Thursday 2/7/13 Heroes 4

Dear brothers and sisters, what a great day here at the Southern Location of the North Pole.  Check out this praise report sent in from one of our prayer warriors ...

Praise Report, Praise Report ... Pastor/Brother Dan ... My daughter Alexis, who is the mother of my granddaughter Nora, you may remember she married a fine gentleman back in April of 2011.  Eric is in the process of adopting Nora ... AND ... just this past Tuesday February 5th, they welcomed into the world a new little one of their own.  His name is Ace Nova Tangert.  He's a "butterball" at 8 pounds 15 ounces, 20 3/4" long.  All are doing fine.  She will be coming home Friday.  Rick.

Please add this mother and daughter to your daily prayers ...

Pastor Dan, please pray for my wife, Leila, and my oldest Abigail.  Leila needs specific prayers for pain.  Thank you, Andy.

Prayers for the family of Anna Troutman, who is now with the Lord.

Brothers and sisters, I must tell you this short story.  On Monday a person called for food who had just been here.  Seems they moved and left their food behind for the next person moving into the place they vacated.  So we furnished more food, even though they were just in.  Again, that was this past Monday, and I really had to think about handing out another load of food.  Then we decided to just give out food to help her stock the new place.  On Tuesday a local school called us, they had a soup drive for the super bowl and we got the call to go and get over 450 cans of soup, and these were mostly large cans ... GOD IS GOOD.  Let me get to the message.

Heroes 2/7/13 Day Four:

As in the past three days I want to start with some of my heroes from back when I was a child (when the Dead Sea was still sick).  Just one today, he was Leonard Lee Lehman, and he was my big brother.  Yes, "was", because he has gone to be with the Lord.  Leonard was the strongest person I knew in my life.  He started lifting weights when he was about 13, and there was no juice being added back then, he just got into pumping iron.  And he was strong, and yes, he beat me up a few times, but still, I loved my big brother.  Sadly, he also started smoking when he was about 14 and never stopped, and yes, that took his life about ten years ago.  I must relate this, when he found out he had cancer, he called me and said, "Danny, I am going to die."  I laughed and said, we all are.  He said, no, I have cancer and have been told I have six months to live, and I don't think I am going to heaven.  Ten minutes later I was up over the mountain and sitting with my big brother.  We talked about the Lord and shared scriptures from our mamma's Bible.  We prayed together a prayer to be forgiven.  Then I said, Leonard, you are living with this nice lady, but you are not married.  I talked to him about that daily sin, told him he needed to do something about that.  Three days later I married them, my first wedding.  Two months later, I buried him, my first funeral.  I am sure he is ini heaven.  Thanks for letting me share that with you.

My Hero from the Bible today comes with this scripture:

Luke 1:26 - In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.  The virgin's name was Mary.  28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored!  The Lord is with you.  29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  31 You will be with child and are to give Him the name Jesus.  -------------------- 38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered.  "May it be to me as you have said."  The the angel left her. (NIV)

Yes, my hero from the Bible today is the virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Now you should really go back and read Luke 1:26 through 1:38, for I have skipped some.  Okay, several reasons why she is one of my real heroes from the Bible.  First, this young girl who was pledged to marry Joseph was still a virgin.  Next, even though she was afraid when old Gabe showed up, she did not pick up her feet and run.  She stood and listened to this angel of The Lord.  Next was her statement made to Gabriel and well worth repeating.  "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered.  "May it be to me as you have said."  Then of course we know she along with Joseph raised Jesus up through those tender years.

Now a few of my heroes of today.  The children, teachers, and staff at the Silver Spring Elementary School in the Cumberland Valley School District.  Now just why in the world would I make them my heroes of today?  Okay, let's start with the children who brought in soup, those over 450 cans of that soup using it to vote for "their team" in the Super Bowl.  But as I told the teacher who was helping to load this soup into our little food pantry truck, the real winners of the Super Bowl were going to be those who receive the food.  But the heroes are those kids who are learning at a young age to share their blessings (even if parents sent it with them).  Now the teachers and staff are heroes also for teaching these children to bring in the soup an teaching them the soup wil e shared with the needy.  Now the neat part is even if a staff member or teacher might not be a "believer" they were still working for God.  Don't you just love it?  Well, there you have it for today, and again, my heroes of today, all of them of course fall under our Lord Jesus, for no one, I said no one gets up in that number one position with me anymore.  Yes, back years ago when I was drifting away, there were some,but I am back, and Jesus is my "Main Man."

Tomorrow, good Lord willing, I will be back with one last day of Heroes, maybe one more from my past, a few from the present, and yes, from the Bible also.  You just do not want to miss this one.

Dear Father in Heaven, thanks for that beautiful little "Ace" and for taking care of his family.  Keep blessing that family and please watch over this child as he grows.  I pray today that he might grow up and become a worker for You, dear Lord.  Thanks again, Lord.  Please look after Andy's wife and daughter as they struggle with pain.  Please, Lord, Leila has suffered a long time, it would be appreciated if You heal  her.  We will be sure You get the glory.  Be with the family of Anna Troutman who is now with You.  Thank You, Lord Jesus, for putting out that welcome mat for all those who know and love You, and Lord, help us to get the word out to those who do not.  Thanks again for the message of today.  Also, Lord, if it is in Your will, may the big storm miss those who were hit hard by Sandy last fall.  In Jesus Name, I pray.  Amen.

Now go forth, my dear brothers and sisters, and share your blessings.

Love ya, Pastor Dan.