/12: God and Country (Day One)
2 Chronicles 7:14 - "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (NIV)
Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (NIV)
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
If today I were to go to the street and ask this question to those passing by, what do you think the answer might be? Here is my question: "With Independence Day coming soon, who do you think the father of our country is?" First of all, some of the folks, maybe even half of them, will look at me like I am crazy and ask me this question in return ... "What is Independence Day?" Then after I tell them what it is, they might say to me, "Are you talking about the 4th of July?" So then I would tell them the difference between the holiday and the date of the holiday. Just think, and maybe I should keep my keys quiet on this, but what if instead of people saying "Merry Christmas" they would say "Happy December 25th." Now we know that people have taken Christ out of Christmas, so we will save that for another time. So after getting the name of the holiday straight and they now know what it is, I ask the question again. "Who do you think the father of our country is?" Again I am asking this on the street ... The answer would be either George Washington, or some would say Abe Lincoln.
Now if I ask that same question of all of you this day, I would get one of the following answers. "God, Jesus, Our Lord Jesus, God The Father," all of which would be correct ... so let me get into the scriptures and show you just why all of those answers would be okay, plus there could be other names for our Lord. Here it is in Scripture.
Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In Him was life, and that life was the Light of Men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
John 1:14 - The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and Truth.
(All scriptures from my New International Version Study Bible - NIV)
So brothers and sisters, if you want to witness to others about our country on this coming Independence Day, you can tell them, and back it with scripture, who the Father of our country really is. GOD!!!
Now go forth and share your blessings. I hope to be back on schedule with my dailies again ...
Family update. On Saturday we were blessed with a dear little Yorkie, 14 years young, about 3 pounds and just as cute as me!! Have a blessed day ... Love ya, Pastor Dan
REMEMBER THE PICNIC ... YOU ALL COME NOW! ~ YOU HEAR!!
Good Monday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. What a beautiful morning here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. While writing for God this morning I am enjoying a big tall glass of ice cold "Butter Milk." It is Monday and the day we pray for our leaders, our veterans, our military, our police, and firefighters, and all others who work to keep us safe and healthy. As you pray for our leaders, pray for their souls first. If we write to the president or other leaders, maybe we should include the scripture above which is 2 Chronicles 7:14.
As we move forward to our Nation's birthday, which is called Independence Day and happens to fall on July 4th, I want to do a review or rewrite of a message God gave me a few years back. I am praying He will give it to me fresh again. Let's get started, but first this day, let's pray for forgiveness of our sins.
Dear Father in Heaven, I am indeed a sinner, and I ask today that You forgive me of those sins of mine. I also pray today for our president and other leaders and pray first that they are saved, that they have come to You to seek and find salvation, for most of all I care that they have a life in heaven and not in hell. Lord, I pray for our veterans and our troops this day. And Lord, for our police, and as I just heard on the news how the police had to shoot a person who tried to shoot them, and also about a female police officer who was shot to death just last night ... Protect our warriors, military, police, firefighters, and Lord, please put out those wildfires. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
6/25/12: God and Country (Day One)
2 Chronicles 7:14 - "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (NIV)
Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (NIV)
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
If today I were to go to the street and ask this question to those passing by, what do you think the answer might be? Here is my question: "With Independence Day coming soon, who do you think the father of our country is?" First of all, some of the folks, maybe even half of them, will look at me like I am crazy and ask me this question in return ... "What is Independence Day?" Then after I tell them what it is, they might say to me, "Are you talking about the 4th of July?" So then I would tell them the difference between the holiday and the date of the holiday. Just think, and maybe I should keep my keys quiet on this, but what if instead of people saying "Merry Christmas" they would say "Happy December 25th." Now we know that people have taken Christ out of Christmas, so we will save that for another time. So after getting the name of the holiday straight and they now know what it is, I ask the question again. "Who do you think the father of our country is?" Again I am asking this on the street ... The answer would be either George Washington, or some would say Abe Lincoln.
Now if I ask that same question of all of you this day, I would get one of the following answers. "God, Jesus, Our Lord Jesus, God The Father," all of which would be correct ... so let me get into the scriptures and show you just why all of those answers would be okay, plus there could be other names for our Lord. Here it is in Scripture.
Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In Him was life, and that life was the Light of Men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
John 1:14 - The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and Truth.
(All scriptures from my New International Version Study Bible - NIV)
So brothers and sisters, if you want to witness to others about our country on this coming Independence Day, you can tell them, and back it with scripture, who the Father of our country really is. GOD!!!
Now go forth and share your blessings. I hope to be back on schedule with my dailies again ...
Family update. On Saturday we were blessed with a dear little Yorkie, 14 years young, about 3 pounds and just as cute as me!! Have a blessed day ... Love ya, Pastor Dan
REMEMBER THE PICNIC ... YOU ALL COME NOW! ~ YOU HEAR!!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Thursday 6/20/12 Hide and Seek 3
Luke 8:22 - One day Jesus said to His disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, He fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. 24 The disciples went and woke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 "Where is your faith?" He asked His disciples. (NIV)
Luke 8:16 - "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts is under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand so that those who come in can see the light." (NIV)
Good Evening, my dear brothers and sisters. Today again I want to try and tie this kid's game of Hide and Seek to what we sometimes even at our age play, and yes, we still play this game ... Please read the message today and find out what I am talking about. In the meantime, it is Thursday and the day we pray for churches, schools and families. As you pray for families, let's do this today, pray for the family who lives on each side of you and across the street from you and behind you.
Luke 8:16 - "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand so that those who come in can see the light." (NIV)
This scripture tells us that no one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. But wait a minute, while that is true, this scripture is talking about Jesus being the light and I think also about our own light, not the one on the lampstand beside our bed, but that light that is in our heart after we are saved. That light of course is Jesus. So now that we are saved, what do we do now, are we "hiding", and if we are hiding, are we not hiding the light of the Lord that is now within us? By now all of you must know that our ministry name is "Carry The Light" and you all know of course who that light is, right? We do not go out to sing and put a lamp on a stand with a 100 watt bulb in it, the light we are Carrying is the Light of the World, our Lord Jesus. Now if you are born again and you are saved, then you have the Holy Spirit in you and you should be working hard to get it to others. Do not hide Jesus by going into hiding yourself. Remember you are now Carrying the Light of the World and we are not to hide Him, we are to tell the world about This Light and the Good, good news that comes with This wonderful Light.
Once you come on board with Jesus or ask Him to come on board with you, your hide and seek days should be over. You are now the one who should be seeking out those hiding from Jesus. Maybe from this point on we should now call this thing we were doing, instead of Hide and Seek, we should be calling it "seeking the hidden". What do you think?
Dear Father, help us this day to be family people, to let our Jesus light shine, and help us to work with our churches so that those in the churches are indeed saved. Hear our prayers, oh Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Now go forth and share THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD ... Love ya, Pastor Dan.
NO MORE HIDING, LET YOUR JESUS LIGHT SHINE ...
Luke 8:16 - "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts is under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand so that those who come in can see the light." (NIV)
Good Evening, my dear brothers and sisters. Today again I want to try and tie this kid's game of Hide and Seek to what we sometimes even at our age play, and yes, we still play this game ... Please read the message today and find out what I am talking about. In the meantime, it is Thursday and the day we pray for churches, schools and families. As you pray for families, let's do this today, pray for the family who lives on each side of you and across the street from you and behind you.
Luke 8:16 - "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand so that those who come in can see the light." (NIV)
This scripture tells us that no one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. But wait a minute, while that is true, this scripture is talking about Jesus being the light and I think also about our own light, not the one on the lampstand beside our bed, but that light that is in our heart after we are saved. That light of course is Jesus. So now that we are saved, what do we do now, are we "hiding", and if we are hiding, are we not hiding the light of the Lord that is now within us? By now all of you must know that our ministry name is "Carry The Light" and you all know of course who that light is, right? We do not go out to sing and put a lamp on a stand with a 100 watt bulb in it, the light we are Carrying is the Light of the World, our Lord Jesus. Now if you are born again and you are saved, then you have the Holy Spirit in you and you should be working hard to get it to others. Do not hide Jesus by going into hiding yourself. Remember you are now Carrying the Light of the World and we are not to hide Him, we are to tell the world about This Light and the Good, good news that comes with This wonderful Light.
Once you come on board with Jesus or ask Him to come on board with you, your hide and seek days should be over. You are now the one who should be seeking out those hiding from Jesus. Maybe from this point on we should now call this thing we were doing, instead of Hide and Seek, we should be calling it "seeking the hidden". What do you think?
Dear Father, help us this day to be family people, to let our Jesus light shine, and help us to work with our churches so that those in the churches are indeed saved. Hear our prayers, oh Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Now go forth and share THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD ... Love ya, Pastor Dan.
