Monday 12/15/14 The Big Trip 6

Dear Father in Heaven:  I love You.  Thank You for watching over Dolores and taking care of her.  Thank You for watching over Dave and taking care of him.  Lord, thanks for all the help You sent to us this past Saturday and thanks for guiding them, and for helping all of us serve the needy.  Lord, my mind is scrambled some right now.  Help me with the message and to get the things in the right order.  I need You, Lord, daily I need You.  Help me with the message and to get it dispatched.  In Jesus' Name, I pray.  Amen.

Dear brothers and sisters:  Before I start up old 36 and travel on, I want to update you on Dolores.  Most of you know by now that on Saturday at 4:00 AM I could not wake Dolores to get ready for our food distribution.  I called 911 and our WONDERFUL Silver Spring Twp. Ambulance was on our driveway within five minutes.  She was taken to the new West Shore Hospital, where she was admitted and still remains.  She started waking up late on Saturday.  She was much better on Sunday and permitted to be out of bed and eating.  At midnight Sunday she called me.  She could not sleep, her BP was over 190 and they were working to bring it down.  Early this morning she called and sounded pretty good.  I was not in today as she was going to be tested for different things.  Thanks for your prayers.

The food pantry distribution went perfectly with lots of helpers doing the work and sitting in for Dolores.  Our daughter Danelle went to the ER and took my place so I could stay at home due to all those coming in.  When she had to leave, daughter Leanne came with two of our granddaughters.  Son Glenn also came in to be with Dolores.

With that said, I want to get to the message but my spell checker is Dolores, so my spelling might be back to my old ways.

Monday:  December 15, 2014:  The Big Trip (Day Six)

I did not give you the answer to my question.  Out of all the angels, thousands of angels, only two were named in the Bible.  Who were they?  Gabriel, as we have seen here, the messenger.  The other was Michael (Daniel 10:13,3, Jude 9, Revelation 12:7).  My source, my NIV Study Bible, footnotes.  One person mentioned Lucifer, but he worked for the devil.

Matthew 1:18 -This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about:  His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.  19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.  20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  21 She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins."  (NIV)

Let's pull our big yellow bus 368 to the front of Joseph's home and watch what is going on here.  I went to the book of Matthew today to show how the angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream.  I would think the angel Gabriel also was the one making this announcement, although he is not named.  What I want to look at here is how when Joseph woke he carried out what the angel told  him.  He had faith, brothers and sisters.  Mary was pledged to Joseph.  Today people get engaged.  The scripture also talks again about the Holy Spirit being the one responsible for Mary being in the "motherly way."  I wonder how we would handle what Joseph went through.  Pledged to be married.  There was to be no sexual relations during a Jewish betrothal period.  And brothers and sisters, there really should not be any during an engagement period now!!  Moving on!!  In verse 19 it refers to Joseph as being righteous, and that meant he would really be good at keeping the Jewish laws.  So Joseph thought about not being with her until the angel talked to him in the dream.  Joseph was told by the angel "do not be afraid to take Mary home."

Also please note in this scripture that Joseph was told to name his new Son Jesus and was even told why.  He was told that Mary would give birth to a Son and you should name Him Jesus because He will save His people from their sins.

I want you to think about this as we let this bug parked for the night.  This unborn child is going to be born to save all of us from our sins, including His very own mother and earthly father.

Now a couple of questions for tomorrow.
What was Joseph's earthly occupation?
Now this is not a trick question.  Before Jesus was born, before He came to earth, WHO WAS HE?

Just talked with Dolores, and she said thanks for your prayers and asks you to keep praying.  Now go forth and share your blessings.  Love ya.  Please share my love with others.

Pastor Dan