Dear Father in Heaven: I love You, Lord, I love You very, very much. Please forgive me of my sins this day. Lord, I want to walk with You this day and every day. Please help me to repent, and Lord, when I do make a mistake, help me be man enough to admit it, seek forgiveness, and move on. Please be with Glenn Beck on his drive to help the children who have been dumped on America. He is trying to feed them. Help us, Lord, in our mission to feed the hungry. Help us to do this without question. Help us as we need to pick up more food, and we also need to get out and pick up some clothes that have been donated. Help us, Lord. Thanks for waking us this day and taking care of us. Thanks for watching over all those on our prayer list. Please watch over our flock at The Bridges. Lord, please help me now with the daily message and then help me to get it dispatched. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Brothers and sisters, it was and still is a beautiful day here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. Please pray today for Glenn Beck and for Bill O'Reilly as they take food and supplies to our southern border and try and feed the children that have been dumped here. If you recall that when this first came to light I made the statement, "Is God testing America?" Is God testing America to see what Americans might do with these little children? Today Glenn was crying and they were not fake tears, for someone had "dumped" a child, a quadriplegic child, by the river on the American side, and no one was helping the child. Pray, warriors, pray. Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly, and Rush Limbaugh are good people, pray for them. Also pray for St. Frances food kitchen in Harrisburg, as vandals got in and took the place apart. Pray, warriors, pray. Now let me get to the message, The Old Road Map, with a sub-title, "The Blame Game."
Thursday: July 31, 2014, The Old Road Map (Day Seven), "The Blame Game"
Genesis 2:22 - Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man. 23 The man said, This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman' for she was taken out of man." 24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. 25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. (NIV)
Genesis 3:1 - Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" 2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'" 4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (NIV)
Well, like a man, God gave him everything he had created, but he had no one for himself. So God made man a woman from the rib of a man and put her in the Garden of Eden with Adam. Adam named the woman Eve. Adam went over the rules with Eve and told her not to touch that one tree in the middle of the garden. Now Adam and Eve were both naked, and they felt no shame at all. It seems that some people this day and age feel the same way as there is now a new program on television that is something about naked dating. It seems to me there is no shame in those people either. While God approved of Adam and Eve being naked, He surely did not approve of this new TV show.
Anyway, back to the Garden of Eden, and one day Eve was looking at the tree in the center of the Garden of Eden when approached by the serpent, who tricked her into picking the fruit. Then she took the fruit to Adam and showed it to Adam and he took a bite from it. Now let me pick up the story in the Bible and see what happens next.
Genesis 3:8 - Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, "Where are you?" 10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked so I hid." 11 And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" 12 The man said, "The woman you put here with me, she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it." 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." 14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers, he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel. 16 To the woman He said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing, with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." 17 To Adam He said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles from you and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food, until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; from dust you are and to dust you will return." (NIV)
Now is it not just like a man to blame someone else for what he did wrong? You need not answer that, ladies, for it seems you ladies have done the same.
It went something like this. Adam, did you eat from that fruit tree in the middle of the garden, the one I commanded you not to touch? You see, God did not suggest or just ask Adam not to eat from it, it was really the very first commandment, and Adam broke it. And while God was asking Adam about it, Adam blamed it on Eve.
You know, back when I was little, I would blame my brother once in awhile for something that I did. Then my brother would get a warning or even sent to his room. And still to this day I think I should have owned up to it. I would have been better off being sent to my room than what happened once my brother was "released." Yes, my frail tail would get "kicked" a tad.
Anyway, Adam blamed it on Eve, and she went on to blame the snake. Sounds like something that could have been played out in those reflective gardens in Washington, DC. We ask today what has happened to personal responsibility and we see it started at the beginning of man. And the sentence of the Lord God is still going on today. Weeds in the garden, pain at childbirth, and even the snake is crawling on his belly.
So, brothers, if you mess up, man up. And sisters, if you mess up, fess up. And as for the snake. Crawl, baby, crawl. Ladies, when you bear children, know it is going to hurt, and men, when you grow the garden, remember you will need to weed it. No blame game, please.
Now go forth sharing your blessings. Love ya, and please pass on my love to others.
Pastor Dan
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Wednesday 7/30/14 The Old Road Map 6
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You and I pray You are having a really nice day. You sure gave us a beautiful day, Lord, and I give You thanks for it. Thanks for being with those on our prayer list, Lord. And Lord, thanks for watching over family and friends. Lord, today is Wednesday and that means for Carry The Light Ministries it is Salvation Wednesday. So, Lord, I pray today for the unsaved and ask that after You clean we who are saved, You will lead us to those who are not saved and point them out to us so we can get to work leading them to You to be saved. Please, Lord, be with our families and all those who work so hard for You. Be with our President and I pray today for his soul. Help me now with the message and then help me dispatch it. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Brothers and sisters, it is Salvation Wednesday and the day we put leading the lost to Jesus above all other things we do. Please pray hard also for our homeland, the place where Jesus walked. Please pray for our President, Vice President, and also our Secretary of State John Kerry. Pray for each by name and pray for their souls first. How can people lead a "Christian Nation" when they are not acting like they know anything about walking with Jesus, which is what you must do to be a Christian? As I go to the message today about "The Old Road Map," I think I should put on a sub-title. How about "The Blame Game"? While that title would fit what goes on daily in Washington, DC, I want to show you by going to The Old Road Map where it got started. Ready?
Salvation Wednesday: July 30, 2014, "The Old Road Map" (Day Six), Sub-title "The Blame Game"
Genesis 2:4 - This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the Lord God made the earth and the heavens 5 and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground, 6 but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground 7 the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. 8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden and there He put the man He had formed. 9 And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground, trees that wee pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, I am taking the time to type out the scriptures as I think they are so very important to this subject for today. Anyway, up to now we see that God made this beautiful garden, and I want you to just picture it. If you have ever been to the "Longwood Gardens" or the "Hershey Gardens," think about those and think about how beautiful they are and times it by the highest number you can think of. When God makes beauty, He makes beauty. I mean after all, He made me! (And you of course also.) Now God placed man in the Garden, that beautiful "Garden of Eden." Then He told man, "Adam," as we have come to know him, that he was free to eat from any tree except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and Adam was told if he did eat from it he would surely die. Then God gave control over to him all animals including those that swim, those that fly, and those that walk on the earth. He was given the animals to use and even name. But man was still not happy so God stepped in again and made one more living being. What did God give Adam, and what happened after that? Well, enough for today, and about that sub-title "The Blame Game," well, I guess you will need to come back tomorrow to find out about it, and you can, well, blame that on me. It was my fault. I am not even going to try and say it was Satan that had me type so slow. It was me. Anyway. Let's wind this up today praying for those who are unsaved.
Dear Lord, I pray today for all those who are unsaved and I pray today that You will help me walk with You each step of the way. I pray also for President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Secretary of State Kerry. I pray for their souls and that they come to You and that they understand about Your Homeland and my homeland. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth and share your blessings. Love ya. Please share my love with others.
Pastor Dan
Brothers and sisters, it is Salvation Wednesday and the day we put leading the lost to Jesus above all other things we do. Please pray hard also for our homeland, the place where Jesus walked. Please pray for our President, Vice President, and also our Secretary of State John Kerry. Pray for each by name and pray for their souls first. How can people lead a "Christian Nation" when they are not acting like they know anything about walking with Jesus, which is what you must do to be a Christian? As I go to the message today about "The Old Road Map," I think I should put on a sub-title. How about "The Blame Game"? While that title would fit what goes on daily in Washington, DC, I want to show you by going to The Old Road Map where it got started. Ready?
Salvation Wednesday: July 30, 2014, "The Old Road Map" (Day Six), Sub-title "The Blame Game"
Genesis 2:4 - This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the Lord God made the earth and the heavens 5 and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground, 6 but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground 7 the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. 8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden and there He put the man He had formed. 9 And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground, trees that wee pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, I am taking the time to type out the scriptures as I think they are so very important to this subject for today. Anyway, up to now we see that God made this beautiful garden, and I want you to just picture it. If you have ever been to the "Longwood Gardens" or the "Hershey Gardens," think about those and think about how beautiful they are and times it by the highest number you can think of. When God makes beauty, He makes beauty. I mean after all, He made me! (And you of course also.) Now God placed man in the Garden, that beautiful "Garden of Eden." Then He told man, "Adam," as we have come to know him, that he was free to eat from any tree except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and Adam was told if he did eat from it he would surely die. Then God gave control over to him all animals including those that swim, those that fly, and those that walk on the earth. He was given the animals to use and even name. But man was still not happy so God stepped in again and made one more living being. What did God give Adam, and what happened after that? Well, enough for today, and about that sub-title "The Blame Game," well, I guess you will need to come back tomorrow to find out about it, and you can, well, blame that on me. It was my fault. I am not even going to try and say it was Satan that had me type so slow. It was me. Anyway. Let's wind this up today praying for those who are unsaved.
Dear Lord, I pray today for all those who are unsaved and I pray today that You will help me walk with You each step of the way. I pray also for President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Secretary of State Kerry. I pray for their souls and that they come to You and that they understand about Your Homeland and my homeland. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth and share your blessings. Love ya. Please share my love with others.
Pastor Dan
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Tuesday 7/29/14 The Old Road Map 5
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You, Lord. Please clean me of my sins this day, Lord. Thanks for saving Kristi and Kolt. Lord, please watch over Dolores, Patsy, Burt, Bob, Sharon, Eleanor, Dan, Barbara, Ruby, Vicki, Ken, Pastor Dan, and all others who we have been praying for. Praise You, Lord, for healing Bobbie of cancer. All honor and glory to You. Please help me now with the message. Please help me stay awake and please help me dispatch the message. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Brothers and sisters, please read Genesis Chapter 2 as we move on with the creation story. Let me get right to the message. I am very tired this evening.
Tuesday: July 29, 2014, The Old Road Map (Day Five)
Genesis 2:1 - Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 2 By the seventh day God has finished the work he had been doing, so on the seventh day He rested from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done. (NIV)
Okay, here is where I get into trouble. What is the seventh day? If we go by our calendar, Saturday is the seventh day of the week. As a pastor and like all pastors who are active, they work on that seventh day. Then there are others who must work. Farmers must feed their livestock and take care of them. Someone needs to cook at home. When do the Christians get to rest? In fact, when do others get to rest? Now look, The Bible tells us that God rested from His work, it does not say He went to bed to sleep for 24 hours. The Bible said He rested from His work. Okay, let's give the cook at home a break, like so many Christians who go to church, after church they head out to dinner, and not one complaint about all the restaurant staff who had to work. What if all those restaurants would close on Sunday? I think we need to know what resting really is. Maybe a short nap on Sunday afternoon, or what about those people who love golf? To some, that is resting. I like to watch some sports, but that means I expect someone to be working. What about those who love to be in their garden, so on a Saturday or Sunday you find them pulling weeds or picking the fruit. I agree that we need to rest, and I think all of us rest in different ways. If you are a person who must work on Saturday or Sunday, or your Sabbath, I think you need to rest on another day, in fact, I think we need to be resting our bodies and minds when they get tired, which means we need to do daily resting and getting some sleep.
Now about making the day Holy? I think it is great, on that day we are to keep it "Holy." I vote for making all days Holy. Holy is not just a term for a "religious day" or associated with divine power. Holy also means to be held in "high esteem" (The American Heritage Dictionary). Now using it with a day of the week, I for one think that all days should be held in "high esteem." Let's face it, if God gives us another day, we should keep it "Holy." We need to keep all days holy and we need to respect and love all people. Holy is a great word and it fits really nicely with "Love."
So what do I suggest for all of you? Live each day to please God and love Him dearly. Love your neighbor. Respect one another and help each other. Look at the good things each day, talk to God a lot, and take time to listen to Him. If you do these things, in short you day will be "Holy."
Now go forth and share your blessings, and if you choose to have a cheese sandwich for lunch, make it Swiss Cheese, for it will help with the "Holy" part. Love ya. Please share my love with others.
Pastor Dan
P.S. Tomorrow, what really happened in the "Garden of Eden." Who is to blame?
Brothers and sisters, please read Genesis Chapter 2 as we move on with the creation story. Let me get right to the message. I am very tired this evening.
Tuesday: July 29, 2014, The Old Road Map (Day Five)
Genesis 2:1 - Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 2 By the seventh day God has finished the work he had been doing, so on the seventh day He rested from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done. (NIV)
Okay, here is where I get into trouble. What is the seventh day? If we go by our calendar, Saturday is the seventh day of the week. As a pastor and like all pastors who are active, they work on that seventh day. Then there are others who must work. Farmers must feed their livestock and take care of them. Someone needs to cook at home. When do the Christians get to rest? In fact, when do others get to rest? Now look, The Bible tells us that God rested from His work, it does not say He went to bed to sleep for 24 hours. The Bible said He rested from His work. Okay, let's give the cook at home a break, like so many Christians who go to church, after church they head out to dinner, and not one complaint about all the restaurant staff who had to work. What if all those restaurants would close on Sunday? I think we need to know what resting really is. Maybe a short nap on Sunday afternoon, or what about those people who love golf? To some, that is resting. I like to watch some sports, but that means I expect someone to be working. What about those who love to be in their garden, so on a Saturday or Sunday you find them pulling weeds or picking the fruit. I agree that we need to rest, and I think all of us rest in different ways. If you are a person who must work on Saturday or Sunday, or your Sabbath, I think you need to rest on another day, in fact, I think we need to be resting our bodies and minds when they get tired, which means we need to do daily resting and getting some sleep.
Now about making the day Holy? I think it is great, on that day we are to keep it "Holy." I vote for making all days Holy. Holy is not just a term for a "religious day" or associated with divine power. Holy also means to be held in "high esteem" (The American Heritage Dictionary). Now using it with a day of the week, I for one think that all days should be held in "high esteem." Let's face it, if God gives us another day, we should keep it "Holy." We need to keep all days holy and we need to respect and love all people. Holy is a great word and it fits really nicely with "Love."
So what do I suggest for all of you? Live each day to please God and love Him dearly. Love your neighbor. Respect one another and help each other. Look at the good things each day, talk to God a lot, and take time to listen to Him. If you do these things, in short you day will be "Holy."
Now go forth and share your blessings, and if you choose to have a cheese sandwich for lunch, make it Swiss Cheese, for it will help with the "Holy" part. Love ya. Please share my love with others.
Pastor Dan
P.S. Tomorrow, what really happened in the "Garden of Eden." Who is to blame?
Monday, July 28, 2014
Monday 7/28/14 The Old Road Map 4
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You very, very much. I am sorry that I sin, and I want to repent, and I need Your help to do just that. Please help me, Lord. I pray today, Father, for all those who follow this line and give You the honor and glory for those who do. Lord, please help me with the daily message and help me to get it dispatched. Lord, thank You very much for protecting us during the storm last night, and thanks for the rain we are receiving right now. I love You, Lord. In Jesus' name, I give praise and ask my prayers to be heard and acted on according to Your will and not mine. Amen.