NO MORE HIDING, LET YOUR JESUS LIGHT SHINE ...
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Wednesday 6/20/12 Hide and Seek 3
The word of God came to John, son of Zechariah, in the desert. He went into all the country around the Jordan preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.'"
Good Salvation Wednesday, my dear brothers and sisters. I have a question for you ... Which president of the United States of America made the most appearances in church? More than any other! It would be George Washington, as he gets put in the offering basket more than any other of the presidents. Okay, so much for my tired jokes. What is no joke is how we need to get the word of Salvation, the Good News of our Lord Jesus, out to the lost. BUT FIRST. Stand in front of the mirror and take a good deep look. Are you saved? If Jesus would come back today, would you go home? After addressing ourselves, then we need to get ready and go to work for the Lord, saying these words ... REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR!!
Hide and Seek Day 3 6/20/12: Luke 3:2B - The word of God came to John, son of Zechariah, in the desert. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As is written i the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.'" (NIV)
Matthew 4:17 - From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is near." (NIV)
As I look at this silly kids' game of hide and seek, I just can't get around the fact of how people still try and hide from Jesus, or at least hide their sins. I also keep thinking how as we kids, or the one "IT" would give the warning "Ready or not, here I come" and then go and get those who are hiding. Today God led me to two scriptures that both have the same warning, and yes, it is a warning ... We are to repent for the Kingdom of God is near and these words were spoken by both John the Baptist and also Jesus. Brothers and sisters, these are the warnings that we have been sent that we need to get our act together. These warnings that appear in our Bible and those we hear from our pastors, and those who are working for Jesus to get the word out ring so true. Let me just put the word out today by quoting Jesus ... "REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR."
When we played Hide and Seek we counted down and gave a warning. Some parents count up and give warnings ... Yes, not too long ago a young lad of about 5 was acting up in the food store. His mother said, "Behave, and if you don't I am going to count." My parents were school teachers and they did not say, behave or I am going to count. I knew they could count. My parents said behave and I am not telling you again, and they did not. I had a choice, behave or get my backside warmed up right there and then. The modern parent gives a warning, I told you to behave, 1, 2, 3, I am counting, 1, 2, 3, I mean it, I am counting, 1, 2, 3. About that time I wanted to say, lady, you are too nice, yell 10 and hit the brat!
I do have another question today. I know that John and Jesus both put out the same message, "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven (God) is Near." And I know about heaven, but where is "Kingdom Come"? I mean when I was really bad my mamma would say, "DANIEL, I am going to knock you to kingdom come." When she said that, I would pray, God, now would be a good time for You to return. Please, Lord, let Kingdom Come, Your Kingdom come now. My mamma was good to me, but when I heard "DANIEL," I knew I was in big trouble, otherwise I was her sweet little Danny Boy. Of course if she called out "DANIEL WEBSTER", I was toast!! But folks, as a kid around a tad today, the warning I want to put out on this date, this first day of summer 2012, and this Salvation Wednesday, call out this ... REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR ... REPENT, FOR JESUS IS COMING BACK.
Dear Father in Heaven, help me to repent, and then help me to live with You each day of my life and help me to try my best not to sin. Help me, Lord, to seek out the lost and bring them to You to be saved. I want to work for You. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth sharing your blessings and sharing these words. REPENT, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR ... Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Good Salvation Wednesday, my dear brothers and sisters. I have a question for you ... Which president of the United States of America made the most appearances in church? More than any other! It would be George Washington, as he gets put in the offering basket more than any other of the presidents. Okay, so much for my tired jokes. What is no joke is how we need to get the word of Salvation, the Good News of our Lord Jesus, out to the lost. BUT FIRST. Stand in front of the mirror and take a good deep look. Are you saved? If Jesus would come back today, would you go home? After addressing ourselves, then we need to get ready and go to work for the Lord, saying these words ... REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR!!
Hide and Seek Day 3 6/20/12: Luke 3:2B - The word of God came to John, son of Zechariah, in the desert. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As is written i the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.'" (NIV)
Matthew 4:17 - From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is near." (NIV)
As I look at this silly kids' game of hide and seek, I just can't get around the fact of how people still try and hide from Jesus, or at least hide their sins. I also keep thinking how as we kids, or the one "IT" would give the warning "Ready or not, here I come" and then go and get those who are hiding. Today God led me to two scriptures that both have the same warning, and yes, it is a warning ... We are to repent for the Kingdom of God is near and these words were spoken by both John the Baptist and also Jesus. Brothers and sisters, these are the warnings that we have been sent that we need to get our act together. These warnings that appear in our Bible and those we hear from our pastors, and those who are working for Jesus to get the word out ring so true. Let me just put the word out today by quoting Jesus ... "REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR."
When we played Hide and Seek we counted down and gave a warning. Some parents count up and give warnings ... Yes, not too long ago a young lad of about 5 was acting up in the food store. His mother said, "Behave, and if you don't I am going to count." My parents were school teachers and they did not say, behave or I am going to count. I knew they could count. My parents said behave and I am not telling you again, and they did not. I had a choice, behave or get my backside warmed up right there and then. The modern parent gives a warning, I told you to behave, 1, 2, 3, I am counting, 1, 2, 3, I mean it, I am counting, 1, 2, 3. About that time I wanted to say, lady, you are too nice, yell 10 and hit the brat!
I do have another question today. I know that John and Jesus both put out the same message, "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven (God) is Near." And I know about heaven, but where is "Kingdom Come"? I mean when I was really bad my mamma would say, "DANIEL, I am going to knock you to kingdom come." When she said that, I would pray, God, now would be a good time for You to return. Please, Lord, let Kingdom Come, Your Kingdom come now. My mamma was good to me, but when I heard "DANIEL," I knew I was in big trouble, otherwise I was her sweet little Danny Boy. Of course if she called out "DANIEL WEBSTER", I was toast!! But folks, as a kid around a tad today, the warning I want to put out on this date, this first day of summer 2012, and this Salvation Wednesday, call out this ... REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR ... REPENT, FOR JESUS IS COMING BACK.
Dear Father in Heaven, help me to repent, and then help me to live with You each day of my life and help me to try my best not to sin. Help me, Lord, to seek out the lost and bring them to You to be saved. I want to work for You. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth sharing your blessings and sharing these words. REPENT, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR ... Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Tuesday 6/19/12 Hide and Seek 2
"No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand so that those who come in can see the light. For thee is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open."
Good Tuesday Evening, my dear brothers and sisters. Please pray today for all those who have cancer, liver problems, depression, heart problems, kidney problems, etc., in other words, today we pray that God furnishes a fix for the diseases and healing for all who have the problems. And pray for God to put an end to abortion clinics. Let's get to the message.
Hide and Seek 2: 6/19/12: Luke 8:16 - "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open."
When growing up someone had to teach us how to play these kid games. In hide and seek I can remember how my brother who was older than me would tell me where to hide. Often we played this in the house and then my dad would come and hunt us. Leonard, my big brother, would tell me to hide in a closet and then he would go and tell my dad where I was hiding. Sometimes it seemed like it took forever until my dad would come and find me. The truth is I think they were trying to keep me away while they did other things. Folks, the Bible tells us that "no one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed." Now let's talk about the light, if you would light a lamp and put it under the bed your house would burn down. But wait, the light the Bible is talking about is Jesus who is the "light of the world." Brothers and sisters, we do not want to hide Jesus anywhere. We want to tell the world about this Light. And while my brother taught me how to hide playing a game, and I might be able to go into a closet or even get into the clothes hamper back then, I was hiding from my earthly father, my dad, and while my brother would tell him where we were, if big brother was not home, my dad and I would play. Once in awhile I found a new place and I could hide from my earthly father, but trust me when I say you cannot hide from Your Heavenly Father nor, NOR, can you hide anything that you do from Him.
Sometimes as we played outside we would carry a flashlight so we could see as the evening set in, some places would get dark faster. Like hiding in bushes, etc. The nice thing about being on board with Jesus is when you get into some dark areas in your life, He will light up your path for you.
This verse from Psalm 23 sheds some light on this. Psalm 23:4 - Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me. (NIV)
How about it, brothers and sisters, are you walking with the light, trying to hide the light or trying to hide from the light? I do pray this day that you are walking with The Light.
Dear Father in Heaven: Thank You for sending the light on the earth by the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars and also by Your own Son Jesus, the one and only true light of the world. Help us walk in the light, not fear dark and evil and tell others about this light. Be with those on our prayer lists and today I pray for all who might be having trouble with what to do with the Light and how to walk with Him. In the name of Jesus I ask that you honor our prayers according to Your will. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Now go forth sharing your blessings ... Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Good Tuesday Evening, my dear brothers and sisters. Please pray today for all those who have cancer, liver problems, depression, heart problems, kidney problems, etc., in other words, today we pray that God furnishes a fix for the diseases and healing for all who have the problems. And pray for God to put an end to abortion clinics. Let's get to the message.
