Friday 12/18/15 The Big Trip (11)

Dear Father in Heaven: I love You. Please, Father, forgive me of my sins both known and unknown to me. Lord, help me with daily struggles and help me walk nearer to You each and every day. Lord, I want to be more and more like You. I do not want to walk in darkness and stumble and fall. I want to walk each step in the light of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Please help me and all others who are asking to get that done each day. Please help me with the daily message and then please help me to get it dispatched. In the mighty, mighty name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Dear brothers and sisters, right to the message this day. Time is flying. Next week, one week from today and Christmas day will be half over. Two weeks after that Dolores will be having her birthday. Wow, still looking good and will be 81. You don't think I am going to tell you, do you? I have been warned!!!

Friday: December 18, 2015: The Big Trip by Donkey Dan (Day Eleven)

Luke 2:5 - He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him, and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the Baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (NIV)

Wow, look at me, Donkey Dan, and I have heard about this big trip Joseph had to go on and he had to take Mary along so she could also register. And Mary was bout to have a child. Shh--- Here comes Joseph to the barn to feed us. "Dan, Donkey Dan, where are you?" he called. He patted me on the head and was talking tome about this big job he had for me. I have picked you to carry Mary to Bethlehem, he said. I thought, me, why me? What if I trip and fall? Come on, Clyde, you are going along also, for you will need to carry our supplies. Oh, how Joseph loves Mary, what a great love story. Why, he brushed me and then put this really nice blanket on my back. So Clyde and I followed him to the house. There he and some others who were going to make the trip loaded things on Clyde and a few other camels and donkeys, but nothing was on my back but that blanket. Then Joseph went back into the house one last time, and out he came helping Mary. Gosh, she got big, why she was just a tiny little thing a few months ago. Joseph gave her a kiss and lifted her onto my back. She was sitting sideways. Gosh, I hope I don't fall or even jar her off. Then they all stopped what they were doing and prayed. Give us a safe trip, Father God, I heard Joseph say, and keep our baby safe too. And in my donkey talk I asked God to keep me surefooted and safe and to protect Mary on my back. Joseph took one last look around the barn to be sure those animals that were not going along would have enough to eat and we started out on this trip. I heard it was going to take about three days. You could tell Joseph planned well for he had all the stops laid out so he could get water for them and also water for us. We also had to eat, and when we travel we eat and drink a lot. I really laughed out loud. Hee haw, Hee haw. Old Clyde had been laying down to get loaded and when he got up he passed gas really hard. Gosh, he had the place smelling like a barn. I told him to stop doing that for this future president named Obama would get him for messing up causing green house gases. Anyway, we walked and people talked and we animals talked with each other in our way. I was thinking all along, I just must be careful, no bad steps for me. Then I heard Mary asking how much longer? Joseph told her they would get there the very next day. She sounded happy. You could really tell she was starting to hurt. I noticed that Joseph had loaded an extra blanket on my back. I wonder what that was for? So we stopped for one more night, and then off on the final leg of the trip. Others seemed to go ahead of us. I think Joseph was slowing down so I would not be bouncing Mary as much. Anyway, we arrived. We are here, I could see the sign Bethlehem Hilton just ahead. No, I am funning you folks. But here we are at the Inn. Joseph dropped my lead and came and took Mary down again. He gave her another big kiss. Oh, how he loves this young lady. Then they walked hand in hand into the Inn. I figured that Joseph would get them checked in and then come out and take care of Clyde and me. Wow, he is coming out and Mary is still with him. He put her up on my back again and led me around back to a stable. I heard him tell Mary and some others there were no rooms left in the Inn for them. So Joseph left Mary on my back and went into the stable and looked around. He pulled hay and straw out of the one feeder and put in fresh straw and then he took that extra blanket off my back and put it over the straw. He was making up a small bed. I am thinking, is the child due soon? When he helped Mary down off my back, this time I heard her sort of wince in pain. Some of the animals already in the stable came out to give Mary and Joseph more room. Then Joseph made a bed of straw for Mary. And things got really quiet. Then everyone started to sing. It was indeed a very clear night. Let us sing with them.

It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old.
From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold.
"Peace on the earth, good will to men, From heaven's all gracious king."
The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.

Dear Father in Heaven, this Big Trip is so exciting, almost like it is happening right now before our very eyes. Please, Lord, help us to keep peace on this earth until the day of Your return when You will furnish total peace to all who have come to be Born Again. Please help us to spread that great hope and good news. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.

Now go forth loving and serving Jesus.  Love ya.

Pastor Dan