Good Monday early evening, my dear brothers and sisters. As I get out "The Old Road Map" again this week, I am doing my best to follow the directions that God lays on my heart. Please pray for our President and our Secretary of State. I don't think either of them understands that Israel is our homeland and we need to be standing with our Jewish brothers and sisters. More than it being our homeland, it is the place where Jesus was born, preached, taught, died for our sins, was buried, rose from the dead, and even did His lift-off. Pray for Secretary Kerry's and President Obama's souls. If these two were solid Christians, they would understand this. I am not judging, just saying what I see. Amen. Now let me get out "The Old Road Map."
Monday: July 28, 2014, The Old Road Map (Day Four)
Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (NIV)
I am not going to type out the complete scripture for today, so I ask you to read Genesis Chapter One. There is one thing that jumps right out at me as I look at this story of Creation, and that is these three words: "And God Said."
Years and years ago when the Pennsylvania Turnpike first opened in our area, my pop loaded up my mamma, brother Leonard and little Danny and drove us up to the entrance of the Turnpike which at that time was called the Carlisle entrance. He had in hand his old road map and he wanted to show us how fast 60 MPH really was. So with map in hand we got our ticket and got on the turnpike and headed out and went through the tunnels. He was thrilled to show us this,and of course we loved seeing it. And those tunnels, wow. In the Bible it tells us that if we have faith we could move the mountain, and my mamma reminded us of just that. In case you were thinking that if you had faith and wanted to see a mountain move for no reason other than to show it could be done, you do not understand the work of our Lord. But with faith those workers tunneled out a big hold in the mountain so that the cars and trucks could go through and not over or around. With dad's road map in hand, we got off the pike and found our way into Orbisonia where my mamma's sister lived. So we visited and then back on that turnpike that just opened.
So with The Old Road Map I am using, the New International Version of God's Holy Word, I went back to the beginning to start this week. And what do we find back in the beginning? NOTHING. The earth was formless. Nothing there. Then it happened. GOD SPOKE!! And for six days GOD SPOKE!! In those six days God spoke a lot, and things were formed, things were made, plans were laid out, instructions were given, and everything went perfectly, or did until He created man and woman. Then something happened that was not perfect, and that was God made us, even though we were and are still made in the image of God, it seems we would start out sinning. The very first command was broken right away, and what was the sin? If you are going to say the serpent told the woman to pick fruit from the tree that she was not to eat from and that then Adam ate some of the fruit Eve picked ... What was that very first sin? If you say eating the fruit, you are wrong in my opinion. To me it was disobedience to our Lord and Master, our Father in Heaven who created heaven and earth. Man, meaning man and woman, were disobedient to our Lord right from the start.
Tomorrow we are going to take a look at what happened when man first found out that God knew they had sinned. You all do understand that God knows when we sin,how often and what we did, right? Sure, you know it and so do I, yet we keep right on sinning. Tomorrow, a little bit on repentance also. So address yourself this evening as you read your Bible in Genesis Chapter One. Read it through.
Now go forth and read the word, and share your blessings. Love ya. Please pass on my love to others.
Pastor Dan
Good Monday early evening, my dear brothers and sisters. As I get out "The Old Road Map" again this week, I am doing my best to follow the directions that God lays on my heart. Please pray for our President and our Secretary of State. I don't think either of them understands that Israel is our homeland and we need to be standing with our Jewish brothers and sisters. More than it being our homeland, it is the place where Jesus was born, preached, taught, died for our sins, was buried, rose from the dead, and even did His lift-off. Pray for Secretary Kerry's and President Obama's souls. If these two were solid Christians, they would understand this. I am not judging, just saying what I see. Amen. Now let me get out "The Old Road Map."
Monday: July 28, 2014, The Old Road Map (Day Four)
Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (NIV)
I am not going to type out the complete scripture for today, so I ask you to read Genesis Chapter One. There is one thing that jumps right out at me as I look at this story of Creation, and that is these three words: "And God Said."
Years and years ago when the Pennsylvania Turnpike first opened in our area, my pop loaded up my mamma, brother Leonard and little Danny and drove us up to the entrance of the Turnpike which at that time was called the Carlisle entrance. He had in hand his old road map and he wanted to show us how fast 60 MPH really was. So with map in hand we got our ticket and got on the turnpike and headed out and went through the tunnels. He was thrilled to show us this,and of course we loved seeing it. And those tunnels, wow. In the Bible it tells us that if we have faith we could move the mountain, and my mamma reminded us of just that. In case you were thinking that if you had faith and wanted to see a mountain move for no reason other than to show it could be done, you do not understand the work of our Lord. But with faith those workers tunneled out a big hold in the mountain so that the cars and trucks could go through and not over or around. With dad's road map in hand, we got off the pike and found our way into Orbisonia where my mamma's sister lived. So we visited and then back on that turnpike that just opened.
So with The Old Road Map I am using, the New International Version of God's Holy Word, I went back to the beginning to start this week. And what do we find back in the beginning? NOTHING. The earth was formless. Nothing there. Then it happened. GOD SPOKE!! And for six days GOD SPOKE!! In those six days God spoke a lot, and things were formed, things were made, plans were laid out, instructions were given, and everything went perfectly, or did until He created man and woman. Then something happened that was not perfect, and that was God made us, even though we were and are still made in the image of God, it seems we would start out sinning. The very first command was broken right away, and what was the sin? If you are going to say the serpent told the woman to pick fruit from the tree that she was not to eat from and that then Adam ate some of the fruit Eve picked ... What was that very first sin? If you say eating the fruit, you are wrong in my opinion. To me it was disobedience to our Lord and Master, our Father in Heaven who created heaven and earth. Man, meaning man and woman, were disobedient to our Lord right from the start.
Tomorrow we are going to take a look at what happened when man first found out that God knew they had sinned. You all do understand that God knows when we sin,how often and what we did, right? Sure, you know it and so do I, yet we keep right on sinning. Tomorrow, a little bit on repentance also. So address yourself this evening as you read your Bible in Genesis Chapter One. Read it through.
Now go forth and read the word, and share your blessings. Love ya. Please pass on my love to others.
Pastor Dan
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Saturday 7/26/14 The Old Road Map 3
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You, and I ask forgiveness of my sins. Thanks for all You do for me each day. Please help me now with the daily message, Lord, for as You know right now I am struggling some. In fact, a lot. Lord, please help me with the message and then please help me to dispatch it. Please keep watch over those we have been praying for. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.
Brothers and sisters, I want to get right to the message today. We need to see where this old road map is going to take us this day.
Saturday: July 26, 2014, The Old Road Map (Day Three)
John 17:17 - "Sanctify them by the truth, Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified." (NIV)
Hebrews 10:10 - And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (NIV)
In John 17:17/19, we see Jesus praying for His disciples and of course we are the disciples of today. You can see we are sanctified by the Truth and of course the word of God is the truth. So to Sanctify we who are working for Him and all others who accept to be sanctified by the blood of Jesus. Before Jesus there were lots of sacrifices made unto the Lord, burnt offerings, sin offerings. Lambs were sacrificed on the altar, but that was before Jesus. Jesus became the Lamb who was sacrificed for the sins of the world. I want you to take a good look at the wording of:
Hebrews 10:10 - And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (NIV)
It is not a mistake that the wording in our Bible when talking about the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus on the cross, says, "Sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all," when one might think it should be once and for all. What this means is that Jesus Christ went to the cross one time for all of us, one time for everyone. So in short, Jesus went to the cross, killed, sacrificed for all of our sins, even for the sins of those who do not believe in Jesus.
Now I want to get a little deeper into this. Once Jesus died for us, we were made clean, if we indeed accepted what He did for us. Once we asked Jesus into our hearts, once we become "Born Again," then our body becomes a Sanctuary. We become the place where Jesus can come and dwell. I don't remember all the words, but we at one time would sing a song that went like this:
"Lord, prepare me to be a Sanctuary." And we just need to be cleaned up by the blood of Jesus. Once we have cleaned our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls of sin by taking Jesus on as our Savior, then only one person can mess it up. Want to guess who that might be? No, it is not Satan! The only one who can mess up our Sanctuary is our own self.
So our Father in Heaven gave us His Son Jesus (John 3:16). Then Jesus went to the cross for us, and we just need to confess our sins and our believing and faith over to Jesus (Romans 10:9/10). I think we need to close out this short week by making our bodies a Sanctuary for Jesus. Are you with me? Let's pray.
Dear Father in Heaven: I confess I am a sinner and I want to be clean. I want to be sanctified by Jesus. I want to become a Sanctuary for Him to come and live. Please, Lord, clean me this day, and Jesus, I believe You died for me and were risen from the dead. Seal my place in heaven this day by placing my name in the Lamb's Book of Lie. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Now go forth and share your blessings. Love ya. Please share my love with others.
Pastor Dan
Brothers and sisters, I want to get right to the message today. We need to see where this old road map is going to take us this day.
Saturday: July 26, 2014, The Old Road Map (Day Three)
John 17:17 - "Sanctify them by the truth, Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified." (NIV)
Hebrews 10:10 - And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (NIV)
In John 17:17/19, we see Jesus praying for His disciples and of course we are the disciples of today. You can see we are sanctified by the Truth and of course the word of God is the truth. So to Sanctify we who are working for Him and all others who accept to be sanctified by the blood of Jesus. Before Jesus there were lots of sacrifices made unto the Lord, burnt offerings, sin offerings. Lambs were sacrificed on the altar, but that was before Jesus. Jesus became the Lamb who was sacrificed for the sins of the world. I want you to take a good look at the wording of:
Hebrews 10:10 - And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (NIV)
It is not a mistake that the wording in our Bible when talking about the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus on the cross, says, "Sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all," when one might think it should be once and for all. What this means is that Jesus Christ went to the cross one time for all of us, one time for everyone. So in short, Jesus went to the cross, killed, sacrificed for all of our sins, even for the sins of those who do not believe in Jesus.
Now I want to get a little deeper into this. Once Jesus died for us, we were made clean, if we indeed accepted what He did for us. Once we asked Jesus into our hearts, once we become "Born Again," then our body becomes a Sanctuary. We become the place where Jesus can come and dwell. I don't remember all the words, but we at one time would sing a song that went like this:
"Lord, prepare me to be a Sanctuary." And we just need to be cleaned up by the blood of Jesus. Once we have cleaned our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls of sin by taking Jesus on as our Savior, then only one person can mess it up. Want to guess who that might be? No, it is not Satan! The only one who can mess up our Sanctuary is our own self.
So our Father in Heaven gave us His Son Jesus (John 3:16). Then Jesus went to the cross for us, and we just need to confess our sins and our believing and faith over to Jesus (Romans 10:9/10). I think we need to close out this short week by making our bodies a Sanctuary for Jesus. Are you with me? Let's pray.
Dear Father in Heaven: I confess I am a sinner and I want to be clean. I want to be sanctified by Jesus. I want to become a Sanctuary for Him to come and live. Please, Lord, clean me this day, and Jesus, I believe You died for me and were risen from the dead. Seal my place in heaven this day by placing my name in the Lamb's Book of Lie. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Now go forth and share your blessings. Love ya. Please share my love with others.
Pastor Dan
Friday, July 25, 2014
Friday 7/25/14 The Old Road Map 2
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You very, very much. Please forgive me of my sins. Thanks for healing me from whatever I had yesterday and last night. Thank You so very much for the beautiful great grandson that You gave to us yesterday. What a great looking child, and I pray for "Kolt" this day that he will be healthy and You will keep Your hand upon him. Please keep watch over the rest of the family. Lord, please lay Your healing hands upon the following people: Patsy, Burt, Barbara (York) and Barbara (Florida), and Lord, touch Vicki and her mother also. Please heal Dolores and check in on me too, Lord. Be with Glenn and Marie, and help them. Please lower the stress level for Grant. Thanks for bringing Charles and Janet home safely. Lord, it is time I get to the message. I have been messing up when it comes to them. I have been tired, Lord, so very tired. Please give me a shot of "go juice" and help me now with the message and then help me, please, to dispatch it. Help it fall where needed. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Brothers and sisters, it has been hit or miss for me and my writing for awhile, and I am sorry. It seems like the days are running together. Anyway, Dolores and I are so blessed as once again our family has been added to. Kristy and Keith Jr. had their second son yesterday. He weighed in at over 9 pounds. Everyone is healthy. All praise and glory to God for this special gift, a special gift, a child of God. Now let me get to the message, The Old Road Map. Let's see where the road goes today.
Friday: July 25, 2014, The Old Road Map (Day Two)
Psalm 15:1 - Lord, who may dwell in Your sanctuary? Who may live on Your holy hill? (NIV)
Once again our Road Map is taking us to "Sanctuaries." Here we find the asking of our Lord who may dwell in His Sanctuary. My first answer would be the ones who are living for Christ and who have asked Jesus to have a one-on-one personal relationship with Him. In Psalms we see it like this.
Psalm 15:2 - He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from the heart 3 and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, 4 who despises a vile man, but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken. (NIV)
I condensed it a bit and will do that again. If you really want to live in the Sanctuary of our Lord, you in my opinion should walk in the path of the Lord and live the very best you can daily to be like Jesus. Do you remember these words from your Sunday School and Vacation Bible School days? "Lord, I want to be like Jesus, in my heart, in my heart. Lord, I want to be like Jesus, in my heart. Lord, I want to be a Christian, in my heart, in my heart. Lord, I want to be a Christian, in my heart." Now you can add words and verses to this. Just remember to live in His Sanctuary, you must live like you belong there.
Psalm 63:2 - I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. (NIV)
Psalm 134:1 - Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who minister by night in the house of the Lord. 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord. 3 May the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion. (NIV)
Last evening when Grant, Wanda, and I were driving out to do a food drive, we were talking about those of us who raise our hands in praise in church and other places when we praise the Lord. I talked about how I was in churches where I would lift my hands in Praise to God and some people from that church would look at me like I was strange. You see, they did not lift their hands in praise, but I did. We talked about it being in the Bible, so I thought today I would point it out to all of you. Psalm 134:2 - Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord. I just love it, don't you?
PLEASE, PLEASE, brothers and sisters, do not be afraid to lift your hands and hearts to the Lord in praise, and folks, I want to bring this up today. You do not need to be in a sanctuary of a church to be in a Sanctuary. I oftentimes go out to our "Rock of Hope" and sit at the feet of the crosses and lift my holy hands and praise the Lord. You can make a sanctuary wherever you want to make it. Just go there, talk to the Lord, invite the Holy Spirit and make like Jesus, invite Him to you, to come over you through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Tomorrow I am going to be talking to you about your body, your body becoming a sanctuary. Yes, tomorrow I want to go to scripture, then go to Christ, and we are going to clear the trash from our body. We are going to clean it up. We are going to vacuum your body like those who clean the church vacuum the church. That is it for today.
