Our Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory, Forever. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, after talking to our son Matthew the other day, he told us he can no longer pray. With that said, I looked in the Bible about prayer and figured it is a good time to talk about it some. I ask all of you to keep our son Matthew in your prayers and place him on prayer lists asking God to touch him so Matthew gets back into praying again. Thanks.
Friday: January 29, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Thirty-two)
Prayer One
Brothers and sisters, have you ever gotten to the point for one reason or another you could not pray? It does seem like there are times that our Lord Jesus does not hear our prayers. However, I want to point out that our Lord Jesus hears each and every one of our prayers, be they silent or out loud. Just so you know, He also hears everything else we say. Oh my ... You mean He hears it ALL? Yes, He does, every last word of your talk and even your thinking. SCARY, RIGHT? yes, it is, and that is one reason I open most every day by asking forgiveness of my sins. All of us, except Jesus, are sinners. All of us, including me and you. I even put me ahead of you on this one. Different Bibles carry different versions of The Lord's Prayer and even how it should be prayed. I want to make this as easy as can be.
Jesus is our friend, in fact He is our very best friend, period!!! I have heard some jokes about a funeral director and it said he will be the last person to let you down!!! Now, if you are thinking I am going to say that is not right because Jesus will be the last person to let yo down, YOU ARE SO WRONG!!! Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you for any reason. So if you are down in the dumps or afraid, get into a praying habit. In fact just get into the praying habit. Listen to these words from Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy 31:6 - Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." (NIV)
Luke 11:1-4 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus' Teaching on Prayer
11 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught His disciples." 2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.
Sometimes we think when we need things, others should just drop everything they might be doing and come running to us. How fast was that street plowed out? I want it done now, some people have said, even on news interviews. Some people also think that God should also drop everything and just come and fix their problem. Trust me, and it is in the scripture above. God knows our every problem and sometimes we must wait it out for it will be in HIS TIME AND ACCORDING TO HIS WILL FOR US. Really, would you want it any other way? Not me! Also remember this. Watch what you pray for, for He might answer something that you don't want to happen. Years ago I wrote about The Lord's Prayer and about praying. Maybe time for a re-visit. As I leave you for this day, please just remember HE WON'T!!!
Most of you in your life have heard The Lord's Prayer sung at a wedding or someplace else. That is the song I want to place in your heart and on your lips today. Yes, go about your daily work singing The Lord's Prayer.
Now go forth and serve Jesus, keep praying and please remember He will never leave you or forsake you. And you can remember this also. I love ya.
Pastor Dan
Friday, January 29, 2016
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Salvation Wednesday 1/27/16 The Big Trip (31)
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You! Thank You for a wonderful day and all the blessings that You sent our way. Thanks for keeping those outdoor cats safe, even after they were buried in the heavy snow. Dear Lord, please forgive us of our sins. Please help us on this Salvation Wednesday to each out for You to help bring in the lost to Your fields of Harvest. Please help all those who are still working their way out of the big storms. Please watch over all those who are subject to falls. Lord, some of us do not bounce up as well as we once did. Protect Your people, Lord. Please keep protecting those running plow trucks. Please, Lord, protect our military and the Commander-in-Chief, President Obama. I pray he will come to You and become born again. Please keep watch over police officers as people still want to kill them. Oh, Lord, I pay people would all start to walk with You. Please help me now with a message and to get it dispatched. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters. The mayor of York, PA, and I am not sure of her last name, I will just refer to her as Mayor Kim, has been asking people to be kind to each other and to help each other during this time. As you know, York, like many other places, was hit with a 30 inches (plus or minus) of snow that then drifted and piled up even higher. In cities there is no place to put snow, yet some people think they should be plowed out in just a few hours. Yes, she was trying to teach us part of the two great Commandments. And by looking at her face, I do believe she is a true follower of Jesus. Anyway, it is a good time to get back to the Big Trip and talk about those Good Samaritans. Oh, and please do not let the news people know that when they call someone a Good Samaritan they are really referring to some really great Words of Jesus. So let us take a look at a few Good Samaritans from this storm.
Salvation Wednesday: January 27, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Thirty-one)
The Good Samaritan
Brothers and sisters, in the news this week, and I only saw it once, three young men set out to help others. It was said that these folks, over the years going back to their parents and grandparents, would go out in storms to help others. When coming upon a disabled car the three stopped to help. When they walked up to the car to tell the driver they came to help, the driver pulled a gun and shot at them, hitting one of the men. Then the shooter got out of the car and while that man was laying on the ground, he shot him over and over again, killing him. I bring this out for it is an example of what could happen when we follow Jesus and try and help others.
With that said, I still want to be a "Good Samaritan," what about you? Here is the scripture that talks about being a "Good Samaritan" or a Good Neighbor as commanded by our Lord Jesus.
Luke 10:30-37 New International Version (NIV)
30 - In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' 36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." (NIV)
Okay, you have had a chance to read it all together. Let us take it apart a tad, but first I want to tell you two times I stopped to help others. Both occurred while I was on one of my motorcycles.
One summer day, I was heading home and turned from Progress Avenue onto Southbound Route 81. At the end of the ramp was a car parked with a flat tire and this, folks, was before people carried cell phones. Now this cycle had crosses painted on the windshield as did all of ours. I parked behind the car and walked up to see if I could change the tire. Much to my surprise the car was driven by a Roman Catholic Sister, and there were three other nuns with her. She looked at me and I said to her, I would like to change your tire. She said, how did you know to come and help us? My next statement just came out. I pointed up and said, "Jesus sent me."
Now while Jesus did not tell me to go that way, I am sure He had His hand upon this event. I changed the tire and we formed a circle and prayed and I told them I loved them and they told me the same. Yes, God did set me up to see if I would be a "Good Neighbor."
The next event, also on Route 81 South. I was again riding toward home when I passed a car on the shoulder of the road, and again this was before people had cell phones. The car was overheated with steam coming out of the radiator. I looked at the vehicle and noticed that the heater hose was broken where it went over the small pipe. I took my trusty scout knife and with it cut that bad piece off. I then removed the clamp, put the fresh end back on and tightened the clamp. I said to the man who was driving who had his family with him, all we need is some water. Well, they had a jug of mixed water and antifreeze in the trunk, so I put it in the motor, and it was enough to get them off the highway. I was pleased with what had happened up to then. However, while I was working on the car, a big rig went past so fast that my big Gold Wing was pulled forward by the vacuum coming off the truck, my side stand went down and the cycle laid over on its side. I pointed that out to the man I just helped and walked up to my bike. I thought he would walk up with me and help me pick it up. However, he did wave and smile as he drove past.
I am happy I stopped to help him, however, I did need to pray to God for forgiveness for what I was thinking when that man drove away. I also prayed to God for Him to give me the strength to pick it up. And He, our dear Lord Jesus, gave me that burst of strength. So my question here is this: Who was the Good Samaritan?
These events both happened. I did not make them up. In both events, God placed me where He wanted me and I did what He wanted. And just so you know, I have missed many chances to help others, and did not. Oh, and I did pray for the man and his family and maybe that might have been why he did not stop and help me.
Has God ever put you in a place to help others? What about during this past storm? I watched out our window our neighbors helping each other, it was great. However, not one called us to check on us. But God was taking care of us and our kids called us to make sure we were okay. Sometimes even in this storm, you can be a good neighbor and while you are trying your best, that neighbor might not lift a finger to help you. That is okay, remember you are serving our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Brothers and sisters, regardless of what others might think about you as you do your walk with Jesus, keep on smiling, keep on helping others the best you can, and know this. You will be rewarded when You get to heaven. Jesus will forgive all of your sins when you ask Him to and He will not bring them up against you. But those things you do working for Jesus WILL BE REMEMBERED. They will not get you into heaven, that is between Jesus and you. However, those are the type of things that after you are "Born Again" are done so that you are sealing up that blessing of Salvation coming from Jesus, who died on The Cross for you and me. Instead of me taking apart each verse, let us just read that scripture again.
Luke 10:30-37 New International Version (NIV)
30 - In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' 36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." (NIV)
Dear Father in Heaven, please help us in all we do, follow the examples set by Your Son Jesus when He walked this earth. Help us to Love God above all others and to Love our neighbors next. In Jesus' Name, I give thanks and praise for You giving us chance after chance to serve You. Even when we fail, You give all of us other chances to serve You. I love You and pray in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Now go forth and serve Jesus, sharing His love with all others. Please try your best to be safe as you do these things. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
I Will Serve Thee (Bill and Gloria Gaither)
I will serve Thee because I love Thee;
You have given life to me.
I was nothing before You found me;
You have given life to me.
Heartaches, broken pieces,
Ruined lives are why You died on Calvary.
Your touch was what I longed for;
You have given life to me.
(repeat as often as you like!)
Dear brothers and sisters. The mayor of York, PA, and I am not sure of her last name, I will just refer to her as Mayor Kim, has been asking people to be kind to each other and to help each other during this time. As you know, York, like many other places, was hit with a 30 inches (plus or minus) of snow that then drifted and piled up even higher. In cities there is no place to put snow, yet some people think they should be plowed out in just a few hours. Yes, she was trying to teach us part of the two great Commandments. And by looking at her face, I do believe she is a true follower of Jesus. Anyway, it is a good time to get back to the Big Trip and talk about those Good Samaritans. Oh, and please do not let the news people know that when they call someone a Good Samaritan they are really referring to some really great Words of Jesus. So let us take a look at a few Good Samaritans from this storm.
Salvation Wednesday: January 27, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Thirty-one)
The Good Samaritan
Brothers and sisters, in the news this week, and I only saw it once, three young men set out to help others. It was said that these folks, over the years going back to their parents and grandparents, would go out in storms to help others. When coming upon a disabled car the three stopped to help. When they walked up to the car to tell the driver they came to help, the driver pulled a gun and shot at them, hitting one of the men. Then the shooter got out of the car and while that man was laying on the ground, he shot him over and over again, killing him. I bring this out for it is an example of what could happen when we follow Jesus and try and help others.
With that said, I still want to be a "Good Samaritan," what about you? Here is the scripture that talks about being a "Good Samaritan" or a Good Neighbor as commanded by our Lord Jesus.
Luke 10:30-37 New International Version (NIV)
30 - In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' 36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." (NIV)
Okay, you have had a chance to read it all together. Let us take it apart a tad, but first I want to tell you two times I stopped to help others. Both occurred while I was on one of my motorcycles.
One summer day, I was heading home and turned from Progress Avenue onto Southbound Route 81. At the end of the ramp was a car parked with a flat tire and this, folks, was before people carried cell phones. Now this cycle had crosses painted on the windshield as did all of ours. I parked behind the car and walked up to see if I could change the tire. Much to my surprise the car was driven by a Roman Catholic Sister, and there were three other nuns with her. She looked at me and I said to her, I would like to change your tire. She said, how did you know to come and help us? My next statement just came out. I pointed up and said, "Jesus sent me."
Now while Jesus did not tell me to go that way, I am sure He had His hand upon this event. I changed the tire and we formed a circle and prayed and I told them I loved them and they told me the same. Yes, God did set me up to see if I would be a "Good Neighbor."
The next event, also on Route 81 South. I was again riding toward home when I passed a car on the shoulder of the road, and again this was before people had cell phones. The car was overheated with steam coming out of the radiator. I looked at the vehicle and noticed that the heater hose was broken where it went over the small pipe. I took my trusty scout knife and with it cut that bad piece off. I then removed the clamp, put the fresh end back on and tightened the clamp. I said to the man who was driving who had his family with him, all we need is some water. Well, they had a jug of mixed water and antifreeze in the trunk, so I put it in the motor, and it was enough to get them off the highway. I was pleased with what had happened up to then. However, while I was working on the car, a big rig went past so fast that my big Gold Wing was pulled forward by the vacuum coming off the truck, my side stand went down and the cycle laid over on its side. I pointed that out to the man I just helped and walked up to my bike. I thought he would walk up with me and help me pick it up. However, he did wave and smile as he drove past.
I am happy I stopped to help him, however, I did need to pray to God for forgiveness for what I was thinking when that man drove away. I also prayed to God for Him to give me the strength to pick it up. And He, our dear Lord Jesus, gave me that burst of strength. So my question here is this: Who was the Good Samaritan?
These events both happened. I did not make them up. In both events, God placed me where He wanted me and I did what He wanted. And just so you know, I have missed many chances to help others, and did not. Oh, and I did pray for the man and his family and maybe that might have been why he did not stop and help me.
Has God ever put you in a place to help others? What about during this past storm? I watched out our window our neighbors helping each other, it was great. However, not one called us to check on us. But God was taking care of us and our kids called us to make sure we were okay. Sometimes even in this storm, you can be a good neighbor and while you are trying your best, that neighbor might not lift a finger to help you. That is okay, remember you are serving our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Brothers and sisters, regardless of what others might think about you as you do your walk with Jesus, keep on smiling, keep on helping others the best you can, and know this. You will be rewarded when You get to heaven. Jesus will forgive all of your sins when you ask Him to and He will not bring them up against you. But those things you do working for Jesus WILL BE REMEMBERED. They will not get you into heaven, that is between Jesus and you. However, those are the type of things that after you are "Born Again" are done so that you are sealing up that blessing of Salvation coming from Jesus, who died on The Cross for you and me. Instead of me taking apart each verse, let us just read that scripture again.
Luke 10:30-37 New International Version (NIV)
30 - In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' 36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." (NIV)
Dear Father in Heaven, please help us in all we do, follow the examples set by Your Son Jesus when He walked this earth. Help us to Love God above all others and to Love our neighbors next. In Jesus' Name, I give thanks and praise for You giving us chance after chance to serve You. Even when we fail, You give all of us other chances to serve You. I love You and pray in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Now go forth and serve Jesus, sharing His love with all others. Please try your best to be safe as you do these things. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
I Will Serve Thee (Bill and Gloria Gaither)
I will serve Thee because I love Thee;
You have given life to me.
I was nothing before You found me;
You have given life to me.
Heartaches, broken pieces,
Ruined lives are why You died on Calvary.
Your touch was what I longed for;
You have given life to me.
(repeat as often as you like!)
