Well, brothers and sisters, as I type this to you, 2013 is all but over and 2014 is about to begin. Looking back over the past year, I must say we have been very blessed. One reason I say we are blessed is we have you for friends. You have hung out on this message line with me for the year or part of it, as many new folks have been coming on board. Another reason I say we have been blessed is that we are still on the green side of the grass.
Last year many things changed, and going into the New Year, I am sure many more things will change. In fact, the only thing that will not change is our Lord Jesus. So I remind you of this as we say goodbye to 2013 and welcome to 2014:
Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (NIV)
The best way to start this new year is by cleaning yourself with the blood of Jesus and get rid of your sins. Will you just pray this very simple prayer with me?
Dear Father in Heaven, please forgive me of my sins and start me off in the new year clean. And in 2014 may I do a better job of walking with You. In Jesus Name, I pray. Amen.
Happy New Year. Love ya, and please pass it on.
Pastor Dan
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Friday 12/27/13 The Magi 2
Dear Father in Heaven. Thanks for all You do for us, and thanks for watching over us on a very busy day on the roads. Dear Lord, be with Dave, Duane, and Neil as they prepare for one very big night with all honor and glory going to You. Bless and keep safe all those coming to the event on Sunday evening. We love thee servants of Yours, Lord. Be with those traveling, and Lord, please touch Dolores and heal her. And Lord, give us strength to carry forth for You in all we do. I love You, Jesus, and now, dear Lord, please help me with the message and then help me dispatch it. And Lord, keep watch over Matthew. In Jesus' Name, I pray and give thanks. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, we just had another great day, very busy, but great and wonderful. Please pray for those who are "lost," those not knowing Jesus. And remember as we get ready to go into 2014, we, and I mean we, are the messengers of today for Jesus, let's get the Word of God out, let's get the Good News to all creation as ordered. With that said, let me get to the message, The Magi.
Friday, December 27, 2013, The Magi (We Three Kings), Day Two.
Matthew 2:7 - Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the Child. As soon as you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him." 9 After they had heard the king they went on their way and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and incense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. (NIV)
In Matthew 2:7 we see that King Herod called these Magi secretly. In other words, he did not want anyone else to know what he was up to. I would think that was a dead give-away that Herod was up to "no good." The Bible tells us Herod found out the exact time the star appeared. And since the Magi were NOT at the manger, think for a bit just when it went up and where. And on the birth of our Savior the Star was of course over the manger, over the stable, over our beloved Jesus who was not yet named.
Then in Matthew 2:8 we see the Magi were ordered to go and "search for the Child" and Herod wanted Jesus found and as soon as they found Him, He wanted to know about it. "Report back to me," Herod said. This was not just asking, it was a command from this king. After talking with the king, who was told that The Child was born in Bethlehem, the Magi started out on the trip. Now we really are not sure how many Magi took the three gifts, and yesterday I asked you what the gifts were. While my study Bible, the NIV, said told, incense, and myrrh, looking up the scripture in my King James Bible, it does say gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Now we know there were three gifts, but we are not sure how many Magi took them. I feel that it was more than one because Magi is plural according to old Webster, and one is spelled Magus, but who is really counting, and what difference would it make? It is the fact that gifts were taken to the Child. Even the term "wise men" was used, not "wise man." (I know, you ladies are still wondering just how they found even one "wise man," let alone more than that.)
Now I really love this part, this is so neat. When the Magi left Herod to search for Jesus (again, not yet named), they followed the star, and not only was the star bright as we talked about yesterday, but it moved, it traveled ahead of them. Then the star stopped over the place where the Child was, and the Magi were overjoyed. I would say they were excited, overwhelmed. In Matthew 2:11, the Bible tells us "on coming to the HOUSE, they saw the Child with His mother Mary." Yes, this bright star was leading them to their Savior, and of course our Savior. For again, Jesus is still the same, never changes. Then the Magi bowed down and worshiped Him, after which they opened their treasures and gave these gifts to Him, the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
In Matthew 12, it tells us that in a dream they were warned not to go back to Herod in their country so they went a different way. Okay, once again we see that the Magi were warned in a dream, and that once again shows me just how long it must have taken these Magi to get to the "house." They had to be resting down at night for this long trip. We also do not know if they walked or rode camels. I do know for sure they did not drive a car! (I just had to say that!) Please remember that it might have been up to six months after the birth of Jesus until the Magi arrived at the "house" where Jesus was.
Now just a couple of things for thinking. How nice it would have been to be there at the birth place or at the house where Jesus was located. However, would we have "bowed down" and worshiped Him? It is easy for we Christians, we who are "saved," "born again," to say yes, we would have. However, we have years and years of getting to know Him and even with that said, some people today are turning their backs on Him. Also not changing, like Herod wanted to find out where Jesus was as he wanted to kill Him and more than likely would have killed those messengers, the Magi. By the way, I more than likely should have been spelling Magi with a small "m", but since my Bible uses the large "M", I did also.
Today people are still being killed who follow Jesus. Missionaries are still being killed for speaking out for Jesus, and while that happens most often in other countries, it, I am sure, will be coming to America soon, if not already here, and we are just not being told. In fact, if my memory serves me still, I seem to recall a school girl in one of the first school shootings was shot in the head for standing up for Jesus. She was asked to deny Jesus and she would not. So again as I have so often asked, are you ready to be that messenger for the Lord? Are you willing to put your life on the line for Jesus? Our military folks are putting their lives and limbs on the line each day for our country's freedom, and of course Jesus put His life on the line for our "personal freedom" and died for that. But what about us? What about you and me? First, I know I would not have been down on my knees at the birth of Jesus, for it took me a lot of years to be really "born again," for I indeed was a "lost son," but I am with Jesus now and have been for a long, long time, and while I pray it never happens, I would not deny Christ. I also want to keep working for Him. I want to be a "messenger for life." How about you? Dave, Duane, and Neil, who are singing their last as The Couriers on Sunday evening, are not going to stop working for Christ. I know these men of God, and while they might stop traveling together to sing, they already have some plans to keep on keeping on for Jesus. Duane has already been here with us working on a cold snowy day being a prayer warrior on our driveway when we handed out food. So how about it? Are you saved? If so, are you ready to go to work for Jesus? Let's close out this message today by going to Christ to be cleaned, if you are "born again," pray to renew in Him, and if you are not "born again," please make today your day. If you are a new Christian, a new believer and you need a good church and people to talk to, you can call me on this, and here is my cell phone number ... 717 991 0754 ... for you to use for prayer or if I can help you find a good church, one that PREACHES, TEACHES, and works out of the Bible, all of it. Let's pray.
Dear Father in Heaven: I confess this day I am a sinner, and I pray for You to wash me clean this day. Lord, please use me since I am saved to help bring in the lost as commanded to do and I pray for others who are not saved to come to You this day. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now for those who are not saved, please pray this with me. I cannot pray for you to be saved, it is between Jesus and you, it is personal, a personal relationship. However, I can get you started, so pray along with me. Then read John 3:16, John 14:6, and Romans 10:9/10.
Dear Father i n Heaven, I am a sinner and I confess that unto You this day. I believe You died for me and were risen from the dead. Please, Lord, come into my heart right now and help me walk each day with You. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Next week, unless the Lord changes my direction, for I take my orders from Him, "The Great Escape." Now go forth sharing your blessings and knowing I love ya. Please pass on that love. Pastor Dan
Dear brothers and sisters, we just had another great day, very busy, but great and wonderful. Please pray for those who are "lost," those not knowing Jesus. And remember as we get ready to go into 2014, we, and I mean we, are the messengers of today for Jesus, let's get the Word of God out, let's get the Good News to all creation as ordered. With that said, let me get to the message, The Magi.
Friday, December 27, 2013, The Magi (We Three Kings), Day Two.
Matthew 2:7 - Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the Child. As soon as you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him." 9 After they had heard the king they went on their way and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and incense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. (NIV)
In Matthew 2:7 we see that King Herod called these Magi secretly. In other words, he did not want anyone else to know what he was up to. I would think that was a dead give-away that Herod was up to "no good." The Bible tells us Herod found out the exact time the star appeared. And since the Magi were NOT at the manger, think for a bit just when it went up and where. And on the birth of our Savior the Star was of course over the manger, over the stable, over our beloved Jesus who was not yet named.
Then in Matthew 2:8 we see the Magi were ordered to go and "search for the Child" and Herod wanted Jesus found and as soon as they found Him, He wanted to know about it. "Report back to me," Herod said. This was not just asking, it was a command from this king. After talking with the king, who was told that The Child was born in Bethlehem, the Magi started out on the trip. Now we really are not sure how many Magi took the three gifts, and yesterday I asked you what the gifts were. While my study Bible, the NIV, said told, incense, and myrrh, looking up the scripture in my King James Bible, it does say gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Now we know there were three gifts, but we are not sure how many Magi took them. I feel that it was more than one because Magi is plural according to old Webster, and one is spelled Magus, but who is really counting, and what difference would it make? It is the fact that gifts were taken to the Child. Even the term "wise men" was used, not "wise man." (I know, you ladies are still wondering just how they found even one "wise man," let alone more than that.)
Now I really love this part, this is so neat. When the Magi left Herod to search for Jesus (again, not yet named), they followed the star, and not only was the star bright as we talked about yesterday, but it moved, it traveled ahead of them. Then the star stopped over the place where the Child was, and the Magi were overjoyed. I would say they were excited, overwhelmed. In Matthew 2:11, the Bible tells us "on coming to the HOUSE, they saw the Child with His mother Mary." Yes, this bright star was leading them to their Savior, and of course our Savior. For again, Jesus is still the same, never changes. Then the Magi bowed down and worshiped Him, after which they opened their treasures and gave these gifts to Him, the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
In Matthew 12, it tells us that in a dream they were warned not to go back to Herod in their country so they went a different way. Okay, once again we see that the Magi were warned in a dream, and that once again shows me just how long it must have taken these Magi to get to the "house." They had to be resting down at night for this long trip. We also do not know if they walked or rode camels. I do know for sure they did not drive a car! (I just had to say that!) Please remember that it might have been up to six months after the birth of Jesus until the Magi arrived at the "house" where Jesus was.
Now just a couple of things for thinking. How nice it would have been to be there at the birth place or at the house where Jesus was located. However, would we have "bowed down" and worshiped Him? It is easy for we Christians, we who are "saved," "born again," to say yes, we would have. However, we have years and years of getting to know Him and even with that said, some people today are turning their backs on Him. Also not changing, like Herod wanted to find out where Jesus was as he wanted to kill Him and more than likely would have killed those messengers, the Magi. By the way, I more than likely should have been spelling Magi with a small "m", but since my Bible uses the large "M", I did also.
Today people are still being killed who follow Jesus. Missionaries are still being killed for speaking out for Jesus, and while that happens most often in other countries, it, I am sure, will be coming to America soon, if not already here, and we are just not being told. In fact, if my memory serves me still, I seem to recall a school girl in one of the first school shootings was shot in the head for standing up for Jesus. She was asked to deny Jesus and she would not. So again as I have so often asked, are you ready to be that messenger for the Lord? Are you willing to put your life on the line for Jesus? Our military folks are putting their lives and limbs on the line each day for our country's freedom, and of course Jesus put His life on the line for our "personal freedom" and died for that. But what about us? What about you and me? First, I know I would not have been down on my knees at the birth of Jesus, for it took me a lot of years to be really "born again," for I indeed was a "lost son," but I am with Jesus now and have been for a long, long time, and while I pray it never happens, I would not deny Christ. I also want to keep working for Him. I want to be a "messenger for life." How about you? Dave, Duane, and Neil, who are singing their last as The Couriers on Sunday evening, are not going to stop working for Christ. I know these men of God, and while they might stop traveling together to sing, they already have some plans to keep on keeping on for Jesus. Duane has already been here with us working on a cold snowy day being a prayer warrior on our driveway when we handed out food. So how about it? Are you saved? If so, are you ready to go to work for Jesus? Let's close out this message today by going to Christ to be cleaned, if you are "born again," pray to renew in Him, and if you are not "born again," please make today your day. If you are a new Christian, a new believer and you need a good church and people to talk to, you can call me on this, and here is my cell phone number ... 717 991 0754 ... for you to use for prayer or if I can help you find a good church, one that PREACHES, TEACHES, and works out of the Bible, all of it. Let's pray.
Dear Father in Heaven: I confess this day I am a sinner, and I pray for You to wash me clean this day. Lord, please use me since I am saved to help bring in the lost as commanded to do and I pray for others who are not saved to come to You this day. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now for those who are not saved, please pray this with me. I cannot pray for you to be saved, it is between Jesus and you, it is personal, a personal relationship. However, I can get you started, so pray along with me. Then read John 3:16, John 14:6, and Romans 10:9/10.
Dear Father i n Heaven, I am a sinner and I confess that unto You this day. I believe You died for me and were risen from the dead. Please, Lord, come into my heart right now and help me walk each day with You. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Next week, unless the Lord changes my direction, for I take my orders from Him, "The Great Escape." Now go forth sharing your blessings and knowing I love ya. Please pass on that love. Pastor Dan
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Thursday 12/26/13 The Magi
Dear Father in Heaven. Thanks for a really great Christmas, and thanks for forgiving we who asked and have faith in You. Thanks for walking with us each and every day, and please, dear Lord, help us to not slip and to walk each day with You. Thanks for the great news about Patsy and that she does not have cancer. Father, how wonderful You are, all honor and glory to You. Please help me now with the message and then help me to dispatch it. Lord, please also touch Dolores and heal her. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Brothers and sisters, I pray you all had a wonderful Christmas and are heading for great, happy, and wonderful New Year. Our Christmas went well and would have been perfect if we had heard from Matthew. Please pray for the family of Sally Snyder. She was called home to be with Jesus on Christmas Day. Sally was a school bus driver and worked under me at Central Dauphin School District. We were blessed with another rescue Yorkshire Terrier the day before Christmas. He is 12 and cannot hear a thing.
Please remember this Sunday evening, the original Couriers, Dave, Duane, and Neil, are having their final concert. It will be held at Christian Life Assembly of God, just outside of Camp Hill, PA. Starting time is 6:00 PM. Admission is by bringing food for the hungry. Carry The Light Ministry food pantry is being blessed along with Christian Life Assembly food pantry. Our trailer will be on the side nearest the prison. Please, if you pass our trailer, be sure to LOOK AT THE FRONT OF IT. Neil's song "Statue of Liberty" is set on the trailer!! Now let me get to the message:
Thursday, December 26, 2013, The Magi (We Three Kings) Day One.
Matthew 2:1 - After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews?" We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him." 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where The Christ was to be born. 5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 6 'But you, Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judea; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the Shepherd of my people Israel.'" (NIV)
King Herod was king of Judea at the time of Jesus' birth. The Bible tells us the Magi came from the EAST and they came to Jerusalem and there they asked, "Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews?" The Bible tells us that "they saw His star in the EAST. So why am I pointing out this today to you? I mean so what if they came from the east and they saw his star in the east? They were following the star, and the Bible tells us in Revelation 22:16 it was very bright, and it was referred to as "The Bright Morning Star." This was also talked about in Numbers 24:17. Now think about it, brothers and sisters, how bright was this star? Bright enough to be seen for miles and miles and also for that distance in the daytime. Please remember these magi, or kings, were more than likely walking.
When King Herod and the others from Jerusalem heard about this, finding out that these Magi were looking for this Child, and please notice that no one was happy about it ... Now the Magi wanted to worship this Child, and that upset people. That sounds like today, right? Hey, same Child, our Lord Jesus. Let me remind you of that scripture that tells us that Jesus is the same.
Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (NIV)
The Magi, who are called kings in the song, "We Three Kings," were more than likely not kings at all. They were also referred to as "Wise Men."
I want you to also note that The Baby is still being called "The Child" and although we know today that it was Jesus in this manger or food trough in the stable, He was not given that name until later. Now let's look again, the Magi came to worship this Child, and it upset others. That is what is going on today. We see it year-round but most often at Christmas and Easter when we who are "Born Again" Christians, and you must be "Born Again" to be a Christian, come under attack. Then it seems we roll over and play dead. Our leader, our Jesus, our King of kings, has been put out of places, out of schools, out of public squares, out of public buildings, and watch, they will soon want Him put out of voting places that are in churches. Christians have been killed for spreading the Word, they have had to go "underground," so to speak, to carry forth His Word, and if not for our military, more than likely we would not even have churches in our United States.