Now go forth and share your blessings, and yes, I know tomorrow is Saturday, but I need to do some catching up. By the way, a family of tomatoes was walking down the street, and the baby was in the back walking very slow. Papa Tomato went back and told Junior to move it out. After awhile he just got tired of it, and he went back and stepped on the baby tomato and said, "Catch Up." Okay, go forth and share those blessings. Love ya, and please share that love with others.
Pastor Dan
Brothers and sisters, it has been hit or miss for me and my writing for awhile, and I am sorry. It seems like the days are running together. Anyway, Dolores and I are so blessed as once again our family has been added to. Kristy and Keith Jr. had their second son yesterday. He weighed in at over 9 pounds. Everyone is healthy. All praise and glory to God for this special gift, a special gift, a child of God. Now let me get to the message, The Old Road Map. Let's see where the road goes today.
Friday: July 25, 2014, The Old Road Map (Day Two)
Psalm 15:1 - Lord, who may dwell in Your sanctuary? Who may live on Your holy hill? (NIV)
Once again our Road Map is taking us to "Sanctuaries." Here we find the asking of our Lord who may dwell in His Sanctuary. My first answer would be the ones who are living for Christ and who have asked Jesus to have a one-on-one personal relationship with Him. In Psalms we see it like this.
Psalm 15:2 - He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from the heart 3 and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, 4 who despises a vile man, but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken. (NIV)
I condensed it a bit and will do that again. If you really want to live in the Sanctuary of our Lord, you in my opinion should walk in the path of the Lord and live the very best you can daily to be like Jesus. Do you remember these words from your Sunday School and Vacation Bible School days? "Lord, I want to be like Jesus, in my heart, in my heart. Lord, I want to be like Jesus, in my heart. Lord, I want to be a Christian, in my heart, in my heart. Lord, I want to be a Christian, in my heart." Now you can add words and verses to this. Just remember to live in His Sanctuary, you must live like you belong there.
Psalm 63:2 - I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. (NIV)
Psalm 134:1 - Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who minister by night in the house of the Lord. 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord. 3 May the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion. (NIV)
Last evening when Grant, Wanda, and I were driving out to do a food drive, we were talking about those of us who raise our hands in praise in church and other places when we praise the Lord. I talked about how I was in churches where I would lift my hands in Praise to God and some people from that church would look at me like I was strange. You see, they did not lift their hands in praise, but I did. We talked about it being in the Bible, so I thought today I would point it out to all of you. Psalm 134:2 - Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord. I just love it, don't you?
PLEASE, PLEASE, brothers and sisters, do not be afraid to lift your hands and hearts to the Lord in praise, and folks, I want to bring this up today. You do not need to be in a sanctuary of a church to be in a Sanctuary. I oftentimes go out to our "Rock of Hope" and sit at the feet of the crosses and lift my holy hands and praise the Lord. You can make a sanctuary wherever you want to make it. Just go there, talk to the Lord, invite the Holy Spirit and make like Jesus, invite Him to you, to come over you through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Tomorrow I am going to be talking to you about your body, your body becoming a sanctuary. Yes, tomorrow I want to go to scripture, then go to Christ, and we are going to clear the trash from our body. We are going to clean it up. We are going to vacuum your body like those who clean the church vacuum the church. That is it for today.
Now go forth and share your blessings, and yes, I know tomorrow is Saturday, but I need to do some catching up. By the way, a family of tomatoes was walking down the street, and the baby was in the back walking very slow. Papa Tomato went back and told Junior to move it out. After awhile he just got tired of it, and he went back and stepped on the baby tomato and said, "Catch Up." Okay, go forth and share those blessings. Love ya, and please share that love with others.
Pastor Dan
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Wednesday 7/23/14 The Old Road Map 1
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You, Lord. Thanks for cleaning me of my sins, dear Lord. I appreciate it, and I know that I am unworthy of it. Thanks for watching over family and friends and all those who use this line. Thanks for answering prayers according to Your will, dear Lord. Please help us this day as we go to gather food for the food pantry. Please help us with that harvest today and help us this Salvation Wednesday to help You with the harvest in Your fields, and now, dear Lord, please help me with the message and then help me to dispatch it. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Brothers and sisters, I am sorry that I have not written for a couple of days. Thanks to those who have been checking on me. Today is Wednesday, and that means it is Salvation Wednesday on this line, a day we work even harder for our Lord to bring in the lost to be saved. I need to get right to the road map and get going on this message today.
Salvation Wednesday: July 23, 2014, The Old Road Map (Day One)
Exodus 25:8 - Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. (NIV)
A "Sanctuary" is described as a sacred place, most often in a church building. It should be a place where it is sacred and is kept that way. I can remember as a young lad in our very young Sunday school class being taken into the church "sanctuary" by our pastor and told what it was and told in no uncertain terms that it was not a place to carry on and run around. Again at the beginning of Vacation Bible School we were told the same thing. Still years ago when I was a teacher at Vacation Bible School, I had to tell the children who came that the sanctuary was a very holy place and not a playground, a place in the church where people can go and sit down, even before church starts and call on the Holy Spirit to come in and come over them. It was a place of quiet worship where we could come and get nearer to Jesus.
Today I see in new churches that a sanctuary is more like a "playhouse" with all the theater type lights and even the smoke machines that put off all the effects. If our disciples of old would walk into a church of today, what might they think? Maybe they would think they would need a "playbill" and not that Sunday bulletin that we have handed to us. Maybe they would think they had the wrong road map out and instead of going into the sanctuary of a church they were in a karaoke bar or coffee house. I can recall the time when we would go into the church sanctuary with mamma and pop and sit down and just behave. And if I did not do just that, little Danny by would get his hide tanned a tad when I got home. I sometimes wonder if we are not near the point in some church "sanctuaries" that the line is crossed and it is no longer a sanctuary.
I think it is a darn shame when we must furnish entertainment to get people in church. While coffee was often served in Sunday School, it seems now we must have been coffee house places called "Starbucks." I wonder what road map people are using to find that church of their choice today. I mean today when you walk into some churches you see not just one or two drum sets on stage, you see three or more. There are a couple of pianos and a big organ, and maybe even a keyboard or two. Now I know the Bible tells us to make a joyful noise unto the Lord, but have we gone beyond that point?
I can remember going into the church "sanctuary" and singing "Lord, prepare me to be a Sanctuary," and to me what that meant was that I was to become a sanctuary, a really nice peaceful place for Jesus to come and stay. This week, or what is left of it, I want to look at sanctuaries and see if we can find a road map that will lead us to a good one.
That's it for today. Now go forth and share your blessings. Love ya. Please share my love with others.
Pastor Dan
Brothers and sisters, I am sorry that I have not written for a couple of days. Thanks to those who have been checking on me. Today is Wednesday, and that means it is Salvation Wednesday on this line, a day we work even harder for our Lord to bring in the lost to be saved. I need to get right to the road map and get going on this message today.
Salvation Wednesday: July 23, 2014, The Old Road Map (Day One)
Exodus 25:8 - Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. (NIV)
A "Sanctuary" is described as a sacred place, most often in a church building. It should be a place where it is sacred and is kept that way. I can remember as a young lad in our very young Sunday school class being taken into the church "sanctuary" by our pastor and told what it was and told in no uncertain terms that it was not a place to carry on and run around. Again at the beginning of Vacation Bible School we were told the same thing. Still years ago when I was a teacher at Vacation Bible School, I had to tell the children who came that the sanctuary was a very holy place and not a playground, a place in the church where people can go and sit down, even before church starts and call on the Holy Spirit to come in and come over them. It was a place of quiet worship where we could come and get nearer to Jesus.
Today I see in new churches that a sanctuary is more like a "playhouse" with all the theater type lights and even the smoke machines that put off all the effects. If our disciples of old would walk into a church of today, what might they think? Maybe they would think they would need a "playbill" and not that Sunday bulletin that we have handed to us. Maybe they would think they had the wrong road map out and instead of going into the sanctuary of a church they were in a karaoke bar or coffee house. I can recall the time when we would go into the church sanctuary with mamma and pop and sit down and just behave. And if I did not do just that, little Danny by would get his hide tanned a tad when I got home. I sometimes wonder if we are not near the point in some church "sanctuaries" that the line is crossed and it is no longer a sanctuary.
I think it is a darn shame when we must furnish entertainment to get people in church. While coffee was often served in Sunday School, it seems now we must have been coffee house places called "Starbucks." I wonder what road map people are using to find that church of their choice today. I mean today when you walk into some churches you see not just one or two drum sets on stage, you see three or more. There are a couple of pianos and a big organ, and maybe even a keyboard or two. Now I know the Bible tells us to make a joyful noise unto the Lord, but have we gone beyond that point?
I can remember going into the church "sanctuary" and singing "Lord, prepare me to be a Sanctuary," and to me what that meant was that I was to become a sanctuary, a really nice peaceful place for Jesus to come and stay. This week, or what is left of it, I want to look at sanctuaries and see if we can find a road map that will lead us to a good one.
That's it for today. Now go forth and share your blessings. Love ya. Please share my love with others.
Pastor Dan
Friday, July 18, 2014
Friday 7/18/14 Decisions, Decisions, Decisions 3
Good Morning, Dear Father in Heaven. Thanks for another day here on earth, and thanks for sending Jesus to the cross to save my unworthy soul. Lord, please be with our brothers and sisters in Israel and bring peace to the land where Jesus walked. And Lord, please be with families of those lost in the airliner crash when some evil-minded people shot the plane down. Lord, please help me now with the message and please then help me to dispatch it. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Brothers and sisters, our nation is in trouble. Our homeland is under attack, and a private airliner was shot down yesterday. Warriors, we need to be praying and praying. We need to be getting nearer and nearer to God each day, and we need to be hugging and loving on each other and our family. We need to contact God before each decision we make, and again I want to talk to you today about decisions and why talk it over with God first. Sorry I missed yesterday, but I'm at it early today. Let me get going on the message.
Friday: July 18, 2014, Decisions, Decisions, Decisions (Day Three)
2 Corinthians 9:6 - Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: "He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor, His righteousness endures forever." (NIV)
I believe that throughout life a lot of decisions that we make or need to make are based on finances. I wonder how often we go to God before we get out the credit card, or if we go to God after we get the statement from the credit card company? Again I tell you that each morning we need to get up and go to God and ask Him to help us through the day and help us in all the decisions that we are going to make that day. Some decisions we make are automatic, like getting out of bed, but there are days when I need to go to God and ask Him to give me strength to get out of bed. Sometimes we even need to ask Him to help us in decisions about going to the bathroom. One of the things we talk to God about in our making decisions is when we leave the Southern Location of the North Pole and hit the road. We need to make a lot of decisions as we drive and they must flow without delay. The light is stale green and we know it is going to change to yellow and then red. We make a decision to stop. We pray about those decisions in advance, before we leave home. We do not say, "Dear Father in Heaven, the light is about to turn red, should I stop? In Jesus' Name, Amen." Now this prayer might get answered in a hurry, you don't stop, you get killed in the crash, you go to heaven, and God greets you by saying, "You should have stopped!"
In our scripture today it talks about our giving and how "God loves the cheerful giver." We should decide this before we pay all of our other bills. In fact, we should have decided this before we made the bills. The bottom line should be that you talk it over with God, then you donate to His work, and you pay your bills. If you pay your bills first, you will find that often there is nothing left to give to God. So go to God and ask for help. When you give to God from your heart, you will never not have your needs furnished. That is in our scripture from today, go back up and re-read it. Also, God never will get tired of hearing from you. In fact, He loves to hear from all of us. He loves to hear from us in prayer. He loves to hear us as we do Bible Study. He loves to hear from us as WE TAKE TIME TO PRAISE HIM. And I for one love to sing and sing to God. I sing all day long, when I am outside working, when driving, I just love to make up little gospel songs and sing them to Him. Look, don't tell me you can't sing, for God has you covered on that one also. Yes, it is in the Bible. Look!
Psalm 100:1 - Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness, come before His presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the Lord He is God; it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His mercy is ever-lasting; and His truth endureth to all generations. (KJV)
So as you pray about decisions, you can sing to Him about it, sing the prayer you are praying. Do you know that one of this nation's most loved songs is a prayer? The song? "God Bless America." So just think, as you sing your prayer request to God, God might really get a good laugh out of it. While I might sound like I am joking some on this, I am serious. You do not need to be along side your bed on your knees to get God's attention. I am sure He would love to see you on your knees praying, but I am just as sure He would love to hear You singing and being happy as you ask for things and also take time to sing PRAISES TO HIM for great things He has done for you.
So as I end this short series on decisions, please take a minute and tell me about any one decision that you will need to make that is not worthy of asking God to help you with. As for me and our house, we will serve the Lord and "Any decision worth making is WORTH TALKING OVER WITH GOD FIRST." And you can quote me on that saying!
Also, please remember that first scripture I gave you today. In short, you only reap what you sow. That is true in all you do, folks. In all you do. Not just in your giving, but in the way you raise your family, the way you treat others. If you want someone to smile at you and be kind to you, smile at them first and be kind to them. Sometimes it takes more than once.
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You, and I pray You have a nice day, and I pray that we here on earth will sin less today and more people will come to You to be saved. Please be with all pastors and others who will be going out working for You this weekend. Thanks, Lord, for hearing our prayers and answering them according to Your will for us. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth, have a great weekend, and please share your blessings, and share your love with others, and by all means remember that love is your greatest blessing. Love ya. Please pass on my love to others.
Pastor Dan
Brothers and sisters, our nation is in trouble. Our homeland is under attack, and a private airliner was shot down yesterday. Warriors, we need to be praying and praying. We need to be getting nearer and nearer to God each day, and we need to be hugging and loving on each other and our family. We need to contact God before each decision we make, and again I want to talk to you today about decisions and why talk it over with God first. Sorry I missed yesterday, but I'm at it early today. Let me get going on the message.
Friday: July 18, 2014, Decisions, Decisions, Decisions (Day Three)
2 Corinthians 9:6 - Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: "He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor, His righteousness endures forever." (NIV)
I believe that throughout life a lot of decisions that we make or need to make are based on finances. I wonder how often we go to God before we get out the credit card, or if we go to God after we get the statement from the credit card company? Again I tell you that each morning we need to get up and go to God and ask Him to help us through the day and help us in all the decisions that we are going to make that day. Some decisions we make are automatic, like getting out of bed, but there are days when I need to go to God and ask Him to give me strength to get out of bed. Sometimes we even need to ask Him to help us in decisions about going to the bathroom. One of the things we talk to God about in our making decisions is when we leave the Southern Location of the North Pole and hit the road. We need to make a lot of decisions as we drive and they must flow without delay. The light is stale green and we know it is going to change to yellow and then red. We make a decision to stop. We pray about those decisions in advance, before we leave home. We do not say, "Dear Father in Heaven, the light is about to turn red, should I stop? In Jesus' Name, Amen." Now this prayer might get answered in a hurry, you don't stop, you get killed in the crash, you go to heaven, and God greets you by saying, "You should have stopped!"
