Friday 12/12/14 The Big Trip 5

Dear Father in Heaven:  Thanks for all You do for us.  Thanks for covering sins with the Blood of Your Son Jesus.  I love You, I love Jesus, and I love The Holy Spirit.  Please help me to do a better job of teaching others the message.  Please, Lord, be with Dave Fortney.  Help him learn things all over again.  Be with Joanne as she walks with her spouse and may You bring peace and comfort to them both.  Lord, please be with all those coming to Your food pantry that we operate for You and keep them safe.  Protect all our crew and all the guests coming for food.  Thanks again for all You do and in advance for the good weather for tomorrow.  Now if You would, please help me with the message and the delivery of that message.  Please, Lord, protect Christians around the world.  In Jesus' Name, I pray.  Amen.

Brothers and sisters, I want to do something just a tad differently today, so I am going to call it "Side Trip Friday" for just this one week.  Oh, did you notice that tomorrow, our distribution day, is "12/13/14?"  Anyway, helpers to be  here by 8:30 AM, and I never know who is coming, we have just over the years "walked it out in faith."  So let me get right to the message and see where bus 36 goes today.

Side Trip Friday:  December 12, 2014:  The Big Trip (Day Five)

Mark 8:34 - Then He called the crowd to Him along with His disciples and said:  "If anyone would come after me, He must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me and for the Gospel will save it."  (NIV)

As we start up 36 today we are going to pull it ahead to yesterday and today.  We are going to park and think about this.  In the news this morning I heard (Fox Cable News) four CHILDREN, all 15 or under, were BEHEADED BY "ISIS."  Why were the children beheaded?  They were asked to deny Jesus and become Muslims and they WOULD NOT DENY CHRIST so they were beheaded.

The Bible is very clear that to get into Heaven we must believe in Jesus and we must even deny him/her self.  We must follow Jesus and to follow Him it means we put aside things of the world.  In our scripture Jesus tells us we must follow Him.  To lay down our lives on earth to live forever with Jesus in heaven.  Not all will need to make a choice as those children did.  On this side trip, I want to ask you a few questions.

First:  If you were confronted by a member of ISIS or any other person and asked you to deny as your Savior, would you deny Him?  Only you can answer that.

Second:  If you were hauled into court because you are a Christian, arrested for following Jesus, would they find enough evidence to convict you?

You think things like those beheadings only happen in other countries, then think again, it will be "Coming to America."  In fact, if if my memory serves me, it has happened here in America, I just can't find that right now.  As a Christian, a true follower of Jesus, we must build on our relationship with Him by repenting of our sins, and I mean truly repenting.  We also need to trust and believe and walk with our Lord Jesus daily.

I need to close now and get ready for tomorrow.  Please excuse me if I am a little scrambled today.  My mind is really thinking about tomorrow.

So let me close today with a sinner's prayer, asking you if you are saved, and if so, maybe just renew with Jesus now.  If you are not saved and are praying this for the first time, please email me and let me know and I will help support you through this new life for you will change. Remember, I cannot pray this one for you.

Dear Father in Heaven: I confess this day I am a sinner.  I ask you this day to wash me white as snow.  I believe Jesus died for my sins and was risen from the dead and I confess it with my mouth and believe it in my heart.  Please, Lord, write my name in the Lamb's Book of Life.  Thank You, Lord.  In Jesus' Name, I ask this and pray.  Amen.

Now go forth and share your blessings.  Love ya.  Please pass on my love.

Pastor Dan