Anyway, come back tomorrow and find out what gifts were brought to "this Child." So I ask you today in advance. How many Kings were at the stable? What were the gifts? When did they arrive?
Time now for me to get to bed. I just had another really long day and tomorrow is going to be the same. Go forth and share your blessings. Love ya. Please pass that love along. Pastor Dan
Brothers and sisters, I pray you all had a wonderful Christmas and are heading for great, happy, and wonderful New Year. Our Christmas went well and would have been perfect if we had heard from Matthew. Please pray for the family of Sally Snyder. She was called home to be with Jesus on Christmas Day. Sally was a school bus driver and worked under me at Central Dauphin School District. We were blessed with another rescue Yorkshire Terrier the day before Christmas. He is 12 and cannot hear a thing.
Please remember this Sunday evening, the original Couriers, Dave, Duane, and Neil, are having their final concert. It will be held at Christian Life Assembly of God, just outside of Camp Hill, PA. Starting time is 6:00 PM. Admission is by bringing food for the hungry. Carry The Light Ministry food pantry is being blessed along with Christian Life Assembly food pantry. Our trailer will be on the side nearest the prison. Please, if you pass our trailer, be sure to LOOK AT THE FRONT OF IT. Neil's song "Statue of Liberty" is set on the trailer!! Now let me get to the message:
Thursday, December 26, 2013, The Magi (We Three Kings) Day One.
Matthew 2:1 - After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews?" We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him." 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where The Christ was to be born. 5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 6 'But you, Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judea; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the Shepherd of my people Israel.'" (NIV)
King Herod was king of Judea at the time of Jesus' birth. The Bible tells us the Magi came from the EAST and they came to Jerusalem and there they asked, "Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews?" The Bible tells us that "they saw His star in the EAST. So why am I pointing out this today to you? I mean so what if they came from the east and they saw his star in the east? They were following the star, and the Bible tells us in Revelation 22:16 it was very bright, and it was referred to as "The Bright Morning Star." This was also talked about in Numbers 24:17. Now think about it, brothers and sisters, how bright was this star? Bright enough to be seen for miles and miles and also for that distance in the daytime. Please remember these magi, or kings, were more than likely walking.
When King Herod and the others from Jerusalem heard about this, finding out that these Magi were looking for this Child, and please notice that no one was happy about it ... Now the Magi wanted to worship this Child, and that upset people. That sounds like today, right? Hey, same Child, our Lord Jesus. Let me remind you of that scripture that tells us that Jesus is the same.
Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (NIV)
The Magi, who are called kings in the song, "We Three Kings," were more than likely not kings at all. They were also referred to as "Wise Men."
I want you to also note that The Baby is still being called "The Child" and although we know today that it was Jesus in this manger or food trough in the stable, He was not given that name until later. Now let's look again, the Magi came to worship this Child, and it upset others. That is what is going on today. We see it year-round but most often at Christmas and Easter when we who are "Born Again" Christians, and you must be "Born Again" to be a Christian, come under attack. Then it seems we roll over and play dead. Our leader, our Jesus, our King of kings, has been put out of places, out of schools, out of public squares, out of public buildings, and watch, they will soon want Him put out of voting places that are in churches. Christians have been killed for spreading the Word, they have had to go "underground," so to speak, to carry forth His Word, and if not for our military, more than likely we would not even have churches in our United States.
Anyway, come back tomorrow and find out what gifts were brought to "this Child." So I ask you today in advance. How many Kings were at the stable? What were the gifts? When did they arrive?
Time now for me to get to bed. I just had another really long day and tomorrow is going to be the same. Go forth and share your blessings. Love ya. Please pass that love along. Pastor Dan
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Merry Christmas 12/25/13
For unto us a Child is Born: Happy Birthday, Jesus!!
To all my dear brothers and sisters, whom I love dearly.
For Christmas, I pray you are BORN AGAIN and/or will renew in Christ.
I pray that you have peace, joy, and LOVE.
MERRY CHRIST-MAS.
And yes, share those blessings, and pass on my love. Pastor Dan
To all my dear brothers and sisters, whom I love dearly.
For Christmas, I pray you are BORN AGAIN and/or will renew in Christ.
I pray that you have peace, joy, and LOVE.
MERRY CHRIST-MAS.
And yes, share those blessings, and pass on my love. Pastor Dan
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Christmas Eve 12/24/13 Gifts 2
Dear Father in Heaven. What a great day. Thanks for family and friends, and thanks for a great night with them. Please, dear Lord, heal our daughter Leann, and please be with our son Matthew. Be with Kruse and heal him, Lord, and also Kelsey. And please, Lord, heal Dolores. Dear Father, please be with all those who travel and watch over them. Keep our planes in the air, our vehicles on their tires and our trains on the rails, dear Lord. And Lord, thank You for this season when we are reminded of the birth of our Lord Jesus. Thanking You for all things good, Father, and now asking You to help me with the message and then to dispatch it. Then, Lord, help me line up my message for the Christmas Eve service. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, Dolores and I had a wonderful Monday evening with a lot of our family. Please pray for her. Now it is home and trying to get this message out for Christmas Eve and get ready for our Candlelight Communion Service at The Bridges. So let me get right back to that message, Gifts. Dolores is practicing the piano, however, she is sick as in can hardly breathe.
Christmas Eve, December 24, 2013, Gifts (A Bribe), Day Two.
Yesterday I talked to you, my dear brothers and sisters, about if these gifts might be bribes. I showed you in scripture that some are. We do have gifts that are other than bribes. Some gifts are appreciation gifts. Some gifts are given out of Love. Some gifts have more than one meaning. So where does our Lord Jesus fit in? What about this GIFT of Jesus our Lord and Savior? Let's look some more!!
Matthew 2:11 - On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. (NIV)
In this scripture we see the Magi, or kings as we call them, are bringing gifts to our Lord Jesus, and the gifts are named. So you know, the kings arrived at the house, the house, as you can see, and also notice that the Child is named ahead of His Mother. But what about these gift? Were they brought in love? I think so. But we are going to work on the three kings after Christmas and really dig into that group. But so you know, they were not at the stable.
(Right here I stopped and went to bed. It is 12:30 AM and I cannot keep my eyes open. Okay, 4:00 AM and back at it.)
Acts 1:4 - On occasion, while He was eating with them, He gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. (NIV)
All through the Bible we see our Lord Jesus giving commands. In our first testament we find commands being given, in the new testament we have commands. So here is another. This is His disciples who are with Him all the time, and He, before He was put on the cross. He is telling them to wait on this gift and that gift was the Holy Spirit. John baptized with water, but the gift of our Father is to be baptized by the Holy Spirit.
Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)
Here is to me two gifts and it is your choice. Wages of sin is death. But we have this really great gift, the gift from God and it is eternal life. Let me ask you here. The promise of the gift of life, is that a bribe, or might it be appreciation or love? I, brothers and sisters, think it is all three.
First it is a bribe for to receive this gift of life we must come to Jesus. We must follow Romans 10:9/10 which states this ....
Romans 10:9 - 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. 10 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)
However it is a gift of appreciation if we accept Christ as our Savior, and we all know it is a gift of real love for He laid down His life for this our personal freedom.
1 Corinthians 7:7 - I wish that all men were as I am, but each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. (NIV)
I love this, and brothers and sisters, the word men means women also. Each of us has our own gift. I have been told that I have the "gift of gab." There are listed gifts in the Bible, and I like to think of our talents, or as Rush says it, "talent on loan from GOD." He is a super broadcaster, while your gift might be to teach or preach, or be a salesperson. Maybe you have been given a trade for a gift. Maybe you fix cars, maybe you repair plumbing in houses. Maybe you have a gift of giving, and yes, it is a gift to be one who gives, be it from their earnings or from their other talents.
James 1:16 - Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, come down from the Father of Heavenly Lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (NIV)
One last thing as I wrap it up for Christmas Eve. Every good and perfect gift is from God. It is very plain that the Good stuff comes from God. And brothers and sisters, THE GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT WE RECEIVED AND WHOSE BIRTHDAY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS THIS CHILD, JESUS, WHO grew up, walked the earth, set examples for us to live and then at about the age of 33 He died for all of us on the cross. He was born to die so we might live. Someone shout AMEN. PRAISE THE LORD!
Now go forth and share your blessings. I love ya, and please pass that love on. Pastor Dan.
From our house to yours,
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!
Dear brothers and sisters, Dolores and I had a wonderful Monday evening with a lot of our family. Please pray for her. Now it is home and trying to get this message out for Christmas Eve and get ready for our Candlelight Communion Service at The Bridges. So let me get right back to that message, Gifts. Dolores is practicing the piano, however, she is sick as in can hardly breathe.
Christmas Eve, December 24, 2013, Gifts (A Bribe), Day Two.
Yesterday I talked to you, my dear brothers and sisters, about if these gifts might be bribes. I showed you in scripture that some are. We do have gifts that are other than bribes. Some gifts are appreciation gifts. Some gifts are given out of Love. Some gifts have more than one meaning. So where does our Lord Jesus fit in? What about this GIFT of Jesus our Lord and Savior? Let's look some more!!
Matthew 2:11 - On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. (NIV)
In this scripture we see the Magi, or kings as we call them, are bringing gifts to our Lord Jesus, and the gifts are named. So you know, the kings arrived at the house, the house, as you can see, and also notice that the Child is named ahead of His Mother. But what about these gift? Were they brought in love? I think so. But we are going to work on the three kings after Christmas and really dig into that group. But so you know, they were not at the stable.
(Right here I stopped and went to bed. It is 12:30 AM and I cannot keep my eyes open. Okay, 4:00 AM and back at it.)
Acts 1:4 - On occasion, while He was eating with them, He gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. (NIV)
All through the Bible we see our Lord Jesus giving commands. In our first testament we find commands being given, in the new testament we have commands. So here is another. This is His disciples who are with Him all the time, and He, before He was put on the cross. He is telling them to wait on this gift and that gift was the Holy Spirit. John baptized with water, but the gift of our Father is to be baptized by the Holy Spirit.
Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)
Here is to me two gifts and it is your choice. Wages of sin is death. But we have this really great gift, the gift from God and it is eternal life. Let me ask you here. The promise of the gift of life, is that a bribe, or might it be appreciation or love? I, brothers and sisters, think it is all three.
First it is a bribe for to receive this gift of life we must come to Jesus. We must follow Romans 10:9/10 which states this ....
Romans 10:9 - 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. 10 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)
However it is a gift of appreciation if we accept Christ as our Savior, and we all know it is a gift of real love for He laid down His life for this our personal freedom.
1 Corinthians 7:7 - I wish that all men were as I am, but each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. (NIV)
I love this, and brothers and sisters, the word men means women also. Each of us has our own gift. I have been told that I have the "gift of gab." There are listed gifts in the Bible, and I like to think of our talents, or as Rush says it, "talent on loan from GOD." He is a super broadcaster, while your gift might be to teach or preach, or be a salesperson. Maybe you have been given a trade for a gift. Maybe you fix cars, maybe you repair plumbing in houses. Maybe you have a gift of giving, and yes, it is a gift to be one who gives, be it from their earnings or from their other talents.
James 1:16 - Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, come down from the Father of Heavenly Lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (NIV)
One last thing as I wrap it up for Christmas Eve. Every good and perfect gift is from God. It is very plain that the Good stuff comes from God. And brothers and sisters, THE GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT WE RECEIVED AND WHOSE BIRTHDAY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS THIS CHILD, JESUS, WHO grew up, walked the earth, set examples for us to live and then at about the age of 33 He died for all of us on the cross. He was born to die so we might live. Someone shout AMEN. PRAISE THE LORD!
Now go forth and share your blessings. I love ya, and please pass that love on. Pastor Dan.
From our house to yours,
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!
Monday, December 23, 2013
Monday 12/23/13 Gifts
Dear Father in Heaven, what a great day. Thanks for walking with us all day and everyday. Lord, please forgive me of my sins, and please now plant a message on my heart and mind and then help me to dispatch it. I love you very, very much, Jesus, and I pray in Your name. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, where does the time go? It is just two days until Christmas. I want to get right to the message today. I am going to talk about Gifts today and tomorrow.
December 23, 2013, Gifts. (A Bribe?) Day One.
Proverbs 18:16 - A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great. (NIV)
Proverbs 21:14 - A gift given in secret soothes anger and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath. (NIV)
Ecclesiastes 3:13 - That everyone may eat and drink and find satisfaction in his toil, this is the gift of God. (NIV)
Matthew 5:23 - "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother and then come back and come and offer your gift." (NIV)
John 4:10 - Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water." (NIV)
As you all know, we role play Santa and Mrs. Claus. Over the years I have had many children sit on my lap and tell me what they want for Christmas, and old Santa asks them, have you been good? Of course the answer most often is YES! Once in awhile Santa gets a confession, but not often. Then after they tell me what they want for Christmas, I tell them I will see what we can do. In Santa's House we even hand out gifts to the children after they hear the story of Jesus. But they must be good!
Brothers and sisters, the gift is a bribe, yes, a bribe to make the children be good. So today God has pointed me to Gifts in a different way. Are gifts a bribe? Is it all gifts? What about Jesus, the one whose birth we are celebrating in two days?
Proverbs 18:16 - A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great. (NIV)
This Proverb tells us right up front that a gift is a bribe. Think about it, a gift opens the way to get to the great. Let's start with the lobbyists who walk the halls of our state houses and our halls of congress in Washington, DC. Even the office of the president, and all do this. They get these big gifts of money and you know what it is for? You really do. It is a bribe to those people to give something back to them. While I do not think all of them take bribes, most do. A gift opens the door to the White House, maybe the gift is a free round of golf with our current president, or maybe it is a gift so money comes back to build bridges. Oil companies hand out money so they get drilling rights. Some offer gifts to get things stopped. When I worked at the school district and did the purchasing of things for buses, we were not permitted to take any gifts. Once in awhile a box of cleaning products from a company would show up at our home. Back to the school they went so we could test them there, and I would have a talk with the salesman who sent them. One day a salesman came in and showed me a beautiful watch, and asked me, how would you like to have it? I said it was pretty and I would love it. I took it and put it in my pocket. Then he said, all I had to do was buy a 55 gallon drum of his cleaning product and I could have it. I said that is a bribe and told him to leave the building. He wanted his watch back, and I said, sorry, you gave it to me. I gave it to my dad for Christmas that year. The salesman never returned to sell anything at our transportation office.
What about the gifts we give at Christmas, are they given out of love? I think for the most part they are. I know that I give gifts to our children and friends out of love,not a bribe to do something for me.
Proverbs 21:14 - A gift given in secret soothes anger and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath. (NIV)
Here we find that a gift can be given to smooth out a problem, maybe someone is upset with another, and they go to them with a gift and say they are sorry. Here you can also see that a gift and a bribe are used together.
Ecclesiastes 3:13 - That everyone may eat and drink and find satisfaction in his toil, this is the gift of God. (NIV)
Now let's look here in Ecclesiastes where we see the term gift of God being used. Everyone may eat and drink and it is for our toil, which means our work. You see here our food and drink is a gift and we should be thankful for it. It is a gift for our labor, however, today many people want that gift of God without toiling for it, or without working for it.
Matthew 5:23 - "Therefore,if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother and then come back and come and offer your gift." (NIV)
In Matthew 5:23/24 we find that if we are offering a gift at the altar, meaning we re giving a gift unto the Lord, and we have a problem with someone in our life, we are to leave the gift in front of the altar and go make up with the person. In other words, God really does not want your gift if it is not clean. Now on that, if you have tried to patch something up and the other will not forgive you, that is on them. (Pastors, if your offering plates are empty this week, maybe you can blame me, because they went to patch things up first.) In short, go and clean yourself and then come back to God. Amen.
John 4:10 - Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water." (NIV)
So now what about our Savior, Jesus, is the gift a bribe? Is it always a bribe? Look at this scripture out of John. If you knew the gift of God and would have asked Him, He would give you living water. It is God's grace through Jesus who gives life and gives it freely, it is the living water. It is ETERNAL LIFE! But is it a bribe? Looks like it to me!