In our scripture today it talks about our giving and how "God loves the cheerful giver." We should decide this before we pay all of our other bills. In fact, we should have decided this before we made the bills. The bottom line should be that you talk it over with God, then you donate to His work, and you pay your bills. If you pay your bills first, you will find that often there is nothing left to give to God. So go to God and ask for help. When you give to God from your heart, you will never not have your needs furnished. That is in our scripture from today, go back up and re-read it. Also, God never will get tired of hearing from you. In fact, He loves to hear from all of us. He loves to hear from us in prayer. He loves to hear us as we do Bible Study. He loves to hear from us as WE TAKE TIME TO PRAISE HIM. And I for one love to sing and sing to God. I sing all day long, when I am outside working, when driving, I just love to make up little gospel songs and sing them to Him. Look, don't tell me you can't sing, for God has you covered on that one also. Yes, it is in the Bible. Look!
Psalm 100:1 - Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness, come before His presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the Lord He is God; it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His mercy is ever-lasting; and His truth endureth to all generations. (KJV)
So as you pray about decisions, you can sing to Him about it, sing the prayer you are praying. Do you know that one of this nation's most loved songs is a prayer? The song? "God Bless America." So just think, as you sing your prayer request to God, God might really get a good laugh out of it. While I might sound like I am joking some on this, I am serious. You do not need to be along side your bed on your knees to get God's attention. I am sure He would love to see you on your knees praying, but I am just as sure He would love to hear You singing and being happy as you ask for things and also take time to sing PRAISES TO HIM for great things He has done for you.
So as I end this short series on decisions, please take a minute and tell me about any one decision that you will need to make that is not worthy of asking God to help you with. As for me and our house, we will serve the Lord and "Any decision worth making is WORTH TALKING OVER WITH GOD FIRST." And you can quote me on that saying!
Also, please remember that first scripture I gave you today. In short, you only reap what you sow. That is true in all you do, folks. In all you do. Not just in your giving, but in the way you raise your family, the way you treat others. If you want someone to smile at you and be kind to you, smile at them first and be kind to them. Sometimes it takes more than once.
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You, and I pray You have a nice day, and I pray that we here on earth will sin less today and more people will come to You to be saved. Please be with all pastors and others who will be going out working for You this weekend. Thanks, Lord, for hearing our prayers and answering them according to Your will for us. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth, have a great weekend, and please share your blessings, and share your love with others, and by all means remember that love is your greatest blessing. Love ya. Please pass on my love to others.
Pastor Dan
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Wednesday 7/16/14 Decisions, Decisions, Decisions 2
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You, and I really appreciate all You do for all of us. Thanks for saving my very unworthy soul. Thanks for watching over Carry The Light Ministries. Thanks for trusting me to work for You. Please, dear Father in Heaven, be with all those working for You at Vacation Bible Schools, and may they all remember it is all about Salvation. Speaking, Dear Father of Salvation, this is Salvation Wednesday here and I pray You will lead we who are saved to those who are unsaved and need Your saving grace. Help us with the words to say to get them to Your feet. Help us to make good decisions after talking it over with You. Now, dear Father, help me please with a message, and then please help me to get it dispatched. In the name of Jesus, I pray and give thanks. Amen.
Brothers and sisters, it is Wednesday, and that means it is Salvation Wednesday on this line. The day when we really get to work to help others come to the Lord to be saved. I feel one hundred percent that the bottom line for a pastor and for all workers in the fields is to bring in the lost. This is my main concern on this line. If you do not have Jesus in your heart, you have nothing, nothing. The more we grow in Jesus, the more we have and the bigger burden I have to lead the lost to the Lord. Each day God will give you more than one chance to work with Him. No one should be unemployed when it comes to working for Jesus. Your rewards will be heavenly. Decisions, Decisions, Decisions ... let's get to it.
Salvation Wednesday: July 16, 2014, Decisions, Decisions, Decisions (Day Two)
James 1:2 - Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. (NIV)
James 1:12 - Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, the very first decision I made this morning was to get up out of my bed and go to the bathroom. Now why would I write that down on a message? We all make that decision each day, right? Yes, and I brought this up to show you that we make decisions daily that are automatic. I had an early morning appointment to get my car inspected, so it was an early up, and then we had our prayer time and did our morning Bible study using "Our Daily Bread" and "In Touch" by Dr. Stanley. Then off for a day of decisions about running for things. After my car was finished I was asked if I would take a customer home who was dropping her car for service. Yes, I would be happy to do that. She also had her Yorkshire Terrier with her so that brought up our Yorkshires. And then a good chance to explain the Three Crosses and the Statue of Liberty on our car. So I explained Reverend Neil Enloe's song to her and what it means to me. We also talked about the Horn of Plenty and The Bible across the hood of our car. God opened a door for me to talk about Jesus, so I had that decision to make. One step led to another from Yorkshires to the Cross of Calvary. Then to feeding others and then to Jesus. Now I will need to do a follow-up to see if she goes to church. From there it was off to get a few batteries and for that I went to Interstate Batteries in East Hanover Township. What a joy, as Wayne, who is the owner, is also a pastor, and most of his employees are also Christians, and they wear it on their hearts for all to see. We always have prayer together. From there it was off to the food store for a few things. And then back home. It seems I always get a chance to witness at the food store. God is so very good, and that is the good, good news we must get out.
In our scripture today it points out that e should find it PURE JOY when we face trials for they will make us stronger. When we face these trials we also must make a lot of decisions. This is when we must stand very, very firm in our faith and our walk with our Lord Jesus. The scripture also tells us that "Blessed is the man (woman) who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. Now look at this scripture.
James 1:13 - When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. (NIV)
Our Lord Jesus was tested by evil, and He would not give in, and we must, if we truly love Jesus, stand firm when tested, and we must know and understand that it is not our Lord God testing us, but Satan and his forces of evil. Since we are protected by God and furnished with all we need to fight off the temptation, as we have Jesus, we have a way to talk to Him, and we have the inspired Word of God in our Bibles. The Bible tells us that if we do give in, it is because of our very own evil desires.
We have many decisions to make each day, many, many decisions. The most important decision we make each day is, in my opinion, this: Are we going to walk with Jesus full-time or are we going to be a "Part-Time Christian?" Now, brothers and sisters, you may use that statement, and use it as a quote from me. The statement question would be like this. Do you walk with Jesus daily or are you going to be a "Part-Time Christian?" That is a good way to wrap it up today. I pray you are a "full-timer." Let's pray to renew today, or if someone is coming to Jesus for the first time, let's clean the slate.
Dear Father in Heaven. I love You. Please forgive me of my sins this day, and help me to repent of those sins. Help me walk with You each day, and help me to work for Jesus by getting out the good, good news about Jesus. Thanks, dear Lord. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Now go forth and share your blessings. Love ya. Please share my love to your friends.
Pastor Dan
Brothers and sisters, it is Wednesday, and that means it is Salvation Wednesday on this line. The day when we really get to work to help others come to the Lord to be saved. I feel one hundred percent that the bottom line for a pastor and for all workers in the fields is to bring in the lost. This is my main concern on this line. If you do not have Jesus in your heart, you have nothing, nothing. The more we grow in Jesus, the more we have and the bigger burden I have to lead the lost to the Lord. Each day God will give you more than one chance to work with Him. No one should be unemployed when it comes to working for Jesus. Your rewards will be heavenly. Decisions, Decisions, Decisions ... let's get to it.
Salvation Wednesday: July 16, 2014, Decisions, Decisions, Decisions (Day Two)
James 1:2 - Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. (NIV)
James 1:12 - Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, the very first decision I made this morning was to get up out of my bed and go to the bathroom. Now why would I write that down on a message? We all make that decision each day, right? Yes, and I brought this up to show you that we make decisions daily that are automatic. I had an early morning appointment to get my car inspected, so it was an early up, and then we had our prayer time and did our morning Bible study using "Our Daily Bread" and "In Touch" by Dr. Stanley. Then off for a day of decisions about running for things. After my car was finished I was asked if I would take a customer home who was dropping her car for service. Yes, I would be happy to do that. She also had her Yorkshire Terrier with her so that brought up our Yorkshires. And then a good chance to explain the Three Crosses and the Statue of Liberty on our car. So I explained Reverend Neil Enloe's song to her and what it means to me. We also talked about the Horn of Plenty and The Bible across the hood of our car. God opened a door for me to talk about Jesus, so I had that decision to make. One step led to another from Yorkshires to the Cross of Calvary. Then to feeding others and then to Jesus. Now I will need to do a follow-up to see if she goes to church. From there it was off to get a few batteries and for that I went to Interstate Batteries in East Hanover Township. What a joy, as Wayne, who is the owner, is also a pastor, and most of his employees are also Christians, and they wear it on their hearts for all to see. We always have prayer together. From there it was off to the food store for a few things. And then back home. It seems I always get a chance to witness at the food store. God is so very good, and that is the good, good news we must get out.
In our scripture today it points out that e should find it PURE JOY when we face trials for they will make us stronger. When we face these trials we also must make a lot of decisions. This is when we must stand very, very firm in our faith and our walk with our Lord Jesus. The scripture also tells us that "Blessed is the man (woman) who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. Now look at this scripture.
James 1:13 - When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. (NIV)
Our Lord Jesus was tested by evil, and He would not give in, and we must, if we truly love Jesus, stand firm when tested, and we must know and understand that it is not our Lord God testing us, but Satan and his forces of evil. Since we are protected by God and furnished with all we need to fight off the temptation, as we have Jesus, we have a way to talk to Him, and we have the inspired Word of God in our Bibles. The Bible tells us that if we do give in, it is because of our very own evil desires.
We have many decisions to make each day, many, many decisions. The most important decision we make each day is, in my opinion, this: Are we going to walk with Jesus full-time or are we going to be a "Part-Time Christian?" Now, brothers and sisters, you may use that statement, and use it as a quote from me. The statement question would be like this. Do you walk with Jesus daily or are you going to be a "Part-Time Christian?" That is a good way to wrap it up today. I pray you are a "full-timer." Let's pray to renew today, or if someone is coming to Jesus for the first time, let's clean the slate.
Dear Father in Heaven. I love You. Please forgive me of my sins this day, and help me to repent of those sins. Help me walk with You each day, and help me to work for Jesus by getting out the good, good news about Jesus. Thanks, dear Lord. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Now go forth and share your blessings. Love ya. Please share my love to your friends.
Pastor Dan
Tuesday 7/15/14 Decisions, Decisions, Decisions 1
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You very much. Thanks for covering my sins with the blood of Jesus. Thanks for taking care of our family and friends. Thanks for watching over this line. Thanks for taking care of Ken, and also Emily. Please, Lord, be with Kristy and Keith, Jr., and the unborn child in the womb. Lord, thanks for sending help our way today. Thanks also for guiding the doctor's hands as my knees got injected. Thanks for giving me a chance to witness to the doctor. Lord, please help me now with the message and then help me to get it dispatched. In Jesus' Wonderful Name, I pray. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters. Another great day here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. Our food supplies in the food pantry are running low. We need to head out for a shopping spree. We do have a food drive next week, however, we must be so careful on food drives. We get in so much bad, outdated food. Believe it or not, we get in peanut butter that has been opened and half eaten. We get in food that is over ten years out of date. If you are going to donate food to a food pantry or a food bank, please do not empty our your cupboard of your unwanted food; instead when you go to the store, double your order and drop half of it off at the food pantry of your choice. Please remember that we are to feed the poor and needy, not treat them like scum. And those of you who might need help from a food pantry, please do not hoard the food, take what you can use, and use what you take. Sort of like an all-you-can-eat food buffet, don't waste the food. I think you got that.
God planted the word Decisions on my mind this day. How often in a day's time do we need to make decisions? I mean, real decisions? If you are like me, you make them daily and you make a lot of them. So let me get started on Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!
Tuesday: July 15, 2014, Decisions, Decisions, Decisions (Day One)
Proverbs 3:1 - My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the table of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, when we awake each day, we should go to the Lord in prayer thanking Him for another day and asking Him to help you in all you do. You just know that each day you will be faced with decisions. Some will be very minor, like what am I going to have for breakfast, or what am I going to put on today? Others might be a tad bigger as you plan your day and need to plan your escape from the norm to fit in a doctor's appointment or some work helping others. Then you will have more major decisions, like maybe buying a car or a house, and where to get the best deal on insurance. You might be making even deeper plans like starting a family, getting married, having children. Then there are we seniors that are making those decisions about getting rid of "stuff." One thing for sure, before the end of this week, you will be involved in more than one decision. Which is why I just opened with Decisions, Decisions, Decisions. And where do we turn for help? To God, of course! First in prayer, first we talk it over with God through Jesus. Then we get out the Bible and look up scriptures. I pulled out some from Proverbs today and will give you more scriptures tomorrow and the rest of the week, so when decisions need made, you will know where to head for help. Proverbs 1:5 jumps right out at me. Let me write it out again.
Proverbs 1:5 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and LEAN NOT on your own understanding. (NIV)
I can remember back in 1954 getting on my knees with my mother in our living room when she prayed about buying a new car. She wanted help from the Lord, and dad said she does not need a car, but her car was not dependable, and pop worked away from home. So we got on our knees, she prayed and then off to Sutliff Chevrolet Company to purchase a new 1954 Chevrolet 210. I guess it was a lesson for me, to pray before I would purchase a car. Well, let me tell you from 1954 to 2014, which is 60 years, I talked to God about many a new car or used car. Both buying them and selling them. We also need to remember a couple of things. Sometimes "no" is an answer from God that you do not want to hear. Also, sometimes your answer will not come overnight, so do not be afraid to go back to God in faith and talk to Him again.
Also remember that after you talk things over with God and you call upon His word, found in your Bible, remember to give thanks. Even if you did not get the decision you wanted to hear, tell Him thanks. Okay, that is good for the first night.
Now go forth, praying about decisions, and sharing your blessings with others. Love ya, and please, by all means, pass on my love to others.
Pastor Dan
Dear brothers and sisters. Another great day here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. Our food supplies in the food pantry are running low. We need to head out for a shopping spree. We do have a food drive next week, however, we must be so careful on food drives. We get in so much bad, outdated food. Believe it or not, we get in peanut butter that has been opened and half eaten. We get in food that is over ten years out of date. If you are going to donate food to a food pantry or a food bank, please do not empty our your cupboard of your unwanted food; instead when you go to the store, double your order and drop half of it off at the food pantry of your choice. Please remember that we are to feed the poor and needy, not treat them like scum. And those of you who might need help from a food pantry, please do not hoard the food, take what you can use, and use what you take. Sort of like an all-you-can-eat food buffet, don't waste the food. I think you got that.