Monday, January 25, 2016
Monday 1/25/16 Sharing Food
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You, and I thank You for watching over us during the storm. I give thanks that we have plenty of food stored to get us through the storm. Father, our son Matthew really needs Your help. Please, Lord, intervene where he is living. Thanking You, Lord, for watching over him all these years. Today again, Father, I pray for peace, worldwide peace. Please watch over all those still working the storms, those out in the weather day after day. Please, Lord, help me now with a message and then please help me to get it dispatched. In Jesus' Name, I pray and give thanks. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, I do want to give you an update on what is going on here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. First, giving honor and glory to God that Dolores and I are okay as far as the storm is concerned. Like many people, we watched out our windows and prayed a lot for those outside. We were completely trapped in our home for awhile. I did get out on Saturday morning. I got into our Suburban and opened the garage door. I pushed straight out and then backed into the garage, our truck too light to handle this snow. We prayed a lot for those out in the snow, not just those who work in it from our family but all others. I find it hard not being out and part of the "fight," so to speak. I always loved plowing snow, but I also know that a slip and fall outside could be the end. Dolores and I promised each other that we would not do something stupid. Today I just want to talk to you a tad about Sharing Food, so let me get started.
Monday: January 25, 2016: Sharing Food
Brothers and sisters, if you have been following the news about the storm, the headline that was talked about the most was the very large traffic jam on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Big rigs pulling the hills going into one of the tunnels got stuck, jackknifed and blocked traffic. Others passing them got stuck, before long a really bad traffic tie-up and more than likely over a thousand people in that traffic jam. This was my estimate due to the large number of big charter buses stuck in the backlog. Most people did not have a lot of food in their cars and trucks, but some did have some. Here are just a couple of stores that we heard about but not too much.
There were a lot of buses returning from Washington, DC, that were there for a right-to-life rally. I do not know the make-up of all the different religions on the buses, and that does not make a big difference for this. These people are pro-life as we are. While stuck in traffic, they got out of their buses and were helping others. They would also get out and have some short church services. They would sing and play music on their horns. I heard they had trumpets and other instruments. So let me point this out again, you do not need a building to have church, you just need Jesus and people who love Him. AMEN!!! They did some interviews on the news and of course the news people interviewed truck drivers who said they stick together so they would share their food. Some people shared packs of crackers with others. Some shared blankets. They were out there for hours and hours and hours. Once the vehicles were stuck, no trucks could get in to help. The National Guard was called out to help after the fact. Yes, people were humbled. A few people were interviewed after they were home and said the worst part was not knowing when help would come, and of course going to the potty. With all this said, there is scripture that tells us about a time when people needed to eat, and there were over a thousand, in fact the Bible tells us five thousand. Well, let us look at the scripture.
Luke 9:10-17 Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
10 When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then He took them with Him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, 11 but the crowds learned about it and followed Him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. (NIV)
Let me break from the scripture and just mention this. Jesus welcomed them and healed those who needed healing. Think of that, folks, five thousand people and Jesus healed those who needed healing. Think, folks, that could have been half of them, and those would have all been miracles that are not recorded one at a time as in when Jesus healed the blind eyes, or others that were talked directly about. So keep your faith on the healing also, for JESUS IS STILL IN THE HEALING BUSINESS. Let me get back to Sharing Food.
Luke 9:12 - Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to Him and said, "Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here." 13 He replied, "You give them something to eat." They answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish - unless we go and buy food for all this crowd." 14 (About five thousand men were there.) But He said to His disciples "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each." 15 The disciples did so, and everyone sat down. (NIV)
Let us take a look at these verses. His disciples wanted to send the people away, but Jesus would have no part of that and told His disciples "you give them something to eat." Of course Jesus knew His disciples did not have enough food to feed all of them, so here comes a faith-building lesson even for His disciples. We need to learn this also, when we travel with Jesus He will take care of us, according to His will for us. And I think that more people than those from the church groups would be praying and maybe coming to Jesus for the first time. Let me ask you folks this, have you ever been out when things went wrong and right there and then you had a "come to Jesus minute"? I have had those more than once, even after coming to Jesus and being saved, I have still had some "come to Jesus minutes" in my life, and the older I get the more of them I have. Let me get back to the scripture.
Luke 9:16 - Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. 17 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, now we see Jesus has five loaves and two fish but where did they come from? For that we look in the Bible to John 6:9.
John 6:9 - Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many? (NIV)
I want to bring this part out. Here is a child that has packed a lunch and handed them over to Jesus. One child, who is willing to share his small lunch with others. So we find Jesus again pointing out about children and while Jesus performed the miracle of multiplying the small loaves and two fish, He also showed others about sharing. I know that you people who are like I once was and could wolf down four Whoppers at one setting might think you could not be satisfied with such a small amount of food, but the fact is just this. JESUS WILL TAKE CARE OF ALL OF OUR NEEDS IF WE JUST TRUST HIM. So as you can see, there were a lot of MIRACLES in just these few verses of Scripture. All of them relate to Jesus.
So brothers and sisters, you would not have seen all these things going on, on the Turnpike, if Jesus had not caused the storm in the first place. When you truly walk with Jesus, learn to expect blessings and learn this scripture.
Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things, God works for the food, of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, there is light at the end of the tunnel, and that light, dear friends, is JESUS CHRIST.
Dear Father in Heaven, thank You for this lesson in sharing, and for pointing out these scriptures in the Bible. I pray that all of us can learn more about Jesus. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth sharing and loving Jesus. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Fill My Cup, Lord
Fill my cup, Lord - I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of Heaven, feed me til I want no more;
Fill my up, fill it up and make me whole!
Fill my cup, Lord - I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of Heaven, feed me til I want no more;
Fill my up, fill it up and make me whole!
Dear brothers and sisters, I do want to give you an update on what is going on here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. First, giving honor and glory to God that Dolores and I are okay as far as the storm is concerned. Like many people, we watched out our windows and prayed a lot for those outside. We were completely trapped in our home for awhile. I did get out on Saturday morning. I got into our Suburban and opened the garage door. I pushed straight out and then backed into the garage, our truck too light to handle this snow. We prayed a lot for those out in the snow, not just those who work in it from our family but all others. I find it hard not being out and part of the "fight," so to speak. I always loved plowing snow, but I also know that a slip and fall outside could be the end. Dolores and I promised each other that we would not do something stupid. Today I just want to talk to you a tad about Sharing Food, so let me get started.
Monday: January 25, 2016: Sharing Food
Brothers and sisters, if you have been following the news about the storm, the headline that was talked about the most was the very large traffic jam on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Big rigs pulling the hills going into one of the tunnels got stuck, jackknifed and blocked traffic. Others passing them got stuck, before long a really bad traffic tie-up and more than likely over a thousand people in that traffic jam. This was my estimate due to the large number of big charter buses stuck in the backlog. Most people did not have a lot of food in their cars and trucks, but some did have some. Here are just a couple of stores that we heard about but not too much.
There were a lot of buses returning from Washington, DC, that were there for a right-to-life rally. I do not know the make-up of all the different religions on the buses, and that does not make a big difference for this. These people are pro-life as we are. While stuck in traffic, they got out of their buses and were helping others. They would also get out and have some short church services. They would sing and play music on their horns. I heard they had trumpets and other instruments. So let me point this out again, you do not need a building to have church, you just need Jesus and people who love Him. AMEN!!! They did some interviews on the news and of course the news people interviewed truck drivers who said they stick together so they would share their food. Some people shared packs of crackers with others. Some shared blankets. They were out there for hours and hours and hours. Once the vehicles were stuck, no trucks could get in to help. The National Guard was called out to help after the fact. Yes, people were humbled. A few people were interviewed after they were home and said the worst part was not knowing when help would come, and of course going to the potty. With all this said, there is scripture that tells us about a time when people needed to eat, and there were over a thousand, in fact the Bible tells us five thousand. Well, let us look at the scripture.
Luke 9:10-17 Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
10 When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then He took them with Him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, 11 but the crowds learned about it and followed Him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. (NIV)
Let me break from the scripture and just mention this. Jesus welcomed them and healed those who needed healing. Think of that, folks, five thousand people and Jesus healed those who needed healing. Think, folks, that could have been half of them, and those would have all been miracles that are not recorded one at a time as in when Jesus healed the blind eyes, or others that were talked directly about. So keep your faith on the healing also, for JESUS IS STILL IN THE HEALING BUSINESS. Let me get back to Sharing Food.
Luke 9:12 - Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to Him and said, "Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here." 13 He replied, "You give them something to eat." They answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish - unless we go and buy food for all this crowd." 14 (About five thousand men were there.) But He said to His disciples "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each." 15 The disciples did so, and everyone sat down. (NIV)
Let us take a look at these verses. His disciples wanted to send the people away, but Jesus would have no part of that and told His disciples "you give them something to eat." Of course Jesus knew His disciples did not have enough food to feed all of them, so here comes a faith-building lesson even for His disciples. We need to learn this also, when we travel with Jesus He will take care of us, according to His will for us. And I think that more people than those from the church groups would be praying and maybe coming to Jesus for the first time. Let me ask you folks this, have you ever been out when things went wrong and right there and then you had a "come to Jesus minute"? I have had those more than once, even after coming to Jesus and being saved, I have still had some "come to Jesus minutes" in my life, and the older I get the more of them I have. Let me get back to the scripture.
Luke 9:16 - Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. 17 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, now we see Jesus has five loaves and two fish but where did they come from? For that we look in the Bible to John 6:9.
John 6:9 - Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many? (NIV)
I want to bring this part out. Here is a child that has packed a lunch and handed them over to Jesus. One child, who is willing to share his small lunch with others. So we find Jesus again pointing out about children and while Jesus performed the miracle of multiplying the small loaves and two fish, He also showed others about sharing. I know that you people who are like I once was and could wolf down four Whoppers at one setting might think you could not be satisfied with such a small amount of food, but the fact is just this. JESUS WILL TAKE CARE OF ALL OF OUR NEEDS IF WE JUST TRUST HIM. So as you can see, there were a lot of MIRACLES in just these few verses of Scripture. All of them relate to Jesus.
So brothers and sisters, you would not have seen all these things going on, on the Turnpike, if Jesus had not caused the storm in the first place. When you truly walk with Jesus, learn to expect blessings and learn this scripture.
Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things, God works for the food, of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, there is light at the end of the tunnel, and that light, dear friends, is JESUS CHRIST.
Dear Father in Heaven, thank You for this lesson in sharing, and for pointing out these scriptures in the Bible. I pray that all of us can learn more about Jesus. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth sharing and loving Jesus. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Fill My Cup, Lord
Fill my cup, Lord - I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of Heaven, feed me til I want no more;
Fill my up, fill it up and make me whole!
Fill my cup, Lord - I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of Heaven, feed me til I want no more;
Fill my up, fill it up and make me whole!
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Saturday 1/23/16 A Side Trip
Dear Father in Heaven: Thank You for a house that You made into a home for us. Thank You for taking us through another night. Father, please protect all those that are in the path of this very major storm. Lord, we are safe, but cannot get out. The plows can't make it, Lord, people are stuck on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and need major help. We have family out in small plow trucks that need to be watched over. Lord, please be with the first responders and all the crews that it takes to get them through this storm. Please, Lord, protect those shoveling snow, and Lord, please help everyone understand that the snow plows cannot be at all places at once. Please, Lord, be with all Your people. Lord, be with the linemen, police, our National Guard who have been called out. Lord, I cold go on and on, however, You know what we are going through. Help people learn how to love each other and be kind to each other as they dig out from the mess. Please help me with a message about this and to get it dispatched. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, in a storm like we are having here in our area there is but one really good thing we can do and that is pray and pray and pray. We have a full-size Chevrolet Suburban with a plow. I had the truck backed in our garage with the plow attached. I went out about 10:00 AM today, Saturday, and got into the truck. I started the truck, put the truck in 4-wheel drive low range and put the garage door up. I pushed snow out about 25 feet and the truck would not push it. I backed the truck back into the garage, turned off the motor and came back into the house. We, dear brothers and sisters, need to be just like others and just trust God. So today I am asking all of you regardless where you live to pray and pray. And one thing now we DO NOT need would be a really fast warm-up or any rain or buildings will collapse. Those we need to be praying hard for are all those who must work outside, those who work at hospitals and will be doing double shifts. God placed my eyes on the scripture that I have listed below. Let us look at it. This is not part of our Big Trip.
Saturday: January 23, 2016: The Really Big Storm
Luke 8:22-25 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Calms the Storm
22 - One day Jesus said to His disciples, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, He fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. 24 The disciples went and woke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 "Where is your faith?" He asked His disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him."
Dear brothers and sisters, when these storms hit we must learn to keep our faith. And I know God has me writing on this, for I have myself worked up over this and the only thing I can really do is put my full faith and trust in our Lord Jesus. We must along with so, so many others during this storm put full faith and trust in Jesus. There are people who have been stuck in their cars on the Pennsylvania Turnpike for well over 24 hours. They are cold, they are hungry, and when you must go potty you get out in the cold. As a rule, I would be out helping others, but only by the Grace of God and a family that told me enough is enough, I did not go out overnight. Our pets are all indoors, however, I feel so bad about those "feral cats" that hang out looking for food. Yes, we feed them. One thing in a storm like this, and I know God is in charge of the weather, some people I am sure will have a come-to-Jesus time when in trouble. Please pray for them. God has reasons for all He does, and someday we will understand it. I found the words to this song that some of you might know. I am only going to use the refrain. Peace! Be still!
"The winds and the waves shall obey Thy will.
Peace, be still!
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea,
Or demons, or men, or whatever it be,
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean and earth and skies;
They all shall sweetly obey Thy Will;
Peace be still! Peace be still!
They all shall sweetly obey Thy Will;
Peace, Peace be still!"
Brothers and sisters, please be helpful to one another, help each other when and where you can, and by all means put your faith in Jesus and serve Him. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
"The winds and the waves shall obey Thy will.
Peace, be still!
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea,
Or demons, or men, or whatever it be,
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean and earth and skies;
They all shall sweetly obey Thy Will;
Peace be still! Peace be still!
They all shall sweetly obey Thy Will;
Peace, Peace be still!"