Hide and Seek 2: 6/19/12: Luke 8:16 - "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open."
When growing up someone had to teach us how to play these kid games. In hide and seek I can remember how my brother who was older than me would tell me where to hide. Often we played this in the house and then my dad would come and hunt us. Leonard, my big brother, would tell me to hide in a closet and then he would go and tell my dad where I was hiding. Sometimes it seemed like it took forever until my dad would come and find me. The truth is I think they were trying to keep me away while they did other things. Folks, the Bible tells us that "no one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed." Now let's talk about the light, if you would light a lamp and put it under the bed your house would burn down. But wait, the light the Bible is talking about is Jesus who is the "light of the world." Brothers and sisters, we do not want to hide Jesus anywhere. We want to tell the world about this Light. And while my brother taught me how to hide playing a game, and I might be able to go into a closet or even get into the clothes hamper back then, I was hiding from my earthly father, my dad, and while my brother would tell him where we were, if big brother was not home, my dad and I would play. Once in awhile I found a new place and I could hide from my earthly father, but trust me when I say you cannot hide from Your Heavenly Father nor, NOR, can you hide anything that you do from Him.
Sometimes as we played outside we would carry a flashlight so we could see as the evening set in, some places would get dark faster. Like hiding in bushes, etc. The nice thing about being on board with Jesus is when you get into some dark areas in your life, He will light up your path for you.
This verse from Psalm 23 sheds some light on this. Psalm 23:4 - Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me. (NIV)
How about it, brothers and sisters, are you walking with the light, trying to hide the light or trying to hide from the light? I do pray this day that you are walking with The Light.
Dear Father in Heaven: Thank You for sending the light on the earth by the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars and also by Your own Son Jesus, the one and only true light of the world. Help us walk in the light, not fear dark and evil and tell others about this light. Be with those on our prayer lists and today I pray for all who might be having trouble with what to do with the Light and how to walk with Him. In the name of Jesus I ask that you honor our prayers according to Your will. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Now go forth sharing your blessings ... Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Monday 6/18/12 Hide and Seek 1
"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father."
Good Monday evening, my dear brothers and sisters. Monday and the day we pray for our leaders, and please start praying for Mitt Romney as he is running for office. Also today we pray for veterans, our military, and our police officers. I think also it is time we start praying for this area. Start in Carlisle, PA, going out Route 81 and cutting across Route 72 around Lebanon, Lancaster, then around to York, PA, and back up to Carlisle. In the middle would be Harrisburg. In case you have not been watching lately, in this area a lot of people are being shot and/or robbed. Now if you do not live in this area, pick a town near you. Yes, you cannot get away from it. COME ON BACK, JESUS!!
Patsy came through surgery in good shape. Please keep praying for her as she recovers. Please pray for those with cancer today. Now let's get to the message ... Hide and Seek!
Matthew 24:36 - "No one knows about that day or our, not even the angels in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father." (NIV)
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,---98,99,100 Ready or Not, here I come. Back when the streets were dirt and the dead sea was still sick, I was a young lad growing up in the city of Harrisburg. On any given evening, you would find a group of us kids playing "hide and seek" or dodge ball or some other group game under the light of those street lights. Back then we did not need to worry about being shot by someone in a car driving by. If we saw a car we just got out of the street until it passed by and then back to our game. I remember like it was yesterday when I would bury my face up to the phone pole or a big tree and count to a hundred and then yell out as loud as I can ... "READY OR NOT HERE I COME." Then I would start out to find those who had hid and when you would find one it was a race back to the base whee you would run to call the person "out".
Whoever you would catch and call out first would be the next person who would be "IT". These games would go on evening after evening in the summer. If it rained we would be on someone's porch playing a board game. Once in awhile someone would bring out a small TV which would be a bit set back in those days and we would sit in a porch and with those "rabbit ears" on the TV we would watch "Leave It To Beaver" or "Dragnet" or one of those "old", well, okay, "new" TV shows. Now let me try and match up this game of "Hide and Seek" with what the Lord is giving me today and that would be about the Lord returning for us. What matches up between that coming big event and this kid's game we called "Hide and Seek"? What does match up? Not much.
First, let me take a look at those who are hiding, and while I find it hard to believe there are a lot of people still trying to hide from Jesus ... folks, first of all this is not a game, Jesus is really coming back. He is the one and only one who you might say is "IT". But He is not standing in Heaven with His eyes hidden counting to some number waiting to come back, He is watching over us. All of us, be we believers or not. And dare I make this statement today, more people who claim to be Christians try to hide from Him than those who claim there is no God. Yes, if they do not believe in Jesus why would they try and hide from Him, yet sometimes we sinners try hiding our sins from Him.
Now when I stood and counting down to when I was coming back, I do believe that God is sending us warnings all the time, and yes they are numbered. Like today's message is numbered, it is based on Matthew 24:36 - "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father." And it is numbered as our many other warnings found in His word. And let me share with you these words today, words I said years ago when playing this game of hide and seek with words that He might be saying today, in fact He is saying them, He is just saying them through me, as He also says things through your pastors.
My words back then were "ready or not, here I come." His words of warning today go like this - "Ready or Not, I am coming!" Now we had another saying back then after we would find so many and we had a new person who was going to be "it". I, or the person who was "it" would yell ... Ally, ally, in free, ally, ally, in free, ally, ally, in free. Folks, that is not going to happen when Jesus comes to get us. Right now we can get our freedom from sin through Jesus but once that trumpet sounds, once God The Father tells Jesus, go get Your Bride, Son, it is too late, too late.
Now is the time to ask Jesus into your heart, into your life. Look around you, take a look, and you might agree, and think like this. Just how long will God our Father in Heaven let this go on?
Will you pray today for Jesus to forgive us and come into your heart today? Let's do this now ... Lord, please forgive me of my sins, and come into my heart. I love You, Lord, I really love You. In the name of Jesus, I ask this. Amen. Now put me to work for You in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Now go forth and share those blessings and come back tomorrow and we will play another game of our past and try and line it up with some scripture. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Reminder, it is coming fast ... Our ANNUAL picnic in the park. Willow Mill Park in Silver Spring Township, just off Route 114 and along a nice rolling stream. Pastor Dan is the chef and here is a sample of the food list ... Ham Veggie Soup, Turkey Corn Soup, Hot Dogs with or without Kraut. BBQ, and a big surprise.
Also we will have lots to drink, but folks, PLEASE NO BOOZE. This is a rain or shine event. Oh, we will also have lots of cake and pie, and yes, you may eat your desert first. You can be like a kid if you want.
Saturday, July 7th. ... Tim Beitzel will start singing the gospel at 11:00 AM. We eat at noon, and then more singing and fellowship with friends ... we have the park all day.
RSVP - let the old man know you are coming!
Phone 717 691 8200 or 717 991 0754
YES, YOU MAY BRING A FRIEND!
Good Monday evening, my dear brothers and sisters. Monday and the day we pray for our leaders, and please start praying for Mitt Romney as he is running for office. Also today we pray for veterans, our military, and our police officers. I think also it is time we start praying for this area. Start in Carlisle, PA, going out Route 81 and cutting across Route 72 around Lebanon, Lancaster, then around to York, PA, and back up to Carlisle. In the middle would be Harrisburg. In case you have not been watching lately, in this area a lot of people are being shot and/or robbed. Now if you do not live in this area, pick a town near you. Yes, you cannot get away from it. COME ON BACK, JESUS!!
Patsy came through surgery in good shape. Please keep praying for her as she recovers. Please pray for those with cancer today. Now let's get to the message ... Hide and Seek!
Matthew 24:36 - "No one knows about that day or our, not even the angels in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father." (NIV)
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,---98,99,100 Ready or Not, here I come. Back when the streets were dirt and the dead sea was still sick, I was a young lad growing up in the city of Harrisburg. On any given evening, you would find a group of us kids playing "hide and seek" or dodge ball or some other group game under the light of those street lights. Back then we did not need to worry about being shot by someone in a car driving by. If we saw a car we just got out of the street until it passed by and then back to our game. I remember like it was yesterday when I would bury my face up to the phone pole or a big tree and count to a hundred and then yell out as loud as I can ... "READY OR NOT HERE I COME." Then I would start out to find those who had hid and when you would find one it was a race back to the base whee you would run to call the person "out".