God planted the word Decisions on my mind this day. How often in a day's time do we need to make decisions? I mean, real decisions? If you are like me, you make them daily and you make a lot of them. So let me get started on Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!
Tuesday: July 15, 2014, Decisions, Decisions, Decisions (Day One)
Proverbs 3:1 - My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the table of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, when we awake each day, we should go to the Lord in prayer thanking Him for another day and asking Him to help you in all you do. You just know that each day you will be faced with decisions. Some will be very minor, like what am I going to have for breakfast, or what am I going to put on today? Others might be a tad bigger as you plan your day and need to plan your escape from the norm to fit in a doctor's appointment or some work helping others. Then you will have more major decisions, like maybe buying a car or a house, and where to get the best deal on insurance. You might be making even deeper plans like starting a family, getting married, having children. Then there are we seniors that are making those decisions about getting rid of "stuff." One thing for sure, before the end of this week, you will be involved in more than one decision. Which is why I just opened with Decisions, Decisions, Decisions. And where do we turn for help? To God, of course! First in prayer, first we talk it over with God through Jesus. Then we get out the Bible and look up scriptures. I pulled out some from Proverbs today and will give you more scriptures tomorrow and the rest of the week, so when decisions need made, you will know where to head for help. Proverbs 1:5 jumps right out at me. Let me write it out again.
Proverbs 1:5 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and LEAN NOT on your own understanding. (NIV)
I can remember back in 1954 getting on my knees with my mother in our living room when she prayed about buying a new car. She wanted help from the Lord, and dad said she does not need a car, but her car was not dependable, and pop worked away from home. So we got on our knees, she prayed and then off to Sutliff Chevrolet Company to purchase a new 1954 Chevrolet 210. I guess it was a lesson for me, to pray before I would purchase a car. Well, let me tell you from 1954 to 2014, which is 60 years, I talked to God about many a new car or used car. Both buying them and selling them. We also need to remember a couple of things. Sometimes "no" is an answer from God that you do not want to hear. Also, sometimes your answer will not come overnight, so do not be afraid to go back to God in faith and talk to Him again.
Also remember that after you talk things over with God and you call upon His word, found in your Bible, remember to give thanks. Even if you did not get the decision you wanted to hear, tell Him thanks. Okay, that is good for the first night.
Now go forth, praying about decisions, and sharing your blessings with others. Love ya, and please, by all means, pass on my love to others.
Pastor Dan
Friday, July 11, 2014
Friday 7/11/14 Encouragement 4
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You very much. Thanks for another day in Your America that I call home, and thanks for our earthly place to protect us while we are here. Please, dear Lord, be with all those who use this line and watch over them. Thanks, Lord, for great neighbors. Dear Lord, I pray today for all those who are going to walk out into Your fields of Harvest this weekend to help bring in the Harvest for You. Please, Lord, furnish me with a message. I am so sorry I missed yesterday. Please, then, Lord, after the message is finished, help me to dispatch it. In Jesus' wonderful name, I pray. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, as I write to you this week about being encouraged, I need to ask that all of you send some prayers my way. The pain level in my body seems to have gone to a place where I am having real trouble dealing with it. I have said over the years that I can deal with a lot of pain, for I have had to do just that since a motorcycle accident on Christmas Eve 1990. However, recently the pain level has climbed to a point where I find myself sitting and crying. While I don't often seek prayer on my own behalf, I know and understand that prayer really works. So please, my dear brothers and sisters, please storm heaven asking Jesus to take away just some of my pain so we here at Carry The Light Ministries can keep pushing forward for our Lord Jesus.
Please note this. GIVING UP is not part of my makeup so that will not happen, and neither is giving up parts of the ministry for so many of the needy count on the ministry to feed them. Those of you who have stopped by to help know and understand just how many people do come for food. The encouraging part to me is that while Satan might be having me under attack, I will just turn and spit in his face and tell him to get THE HELL out of my life. I work for Jesus, not the devil. Yes, you may send this out to those who you know who will pray, and as always we pray that God's will be done. Thanks for hearing me today. Now let me get to the message about being Encouraged, and today I just might be writing it for me.
Friday: July 11, 2014, Encouraged (Day Four)
Hebrews 12:4 - In our struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons. "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, 6 Because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son." 7 Endure hardship as discipline, God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, I have said so often on this line that I think most all messages God gives to me to write for Him are pointed in all or part right back at me. Oftentimes I find myself the one whom I am talking about in the message and also in my Sunday morning sermons. So when God pointed this scripture right out to me this evening, I did not take it as God setting me in my place, so to speak, but I am taking it as God encouraging me to just keep driving forward in His name.
I know and I will proclaim this above all else. I truly love Jesus. I love Him above all else. I love Him above my dear wife and our children. I love Him more than family and friends, and if that time were to come that I would need to pick between Jesus or family, I am going forth with Jesus. I want you all to know that I am NOT upset with God because I have this pain, or if I was I would not keep pushing forward for Him. So for those of you who might be in pain and have been waiting for your time to come to be healed, please do not give up on Jesus, or turn and walk away. One thing I am going to do is take an assessment of my life right now and see what I might be doing that I need to repent of and what I might be doing that God really needs to be punishing me about. I need to walk up to the mirror and take a good long look into it. Does anyone want to look in that mirror with me this day?
Philemon 1:4 - I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. 6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints. (NIV)
Here is a scripture that should give all of us encouragement on this day as we find Paul, while in prison praying for others and asking them to hang in there in their faith in Jesus Christ. Paul received great encouragement by knowing others are hanging tough in their love of Jesus. I feel the same way. If I know that you are praying and you, even though I am sure you have trials of your own, keep loving Jesus and praying for me and others, the encouragement will flow from your being, to God, and right back to me and others. So I ask you this day to keep on loving Jesus and having faith in Him, and also keep on loving all the saints. By the way, you become a saint when you invite Jesus into your life and are "Born Again."
I want to give you one more scripture today, maybe two, and I think I might have used it this week already. Then since it is Vacation Bible School time, I want to close with some Bible School songs from days gone by.
Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever. (NIV)
Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. (NIV)
I look back at my days of childhood and went to Vacation Bible School at the 29th Street Evangelical United Brethren Church. This church was located at 29th and Derry Streets in Harrisburg, PA. Pastor Dr. G. Edgar Hertzler was pastor at the time. Reverend Hertzler was a good man who we all looked up to at the time. We really looked up to him as he was about 6'6" tall. Here are just a couple of those songs that still stick in my mind today.
Jacob's Ladder:
We are climbing Jacob's ladder, we are climbing Jacob's ladder,
we are climbing Jacob's ladder, soldiers of the Cross.
(I do not remember more verses.)
Heads and Shoulders: To keep us moving we sang this:
Heads and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
Heads and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
(And I forget the rest of the song.)
But the song I remember best of all was this one, and we will close with it.
Jesus Loves Me
Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.
Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.
Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.
Now go forth, keeping your faith, sharing your blessings, and encouraging each other. Above all else, keep your eyes on Jesus. Love ya. Please pass on my love and thanks for all who are praying for me.
Pastor Dan
Dear brothers and sisters, as I write to you this week about being encouraged, I need to ask that all of you send some prayers my way. The pain level in my body seems to have gone to a place where I am having real trouble dealing with it. I have said over the years that I can deal with a lot of pain, for I have had to do just that since a motorcycle accident on Christmas Eve 1990. However, recently the pain level has climbed to a point where I find myself sitting and crying. While I don't often seek prayer on my own behalf, I know and understand that prayer really works. So please, my dear brothers and sisters, please storm heaven asking Jesus to take away just some of my pain so we here at Carry The Light Ministries can keep pushing forward for our Lord Jesus.
Please note this. GIVING UP is not part of my makeup so that will not happen, and neither is giving up parts of the ministry for so many of the needy count on the ministry to feed them. Those of you who have stopped by to help know and understand just how many people do come for food. The encouraging part to me is that while Satan might be having me under attack, I will just turn and spit in his face and tell him to get THE HELL out of my life. I work for Jesus, not the devil. Yes, you may send this out to those who you know who will pray, and as always we pray that God's will be done. Thanks for hearing me today. Now let me get to the message about being Encouraged, and today I just might be writing it for me.
Friday: July 11, 2014, Encouraged (Day Four)
Hebrews 12:4 - In our struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons. "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, 6 Because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son." 7 Endure hardship as discipline, God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, I have said so often on this line that I think most all messages God gives to me to write for Him are pointed in all or part right back at me. Oftentimes I find myself the one whom I am talking about in the message and also in my Sunday morning sermons. So when God pointed this scripture right out to me this evening, I did not take it as God setting me in my place, so to speak, but I am taking it as God encouraging me to just keep driving forward in His name.
I know and I will proclaim this above all else. I truly love Jesus. I love Him above all else. I love Him above my dear wife and our children. I love Him more than family and friends, and if that time were to come that I would need to pick between Jesus or family, I am going forth with Jesus. I want you all to know that I am NOT upset with God because I have this pain, or if I was I would not keep pushing forward for Him. So for those of you who might be in pain and have been waiting for your time to come to be healed, please do not give up on Jesus, or turn and walk away. One thing I am going to do is take an assessment of my life right now and see what I might be doing that I need to repent of and what I might be doing that God really needs to be punishing me about. I need to walk up to the mirror and take a good long look into it. Does anyone want to look in that mirror with me this day?
Philemon 1:4 - I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. 6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints. (NIV)
Here is a scripture that should give all of us encouragement on this day as we find Paul, while in prison praying for others and asking them to hang in there in their faith in Jesus Christ. Paul received great encouragement by knowing others are hanging tough in their love of Jesus. I feel the same way. If I know that you are praying and you, even though I am sure you have trials of your own, keep loving Jesus and praying for me and others, the encouragement will flow from your being, to God, and right back to me and others. So I ask you this day to keep on loving Jesus and having faith in Him, and also keep on loving all the saints. By the way, you become a saint when you invite Jesus into your life and are "Born Again."
I want to give you one more scripture today, maybe two, and I think I might have used it this week already. Then since it is Vacation Bible School time, I want to close with some Bible School songs from days gone by.
Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever. (NIV)
Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. (NIV)
I look back at my days of childhood and went to Vacation Bible School at the 29th Street Evangelical United Brethren Church. This church was located at 29th and Derry Streets in Harrisburg, PA. Pastor Dr. G. Edgar Hertzler was pastor at the time. Reverend Hertzler was a good man who we all looked up to at the time. We really looked up to him as he was about 6'6" tall. Here are just a couple of those songs that still stick in my mind today.
Jacob's Ladder:
We are climbing Jacob's ladder, we are climbing Jacob's ladder,
we are climbing Jacob's ladder, soldiers of the Cross.
(I do not remember more verses.)
Heads and Shoulders: To keep us moving we sang this:
Heads and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
Heads and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
(And I forget the rest of the song.)
But the song I remember best of all was this one, and we will close with it.
Jesus Loves Me
Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.
Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.
Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.
Now go forth, keeping your faith, sharing your blessings, and encouraging each other. Above all else, keep your eyes on Jesus. Love ya. Please pass on my love and thanks for all who are praying for me.
Pastor Dan
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Wednesday 7/9/14 Encouragement 3
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You very much. Thanks for sending Your Son Jesus to die for our sins, and Jesus, thanks for dying for me. I am so unworthy. Thanks for taking care of Terri and all praise and honor to You, dear Lord. When doctors say there is nothing else they can do, we just lean harder on You. Thanks for being there for and with us each and every minute of our lives. Please be with those on our prayer lists and watching over them. Lord, please help us on this Salvation Wednesday to lead others to You to be saved. Now please help me with the daily message and then to dispatch it. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
What a beautiful day here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. We were hit pretty hard during the storm last evening, but all is good. A few trees are down, but none hit anything or hurt anything or anybody. GOD IS GOOD. In fact, we did not even lose power, which is a concern as we have five freezers running for the food pantry. (Anyone want to swap electric bills?)
Today is Wednesday, and that means it is Salvation Wednesday on this line and the day we who are saved work a little harder to bring the lost to the feet of Jesus to be saved. Are you saved? If the answer is yes, then are you working for Jesus by talking to others about Salvation? It is easy to do after you have done it a few times. If you need help, please let me know, or contact your pastor at your church. If your pastor does not know what you are talking about, GET A NEW PASTOR AT A NEW CHURCH!!! Let me get to the message.
Salvation Wednesday: July 9, 2014, Encouragement (Day Three)
Acts 9:31 - Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers living in the fear of the Lord. (NIV)
In this scripture "the church" refers to the body of Christ and all the churches of Christian believers, or as I like to put it, followers of Jesus. These folks were strengthened and also ENCOURAGED, and that was done by the great comforter, THE HOLY SPIRIT. I just pray today that all of us know the "Big Three" and how we can be encouraged by them. The Big Three are not Ford, Chrysler and General Motors. The Big Three are not Manny, Moe and Jack. The Big Three are "God The Father, God The Son (Jesus) and The Holy Spirit." Someone please say Amen.
Acts 11:22 - News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 22 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. (NIV)
I just want to point out in scripture about the "Grace of God" and how it even encouraged people back in those days. Seeing the grace of God working in our lives should encourage us as individuals and really encourage us to share the gospel of Jesus, the Good News and be sharing it with others you meet along the way. It is also really encouraging when we run into other Christians and get to share and encourage each other.
Romans 1:11 - I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong. 12 That is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. (NIV)
Here is a good example of how Christians can e encouraged by sharing each other's faith in Christ. I want to leave you with one last scripture that should encourage you. I want you to look it over really well. For indeed you must be living for Christ.
Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of THOSE WHO LOVE HIM, who have been called according to His purpose. (NIV)
Now go forth sharing with each other God's Word and all things good, putting away all things bad. As my daughter Danelle will tell you, just spread the good things. Love ya. Please pass on my love.
Pastor Dan
What a beautiful day here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. We were hit pretty hard during the storm last evening, but all is good. A few trees are down, but none hit anything or hurt anything or anybody. GOD IS GOOD. In fact, we did not even lose power, which is a concern as we have five freezers running for the food pantry. (Anyone want to swap electric bills?)
Today is Wednesday, and that means it is Salvation Wednesday on this line and the day we who are saved work a little harder to bring the lost to the feet of Jesus to be saved. Are you saved? If the answer is yes, then are you working for Jesus by talking to others about Salvation? It is easy to do after you have done it a few times. If you need help, please let me know, or contact your pastor at your church. If your pastor does not know what you are talking about, GET A NEW PASTOR AT A NEW CHURCH!!! Let me get to the message.