Dear brothers and sisters, in a storm like we are having here in our area there is but one really good thing we can do and that is pray and pray and pray. We have a full-size Chevrolet Suburban with a plow. I had the truck backed in our garage with the plow attached. I went out about 10:00 AM today, Saturday, and got into the truck. I started the truck, put the truck in 4-wheel drive low range and put the garage door up. I pushed snow out about 25 feet and the truck would not push it. I backed the truck back into the garage, turned off the motor and came back into the house. We, dear brothers and sisters, need to be just like others and just trust God. So today I am asking all of you regardless where you live to pray and pray. And one thing now we DO NOT need would be a really fast warm-up or any rain or buildings will collapse. Those we need to be praying hard for are all those who must work outside, those who work at hospitals and will be doing double shifts. God placed my eyes on the scripture that I have listed below. Let us look at it. This is not part of our Big Trip.
Saturday: January 23, 2016: The Really Big Storm
Luke 8:22-25 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Calms the Storm
22 - One day Jesus said to His disciples, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, He fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. 24 The disciples went and woke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 "Where is your faith?" He asked His disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him."
Dear brothers and sisters, when these storms hit we must learn to keep our faith. And I know God has me writing on this, for I have myself worked up over this and the only thing I can really do is put my full faith and trust in our Lord Jesus. We must along with so, so many others during this storm put full faith and trust in Jesus. There are people who have been stuck in their cars on the Pennsylvania Turnpike for well over 24 hours. They are cold, they are hungry, and when you must go potty you get out in the cold. As a rule, I would be out helping others, but only by the Grace of God and a family that told me enough is enough, I did not go out overnight. Our pets are all indoors, however, I feel so bad about those "feral cats" that hang out looking for food. Yes, we feed them. One thing in a storm like this, and I know God is in charge of the weather, some people I am sure will have a come-to-Jesus time when in trouble. Please pray for them. God has reasons for all He does, and someday we will understand it. I found the words to this song that some of you might know. I am only going to use the refrain. Peace! Be still!
"The winds and the waves shall obey Thy will.
Peace, be still!
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea,
Or demons, or men, or whatever it be,
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean and earth and skies;
They all shall sweetly obey Thy Will;
Peace be still! Peace be still!
They all shall sweetly obey Thy Will;
Peace, Peace be still!"
Brothers and sisters, please be helpful to one another, help each other when and where you can, and by all means put your faith in Jesus and serve Him. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
"The winds and the waves shall obey Thy will.
Peace, be still!
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea,
Or demons, or men, or whatever it be,
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean and earth and skies;
They all shall sweetly obey Thy Will;
Peace be still! Peace be still!
They all shall sweetly obey Thy Will;
Peace, Peace be still!"
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Thursday 1/21/16 The Big Trip (30)
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You and I give You all honor and glory for a safe passage through last night and today. All honor and glory to You for Your healing hand on "Chuck Miller." Father, with the incoming weather to this area and all across the United States, we ask that You protect us as per Your will. Each person, Lord, would like different kinds of weather. Please, Lord, send each what they need. Lord, please help me as we keep working on the Big Trip but start another subtopic. Lord, please help me with that message and then please help me to get it dispatched. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, it is going to be cold and with snow and then the weather people say God is going to turn on the fan. Okay, the weather people forget God is in control of the weather, and He controls what I called The Fan. Anyway, a new subtopic. Let me get to it. Sorry I did not get a message out yesterday. Until I got home from going to two doctors (all good reports) I was really tired and I needed to go to bed. After laying down I had a really high heart rate, but with lots of praying throughout the night it came down. PRAISE GOD.
Thursday: January 21, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Thirty)
The Parts Washer
Those of you who know me and my background from many years ago know I loved working at service stations, real service stations. Started at age 14 working for Lehman's Texaco, and my big brother Leonard "Wrench" Lehman, and he was just 18 and yes, had his very own Texaco Station. Well, over the years we had many different kinds of parts washers. Some had cleaner in buckets and you put parts in a basket and set it down in the stuff. Others were bigger so to wash off bigger parts and the parts were many and of every type you could think of. Many parts to make up one car, and all were needed to make that vehicle work. Let us look at the following scripture and then go on.
1 Corinthians 12:12-26 New International Version (NIV)
Unity and Diversity in the Body
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body - whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Sometimes as I am thinking about different things I start to laugh. I was thinking, well, today I am going to the foot doctor, so I must be sure my feet are clean and washed so they do not "stink." Before going to the dentist one would want to be sure to brush their teeth, or be like me and soak them in a glass of cleaner. You use Scope or another mouthwash so as to not overpower your dentist with "bad breath." The other day I went to the urologist, so I took a shower and paid special attention (I do not need to tell you what parts needed cleaned, do I?) So I was laughing out loud and Dolores asked me what I was laughing at and I told her about this "spot washing" I was thinking about. I want to look at some of the scripture verses one at a time. I will bring them down.
1st Corinthians 12:12 - Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body - whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
All of us, brothers and sisters, whether Jews or Gentiles, and now we can say be we Lutherans, United Methodists, Roman Catholics, or any of the many, many so-called denominations, are all baptized by one Spirit, that would be the Holy Spirit, or as I like to say, the Holy Ghost. Even a "Holy Roller" like me, we are baptized by the Holy Spirit, after and only after we call on Jesus Christ to save us. Once we truly take on Jesus, we are Saved and then Baptized. Oh, and that is the Church of our Lord Jesus. And even the ones who do not attend church who are saved receive that same Spirit. Oh, and it is for all races, all colors, it is all of us who really love Jesus. It even goes on to say be you slave or free. If I told you that Jesus was a slave, would you believe me? Look at my thinking here. He was always working, and He was not paid, and He was even captured and killed. He slaved for us to be free!!! It takes many parts working together for Jesus to get His work done. His work? Yes, you know, spreading that Good News.
1st Corinthians 12:15 - Now if the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
Some people get upset if they cannot do certain things when it comes to working for God. All of us would love to have all the talent when it comes to working for God. I have been blessed to be able to get up and sing, well, make a joyful noise, anyway. And I can speak in front of people. But if someone said to me, could you make me a nativity, I would need to say no. However, I could call on Grant Crockett and he could make one however you want it. Oh, I would love to have the gift of singer-songwriter Neil Enloe, or that high tenor voice of Duane Nicholson or that really great baritone voice like the Reverend Tim Beitzel or the ability to preach and sing bass like big Dave Kyllonen, or the gift of those musicians on-board with Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. But brothers and sisters, I am truly happy with what God has given to me and even happier to have put them to work for Him. Amen. One talent I had for a long time was being able to clean the bathrooms at the churches I attended and I did just that.
1st Corinthians 12:21 - The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
You see again here that others cannot or should not say to a person with one talent we don't need you, yet at many churches people have looked down upon the one who cleans up, compared to others. God uses all of us as equals. Think about that, brothers and sisters. No one is a stand-out in the Body of Christ. Let me ask some of you pastors, if your custodian would get sick, would you say to them, it is okay, I will do your work for you today? Maybe someday we should all try to switch jobs with someone else. Oh, if I was put at the piano, no one would understand it at all, so you see God puts us where He wants us. I could tell you a really long joke about how one body part was made the boss over the rest, but let me just wrap it up this way.
Our Lord Jesus is over all of us, over all of our parts, and when it comes to parts washing, when you give yourself over to Jesus Christ, ALL THE PARTS ARE WASHED. You are clean from the top of your head to the soles of your feet and all those inners, stripped clean of all sin and washed clean!!! Someone just SHOUT AMEN.
Are You Washed in the Blood?
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the Blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His Grace this hour?
Are you washed in the Blood of the Lamb?
Are you washed in the Blood --
In the soul-cleansing Blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the Blood of the Lamb?
Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin
And be washed in the Blood of the Lamb.
There's a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the Blood of the Lamb!
Are you washed in the Blood --
In the soul-cleansing Blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the Blood of the Lamb?
Dear Father in Heaven, please clean us with The Blood of Jesus this day and make us spotless in Your sight. We need this Blood bath now, Lord, for we are but sinners saved by The Blood and Grace of Jesus as He shed it on the Cross. We give all honor and glory to You for this, as I pray in the Name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Now go forth and get yourself a really good bath, in the shower, or the tub, but more so in the Blood of Jesus, and give Him glory for that. When your power goes off, your water might not flow, but The Blood of The Lamb is still flowing strong. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Hit that chorus again.
Are you washed in the Blood --
In the soul-cleansing Blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the Blood of the Lamb?
Are you washed in the Blood --
In the soul-cleansing Blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the Blood of the Lamb?
Dear brothers and sisters, it is going to be cold and with snow and then the weather people say God is going to turn on the fan. Okay, the weather people forget God is in control of the weather, and He controls what I called The Fan. Anyway, a new subtopic. Let me get to it. Sorry I did not get a message out yesterday. Until I got home from going to two doctors (all good reports) I was really tired and I needed to go to bed. After laying down I had a really high heart rate, but with lots of praying throughout the night it came down. PRAISE GOD.
Thursday: January 21, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Thirty)
The Parts Washer
Those of you who know me and my background from many years ago know I loved working at service stations, real service stations. Started at age 14 working for Lehman's Texaco, and my big brother Leonard "Wrench" Lehman, and he was just 18 and yes, had his very own Texaco Station. Well, over the years we had many different kinds of parts washers. Some had cleaner in buckets and you put parts in a basket and set it down in the stuff. Others were bigger so to wash off bigger parts and the parts were many and of every type you could think of. Many parts to make up one car, and all were needed to make that vehicle work. Let us look at the following scripture and then go on.
1 Corinthians 12:12-26 New International Version (NIV)
Unity and Diversity in the Body
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body - whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Sometimes as I am thinking about different things I start to laugh. I was thinking, well, today I am going to the foot doctor, so I must be sure my feet are clean and washed so they do not "stink." Before going to the dentist one would want to be sure to brush their teeth, or be like me and soak them in a glass of cleaner. You use Scope or another mouthwash so as to not overpower your dentist with "bad breath." The other day I went to the urologist, so I took a shower and paid special attention (I do not need to tell you what parts needed cleaned, do I?) So I was laughing out loud and Dolores asked me what I was laughing at and I told her about this "spot washing" I was thinking about. I want to look at some of the scripture verses one at a time. I will bring them down.
1st Corinthians 12:12 - Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body - whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
All of us, brothers and sisters, whether Jews or Gentiles, and now we can say be we Lutherans, United Methodists, Roman Catholics, or any of the many, many so-called denominations, are all baptized by one Spirit, that would be the Holy Spirit, or as I like to say, the Holy Ghost. Even a "Holy Roller" like me, we are baptized by the Holy Spirit, after and only after we call on Jesus Christ to save us. Once we truly take on Jesus, we are Saved and then Baptized. Oh, and that is the Church of our Lord Jesus. And even the ones who do not attend church who are saved receive that same Spirit. Oh, and it is for all races, all colors, it is all of us who really love Jesus. It even goes on to say be you slave or free. If I told you that Jesus was a slave, would you believe me? Look at my thinking here. He was always working, and He was not paid, and He was even captured and killed. He slaved for us to be free!!! It takes many parts working together for Jesus to get His work done. His work? Yes, you know, spreading that Good News.
1st Corinthians 12:15 - Now if the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
Some people get upset if they cannot do certain things when it comes to working for God. All of us would love to have all the talent when it comes to working for God. I have been blessed to be able to get up and sing, well, make a joyful noise, anyway. And I can speak in front of people. But if someone said to me, could you make me a nativity, I would need to say no. However, I could call on Grant Crockett and he could make one however you want it. Oh, I would love to have the gift of singer-songwriter Neil Enloe, or that high tenor voice of Duane Nicholson or that really great baritone voice like the Reverend Tim Beitzel or the ability to preach and sing bass like big Dave Kyllonen, or the gift of those musicians on-board with Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. But brothers and sisters, I am truly happy with what God has given to me and even happier to have put them to work for Him. Amen. One talent I had for a long time was being able to clean the bathrooms at the churches I attended and I did just that.
1st Corinthians 12:21 - The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
You see again here that others cannot or should not say to a person with one talent we don't need you, yet at many churches people have looked down upon the one who cleans up, compared to others. God uses all of us as equals. Think about that, brothers and sisters. No one is a stand-out in the Body of Christ. Let me ask some of you pastors, if your custodian would get sick, would you say to them, it is okay, I will do your work for you today? Maybe someday we should all try to switch jobs with someone else. Oh, if I was put at the piano, no one would understand it at all, so you see God puts us where He wants us. I could tell you a really long joke about how one body part was made the boss over the rest, but let me just wrap it up this way.
Our Lord Jesus is over all of us, over all of our parts, and when it comes to parts washing, when you give yourself over to Jesus Christ, ALL THE PARTS ARE WASHED. You are clean from the top of your head to the soles of your feet and all those inners, stripped clean of all sin and washed clean!!! Someone just SHOUT AMEN.
Are You Washed in the Blood?
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the Blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His Grace this hour?
Are you washed in the Blood of the Lamb?
Are you washed in the Blood --
In the soul-cleansing Blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the Blood of the Lamb?
Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin
And be washed in the Blood of the Lamb.
There's a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the Blood of the Lamb!
Are you washed in the Blood --
In the soul-cleansing Blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the Blood of the Lamb?
Dear Father in Heaven, please clean us with The Blood of Jesus this day and make us spotless in Your sight. We need this Blood bath now, Lord, for we are but sinners saved by The Blood and Grace of Jesus as He shed it on the Cross. We give all honor and glory to You for this, as I pray in the Name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Now go forth and get yourself a really good bath, in the shower, or the tub, but more so in the Blood of Jesus, and give Him glory for that. When your power goes off, your water might not flow, but The Blood of The Lamb is still flowing strong. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Hit that chorus again.
Are you washed in the Blood --
In the soul-cleansing Blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the Blood of the Lamb?
Are you washed in the Blood --
In the soul-cleansing Blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the Blood of the Lamb?