Whoever you would catch and call out first would be the next person who would be "IT". These games would go on evening after evening in the summer. If it rained we would be on someone's porch playing a board game. Once in awhile someone would bring out a small TV which would be a bit set back in those days and we would sit in a porch and with those "rabbit ears" on the TV we would watch "Leave It To Beaver" or "Dragnet" or one of those "old", well, okay, "new" TV shows. Now let me try and match up this game of "Hide and Seek" with what the Lord is giving me today and that would be about the Lord returning for us. What matches up between that coming big event and this kid's game we called "Hide and Seek"? What does match up? Not much.
First, let me take a look at those who are hiding, and while I find it hard to believe there are a lot of people still trying to hide from Jesus ... folks, first of all this is not a game, Jesus is really coming back. He is the one and only one who you might say is "IT". But He is not standing in Heaven with His eyes hidden counting to some number waiting to come back, He is watching over us. All of us, be we believers or not. And dare I make this statement today, more people who claim to be Christians try to hide from Him than those who claim there is no God. Yes, if they do not believe in Jesus why would they try and hide from Him, yet sometimes we sinners try hiding our sins from Him.
Now when I stood and counting down to when I was coming back, I do believe that God is sending us warnings all the time, and yes they are numbered. Like today's message is numbered, it is based on Matthew 24:36 - "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father." And it is numbered as our many other warnings found in His word. And let me share with you these words today, words I said years ago when playing this game of hide and seek with words that He might be saying today, in fact He is saying them, He is just saying them through me, as He also says things through your pastors.
My words back then were "ready or not, here I come." His words of warning today go like this - "Ready or Not, I am coming!" Now we had another saying back then after we would find so many and we had a new person who was going to be "it". I, or the person who was "it" would yell ... Ally, ally, in free, ally, ally, in free, ally, ally, in free. Folks, that is not going to happen when Jesus comes to get us. Right now we can get our freedom from sin through Jesus but once that trumpet sounds, once God The Father tells Jesus, go get Your Bride, Son, it is too late, too late.
Now is the time to ask Jesus into your heart, into your life. Look around you, take a look, and you might agree, and think like this. Just how long will God our Father in Heaven let this go on?
Will you pray today for Jesus to forgive us and come into your heart today? Let's do this now ... Lord, please forgive me of my sins, and come into my heart. I love You, Lord, I really love You. In the name of Jesus, I ask this. Amen. Now put me to work for You in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Now go forth and share those blessings and come back tomorrow and we will play another game of our past and try and line it up with some scripture. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Reminder, it is coming fast ... Our ANNUAL picnic in the park. Willow Mill Park in Silver Spring Township, just off Route 114 and along a nice rolling stream. Pastor Dan is the chef and here is a sample of the food list ... Ham Veggie Soup, Turkey Corn Soup, Hot Dogs with or without Kraut. BBQ, and a big surprise.
Also we will have lots to drink, but folks, PLEASE NO BOOZE. This is a rain or shine event. Oh, we will also have lots of cake and pie, and yes, you may eat your desert first. You can be like a kid if you want.
Saturday, July 7th. ... Tim Beitzel will start singing the gospel at 11:00 AM. We eat at noon, and then more singing and fellowship with friends ... we have the park all day.
RSVP - let the old man know you are coming!
Phone 717 691 8200 or 717 991 0754
YES, YOU MAY BRING A FRIEND!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Thurs/Fri 6/14-15/12 Fatherly Advice
Today will be written differently as the scriptures are found within the message. I also am taking tomorrow morning off and am putting out two days' worth of message today. Special prayer requests today for Patsy Emig, who will be having surgery tomorrow afternoon, and also for Barb Paules who has fallen again.
I am sure there is some overlap from yesterday to today. I plead a "senior day."
Fatherly Advice: As I take another look back in my life I remember that my dad gave me some fatherly advice and then he gave me some FATHERLY ADVICE ... Yes, I guess I am saying that there was more than one level of advice that came from my good old dad. My dad would give me advice like be sure to look both ways when crossing the street ... be careful when riding your bike, don't ride it on the highways, just the side streets and alleys. Advice like that I would say was fatherly advice. Then he gave me advice like I do not want you running around with ___________ ___________ for that boy is bad news and you will get into real trouble ... and that was FATHERLY ADVICE ... I guess the big difference was, if I did not listen to his advice there would be some action for my non-action, so to speak. Getting yelled at was one action, and believe it or not, I never liked being yelled at, but it was better than hearing this sound -- brrrrrrzipppppppppppp or however you write the noise a belt makes coming out of the loops on his trousers ... and then the crack as he snapped it together and the crack as it hit my tiny little butt (well, it was back then). Once again, my dad did not beat me or abuse me, but I did learn right from wrong ... So fatherly advice came with an enforcer, so to speak ... and it came in different degrees of advice ...
Fatherly Advice: I think God is the same way ... Let's look today at some of the Fatherly Advice right from our Heavenly Father ... Let's look at some of the commandments. Let's go to Exodus 20 and look at some of these ... 20:3 - You shall have no other gods before me (to me that is a biggie): Exodus 20:4 - You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth below (again, another biggie).
Now on those two Fatherly Advice statements from God, my dad did not say much about them, I really learned about them in Sunday School.
Exodus 20:7 - You shall not misuse the name of the Lord Your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name (one of the biggest).
Now when I look at this one, I can truly say that this was also fatherly advice from my good old dad and also my dear mother. And if I messed up on this, I paid big time. And it was not just using the name of the Lord wrong,it was other words also. In fact I had to be careful if I said "darn it" ... Oh, and if I did mess up on this one, I got to eat some good old soap, and not just a little ... or I got hot pepper in my mouth. Yes, my fatherly advice on this was the same as the Fatherly Advice from God.
Exodus 20:8 - Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Boy, over the years this one got twisted all up ... Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy, on it you shall not do any work. So let me see, after church when all the "good Christians" run as fast as they can to the local eating places they expect to see people there working to wait on them ... Oh, we are in trouble on this one ... How many of us really keep the Sabbath holy? And is the Sabbath on Saturday or Sunday? The seventh day is really on Saturday. Are we not all somewhat on this one? Have we followed the Fatherly Advice on this one? I will say that my dad's fatherly advice was on Sunday we came home from church and we waited for dinner, as the big meal on Sunday was after church and we did not go out. Dad would read the Sunday paper and my brother and I would read the funny paper. We did not have TV and we were not permitted to go to the movies. We did play some ball for that was not work. Think about this one really hard ... How do you treat your Sabbath day? Do you keep it holy? How will God judge us on this one when we appear before Him on judgment day?
Well, it is always good to stop when I have you in the think mode ... I know that in some fields of work, things must go on. Farmers must take care of the animals, just as we must take care of our doggies. The Bible did say we should not use the animals to work. And Jesus also set examples of healing o the Sabbath so I think that clears all the medical folks. But what about all the other things? Think about it ... talk about it ...
Fatherly Advice: As we work up toward this Sunday which is Father's Day, I have been writing about fatherly advice and Fatherly Advice ... Today I want to continue in the Book of Luke, Chapter 20, as we look at the commandments.
Luke 20:12 - Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Wow, honor your father and mother and get longer life. Did you notice that when you follow the advice of our Father in heaven we always get rewarded? And if we don't there will be a price to pay? Now this commandment, my dad, my dear father on earth, really enforced. Yes, it was the part about honoring your mother. If we talked back, if we did not listen to our mother, well, we got some of that good fatherly advice installed right on our backside ... again, not abused, just taught by the tune of a hickory stick (pop was a teacher and liked that old song).
Luke 20:13 - You shall not murder. Great Fatherly advice, and my dad said not even to fight, turn and just walk away. And for all those people, those doctors doing the abortions -- the law on the earth might tell you okay, but they'd better be looking right here and see what God gave us as Fatherly Advice ... I just cannot believe how many dollars some doctors spent learning how to save lives, just to get rich killing unborn babies. THEY ARE GOD'S CHILDREN ALSO. He knew us before we were in the womb ...
Luke 20:14 - You shall not commit adultery ... told to me by both my heavenly Father and my father here on earth.
Luke 20:15 - You shall not steal: Wow, great Fatherly advice, and great advice for fathers to give their kids. And remember, taking home paper, pens, paper clips, tape, etc., from your boss is stealing if you do not have permission to take it. Arrive 15 minutes late in the morning and don't make it up ... stealing time. Think about this one and address yourself in it ... enough said.
Luke 20:16 - You should not give false testimony against your neighbor. (Remember, everyone is your neighbor.) What does this really mean? DO NOT LIE ... I wonder if we would be better at telling the truth if God made us eat soap when we lied ... Gosh, my dad believed in this one. I ate enough soap to have a clean mouth forever.