Salvation Wednesday: July 9, 2014, Encouragement (Day Three)
Acts 9:31 - Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers living in the fear of the Lord. (NIV)
In this scripture "the church" refers to the body of Christ and all the churches of Christian believers, or as I like to put it, followers of Jesus. These folks were strengthened and also ENCOURAGED, and that was done by the great comforter, THE HOLY SPIRIT. I just pray today that all of us know the "Big Three" and how we can be encouraged by them. The Big Three are not Ford, Chrysler and General Motors. The Big Three are not Manny, Moe and Jack. The Big Three are "God The Father, God The Son (Jesus) and The Holy Spirit." Someone please say Amen.
Acts 11:22 - News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 22 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. (NIV)
I just want to point out in scripture about the "Grace of God" and how it even encouraged people back in those days. Seeing the grace of God working in our lives should encourage us as individuals and really encourage us to share the gospel of Jesus, the Good News and be sharing it with others you meet along the way. It is also really encouraging when we run into other Christians and get to share and encourage each other.
Romans 1:11 - I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong. 12 That is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. (NIV)
Here is a good example of how Christians can e encouraged by sharing each other's faith in Christ. I want to leave you with one last scripture that should encourage you. I want you to look it over really well. For indeed you must be living for Christ.
Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of THOSE WHO LOVE HIM, who have been called according to His purpose. (NIV)
Now go forth sharing with each other God's Word and all things good, putting away all things bad. As my daughter Danelle will tell you, just spread the good things. Love ya. Please pass on my love.
Pastor Dan
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Tuesday 7/8/14 Encouragement 2
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You very much! Thanks for forgiving me of my daily sins and mess-ups. Lord, thanks for sparing us from the storm that went down our street just a few hours ago. All praise and honor to You for taking care of Terri. Even after the doctors say there is no more they can do, You, dear Lord, are not done with folks. You are the Master Healer. Lord, thanks for a great sing-along and a chance to witness to others on days other than Sunday. Lord, please be in our homeland and protect Your people from all harm. Be with our Jewish brothers and sisters in Israel and help them in their fights against the terrorists and those others trying to harm them. You have warned us that others will come after us when we love You. I love You. Please, Lord, help me now with the message and then help me to dispatch it. And Lord, may the messages encourage people to love others and live for You. In the mighty Name of Jesus, Amen.
Brothers and sisters, I was just getting ready to come out to our computer room, which, long story short, is a porch that we made into a room. There was a weather alert that went across the TV screen and I was watching that, when it sounded like train coming down the street. I called for Dolores to come in and we gathered in the center room of our home with most of the dogs and Marvin, our one cat. The storm passed over and I went out to look around. Our neighbors helped pick up our trash which was out for collection. We have wonderful neighbors who really do look after us. Okay, time to get to the message, and time to get ENCOURAGED!!
Tuesday: July 8, 2014, Encouragement (Day Three)
Acts 14:21 - They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God." (NIV)
We are commanded to go into all the world and preach the good news about our Lord Jesus and Salvation through Him. Sometimes as we do this we can get discouraged. Ask any good preacher or teacher of the gospel or a pastor who really loves his Lord and also his flock, and they will tell you that sometimes it gets discouraging. That is why we must all work together for the Lord, and sometimes our job for Him will be to keep encouraging those whose assignment is to pastor, etc.
2 Chronicles 22:3 - He too walked in the ways of the house of Ahab for his mother encouraged him in doing wrong. (NIV)
I wanted to show you this scripture for as we go through life some people might, no, will, encourage others to do things that are wrong. My wonderful mamma and pop would tell me and encourage me to do what was right and to not hang out with others who would encourage me to do things that were wrong. You parents who are raising young families, please, please encourage your children to walk with the Lord and do not encourage them if they are doing some things wrong. You might need to have one of their friends pulled form the list they can run with. I was only encouraged by my parents to do good, and only one person I was told not to be with alone. Yes, and he was sent to reform school. In all of our encouragement to our family, to our friends and to all we meet, we need to encourage them in God. We need to encourage them to always walk with Jesus and do good. We need to encourage each other to help all who need help.
2 Chronicles 32:6 - He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate and encouraged them with these words. 7 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. 8 With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles. (NIV)
I wanted to show you this scripture because it shows us we should stand with God and He will surely stand with us, and though our numbers might be smaller, He knows us, knows who loves Him and He will stand with us. How do I know this? The Bible tells me so.
Brothers and sisters, I must let it go here and get some sleep. I will see you in the morning. Tomorrow is Salvation Wednesday, so pray God gives me a strong encouraging message.
I love you folks. Now go forth and share your blessings. Love ya. Please pass on my love to others.
Pastor Dan
Brothers and sisters, I was just getting ready to come out to our computer room, which, long story short, is a porch that we made into a room. There was a weather alert that went across the TV screen and I was watching that, when it sounded like train coming down the street. I called for Dolores to come in and we gathered in the center room of our home with most of the dogs and Marvin, our one cat. The storm passed over and I went out to look around. Our neighbors helped pick up our trash which was out for collection. We have wonderful neighbors who really do look after us. Okay, time to get to the message, and time to get ENCOURAGED!!
Tuesday: July 8, 2014, Encouragement (Day Three)
Acts 14:21 - They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God." (NIV)
We are commanded to go into all the world and preach the good news about our Lord Jesus and Salvation through Him. Sometimes as we do this we can get discouraged. Ask any good preacher or teacher of the gospel or a pastor who really loves his Lord and also his flock, and they will tell you that sometimes it gets discouraging. That is why we must all work together for the Lord, and sometimes our job for Him will be to keep encouraging those whose assignment is to pastor, etc.
2 Chronicles 22:3 - He too walked in the ways of the house of Ahab for his mother encouraged him in doing wrong. (NIV)
I wanted to show you this scripture for as we go through life some people might, no, will, encourage others to do things that are wrong. My wonderful mamma and pop would tell me and encourage me to do what was right and to not hang out with others who would encourage me to do things that were wrong. You parents who are raising young families, please, please encourage your children to walk with the Lord and do not encourage them if they are doing some things wrong. You might need to have one of their friends pulled form the list they can run with. I was only encouraged by my parents to do good, and only one person I was told not to be with alone. Yes, and he was sent to reform school. In all of our encouragement to our family, to our friends and to all we meet, we need to encourage them in God. We need to encourage them to always walk with Jesus and do good. We need to encourage each other to help all who need help.
2 Chronicles 32:6 - He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate and encouraged them with these words. 7 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. 8 With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles. (NIV)
I wanted to show you this scripture because it shows us we should stand with God and He will surely stand with us, and though our numbers might be smaller, He knows us, knows who loves Him and He will stand with us. How do I know this? The Bible tells me so.
Brothers and sisters, I must let it go here and get some sleep. I will see you in the morning. Tomorrow is Salvation Wednesday, so pray God gives me a strong encouraging message.
I love you folks. Now go forth and share your blessings. Love ya. Please pass on my love to others.
Pastor Dan
Monday, July 7, 2014
Monday 7/7/14 Encouragement 1
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You. Please forgive me of my sins and mess-ups. Thank You for all that You do for all of us. Thanks for hearing our prayers and acting on them according to Your will for us. Please be with the "Men of Harmony" and intervene with the group. Please send them someone to play the piano. Lord, please keep watch over Ken and also Emily. Thanks for traveling protection over those we have been praying for this summer. Please keep that blessing going for all this summer. Please be with our president and governor s they lead our military and our guard units. Please be with all those who have served this country and who are serving it now. Now, Lord, if You will bless me with another message and then help me dispatch it, I sure would appreciate it. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Hi, brothers and sisters. What a great Monday. It feels a tad like summer here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. Praise God for air conditioners. AMEN.
God has pointed me to the subject of Encourage and Encouragement for this week. I pray that the messages on encouragement will help to encourage you to keep moving on in your life, regardless of what your problem or problems might be. The truth is, we all need to draw on our Lord to be encouraged, and we also need to encourage each other.
Most days I wake up in a good mood and start singing, sometimes just making up silly little songs as I go along. The best place I know to get encouraged is looking in the Bible. I also know that all you homeowners need encouraged as the school tax notices are in the mail. So let's get started.
Monday: July 7, 2014, Encouraged (Day One)
Hebrews 3:12 - See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. (NIV)
God pointed me to this scripture to start the series this week. I want to point out to all of you that we are to "encourage each other" and the one big reason we are to do this is so people hang in there with the Lord. The way the world is today, it could be easy to cross to the other side. Some days we might think the Lord is not walking with us, but let me tell you this, our Lord Jesus is not going to walkaway from you, and that should be some encouragement for you to start this day. If you and the Lord are not walking together, it is you and not the Lord who took the walk-about. So, my dear brothers and sisters, if you see someone slipping away from our Lord, encourage them to come back and walk with Him.
Psalm 10:16 - The Lord is King forever and ever; the Nations will perish from His land. 17 You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry. 15 Defending the fatherless and the oppressed in order that man, who is of earth, may terrify no more. (NIV)
This should encourage all of us who love the Lord, for it tells us that the Lord is King forever. Nations, nations, even ours, will perish, but our King Jesus will last forever. And brothers and sisters, to encourage you even more ... If we love Him and live for Him, we will be with Him, regardless of what happens here. We are also to help the fatherless and oppressed. As we look at what is going on at our Southern Border, do you think, think maybe GOD MIGHT BE TESTING US? Think about these children coming without parents, are they not oppressed, and a lot of them fatherless. We need to stop all this political stuff, and we believers should be thinking about how many of our churches might sponsor the children. Think about it, folks. The song tells us, Jesus loves the little children, ALL THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD. Not just American kids. His love is unconditional. Do you remember how after our war with Vietnam, Fort Indiantown Gap was opened for families from Vietnam to come through and how different churches sponsored some of those families? You do remember that, right?
Just think about how America is blessed. While some of the environmentalists want to block all things that we try to do. The pipeline that is needed and should run through Lancaster County. The people said run it just outside of Lancaster County, just do not put it here. Gosh, did we sort of push those Amish out of the way? Many of our churches are now feeding way more than they should while others do little to help. A lot of our big churches in the cities are falling down. Why? I think it had a lot to do with when the neighborhoods started to change colors, those running the churches would not invite in their new neighbors.
We need to be getting up each day and encouraging each other. When people come here for food, I talk to them about getting jobs. I try and encourage them. It is plain to see some of them do not want to go to work. Listen to me on this, regardless how you feel about those from Vietnam, our churches welcomed them as I said. They came and got help from the churches and Christian people and right now you in most part do not see them in a welfare line. Maybe, just maybe if we welcome these children from Central America and encourage them, they will grow up and be productive adults.
1 Thessalonians 3:2 - We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the Gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. (NIV)
2 Thessalonians 2:16 - May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. (NIV)
Here we see in scripture how God has sent great men of God to encourage people, and in 2 Thessalonians we see the scripture that could this very day be used by pastors as a Benediction. As a pastor, I use the same each week, as I send our flock at The Bridges out to face the world, so to speak. To me each message should encourage the faithful, and the Benediction should always be an encouragement to the flock. Amen.
One of the best encouragers in our family is our daughter Danelle. It seems regardless of what might get her down, she is still willing to help encourage others. Sometimes, and I know this for a personal fact, sometimes it is hard to encourage others when pain is biting at you. But that is when we must look at the Lord for encouragement and look at each other and lean on each other and encourage each other. AMEN.
Now go forth and encourage each other and you can do that by sharing your blessings. Love ya. Please pass on my love. Pastor Dan
You can also encourage others by loving them. Amen.
Hi, brothers and sisters. What a great Monday. It feels a tad like summer here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. Praise God for air conditioners. AMEN.
God has pointed me to the subject of Encourage and Encouragement for this week. I pray that the messages on encouragement will help to encourage you to keep moving on in your life, regardless of what your problem or problems might be. The truth is, we all need to draw on our Lord to be encouraged, and we also need to encourage each other.
Most days I wake up in a good mood and start singing, sometimes just making up silly little songs as I go along. The best place I know to get encouraged is looking in the Bible. I also know that all you homeowners need encouraged as the school tax notices are in the mail. So let's get started.
Monday: July 7, 2014, Encouraged (Day One)
Hebrews 3:12 - See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. (NIV)
God pointed me to this scripture to start the series this week. I want to point out to all of you that we are to "encourage each other" and the one big reason we are to do this is so people hang in there with the Lord. The way the world is today, it could be easy to cross to the other side. Some days we might think the Lord is not walking with us, but let me tell you this, our Lord Jesus is not going to walkaway from you, and that should be some encouragement for you to start this day. If you and the Lord are not walking together, it is you and not the Lord who took the walk-about. So, my dear brothers and sisters, if you see someone slipping away from our Lord, encourage them to come back and walk with Him.
Psalm 10:16 - The Lord is King forever and ever; the Nations will perish from His land. 17 You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry. 15 Defending the fatherless and the oppressed in order that man, who is of earth, may terrify no more. (NIV)
This should encourage all of us who love the Lord, for it tells us that the Lord is King forever. Nations, nations, even ours, will perish, but our King Jesus will last forever. And brothers and sisters, to encourage you even more ... If we love Him and live for Him, we will be with Him, regardless of what happens here. We are also to help the fatherless and oppressed. As we look at what is going on at our Southern Border, do you think, think maybe GOD MIGHT BE TESTING US? Think about these children coming without parents, are they not oppressed, and a lot of them fatherless. We need to stop all this political stuff, and we believers should be thinking about how many of our churches might sponsor the children. Think about it, folks. The song tells us, Jesus loves the little children, ALL THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD. Not just American kids. His love is unconditional. Do you remember how after our war with Vietnam, Fort Indiantown Gap was opened for families from Vietnam to come through and how different churches sponsored some of those families? You do remember that, right?
Just think about how America is blessed. While some of the environmentalists want to block all things that we try to do. The pipeline that is needed and should run through Lancaster County. The people said run it just outside of Lancaster County, just do not put it here. Gosh, did we sort of push those Amish out of the way? Many of our churches are now feeding way more than they should while others do little to help. A lot of our big churches in the cities are falling down. Why? I think it had a lot to do with when the neighborhoods started to change colors, those running the churches would not invite in their new neighbors.
We need to be getting up each day and encouraging each other. When people come here for food, I talk to them about getting jobs. I try and encourage them. It is plain to see some of them do not want to go to work. Listen to me on this, regardless how you feel about those from Vietnam, our churches welcomed them as I said. They came and got help from the churches and Christian people and right now you in most part do not see them in a welfare line. Maybe, just maybe if we welcome these children from Central America and encourage them, they will grow up and be productive adults.
1 Thessalonians 3:2 - We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the Gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. (NIV)
2 Thessalonians 2:16 - May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. (NIV)
Here we see in scripture how God has sent great men of God to encourage people, and in 2 Thessalonians we see the scripture that could this very day be used by pastors as a Benediction. As a pastor, I use the same each week, as I send our flock at The Bridges out to face the world, so to speak. To me each message should encourage the faithful, and the Benediction should always be an encouragement to the flock. Amen.