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Tuesday 1/19/16 The Big Trip (29)
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You. Please forgive me of my sins. Lord, I give You praise and honor for waking us another day, to spend another day on Your Earth, and I pray I use it wisely for You in all I do. Lord, please be with and heal Myliana Faith and watch over her. Please also be with the family of Dr. Robert Everhard, DDS, as he is now in Your care and with You. Lord, please watch over those who use this line and protect them from evil and protect the computers from those trying to hack them. Father, I pray today for our veterans and all of our current military and ask You keep them safe. I pray for the families of those Marines who are missing after their choppers hit each other. Lord, the training is sometimes as dangerous as the war. Lord, please protect our police, as more and more people want to ambush them, and Lord, please protect our firefighters, those running into buildings, Lord, as others run out. Lord, also protect all first responders and others who work hard to keep us safe until You return for all of us who love You and are saved. Please, Lord, bless me now with another message and then please help me to get it dispatched. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, please pray for Myliana Faith. Her grandfather's prayer request is listed in full. Tomorrow is Salvation Wednesday and the day we work even harder to bring the lost to Jesus. I started calling Wednesdays this for when I was growing up my Mamma would take me to Wednesday Evening prayer meetings. At one time most churches were open for mid-week services and I do not know if they are now open or not. However, I want to be sure we have some sort of mid-week special messages. Some Wednesdays I don't get to the computer and tomorrow might be one of them as I have back-to-back doctor appointments. Just trying to keep you informed and we do appreciate your prayers.
Please pray for my granddaughter Myliana Faith Sansoni (20 months old) as she has been hospitalized for the 2nd time in a week for breathing treatments due to pneumonia-like symptoms: fever and 85% O2 intake levels. She has been in the pediatric ward at Fairfax VA Hospital. Thanks. Tom Sansoni.
Now let me get to the message, The Big Trip.
Tuesday: January 19, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Twenty-nine)
Tempting Jesus, Day three
Matthew 4:8-11 New International Version (NIV)
8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give You," he said, "if You will bow down and worship me." 10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.'" 11 Then the devil left Him, and angels came and attended Him.
Dear brothers and sisters, what nerve, what nerve this old devil has by offering Jesus something that He already has control over and made. All this I will give you, Satan said, and brothers and sisters, this is what Satan can be telling us if we are not careful. I will give you all these things if you just bow down to me, and while we might not think we are bowing down to him, if we are piling up things on earth, it might be just that. All my life I had a lot of cars and trucks. I just love vehicles, and yes, before I got to some to fix them up and resell them, some of them rotted away. This past summer when I was at a low point, one thing that was running through my mind was just this. I was for a long time not a good steward of what God had blessed me with. I mean I was really thinking of how this is really sinful. Even after I came to Jesus to be saved, I still purchased vehicles to fix up and I did well on some of them, and amazing how He works, junk prices were up here the other year and I did well on selling some of the "junk." Now, I am storing up my treasures in Heaven and still working to clean out some earthly stuff.
So if you are like me, and I know some of you are, please give to God and you will have more to share with others. It is time to say what Jesus said: "Away from me, Satan!!!" Out of my life. Now I want to bring this to you today. There might be a time coming, and real soon if we don't bow down to a false god, we will be killed. It has happened all over the world, including right here in America. Stand strong, brothers and sisters, and pray for each other that this does not happen to you. Dolores and I have already talked this over and if it would cost us our lives, WE SHALL NOT BOW DOWN TO ANY OTHER god, ONLY TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ... Amen.
This has happened to our missionaries all over the world, and one just this week someplace in Africa one was murdered and they called out they were killing all those who worshiped the Cross. Here is a song that tells you more.
Seek Ye First (Karen Lafferty)
Seek ye first the kingdom of God
And His righteousness
And all these things shall be added unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah.
Ask and it shall be given unto you.
Seek and you shall find.
Knock and it shall be opened unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah.
Dear Father in Heaven: Help us all not to bow down to anything other than our Lord God, our dear Jesus. Help us each day to live up to that. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth serving Jesus and honoring Him more and more. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Seek ye first the kingdom of God
And His righteousness
And all these things shall be added unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah.
Ask and it shall be given unto you.
Seek and you shall find.
Knock and it shall be opened unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah.
Dear brothers and sisters, please pray for Myliana Faith. Her grandfather's prayer request is listed in full. Tomorrow is Salvation Wednesday and the day we work even harder to bring the lost to Jesus. I started calling Wednesdays this for when I was growing up my Mamma would take me to Wednesday Evening prayer meetings. At one time most churches were open for mid-week services and I do not know if they are now open or not. However, I want to be sure we have some sort of mid-week special messages. Some Wednesdays I don't get to the computer and tomorrow might be one of them as I have back-to-back doctor appointments. Just trying to keep you informed and we do appreciate your prayers.
Please pray for my granddaughter Myliana Faith Sansoni (20 months old) as she has been hospitalized for the 2nd time in a week for breathing treatments due to pneumonia-like symptoms: fever and 85% O2 intake levels. She has been in the pediatric ward at Fairfax VA Hospital. Thanks. Tom Sansoni.
Now let me get to the message, The Big Trip.
Tuesday: January 19, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Twenty-nine)
Tempting Jesus, Day three
Matthew 4:8-11 New International Version (NIV)
8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give You," he said, "if You will bow down and worship me." 10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.'" 11 Then the devil left Him, and angels came and attended Him.
Dear brothers and sisters, what nerve, what nerve this old devil has by offering Jesus something that He already has control over and made. All this I will give you, Satan said, and brothers and sisters, this is what Satan can be telling us if we are not careful. I will give you all these things if you just bow down to me, and while we might not think we are bowing down to him, if we are piling up things on earth, it might be just that. All my life I had a lot of cars and trucks. I just love vehicles, and yes, before I got to some to fix them up and resell them, some of them rotted away. This past summer when I was at a low point, one thing that was running through my mind was just this. I was for a long time not a good steward of what God had blessed me with. I mean I was really thinking of how this is really sinful. Even after I came to Jesus to be saved, I still purchased vehicles to fix up and I did well on some of them, and amazing how He works, junk prices were up here the other year and I did well on selling some of the "junk." Now, I am storing up my treasures in Heaven and still working to clean out some earthly stuff.
So if you are like me, and I know some of you are, please give to God and you will have more to share with others. It is time to say what Jesus said: "Away from me, Satan!!!" Out of my life. Now I want to bring this to you today. There might be a time coming, and real soon if we don't bow down to a false god, we will be killed. It has happened all over the world, including right here in America. Stand strong, brothers and sisters, and pray for each other that this does not happen to you. Dolores and I have already talked this over and if it would cost us our lives, WE SHALL NOT BOW DOWN TO ANY OTHER god, ONLY TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ... Amen.
This has happened to our missionaries all over the world, and one just this week someplace in Africa one was murdered and they called out they were killing all those who worshiped the Cross. Here is a song that tells you more.
Seek Ye First (Karen Lafferty)
Seek ye first the kingdom of God
And His righteousness
And all these things shall be added unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah.
Ask and it shall be given unto you.
Seek and you shall find.
Knock and it shall be opened unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah.
Dear Father in Heaven: Help us all not to bow down to anything other than our Lord God, our dear Jesus. Help us each day to live up to that. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth serving Jesus and honoring Him more and more. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Seek ye first the kingdom of God
And His righteousness
And all these things shall be added unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah.
Ask and it shall be given unto you.
Seek and you shall find.
Knock and it shall be opened unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah.
Monday, January 18, 2016
Monday 1/18/16 The Big Trip (28)
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You. Please forgive me of my sins. Praise God for a good report at the doctor's this day. All glory and honor to You, Dear Lord. Please, Lord, watch over Andy and help him with his struggles. Please be with Leslie as she looks for a new job. Others are looking also, Lord. Thank You, Lord, for Martin Luther King, Jr., and what he did years ago for our brothers and sisters of color. Please help us to learn from his lessons and Yours and keep growing upon them. Lord, please help me now with the daily message and then help me to get it dispatched. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Hi, brothers and sisters. It is a cold day here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. I think it might be warmer at the North Pole. Just kidding. Today I did want to write about the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. However, I did not get to sit down and really think it through. I do want to mention this. A lot of people remember how he taught love and that we should all be as one. Jesus is teaching that everyday. We all need to just listen up and let Jesus take the lead and also put into practice what Dr. King was all about "loving Jesus and loving others!" We all should shout amen to that. I just wish I would have learned about all this love years and years ago. My mamma taught me, but when younger I did not follow through. With that said, let me get to the message. Oh, and after the part on Tempting Jesus is coming "Body Parts."
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Monday: January 18, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Twenty-eight)
Tempting Jesus (Day Two)
Matthew 4:5-7 New International Version (NIV)
5 Then the devil took Him to the Holy City and had Him stand on the highest pint of the temple. 6 "If You are the Son of God," he said, "throw Yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
Well, brothers and sisters, back to Jesus being tempted or tested by Satan. And yes, Satan is one who tries to tempt all of us, was doing his best to tempt our Lord Jesus Christ. Of course Jesus could have walked away from Satan but He was doing this to make His point to all of us. The highest point on the temple at that time would have been about 15 stories high. Gosh, nobody could tempt me on that one. I have a fear of height so bad that I had to stop wearing my cowboy boots because the heel was an inch high. Anyway, Satan said if You are the Son of God throw Yourself down. Well, we who are saved know that Jesus is the Son of God and we did not even see Him in person. We know Him because we have faith and believe!! There is also no doubt that Jesus could have just said Father, I am going to jump and yes, He would have been caught. But there were lessons to be learned here. We can see what Jesus said in return, and I will bring that down.
Matthew 4:7 - Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' (NIV)
There is one exception to this statement of Jesus. Does that make Jesus out to be a liar? Of course not. Do you remember what we can test Him in? I will answer that one for you, as we just talked about that one. It is in our giving, and here is the scripture to back up my statement.
Malachi 3:10 - Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. "Test Me in this, says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of Heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." (NIV)
Now what about when we get tempted, and remember I told you a few weeks back that I think we give Satan too much credit for our sinning. Sometimes we just do it without even being tempted. Anyway, look at this scripture.
1 Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (NIV)
That very first part of the scripture -- No temptation will overtake you except what is common to mankind -- Some temptations today are different than back when Jesus walked the earth. Some that are different right off the top of my head: We have cars and get tempted to speed, and those cell phones, we just need to be on them all the time. Texting while driving is against the law, at least it is in Pennsylvania, but it is going on while drivers are driving all the time. There was booze back then, more of it today. Then there are things to smoke, other drugs to take, and yes, even eating way too much ice cream. You get my point, so the Word of God is open to what is common to mankind and that will change. However, God is faithful, and that will not change. (Hebrews 13:8) Jesus will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, and when you are tempted He will provide a way out so that you can endure it. And what is that way out?
It is the cross, it is Jesus, of course. He will provide you with the way out. However, once again we have free will and we can choose to either accept His way out or walk away from it. Again, that is personal between you and Jesus, and again, it is a relationship that you have with Jesus. Jesus will clean up your messes in life if you just let Him. Now that does not mean He will clean your house, that is a structure, but He will clean your house of bones. Did that go over your head? I pray not, but in case it did, it means He will remove all those sins. IF YOU ARE NOT SAVED, BORN AGAIN, THEN YOU DO NOT HAVE THAT WAY OUT. Come to Jesus now, please.
Here are some words to a chorus that fits this day, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day.
We Shall Overcome (Jack Hayford)
We shall overcome, we shall overcome.
By the Word of God and the Blood of the Lamb
and the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We shall overcome, we shall overcome.
By the Word of God and the Blood of the Lamb
and the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank You, dear Jesus, for The Blood You shed for us on The Cross. All honor and glory to You, and yes, I pray it to our Father in Heaven through You, Jesus. Amen.
Please go forth now serving our Lord Jesus Christ. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Hi, brothers and sisters. It is a cold day here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. I think it might be warmer at the North Pole. Just kidding. Today I did want to write about the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. However, I did not get to sit down and really think it through. I do want to mention this. A lot of people remember how he taught love and that we should all be as one. Jesus is teaching that everyday. We all need to just listen up and let Jesus take the lead and also put into practice what Dr. King was all about "loving Jesus and loving others!" We all should shout amen to that. I just wish I would have learned about all this love years and years ago. My mamma taught me, but when younger I did not follow through. With that said, let me get to the message. Oh, and after the part on Tempting Jesus is coming "Body Parts."
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Monday: January 18, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Twenty-eight)
Tempting Jesus (Day Two)
Matthew 4:5-7 New International Version (NIV)
5 Then the devil took Him to the Holy City and had Him stand on the highest pint of the temple. 6 "If You are the Son of God," he said, "throw Yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
Well, brothers and sisters, back to Jesus being tempted or tested by Satan. And yes, Satan is one who tries to tempt all of us, was doing his best to tempt our Lord Jesus Christ. Of course Jesus could have walked away from Satan but He was doing this to make His point to all of us. The highest point on the temple at that time would have been about 15 stories high. Gosh, nobody could tempt me on that one. I have a fear of height so bad that I had to stop wearing my cowboy boots because the heel was an inch high. Anyway, Satan said if You are the Son of God throw Yourself down. Well, we who are saved know that Jesus is the Son of God and we did not even see Him in person. We know Him because we have faith and believe!! There is also no doubt that Jesus could have just said Father, I am going to jump and yes, He would have been caught. But there were lessons to be learned here. We can see what Jesus said in return, and I will bring that down.
Matthew 4:7 - Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' (NIV)
There is one exception to this statement of Jesus. Does that make Jesus out to be a liar? Of course not. Do you remember what we can test Him in? I will answer that one for you, as we just talked about that one. It is in our giving, and here is the scripture to back up my statement.
Malachi 3:10 - Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. "Test Me in this, says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of Heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." (NIV)
Now what about when we get tempted, and remember I told you a few weeks back that I think we give Satan too much credit for our sinning. Sometimes we just do it without even being tempted. Anyway, look at this scripture.
1 Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (NIV)
That very first part of the scripture -- No temptation will overtake you except what is common to mankind -- Some temptations today are different than back when Jesus walked the earth. Some that are different right off the top of my head: We have cars and get tempted to speed, and those cell phones, we just need to be on them all the time. Texting while driving is against the law, at least it is in Pennsylvania, but it is going on while drivers are driving all the time. There was booze back then, more of it today. Then there are things to smoke, other drugs to take, and yes, even eating way too much ice cream. You get my point, so the Word of God is open to what is common to mankind and that will change. However, God is faithful, and that will not change. (Hebrews 13:8) Jesus will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, and when you are tempted He will provide a way out so that you can endure it. And what is that way out?