Luke 20:17 - You shall not covet: Here is Fatherly advice that is really needed. I wonder if we followed this one perfectly how many new cars would be sold. Go to any big high priced neighborhood ... Each person tries to outdo the other ... bigger house, bigger pool, tennis courts, basketball, big motor home, bigger mother home, double slide out, triple slide out, boat, bigger boat, really big boat, an ark, okay, maybe not an ark, even the wood pile, who has the biggest, one fireplace, two fireplaces, and so it goes. Covet, where does it end? I wonder, should God have said ... You shall not try and keep ahead of the "Joneses". That was the way my dad taught us. Don't try and keep up with the Joneses. Anyone else ever hear it that way?
Yes, God gave us so much Fatherly advice I cannot cover all of it and get it in until tomorrow. However, tomorrow we will cover three (3) really big ones ... really big. You don't want to miss the BIG THREE on Pastor Dan's list of fatherly advice and Fatherly advice ...
Fatherly Advice 4: Today I promised what I thought might be the big three when it comes to fatherly advice and Fatherly advice. But first I do want to say this ... I could write on this subject for a few more days for there is so much more advice in our Bible that teaches us how to live.
Today on the Fatherly advice list, from Mark 12:30/31 - The greatest commandments - Verse 30 - Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Verse 31 - Love your neighbor as yourself. And going along with these great commandments, my dad's fatherly advice was "to do unto others as you would have them to unto you".
Moving on with my next of the big three Fatherly advice ... From John 3:3 and in the words of Jesus. "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he (she) is born again." And from John 14:6, again in the words of Jesus - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Also please read Romans 10:9/10 for the directions ...
And last on my list today, Fatherly advice in the form of a promise ... are you ready for this ...
From John 14:1/3 - "Do not let your hearts be troubled. TRUST in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house there are many rooms; if it were not so I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I WILL COME BACK AND TAKE YOU WITH ME that you also may be where I am."
And from my dear "late" dad ... and from this earthly father to all of you, Trust in God, above all else, put your trust in God ... He will never, ever let you down.
To all you dads on the line ... Enjoy your day and remember we, the men in the house, are to be the head of the household under God. And if we do that right, the ladies of the house will shout praise the Lord and Amen ...
I don't know of one mother who would object to being in second place to Jesus if her husband indeed loved Jesus more than her.
Let's close out today with prayer ... Please, Lord, bless those today that we call our earthly dad or daddy or maybe pop, as I called my earthly father. Lord, help men to understand they should be head of their family under You. Lord, be with Patsy and her husband tomorrow as Patsy goes under the knife and also be with Barb who has fallen again. Lord, thanks for the messages ... In Jesus' name, Amen.
Now go forth sharing your blessings and loving Jesus ... I love ya, Pastor Dan.
I am sure there is some overlap from yesterday to today. I plead a "senior day."
Fatherly Advice: As I take another look back in my life I remember that my dad gave me some fatherly advice and then he gave me some FATHERLY ADVICE ... Yes, I guess I am saying that there was more than one level of advice that came from my good old dad. My dad would give me advice like be sure to look both ways when crossing the street ... be careful when riding your bike, don't ride it on the highways, just the side streets and alleys. Advice like that I would say was fatherly advice. Then he gave me advice like I do not want you running around with ___________ ___________ for that boy is bad news and you will get into real trouble ... and that was FATHERLY ADVICE ... I guess the big difference was, if I did not listen to his advice there would be some action for my non-action, so to speak. Getting yelled at was one action, and believe it or not, I never liked being yelled at, but it was better than hearing this sound -- brrrrrrzipppppppppppp or however you write the noise a belt makes coming out of the loops on his trousers ... and then the crack as he snapped it together and the crack as it hit my tiny little butt (well, it was back then). Once again, my dad did not beat me or abuse me, but I did learn right from wrong ... So fatherly advice came with an enforcer, so to speak ... and it came in different degrees of advice ...
Fatherly Advice: I think God is the same way ... Let's look today at some of the Fatherly Advice right from our Heavenly Father ... Let's look at some of the commandments. Let's go to Exodus 20 and look at some of these ... 20:3 - You shall have no other gods before me (to me that is a biggie): Exodus 20:4 - You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth below (again, another biggie).
Now on those two Fatherly Advice statements from God, my dad did not say much about them, I really learned about them in Sunday School.
Exodus 20:7 - You shall not misuse the name of the Lord Your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name (one of the biggest).
Now when I look at this one, I can truly say that this was also fatherly advice from my good old dad and also my dear mother. And if I messed up on this, I paid big time. And it was not just using the name of the Lord wrong,it was other words also. In fact I had to be careful if I said "darn it" ... Oh, and if I did mess up on this one, I got to eat some good old soap, and not just a little ... or I got hot pepper in my mouth. Yes, my fatherly advice on this was the same as the Fatherly Advice from God.
Exodus 20:8 - Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Boy, over the years this one got twisted all up ... Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy, on it you shall not do any work. So let me see, after church when all the "good Christians" run as fast as they can to the local eating places they expect to see people there working to wait on them ... Oh, we are in trouble on this one ... How many of us really keep the Sabbath holy? And is the Sabbath on Saturday or Sunday? The seventh day is really on Saturday. Are we not all somewhat on this one? Have we followed the Fatherly Advice on this one? I will say that my dad's fatherly advice was on Sunday we came home from church and we waited for dinner, as the big meal on Sunday was after church and we did not go out. Dad would read the Sunday paper and my brother and I would read the funny paper. We did not have TV and we were not permitted to go to the movies. We did play some ball for that was not work. Think about this one really hard ... How do you treat your Sabbath day? Do you keep it holy? How will God judge us on this one when we appear before Him on judgment day?
Well, it is always good to stop when I have you in the think mode ... I know that in some fields of work, things must go on. Farmers must take care of the animals, just as we must take care of our doggies. The Bible did say we should not use the animals to work. And Jesus also set examples of healing o the Sabbath so I think that clears all the medical folks. But what about all the other things? Think about it ... talk about it ...
Fatherly Advice: As we work up toward this Sunday which is Father's Day, I have been writing about fatherly advice and Fatherly Advice ... Today I want to continue in the Book of Luke, Chapter 20, as we look at the commandments.
Luke 20:12 - Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Wow, honor your father and mother and get longer life. Did you notice that when you follow the advice of our Father in heaven we always get rewarded? And if we don't there will be a price to pay? Now this commandment, my dad, my dear father on earth, really enforced. Yes, it was the part about honoring your mother. If we talked back, if we did not listen to our mother, well, we got some of that good fatherly advice installed right on our backside ... again, not abused, just taught by the tune of a hickory stick (pop was a teacher and liked that old song).
Luke 20:13 - You shall not murder. Great Fatherly advice, and my dad said not even to fight, turn and just walk away. And for all those people, those doctors doing the abortions -- the law on the earth might tell you okay, but they'd better be looking right here and see what God gave us as Fatherly Advice ... I just cannot believe how many dollars some doctors spent learning how to save lives, just to get rich killing unborn babies. THEY ARE GOD'S CHILDREN ALSO. He knew us before we were in the womb ...
Luke 20:14 - You shall not commit adultery ... told to me by both my heavenly Father and my father here on earth.
Luke 20:15 - You shall not steal: Wow, great Fatherly advice, and great advice for fathers to give their kids. And remember, taking home paper, pens, paper clips, tape, etc., from your boss is stealing if you do not have permission to take it. Arrive 15 minutes late in the morning and don't make it up ... stealing time. Think about this one and address yourself in it ... enough said.
Luke 20:16 - You should not give false testimony against your neighbor. (Remember, everyone is your neighbor.) What does this really mean? DO NOT LIE ... I wonder if we would be better at telling the truth if God made us eat soap when we lied ... Gosh, my dad believed in this one. I ate enough soap to have a clean mouth forever.
Luke 20:17 - You shall not covet: Here is Fatherly advice that is really needed. I wonder if we followed this one perfectly how many new cars would be sold. Go to any big high priced neighborhood ... Each person tries to outdo the other ... bigger house, bigger pool, tennis courts, basketball, big motor home, bigger mother home, double slide out, triple slide out, boat, bigger boat, really big boat, an ark, okay, maybe not an ark, even the wood pile, who has the biggest, one fireplace, two fireplaces, and so it goes. Covet, where does it end? I wonder, should God have said ... You shall not try and keep ahead of the "Joneses". That was the way my dad taught us. Don't try and keep up with the Joneses. Anyone else ever hear it that way?
Yes, God gave us so much Fatherly advice I cannot cover all of it and get it in until tomorrow. However, tomorrow we will cover three (3) really big ones ... really big. You don't want to miss the BIG THREE on Pastor Dan's list of fatherly advice and Fatherly advice ...
Fatherly Advice 4: Today I promised what I thought might be the big three when it comes to fatherly advice and Fatherly advice. But first I do want to say this ... I could write on this subject for a few more days for there is so much more advice in our Bible that teaches us how to live.