Well, time to stop for today, more on this tomorrow, on Christmas Eve day. So what do you think, is God's gift of Jesus a bribe? Sometimes? Or all the time? Remember, His gift keeps giving today as back then!
Go forth now and share your blessings, do it in faith, not as a BRIBE to get more blessings back. It only works if done in faith and love that you get a higher return on your gifts. You cannot bribe God, but does He try and bribe you? Giving also makes you feel good.
Love ya, and please pass that love on. Pastor Dan
P.S. Today's message is some food for thought!
Dear brothers and sisters, where does the time go? It is just two days until Christmas. I want to get right to the message today. I am going to talk about Gifts today and tomorrow.
December 23, 2013, Gifts. (A Bribe?) Day One.
Proverbs 18:16 - A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great. (NIV)
Proverbs 21:14 - A gift given in secret soothes anger and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath. (NIV)
Ecclesiastes 3:13 - That everyone may eat and drink and find satisfaction in his toil, this is the gift of God. (NIV)
Matthew 5:23 - "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother and then come back and come and offer your gift." (NIV)
John 4:10 - Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water." (NIV)
As you all know, we role play Santa and Mrs. Claus. Over the years I have had many children sit on my lap and tell me what they want for Christmas, and old Santa asks them, have you been good? Of course the answer most often is YES! Once in awhile Santa gets a confession, but not often. Then after they tell me what they want for Christmas, I tell them I will see what we can do. In Santa's House we even hand out gifts to the children after they hear the story of Jesus. But they must be good!
Brothers and sisters, the gift is a bribe, yes, a bribe to make the children be good. So today God has pointed me to Gifts in a different way. Are gifts a bribe? Is it all gifts? What about Jesus, the one whose birth we are celebrating in two days?
Proverbs 18:16 - A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great. (NIV)
This Proverb tells us right up front that a gift is a bribe. Think about it, a gift opens the way to get to the great. Let's start with the lobbyists who walk the halls of our state houses and our halls of congress in Washington, DC. Even the office of the president, and all do this. They get these big gifts of money and you know what it is for? You really do. It is a bribe to those people to give something back to them. While I do not think all of them take bribes, most do. A gift opens the door to the White House, maybe the gift is a free round of golf with our current president, or maybe it is a gift so money comes back to build bridges. Oil companies hand out money so they get drilling rights. Some offer gifts to get things stopped. When I worked at the school district and did the purchasing of things for buses, we were not permitted to take any gifts. Once in awhile a box of cleaning products from a company would show up at our home. Back to the school they went so we could test them there, and I would have a talk with the salesman who sent them. One day a salesman came in and showed me a beautiful watch, and asked me, how would you like to have it? I said it was pretty and I would love it. I took it and put it in my pocket. Then he said, all I had to do was buy a 55 gallon drum of his cleaning product and I could have it. I said that is a bribe and told him to leave the building. He wanted his watch back, and I said, sorry, you gave it to me. I gave it to my dad for Christmas that year. The salesman never returned to sell anything at our transportation office.
What about the gifts we give at Christmas, are they given out of love? I think for the most part they are. I know that I give gifts to our children and friends out of love,not a bribe to do something for me.
Proverbs 21:14 - A gift given in secret soothes anger and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath. (NIV)
Here we find that a gift can be given to smooth out a problem, maybe someone is upset with another, and they go to them with a gift and say they are sorry. Here you can also see that a gift and a bribe are used together.
Ecclesiastes 3:13 - That everyone may eat and drink and find satisfaction in his toil, this is the gift of God. (NIV)
Now let's look here in Ecclesiastes where we see the term gift of God being used. Everyone may eat and drink and it is for our toil, which means our work. You see here our food and drink is a gift and we should be thankful for it. It is a gift for our labor, however, today many people want that gift of God without toiling for it, or without working for it.
Matthew 5:23 - "Therefore,if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother and then come back and come and offer your gift." (NIV)
In Matthew 5:23/24 we find that if we are offering a gift at the altar, meaning we re giving a gift unto the Lord, and we have a problem with someone in our life, we are to leave the gift in front of the altar and go make up with the person. In other words, God really does not want your gift if it is not clean. Now on that, if you have tried to patch something up and the other will not forgive you, that is on them. (Pastors, if your offering plates are empty this week, maybe you can blame me, because they went to patch things up first.) In short, go and clean yourself and then come back to God. Amen.
John 4:10 - Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water." (NIV)
So now what about our Savior, Jesus, is the gift a bribe? Is it always a bribe? Look at this scripture out of John. If you knew the gift of God and would have asked Him, He would give you living water. It is God's grace through Jesus who gives life and gives it freely, it is the living water. It is ETERNAL LIFE! But is it a bribe? Looks like it to me!
Well, time to stop for today, more on this tomorrow, on Christmas Eve day. So what do you think, is God's gift of Jesus a bribe? Sometimes? Or all the time? Remember, His gift keeps giving today as back then!
Go forth now and share your blessings, do it in faith, not as a BRIBE to get more blessings back. It only works if done in faith and love that you get a higher return on your gifts. You cannot bribe God, but does He try and bribe you? Giving also makes you feel good.
Love ya, and please pass that love on. Pastor Dan
P.S. Today's message is some food for thought!
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Saturday 12/21/13 At The Manger
Dear Father in Heaven: Thank You, dear Lord, for another great day. Thanks for each thing You do for us. Thanks for all those who came today to hear the message about You. Lord, be with all of our flock here online, at The Bridges, and all who work with Carry The Light Ministries. Lord, please help me now with this message, help me get it delivered, then, dear Lord, help me prepare my message for tomorrow and get some notes on paper. Lord, I really need to lean on You. We are tired, Lord, and need rest. Help us, Lord. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, I hope you enjoyed the last couple of days with Don Key and his friends. As you might have guessed, I have been tired, and as the donkey I just ate some hay and went to bed. Well, folks, Dolores and I are tired and are looking forward to Christmas Day. The food pantry has been very busy, even in this busy day helping families with food, while working in Santa's House. I just want to tell you this, with only one exception, all the children who came to Santa's House were anointed with oil and prayed over, the exception was the one who was so afraid of Santa we did not want to scare him. Yesterday we held a 3-week old baby and anointed her. She is the youngest baby that Santa and Mrs. Claus got to anoint. One baby was brought in today we had anointed while in the womb, with a cross placed on the mother's belly. Today that baby was back in at 8 months old and was anointed. God is good. Please excuse me if I have not answered emails and such. I am really running behind, really behind. Right now I need to get started with this message, as it will be part of my message at church in the morning. I love you, folks, and yes, I will be writing right up through the New Year, God willing. Now to the message.
Luke 2:8 - And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord; 12 This will be a sign to you; you will find a Baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." (NIV)
Well, the Baby has been born, and the word is getting out to others. Once again we see the messenger of the Lord being called on to get this message out. The messenger of the Lord is once again Gabriel, going by the term of an "Angel of the Lord." You recall we talked about Gabriel when we talked about Mary getting the word and others getting the word. So the shepherds were watching over the flocks and the Bible tells us in fields nearby, and they were keeping watch at night.
When the angel appeared to the shepherds they were afraid, terrified, the Bible tells us. The glory of the Lord shone from the angel. Have you noticed when the angel, when the messenger of the Lord shows up, people get afraid? You recall in our messages at Easter that the angel at the tomb had the guards so terrified they were like stone.
Before I go one step more, let me ask you this, if this angel called on you today, would you be terrified? Folks,while it might scare us, we who are saved have nothing to fear, those who are not saved better be terrified, for they might have just missed the call. Don't chance it, folks, if you do not feel you are saved, please email me so we can really work at it. Put on the subject line "Need Saved."
The messenger, the angel of the Lord, told the shepherds that he brought them "good news," that in the town of David, which is also called Bethlehem, a Savior had been born to you and they would find Him wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Now I want to point out a few things here. First, the good news, and that good news was a Savior was born. But go just a little further and let's look at it this way. A SAVIOR WAS BORN TO YOU. Wow, a Savior was born to US. Us is you and me, brothers and sisters. This SAVIOR WAS BORN FOR ALL OF US TODAY. This Savior was born to die so we might live.
Luke 2:13 - Suddenly a great company of heavenly hosts appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests." (NIV)
Heavenly hosts are angels, and they appeared with the messenger, the angel who first came, and they offered up praise. And we should be doing that each day. We need to offer up praise for our Lord. And please note that we will have peace on earth to all on whom His favor rests. And brothers and sisters, His favor rests on those who are saved. Now where does the Bible tell us that we who are saved will not have problems? It doesn't, but we have a Savior who will carry our troubles for us if we just let Him.
Now please read from Luke 2:16 to Luke 2:20 on your own. I want to just tell you a tad of what it tells us. After the angels departed and had gone back to heaven, the shepherds hurried off to see this Child, this Baby, and as the messenger told them, that is what they found. Mary, Joseph, and this Baby in the manger. It was an exciting time, and the Bible tells us that "Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." Then it goes on to say that the shepherds, after seeing the Child, left and went off telling others about this Child. Notice now that the shepherds became the messengers. Over the years, year after year after some 2000 years, we are now the messengers, you and me, we are those messengers, and we still have that job to do. So today I ask you, are you upholding your part of being a messenger?
Dear Lord, thank You for the message. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Now go forth and share your blessings. Love ya. Please pass that Love on. Pastor Dan
Dear brothers and sisters, I hope you enjoyed the last couple of days with Don Key and his friends. As you might have guessed, I have been tired, and as the donkey I just ate some hay and went to bed. Well, folks, Dolores and I are tired and are looking forward to Christmas Day. The food pantry has been very busy, even in this busy day helping families with food, while working in Santa's House. I just want to tell you this, with only one exception, all the children who came to Santa's House were anointed with oil and prayed over, the exception was the one who was so afraid of Santa we did not want to scare him. Yesterday we held a 3-week old baby and anointed her. She is the youngest baby that Santa and Mrs. Claus got to anoint. One baby was brought in today we had anointed while in the womb, with a cross placed on the mother's belly. Today that baby was back in at 8 months old and was anointed. God is good. Please excuse me if I have not answered emails and such. I am really running behind, really behind. Right now I need to get started with this message, as it will be part of my message at church in the morning. I love you, folks, and yes, I will be writing right up through the New Year, God willing. Now to the message.
Luke 2:8 - And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord; 12 This will be a sign to you; you will find a Baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." (NIV)
Well, the Baby has been born, and the word is getting out to others. Once again we see the messenger of the Lord being called on to get this message out. The messenger of the Lord is once again Gabriel, going by the term of an "Angel of the Lord." You recall we talked about Gabriel when we talked about Mary getting the word and others getting the word. So the shepherds were watching over the flocks and the Bible tells us in fields nearby, and they were keeping watch at night.
When the angel appeared to the shepherds they were afraid, terrified, the Bible tells us. The glory of the Lord shone from the angel. Have you noticed when the angel, when the messenger of the Lord shows up, people get afraid? You recall in our messages at Easter that the angel at the tomb had the guards so terrified they were like stone.
Before I go one step more, let me ask you this, if this angel called on you today, would you be terrified? Folks,while it might scare us, we who are saved have nothing to fear, those who are not saved better be terrified, for they might have just missed the call. Don't chance it, folks, if you do not feel you are saved, please email me so we can really work at it. Put on the subject line "Need Saved."
The messenger, the angel of the Lord, told the shepherds that he brought them "good news," that in the town of David, which is also called Bethlehem, a Savior had been born to you and they would find Him wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Now I want to point out a few things here. First, the good news, and that good news was a Savior was born. But go just a little further and let's look at it this way. A SAVIOR WAS BORN TO YOU. Wow, a Savior was born to US. Us is you and me, brothers and sisters. This SAVIOR WAS BORN FOR ALL OF US TODAY. This Savior was born to die so we might live.
Luke 2:13 - Suddenly a great company of heavenly hosts appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests." (NIV)
Heavenly hosts are angels, and they appeared with the messenger, the angel who first came, and they offered up praise. And we should be doing that each day. We need to offer up praise for our Lord. And please note that we will have peace on earth to all on whom His favor rests. And brothers and sisters, His favor rests on those who are saved. Now where does the Bible tell us that we who are saved will not have problems? It doesn't, but we have a Savior who will carry our troubles for us if we just let Him.
Now please read from Luke 2:16 to Luke 2:20 on your own. I want to just tell you a tad of what it tells us. After the angels departed and had gone back to heaven, the shepherds hurried off to see this Child, this Baby, and as the messenger told them, that is what they found. Mary, Joseph, and this Baby in the manger. It was an exciting time, and the Bible tells us that "Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." Then it goes on to say that the shepherds, after seeing the Child, left and went off telling others about this Child. Notice now that the shepherds became the messengers. Over the years, year after year after some 2000 years, we are now the messengers, you and me, we are those messengers, and we still have that job to do. So today I ask you, are you upholding your part of being a messenger?
Dear Lord, thank You for the message. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Now go forth and share your blessings. Love ya. Please pass that Love on. Pastor Dan
Friday, December 20, 2013
Friday 12/20/13 Don Key 3
Dear Father in Heaven: Thank You so much for another great day. Thanks for the things we received, and thanks for forgiving our sins. Lord, thanks for bringing forth that new baby for us to anoint and dedicate to You. Thanks, Lord, for trusting us to do work for You. Lord Jesus, please watch over Patsy and heal her. Please also touch families,and Lord, be with ll those who are working in Your fields of Harvest as we go into this weekend. Please also anoint our ministry team as we are in Santa's House on Saturday, and Lord, may we always make it for Your glory and honor. Now, Lord, please help me again with the message, and then, Lord, help me dispatch it. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Hee Haw, Hee Haw, hay, friends, oh, I spelled hay like what I eat, so hey, folks, now I got it, it is me again, filling in for the old pastor, and I want to work on this story some more. You do remember me, right? I am Don Key the donkey and I was picked to carry Mary to Bethlehem. Well, let me just remind you of one thing for the "old man." Santa's House will be open one last day for this year and it is on Saturday the 21st and that is the first day of winter and the hours are from 10 AM to 4 PM. Okay, now let me get to the message.
Friday, December 20, 2013, Don Key, Day Three.
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)
You know, dear friends, that some people think this trip just took a short time, but the truth is it took us three or maybe four days to make that trip, and you wonder why I was so tired. I heard people talking about walking miles and miles and it sure seemed like a long distance to me. I know that it was about the distance, well, like Harrisburg to Philadelphia,and that is why it took us days. I told you yesterday we had to stop and rest, and sometimes we would even get to sleep some. Even old Humpy would need his water tank filled up. Well, anyway, we arrived in Bethlehem and stopped in front of this inn, and Joseph once again took Mary down off my back and I heard that this would be the place where they had to register. So Mary and Joseph went into the inn and it was not long until they both came back out. Why both, what went wrong, why was Mary coming back out? I thought to myself. I asked Mustang what was going on and he did not have much to say. Then I heard Mary talking about them being out of rooms and we are going to be sleeping in the stable. Hey, that was okay with me, that is where I sleep anyway. But after taking Mary around to the stable, I watched for the last time that night how Mary was lifted so gently down off my back and then Joseph took her into the stable and made a manger out of one of our food troughs. Yes, Joseph did, he made a place for the newborn Baby to lay once that baby was born. And when it came time, the Baby was born and it was Mary's first Son and she wrapped Him in cloths and placed it right in that food trough. The Child was very quiet. But wait until you hear what happens next. It is getting exciting and I am getting tired again. The baby is in my feed trough, but that is okay with me, but now they are calling it a manger. What is next? Wow, you must wait one more day. Yes, the old pastor told me I was going to need to wrap it up tomorrow so we are going to hear about shepherds, heavenly hosts, and all sorts of other things.
Well, it is time to say go forth now and share your blessings. Love ya. Pass that love on. Thanks.
Don Key
Hee Haw, Hee Haw, hay, friends, oh, I spelled hay like what I eat, so hey, folks, now I got it, it is me again, filling in for the old pastor, and I want to work on this story some more. You do remember me, right? I am Don Key the donkey and I was picked to carry Mary to Bethlehem. Well, let me just remind you of one thing for the "old man." Santa's House will be open one last day for this year and it is on Saturday the 21st and that is the first day of winter and the hours are from 10 AM to 4 PM. Okay, now let me get to the message.
Friday, December 20, 2013, Don Key, Day Three.