It is the cross, it is Jesus, of course. He will provide you with the way out. However, once again we have free will and we can choose to either accept His way out or walk away from it. Again, that is personal between you and Jesus, and again, it is a relationship that you have with Jesus. Jesus will clean up your messes in life if you just let Him. Now that does not mean He will clean your house, that is a structure, but He will clean your house of bones. Did that go over your head? I pray not, but in case it did, it means He will remove all those sins. IF YOU ARE NOT SAVED, BORN AGAIN, THEN YOU DO NOT HAVE THAT WAY OUT. Come to Jesus now, please.
Here are some words to a chorus that fits this day, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day.
We Shall Overcome (Jack Hayford)
We shall overcome, we shall overcome.
By the Word of God and the Blood of the Lamb
and the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We shall overcome, we shall overcome.
By the Word of God and the Blood of the Lamb
and the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank You, dear Jesus, for The Blood You shed for us on The Cross. All honor and glory to You, and yes, I pray it to our Father in Heaven through You, Jesus. Amen.
Please go forth now serving our Lord Jesus Christ. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Sunday 1/17/16 The Big Trip (27)
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You and I really appreciate Your willingness to hear our prayers anytime we pray. I am sure You think that I don't pray enough, and I am sorry about that. I really do appreciate Your forgiveness of our sins when we ask, and I am thrilled that You provided all of us a way out of sin with a final escape plan to go to heaven. Lord, while so many right now are working to get to Washington, DC, I am working to get in Jerusalem DC. Thanks for helping all of us do that, and please bless me with a message and help me to dispatch it. Thanks to You we got to hear Matthew's voice for just a few minutes today. Lord, he really needs Your healing hand. Giving praise and glory and sending up my prayers in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, I was very serious in my prayer above. I do pray that as you read that opening prayer you are praying along as you read. You might be thinking that you know those running for office want to get to Washington, DC, but what is Jerusalem, DC, and why are we working to get there, Jerusalem, David's Capitol? Yes, I picked that up from Jimmy Swaggart this morning. Please pray for me about tomorrow. I would like God to give me a message about Martin Luther King, Jr., who in my opinion was a truly great man. Today more on that big trip.
Sunday: January 17, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Twenty-seven)
Jesus is tempted!!
Matthew 4:1-4 New International Version (NIV)
4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. 3 The tempter came to Him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
As we take a look at scripture and we see how Jesus was led by The Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted or tested by Satan, we see Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights, and yes, He was hungry. I want to bring this out right now. If you are a true believer in Jesus, a real follower of Jesus, you will NOT fast for forty days and forty nights, for that could indeed cause you to die. If you are a true follower, you will try and be like Jesus by trying to live without sin. Satan told Jesus "If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus would not do that. Do you know that "breakfast" means you are breaking a fast? You have fasted while you were sleeping. Some of us get a snack each time we wake up. I keep cheese and crackers in the headboard of my bed. So fasting for forty days could cause your system to shut down.
We also see that Jesus is letting Satan lead Him around to a point, and then Jesus really was witnessing to Satan. However, that did not work. While Jesus let Satan lead Him around, we are NOT STRONG ENOUGH to just let Satan lead us and that is just another reason why we need to be "Born Again" and get protection from Jesus to help fight off the master of evil. We know without doubt Jesus could have prayed to His Father in Heaven and it would be done. The rocks would have become bread. After all, they did furnish that "manna" which kept Moses and his followers fed for forty years as they wandered around in the desert. Now let us take a look at the next verse. I will bring it down.
Matthew 4:4 - Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (NIV)
This is true today also, but maybe you would think of it like this. Man shall not live on steak, lobster, potatoes, salad, pie, cake, ice cream, pizza, and bread alone. I said that to just point out to you how really blessed we are when it comes to food. Yet with all that said, we need to be living on "every Word that comes from the mouth of God." But Pastor Dan, we can't always hear Jesus talking to us!! Listen up, He speaks to us through His Word which is WRITTEN IN OUR BIBLES. A Bibles is the inspired Word of God. Also we need to be listening when our pastors speak, and brothers and sisters, if you do not understand it, talk to them about it, and have them show you where to find it in scripture. If what you are hearing in church is NOT FROM THE BIBLE, get up and walk out. NO, GET UP AND RUN OUT. Yes, we need food to eat to live, but we need the Complete WORD OF GOD TO SURVIVE!!
Does the name Pastor Rick Warren catch your ear? He is from that big church in California. Years ago we handed out some music with his words on it. Do you know he has just signed on with the Muslims saying that we worship the same God. THAT IS SO WRONG. Do you remember Robert Shuler Sr. at the Crystal Cathedral? He signed on to this also, and that big house of glass went bankrupt. My source on this: In the news and featured on Jack Van Impe Ministries with Doctors Jack and Rexella Van Impe.
Brothers and sisters, there is no other way to Heaven except through Jesus, and Mohammed is not now nor ever was or will be our Lord Jesus who is God, as in the trinity. God The Father, God The Son, and God The Holy Spirit. AMEN. Shout that out, please!!
Dear Father in Heaven. We need You, we need You around the clock to keep us going. Thanks for the food we eat, and thank You also for the food we hear and read. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Now brothers and sisters, go forth loving Jesus and walking nearer and nearer to Him each day. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Just a Closer Walk
I am weak but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong.
I'll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk, close to Thee.
Just a closer walk with Thee;
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea.
Daily walking close to Thee.
Let it be, Dear Lord, let it be.
Just a closer walk with Thee;
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea.
Daily walking close to Thee.
Let it be, Dear Lord, let it be.
Dear brothers and sisters, I was very serious in my prayer above. I do pray that as you read that opening prayer you are praying along as you read. You might be thinking that you know those running for office want to get to Washington, DC, but what is Jerusalem, DC, and why are we working to get there, Jerusalem, David's Capitol? Yes, I picked that up from Jimmy Swaggart this morning. Please pray for me about tomorrow. I would like God to give me a message about Martin Luther King, Jr., who in my opinion was a truly great man. Today more on that big trip.
Sunday: January 17, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Twenty-seven)
Jesus is tempted!!
Matthew 4:1-4 New International Version (NIV)
4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. 3 The tempter came to Him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
As we take a look at scripture and we see how Jesus was led by The Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted or tested by Satan, we see Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights, and yes, He was hungry. I want to bring this out right now. If you are a true believer in Jesus, a real follower of Jesus, you will NOT fast for forty days and forty nights, for that could indeed cause you to die. If you are a true follower, you will try and be like Jesus by trying to live without sin. Satan told Jesus "If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus would not do that. Do you know that "breakfast" means you are breaking a fast? You have fasted while you were sleeping. Some of us get a snack each time we wake up. I keep cheese and crackers in the headboard of my bed. So fasting for forty days could cause your system to shut down.
We also see that Jesus is letting Satan lead Him around to a point, and then Jesus really was witnessing to Satan. However, that did not work. While Jesus let Satan lead Him around, we are NOT STRONG ENOUGH to just let Satan lead us and that is just another reason why we need to be "Born Again" and get protection from Jesus to help fight off the master of evil. We know without doubt Jesus could have prayed to His Father in Heaven and it would be done. The rocks would have become bread. After all, they did furnish that "manna" which kept Moses and his followers fed for forty years as they wandered around in the desert. Now let us take a look at the next verse. I will bring it down.
Matthew 4:4 - Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (NIV)
This is true today also, but maybe you would think of it like this. Man shall not live on steak, lobster, potatoes, salad, pie, cake, ice cream, pizza, and bread alone. I said that to just point out to you how really blessed we are when it comes to food. Yet with all that said, we need to be living on "every Word that comes from the mouth of God." But Pastor Dan, we can't always hear Jesus talking to us!! Listen up, He speaks to us through His Word which is WRITTEN IN OUR BIBLES. A Bibles is the inspired Word of God. Also we need to be listening when our pastors speak, and brothers and sisters, if you do not understand it, talk to them about it, and have them show you where to find it in scripture. If what you are hearing in church is NOT FROM THE BIBLE, get up and walk out. NO, GET UP AND RUN OUT. Yes, we need food to eat to live, but we need the Complete WORD OF GOD TO SURVIVE!!
Does the name Pastor Rick Warren catch your ear? He is from that big church in California. Years ago we handed out some music with his words on it. Do you know he has just signed on with the Muslims saying that we worship the same God. THAT IS SO WRONG. Do you remember Robert Shuler Sr. at the Crystal Cathedral? He signed on to this also, and that big house of glass went bankrupt. My source on this: In the news and featured on Jack Van Impe Ministries with Doctors Jack and Rexella Van Impe.
Brothers and sisters, there is no other way to Heaven except through Jesus, and Mohammed is not now nor ever was or will be our Lord Jesus who is God, as in the trinity. God The Father, God The Son, and God The Holy Spirit. AMEN. Shout that out, please!!
Dear Father in Heaven. We need You, we need You around the clock to keep us going. Thanks for the food we eat, and thank You also for the food we hear and read. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Now brothers and sisters, go forth loving Jesus and walking nearer and nearer to Him each day. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Just a Closer Walk
I am weak but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong.
I'll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk, close to Thee.
Just a closer walk with Thee;
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea.
Daily walking close to Thee.
Let it be, Dear Lord, let it be.
Just a closer walk with Thee;
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea.
Daily walking close to Thee.
Let it be, Dear Lord, let it be.
Friday, January 15, 2016
Friday 1/15/16 The Big Trip (26)
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You. Please forgive me of my sins and start me fresh today. Thanks for watching over us during the night and thanks for the safe delivery of more children's Bibles. Please keep Your hands upon those we have been praying for. Please help Leslie with a job she can grow in. Please help all who struggle daily to get around. Please, Lord, help me with the daily message and then please help me to dispatch it. And, Jesus, I am sorry I have not been getting to the computer daily. In Jesus' Name I pray and give thanks. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, it is indeed another beautiful day here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. Nice farm show weather! The Auto Sows are coming and at one time I got excited about those new cars. Now I get excited about new walkers!!! It seems like jut yesterday when I looked at the clock and it was 3:05 on the clock in my homeroom on that final day at John Harris High School and that was in 1959. That was yesterday, was it not? Oh, it was 57 years ago. Hi, classmates receiving this letter, I miss you!!! God has blessed us well. Amen. As we age, the hardest part about having a reunion is finding a place that has good handicap access, sit down dinner so you do not need to go to a buffet line, and all for $2.99. Time to get to the daily message.
Thursday: January 15, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Twenty-Six)
The Baptism of Jesus
Matthew 3:13-17 New International Version (NIV)
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and do You come tome? 15 Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
This occasion marked the beginning of Christ's Messianic Ministry! (NIV footnote)
Looks like to me that Jesus was indeed the very first Messianic Jew. Today we are starting to see a few churches where the Jewish people worship Jesus. I think there are some called "Jews for Jesus" and at one time, and maybe it is still going, on they had conferences at Messiah College in our area. I bring this up so we know that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, we are Judeo-Christians and we need to be supporting Israel and working just as hard to have our Jewish brothers and sisters take Jesus in as their personal Savior as we do others. All must be "Born Again" to get into Heaven!!!
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased."
After Jesus was baptized and He came up from under the water, we can see that God opened up Heaven. Jesus also saw the Spirit descending like a dove and landing on Him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased."
Okay, if you do not believe in the Trinity, or God in three persons, this should clear it up for you. Check it out. Jesus was there, The Holy Spirit was there, and God was there when He said, "This is My Son!" And of course God told His Son that He loved Him and He was well pleased. I think when it comes to earthly fathers or dads, most love their children, but surely some are not pleased with all that their children do and/or did. My parents loved me, but I am sure they were not always pleased by what I did. I am sure of that because I ate a lot of soap and my backside showed a sign of a loving parent when that belt or paddle was applied!!! At one time I loved those paddles with that little rubber ball attached to it by a rubber band. Mamma would always honor that request, if I asked her for one, for as soon as the rubber band broke, that paddle became hers.
However, let me go further. When God The Father, and God The Son, look down on us, do They say well done? Oh, They will love us always, so much that God sent Jesus to die for us on the Cross. I hope you get this, as once again we can see the message heads to The Cross where He showed His love for us. Amen.
Dear Jesus, I am so happy You started a ministry and set an example for the way we should all live and then you died on the cross to save us from when we didn't follow Your rules. That is true love, Jesus, that is true love, God. Thanks, and please send the Holy Spirit over all those who ask. I pray and give all honor and glory to You, all three of You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Now, brothers and sisters, as I sign out today, please go forth loving Jesus and sharing His love, and asking Him into your heart, maybe using this song. Love ya
Pastor Dan
Holy Spirit, Thou Art Welcome
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace,
Thou art welcome in this place.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace,
Thou art welcome in this place.
Now raise your hand and lift Jesus as you sing, and invite Him in. Please!!!
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace,
Thou art welcome in this place.
Dear brothers and sisters, it is indeed another beautiful day here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. Nice farm show weather! The Auto Sows are coming and at one time I got excited about those new cars. Now I get excited about new walkers!!! It seems like jut yesterday when I looked at the clock and it was 3:05 on the clock in my homeroom on that final day at John Harris High School and that was in 1959. That was yesterday, was it not? Oh, it was 57 years ago. Hi, classmates receiving this letter, I miss you!!! God has blessed us well. Amen. As we age, the hardest part about having a reunion is finding a place that has good handicap access, sit down dinner so you do not need to go to a buffet line, and all for $2.99. Time to get to the daily message.
Thursday: January 15, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Twenty-Six)
The Baptism of Jesus
Matthew 3:13-17 New International Version (NIV)
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and do You come tome? 15 Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
This occasion marked the beginning of Christ's Messianic Ministry! (NIV footnote)
Looks like to me that Jesus was indeed the very first Messianic Jew. Today we are starting to see a few churches where the Jewish people worship Jesus. I think there are some called "Jews for Jesus" and at one time, and maybe it is still going, on they had conferences at Messiah College in our area. I bring this up so we know that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, we are Judeo-Christians and we need to be supporting Israel and working just as hard to have our Jewish brothers and sisters take Jesus in as their personal Savior as we do others. All must be "Born Again" to get into Heaven!!!
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased."