Today on the Fatherly advice list, from Mark 12:30/31 - The greatest commandments - Verse 30 - Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Verse 31 - Love your neighbor as yourself. And going along with these great commandments, my dad's fatherly advice was "to do unto others as you would have them to unto you".
Moving on with my next of the big three Fatherly advice ... From John 3:3 and in the words of Jesus. "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he (she) is born again." And from John 14:6, again in the words of Jesus - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Also please read Romans 10:9/10 for the directions ...
And last on my list today, Fatherly advice in the form of a promise ... are you ready for this ...
From John 14:1/3 - "Do not let your hearts be troubled. TRUST in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house there are many rooms; if it were not so I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I WILL COME BACK AND TAKE YOU WITH ME that you also may be where I am."
And from my dear "late" dad ... and from this earthly father to all of you, Trust in God, above all else, put your trust in God ... He will never, ever let you down.
To all you dads on the line ... Enjoy your day and remember we, the men in the house, are to be the head of the household under God. And if we do that right, the ladies of the house will shout praise the Lord and Amen ...
I don't know of one mother who would object to being in second place to Jesus if her husband indeed loved Jesus more than her.
Let's close out today with prayer ... Please, Lord, bless those today that we call our earthly dad or daddy or maybe pop, as I called my earthly father. Lord, help men to understand they should be head of their family under You. Lord, be with Patsy and her husband tomorrow as Patsy goes under the knife and also be with Barb who has fallen again. Lord, thanks for the messages ... In Jesus' name, Amen.
Now go forth sharing your blessings and loving Jesus ... I love ya, Pastor Dan.
Wednesday 6/13/12 Fatherly Advice 3
And God spoke all these words.
"I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
You shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name.
Good Salvation Wednesday, my dear brothers and sisters. It is indeed Salvation Wednesday and the day we work to bring people to the Lord to be saved. We really need to pray for the souls of the lost, and we also need to be sure we ourselves are not some of the lost. We also need to keep praying for Patsy and Burt, and also Ron and Donna. Please pray for all our kids who are now out of school and looking for things to do this summer.
Fatherly Advice 6/13/12 Day 3: Exodus 20:1
And God spoke all these words.
2 "I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 You shall have no other gods before me.
4 You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name. (NIV)
While I could type out the rest of the Ten Commandments from Exodus 20, I will just give it to you as a homework assignment. The Ten Commandments is a great place to go for "Fatherly Advice."
If you look at the advice in the commandments, you will see a lot of our laws of today are based on them. But how many people, good meaning people, do not pay any attention to them? Listen to just a few of them. Honor your father and mother: How many kids are out there that do not even know who their dads are? Think about it. They might have mothers who do not give a hoot. There is a commandment that tells us "You shall not murder!" Yet we have churches today that support abortion, and you know, you just know that is MURDER ... We have a commandment that tells us "You shall not steal." And while most of us would not hold up a bank or even a gasoline service station (if you could find one), some of those same people carry out pens and paper from their work place, or if a clerk gave back too much change would not tell them. There is also a commandment that tells us "we should not give false testimony." Yet some people think nothing of telling lies, like making a phone call to call off sick when they want to go hunting on that first day.
Our best fatherly advice is advice our fathers got from God our Father and handed it down, without watering it down. My dad and mother took things seriously when it came to the commandments and they really pushed the one about lying. I have a dear friend to this day, if you know someone who steals you know where they stand, but if they lie, you never can tell where they are at. Now that is not word for word, but you get my point. My parents took telling lies seriously, and trust me when I say "I ate a lot of soup" for telling a few whoppers in my life.
More on Fatherly and fatherly advice tomorrow ...
Dear Father in Heaven, thanks for Your daily advice. Thanks for this line and thanks for hearing our prayers. I love You, Lord, and I pray that all on this line can say today that they love You ... Thanks for keeping the line open. In Jesus' name, I give thanks ... Amen.
Now folks, go and share your blessings and follow the advice our Father gives us in His word ... Don't know what it is? Read your Bible, our rule book for living ... Love ya, Pastor Dan.
"I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
You shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name.
Good Salvation Wednesday, my dear brothers and sisters. It is indeed Salvation Wednesday and the day we work to bring people to the Lord to be saved. We really need to pray for the souls of the lost, and we also need to be sure we ourselves are not some of the lost. We also need to keep praying for Patsy and Burt, and also Ron and Donna. Please pray for all our kids who are now out of school and looking for things to do this summer.
Fatherly Advice 6/13/12 Day 3: Exodus 20:1
And God spoke all these words.
2 "I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 You shall have no other gods before me.
4 You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name. (NIV)
While I could type out the rest of the Ten Commandments from Exodus 20, I will just give it to you as a homework assignment. The Ten Commandments is a great place to go for "Fatherly Advice."
If you look at the advice in the commandments, you will see a lot of our laws of today are based on them. But how many people, good meaning people, do not pay any attention to them? Listen to just a few of them. Honor your father and mother: How many kids are out there that do not even know who their dads are? Think about it. They might have mothers who do not give a hoot. There is a commandment that tells us "You shall not murder!" Yet we have churches today that support abortion, and you know, you just know that is MURDER ... We have a commandment that tells us "You shall not steal." And while most of us would not hold up a bank or even a gasoline service station (if you could find one), some of those same people carry out pens and paper from their work place, or if a clerk gave back too much change would not tell them. There is also a commandment that tells us "we should not give false testimony." Yet some people think nothing of telling lies, like making a phone call to call off sick when they want to go hunting on that first day.
Our best fatherly advice is advice our fathers got from God our Father and handed it down, without watering it down. My dad and mother took things seriously when it came to the commandments and they really pushed the one about lying. I have a dear friend to this day, if you know someone who steals you know where they stand, but if they lie, you never can tell where they are at. Now that is not word for word, but you get my point. My parents took telling lies seriously, and trust me when I say "I ate a lot of soup" for telling a few whoppers in my life.
More on Fatherly and fatherly advice tomorrow ...
Dear Father in Heaven, thanks for Your daily advice. Thanks for this line and thanks for hearing our prayers. I love You, Lord, and I pray that all on this line can say today that they love You ... Thanks for keeping the line open. In Jesus' name, I give thanks ... Amen.
Now folks, go and share your blessings and follow the advice our Father gives us in His word ... Don't know what it is? Read your Bible, our rule book for living ... Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Tuesday 6/12/12 Fatherly Advice 2
Now the serpent was more
crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You
must not eat from any tree in the garden?’”
The woman said to the serpent, “we may eat fruit from the trees in the
garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the
middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
Good Tuesday Morning, my
dear brothers and sisters. It is Tuesday
and the day we pray for God to cure all of those diseases that are killers. So please pray for Ron and all others who
have cancer and that a cure is on the way from God to cure all cancers. Pray for Patsy this day, as she is in the
hospital. Let’s get to the message.
Fatherly Advice 2: Genesis 3:1 – Now the serpent was more crafty
than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You
must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “we
may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not
eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not
touch it, or you will die.’” (NIV)
I love looking back, it
seems the older I get the more I look back.
I got a lot of fatherly advice from my father and I got a lot of advice
from my mamma also. Both of them were
school teachers, so I was told how to act in school. If you want to go to the potty, raise your
hand and ask, if you want to talk, DON’T!
If you want to answer or ask a question, raise your hand … I guess the
one I used most over the years was raising my hand to go to the restroom. I can remember the first time I went to an
Assembly of God Church. While singing, I
saw a lot of hands go up. Gosh, did they
all need to go to the bathroom at once?
Anyway, I, like you, got a lot of advice from my father, my earthly
father, and brothers and sisters, my earthly father got a lot of this advice
from our heavenly Father. You remember
the story from Genesis about Adam and Eve and how they had everything they
needed, but not to touch that one tree.
You know my father taught me something like that. Once in awhile we would go and walk in the
woods and he would show me how to break open walnuts and how to find berries
that were good to eat. He also told me
about those fake look strawberry and those little red berries. He also told me he did not know how to tell
the difference from the good mushrooms and the ones that could kill you, so he
told me not to pick and eat any of them.
Because Adam and Eve did
not take the advice of their Father who put them in the garden, they were
punished. First they had to wear
clothes, then there was pain in childbirth and that goes on even today. Speaking of pain at childbirth, Dolores and I
just now received a call, just now, as I am typing the message. Our grandson, Keith Jr., and his wife
Christy, presented us withi another great grandson, born this day, Kruz Edward
Lehman, 8.5 pounds, mother and child are
doing fine. Thank you, Jesus, for
another great gift, the gift of life.
Back to Adam and Eve, and because they did not follow that Fatherly
advice in the garden, all men forever and ever will need to weed their gardens.
