Tuesday 2/19/13 Love (2)

Good Morning, dear brothers and sisters.  As I look out my window as I type this morning, I see a beautiful sunrise.  No red sky here, so as we might get a tad or rain or a little snow, but no stormy weather today.  To those who responded that they got the picture of the trailer, thank you.  Others, please let me know what you think.  We want to do it right for God and He said take the good news to the masses.  The trailer should bring out some questions and we can talk to them about Jesus.

Prayers today for Lt. Kelly, who is a Lancaster firefighter.  Please pray for this brave firefighter who was burned badly yesterday in a fire in Lancaster as he was inside the building looking for people trapped in the building.  Sadly, two were killed in the fire.  Please pray for their families.  Pray also for the other brave firefighters who entered the burning building to rescue their brother in the fire service.  Pray for all firefighters across the world, here in our area, most all do the work for FREE.  May God richly bless the ladies and gentlemen that we call firefighters.  And while I am writing about love, how about the love of service these people have?  Amen.  Let me get moving to the message.

Love 2/19/13 Day Two.

Psalm 69:34 - Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and all that move in them, 35 for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah.  Then people will settle there and possess it:  36 The children of His servants will inherit it, and those who LOVE His Name will dwell there.  (NIV)

God speaks to us in many different ways.  This morning while praying for the firefighters God brought this scripture forward in my mind:

John 15:13 - Greater Love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  (NIV)

It reminds me so much of these firefighters and also our military men and women who show their love for all others that they are willing to lay their lives on the line each day in all they do.  Police officers do the same thing also.  Day after day after day we have people in our country that show their love for us, and so often we do not thank them.  We might think that the police are out to get us because they stopped you, and I did not say us on this one, but they might e out to get you for stopping you for running a red traffic signal.  We make smart remarks to police about "donuts" and donut shops.  I get tired of hearing those jokes.  Want to find a "cop"?  Check the donut shop.  Another thing I think is when a person loves us enough to be willing to lay down his life for us, then we should have enough respect for them not to call them "cops" and refer to them as "police officers" or in the case of our State Police "Trooper".  Back years ago, during the hippie years, police were often referred to as "pigs".  Some referred to Troopers on motorcycles as "pigs on a hog".  A name I think used in love by some truckers is "Smokey".  That is sort of a CB type thing I guess.

Our military people also got a lot of bad names over the years.  I am not even going to get into all that was fired at them back during the Viet Nam war.  Some of our military were even spit on when they came home. They were in good company as our Lord Jesus was spit on also.

I want to ask you to do this, when you see a veteran wearing a military cap, and you will know them, go up to them and say, "thanks for your service to our country," and tell them you love them.  When you see a person today in the uniform of our country, take time to tell them, "thanks for helping to keep us free," and then say this and don't hold it back ... say, "I love you," and if in a group, say, "I love all of you."  If you are sort of afraid to say it like that, then say, "I love you for keeping us safe."  Do the same thing for police, thank them and tell them you love them for keeping you safe.

As for those firefighters, those who get no pay for what they do, if you can afford it, send a check, it need not be big, but send a check to your local fire company with a note.  Say, here is a small check towards your operating costs.  I love all of you, thanks for always being ready to respond.

God gave us His One and Only Son to die for our personal freedom, but so many more, so many, many more over the years have given their lives, or their limbs, or even part of their minds in wars, and why?  So we could be free ... So we can talk about God.

Brothers and sisters, the more I am writing today the more upset I can get.  So many have given of themselves so we could have Jesus and our freedom with Him, just to see others, those few haters and non-believers get their way and Jesus put out of places.  Brothers and sisters, love one another, love each other, show it, even to those who h ate us, love them.  Let's take this country back by loving others ... SOMEONE SAY AMEN.

Dear Father in Heaven, bless these words as they go forth, help us learn to love one another as You have first loved us.  Be with those firefighters and all others who give of themselves to keep us safe.  Please heal Lt. Kelly.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Now go forth and share your blessings.

Love ya, Pastor Dan.