After Jesus was baptized and He came up from under the water, we can see that God opened up Heaven. Jesus also saw the Spirit descending like a dove and landing on Him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased."
Okay, if you do not believe in the Trinity, or God in three persons, this should clear it up for you. Check it out. Jesus was there, The Holy Spirit was there, and God was there when He said, "This is My Son!" And of course God told His Son that He loved Him and He was well pleased. I think when it comes to earthly fathers or dads, most love their children, but surely some are not pleased with all that their children do and/or did. My parents loved me, but I am sure they were not always pleased by what I did. I am sure of that because I ate a lot of soap and my backside showed a sign of a loving parent when that belt or paddle was applied!!! At one time I loved those paddles with that little rubber ball attached to it by a rubber band. Mamma would always honor that request, if I asked her for one, for as soon as the rubber band broke, that paddle became hers.
However, let me go further. When God The Father, and God The Son, look down on us, do They say well done? Oh, They will love us always, so much that God sent Jesus to die for us on the Cross. I hope you get this, as once again we can see the message heads to The Cross where He showed His love for us. Amen.
Dear Jesus, I am so happy You started a ministry and set an example for the way we should all live and then you died on the cross to save us from when we didn't follow Your rules. That is true love, Jesus, that is true love, God. Thanks, and please send the Holy Spirit over all those who ask. I pray and give all honor and glory to You, all three of You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Now, brothers and sisters, as I sign out today, please go forth loving Jesus and sharing His love, and asking Him into your heart, maybe using this song. Love ya
Pastor Dan
Holy Spirit, Thou Art Welcome
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace,
Thou art welcome in this place.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace,
Thou art welcome in this place.
Now raise your hand and lift Jesus as you sing, and invite Him in. Please!!!
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace,
Thou art welcome in this place.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Salvation Wednesday 1/13/16 The Big Trip (25)
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You! Please forgive me of my sins and start me fresh again today. Thank You for taking those we know safely through those blinding snow squalls yesterday. Thank for another beautiful day. Please be with and help those we have been praying for, Lord. Please be with the family of the young girl who was shot in Perry County. Please, Lord, bring peace to this troubled world. Please, Lord, help me with the message of today and help me, please, to get it dispatched. And Lord, thanks again for dying on the cross for all of us. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, a couple of days ago a Pennsylvania State Constable went to a home to serve an eviction notice. When the Constable knocked on the door and told the man who answered the door why he was there, the man shut the door, then he came back to the door carrying a rifle and pulled it up on the Constable who had to shoot the man. The man lived, but his daughter, who was standing behind him, was killed as the shot passed through the man's arm.
Today I had to turn down a job I wanted to do for years and years. As you know, Dolores and I did Santa and Mrs. Claus and have done that since 1982 up to just two years ago. We are also train lovers and since we do not go on vacations, we would purchase season tickets for the Strasburg Railroad down in Lancaster County and go down about every two weeks for a train ride. I left it be known years ago I would love to do that job. Today we were called to be interviewed for next Christmas and because of our health we had to turn it down. I did ask them if I would have been able to tell the real Christmas Story and I was told there would not be time for that on the train. However, they still tell it someplace on the property. Working for God is still fun, regardless of how you work it for Him. AMEN.
As I move forward with the big trip, and yes, I am going to try and keep it going until after Easter ... As we talk about Jesus and things that have happened since His birth, they might not always be in order. It will be how God gives it to me. With that said:
Salvation Wednesday: January 13, 2015: The Big Trip (Day Twenty-five)
Cut Down That Tree!
Matthew 3:10 - The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. (NIV)
George Washington, our country's first president, was said to have chopped down a cherry tree when he was a lad, and when asked if he did it, he told the truth and said something like, "I cannot tell a lie, I did it." By the way, did you notice I did not refer to President George Washington as the father of our country, for he indeed was not. GOD, THE FATHER, is the Father of our country. He made it!!
Anyway, this is a great scripture for Salvation Wednesday, for this scripture really is talking about "judgment" and this really means "judgment" is near. Let us look more.
Matthew 7:18/19 - 18 - "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit." 19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, I want you to really think about this. If you have a big apple tree in your yard that is rotten and limbs are broken, do you think it is going to be growing really good fruit? It can't do that. That is why in the orchard owners take such good care of their fruit trees, and when a tree gets to a place that the heart of the tree is rotten, they cut that tree down and plant a new one.
If you are not saved, there is no way you are going to bear good fruit. It just cannot happen, and what these scriptures are telling us is just this. If we are not in good standing with our Lord Jesus Christ when it comes Judgment Day for us, we will be tossed into the fire. Yes, into the fire, the place we call HELL!! And if we are saved, "Born Again," then we will be bearing good fruit, meaning to me, we are working for our Lord Jesus, after being saved. Working the fields of Harvest getting others to Jesus.
Matthew 3:10 - The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Means that the Judgment Day is near. How near? I don't know, but the Bible does tell us near! Each time I write the goal is to try and get more people to come to Jesus. That is what it is all about. And yes, I talk about the cross a lot for that is whee Jesus gave His blood to wash our sins away. Yes, it is important that He was risen from the dead, but He could not have been risen if He first did not die for us. So for those of you who are not saved this day, please do not trip over the ax, it is at your feet. Amen.
Dear Father in Heaven: Thanks for giving us a way to heaven, and yes, Father, I know my way because I love Your Son Jesus who died on the cross for me. I have decided to follow Him, and I promise I am not going to turn back. Not for anyone. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Please go forth now and help tell this "Good News" to others, and yes, you will get rewards for this, but those will come in heaven. And I don't know about you this day, but I have decided to follow Jesus. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus.
I have decided to follow Jesus.
I have decided to follow Jesus.
Dear brothers and sisters, a couple of days ago a Pennsylvania State Constable went to a home to serve an eviction notice. When the Constable knocked on the door and told the man who answered the door why he was there, the man shut the door, then he came back to the door carrying a rifle and pulled it up on the Constable who had to shoot the man. The man lived, but his daughter, who was standing behind him, was killed as the shot passed through the man's arm.
Today I had to turn down a job I wanted to do for years and years. As you know, Dolores and I did Santa and Mrs. Claus and have done that since 1982 up to just two years ago. We are also train lovers and since we do not go on vacations, we would purchase season tickets for the Strasburg Railroad down in Lancaster County and go down about every two weeks for a train ride. I left it be known years ago I would love to do that job. Today we were called to be interviewed for next Christmas and because of our health we had to turn it down. I did ask them if I would have been able to tell the real Christmas Story and I was told there would not be time for that on the train. However, they still tell it someplace on the property. Working for God is still fun, regardless of how you work it for Him. AMEN.
As I move forward with the big trip, and yes, I am going to try and keep it going until after Easter ... As we talk about Jesus and things that have happened since His birth, they might not always be in order. It will be how God gives it to me. With that said:
Salvation Wednesday: January 13, 2015: The Big Trip (Day Twenty-five)
Cut Down That Tree!
Matthew 3:10 - The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. (NIV)
George Washington, our country's first president, was said to have chopped down a cherry tree when he was a lad, and when asked if he did it, he told the truth and said something like, "I cannot tell a lie, I did it." By the way, did you notice I did not refer to President George Washington as the father of our country, for he indeed was not. GOD, THE FATHER, is the Father of our country. He made it!!
Anyway, this is a great scripture for Salvation Wednesday, for this scripture really is talking about "judgment" and this really means "judgment" is near. Let us look more.
Matthew 7:18/19 - 18 - "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit." 19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, I want you to really think about this. If you have a big apple tree in your yard that is rotten and limbs are broken, do you think it is going to be growing really good fruit? It can't do that. That is why in the orchard owners take such good care of their fruit trees, and when a tree gets to a place that the heart of the tree is rotten, they cut that tree down and plant a new one.
If you are not saved, there is no way you are going to bear good fruit. It just cannot happen, and what these scriptures are telling us is just this. If we are not in good standing with our Lord Jesus Christ when it comes Judgment Day for us, we will be tossed into the fire. Yes, into the fire, the place we call HELL!! And if we are saved, "Born Again," then we will be bearing good fruit, meaning to me, we are working for our Lord Jesus, after being saved. Working the fields of Harvest getting others to Jesus.
Matthew 3:10 - The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Means that the Judgment Day is near. How near? I don't know, but the Bible does tell us near! Each time I write the goal is to try and get more people to come to Jesus. That is what it is all about. And yes, I talk about the cross a lot for that is whee Jesus gave His blood to wash our sins away. Yes, it is important that He was risen from the dead, but He could not have been risen if He first did not die for us. So for those of you who are not saved this day, please do not trip over the ax, it is at your feet. Amen.
Dear Father in Heaven: Thanks for giving us a way to heaven, and yes, Father, I know my way because I love Your Son Jesus who died on the cross for me. I have decided to follow Him, and I promise I am not going to turn back. Not for anyone. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Please go forth now and help tell this "Good News" to others, and yes, you will get rewards for this, but those will come in heaven. And I don't know about you this day, but I have decided to follow Jesus. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus.
I have decided to follow Jesus.
I have decided to follow Jesus.
No turning back, no turning back.
Should no one join me, still I will follow.
Should no one join me, still I will follow.
Should no one join me, still I will follow.
No turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the CROSS before me.
The world behind me, the CROSS before me.
The world behind me, the CROSS before me.
No turning back, no turning back.
Monday, January 11, 2016
Monday 1/11/16 The Big Trip (24)
Dear Father in Heaven: Thank You for another great day. Thanks for blessing us again and again. Thanks for watching over us. Please, Lord, help our Matthew. Thanks for trusting me to work for You. Please watch over Your people, Lord. Please help me with the message of today and help me to get it dispatched. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, God is so good. Today as I sit looking out my window from the computer room to our backyard, I could watch the cats play, those ones that nobody wants and turned them loose. Yes, we feed them and all have been picked up and fixed. Walking right into the yard, seven beautiful deer that did not get shot in hunting season. I also want to alert people to this in our area. Tomorrow the weather service is calling for a fast dusting of snow, a snow squall that can cause a white-out. IT WILL ALSO FREEZE THE ROAD. Please be alert. When I was at Central Dauphin School District, I would try and tell people that the first inch is the slippery inch. Ask any firefighter or first responder how soon the call comes in after the snowflakes fly. With that said, let me get right to the message today. God just gave me this one and i know why. Please read on!!
Monday: January 11, 2016: The Big Trip (24)
Robbing God
Brothers and sisters, last week I called in an order of Bibles, four outreach Bibles and four Read-N-Grow Bibles. We order these through Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. Later that day God kept planting on my mind that we could do better than that. So later in the day I called in another order for the same number of Bibles. Today our electrical bill arrived from our power company. I opened it to pay it and it said payment due, None!!! None, zero, zip. The price of electricity is coming down and our budget was way overpaid. I will give the glory to God. I was faithful to Him and He was faithful to me. Here is a good scripture to cover what happened to us.
Malachi 3:8-12 New International Version (NIV)
8 "Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob Me. But you ask, 'How are we robbing you?' In tithes and offerings." 9 You are under a curse - your whole nation - because you are robbing Me." 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty. (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, we are never to put our Lord to a test, except on one thing, our giving. But it must be done in faith. Right now there is a lottery going on nationwide that is going to be worth over one BILLION dollars. I wonder if there are more prayers going to our Father in heaven than most times. Last week I purchased a ticket for this powerball, and before it was drawn I told God I was sorry for wasting that money on gambling. I wonder how many people are praying something like this. Dear Father, if you let me win, I will give you 20%, and maybe God said back something like this, funny, you have a good job and don't give me anything now.
If you tithe and give to God off the top, not always will your blessings come in the way of money. Look around you and see all the things you have. We are blessed, are we not? God tells us that He will bless us so much we will not be able to store it. And He will. I know because it has happened to me and a lot of people I know. I think you get the picture. I am thrilled with what God provides for us. However, like most people, I seem to just want more. We have reached the time in life that we need to downsize, not get more. However, if you do win the billion, you could buy us a cup of coffee.
Maybe we need to sing to figure out what we have already. Help me here.
Count Your Blessings
When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed;
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost;
Count your many blessings,name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
(we have a house and lots of food.)
Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your blessings, see what God hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
Are your ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings; every doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.
(Think here of the Cross that Christ carried.)
Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your blessings, see what God hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
When you look at others with their LANDS AND GOLD,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold.
Count your many blessings MONEY CANNOT BUY;
Your reward in Heaven nor your home on high.
(Money cannot buy salvation, it is free.)
Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your blessings, see what God hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, GOD IS OVER ALL.
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort, give you to your journey's end.
(Know here that God is in control.)
Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your blessings, see what God hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
Dear Father in Heaven: We who are so blessed just need to really count what our blessings are, and Father, our greatest blessing comes to us in the form of Jesus on the Cross and His life-saving blood. Please help us never to forget our greatest blessings along with all the others. I love You. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth and serve our Lord Jesus, and sing as you count your blessings. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your blessings, see what God hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
Dear brothers and sisters, God is so good. Today as I sit looking out my window from the computer room to our backyard, I could watch the cats play, those ones that nobody wants and turned them loose. Yes, we feed them and all have been picked up and fixed. Walking right into the yard, seven beautiful deer that did not get shot in hunting season. I also want to alert people to this in our area. Tomorrow the weather service is calling for a fast dusting of snow, a snow squall that can cause a white-out. IT WILL ALSO FREEZE THE ROAD. Please be alert. When I was at Central Dauphin School District, I would try and tell people that the first inch is the slippery inch. Ask any firefighter or first responder how soon the call comes in after the snowflakes fly. With that said, let me get right to the message today. God just gave me this one and i know why. Please read on!!
Monday: January 11, 2016: The Big Trip (24)
Robbing God
Brothers and sisters, last week I called in an order of Bibles, four outreach Bibles and four Read-N-Grow Bibles. We order these through Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. Later that day God kept planting on my mind that we could do better than that. So later in the day I called in another order for the same number of Bibles. Today our electrical bill arrived from our power company. I opened it to pay it and it said payment due, None!!! None, zero, zip. The price of electricity is coming down and our budget was way overpaid. I will give the glory to God. I was faithful to Him and He was faithful to me. Here is a good scripture to cover what happened to us.