Tomorrow we are going to
look at more Fatherly advice, and a lot of this Fatherly advice, even those who
say they do not believe in God follow.
Can you think of advice from our Father in heaven that has been handed
down to us through our fathers here on earth?
Is it in the Bible? There is your
homework, folks.
Dear Father in Heaven,
please forgive us of our sins as we start this day, we want to start it
clean. Father, please review our prayer
requests and honor them according to Your will for all of us. And Lord, thanks for that great grandson, may
he grow up loving You. In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Monday 6/11/12 Fatherly Advice
God blessed
them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and
subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea
and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the
ground.”
Now the Lord
God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden, and there He put the man he had
formed.
Good
Evening, my dear brothers and sisters.
It is Monday and the day we pray for our leaders and all who have
authority over us. Also the day we pray
for veterans, military, police, firefighters, and all who work to keep us safe
and healthy. Please also pray today for
prayer warrior Patsy Emig, who is in York Memorial Hospital. Let’s get to the message. Today we start a series on Fatherly, fatherly
advice.
Fatherly
Advice 6/11/12: Genesis 1:28 – God blessed
them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and
subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea
and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.
Genesis 2:8 –
Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden, and there He put
the man he had formed. (NIV)
It started
out when we were very young, just little ones, maybe just starting to walk a few
steps, when we started to get advice from our parents, for this week I will
call it fatherly advice. We had to learn
to use the potty, go to the toilet, I mean sometimes our parents, our dads,
would set us on that potty chair and it seemed like we might have been on the
throne longer than the Queen of England.
As we grew older, it was advice on how to brush our teeth and wash our
hands and face. Our fathers for the most
part taught us how to ride a bike and throw a ball. When I think about the Bible and how God
created the Heavens and the Earth and then made man and woman, I see lots of
Fatherly advice, coming right from our heavenly Father. One of the things that God pointed out to me
today was the scripture found in Genesis 1:28 – “Be fruitful and increase in
number.” I also read in Genesis how God
made woman just for man, so he would have an earthly partner, one to go forth
and increase in number with. On this
same day when God gives me this message, I see this on the front page of the
Harrisburg Patriot News. “Episcopal
Church” “Diocese would offer same-sex blessings.” The Right reverend Nathan D. Baxter, Bishop
of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania confirmed this for the paper,
that if the conference would vote on this, the Episcopal churches would honor
this. Today, I, Pastor Dan Lehman, would
like to rename that minister. Let me
call him “The WRONG reverend Nathan D. Baxter, because what he is teaching is
wrong “according to the Bible.” While we
are to love all people and hate their sins, and we all sin, I just cannot
support the daily living in sin.
Brothers and
sisters, sometimes the fatherly advice we get from our earthly fathers might be
wrong, but the advice, the Fatherly advice that we receive from God The Father,
and find it in His Words in the Bible, is never bad advice and is never wrong. Remember, brothers and sisters, if you are a
member of a church, and you put money into the offering plate of that church,
you are indeed supporting what they are teaching.
My fatherly
advice to those on the line today is don’t look for a church that confirms your
sins as okay, but look for a church that works hard to get their flock into
line with what Our Father wants for us.
Dear Father
in Heaven, I confess that I am a sinner.
However, dear Lord, I want to do my best to live according to Your will
for all of us. Lord, help me with
that. Hear our prayers, dear Lord, and
act on them according to Your will for us … In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Friday 6/8/2012 Building THE Bridge!
Today’s
layout will be different. We are going
to pray first and then go to the word about salvation. You will find supporting scriptures within
the message.
Dear Father
in Heaven, for us, forgive me, and all who ask today in faith to be forgiven,
open up Your Word to all who read t his message, and come into their hearts as
they ask. Come into mine and renew me
this day. I ask in the name of Jesus …
AMEN.
Building a
Bridge: Final Day: Please if you will take a plain piece of
paper and on the left side draw a mountain looking thing. Do the same on the right side of the paper so
there is a valley between … On the left side mark your paper Earth, on the
right side, mark it Heaven, and the valley, letter that one Hell. Put some flames down in that valley if you
want, make it look really hot …
Today we are
going to look at The Bridge that gets us from Earth to Heaven. Oh, the neat part, that Bridge is already in
place. We are just going to go and look
at it … come with me.
John 3:16 – “For
God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes
in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (NIV)
Luke 2:6 –
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave
birth to her firstborn, a Son. She
wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for
them in the Inn. (NIV)
Okay,
brothers and sisters, the very first of The Bridge is now in place as God gave
us His Son and this Son was born … A baby
Bridge, those are my words of course.
Now if you have ever ridden on the Steam Railroad at Stroudsburg, PA,
you would hear the conductor telling about the Punkinville Turnpike Bridge. This small bridge is just 16 feet long and goes
over a dirt road that the Amish folks use for their working farms. The conductor tells everyone to lift their feet
to take the weight off of the train cars to lighten the load on the
bridge. This old joke I heard so many
times as we vacation on that railroad about ten times a year. Now this bridge differs from The Bridge we
are talking about today for This Bridge was sent to carry the weight of the
world … Listen up here …
John 3:17 –
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but to save
the world through Him. (NIV)
You see here
Jesus was sent to carry the weight, the weight of the world, the weight of OUR
SINS.
Now as Jesus
grew He walked the earth teaching and living the truth, and telling others, and
showing others how to live. Jesus taught
by example and those examples are still true today. Yes, my brothers and sisters, Jesus is our
Bridge from Earth to Heaven and there is no other way …
John 14:6 –
Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (NIV)
Brothers and
sisters, there is no other bridge. When
we cross the rivers or streams we find many, many bridges. Just in the Harrisburg area there are about
seven bridges to get across the Susquehanna river. Listen, we have the turnpike bridge, the
South Bridge, Market Street Bridge, Harvey Taylor Bridge, Amity Hall
Bridge. Plus two active railroad
bridges, one is the Rockville Bridge, the world’s longest stone arch bridge …
But there is just ONE Bridge to get to Heaven.
Now we all
know that there are a lot of bridges that you must pay the toll to cross. Going to the Jersey shore you can cross some
of the bridges without paying but coming back you pay twice the rate. Also the other bridges are covered by tax
dollars so we really pay to cross any bridge, be it by toll, taxes, or
both. HOWEVER, the toll has been paid
for The Bridge to Heaven … Jesus paid this toll with His life …
Luke 23:33 –
When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him, along
with the criminals, one on His right, the other on his left. (NIV)
Then Jesus
even forgave those who put Him on the cross … Listen to these words from Jesus …
Luke 23:34 –
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”
(NIV)
Now there
are things we must do. We must believe
that Jesus was risen from the dead and we must confess that Jesus is Lord. We need also to confess our sins and ask to
be forgiven from them.
Romans
10:9/10 – That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in
your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe
and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
(NIV)
When must we
do all this confessing and believing?
Well, before we die, of course.
But the sooner we do it, the better our lives will be. We can get on The Bridge and have the earthly
benefits of knowing Jesus. This is one
thing we do not want to put off until the end, since we do not know when the
end is. Not always is life easy for the
believer, but when we believe, our Lord does get us through it, as He promised
He will. Most often we do not let Him
carry our loads. Again, I do believe that
a person can come to the Lord just before his last breath and he will make
heaven. I call it a bedside
conversion. Here is my proof from the
word of Jesus … Jesus was talking to the criminals on the crosses beside him …
One denied him, the other said this.
Luke 23:42 –
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus
answered him, “I tell you other truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
(NIV)
You see,
this also tells me that just after Jesus died on the cross He escorted the
criminal to heaven … Not many make that point, but I sure do.
Okay, let’s
finish our Bridge … We are now going to go to our paper and put in The Bridge …
No covered bridge or suspended bridge here.
Let’s just start with a straight plank across the valley we have labeled
Hell. Wow, that is a long distance to just
have a plank or log across, it might break in the middle. Let’s put in a brace … Go to the middle of the area we called Hell and start
right in the bottom of that put and bring up another plank coming up to the
Bridge and beyond. Oh my gosh, we have
built a cross. Now we could put Jesus on
the cross just to remember that He died for us on the cross, but today8 He is
not on the cross, He is alive and well and in Heaven waiting to judge us. We just need to come to Jesus and we will
receive The Bridge to cross into Heaven.
The price has been paid, the toll has been paid, the taxes have been
paid … Crossing is just for believing in Jesus.
Let’s pray …
Father, I believe in the Virgin Birth, I believe in Your dying on the cross to
save me of my sins, and I believe You have risen from the dead and are waiting
for me. Forgive me today. I want to be welcome in Heaven someday. Let me be on The Bridge the rest of my life,
living only for You. In the name of
Jesus, Amen.
Okay, one
more scripture.