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)
You know, dear friends, that some people think this trip just took a short time, but the truth is it took us three or maybe four days to make that trip, and you wonder why I was so tired. I heard people talking about walking miles and miles and it sure seemed like a long distance to me. I know that it was about the distance, well, like Harrisburg to Philadelphia,and that is why it took us days. I told you yesterday we had to stop and rest, and sometimes we would even get to sleep some. Even old Humpy would need his water tank filled up. Well, anyway, we arrived in Bethlehem and stopped in front of this inn, and Joseph once again took Mary down off my back and I heard that this would be the place where they had to register. So Mary and Joseph went into the inn and it was not long until they both came back out. Why both, what went wrong, why was Mary coming back out? I thought to myself. I asked Mustang what was going on and he did not have much to say. Then I heard Mary talking about them being out of rooms and we are going to be sleeping in the stable. Hey, that was okay with me, that is where I sleep anyway. But after taking Mary around to the stable, I watched for the last time that night how Mary was lifted so gently down off my back and then Joseph took her into the stable and made a manger out of one of our food troughs. Yes, Joseph did, he made a place for the newborn Baby to lay once that baby was born. And when it came time, the Baby was born and it was Mary's first Son and she wrapped Him in cloths and placed it right in that food trough. The Child was very quiet. But wait until you hear what happens next. It is getting exciting and I am getting tired again. The baby is in my feed trough, but that is okay with me, but now they are calling it a manger. What is next? Wow, you must wait one more day. Yes, the old pastor told me I was going to need to wrap it up tomorrow so we are going to hear about shepherds, heavenly hosts, and all sorts of other things.
Well, it is time to say go forth now and share your blessings. Love ya. Pass that love on. Thanks.
Don Key
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Thursday 12/19/13 Don Key 2
Dear Father in Heaven, I love You. Please, Dear Father, forgive me of my sins and any sinful thinking that I do. Help me each day to become a better person and come nearer to You. Father, please be with the Saylor family, the Crockett family, and with our family, and please, Lord, keep watch over Matthew, wherever he might be. Lord, be with Patsy and Burt and keep Your healing hand upon them. Father, please be with our nation and all of our leaders. Our nation has drifted so far from You. Lord, please be with pastors and help them remember that You come first, even above their own families. Your Word, Lord, has even told us that there would be a time when people must face a choice, follow You or follow others, and Lord, I have decided to follow You, and I pray, Lord, I will never change. Thanks for opening doors at daycares where we can still go and tell the real meaning of Christmas. Now, Lord, if You would please help me get back to my message and help me with it and then, please, help me dispatch it. All honor and glory to You this day. And I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Thursday, December 19, 2013, Don Key, Day Two.
Hi, friends, and I would call you my brothers and sisters, but you only have two legs and I have four. That old man, Pastor Dan, who really looks like Santa, would like me to ask you to pray today for our nation and pray really hard. He also said our families are in trouble and we should be praying for all families to come to Jesus. He said to let you know that he and Dolores are tired from all that is going on but otherwise are doing fine. Please pray for them also as this is their busy season. He said to remind you that Santa's House is open tomorrow from 2:00 to 6:00 PM and again on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and then it will be over for this year. Listen, I do need to get going on this message. I don't want to be long-winded like Pastor Dan, Hee Haw, don't tell him I said that. Let's go to the Bible now, okay?
Luke 2:4 - So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. (NIV)
Matthew 1:25 - The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel which means, "God with us." (NIV)
Well, friends, we, you know, we, us animals, were standing in the barn, or you might call it a stable, but we were talking together about this upcoming ride, and we were hearing about this Baby going to be born and we were talking about who might be called upon to give this virgin, this lady called Mary the ride to Bethlehem. We three haulers got our heads together, it was going to be between Humpy or Mustang or me, Don Key. You remember Humpy was the camel and Mustang was the horse. Who would it be? Just about then, Joseph came to the stable with some others and they took all three of us out, and Joseph put a leader on me, and then he put this blanket on my back. Wow, I am thinking now, is it going to be me? Well, maybe, I do know this, I give the smoothest of the rides. I am not bragging, but I do, so why am I so nervous about this? Then Joseph came back into the house and left me standing outside. After awhile people started coming out of their houses and here comes Joseph and he has Mary with him. I heard Joseph talking to Mary and telling her she was going to sit on the donkey and that is me, I am so excited I got picked. Joseph lifted Mary up onto my back, then he held her hand and they were talking, and then Mary stopped talking and Joseph prayed and prayed for a safe trip. Mary was sitting on me sideways, I think they call that sidesaddle, but I did have a saddle on, and a blanket. Well, we walked and we walked, and I know I was getting tired, and I am thinking Joseph is getting tired and even Mary on my back. Once in awhile we stopped for a drink, and Joseph would lift Mary down off my back, but after a short rest, up on my back this dear man would place Mary. Oh, and I said I was gentle, but Joseph was really gentle with Mary.
Well, I just want to tell you something, and maybe this is why I was chosen to transport, that means haul, or give Mary a ride. I have a cross on my back. Yes, all us donkeys have a cross on our backs. Did you know that? Come on, tell me the truth. I have one on my back and so do all the other donkeys. You just look. If we are dark, we have a light stripe in our fur down our back and then also across our shoulders. If we are light in color, the stripes are dark. I don't know what color I am, I never saw myself! Well, I am getting tired again, and I must go get my hay and go to bed. I was going to bed down with Pastor Dan, but his dog Martin Martin Jr. told me that he steals all the covers. So I guess I must go to the barn again.
Well, as Pastor Dan would tell you, please go and share your blessings, and I love ya, and please pass on my love to all.
See you tomorrow. Don Key
Thursday, December 19, 2013, Don Key, Day Two.
Hi, friends, and I would call you my brothers and sisters, but you only have two legs and I have four. That old man, Pastor Dan, who really looks like Santa, would like me to ask you to pray today for our nation and pray really hard. He also said our families are in trouble and we should be praying for all families to come to Jesus. He said to let you know that he and Dolores are tired from all that is going on but otherwise are doing fine. Please pray for them also as this is their busy season. He said to remind you that Santa's House is open tomorrow from 2:00 to 6:00 PM and again on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and then it will be over for this year. Listen, I do need to get going on this message. I don't want to be long-winded like Pastor Dan, Hee Haw, don't tell him I said that. Let's go to the Bible now, okay?
Luke 2:4 - So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. (NIV)
Matthew 1:25 - The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel which means, "God with us." (NIV)
Well, friends, we, you know, we, us animals, were standing in the barn, or you might call it a stable, but we were talking together about this upcoming ride, and we were hearing about this Baby going to be born and we were talking about who might be called upon to give this virgin, this lady called Mary the ride to Bethlehem. We three haulers got our heads together, it was going to be between Humpy or Mustang or me, Don Key. You remember Humpy was the camel and Mustang was the horse. Who would it be? Just about then, Joseph came to the stable with some others and they took all three of us out, and Joseph put a leader on me, and then he put this blanket on my back. Wow, I am thinking now, is it going to be me? Well, maybe, I do know this, I give the smoothest of the rides. I am not bragging, but I do, so why am I so nervous about this? Then Joseph came back into the house and left me standing outside. After awhile people started coming out of their houses and here comes Joseph and he has Mary with him. I heard Joseph talking to Mary and telling her she was going to sit on the donkey and that is me, I am so excited I got picked. Joseph lifted Mary up onto my back, then he held her hand and they were talking, and then Mary stopped talking and Joseph prayed and prayed for a safe trip. Mary was sitting on me sideways, I think they call that sidesaddle, but I did have a saddle on, and a blanket. Well, we walked and we walked, and I know I was getting tired, and I am thinking Joseph is getting tired and even Mary on my back. Once in awhile we stopped for a drink, and Joseph would lift Mary down off my back, but after a short rest, up on my back this dear man would place Mary. Oh, and I said I was gentle, but Joseph was really gentle with Mary.
Well, I just want to tell you something, and maybe this is why I was chosen to transport, that means haul, or give Mary a ride. I have a cross on my back. Yes, all us donkeys have a cross on our backs. Did you know that? Come on, tell me the truth. I have one on my back and so do all the other donkeys. You just look. If we are dark, we have a light stripe in our fur down our back and then also across our shoulders. If we are light in color, the stripes are dark. I don't know what color I am, I never saw myself! Well, I am getting tired again, and I must go get my hay and go to bed. I was going to bed down with Pastor Dan, but his dog Martin Martin Jr. told me that he steals all the covers. So I guess I must go to the barn again.
Well, as Pastor Dan would tell you, please go and share your blessings, and I love ya, and please pass on my love to all.
See you tomorrow. Don Key
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Wednesday 12/18/13 Don Key
Dear Father in Heaven, please forgive me of my sins this day. Thanks for traveling with us today and keeping us safe. Thanks for taking care of families and friends that we love so dear. Please, Lord, protect and take care of our online flock and also our flock at The Bridges. Please watch over Leslie and help her get into that apartment and get a job. Please, Lord, protect this line, and now help me with the message and then help me to dispatch it. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Hi, friends of Pastor Dan, my name is Don Key, and I want to tell you a story that happened, well, about 2000 years ago. Now being my name is Don Key, you might have figured out that I am indeed a donkey, and since I do not move very fast, this story might take me right up until next Monday or even Christmas Eve to get it finished. Before I get started on my story, I do want to remind you that it is Wednesday, and old Pastor Dan tells me that means it is Salvation Wednesday on this line. So he wants us all to pray for the lost, including some man named Obama, and he wants us to pray for God to use those of you who are saved to ask God to give us the knowledge and tools to get that job done. Now, friends, it would be nice if you had your Bibles because with my feet the way they are made it is hard to type. However, more than likely I will still be able to type better than the pastor, and even spell better. I had better not pick on him, he might eat my hay! Anyway, I want to dig into this story and I would like you to check out this about someone called Caesar who wants tax money. Well, glory, and God tells us we should always give Caesar what is due him, and Pastor Dan said, but don't give him more than that which is due.
Luke 2:1 - In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register. (NIV)
Let me tell you, friends, I was in the stable out behind where Joseph lives when Joseph and Mary along with other people got the word about traveling this distance to this town called Bethlehem where Mary and Joseph would need to register to pay taxes. Well, after listening to the folks talking about this trip, my barn buddies and I talked it over. Let me tell you about my barn buddies. There is old Humpy, and he is a camel, and there is Mustang, and he is a horse. Then there is Wooly, and yes, he is a sheep. There were also two cute little goats named "Crockett" and "Danny" that were in the barn. As time went on I would hear the other animals talking about this event that was coming up. Now we were hearing it was a long trip, and Mustang, Humpy, and I will be going. We also heard that one of us was going to get to carry Mary, this beautiful young girl that was about due to have a Baby and that this Baby was a very special Baby. Why, I was so excited that I was saying Hee Haw, Hee Haw, and old Humpy was spitting on folks. Mustang did not have much to say about it, and neither did those other animals say much. Oh,did I mention old Wooly and Rammy? I think I mentioned Wooly, they are a really cute pair of sheep. Anyway, I am getting off track a little bit here. I did want to tell you that Joseph, this really nice man, would be taking care of us and we could hear him talking to this person named "God." I think they would call that praying, and Joseph would be on his knees, and I am not just talking about when he was under Bossie. Oh, I forgot to tell you that Bossie is a cow and she gives milk.
Wow, I think I have told you all about these animals that live with me in the barn, there are some things called flies, but we did not name all of them. Hee Haw, I was just being funny. Anyway, I am really getting excited about this trip for we are going to be leaving really, really soon, so right now I need to get thinking about going to bed for I need my rest. Oh, one of us is going to get to carry Mary on our back, and we are so excited for so far we do not know who it will be. But I do want to tell you this, and now mind you, I am not bragging, but I give the smoothest ride of all in the barn. I also know that some of my buddies will be staying behind. Anyway, I am going to eat and then go to bed, but before I do, I do want to say something that this old pastor does each day.
Please go forth now and share your blessings for I love ya. Please pass that love on. Don Key
Hi, friends of Pastor Dan, my name is Don Key, and I want to tell you a story that happened, well, about 2000 years ago. Now being my name is Don Key, you might have figured out that I am indeed a donkey, and since I do not move very fast, this story might take me right up until next Monday or even Christmas Eve to get it finished. Before I get started on my story, I do want to remind you that it is Wednesday, and old Pastor Dan tells me that means it is Salvation Wednesday on this line. So he wants us all to pray for the lost, including some man named Obama, and he wants us to pray for God to use those of you who are saved to ask God to give us the knowledge and tools to get that job done. Now, friends, it would be nice if you had your Bibles because with my feet the way they are made it is hard to type. However, more than likely I will still be able to type better than the pastor, and even spell better. I had better not pick on him, he might eat my hay! Anyway, I want to dig into this story and I would like you to check out this about someone called Caesar who wants tax money. Well, glory, and God tells us we should always give Caesar what is due him, and Pastor Dan said, but don't give him more than that which is due.
Luke 2:1 - In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register. (NIV)
Let me tell you, friends, I was in the stable out behind where Joseph lives when Joseph and Mary along with other people got the word about traveling this distance to this town called Bethlehem where Mary and Joseph would need to register to pay taxes. Well, after listening to the folks talking about this trip, my barn buddies and I talked it over. Let me tell you about my barn buddies. There is old Humpy, and he is a camel, and there is Mustang, and he is a horse. Then there is Wooly, and yes, he is a sheep. There were also two cute little goats named "Crockett" and "Danny" that were in the barn. As time went on I would hear the other animals talking about this event that was coming up. Now we were hearing it was a long trip, and Mustang, Humpy, and I will be going. We also heard that one of us was going to get to carry Mary, this beautiful young girl that was about due to have a Baby and that this Baby was a very special Baby. Why, I was so excited that I was saying Hee Haw, Hee Haw, and old Humpy was spitting on folks. Mustang did not have much to say about it, and neither did those other animals say much. Oh,did I mention old Wooly and Rammy? I think I mentioned Wooly, they are a really cute pair of sheep. Anyway, I am getting off track a little bit here. I did want to tell you that Joseph, this really nice man, would be taking care of us and we could hear him talking to this person named "God." I think they would call that praying, and Joseph would be on his knees, and I am not just talking about when he was under Bossie. Oh, I forgot to tell you that Bossie is a cow and she gives milk.
Wow, I think I have told you all about these animals that live with me in the barn, there are some things called flies, but we did not name all of them. Hee Haw, I was just being funny. Anyway, I am really getting excited about this trip for we are going to be leaving really, really soon, so right now I need to get thinking about going to bed for I need my rest. Oh, one of us is going to get to carry Mary on our back, and we are so excited for so far we do not know who it will be. But I do want to tell you this, and now mind you, I am not bragging, but I give the smoothest ride of all in the barn. I also know that some of my buddies will be staying behind. Anyway, I am going to eat and then go to bed, but before I do, I do want to say something that this old pastor does each day.
Please go forth now and share your blessings for I love ya. Please pass that love on. Don Key
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Mon/Tues 12/16-17/13 The Visit
Dear Father in Heaven. Please forgive me for not getting a message out on Monday. I feel like I let You down. Please forgive me of my sins, and thank You for helping us through Monday and today, dear Lord. Thanks for the great news about Patsy, Lord. Thanks for Your healing hand on her. Please keep on healing her and taking care of Burt also. Please be with Vicki, for she is again having health issues. Lord Jesus, please now help me with the message and help me to better myself with the time You are giving me. Help me also dispatch the message. Lord, please bless all who use this line. Lord, be with our president and all of our leaders, and be with our veterans and our troops. Also, Lord, watch over our families and our flock at The Bridges. Be with our ministry team and help them also. Lord, I know I am missing a prayer request or two. I cannot think of them right now. Please be with Dolores and help her, and please watch over our so Matthew. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, we have been very, very busy, so please forgive me if I do not get to return your emails each day. This is our busy, very busy time of the year. Let me give you an update. Saturday was distribution day for Carry The Light Ministry Food Pantry. God was/is so good. We were expecting snow and prayed that God would hold it off until at least noon when all the folks would have had a chance to pick up their food. We had a few people call on Friday and tell us they could not come because of the snow. We told them to come early, and they did. We had 80 families scheduled to come for food, and 69 of them came, which is a good turn-out as some call for food and then never come. We had a good turn-out of helpers, and as always, we started out with a big prayer circle. A group from Tree of Life Church came to pray with folks, along with our ministry partner Wanda who headed up the prayer team for awhile and then shifted gears. Gospel singers Tim Beitzel and Duane Nicholson also were on the driveway praying with people. Ministry partner Grant filled in with most all jobs that needed done and was kept busy helping all around. Dolores and Pam and Sally worked the sign-in table. It was something to see, and GOD HELD THAT SNOW OFF until we were just about done. Before the helpers left, they unloaded a new freezer from our trailer and exchanged it for the one that went down last week. Five families who missed Saturday because of the weather were in today. This was the biggest food distribution that we had in one day since we started the food pantry, and it went so smoothly, thanks to all who came to help, however, we will give all the glory to our Loving Lord Jesus. For those with little ones, Santa's House will be open from 2 PM to 6 PM on Friday and from 10 AM to 4 PM on Saturday. That will be the final day in Santa's House for this year. I will give you a final update after the start of the new year. THANKS TO ALL WHO SUPPORT CARRY THE LIGHT MINISTRIES AND THE FOOD PANTRY ... Let me get started on the message. From now to Christmas I will be working on the Christmas story. Today, "The Visit."