Malachi 3:8-12 New International Version (NIV)
8 "Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob Me. But you ask, 'How are we robbing you?' In tithes and offerings." 9 You are under a curse - your whole nation - because you are robbing Me." 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty. (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, we are never to put our Lord to a test, except on one thing, our giving. But it must be done in faith. Right now there is a lottery going on nationwide that is going to be worth over one BILLION dollars. I wonder if there are more prayers going to our Father in heaven than most times. Last week I purchased a ticket for this powerball, and before it was drawn I told God I was sorry for wasting that money on gambling. I wonder how many people are praying something like this. Dear Father, if you let me win, I will give you 20%, and maybe God said back something like this, funny, you have a good job and don't give me anything now.
If you tithe and give to God off the top, not always will your blessings come in the way of money. Look around you and see all the things you have. We are blessed, are we not? God tells us that He will bless us so much we will not be able to store it. And He will. I know because it has happened to me and a lot of people I know. I think you get the picture. I am thrilled with what God provides for us. However, like most people, I seem to just want more. We have reached the time in life that we need to downsize, not get more. However, if you do win the billion, you could buy us a cup of coffee.
Maybe we need to sing to figure out what we have already. Help me here.
Count Your Blessings
When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed;
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost;
Count your many blessings,name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
(we have a house and lots of food.)
Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your blessings, see what God hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
Are your ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings; every doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.
(Think here of the Cross that Christ carried.)
Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your blessings, see what God hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
When you look at others with their LANDS AND GOLD,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold.
Count your many blessings MONEY CANNOT BUY;
Your reward in Heaven nor your home on high.
(Money cannot buy salvation, it is free.)
Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your blessings, see what God hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, GOD IS OVER ALL.
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort, give you to your journey's end.
(Know here that God is in control.)
Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your blessings, see what God hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
Dear Father in Heaven: We who are so blessed just need to really count what our blessings are, and Father, our greatest blessing comes to us in the form of Jesus on the Cross and His life-saving blood. Please help us never to forget our greatest blessings along with all the others. I love You. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth and serve our Lord Jesus, and sing as you count your blessings. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your blessings, see what God hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
Sunday, January 10, 2016
Sunday 1/10/15 The Big Trip (23)
PRAISE GOD FOR SENDING A MESSAGE!!
Dear Father in Heaven: Your timing is so wonderful and I give You all honor and praise for the sign You are sending right now as I am just sitting down to start the message. Please forgive me of my sins and know that I really do love You. Thank You, dear Father, for a great service this morning preached by Jimmy Swaggart. Please, Lord, bless them. Oh, Lord, that beautiful big rainbow, help me write a message on that today. Help me now please with that message and then to get it dispatched. In Jesus' Name, I pray and give You praise. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, I came out to our computer room after our church service this morning. We have church in our living room and use Jimmy Swaggart for the service. Anyway, after the service was over and we had our cooked meal for the day (homemade chicken veggie soup) I sat down at the computer. The sun was shining when all of a sudden a heavy rain passed through. Dolores had been out here with me and had just gone back into the house from the computer room, when I looked out my window and there was one of the most beautiful rainbows planted right there in the sky. I yelled for Dolores to come back out and she did, in time to see this beautiful sight of God. This changed my message for this day.
Sunday: January 10, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Twenty-three)
The Rainbow!
Genesis 9:8-17 New International Version (NIV)
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 "I now establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you - the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you - every living creature on earth. 11 I establish My covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth." 12 And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember My covenant between Me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will he waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth." 17 So God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant I have established between Me and all life on the earth." (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, if you don't think God talks to you, you ain't listening!! Read this, brothers and sisters. God made a covenant, a promise with Noah, and all of those listed above, including Noah's descendants, which we, WHICH WE, are. Yes, since everyone else was destroyed in the flood, it means we are all descendants of Noah. So we have a promise from God, and what is that promise? Never again to destroy everything? No, never again to destroy everything by water. Here it is again!
"I establish My covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth."
This, brothers and sisters, is a quote from God! Good, right? Yes, and what about that rainbow? Let us take another look at that.
And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember My covenant between Me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life."
Now I am going to upset some people, but I don't care!!! The RAINBOW sign has been hijacked by the gay community as their symbol. No place in the Bible does it say about any other use of the rainbow. In fact, if you look at the scripture, God Himself claims ownership of the rainbow!!! It has a purpose! It is a reminder, yes a reminder made by God, to remind Himself that He made this covenant, this promise, to all of us. Yes, look right above, I set it out this time, "A covenant for all generations to come." PRAISE THE LORD, THANK YOU, LORD.
17 So God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant I have established between Me and all life on the earth."
Brothers and sisters, there is not a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow like you have seen stories about, but there is truth in this. Somewhere over the RAINBOW, skies are blue. For as I am finishing up this message today, the sky has turned blue with hardly even a cloud in the sky. When was the last time that God sent you a message so strong that you knew it was sent just at the right time, when you really needed it most? Let me tell you this, God will do that!! Sometimes when you are feeling so low you feel like you are drowning, God will send you a sign, maybe a person, a friend, or even a perfect stranger. I want you to look back in your life and think of times you might have been really down. Who did God send to help you? All of you should start that answer by saying Jesus, for He has lifted us either directly, or by sending that other person to help Him help you. Have you ever heard the term, "they were God-sent"? Sure you have.
Dear Father in Heaven: Thanks again for setting that rainbow in the sky. It not only reminds You, but it also reminds us. Thanks again. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth and love and serve Jesus, and maybe today you could put this tune on your lips. I don't know all the words, but I do know these. I love ya.
Pastor Dan
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue ...
Dear Father in Heaven: Your timing is so wonderful and I give You all honor and praise for the sign You are sending right now as I am just sitting down to start the message. Please forgive me of my sins and know that I really do love You. Thank You, dear Father, for a great service this morning preached by Jimmy Swaggart. Please, Lord, bless them. Oh, Lord, that beautiful big rainbow, help me write a message on that today. Help me now please with that message and then to get it dispatched. In Jesus' Name, I pray and give You praise. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, I came out to our computer room after our church service this morning. We have church in our living room and use Jimmy Swaggart for the service. Anyway, after the service was over and we had our cooked meal for the day (homemade chicken veggie soup) I sat down at the computer. The sun was shining when all of a sudden a heavy rain passed through. Dolores had been out here with me and had just gone back into the house from the computer room, when I looked out my window and there was one of the most beautiful rainbows planted right there in the sky. I yelled for Dolores to come back out and she did, in time to see this beautiful sight of God. This changed my message for this day.
Sunday: January 10, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Twenty-three)
The Rainbow!
Genesis 9:8-17 New International Version (NIV)
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 "I now establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you - the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you - every living creature on earth. 11 I establish My covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth." 12 And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember My covenant between Me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will he waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth." 17 So God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant I have established between Me and all life on the earth." (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, if you don't think God talks to you, you ain't listening!! Read this, brothers and sisters. God made a covenant, a promise with Noah, and all of those listed above, including Noah's descendants, which we, WHICH WE, are. Yes, since everyone else was destroyed in the flood, it means we are all descendants of Noah. So we have a promise from God, and what is that promise? Never again to destroy everything? No, never again to destroy everything by water. Here it is again!
"I establish My covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth."
This, brothers and sisters, is a quote from God! Good, right? Yes, and what about that rainbow? Let us take another look at that.
And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember My covenant between Me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life."
Now I am going to upset some people, but I don't care!!! The RAINBOW sign has been hijacked by the gay community as their symbol. No place in the Bible does it say about any other use of the rainbow. In fact, if you look at the scripture, God Himself claims ownership of the rainbow!!! It has a purpose! It is a reminder, yes a reminder made by God, to remind Himself that He made this covenant, this promise, to all of us. Yes, look right above, I set it out this time, "A covenant for all generations to come." PRAISE THE LORD, THANK YOU, LORD.
17 So God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant I have established between Me and all life on the earth."
Brothers and sisters, there is not a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow like you have seen stories about, but there is truth in this. Somewhere over the RAINBOW, skies are blue. For as I am finishing up this message today, the sky has turned blue with hardly even a cloud in the sky. When was the last time that God sent you a message so strong that you knew it was sent just at the right time, when you really needed it most? Let me tell you this, God will do that!! Sometimes when you are feeling so low you feel like you are drowning, God will send you a sign, maybe a person, a friend, or even a perfect stranger. I want you to look back in your life and think of times you might have been really down. Who did God send to help you? All of you should start that answer by saying Jesus, for He has lifted us either directly, or by sending that other person to help Him help you. Have you ever heard the term, "they were God-sent"? Sure you have.
Dear Father in Heaven: Thanks again for setting that rainbow in the sky. It not only reminds You, but it also reminds us. Thanks again. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth and love and serve Jesus, and maybe today you could put this tune on your lips. I don't know all the words, but I do know these. I love ya.
Pastor Dan
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue ...
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Thursday 1/7/15 The Big Trip (22)
Dear Father in Heaven: Praise You for all You do for all of us. Please forgive me of my sins known and unknown. Please be with Dave and Vicki and help them in their struggles. Please be with the family of Joe Fink and comfort them in their time of sorrow. Please, Lord, be with Patsy and Burt and their family as they fight health issues. Thank You, Lord, for children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. We are so blessed. Thanks for family and friends. Lord, please help me with the daily message and then please help me to get it dispatched. In the Mighty Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters: Yesterday I talked some about people going to heaven and also receiving blessings from God who chose to, for one reason or another, not attend a church. Also about those who send out things and end them by saying something like this, "if you forward this to ten people and send a copy back to me you will receive special blessings from God." Today I want to look at what the Bible tells us is needed to get into heaven. Please pray today for the family of Joseph (Joe) Fink in the parting of Joe. Now to The Big Trip (22).
Thursday: January 7, 2015: The Big Trip (Day Twenty-Two)
Steps to Heaven!
Today, brothers and sisters, it will be laid out differently. So let me get moving with this Plan of Salvation. All scriptures today will be from the New International Version (NIV) Bible unless otherwise stated.
Plan of Salvation:
We are all sinners! Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Okay, here it is telling us that we all have failed, we all have sinned, and I bet some of you are glad it is stated like that for it lets us know we are not alone when it comes to messing up before God. In short, to get to Heaven, ALL NEED TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
There is a price for our sin. Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Wow, right here in the Bible it tells us that there is a wage for our sin. I don't hear people running around and asking for a raise on this one! That wage is the best you can get for sin. DEATH!! But wait, out of that same scripture we see this GIFT of God, and what is that GIFT? It is eternal life with Jesus Christ, our dear Lord and Savior.
And the Gift, well, it is free; however, it was not cheap, for it cost Jesus His life. Again, it is a free gift to us that cost Jesus His life.
We need to repent: Matthew 9:13 - "But go and learn what this means, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
These are the Words of Jesus, my friends, and what it means is the righteous are in good standing, and Jesus was just sent for the sinners. Wait, that sounds like "double talk," but it is not. We saw that ALL have sinned. So Jesus came to call us all since we were sinners. Do you remember the words of John the Baptist? Here is the reminder found in Matthew 3:3 - "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.'" And from Mark 1:15 - "The time has come," he said, "The kingdom of God is near. REPENT and believe the Good News!" Okay, there you have it. We must repent of our sins.
God loves you! John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." 17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him."
Hang in there with me please, we are almost done, and so far, not one mention of going to church. The Words above tell us that God sent Jesus to save the world, not just you and me. So what is next? Hold on, I must go stir my soup!! I am back and that soup is getting good - "chicken vegetable soup."
Christ paid the price for our sins: Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Here we see God is covering that price we talked about, that wage we talked about, by giving us HIS LIFE. Now it tells us while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Yes, while we were still sinners, you see once we come to Christ and ask to be forgiven of our sins, they are gone, done, dismissed, and He will never bring them up again. (So don't let others bring them up.) I can hear someone right now. Oh, that was back then, back when Jesus walked the earth. It is different now, Pastor Dan, things have changed. Yes, things have changed. In fact, about everything has changed. About everything? Yes, about everything. What has not changed is Jesus Christ. And here it is in the Bible. And this is one, just one, mind you, of my most loved scriptures:
Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Now someone should shout amen on that one. Amen means so be it, or you agree to it. Do you get this? Jesus is not one bit different today than He was back when He went to the cross for us. His love is still there. He loves us just as much, and folks, that same love will be here for all the tomorrows we have. And praise be to God we do not know the end date. What else does it say?
Romans 10:9/10 - 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
1 John 5:10/13 - 10 Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
So, my dear brothers and sisters, there you have it. I want to point out a few things right now. You do not need to confess yourself, your sins, over to anyone else other than Jesus Christ. This is personal between you and Jesus. Talk to Him, it is called prayer. Do I think church is important? OF COURSE, I do, but is is not needed to get you into heaven. If you want to attend a GOOD BIBLE believing church, I will be glad to help you find one. Now it is time to close, and yes, we are going to confess over to God, just in case no one has ever done this before. Oh, and please talk to God a lot and when you do mess up, talk to Him about it, remembering of course He already knows.
Dear Father in Heaven: I confess I am a sinner, and I ask today that You forgive me of my sins, and according to Your Word, I am confessing today and letting you know that I believe Jesus died on the Cross for me and that God His Father raised Him from the dead. Please, Lord, put my name in the records of loving You. In Jesus' Name, I ask this. Amen.
Okay, go forth and know that if you prayed this in faith, you are saved. And now that you are saved, let others know. And be ready, for if you never confessed before, your life will change. Oh, and this does not mean you will not have troubles along the way, but you will have three helpers, God The Father, God The Son, and God The Holy Spirit. What a great team to carry you and me. Wow!!! Tomorrow we will be looking into what you should be doing after you are saved.
Love ya. Pastor Dan
And go out singing this, make up your own tune.
I'm Saved, I'm Saved, I love You, Lord.
I'm Saved, I'm Saved, I love You, Lord!
Dear brothers and sisters: Yesterday I talked some about people going to heaven and also receiving blessings from God who chose to, for one reason or another, not attend a church. Also about those who send out things and end them by saying something like this, "if you forward this to ten people and send a copy back to me you will receive special blessings from God." Today I want to look at what the Bible tells us is needed to get into heaven. Please pray today for the family of Joseph (Joe) Fink in the parting of Joe. Now to The Big Trip (22).