John 14:1 – “Do
not let your hearts be troubled. Trust
in God, trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not
so I would have told you. I am going
there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I
WILL COME BACK AND TAKE YO TO BE WITH ME THAT YOU ALSO MAY BE WHERE I AM.” (NIV)
There you
have it, brothers and sisters … We have our Bridge between Earth and
Heaven. Please share it with others,
tell them about The Cross and how Jesus died on it. It is the GOODNEWS that Jesus has commanded
us to tell others … Share the Blessing of Salvation, which only comes through
Jesus Christ. Will you share it with
someone today? I never tell you to share
what I write and you will get special blessings, I never put you or anyone on a
guilt trip about sharing what I write.
Today, however, I ask you to look deep into your hearts and if you have
friends or even a mailing list and you really care about those on the list you
will take time to tell them about Salvation through Jesus. Use your own words or you may use what I
write anytime. Share the blessing of
salvation, remember if no one had shared it with you, would you be saved today? I truly love you, and I really care about
you. Jesus cared enough about you to
give His life for you. Me, I care enough
about you to just tell you what Jesus did for You.
Love and
blessings, Pastor Dan Lehman
Carry The Light Ministries. 6/8/2012
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Thursday 6/7/12 Building a Bridge 3
In the
beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
“For God so
loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him
shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to
save the world through Him.”
“I am the
way and the truth and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me.”
Good
Thursday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. It is a BEAUTIFUL day here at
the Southern Location of the North Pole.
Today is the day we pray for churches, schools, and families. As schools let out for the summer, keep the
prayers going and pray for Vacation Bible Schools. Please also pray for the eyesight of Art, and
also of Mark. Let’s get to the message
of today!
Building a
Bridge: Genesis 1:1 – In the beginning
God created the heavens and the earth.
John 3:16 – “For
God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes
in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son
into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”
John 14:6 – “I
am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.” (NIV)
Do you
notice something about the scriptures on the messages, something that seems to
run on the same subject? “The Scriptures
are about Faith and Love.” That is true
also about the scriptures today, they are about love …
Let me ask
you a question! Have you ever watched a
bridge being built, a nice new bridge that is to replace an older bridge? Maybe the older bridge is worn or cannot
handle the heavy traffic or the volume of traffic. Maybe you watch as it happens and then the
big day comes and some politician who has spent OUR money on the bridge comes
out and cuts a ribbon. The new bridge is
open … What happens to the old one, well in some cases they “blow them up”,
even if they could have been used for local traffic or a bridge for walkers or
bike (pedal type) riders to use. In some
areas, maybe that old bridge could be used by the Amish folks so they would be
safer in their travels. But no, the
bridge is thrown away. Do you remember
back to the beginning of my messages on building a bridge how I talked about
building a bridge between you and your neighbor instead of building
fences? Maybe you built a new bridge to
a new neighbor and it is carrying that traffic wonderfully, BUT you left one of
the old bridges get away from you, you forgot about that old friend. Wow, that reminds me of a song from my Bible School
days. “Make new friends and keep the
old, one is silver and the other gold.”
Tomorrow we are going to build the bridge from Earth to Heaven … Please
bring a blank piece of paper with you, and a pen or something to write and/or
draw with … Let’s pray!!
Dear Father
in Heaven, I love You. Thank You again
and again for the messages that You place on my mind to write, all honor and
glory to You. Please be in our schools
as they end for the year and then in our churches and the Vacation Bible
Schools. And Lord, bless our families
and bless all those who work with the families of Carry The Light
ministries. Please be with Ron, Dolores,
Vicki, Noah, Joann, and others who need that healing hand. And Lord, please restore the sight for Art and
Mark. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Wednesday 6/6/12 Building a Bridge 2
“Do not let
your hearts be troubled, Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house there are many rooms; if
it were not so, I would have told you. I
am going to prepare a place for you.”
Good
Salvation Wednesday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. Yes, Salvation Wednesday and the day we pray
for all those who are lost, and pray that God will use all who are saved to
help the lost. My favorite picture of
our Lord Jesus is the one where He is holding the Lamb. I like to think of myself as that Lamb, just
one of the ones that Jesus came to rescue.
How about you, wee you also one of those that our Shepherd had to leave
the flock for? Also today, pray for Ron
Leidigh. Ron has cancer and was to have
a bone marrow transplant and has been put on other meds. For Joann who is having major back surgery
today. For Vicki who jus has a really
full plate of health problems. And
please put Dolores back on your prayer list, yes, infection is said to be
coming back. Pray for Keith and Christy
Lehman as they are within days of their first child, and yes, our great
grandchild. Let’s get to the message.
Building a
Bridge (Day 2): John 14:1 – “Do not let
your hearts be troubled, Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house
there are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you.” (NIV)
I don’t know
about you, folks, but one of my biggest fears in life is, I am afraid of heights. I had to stop wearing my western boots as the
2” heels on them made me nervous. Okay,
so it is not that bad, but let me get just a couple steps up on a step ladder
and I am worthless as far as working off of it.
So how does a person who is so afraid of heights get to the shore when
he needs to cross over one of those big, and I mean big, bridges? Most of you know that Dolores and I traveled
a lot by motorcycle in our younger days.
I remember one nice day when we got dressed up, got on the bike, went to
early church, and then decided to go to Wildwood, New Jersey, for some
seafood. Oh my, then came that big
bridge, and I was in traffic, no turning back now. I went to the middle lane, put on my best
tunnel vision, even though we were not in a tunnel. I took a deep breath, and I started to pray,
Dear Lord, please, please, please, and God was good and we made it. We got to Wildwood, found a seafood place and
trust me when I say it tasted just like they opened a box of fish sticks and
put them in a deep fryer. Then we went
out and got on the big Gold Wing and looked at the sky. Oh no, a storm is coming in. So we got going, later the rains came, we
stopped under a bridge and got in the trailer and pulled out the leathers. Then back on the bike and oh no, that bridge,
and this time it is raining and getting windy.
Back in the middle lane and up on the bridge and folks, if you have ever
taken a cycle over the bridge in the wind and the rain you know what I am
talking about when I say I had to lean the bike to keep it going straight. Once again God was good and we made it over
the bridge. I think Dolores held her
breath from one side to the other. Okay,
enough about me and the cycle (we still have two big Gold Wings, both antiques
now, just like us).
So how in
the world does one build a bridge like that?
Well, you start out with an engineer, and he gets in his train (no, Dan,
it is not a railroad engineer). Okay, so
it is a design engineer who went to school a long, long time to learn how to
build things that do not fall down. So
they build this suspended bridge like, well, like the Golden Gate Bridge, and
the Delaware Memorial Bridge. These engineers
must have that gift loaned from God to design one of those monster bridges and
get it right, but then they hand off the plan and someone must build it. Now I understand that God loaned a lot of
this working in high places talent to our native American brothers and even
sisters. Let me tell you that if I had
to make my living working up there on that high bridge or even the high steel
of a building (over two feet tall), my children would have been very thin. Anyway, this big bridge that I had to come to,
and you more than likely have also, was opened and it was now pounded and
pounded by heavy traffic, trucks, buses, cars, and yes, even motorcycles. Most people just cross them and think nothing
of it. For me it takes one thing and
that is what ties this story together with the message for today … What does it
take to design, build, and then cross the bridge? Well, it takes FAITH.
When I look
at the scriptures of today, what do they tell you? What part of the scripture jumps out at you
today? What part blends into the body of
the message today? Is it not this part? “Trust in God; trust also in me.” These words are a quote from Jesus and He is
telling us to have faith in Him.
Brothers and sisters, I had to have faith in God to cross over the river
and things below to even get on the bridge.
I am sure that the design engineers have to have that faith in God just
to put the bridge on paper, and then have also faith in the builders to get it
right. How about the foremen who must
read the plans? Folks, someday we are
heading to heaven … How do we know that there is a heaven? Yes, we read about it in the Bible and we
know, if we have Jesus in our hearts,
that heaven is there, but deep down, it is a walk of faith we must take. Tomorrow, more about Bridges. Maybe we will talk about “covered bridges”. Do you know why they built bridges with
covers on them? Let me know if you
do. Let’s pray.
Dear Father in
Heaven, my walk with You is a walk of faith, I know You live in my heart, I
know You travel with me, and I know it because I have faith in You. Lord, please look over our prayer requests
and honor them according to Your will.
In the name of Jesus I ask that You use us to bring the lost to
You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Now go forth
sharing your blessings and walking in faith with Jesus. And even if you have all the faith you can
have, please still look both ways before crossing a street. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
Coming July
7th … Our annual picnic with the world’s best baritone/bass singer,
Timothy Beitzel singing the gospel for all who attend. You’ve just got to hear this man sing. And then take another step in faith and eat
my cooking …
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