One of the best encouragers in our family is our daughter Danelle. It seems regardless of what might get her down, she is still willing to help encourage others. Sometimes, and I know this for a personal fact, sometimes it is hard to encourage others when pain is biting at you. But that is when we must look at the Lord for encouragement and look at each other and lean on each other and encourage each other. AMEN.
Now go forth and encourage each other and you can do that by sharing your blessings. Love ya. Please pass on my love. Pastor Dan
You can also encourage others by loving them. Amen.
Friday, July 4, 2014
Independence Day, Friday, July 4, 2014
Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, and Happy Independence Day. Today we are truly ONE NATION UNDER GOD, and I love it, don't you?
America, One Nation Under God, from its fields of rich earth, filled with lots of good thins to eat, from its mountains filled with beautiful trees and lots and lots of wildlife, with fresh springs feeding into streams, then into creeks and into mighty rivers and then on into our oceans. And all those streams, creeks, rivers and our oceans filled with lots of fish and other great seafood to eat.
America, One Nation Under God, where large cities have been built with buildings that seem to melt into the sky, and where small towns still strive, and Andy can still be sheriff, and Barney his deputy after all these years. From factories that build cars and trucks, and to plants that make great Hershey Chocolate candy bars. From offices that house doctors, nurses, lawyers and computer technicians. You will see fields of grain, farms, some with big tractors and combines in those fields, others with a young Amish lad plowing with a team of work horses or mules. You get the picture, or you should.
America, One Nation Under God, where folks of all sizes, shapes, and colors have come together to live. Sort of reminds me of that song I learned in Bible School ... Red and Yellow, Black and White, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world. And you can find God's children from all over the world calling America home. I am one of those kids.
America, One Nation Under God, who has blessed us well. We could survive on what God has given this country and would not need to bring in anything from other countries if we cared to do that. We would also have enough left over to help other countries who either don't have food or would sooner fight each other than learn to grow food.
America, truly built by God, who sent Jesus to free us from sin. America, then needed so many men and women to keep us free.
America, on this Independence Day, 2014, I would like to say thank you to all those who have served in our military from the beginning. Brave men and women who fought in battle or supported those who did. Like my daddy, who did not go into the military, but gave up his teaching job during World War Two to make tires for airplanes. Some people say today that our veterans are getting few and far between, and that is not so, in fact, we have many veterans, some of whom have lost body parts fighting in the wars we are in right now. Some of them are just 18 years old, some are in their 90s or older.
America, One Nation Under God, and I wish to thank God this day for my personal freedom, for God, through His Son Jesus gave me that, and NO ONE, I SAID NO ONE, CAN TAKE IT AWAY.
America, One Nation Under God, and today I want to thank all of the fine men and women of today's Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy. I wish to thank the fine men and women of our National Guard Units in this area the 28th Army division and the 193rd Air Force Unit. And others I might have missed.
America, One Nation Under God, and today I would like to thank all of those people who work to support those warriors of America. Let me start with the families of our military, and then move on to those who work hard on the military bases. Like those in our area. Those who work and study at the Army War College in Carlisle, PA. And those who work at the Army and Navy Supply depots in our area and also those who work and train at Fort Indiantown Gap. I want to thank all of those who work in military and veterans hospitals, and who help people like my dear Army veteran friend, Grant Crockett, who served in Vietnam. I want to thank ladies who have served like Sharon Saylor and Dolores Lehman, who refer to each other as "Navy" and "Air Force," as Sharon is a Navy veteran, and my dear wife Dolores is an Air Force veteran and also served in the 193rd. I want to thank my son Glenn, his wife Dian, and my grandson Daniel, who all have served in the Navy.
And on this day I also want to say thank you to "Roger" who lives at The Bridges and who we call our "Sea Bee" who served in WW2. Thank you, Roger.
America, One Nation Under God, where a few, just a few, of the people who are free because of God and our military want to have the name "God" removed from our Pledge to Our Flag. Just a few folks, mind you. If it were not for God, there would be no America, and if it were not for the men and women of our military over the years, we might be speaking another language. MIGHT? Might nothing, we would be.
America, One Nation Under God, only in America where a young Army Major named David would stop by our home on his way from Carlisle to Fort Indiantown Gap to say thank you to us for helping the needy and to say thank you to me for things he learned in Vacation Bible School where I met this Major as a lad. And while he was here for those few short minutes he grabbed heavy bags of salt and filled our water softener.
AMERICA, ONE NATION UNDER GOD! Do you appreciate what we have today? Look around you today, look past the burger or hot dog on the grill or your soda or beer in your hand, look past those sports teams and those NASCAR drivers, look past that golf course and just look around, and the next time you see a man or lady in uniform, make an effort to shake their hand and say "THANK YOU" and maybe if you are in a restaurant you might buy them a meal.
AMERICA, ONE NATION UNDER GOD. Look around you today, and maybe just right now take time to say, THANK YOU, GOD, FOR AMERICA, AND THANK YOU, GOD, FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE PROTECTED IT. And please remember the police and firefighters who keep us safe on the homefront and those Merchant Marines who transport the goods to our warriors.
AMERICA, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, where you can STILL PRAY OUT LOUD, even when some people want to change it to a silent prayer. Say it with me, please ...
THANK YOU, FATHER!
AMERICA, ONE NATION UNDER GOD. Stand up for her or if you don't like it, I invite you to leave, for no one is holding you back. Get out if you don't like it and I dare you to find a better place to live. And after you have been to any other country in the world, please write and tell me if it is better or not, then I will invite you back to AMERICA, ONE NATION UNDER GOD.
AMERICA, ONE NATION UNDER GOD. YESTERDAY AND TODAY AND FOREVER AS LONG AS WE STAY WITH GOD AND REMAIN ONE NATION UNDER GOD. For when the time comes we trash God too much, no military, not even the best of the best, our United States Military will be able to protect us from the "WRATH OF GOD" and I think we get close to that on a lot of days.
AMERICA, ONE NATION UNDER GOD. I LOVE YOU, FATHER, AND I LOVE YOU, JESUS, AND I LOVE AMERICA, and yes, I LOVE LL OF YOU.
Pastor Daniel W. Lehman
Ordained: "World Christianship Ministries"
Pastor: Carry The Light Ministries
Written Independence Day 2014
And yes, you may use this writing if you would like to, it is up to you.
America, One Nation Under God, from its fields of rich earth, filled with lots of good thins to eat, from its mountains filled with beautiful trees and lots and lots of wildlife, with fresh springs feeding into streams, then into creeks and into mighty rivers and then on into our oceans. And all those streams, creeks, rivers and our oceans filled with lots of fish and other great seafood to eat.
America, One Nation Under God, where large cities have been built with buildings that seem to melt into the sky, and where small towns still strive, and Andy can still be sheriff, and Barney his deputy after all these years. From factories that build cars and trucks, and to plants that make great Hershey Chocolate candy bars. From offices that house doctors, nurses, lawyers and computer technicians. You will see fields of grain, farms, some with big tractors and combines in those fields, others with a young Amish lad plowing with a team of work horses or mules. You get the picture, or you should.
America, One Nation Under God, where folks of all sizes, shapes, and colors have come together to live. Sort of reminds me of that song I learned in Bible School ... Red and Yellow, Black and White, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world. And you can find God's children from all over the world calling America home. I am one of those kids.
America, One Nation Under God, who has blessed us well. We could survive on what God has given this country and would not need to bring in anything from other countries if we cared to do that. We would also have enough left over to help other countries who either don't have food or would sooner fight each other than learn to grow food.
America, truly built by God, who sent Jesus to free us from sin. America, then needed so many men and women to keep us free.
America, on this Independence Day, 2014, I would like to say thank you to all those who have served in our military from the beginning. Brave men and women who fought in battle or supported those who did. Like my daddy, who did not go into the military, but gave up his teaching job during World War Two to make tires for airplanes. Some people say today that our veterans are getting few and far between, and that is not so, in fact, we have many veterans, some of whom have lost body parts fighting in the wars we are in right now. Some of them are just 18 years old, some are in their 90s or older.
America, One Nation Under God, and I wish to thank God this day for my personal freedom, for God, through His Son Jesus gave me that, and NO ONE, I SAID NO ONE, CAN TAKE IT AWAY.
America, One Nation Under God, and today I want to thank all of the fine men and women of today's Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy. I wish to thank the fine men and women of our National Guard Units in this area the 28th Army division and the 193rd Air Force Unit. And others I might have missed.
America, One Nation Under God, and today I would like to thank all of those people who work to support those warriors of America. Let me start with the families of our military, and then move on to those who work hard on the military bases. Like those in our area. Those who work and study at the Army War College in Carlisle, PA. And those who work at the Army and Navy Supply depots in our area and also those who work and train at Fort Indiantown Gap. I want to thank all of those who work in military and veterans hospitals, and who help people like my dear Army veteran friend, Grant Crockett, who served in Vietnam. I want to thank ladies who have served like Sharon Saylor and Dolores Lehman, who refer to each other as "Navy" and "Air Force," as Sharon is a Navy veteran, and my dear wife Dolores is an Air Force veteran and also served in the 193rd. I want to thank my son Glenn, his wife Dian, and my grandson Daniel, who all have served in the Navy.
And on this day I also want to say thank you to "Roger" who lives at The Bridges and who we call our "Sea Bee" who served in WW2. Thank you, Roger.
America, One Nation Under God, where a few, just a few, of the people who are free because of God and our military want to have the name "God" removed from our Pledge to Our Flag. Just a few folks, mind you. If it were not for God, there would be no America, and if it were not for the men and women of our military over the years, we might be speaking another language. MIGHT? Might nothing, we would be.
America, One Nation Under God, only in America where a young Army Major named David would stop by our home on his way from Carlisle to Fort Indiantown Gap to say thank you to us for helping the needy and to say thank you to me for things he learned in Vacation Bible School where I met this Major as a lad. And while he was here for those few short minutes he grabbed heavy bags of salt and filled our water softener.
AMERICA, ONE NATION UNDER GOD! Do you appreciate what we have today? Look around you today, look past the burger or hot dog on the grill or your soda or beer in your hand, look past those sports teams and those NASCAR drivers, look past that golf course and just look around, and the next time you see a man or lady in uniform, make an effort to shake their hand and say "THANK YOU" and maybe if you are in a restaurant you might buy them a meal.
AMERICA, ONE NATION UNDER GOD. Look around you today, and maybe just right now take time to say, THANK YOU, GOD, FOR AMERICA, AND THANK YOU, GOD, FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE PROTECTED IT. And please remember the police and firefighters who keep us safe on the homefront and those Merchant Marines who transport the goods to our warriors.
AMERICA, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, where you can STILL PRAY OUT LOUD, even when some people want to change it to a silent prayer. Say it with me, please ...
THANK YOU, FATHER!
AMERICA, ONE NATION UNDER GOD. Stand up for her or if you don't like it, I invite you to leave, for no one is holding you back. Get out if you don't like it and I dare you to find a better place to live. And after you have been to any other country in the world, please write and tell me if it is better or not, then I will invite you back to AMERICA, ONE NATION UNDER GOD.
AMERICA, ONE NATION UNDER GOD. YESTERDAY AND TODAY AND FOREVER AS LONG AS WE STAY WITH GOD AND REMAIN ONE NATION UNDER GOD. For when the time comes we trash God too much, no military, not even the best of the best, our United States Military will be able to protect us from the "WRATH OF GOD" and I think we get close to that on a lot of days.
AMERICA, ONE NATION UNDER GOD. I LOVE YOU, FATHER, AND I LOVE YOU, JESUS, AND I LOVE AMERICA, and yes, I LOVE LL OF YOU.
Pastor Daniel W. Lehman
Ordained: "World Christianship Ministries"
Pastor: Carry The Light Ministries
Written Independence Day 2014
And yes, you may use this writing if you would like to, it is up to you.
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Thursday 7/3/14 Blessed 3
Dear Father in Heaven: Thanks for another day here on earth. I love You and I give thanks to You for forgiving my sins and the sins of those who ask You. Lord, please be with the mission team from Lighthouse Baptist Church as they outreach in Your name in Haiti. Protect them, Lord, and help them lead many to the feet of Jesus to be saved. Lord, be with Leann and Tiffany as they travel home. Lord, be with Tara as she flies back from Spain. Lord, be with our dear neighbors and protect their family in travel. Be with the Crocketts as they travel. Lord, it is a busy time here in America. Please, please, bless this very unworthy country of the blessings. And yes, none of us is worthy of Your blessings, so Lord, I really appreciate what You do. Lord, there are others on our prayer list, and I ask You to take care of them according to Your will. Please bless me now with another message, and then help me please to dispatch it. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, we are getting a nice rain as I am typing this message. Please keep covering in prayer all people who are traveling. And pray for those mission teams and all those Vacation Bible Schools going on. Thanks for your support of this line. I will be posting a writing for Independence Day right after I send out this message. I want all of you to know that you may use anything I write if it will help others come to Christ. The same is for my writing for Independence Day. On Sunday in church Dolores will be back-grounding me with America, The Beautiful, as I read the writing. Let me get to the message.
Thursday, July 3, 2014, Blessed (Day Three)
Proverbs 10:22 - The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and He adds no trouble to it. (NIV)
I just love this series, for we are just so blessed and it is throughout the Bible. In this scripture we see that the "Blessing of the Lord brings Wealth." However, please do not think of wealth coming in just money or things. First we must know and understand that our best blessing of the Lord is our Salvation through Jesus. We also have wealth here on earth. One thing I count as wealth is family, and another is friends. You are also wealthy if you have good health. Now if you want to see some wealth right now, go to the cupboard and open it. I just know you will find food in it. Also, please think of the Mansion that we will have someday.
Malachi 3:12 - Then all the nations will call you blessed for yours will be a delightful land, says the Lord Almighty. (NIV)
Now to get the full effect of this scripture, please open your Bible and read Malachi 3:6 through 3:12. This scripture tells you that you just cannot out-give our Lord and it is the only place I have found in the Bible where we are told we can "test God on this." This is a great scripture and those who have learned over the years to give to God off the top of their pay will find how great God's math really is. One of the reasons I feel that God does Bless America, and again I pray those blessings continue, is because we are a giving nation. We help other countries, and we help lots and lots of needy people right here in our good old USA.
Acts 10:35 - In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (NIV)
Back when I was just a child, back when the streets were still dirt and the Dead Sea, still sick, my dear late Mamma taught me a lot of great things. "Share your toys," "Put the lid down after you use the potty." "Don't pick your nose." "Eat everything you put on your plate or someone in China will starve." (I saved a lot of lives in China.) And she taught me this one also, and here we find it did not just come from our Mammas, it came right from Jesus. "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Most of us who grew up in Christian homes heard all of these neat rules. I must tell you of this one time how this really worked for me. I am going way back, and my mamma told me not to leave the house or yard. She was in the basement doing washing and working so hard, so I robbed my little bank and went to the corner store and purchased two ice cream cones. I came home and went to the basement eating one of the cones, the other I had behind my back. My mamma told me, "I told you not to leave the house or yard and you did not listen, so I must punish you." I knew, just knew I was going to get a spanking, then I pulled out the cone for her and she started to cry. I got a hug, not a spanking and found out it was better to give the cone than receive the spanking. Once again I must tell you that this relates also to those verses in Malachi, and you just cannot out-give the Lord. His blessings will always be better than what we do.
