Monday 7/23/12 Another Fish Story

Matthew 14:13 - When Jesus heard what had happened, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.  Hearing of this, the crowds followed Him on foot from the towns.  14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.  (NIV)

Good Evening, my dear brothers and sisters.  It is a beautiful evening, clearing after a storm passed by.  Monday, and we have a long prayer request today. Our Leaders:  Please pray today for President Obama and his family and all of our leaders in Washington, DC.  Please first pray for their souls and their salvation, for those who are not saved to come to Jesus.  Also pray for all our leaders in our states houses, and please pray the same way.  Pray for your local governments and also those who run your schools.

Our Military:  Pray for our veterans, current military, include the reserve units and remember the Coast Guard and the Merchant Marines.  Our Police:  State Police, local police, FBI, CIA, Secret Service, US Marshals, and your local sheriff, and the border patrol.  Our Firefighters and First Responders, Ambulance personnel, and those who fly those Medical Choppers.

Also pray for Allison, Cancer.  Joann Zimmerman, who must have surgery again this week.  Leonard Dietz, bleeding ulcer (hospital), Ruth (hospital), Joe, cancer, Patsy Emig (rehab hospital), Barbara (hospital), Betty Deardorff (hospital), and with Betty, please pray for her family as they make a decision on life support.  Vicki, a full plate of health issues.  Beth, complications of pregnancy.  Sarah Weiser, recovering from surgery.  Matthew Lehman (hospital), Dolores, pain from many issues.  Pastor Dan, for guidance in daily message writing.  For Carry The Light Ministries, as we press forward for Jesus!

Dear Father in Heaven, please forgive us of our sins as we start on this message.  For me, dear Lord, as I write it and for others as they read it.  Please, dear Lord, look over our big prayer list and please act on them according to Your will for all of us.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Another Fish Story (Day One).  Matthew 14:13 - When Jesus heard what had happened, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.  Hearing of this, the crowds followed Him on foot from the towns.  14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.  (NIV)

Gosh, another day and another fish story.  Last week I made this statement about fishing ... "I ask a simple question, the answer I surely wish, are all fishermen liars or do all the liars fish?" (author unknown)  Let me get into today's message.  True fish stories can be found in the scriptures.  In Matthew 14:13 - "When Jesus heard what had happened" Jesus was just told that His dear friend, John the Baptist was killed.  John was beheaded, and brothers and sisters, this is a price a lot of Christians have paid just to be a Christian, a follower of Jesus.  I don't mean they are all beheaded, but many missionaries have been killed, martyred, for following Jesus or for speaking out for Him.

Jesus, upon hearing of the death of His friend, did what many of us would do if we heard of the killing of a friend, we would withdraw so we might be in private to pray or to even be with just a few friends and family ... The Bible tells us that Jesus withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.  But as His followers, and by now He had thousands of them follow him ... So when Jesus landed His boat, or docked it, He found all these folks waiting for Him and the Bible tells us that He had compassion on them and He healed their sick.

Even when Jesus is wanting some time alone, to think about His friend John, He showed His never ending love for others.  Jesus put others ahead of himself.  So my question for you today, how about you, when you're down, struggling with some personal problems, are you willing to set them aside and help others?

That is hard to do.  We in Carry The Light Ministries, our ministry team, work very, very hard to do just that.  We feel, to really follow Jesus, we must put Jesus ahead of ourselves, and also put the others who count on this ministry for the Word and for food above ourselves.  Sometimes the best thing you can do when you are having a really bad day is to take a step out in faith and help someone else.  It really makes you feel better.

The term "Christian" gets beat up, people say they are Christian but are not living it.  Folks, Christian means "Christ-like", and I think if we are true Christians we need to also be followers of Jesus.  Here is another good example of Jesus showing us how to live.  So when you are down, talk to Jesus, then try your very best to get moving and do something good for someone else ... AMEN!!

Lord, help us please to be more and more like Jesus each day.  Amen.

Now go forth, sharing your blessings ... Love ya, Pastor Dan.