Luke 1:39 - At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear!" (NIV)
Last week I talked about Gabriel, Joseph and also Mary. Today I want to talk to you some more about Mary and also Elizabeth. After Mary received the word that she was chosen by God to have this special Baby, and she of course told the angel of the Lord that she is a servant of the Lord so she would do it, she hurried off to visit her relative. She went to the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth and told this GOOD NEWS to Elizabeth. Now please remember that Elizabeth was with child, and she was to be barren and she was long past the child-bearing time. The Bible tells us that Elizabeth was in her sixth month. I want you to note in the scripture above that "when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb." I really must bring this up at this point. This baby in the womb is a child, it was "John" whom we came to know as "John The Baptist." This baby was alive and well and jumped in the womb, and it was in the second trimester of the nine-month term that a mother carries the child. THE BABY JUMPED IN HER WOMB. When will people in this country and around the world learn that babies in the womb are children, they are a living being, a human life? I just cannot believe how many unborn children are MURDERED EACH AND EVERY DAY. Okay, let me move on.
Do you folks remember how excited you were when you found out you were going to have a child? I can remember and it has been a long, long time ago when I found out that we were expecting our first child and it was just as exciting with each one. I can remember giving out cigars back then when the children were born. (They were a nickel apiece back then for the cheap ones.) I can only think how excited Zechariah and Elizabeth were when they found out they were going to have a child, however, when they were told they would have a child, Zechariah did not have faith and did not believe God would or could make it happen, so he was punished and was not able to speak until the child was born. Let me just bring this out. Our Bible is loaded with things God can do, and still to this day some people do not have faith that He can do things. God still heals, God still makes those babies in the womb. Ladies and gentlemen, God made us and did a really good job, and He put us on this earth to carry out things for Him. When I look around me I just am amazed that God has not shut this world down again, that He has not sent Jesus back for those of us who are saved. We have a job to do, folks, and at this time of the year that is to be a happy time, we need to be getting the message out of the love of Jesus. Jesus was sent to us to save us from ourselves, and we better be doing it. The time is coming, folks, I think it is nearer than we might think. Today I ask that you pray for our president, and all of our leaders, and not just for their safety but that they come to Jesus. We need to have a really big come to Jesus party this year. Maybe that is what a Christmas party should be called. Some people do not want to call it even a "Christmas Party." They call it a holiday party. It is a CHRIST-mas party, brothers and sisters. I think we should rename it and call it a "COME TO JESUS PARTY."
Jesus has been put out of our schools. He has been put out of government offices, and brothers and sisters, those non-believers want Him put out of your own family. We need to start with our families and be sure they are saved, and in some cases, it might even divide your family. Here is an example of that. The United Methodist minister who married his son to another man made a choice, and he decided to follow Satan and not Jesus. If this pastor truly loved Jesus above all else, he would have told his son something like this ... "I love you, son, and I always will, but Jesus comes first in my life, and what you are doing is a sin." We all know or should know that Jesus loves all of us and we are all sinners, but Jesus does not now, nor did He ever love our sins. That is why He came to earth, that is why He was born, for He indeed was born to die so we might live.
Now go forth and share your blessings and please spend time in prayer, and please get your Bibles out and read them. And please know this, I love ya. Please pass on that Love. Pastor Dan
Again, please pray for our president and all of our leaders to come to Jesus. And yes, I send copies of any message when I mention our leaders to Washington. Pray, warriors, pray.
Dear brothers and sisters, we have been very, very busy, so please forgive me if I do not get to return your emails each day. This is our busy, very busy time of the year. Let me give you an update. Saturday was distribution day for Carry The Light Ministry Food Pantry. God was/is so good. We were expecting snow and prayed that God would hold it off until at least noon when all the folks would have had a chance to pick up their food. We had a few people call on Friday and tell us they could not come because of the snow. We told them to come early, and they did. We had 80 families scheduled to come for food, and 69 of them came, which is a good turn-out as some call for food and then never come. We had a good turn-out of helpers, and as always, we started out with a big prayer circle. A group from Tree of Life Church came to pray with folks, along with our ministry partner Wanda who headed up the prayer team for awhile and then shifted gears. Gospel singers Tim Beitzel and Duane Nicholson also were on the driveway praying with people. Ministry partner Grant filled in with most all jobs that needed done and was kept busy helping all around. Dolores and Pam and Sally worked the sign-in table. It was something to see, and GOD HELD THAT SNOW OFF until we were just about done. Before the helpers left, they unloaded a new freezer from our trailer and exchanged it for the one that went down last week. Five families who missed Saturday because of the weather were in today. This was the biggest food distribution that we had in one day since we started the food pantry, and it went so smoothly, thanks to all who came to help, however, we will give all the glory to our Loving Lord Jesus. For those with little ones, Santa's House will be open from 2 PM to 6 PM on Friday and from 10 AM to 4 PM on Saturday. That will be the final day in Santa's House for this year. I will give you a final update after the start of the new year. THANKS TO ALL WHO SUPPORT CARRY THE LIGHT MINISTRIES AND THE FOOD PANTRY ... Let me get started on the message. From now to Christmas I will be working on the Christmas story. Today, "The Visit."
Luke 1:39 - At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear!" (NIV)
Last week I talked about Gabriel, Joseph and also Mary. Today I want to talk to you some more about Mary and also Elizabeth. After Mary received the word that she was chosen by God to have this special Baby, and she of course told the angel of the Lord that she is a servant of the Lord so she would do it, she hurried off to visit her relative. She went to the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth and told this GOOD NEWS to Elizabeth. Now please remember that Elizabeth was with child, and she was to be barren and she was long past the child-bearing time. The Bible tells us that Elizabeth was in her sixth month. I want you to note in the scripture above that "when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb." I really must bring this up at this point. This baby in the womb is a child, it was "John" whom we came to know as "John The Baptist." This baby was alive and well and jumped in the womb, and it was in the second trimester of the nine-month term that a mother carries the child. THE BABY JUMPED IN HER WOMB. When will people in this country and around the world learn that babies in the womb are children, they are a living being, a human life? I just cannot believe how many unborn children are MURDERED EACH AND EVERY DAY. Okay, let me move on.
Do you folks remember how excited you were when you found out you were going to have a child? I can remember and it has been a long, long time ago when I found out that we were expecting our first child and it was just as exciting with each one. I can remember giving out cigars back then when the children were born. (They were a nickel apiece back then for the cheap ones.) I can only think how excited Zechariah and Elizabeth were when they found out they were going to have a child, however, when they were told they would have a child, Zechariah did not have faith and did not believe God would or could make it happen, so he was punished and was not able to speak until the child was born. Let me just bring this out. Our Bible is loaded with things God can do, and still to this day some people do not have faith that He can do things. God still heals, God still makes those babies in the womb. Ladies and gentlemen, God made us and did a really good job, and He put us on this earth to carry out things for Him. When I look around me I just am amazed that God has not shut this world down again, that He has not sent Jesus back for those of us who are saved. We have a job to do, folks, and at this time of the year that is to be a happy time, we need to be getting the message out of the love of Jesus. Jesus was sent to us to save us from ourselves, and we better be doing it. The time is coming, folks, I think it is nearer than we might think. Today I ask that you pray for our president, and all of our leaders, and not just for their safety but that they come to Jesus. We need to have a really big come to Jesus party this year. Maybe that is what a Christmas party should be called. Some people do not want to call it even a "Christmas Party." They call it a holiday party. It is a CHRIST-mas party, brothers and sisters. I think we should rename it and call it a "COME TO JESUS PARTY."
Jesus has been put out of our schools. He has been put out of government offices, and brothers and sisters, those non-believers want Him put out of your own family. We need to start with our families and be sure they are saved, and in some cases, it might even divide your family. Here is an example of that. The United Methodist minister who married his son to another man made a choice, and he decided to follow Satan and not Jesus. If this pastor truly loved Jesus above all else, he would have told his son something like this ... "I love you, son, and I always will, but Jesus comes first in my life, and what you are doing is a sin." We all know or should know that Jesus loves all of us and we are all sinners, but Jesus does not now, nor did He ever love our sins. That is why He came to earth, that is why He was born, for He indeed was born to die so we might live.
Now go forth and share your blessings and please spend time in prayer, and please get your Bibles out and read them. And please know this, I love ya. Please pass on that Love. Pastor Dan
Again, please pray for our president and all of our leaders to come to Jesus. And yes, I send copies of any message when I mention our leaders to Washington. Pray, warriors, pray.
Friday, December 13, 2013
Thurs/Fri 12/12-13/3 Mary Gets The Word 4
Dear Father in Heaven. Thanks for loving me. Thanks for taking care of me. Thanks for watching over our family. Thanks for all the food that was collected by St. Joseph School for Carry The Light Ministries. Oh, Lord, How Great Thou Art. I love You, Lord, and I ask that You would hold off that incoming snow on Saturday so we can get this food out to the hungry and needy. Thanking you in advance for that blessing. Please now watch over those that use this line, and please help us this day as we make the final preparations for tomorrow. Please keep watch over this line, and Lord, help me with the message and to get it dispatched. Thanks for trusting us to do work for You. In Jesus' Name, I lift my prayers to You, Father in Heaven. Amen.
Brothers and sisters, tomorrow is our big day. Please pray hard for the snow to hold off. Please pray for those coming to be safe. For those of you who are coming, be safe, but our event will go with who is here, and it will go even if it snows, unless of course you need to jump up to spit. (Did you like that one?) Yesterday Mrs. Claus and old Santa went to St. Joseph School in Mechanicsburg along with our dear friends and ministry partners Grant and Wanda Crockett. We had a great time with the children and then we loaded the food they collected, and I would guess it was about A TON OF FOOD! Then we stopped at New Hope Ministries where we were gifted 550 pounds of potatoes. Then we came home and I watched as Grant and Wanda unloaded the trailer, and then we went for the mail, and once again God was good. We did come home to one bit of bad news, but that will work out. One of our freezer is going down. I am sure it will hold until tomorrow, and then we can empty it and start freezer shopping. It is our biggest freezer and one of our newest. I am sure God will supply the ministry needs on this also. Let me get to the message, Mary Gets The Word.
Thursday/Friday, December 12/13, 2013, Mary Gets The Word, Day Four.
Luke 1:34 - "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So The Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God." 38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. (NIV)
So a short review as we started out seeing Gabriel stop in to see Mary, The Blessed Virgin Mary, as we have come to know her. He told her she was found in favor by the Lord and she was going to be with Child and the Child would be Great and she was to name the Child Jesus. Mary wondered how this could be since she was a virgin. Mary was told by old Gabe that the Power of the Holy Spirit would come over her and she would be in the motherly way (my wording). Now we are coming to the really good part and we all need to take special note of this. How would this young woman, this woman who was but a child herself, react? How would she deal with this news? Would she take it as a blessing or a curse? How would you take it? What if it was your wife-to-be and she all of a sudden was pregnant? What would you have to say about that? While Mary did wonder how the Holy Spirit could make her pregnant, she was told about her relation, Elizabeth, who was with child, and she was up in years. As you recall, Elizabeth and Zechariah were being blessed with a son, and they were to name him "John." And this child would be called "John The Baptist" and would be a front-runner for our Lord Jesus. So here we see in Luke 1:38 just how Mary handled this and it is very much worth repeating.
Luke 1:38 - "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered, "May it be to me as you have said." (NIV)
This is the answer we need to give in all things. Will you just take a minute with me right now and stop and pray with me this very short prayer? Just please stop what you are doing and pray these words in faith, and of course you may surely add to this prayer.
Dear Father in Heaven. When You call on me, help me to always say yes to what You want me to do, for I do Love You and I am thankful You have saved me from my sins. And Father, I am indeed Your servant, and I want to honor any and all requests from You. Keep Satan away from me, Lord, so I am sure it is You calling. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth sharing your blessings and loving each other. Love ya. Please pass that love on. Pastor Dan.
Brothers and sisters, tomorrow is our big day. Please pray hard for the snow to hold off. Please pray for those coming to be safe. For those of you who are coming, be safe, but our event will go with who is here, and it will go even if it snows, unless of course you need to jump up to spit. (Did you like that one?) Yesterday Mrs. Claus and old Santa went to St. Joseph School in Mechanicsburg along with our dear friends and ministry partners Grant and Wanda Crockett. We had a great time with the children and then we loaded the food they collected, and I would guess it was about A TON OF FOOD! Then we stopped at New Hope Ministries where we were gifted 550 pounds of potatoes. Then we came home and I watched as Grant and Wanda unloaded the trailer, and then we went for the mail, and once again God was good. We did come home to one bit of bad news, but that will work out. One of our freezer is going down. I am sure it will hold until tomorrow, and then we can empty it and start freezer shopping. It is our biggest freezer and one of our newest. I am sure God will supply the ministry needs on this also. Let me get to the message, Mary Gets The Word.
Thursday/Friday, December 12/13, 2013, Mary Gets The Word, Day Four.
Luke 1:34 - "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So The Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God." 38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. (NIV)
So a short review as we started out seeing Gabriel stop in to see Mary, The Blessed Virgin Mary, as we have come to know her. He told her she was found in favor by the Lord and she was going to be with Child and the Child would be Great and she was to name the Child Jesus. Mary wondered how this could be since she was a virgin. Mary was told by old Gabe that the Power of the Holy Spirit would come over her and she would be in the motherly way (my wording). Now we are coming to the really good part and we all need to take special note of this. How would this young woman, this woman who was but a child herself, react? How would she deal with this news? Would she take it as a blessing or a curse? How would you take it? What if it was your wife-to-be and she all of a sudden was pregnant? What would you have to say about that? While Mary did wonder how the Holy Spirit could make her pregnant, she was told about her relation, Elizabeth, who was with child, and she was up in years. As you recall, Elizabeth and Zechariah were being blessed with a son, and they were to name him "John." And this child would be called "John The Baptist" and would be a front-runner for our Lord Jesus. So here we see in Luke 1:38 just how Mary handled this and it is very much worth repeating.
Luke 1:38 - "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered, "May it be to me as you have said." (NIV)
This is the answer we need to give in all things. Will you just take a minute with me right now and stop and pray with me this very short prayer? Just please stop what you are doing and pray these words in faith, and of course you may surely add to this prayer.
Dear Father in Heaven. When You call on me, help me to always say yes to what You want me to do, for I do Love You and I am thankful You have saved me from my sins. And Father, I am indeed Your servant, and I want to honor any and all requests from You. Keep Satan away from me, Lord, so I am sure it is You calling. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth sharing your blessings and loving each other. Love ya. Please pass that love on. Pastor Dan.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Wednesday 12/11/13 Mary Gets The Word 3
Dear Father in Heaven: Thanks for another great day. I love You, Father. Thanks for all You do for our family and all the families who use this line. Please be with our ministry team as we go forth with the Christmas food distribution this Saturday. Please, dear Father, please keep the snow from us this Saturday morning so the hungry can get in to get their food that has been furnished through Your hands. Walk with us this day, and Lord, please help us to always walk with You. Hold onto us tightly, Lord, and please do not let us drift from You. Be with those who we have been praying for, and now, Lord, help me with the message and then help me to dispatch it. And Lord, please be with our Matthew, wherever he might be. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Happy Salvation Wednesday, my dear brothers and sisters. Let me start today by telling you that "I love you very much." I really appreciate hearing from all of you and those sending cards, we really appreciate them. Please pray for our food pantry distribution day to go well this Saturday morning. Pray the snow passes us by. Today I want to get back to the message about Mary Gets The Word.