I want to quote Pastor Dr. Richard Denison, who said: "We are blessed to be a blessing." By the way, please pray for Pastor Rick, as he is one who told me that he would perform gay weddings. Pray, warriors, pray.
Revelation 22:14- "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city." (NIV)
I find no better way to wrap up this series about being Blessed than to quote Jesus, and you can read it right here and now. So let's close by praying for our robes to be washed. I know we have done it before, but brothers and sisters, I really have a passion to lead people to Christ, and I just don't know when all on the line have been saved, or if they are. I am sure you who are saved understand this.
Dear Father in Heaven: Please wash me free of sins this day, Lord, and get me ready to go into the City. In Jesus' Name, I say, please do this for us, and thank You for doing it. Amen.
Now go forth and share your blessings. Love ya, and please pass on my love to others.
Pastor Dan
Dear brothers and sisters, we are getting a nice rain as I am typing this message. Please keep covering in prayer all people who are traveling. And pray for those mission teams and all those Vacation Bible Schools going on. Thanks for your support of this line. I will be posting a writing for Independence Day right after I send out this message. I want all of you to know that you may use anything I write if it will help others come to Christ. The same is for my writing for Independence Day. On Sunday in church Dolores will be back-grounding me with America, The Beautiful, as I read the writing. Let me get to the message.
Thursday, July 3, 2014, Blessed (Day Three)
Proverbs 10:22 - The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and He adds no trouble to it. (NIV)
I just love this series, for we are just so blessed and it is throughout the Bible. In this scripture we see that the "Blessing of the Lord brings Wealth." However, please do not think of wealth coming in just money or things. First we must know and understand that our best blessing of the Lord is our Salvation through Jesus. We also have wealth here on earth. One thing I count as wealth is family, and another is friends. You are also wealthy if you have good health. Now if you want to see some wealth right now, go to the cupboard and open it. I just know you will find food in it. Also, please think of the Mansion that we will have someday.
Malachi 3:12 - Then all the nations will call you blessed for yours will be a delightful land, says the Lord Almighty. (NIV)
Now to get the full effect of this scripture, please open your Bible and read Malachi 3:6 through 3:12. This scripture tells you that you just cannot out-give our Lord and it is the only place I have found in the Bible where we are told we can "test God on this." This is a great scripture and those who have learned over the years to give to God off the top of their pay will find how great God's math really is. One of the reasons I feel that God does Bless America, and again I pray those blessings continue, is because we are a giving nation. We help other countries, and we help lots and lots of needy people right here in our good old USA.
Acts 10:35 - In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (NIV)
Back when I was just a child, back when the streets were still dirt and the Dead Sea, still sick, my dear late Mamma taught me a lot of great things. "Share your toys," "Put the lid down after you use the potty." "Don't pick your nose." "Eat everything you put on your plate or someone in China will starve." (I saved a lot of lives in China.) And she taught me this one also, and here we find it did not just come from our Mammas, it came right from Jesus. "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Most of us who grew up in Christian homes heard all of these neat rules. I must tell you of this one time how this really worked for me. I am going way back, and my mamma told me not to leave the house or yard. She was in the basement doing washing and working so hard, so I robbed my little bank and went to the corner store and purchased two ice cream cones. I came home and went to the basement eating one of the cones, the other I had behind my back. My mamma told me, "I told you not to leave the house or yard and you did not listen, so I must punish you." I knew, just knew I was going to get a spanking, then I pulled out the cone for her and she started to cry. I got a hug, not a spanking and found out it was better to give the cone than receive the spanking. Once again I must tell you that this relates also to those verses in Malachi, and you just cannot out-give the Lord. His blessings will always be better than what we do.
I want to quote Pastor Dr. Richard Denison, who said: "We are blessed to be a blessing." By the way, please pray for Pastor Rick, as he is one who told me that he would perform gay weddings. Pray, warriors, pray.
Revelation 22:14- "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city." (NIV)
I find no better way to wrap up this series about being Blessed than to quote Jesus, and you can read it right here and now. So let's close by praying for our robes to be washed. I know we have done it before, but brothers and sisters, I really have a passion to lead people to Christ, and I just don't know when all on the line have been saved, or if they are. I am sure you who are saved understand this.
Dear Father in Heaven: Please wash me free of sins this day, Lord, and get me ready to go into the City. In Jesus' Name, I say, please do this for us, and thank You for doing it. Amen.
Now go forth and share your blessings. Love ya, and please pass on my love to others.
Pastor Dan
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Wednesday 7/2/14 Blessed 2
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You. Please forgive me of my sins. Thank You for the blessings of this day, and thank You for air conditioning in our earthly home. Thanks for making our home a home, for without You, dear Lord, it would just be a house. Praise You, Jesus, for the great news on Ken McNelis, and Your hand being upon him. Please be with all those who travel, and Lord, be with Leann as she is in the air right now. Lord, be with all Your people, and we pray again for Matthew that he will return to You. Lord, please help us find the lost and bring them to Your feet to be saved. Be with Pastor Tim and Melody as they pastor in Indiana, PA. Lord, be with Pastor Larry and Glenvale Church as they ready for Vacation Bible School. Be with families, and Lord, please help me with the message of today and then help me to dispatch it. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen. And Lord, please, according to Your will for me, relieve me of some pain. In Jesus' Name, I pray, thank You. Amen.
Brothers and sisters, it is Wednesday, and that means it is Salvation Wednesday on this line. I have been calling Wednesdays Salvation Wednesday for a long time. I would love to see a church, a church that has Wednesday evening services, call them "Salvation Wednesday Service." I just think we need to really get the message about Salvation out more and more and one way to get it out is to start working it into scheduling. At one time the midweek service was called "prayer meeting." Anyone remember those days? Praise report, Ken is sitting up in his hospital bed eating. The missionary group mentioned earlier in the week is having a successful week in Haiti. Other updates as I receive them. Now to the message.
Salvation Wednesday: July 2, 2014, Blessed (Day Two)
Psalm 1:1 - Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, please remember that man is mankind, meaning man and woman. The Bible tells us we are blessed if we do not stand with those who are wicked or sinners or mockers, in other words we should not be standing with or associating with the "ungodly." However, we do need to talk with them about Salvation, but not hang out with them as you are trying to win them to Christ. Lots of times you can plant a seed or a spark about our Lord just by the way you live your life. Let's look at more scripture.
Psalm 33:10 - The Lord foils the plans of nations; He thwarts the purposes of peoples. 11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations. 12 BLESSED IS THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS LORD, the people He chose for His inheritance. 13 From Heaven the Lord looks down and sees ALL mankind, 14 from His dwelling place He watches all who live on earth. (NIV)
What a great scripture this is as we celebrate Independence Day this week. Look in verse 10. The Lord can mess up the best laid plans of nations, and that would be ALL nations, including America. In verse 11, it is plain to see that the plans of the Lord stand firm, and for how long do His plans stand firm? FOREVER. The purposes of His heart through all generations. To me that means that the Love that came from The Father, through Jesus, and the Holy Spirit which is a person, comes from the heart. Do you have that love of God coming from your heart and going to everyone? Even if they hate you? In verses 13 and 14, it tells us that God can look down and see all mankind. That should scare us straight, so to speak.
Now I want to repeat verse 12 in full.
Psalm 33:12 - BLESSED IS THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS LORD, the people He chose for His inheritance. (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, if we want to be a Blessed Nation, a really Blessed Nation, we need to not just be concerned about the saying "In God We Trust" on our money or buildings. We need to not just be concerned about "One Nation UNDER GOD" being in our pledge to our flag. We need to believe it and act like we care. What the heck good does it do to say "In God We Trust" if we really do not trust in God for our everyday living? Answer that one for me, please. We have leaders in Washington, DC, and all over our great nation, who lay their hand on a Bible and take an oath but then do not carry out what is in that very book that they put their hand on. Oh, yes, support our Constitution they might do, but forget about those laws of god Whose Word you just had your hand on. I want to write in a song, and yes, please sing it with me. It was written by Irving Berlin. The name of the song is "God Bless America."
"When the storm clouds gather far across the sea, let us pledge allegiance to a land that's free. Let us all be grateful for a land that's fair, as we raise our voices in a solemn prayer."
"God, PLEASE bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her through the night with a light from above. From the mountains to the prairies, to the oceans white with foam. God, PLEASE Bless America, my home sweet home. God, PLEASE Bless America, my home sweet home."
"God, PLEASE bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her through the night with a light from above. From the mountains to the prairies, to the oceans white with foam. God, PLEASE Bless America, my home sweet home. God, PLEASE Bless America, my home sweet home."
I do pray today that Mr. Berlin does not mind, but I changed one word in the preamble from Swear to Pledge. Then in the beautiful verses I added the word "Please," and as you sing it you will find it fits well. I believe it is time, way past time, when we should start saying please. One of the first things I remember my dear mamma teaching me was to say "please" and "thank you." We say it over and over again. We tell people to have a nice day, but what about The One who made us, and The One who made this great nation we call America? Should we not be saying and singing praise? We are so blessed in this country and it seems like we just think everyone owes us something. No, we owe it all to God, so it is time we say please, thank You, and have a nice day, to God.
One last scripture today:
Psalm 118:26 - Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you. (NIV)
If we in the United States of America would come in the name of the Lord, and I mean all together come in the name of the Lord, we would be so blessed as a nation. For those blessings will flow from the House of the Lord, or from Heaven. But folks, if we do not do it as a nation, we can each do it, for it does say he, again each of us. So as we depart today, will you come with me in the name of the Lord right now just to sign off.
Dear Father, please hear us as we come to You in the Name of our Lord Jesus asking forgiveness of the way we act, and asking that You PLEASE bless us and this nation. Thank You. In The Name of Jesus, I Come. Amen.
Now go forth and share your blessings. Love ya, and yes, please pass on my love to others.
Pastor Dan
Brothers and sisters, it is Wednesday, and that means it is Salvation Wednesday on this line. I have been calling Wednesdays Salvation Wednesday for a long time. I would love to see a church, a church that has Wednesday evening services, call them "Salvation Wednesday Service." I just think we need to really get the message about Salvation out more and more and one way to get it out is to start working it into scheduling. At one time the midweek service was called "prayer meeting." Anyone remember those days? Praise report, Ken is sitting up in his hospital bed eating. The missionary group mentioned earlier in the week is having a successful week in Haiti. Other updates as I receive them. Now to the message.
Salvation Wednesday: July 2, 2014, Blessed (Day Two)
Psalm 1:1 - Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, please remember that man is mankind, meaning man and woman. The Bible tells us we are blessed if we do not stand with those who are wicked or sinners or mockers, in other words we should not be standing with or associating with the "ungodly." However, we do need to talk with them about Salvation, but not hang out with them as you are trying to win them to Christ. Lots of times you can plant a seed or a spark about our Lord just by the way you live your life. Let's look at more scripture.
Psalm 33:10 - The Lord foils the plans of nations; He thwarts the purposes of peoples. 11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations. 12 BLESSED IS THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS LORD, the people He chose for His inheritance. 13 From Heaven the Lord looks down and sees ALL mankind, 14 from His dwelling place He watches all who live on earth. (NIV)
What a great scripture this is as we celebrate Independence Day this week. Look in verse 10. The Lord can mess up the best laid plans of nations, and that would be ALL nations, including America. In verse 11, it is plain to see that the plans of the Lord stand firm, and for how long do His plans stand firm? FOREVER. The purposes of His heart through all generations. To me that means that the Love that came from The Father, through Jesus, and the Holy Spirit which is a person, comes from the heart. Do you have that love of God coming from your heart and going to everyone? Even if they hate you? In verses 13 and 14, it tells us that God can look down and see all mankind. That should scare us straight, so to speak.
Now I want to repeat verse 12 in full.
Psalm 33:12 - BLESSED IS THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS LORD, the people He chose for His inheritance. (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, if we want to be a Blessed Nation, a really Blessed Nation, we need to not just be concerned about the saying "In God We Trust" on our money or buildings. We need to not just be concerned about "One Nation UNDER GOD" being in our pledge to our flag. We need to believe it and act like we care. What the heck good does it do to say "In God We Trust" if we really do not trust in God for our everyday living? Answer that one for me, please. We have leaders in Washington, DC, and all over our great nation, who lay their hand on a Bible and take an oath but then do not carry out what is in that very book that they put their hand on. Oh, yes, support our Constitution they might do, but forget about those laws of god Whose Word you just had your hand on. I want to write in a song, and yes, please sing it with me. It was written by Irving Berlin. The name of the song is "God Bless America."
"When the storm clouds gather far across the sea, let us pledge allegiance to a land that's free. Let us all be grateful for a land that's fair, as we raise our voices in a solemn prayer."
"God, PLEASE bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her through the night with a light from above. From the mountains to the prairies, to the oceans white with foam. God, PLEASE Bless America, my home sweet home. God, PLEASE Bless America, my home sweet home."
"God, PLEASE bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her through the night with a light from above. From the mountains to the prairies, to the oceans white with foam. God, PLEASE Bless America, my home sweet home. God, PLEASE Bless America, my home sweet home."
I do pray today that Mr. Berlin does not mind, but I changed one word in the preamble from Swear to Pledge. Then in the beautiful verses I added the word "Please," and as you sing it you will find it fits well. I believe it is time, way past time, when we should start saying please. One of the first things I remember my dear mamma teaching me was to say "please" and "thank you." We say it over and over again. We tell people to have a nice day, but what about The One who made us, and The One who made this great nation we call America? Should we not be saying and singing praise? We are so blessed in this country and it seems like we just think everyone owes us something. No, we owe it all to God, so it is time we say please, thank You, and have a nice day, to God.
One last scripture today:
Psalm 118:26 - Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you. (NIV)
If we in the United States of America would come in the name of the Lord, and I mean all together come in the name of the Lord, we would be so blessed as a nation. For those blessings will flow from the House of the Lord, or from Heaven. But folks, if we do not do it as a nation, we can each do it, for it does say he, again each of us. So as we depart today, will you come with me in the name of the Lord right now just to sign off.
Dear Father, please hear us as we come to You in the Name of our Lord Jesus asking forgiveness of the way we act, and asking that You PLEASE bless us and this nation. Thank You. In The Name of Jesus, I Come. Amen.
Now go forth and share your blessings. Love ya, and yes, please pass on my love to others.
Pastor Dan
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