Tuesday 10/28/14 Running 3

Dear Father in Heaven:  Thanks for another beautiful day and the love You sent to us this day.  I love You, Father.  Freshen me this day to move forward for You in all we do.  Thanks, Lord, for the help that You sent to us this day to clear the fallen leaves and clean the flower beds.  Father in Heaven, please guide my mind and hands in all I do and may all I do be for You.  Lord, please help me with the daily message and then help me get it dispatched.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Dear brothers and sisters:  If you know of anyone in need of a hospital bed, we have two that can go.  They are in good shape, they do not have side rails.  Also, since my doctor supplied me with a new scooter, I have repaired my older one and it is ready to be GIVEN to someone who can use it.  It is the power wheel chair type which runs with a joy stick.  My dear wife, Air Force Veteran Sargent Dolores Lehman, would love to see it go to a veteran.  It is a Pride and a larger make.  We also have one that needs batteries that was gifted to us.  It would be for indoor use only.  It is one that uses smaller batteries.  Please email me if you know of someone who is worthy.  Again, they are free!!!  icarrythelight4God@msn.com.  Mark the subject line:  Scooter needed!!

Let me get right to the message, Running.

Tuesday:  October 28, 2014:  Running (Day Three)

Galatians 5:7 - You were running a good race.  Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?  (NIV)

Let me take my example back again to NASCAR.  However, the example could be a foot race or a bicycle race.  You are running a good race, you are doing really well, when all of a sudden someone cut in on you.  Your car spins out, or your bicycle goes end over end and goes down.  Even in those foot races I have seen the runners take a tumble.  Maybe you were obeying all the rules and someone cuts you off.

So let's look at the scripture, we are running a good race, we are really working hard for Jesus and then something happened and we stopped obeying the truth.  What truth, you ask?  The truth we find in the Word, our Bible.  Who cut us off?  The answer should be easy for all of us.  Sin cuts us off from the truth.  Sin gets in the way of our running for Jesus, running the race for the truth.  I could have blamed it on Satan, but sometimes I think we can get into trouble all by ourselves, we do not need help from Satan.  Sometimes it can really mess us up.  Sometimes people want to follow what might be what looks to them like the easy route to Heaven.  Sometimes we fix our eyes on the wrong leader.  You might remember I wrote about leaders a few weeks back.

In NASCAR, they will tell a driver who is out in front, keep your focus, hit your marks and you will be okay.  However, if they are watching more of what others are doing, they can lose the focus.  If we are running the race for Jesus, as we know, we should be doing, we need to keep our focus right on Him.  Try your best to keep that fix on Jesus.  You might remember sometime years ago that a bunch of people followed someone, I think the name was Jim Jones, and they all drank poison following him.  They all died running a bad race.

John 10:11 - "I am the Good Shepherd.  The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.  12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep.  So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and RUNS away.  Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.  13 The man RUNS away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep."  (NIV)

In this scripture we can see in the Words of Jesus that we have but one shepherd that will take care of us:  The Good Shepherd, and Jesus is that Good Shepherd, and we are indeed His sheep.  It is plain to me according to the scriptures that if we lose our focus while running this race we call life we will fail.  If we trust fully in man, they will run off from us leading us astray and away from Jesus.  So please, as we are running, let's do all we can do to run with and for Jesus.  If we do fall, He will be one you can count on to help you up, dust you off, and get you back on track.

One last example today.  The United Methodist minister who officiated a gay wedding was given his credentials back by the United Methodist church.  Some people at his former charge were very  happy.  THIS IS WRONG, IT IS AGAINST WHAT IS IN THE BIBLE.  Keep your focus on Jesus.  HE WILL NEVER LEAD YOU OFF COURSE.  Run the race with and for Jesus.

Tomorrow, Salvation Wednesday and a new subject.  What?  Don't know yet.  I am waiting upon the Lord.

Now go forth and share your blessings and keep running for the Lord.  Love ya, and please pass on my love to others.

Pastor Dan

What is black and white and read allover?  The newspaper.