Salvation Wednesday, December 11, 2013, Mary Gets The Word, Day Three.
Luke 1:31 - You will be with Child and give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name of Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of his father David 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end. 34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So The Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God." (NIV)
Today as we look at the scriptures we find out how Mary will become into the motherly way since she is a virgin. Gabriel tells her after he had greeted her that she will be with Child and give birth to a Son. Gabriel told her that she is to name her baby Boy "Jesus." Jesus, our dear Jesus. Then Gabriel goes on to tell this young lady who will be the mother of Jesus that He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. Up until now Mary has not said much, just listened, which we could sure use as an example. Think of how much we would learn if we sometimes would just, well, just "shut up and listen." Also when we pray, we need to take time to listen for God to answer us. Anyway, after Mary did all this listening, she asked the question. How can I have this Child as I am a virgin? So she is told that she will be overpowered by that Holy Spirit and she will become with Child. Folks, this is the same Holy Spirit that will be our comforter, will come be with us when we need help. Will come sit with us when we are lonely. There is indeed one Holy Spirit, and The Holy Spirit is the one Jesus told us that when He went back to Heaven would remain with us. So now Mary, The Blessed Virgin Mary, as we have come to know her, knows what Gabriel, the angel who was the messenger of the Lord, wanted with us. What we have not looked at yet is what Mary might say to the angel. How will she handle it, will she be excited or will she struggle with it? Tomorrow we will take a look at how Mary answered the angel and who else was with child at this same time.
Today is Salvation Wednesday and we need to remember that we are messengers for our Lord Jesus, and we need to be telling all about Jesus and about the real meaning of Christmas, and also about the power of the Holy Spirit. How about it, did you get to witness to someone today? You can witness to people very easily. Talk to them about work if it is someone that you work with. If they struggle at work, offer to pray with them. What is the most that can happen? They can say no, but most will welcome prayer. Help carry their load and tell them that Jesus wants to carry their load and their burdens. Let me suggest this. The weather people are telling us it is going to snow, so why not pack your lunch for work and pack for two people, for if the weather gets bad, surely some will be hungry and you can say, "hey, I have enough for two, will you join me for lunch?" It is just peanut butter, cheese, mayo and pickle sandwiches, and you are welcome to one. Or you can share a ham and cheese sandwich. And if there is more than one person, cut those sandwiches in half and bless them. Let people know you care about them, and let people see Jesus in you. If you are walking with Jesus daily then this will be a good way to talk to them. Please do not be afraid to witness to someone about Jesus. Do not be afraid to work for Jesus and bring the lost to the feet of Jesus. Please do not worry about what to say, for Jesus will not send you out without tools to get the job done. When you go to talk to someone who is lost, God will give you the right words at the right time to talk to them. Pray first and then give them the good, good news of JESUS AND HIS LOVE!
Dear Father in Heaven, the fields are still ripe and we need to get to work for You to harvest in the lost. Help us with it, dear Jesus, and push us a tad. Thanks, Lord, for saving my unworthy soul. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth, give your sins to God, and get sharing your blessings with others. Remember, we cannot save a soul, that is between Jesus and the one He is working on at that time. Read over John 14:6 and Romans 10:9 and 10 and those scriptures will help you and will just show you what you need to know to help people come to Jesus. Pray with me, please.
Dear Father in Heaven, help us as we go forth to bring in the lost,work with us, dear Lord, work with us. Forgive us of our sins so we go out in Your name clean as the new-fallen snow. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth and share those blessings. I love ya, and please pass on that love. Pastor Dan
Happy Salvation Wednesday, my dear brothers and sisters. Let me start today by telling you that "I love you very much." I really appreciate hearing from all of you and those sending cards, we really appreciate them. Please pray for our food pantry distribution day to go well this Saturday morning. Pray the snow passes us by. Today I want to get back to the message about Mary Gets The Word.
Salvation Wednesday, December 11, 2013, Mary Gets The Word, Day Three.
Luke 1:31 - You will be with Child and give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name of Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of his father David 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end. 34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So The Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God." (NIV)
Today as we look at the scriptures we find out how Mary will become into the motherly way since she is a virgin. Gabriel tells her after he had greeted her that she will be with Child and give birth to a Son. Gabriel told her that she is to name her baby Boy "Jesus." Jesus, our dear Jesus. Then Gabriel goes on to tell this young lady who will be the mother of Jesus that He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. Up until now Mary has not said much, just listened, which we could sure use as an example. Think of how much we would learn if we sometimes would just, well, just "shut up and listen." Also when we pray, we need to take time to listen for God to answer us. Anyway, after Mary did all this listening, she asked the question. How can I have this Child as I am a virgin? So she is told that she will be overpowered by that Holy Spirit and she will become with Child. Folks, this is the same Holy Spirit that will be our comforter, will come be with us when we need help. Will come sit with us when we are lonely. There is indeed one Holy Spirit, and The Holy Spirit is the one Jesus told us that when He went back to Heaven would remain with us. So now Mary, The Blessed Virgin Mary, as we have come to know her, knows what Gabriel, the angel who was the messenger of the Lord, wanted with us. What we have not looked at yet is what Mary might say to the angel. How will she handle it, will she be excited or will she struggle with it? Tomorrow we will take a look at how Mary answered the angel and who else was with child at this same time.
Today is Salvation Wednesday and we need to remember that we are messengers for our Lord Jesus, and we need to be telling all about Jesus and about the real meaning of Christmas, and also about the power of the Holy Spirit. How about it, did you get to witness to someone today? You can witness to people very easily. Talk to them about work if it is someone that you work with. If they struggle at work, offer to pray with them. What is the most that can happen? They can say no, but most will welcome prayer. Help carry their load and tell them that Jesus wants to carry their load and their burdens. Let me suggest this. The weather people are telling us it is going to snow, so why not pack your lunch for work and pack for two people, for if the weather gets bad, surely some will be hungry and you can say, "hey, I have enough for two, will you join me for lunch?" It is just peanut butter, cheese, mayo and pickle sandwiches, and you are welcome to one. Or you can share a ham and cheese sandwich. And if there is more than one person, cut those sandwiches in half and bless them. Let people know you care about them, and let people see Jesus in you. If you are walking with Jesus daily then this will be a good way to talk to them. Please do not be afraid to witness to someone about Jesus. Do not be afraid to work for Jesus and bring the lost to the feet of Jesus. Please do not worry about what to say, for Jesus will not send you out without tools to get the job done. When you go to talk to someone who is lost, God will give you the right words at the right time to talk to them. Pray first and then give them the good, good news of JESUS AND HIS LOVE!
Dear Father in Heaven, the fields are still ripe and we need to get to work for You to harvest in the lost. Help us with it, dear Jesus, and push us a tad. Thanks, Lord, for saving my unworthy soul. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth, give your sins to God, and get sharing your blessings with others. Remember, we cannot save a soul, that is between Jesus and the one He is working on at that time. Read over John 14:6 and Romans 10:9 and 10 and those scriptures will help you and will just show you what you need to know to help people come to Jesus. Pray with me, please.
Dear Father in Heaven, help us as we go forth to bring in the lost,work with us, dear Lord, work with us. Forgive us of our sins so we go out in Your name clean as the new-fallen snow. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth and share those blessings. I love ya, and please pass on that love. Pastor Dan
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Tuesday 12/10/13 Mary Gets The Word 2
Dear Father in Heaven, each day I give thanks that I am saved and ask You to forgive me of my sins. Today I do more of the same. Help me to repent and help me to come nearer and nearer to You. Thanks, dear Father in Heaven, for our ministry team, what a wonderful team, please be with them and their families. Lord, help me walk each day with You. Thanks for letting us go out and sing in Your name today, we had a great time. Lord, thanks for watching over those on our prayer list and please, Lord, keep watching over them. Lord, be with Patsy and Burt, and please heal Patsy so she can go home to Burt. Please, Lord, be with Dave, Duane, and Neil as they step out in Your name and change gears in their ministry. Lord, thanks for watching over this line and please, Lord, we ask that You keep doing just that. Help me now with the daily message and then help me to dispatch it. I love You, Jesus, I really love You. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters. Please pray that we have a day without rain or snow for this coming Saturday for our food distribution. I am so excited about this day, and what a busy day this will be. Please pray for it to go well as we work together for the Lord. Thanks for all of you who came last Saturday for "Picking and Packing." We had a great time. The food is packed. We are waiting on a few turkeys that should arrive soon, and we have potatoes coming and also lots of bread. Brothers and sisters, working for Jesus is fun, it is exciting, and it gets more exciting each and every day. Today as we keep looking toward Christmas Day, we will take a deeper look at when "Mary Gets The Word."
Tuesday, December 10, 2013, "Mary Gets The Word," Day Two.
Luke 1:28 - 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 give birth to a Son and you are to give Him the name of Jesus. (NIV)
So let's take a look at these scriptures. Let's start and let's try and think what it might be like. Maybe it started like this. Mary is working in the kitchen of her home and maybe talking to God but otherwise alone with her work and her thinking. All of a sudden you turn and you see this angel sitting at the table, just sitting there and then he speaks. "Greetings." Mary sort of jumps back for she thought she was alone. She might have been speechless at this time and just wondering what was going on. We know from the scriptures of yesterday that the angel was Gabriel who indeed was/is a messenger from God The Father, a messenger of the Lord. "Greetings," Old Gabe said, "Greetings." What would we be thinking? Hey, we know it is an angel of the Lord, and for me, I would be thinking, it must be my time to go. They have come to get me. Mary, and please remember Mary was not just "The Blessed VIRGIN Mary, but she was very, very young. A teenager according to some. So Mary is more than likely thinking, what have I done? Then the angel went on, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." The Lord is with me, now you and I know the Lord is with us for the Bible tells us that and we have also asked Him to be with us. However, with that said, if the messenger of the Lord I was highly favored by the Lord, I would think maybe, just maybe he stopped at the wrong house. I know Jesus loves me, but I don't feel worthy to be "highly favored." Let's see what happens next.
Mary was troubled at his words, and yes, she wondered just what the message was going to be about. I would think she would h ave been "stone faced," maybe even like the guards at the tomb, at least for awhile, anyway. The nice thing about living today is we have the Bible to look back over the events as we study them and try more each day to understand just what happened. Anyway, Mary was troubled, very troubled, so the first thing that Gabriel said after the greeting was, "Do Not Be Afraid." Then he told her that she was highly favored, or in my words, The Lord found her to be good in all that she did, she was worthy to work for the Lord, in whatever she was asked or told to do. Mary, and remember she was a virgin, was told she was going to be with Child, she was going to have a Baby, a Child. Now this is not the first time that Gabriel came to someone and told them they were going to have a child. About six months before this, the messenger, the angel came to Zechariah and told him that his prayers were heard and God was going to grant his prayer request and his wife Elizabeth would deliver him a son. Brothers and sisters, this couple was old, long past what we would think would be child-bearing years. So far we see the angel delivering Good News, and yesterday I talked to all of you that we need to be messengers for the Lord and deliver good news.
Getting back to Mary, she was told she was going to have a Son, and she was to name Him Jesus. Now at this time Mary has not said a word, and before I get into that, I will tell you that, well, you can either read ahead in your Bible to see what she said, or you can wait until SALVATION WEDNESDAY when I will be talking about Mary. Did she take the assignment? Did she fuss about it? What about being ashamed because she was going to be with Child and was not married yet? What would she tell Joseph? Would Munn's diamond place refund Joseph's ring money if he returned the engagement ring? Just seeing if you are awake, folks.
Dear Father in Heaven, please be with us and help us when You give us assignments, help us not to grumble but to keep on keeping on for You, Father. I love You and pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Now go forth and share your blessings. Love ya. Pass that love on, dear brothers and sisters.
Pastor Dan
Dear brothers and sisters. Please pray that we have a day without rain or snow for this coming Saturday for our food distribution. I am so excited about this day, and what a busy day this will be. Please pray for it to go well as we work together for the Lord. Thanks for all of you who came last Saturday for "Picking and Packing." We had a great time. The food is packed. We are waiting on a few turkeys that should arrive soon, and we have potatoes coming and also lots of bread. Brothers and sisters, working for Jesus is fun, it is exciting, and it gets more exciting each and every day. Today as we keep looking toward Christmas Day, we will take a deeper look at when "Mary Gets The Word."
Tuesday, December 10, 2013, "Mary Gets The Word," Day Two.
Luke 1:28 - 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 give birth to a Son and you are to give Him the name of Jesus. (NIV)
So let's take a look at these scriptures. Let's start and let's try and think what it might be like. Maybe it started like this. Mary is working in the kitchen of her home and maybe talking to God but otherwise alone with her work and her thinking. All of a sudden you turn and you see this angel sitting at the table, just sitting there and then he speaks. "Greetings." Mary sort of jumps back for she thought she was alone. She might have been speechless at this time and just wondering what was going on. We know from the scriptures of yesterday that the angel was Gabriel who indeed was/is a messenger from God The Father, a messenger of the Lord. "Greetings," Old Gabe said, "Greetings." What would we be thinking? Hey, we know it is an angel of the Lord, and for me, I would be thinking, it must be my time to go. They have come to get me. Mary, and please remember Mary was not just "The Blessed VIRGIN Mary, but she was very, very young. A teenager according to some. So Mary is more than likely thinking, what have I done? Then the angel went on, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." The Lord is with me, now you and I know the Lord is with us for the Bible tells us that and we have also asked Him to be with us. However, with that said, if the messenger of the Lord I was highly favored by the Lord, I would think maybe, just maybe he stopped at the wrong house. I know Jesus loves me, but I don't feel worthy to be "highly favored." Let's see what happens next.
Mary was troubled at his words, and yes, she wondered just what the message was going to be about. I would think she would h ave been "stone faced," maybe even like the guards at the tomb, at least for awhile, anyway. The nice thing about living today is we have the Bible to look back over the events as we study them and try more each day to understand just what happened. Anyway, Mary was troubled, very troubled, so the first thing that Gabriel said after the greeting was, "Do Not Be Afraid." Then he told her that she was highly favored, or in my words, The Lord found her to be good in all that she did, she was worthy to work for the Lord, in whatever she was asked or told to do. Mary, and remember she was a virgin, was told she was going to be with Child, she was going to have a Baby, a Child. Now this is not the first time that Gabriel came to someone and told them they were going to have a child. About six months before this, the messenger, the angel came to Zechariah and told him that his prayers were heard and God was going to grant his prayer request and his wife Elizabeth would deliver him a son. Brothers and sisters, this couple was old, long past what we would think would be child-bearing years. So far we see the angel delivering Good News, and yesterday I talked to all of you that we need to be messengers for the Lord and deliver good news.
Getting back to Mary, she was told she was going to have a Son, and she was to name Him Jesus. Now at this time Mary has not said a word, and before I get into that, I will tell you that, well, you can either read ahead in your Bible to see what she said, or you can wait until SALVATION WEDNESDAY when I will be talking about Mary. Did she take the assignment? Did she fuss about it? What about being ashamed because she was going to be with Child and was not married yet? What would she tell Joseph? Would Munn's diamond place refund Joseph's ring money if he returned the engagement ring? Just seeing if you are awake, folks.
Dear Father in Heaven, please be with us and help us when You give us assignments, help us not to grumble but to keep on keeping on for You, Father. I love You and pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Now go forth and share your blessings. Love ya. Pass that love on, dear brothers and sisters.
Pastor Dan
Monday, December 9, 2013
Monday 12/9/13 Mary Gets The Word
Dear Father in Heaven: I really appreciate You and all You do for us. Thanks for the nice day and thanks for the great evening on Sunday evening. Please, Lord, forgive me of my sins this day and help me with the message. Thanks for watching over family and friends, and I pray You will keep watching over our families and friends and all those on the line. Please be with Dan Stoner and heal him from cancer and watch over his family. Please be with Tom Sansoni, and Lord, please put a special friend in his life for him. Please be with Leslie and help her get settled in. Watch over our ministry team, dear Lord, and help us get ready for our Christmas sing-along for Tuesday. Help me get the car loaded in the morning. Lord, I need You in all I do, and I just want to walk with You and talk with You. I love You very, very much. In the Name of Jesus, I pray today. Now please help me with the message and then help me dispatch it. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen. Oh, and Lord, please be with our Presidents, past and present, as they fly to Africa for a funeral service. Thank You, Lord.
Dear brothers and sisters. It was a great day yesterday. Last evening we went to a Gospel Sing where things were, well, done off the cuff, so to speak. The Original Couriers were there, plus the Brotherhood were back together for a few numbers. Larry Ford was also singing which put the WORLD'S TWO BEST TENOR SINGERS SIDE BY SIDE. Now all of you know I think my dear Christian brother Duane Nicholson is the best of the best in Gospel music tenors, and Larry Ford maybe a close second. Last night they sang together. Bass/baritone singer, Pastor Timothy Beitzel, was singing with bass singer Dave Kyllonen, both former Couriers. Then there was Neil Enloe and Doug Boyer and TK singing lead, and the night just went on and on. There were no practices, they just went and sang for the Lord. It was great. It is time to get to the message and time to get working on the Christmas Story, the real Christmas Story. Let's get started today with the day "Mary Gets The Word."
Monday, December, 9, 2013, "Mary Gets the Word!"
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." (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, in these few short verses of scripture, we see three names mentioned, three very trusted people who are highly favored by our Lord. Let's take a look at them and talk about them for a few minutes. Let's look at them one at a time.
Gabriel:
An Angel of The Lord: How would you like to be a trusted messenger of the Lord? Well, The Angel Gabriel was and is such a messenger. He was sent to Mary to bring that good news that she would become a mother. Yes, I am saying that is GOOD NEWS. But what about being a messenger for The Lord? We are called on each and every day to be a Messenger for our Lord Jesus. Yes, that is what you might call us who take THE WORD OF THE LORD into the fields of Harvest for Jesus. And yes, our Lord wants all of us to be a messenger for Him. So if you are not a messenger, then you are missing the call of the Lord on that one. If you are one who sits by saying, I am "Born Again," but I just cannot talk to others, so I will let that up to someone else, well, what might have happened if old Gabe, the angel of the Lord, would have just listened to what God had told him to tell Mary but then never went to deliver that message? Think about it, brothers and sisters. What if Gabriel had not delivered that word to Mary? Who would have picked up the ball? John The Baptist was not born yet, he was in the womb, but not born, so John would not get the word out. Maybe call Moses to get the job done? The Lord said this job is important, Mary needs to get the message. Well, brothers and sisters, if you are told to take the good news to the masses because the harvest is ripe and you decide not to go, maybe, just maybe, someone might not hear the word and be saved. Please think about it, for we indeed are "MESSENGERS FOR OUR LORD." We are the Gabriels of today!
Joseph:
The earthly father of our Lord Jesus. j Joseph had to be really trusted by God to do this very, very important job, and that is to raise Jesus in His tender years. Joseph had to be trusted knowing that he would be helping Mary take care of Jesus. He would be called upon to "change the pants" of Jesus when He was a baby. He would be called upon to "pace the floor" if Jesus would cry during the night. Think about it, folks, and think, you men, about your days when your child was a baby. Think about it. Also, Joseph had to go and work to raise money to keep his family in food and supplies. Joseph was a carpenter and made his money that way. And yes, Joseph, we will find out, got his chance to sign up and pay taxes. We men should be able to relate to Joseph, for we all have jobs assigned to us by God to get done, and if we indeed have families then our job does not end when a child reaches a certain age. Once a parent, always a parent!! So, men, as we travel this story this year, and as I write it, please try and put your feet into those sandals of Joseph.
Mary:
Most often called The Blessed Virgin Mary, she had one of the most important jobs of any woman from the days of Eve, to today, the days of ladies like "First Lady Michelle Obama or Secretary of State Hillary Clinton." Ladies who have led our country. In our area we also have Senator Patricia Vance. I want you to think about it, brothers and sisters. We have had many powerful ladies in our lives today, and we also had others like "Mother Teresa," but no one had that job of being the mother of Jesus, except "The Blessed Virgin Mary," and this job had to be done right. Ladies, what if you had been called on for that job, would you have taken the job or turned it away? Well, ladies, as we go through the Christmas story this year, I would like you to put your feet into the sandals of this young mother-to-be. I want you also to think about this, each of you has an assignment from our Lord that you should be doing. You need to pray about it, talk to God about it, and know that even though you will not be the mother of Jesus, you do have jobs to do for Him.
Tomorrow we are going to take a look at what Mary said to Gabriel as she got the word about being selected by God The Father to carry Jesus in her womb to full term. Praise God Mary was "PRO-LIFE." For all of you, my dear brothers and sisters, what is your assignment for God, and are you taking care of that? Are you ready to change if God changes what He wants you to do? Will you make the change or complain about it? You might want to be the preacher at your church, but for now, God wants you to clean the floors and restrooms, will you do the job Jesus wants you to do? Will you accept the assignment from God like Mary did, and Joseph did? Will you? Or maybe my question should be, are you doing the job?
Dear Father in Heaven, today we started the Christmas Story, please, Lord, help me "bring it to life." Help me bring it out so all can understand it. I trust that this is what You want me to do. So please, Lord, help me with it and then each day dispatch it for me. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth sharing your blessings and doing the work that God wants you to do. Love ya. Please pass on that love. Pastor Dan.
P.S. Whenever I mention our President or his wife, I send a copy of the message to him. Pray, warriors, that it gets to his attention either by it being placed before him to read or placed in his heart by God!
Dear brothers and sisters. It was a great day yesterday. Last evening we went to a Gospel Sing where things were, well, done off the cuff, so to speak. The Original Couriers were there, plus the Brotherhood were back together for a few numbers. Larry Ford was also singing which put the WORLD'S TWO BEST TENOR SINGERS SIDE BY SIDE. Now all of you know I think my dear Christian brother Duane Nicholson is the best of the best in Gospel music tenors, and Larry Ford maybe a close second. Last night they sang together. Bass/baritone singer, Pastor Timothy Beitzel, was singing with bass singer Dave Kyllonen, both former Couriers. Then there was Neil Enloe and Doug Boyer and TK singing lead, and the night just went on and on. There were no practices, they just went and sang for the Lord. It was great. It is time to get to the message and time to get working on the Christmas Story, the real Christmas Story. Let's get started today with the day "Mary Gets The Word."
Monday, December, 9, 2013, "Mary Gets the Word!"
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." (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, in these few short verses of scripture, we see three names mentioned, three very trusted people who are highly favored by our Lord. Let's take a look at them and talk about them for a few minutes. Let's look at them one at a time.
Gabriel:
An Angel of The Lord: How would you like to be a trusted messenger of the Lord? Well, The Angel Gabriel was and is such a messenger. He was sent to Mary to bring that good news that she would become a mother. Yes, I am saying that is GOOD NEWS. But what about being a messenger for The Lord? We are called on each and every day to be a Messenger for our Lord Jesus. Yes, that is what you might call us who take THE WORD OF THE LORD into the fields of Harvest for Jesus. And yes, our Lord wants all of us to be a messenger for Him. So if you are not a messenger, then you are missing the call of the Lord on that one. If you are one who sits by saying, I am "Born Again," but I just cannot talk to others, so I will let that up to someone else, well, what might have happened if old Gabe, the angel of the Lord, would have just listened to what God had told him to tell Mary but then never went to deliver that message? Think about it, brothers and sisters. What if Gabriel had not delivered that word to Mary? Who would have picked up the ball? John The Baptist was not born yet, he was in the womb, but not born, so John would not get the word out. Maybe call Moses to get the job done? The Lord said this job is important, Mary needs to get the message. Well, brothers and sisters, if you are told to take the good news to the masses because the harvest is ripe and you decide not to go, maybe, just maybe, someone might not hear the word and be saved. Please think about it, for we indeed are "MESSENGERS FOR OUR LORD." We are the Gabriels of today!
Joseph:
The earthly father of our Lord Jesus. j Joseph had to be really trusted by God to do this very, very important job, and that is to raise Jesus in His tender years. Joseph had to be trusted knowing that he would be helping Mary take care of Jesus. He would be called upon to "change the pants" of Jesus when He was a baby. He would be called upon to "pace the floor" if Jesus would cry during the night. Think about it, folks, and think, you men, about your days when your child was a baby. Think about it. Also, Joseph had to go and work to raise money to keep his family in food and supplies. Joseph was a carpenter and made his money that way. And yes, Joseph, we will find out, got his chance to sign up and pay taxes. We men should be able to relate to Joseph, for we all have jobs assigned to us by God to get done, and if we indeed have families then our job does not end when a child reaches a certain age. Once a parent, always a parent!! So, men, as we travel this story this year, and as I write it, please try and put your feet into those sandals of Joseph.
Mary:
Most often called The Blessed Virgin Mary, she had one of the most important jobs of any woman from the days of Eve, to today, the days of ladies like "First Lady Michelle Obama or Secretary of State Hillary Clinton." Ladies who have led our country. In our area we also have Senator Patricia Vance. I want you to think about it, brothers and sisters. We have had many powerful ladies in our lives today, and we also had others like "Mother Teresa," but no one had that job of being the mother of Jesus, except "The Blessed Virgin Mary," and this job had to be done right. Ladies, what if you had been called on for that job, would you have taken the job or turned it away? Well, ladies, as we go through the Christmas story this year, I would like you to put your feet into the sandals of this young mother-to-be. I want you also to think about this, each of you has an assignment from our Lord that you should be doing. You need to pray about it, talk to God about it, and know that even though you will not be the mother of Jesus, you do have jobs to do for Him.
Tomorrow we are going to take a look at what Mary said to Gabriel as she got the word about being selected by God The Father to carry Jesus in her womb to full term. Praise God Mary was "PRO-LIFE." For all of you, my dear brothers and sisters, what is your assignment for God, and are you taking care of that? Are you ready to change if God changes what He wants you to do? Will you make the change or complain about it? You might want to be the preacher at your church, but for now, God wants you to clean the floors and restrooms, will you do the job Jesus wants you to do? Will you accept the assignment from God like Mary did, and Joseph did? Will you? Or maybe my question should be, are you doing the job?
Dear Father in Heaven, today we started the Christmas Story, please, Lord, help me "bring it to life." Help me bring it out so all can understand it. I trust that this is what You want me to do. So please, Lord, help me with it and then each day dispatch it for me. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth sharing your blessings and doing the work that God wants you to do. Love ya. Please pass on that love. Pastor Dan.
P.S. Whenever I mention our President or his wife, I send a copy of the message to him. Pray, warriors, that it gets to his attention either by it being placed before him to read or placed in his heart by God!
Friday, December 6, 2013
Friday 12/6/13 Salvation 5
Dear Father, thank You for cleansing us of our sins. Lord, I love You. Please, Father, watch over our Nation, as Lord, I am reminded that we are on the eve of Pearl Harbor Day. Lord, please help us to get the word out to the lost for if an event happened again like it did in 1941 and then again on 9/11/2001, so many more souls would be lost. Help us to get to work for You in all we do. Please be with those on our list for healing. Now, Lord, please help me with a message and then dispatch it for me. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters: Tomorrow is December 7, and it is the anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day. Put yourself in the shoes of those at Pearl Harbor that day and think about not just the lives that were lost but think also about the souls that might have been lost. While we are not to judge on Salvation, think about it, folks, think about it. What if this Sunday China or Iran wee to send a bomb our way? How many lives would be lost, and how many of their souls would be lost? How many people just in each of our neighbors are not "BORN AGAIN?" Brothers and sisters, we have a job to do, and we need to be doing it daily. If you can breathe, if you can eat, then you need to be saved and if you are saved, then you need to be going out to spread the Good News. Start in your neighborhood and work out from there. So who needs saved, and are we sure we are going about it in the right way? First, the only ones that need saved are those who want to go to Heaven after you check out of this earthly thing we are passing by. If you would sooner go to Hell, then you surely do not need to be saved. As for me and my house, we want to go to be with Jesus. So now about going about it in the right way. Let's go to the Bible and check out a few scriptures.
John 3:16/17 - "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. (NIV)
John 14:6 - Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (NIV)
So that part was easy, I mean, knowing who can save us, and it is Jesus and only Jesus. But it was not that easy for Jesus, for He died for us. However, I want you to know that Jesus set so many examples for us on how we should live and we also need to be working for Him after we are "Born Again." You see, we cannot work our way into heaven, but faith without works is dead. Our working for Jesus is how we prove our faith. Brothers and sisters, it is fun working for the Lord. Tomorrow for example, Saturday, we have a lot of people coming to work here at the food pantry on our "Picking and Packing Day." We will indeed have a good time in the name of the Lord.
One of the main jobs that has been given to us is to get the Word out to the unsaved, to all the corners of the earth. So we must tell that good news to everyone. The good, good news. So how do we get saved? Well, in short, we ask Jesus to come into our hearts. Here it is from the book of Romans.
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. 10 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)
Once one is saved, once somebody comes to the Lord, what is the very first thing they should do? REPENT!! We need to REPENT!! Now I want to take you to the book of Mark and show you what we need to do next, and this same scripture will show us that. It is also the scripture where we came up with the name CARRY THE LIGHT.
Mark 16:15 - He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." (NIV)
Now since Jesus is the light of the world, we need to Carry The Light into the world. Brothers and sisters, in all we do, in all we do in life, the most important job we should be doing is working for Jesus and getting out the good news. And we should be doing ti for Love, Love of Jesus and love of your unsaved brothers and sisters. Today I would like you to center your prayers on our President and his family and all of our leaders in Washington, DC. I want you to pray and pray for their Salvation and for them to come to Jesus. What we need in this nation, in the United States of America, is a really big COME TO JESUS PARTY IN OUR NATION'S CAPITOL ... Someone say AMEN.
I will send this to our President and tell him we are praying for him.
Dear Father in Heaven, please watch over President Obama and please, Lord, humble him so he comes to You to be saved. Please watch over him and his beautiful family as they travel and keep them safe. I pray he brings all things to You before he takes them to the people. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Now go forth and share your blessings. Hope to see some of you on Saturday. I made some really good veggie soup. I ate some of it already and I did not even get sick. Love ya. Please pass that love on.
Pastor Dan
Dear brothers and sisters: Tomorrow is December 7, and it is the anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day. Put yourself in the shoes of those at Pearl Harbor that day and think about not just the lives that were lost but think also about the souls that might have been lost. While we are not to judge on Salvation, think about it, folks, think about it. What if this Sunday China or Iran wee to send a bomb our way? How many lives would be lost, and how many of their souls would be lost? How many people just in each of our neighbors are not "BORN AGAIN?" Brothers and sisters, we have a job to do, and we need to be doing it daily. If you can breathe, if you can eat, then you need to be saved and if you are saved, then you need to be going out to spread the Good News. Start in your neighborhood and work out from there. So who needs saved, and are we sure we are going about it in the right way? First, the only ones that need saved are those who want to go to Heaven after you check out of this earthly thing we are passing by. If you would sooner go to Hell, then you surely do not need to be saved. As for me and my house, we want to go to be with Jesus. So now about going about it in the right way. Let's go to the Bible and check out a few scriptures.
John 3:16/17 - "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. (NIV)
John 14:6 - Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (NIV)
So that part was easy, I mean, knowing who can save us, and it is Jesus and only Jesus. But it was not that easy for Jesus, for He died for us. However, I want you to know that Jesus set so many examples for us on how we should live and we also need to be working for Him after we are "Born Again." You see, we cannot work our way into heaven, but faith without works is dead. Our working for Jesus is how we prove our faith. Brothers and sisters, it is fun working for the Lord. Tomorrow for example, Saturday, we have a lot of people coming to work here at the food pantry on our "Picking and Packing Day." We will indeed have a good time in the name of the Lord.
One of the main jobs that has been given to us is to get the Word out to the unsaved, to all the corners of the earth. So we must tell that good news to everyone. The good, good news. So how do we get saved? Well, in short, we ask Jesus to come into our hearts. Here it is from the book of Romans.
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. 10 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)
Once one is saved, once somebody comes to the Lord, what is the very first thing they should do? REPENT!! We need to REPENT!! Now I want to take you to the book of Mark and show you what we need to do next, and this same scripture will show us that. It is also the scripture where we came up with the name CARRY THE LIGHT.
Mark 16:15 - He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." (NIV)
Now since Jesus is the light of the world, we need to Carry The Light into the world. Brothers and sisters, in all we do, in all we do in life, the most important job we should be doing is working for Jesus and getting out the good news. And we should be doing ti for Love, Love of Jesus and love of your unsaved brothers and sisters. Today I would like you to center your prayers on our President and his family and all of our leaders in Washington, DC. I want you to pray and pray for their Salvation and for them to come to Jesus. What we need in this nation, in the United States of America, is a really big COME TO JESUS PARTY IN OUR NATION'S CAPITOL ... Someone say AMEN.
I will send this to our President and tell him we are praying for him.
Dear Father in Heaven, please watch over President Obama and please, Lord, humble him so he comes to You to be saved. Please watch over him and his beautiful family as they travel and keep them safe. I pray he brings all things to You before he takes them to the people. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Now go forth and share your blessings. Hope to see some of you on Saturday. I made some really good veggie soup. I ate some of it already and I did not even get sick. Love ya. Please pass that love on.
Pastor Dan
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Thursday 12/5/13 Salvation 4
Dear Father in Heaven: Please forgive me of my sins this day, and thanks for being an all-loving God and taking care of us. Thanks for hearing our prayers and answering them. Please be with Bob and take care of that nagging deep cold he has had. Please be with Patsy and Burt and also with all others on this line that need Your touch. Thanks for all the food we have in the food pantry and thanks for all the help that has been coming and will be coming this weekend to get it ready for the hungry. Thanks indeed for the families who need help. Please now help me with the message and then help me dispatch it. Lord, forgive me, for I had it all messed up yesterday, as I still cannot get my mind into this computer and have my mind send the right things to my memory and fingers. Help me with it, Lord. And Lord, bless the neighbors coming to Santa's House this evening to hear Your story. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Brothers and sisters, I love you, all of you. Some of you I don't even know, however, I love you all just the same. Today I want to work more on Salvation, for it is so very important. Think about this, please, what good is it to celebrate Christmas and the real meaning of Christmas if we do not talk about Salvation? The bottom line, my dear brothers and sisters, the bottom line is, Our Father sent Jesus to us to save us, and everything else that we learned and keep learning about Jesus is all a REALLY BIG BONUS. Everyone likes a Christmas Bonus and our Christmas Bonus is Jesus. The Bonus is everlasting life. Then think about this. The best Christmas gift that you could give anyone would be to help them come to Jesus. What good is it to give them things for Christmas, a cell phone, a new TV, or give the little ones a train set, if they do not have Jesus locked into their heart? Men, what good is it to give your wife a new mink coat or a new diamond diamond ring if they do not know Jesus? Ladies, what good is it to give your husband a new pickup truck or a football TV package from the cable company if they do not know Jesus? Men and ladies, why not see that they get a gift that is ALREADY PAID FOR? Set them up to meet Jesus one-on-one and see that they receive the gift of Salvation. And brothers and sisters, Jesus already paid for this gift. Let's look at some scriptures:
Isaiah 35:4 - Say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, He will come with vengeance, with divine retribution He will come to save you." (NIV)
Daniel 3:17 - If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. (NIV)
Matthew 1:21 - She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins. (NIV)
From the first testament to the second testament, all throughout the Bible it tells us about Salvation and being saved. From Isaiah, if you are fearful, if you are afraid, it tells us "to be strong, not to fear, because our God will come and He will save us." What a great promise. These are the things we need to be telling our family, those who are not saved, or we are not sure of, who are just sitting on the fence. Yes, we have a lot of fence-sitters. I think they are afraid to give up the "crowd they run with" for God's crowd of Saved People, and brothers and sisters, you cannot have both, you cannot belong to the world and also belong to Jesus. (Political leaders have been trying that for years and years.)
From the book of Daniel. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, The God we serve will save us. Now think about this. If we are saved by our Lord Jesus, now follow me on this one, if we are saved by our Lord Jesus, if we have our Salvation, and the only way is through our Lord Jesus, if we are indeed saved, WE WILL NOT BE THROWN INTO THE BLAZING PITS OF HELL!!! Yes, our God indeed will save us from the blazing fire. AMEN, someone please shout AMEN with me. AMEN, AND AMEN!
Now from Matthew to round it out for today. This ties Christmas together with Salvation, just one place in the Bible where it happens, and tomorrow we will look for more. She will give birth to a Son, she is to name Him Jesus and He will save us from our sins. So let me put it the way I understand it. When we take on Jesus as our Savior, He will save us from ourselves. Yes, He will save me from me, a sinner just needing saved. AND YES, I AM SAVED ... Praise God!
Thank You, Jesus, for saving me. I am so unworthy. I give You all the honor and glory for this day. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Go forth and share your blessings and share your blessing of Salvation with others so Jesus can save them also. Love ya. Please pass that Love on. Pastor Dan
Brothers and sisters, I love you, all of you. Some of you I don't even know, however, I love you all just the same. Today I want to work more on Salvation, for it is so very important. Think about this, please, what good is it to celebrate Christmas and the real meaning of Christmas if we do not talk about Salvation? The bottom line, my dear brothers and sisters, the bottom line is, Our Father sent Jesus to us to save us, and everything else that we learned and keep learning about Jesus is all a REALLY BIG BONUS. Everyone likes a Christmas Bonus and our Christmas Bonus is Jesus. The Bonus is everlasting life. Then think about this. The best Christmas gift that you could give anyone would be to help them come to Jesus. What good is it to give them things for Christmas, a cell phone, a new TV, or give the little ones a train set, if they do not have Jesus locked into their heart? Men, what good is it to give your wife a new mink coat or a new diamond diamond ring if they do not know Jesus? Ladies, what good is it to give your husband a new pickup truck or a football TV package from the cable company if they do not know Jesus? Men and ladies, why not see that they get a gift that is ALREADY PAID FOR? Set them up to meet Jesus one-on-one and see that they receive the gift of Salvation. And brothers and sisters, Jesus already paid for this gift. Let's look at some scriptures:
Isaiah 35:4 - Say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, He will come with vengeance, with divine retribution He will come to save you." (NIV)
Daniel 3:17 - If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. (NIV)
Matthew 1:21 - She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins. (NIV)
From the first testament to the second testament, all throughout the Bible it tells us about Salvation and being saved. From Isaiah, if you are fearful, if you are afraid, it tells us "to be strong, not to fear, because our God will come and He will save us." What a great promise. These are the things we need to be telling our family, those who are not saved, or we are not sure of, who are just sitting on the fence. Yes, we have a lot of fence-sitters. I think they are afraid to give up the "crowd they run with" for God's crowd of Saved People, and brothers and sisters, you cannot have both, you cannot belong to the world and also belong to Jesus. (Political leaders have been trying that for years and years.)
From the book of Daniel. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, The God we serve will save us. Now think about this. If we are saved by our Lord Jesus, now follow me on this one, if we are saved by our Lord Jesus, if we have our Salvation, and the only way is through our Lord Jesus, if we are indeed saved, WE WILL NOT BE THROWN INTO THE BLAZING PITS OF HELL!!! Yes, our God indeed will save us from the blazing fire. AMEN, someone please shout AMEN with me. AMEN, AND AMEN!
Now from Matthew to round it out for today. This ties Christmas together with Salvation, just one place in the Bible where it happens, and tomorrow we will look for more. She will give birth to a Son, she is to name Him Jesus and He will save us from our sins. So let me put it the way I understand it. When we take on Jesus as our Savior, He will save us from ourselves. Yes, He will save me from me, a sinner just needing saved. AND YES, I AM SAVED ... Praise God!
Thank You, Jesus, for saving me. I am so unworthy. I give You all the honor and glory for this day. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Go forth and share your blessings and share your blessing of Salvation with others so Jesus can save them also. Love ya. Please pass that Love on. Pastor Dan
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Wednesday 12/4/13 Salvation 3
Good Morning, my Dear Father in Heaven. I love You, thank You for loving me and showing me what real love is all about. Thanks for watching over the ones who use this line and their families. Please, dear Lord, keep that blessing going forth. Be with Dan Stoner and his family, Dan Saylor and his family, Burt Emig and his family, Grant Crockett and his family. Please also be with Bob, Sharon, and Eleanor Saylor. Be with Charles Wotring and his family and thank You, dear Lord, for sending Doug Wotring to be a worker at the food pantry. Lord, please be with Dolores and watch over her. She said last night, Lord, she just hurts and feels worn out. Lord, be with Pam and her family. Lord, thanks for our Salvation and help me with the message of today. Please forgive me of my sins and help me to repent. Help me after the message to get it dispatched. Help me also this day and everyday to walk in Your light and help me lead my life so others can see you in me. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, yesterday we had a turkey and all the trimmings for lunch and this morning for breakfast, in fact right now as I write, I am having turkey, mashed potatoes, made with butter and cheese, homemade stuffing, corn, cranberry sauce, and to wash it down, a diet cherry Pepsi. GOD IS GOOD. So what are you having for breakfast? Regardless of what it is, know that God furnished it for you!! GOD IS GOOD!! But above all the good food, God has given us family and friends, and if you really think about it, we have family that is, well, not really family. I know for a fact that Carry The Light Ministries is one big growing family. Between the family of our "team," those who support the ministries and the families the ministry helps, we are just one big family under God. A bunch of people that just love each other. And that goes also for the families that the daily messages touch. GOD IS GOOD!! Today is Wednesday and that means it is SALVATION WEDNESDAY on this line. Salvation Wednesday is a mid-week day that we have called Salvation Wednesday for as long as I can remember. A day we pray for the lost and if we are saved, a day to renew in Christ Jesus. Let's get started with the message.
Psalm 116:12 - How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me? 13 I will lift up the cup of Salvation, and call on the name of the Lord. 14 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people. (NIV)
Luke 1:76 - And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, 77 to give His people the knowledge of Salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. (NIV)
Dear brothers and sisters, on Tuesday I wrote a message, then I went to bed without sending it out,so it went out early today. Sorry about that, I was having some really bad pain and it got to me. Today, Salvation Wednesday. I sometimes wish I was a tad younger so maybe I could be a pastor or assistant pastor in a church. Now do not get me wrong here, I love being the Pastor at The Bridges, I just love it, and Dolores loves playing the piano for God, and the people love her playing. If I was at a church, even at my old age, I would want to have a mid-week service called Salvation Wednesday Service, and just get together with people for singing, prayers, and messages all pointed to Salvation through Jesus. For those who are saved, we could get together and lift others and make plans on how to get the WORD OF SALVATION out to others. Today, God led me to a couple of scriptures on Salvation.
In Psalm 116 we see this question being asked. How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me? The answer is you really can't, for after He gave us so much, He also gave us His Son Jesus to die for us. However, we can try and repay Him by repenting of our sins and doing what He has commanded and getting the word out to others. We need to lift Jesus, our cup of Salvation, lift up Jesus for all the world to see, and tell all who will listen about how, through the blood of Jesus, we will be saved in the end. We need to take another look at that Psalm 116 and let's look at verse 14.
Luke 1:76 - And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, 77 to give His people the knowledge of Salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.
This was the scripture talking about John The Baptist. And this is what we need to be, we need to be going out and telling people, REPENT FOR THE RETURN OF JESUS IS NEAR! We are indeed like John The Baptist, only we do not need to eat locusts and honey, we in fact can have turkey and all the trimmings, even for breakfast if we wish. GOD IS GOOD! Brothers and sisters, I said GOD IS GOOD, REALLY GOOD!! We indeed are the news spreaders of today, and I ask you today, will you say to at least one person today, REPENT FOR THE RETURN OF JESUS IS NEAR? Will you say that to someone on this Salvation Wednesday? Not for my glory, folks, but for the glory of our Lord Jesus. Brothers and sisters, we have been having a hoot getting ready for our big food distribution day, and having a hoot in Santa's House. It is so neat to work on God's work, doing it for His glory. Have faith, my dear brothers and sisters, for you, all of you, can surely do this. And I will say this to you also today.
REPENT FOR THE RETURN OF JESUS IS NEAR! Dear Father in Heaven, please forgive us of our sins and help us to get ready ourselves and also get others ready for the return of Jesus. Help us repent and get the word out. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth sharing your blessings and sharing your love for Jesus and His love for you with others. Love ya. Please pass on the love. HAPPY SALVATION WEDNESDAY. Pastor Dan
Dear brothers and sisters, yesterday we had a turkey and all the trimmings for lunch and this morning for breakfast, in fact right now as I write, I am having turkey, mashed potatoes, made with butter and cheese, homemade stuffing, corn, cranberry sauce, and to wash it down, a diet cherry Pepsi. GOD IS GOOD. So what are you having for breakfast? Regardless of what it is, know that God furnished it for you!! GOD IS GOOD!! But above all the good food, God has given us family and friends, and if you really think about it, we have family that is, well, not really family. I know for a fact that Carry The Light Ministries is one big growing family. Between the family of our "team," those who support the ministries and the families the ministry helps, we are just one big family under God. A bunch of people that just love each other. And that goes also for the families that the daily messages touch. GOD IS GOOD!! Today is Wednesday and that means it is SALVATION WEDNESDAY on this line. Salvation Wednesday is a mid-week day that we have called Salvation Wednesday for as long as I can remember. A day we pray for the lost and if we are saved, a day to renew in Christ Jesus. Let's get started with the message.
Psalm 116:12 - How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me? 13 I will lift up the cup of Salvation, and call on the name of the Lord. 14 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people. (NIV)
Luke 1:76 - And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, 77 to give His people the knowledge of Salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. (NIV)
Dear brothers and sisters, on Tuesday I wrote a message, then I went to bed without sending it out,so it went out early today. Sorry about that, I was having some really bad pain and it got to me. Today, Salvation Wednesday. I sometimes wish I was a tad younger so maybe I could be a pastor or assistant pastor in a church. Now do not get me wrong here, I love being the Pastor at The Bridges, I just love it, and Dolores loves playing the piano for God, and the people love her playing. If I was at a church, even at my old age, I would want to have a mid-week service called Salvation Wednesday Service, and just get together with people for singing, prayers, and messages all pointed to Salvation through Jesus. For those who are saved, we could get together and lift others and make plans on how to get the WORD OF SALVATION out to others. Today, God led me to a couple of scriptures on Salvation.
In Psalm 116 we see this question being asked. How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me? The answer is you really can't, for after He gave us so much, He also gave us His Son Jesus to die for us. However, we can try and repay Him by repenting of our sins and doing what He has commanded and getting the word out to others. We need to lift Jesus, our cup of Salvation, lift up Jesus for all the world to see, and tell all who will listen about how, through the blood of Jesus, we will be saved in the end. We need to take another look at that Psalm 116 and let's look at verse 14.
Luke 1:76 - And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, 77 to give His people the knowledge of Salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.
This was the scripture talking about John The Baptist. And this is what we need to be, we need to be going out and telling people, REPENT FOR THE RETURN OF JESUS IS NEAR! We are indeed like John The Baptist, only we do not need to eat locusts and honey, we in fact can have turkey and all the trimmings, even for breakfast if we wish. GOD IS GOOD! Brothers and sisters, I said GOD IS GOOD, REALLY GOOD!! We indeed are the news spreaders of today, and I ask you today, will you say to at least one person today, REPENT FOR THE RETURN OF JESUS IS NEAR? Will you say that to someone on this Salvation Wednesday? Not for my glory, folks, but for the glory of our Lord Jesus. Brothers and sisters, we have been having a hoot getting ready for our big food distribution day, and having a hoot in Santa's House. It is so neat to work on God's work, doing it for His glory. Have faith, my dear brothers and sisters, for you, all of you, can surely do this. And I will say this to you also today.
REPENT FOR THE RETURN OF JESUS IS NEAR! Dear Father in Heaven, please forgive us of our sins and help us to get ready ourselves and also get others ready for the return of Jesus. Help us repent and get the word out. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth sharing your blessings and sharing your love for Jesus and His love for you with others. Love ya. Please pass on the love. HAPPY SALVATION WEDNESDAY. Pastor Dan
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