Thursday: January 7, 2015: The Big Trip (Day Twenty-Two)
Steps to Heaven!
Today, brothers and sisters, it will be laid out differently. So let me get moving with this Plan of Salvation. All scriptures today will be from the New International Version (NIV) Bible unless otherwise stated.
Plan of Salvation:
We are all sinners! Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Okay, here it is telling us that we all have failed, we all have sinned, and I bet some of you are glad it is stated like that for it lets us know we are not alone when it comes to messing up before God. In short, to get to Heaven, ALL NEED TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
There is a price for our sin. Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Wow, right here in the Bible it tells us that there is a wage for our sin. I don't hear people running around and asking for a raise on this one! That wage is the best you can get for sin. DEATH!! But wait, out of that same scripture we see this GIFT of God, and what is that GIFT? It is eternal life with Jesus Christ, our dear Lord and Savior.
And the Gift, well, it is free; however, it was not cheap, for it cost Jesus His life. Again, it is a free gift to us that cost Jesus His life.
We need to repent: Matthew 9:13 - "But go and learn what this means, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
These are the Words of Jesus, my friends, and what it means is the righteous are in good standing, and Jesus was just sent for the sinners. Wait, that sounds like "double talk," but it is not. We saw that ALL have sinned. So Jesus came to call us all since we were sinners. Do you remember the words of John the Baptist? Here is the reminder found in Matthew 3:3 - "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.'" And from Mark 1:15 - "The time has come," he said, "The kingdom of God is near. REPENT and believe the Good News!" Okay, there you have it. We must repent of our sins.
God loves you! John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." 17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him."
Hang in there with me please, we are almost done, and so far, not one mention of going to church. The Words above tell us that God sent Jesus to save the world, not just you and me. So what is next? Hold on, I must go stir my soup!! I am back and that soup is getting good - "chicken vegetable soup."
Christ paid the price for our sins: Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Here we see God is covering that price we talked about, that wage we talked about, by giving us HIS LIFE. Now it tells us while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Yes, while we were still sinners, you see once we come to Christ and ask to be forgiven of our sins, they are gone, done, dismissed, and He will never bring them up again. (So don't let others bring them up.) I can hear someone right now. Oh, that was back then, back when Jesus walked the earth. It is different now, Pastor Dan, things have changed. Yes, things have changed. In fact, about everything has changed. About everything? Yes, about everything. What has not changed is Jesus Christ. And here it is in the Bible. And this is one, just one, mind you, of my most loved scriptures:
Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Now someone should shout amen on that one. Amen means so be it, or you agree to it. Do you get this? Jesus is not one bit different today than He was back when He went to the cross for us. His love is still there. He loves us just as much, and folks, that same love will be here for all the tomorrows we have. And praise be to God we do not know the end date. What else does it say?
Romans 10:9/10 - 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
1 John 5:10/13 - 10 Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
So, my dear brothers and sisters, there you have it. I want to point out a few things right now. You do not need to confess yourself, your sins, over to anyone else other than Jesus Christ. This is personal between you and Jesus. Talk to Him, it is called prayer. Do I think church is important? OF COURSE, I do, but is is not needed to get you into heaven. If you want to attend a GOOD BIBLE believing church, I will be glad to help you find one. Now it is time to close, and yes, we are going to confess over to God, just in case no one has ever done this before. Oh, and please talk to God a lot and when you do mess up, talk to Him about it, remembering of course He already knows.
Dear Father in Heaven: I confess I am a sinner, and I ask today that You forgive me of my sins, and according to Your Word, I am confessing today and letting you know that I believe Jesus died on the Cross for me and that God His Father raised Him from the dead. Please, Lord, put my name in the records of loving You. In Jesus' Name, I ask this. Amen.
Okay, go forth and know that if you prayed this in faith, you are saved. And now that you are saved, let others know. And be ready, for if you never confessed before, your life will change. Oh, and this does not mean you will not have troubles along the way, but you will have three helpers, God The Father, God The Son, and God The Holy Spirit. What a great team to carry you and me. Wow!!! Tomorrow we will be looking into what you should be doing after you are saved.
Love ya. Pastor Dan
And go out singing this, make up your own tune.
I'm Saved, I'm Saved, I love You, Lord.
I'm Saved, I'm Saved, I love You, Lord!
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Salvation Wednesday 1/6/15 The Big Trip (21)
PRAISE THE LORD!!!!
Dear Father in Heaven: All honor and glory to You in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Thank You so much for waking Mindy from the coma she was in. Dear Father in Heaven, You are just wonderful all the time. Thanks for trusting me to witness for You last evening. Thanks for a great gathering of family, and thanks for pointing out people who would accept Bibles in the name of Jesus. Dear Father, thanks for this day that we call Salvation Wednesday and thanks again today for forgiving me of my sins and going to the Cross for me and all others. I am so excited today, Lord, I must get to the message. Please, Lord, help me with the message and to get it dispatched. In the Mighty, Mighty Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
My dear brothers and sisters, can you tell on this Salvation Wednesday that I am excited? A few weeks back we put on our prayer list Mindy Herman Shearer (spelling might be wrong on that last name). Anyway, on December 7, 2015, Mindy went into a coma, and today GOD WOKE HER UP!!! Not only that, she was up walking with a walker and the help of staff. Can someone just jump and shout AMEN! Speaking of saying amen, I want to bring something up today and that will be a 2nd part of this message today. Please keep Vicki and Dave in your prayers. Now let me get to the message:
Salvation Wednesday: January 6, 2015: The Big Trip (Day Twenty-One)
Burdens
1 John 5:3-4 New International Version (NIV)
3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (NIV)
I want to wrap up this part about burdens today and move on with the Big Trip.
In our scripture above we are told this is love for God, and what is that love for God? It is to keep His commands, and yes, that would be commandments also. So many people think if we just carry out those original ten commandments we are in the clear. No, remember Adam and Eve broke God's commands about what they were to do in the Garden of Eden. Anyway, if we truly love God we will find His commands are not burdensome. And look at this, everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is our victory in the end, overcoming the world and it is done by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. If you are working for God it should not be a burden for you, if it is you are doing something wrong.
Part 2!!
1 John 4:12 New International Version (NIV)
12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. (NIV)
A question came up today about people sending messages out on Facebook about adding Amen to the end of the message to prove they are a Christian. I have received things like "if you send this message to ten others and one back to the writer you will receive a blessing from our Lord God."
I want to make it clear that while I tell all of you that you may use my messages to help lead others to the cross, pastors can use them for notes for messages, I don't care, I write for God. When you choose to use what I write it will NOT mean you will get special blessings from God. God will bless us all according to what we do for Him and others, not because we write an Amen on something and forward it to ten, or ten thousand people. GOD IS IN THE BLESSING BUSINESS.
You also do not need to attend church to get into heaven. You just need to belong to THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST. Meaning you must be "Born Again." You must have invited Jesus into your heart and do your best to live for Him. While I believe going to a good church is wonderful and needed to keep you on fire for Christ, it is not recorded anywhere in the Bible you must attend any one church to get into heaven. With that said, some churches people follow and/or attend might help keep you out of heaven. Again, our Lord Jesus is the only one each of us need to answer to when it comes to getting into heaven. He died for us on the Cross, and He was risen from the dead and you need to believe that!!! I think since this came up, I will make this part of our Big Trip. One thing I want to add to that right here and now. Some people need to work on Saturday and Sunday and cannot get to church. Don't you think some of those who work those weekends are saved? Some police, firefighters, even our military might not be able to get to church. However, I believe they can be saved. In fact, some Christians go to church on Sunday and leave after church and go out to eat. I would say a lot of those serving the "Christians" who have come from the church might know Jesus even better than the "churched" people. Again, Jesus will be the final judge.
More on this subject coming, but remember this, please. Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world; red and yellow, black and white, and we are indeed the children of God and we must LOVE HIM BACK. Amen.
Now go forth and share the love of Jesus with others. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
And we might as well sing this.
Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world;
Red and yellow, black and white,
They are precious in His sight.
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world;
Red and yellow, black and white,
They are precious in His sight.
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
Dear Father in Heaven: All honor and glory to You in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Thank You so much for waking Mindy from the coma she was in. Dear Father in Heaven, You are just wonderful all the time. Thanks for trusting me to witness for You last evening. Thanks for a great gathering of family, and thanks for pointing out people who would accept Bibles in the name of Jesus. Dear Father, thanks for this day that we call Salvation Wednesday and thanks again today for forgiving me of my sins and going to the Cross for me and all others. I am so excited today, Lord, I must get to the message. Please, Lord, help me with the message and to get it dispatched. In the Mighty, Mighty Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
My dear brothers and sisters, can you tell on this Salvation Wednesday that I am excited? A few weeks back we put on our prayer list Mindy Herman Shearer (spelling might be wrong on that last name). Anyway, on December 7, 2015, Mindy went into a coma, and today GOD WOKE HER UP!!! Not only that, she was up walking with a walker and the help of staff. Can someone just jump and shout AMEN! Speaking of saying amen, I want to bring something up today and that will be a 2nd part of this message today. Please keep Vicki and Dave in your prayers. Now let me get to the message:
Salvation Wednesday: January 6, 2015: The Big Trip (Day Twenty-One)
Burdens
1 John 5:3-4 New International Version (NIV)
3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (NIV)
I want to wrap up this part about burdens today and move on with the Big Trip.
In our scripture above we are told this is love for God, and what is that love for God? It is to keep His commands, and yes, that would be commandments also. So many people think if we just carry out those original ten commandments we are in the clear. No, remember Adam and Eve broke God's commands about what they were to do in the Garden of Eden. Anyway, if we truly love God we will find His commands are not burdensome. And look at this, everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is our victory in the end, overcoming the world and it is done by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. If you are working for God it should not be a burden for you, if it is you are doing something wrong.
Part 2!!
1 John 4:12 New International Version (NIV)
12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. (NIV)
A question came up today about people sending messages out on Facebook about adding Amen to the end of the message to prove they are a Christian. I have received things like "if you send this message to ten others and one back to the writer you will receive a blessing from our Lord God."
I want to make it clear that while I tell all of you that you may use my messages to help lead others to the cross, pastors can use them for notes for messages, I don't care, I write for God. When you choose to use what I write it will NOT mean you will get special blessings from God. God will bless us all according to what we do for Him and others, not because we write an Amen on something and forward it to ten, or ten thousand people. GOD IS IN THE BLESSING BUSINESS.
You also do not need to attend church to get into heaven. You just need to belong to THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST. Meaning you must be "Born Again." You must have invited Jesus into your heart and do your best to live for Him. While I believe going to a good church is wonderful and needed to keep you on fire for Christ, it is not recorded anywhere in the Bible you must attend any one church to get into heaven. With that said, some churches people follow and/or attend might help keep you out of heaven. Again, our Lord Jesus is the only one each of us need to answer to when it comes to getting into heaven. He died for us on the Cross, and He was risen from the dead and you need to believe that!!! I think since this came up, I will make this part of our Big Trip. One thing I want to add to that right here and now. Some people need to work on Saturday and Sunday and cannot get to church. Don't you think some of those who work those weekends are saved? Some police, firefighters, even our military might not be able to get to church. However, I believe they can be saved. In fact, some Christians go to church on Sunday and leave after church and go out to eat. I would say a lot of those serving the "Christians" who have come from the church might know Jesus even better than the "churched" people. Again, Jesus will be the final judge.
More on this subject coming, but remember this, please. Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world; red and yellow, black and white, and we are indeed the children of God and we must LOVE HIM BACK. Amen.
Now go forth and share the love of Jesus with others. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
And we might as well sing this.
Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world;
Red and yellow, black and white,
They are precious in His sight.
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world;
Red and yellow, black and white,
They are precious in His sight.
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Tuesday 1/5/16 The Big Trip (20)
Dear Father in Heaven: Thank You for saving us from our own destruction. I love You!! Please forgive me of my sins this day. Lord, please be with our son Matthew and heal him and help him. Please be with all those on this line and touch their hurts and their pain and carry those burdens for them. Please, Lord, do the same for me. Please, Lord, help me now with the daily message and then to get it dispatched. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters: First of all, Dolores and I are requesting prayers for our son, Matthew. Matthew is 48 today and is still down outside of Philly being treated for bipolar disease and yes, the side effects of booze and drugs over the years. Right now he is clean of booze and drugs, and his meds for depression need to be straightened out. Thank all of you very much for your ongoing prayer support for our son Matthew. It is appreciated. AMEN.
I want to mention this again, we have new Read-N-Grow Children's Bibles and if you would like one for a child, grandchild, or great grandchild, please let us know. Carry The Light Ministries will see that you get one FREE. We ordered 12 more of them yesterday. We also have new Gideon's Bibles, mostly untouched that came out of motels. If you want one, let us know. They also are FREE. We also want you to know that yesterday we sent eight Bibles out of the USA, and I think these went to Russia. If you are out of the area, we will get it mailed to you; otherwise, you can make arrangements to pick them up at our Ministry home here in Mechanicsburg, PA. Our phone number is 717 691 8200. Please leave a message if you want a Bible. Even when we are at home, sometimes we do not make it to the phone. Time to get to the message, but first a question, and it is not a trick question. Can you run faster forward or back? Answer after the message.
Tuesday: January 5, 2015: The Big Trip (Day Twenty)
Subtitle: Burdens
Galatians 5:1 New International Version (NIV)
Freedom in Christ
5 It is for freedom that has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (NIV)
So what is the scripture telling us here? First of all Christ, our Lord Jesus Christ, set us free from ourselves. Yes, ourselves. We can blame Satan for a lot of things, and there is no doubt that he comes after us, but it is our giving into sin that causes us the problem most often. The scripture above is not double talk, it is for our PERSONAL freedom that Christ died for us on the cross, and it is with a PERSONAL relationship with Jesus Christ that is needed for this freedom to kick in. It goes on to tell us that we are to STAND FIRM and not to let ourselves be burdened again by slavery. Now, folks, this is not slavery as in the slave trade of our African-American brothers and sisters that went on years ago back before the civil war or the slave trade still going on in some countries and maybe some of that going on right here in America. What this is telling us is we should not let ourselves be burdened again by the yoke of SIN!!! Since all of us are or were sinners at one time or another, I am sure I do not need to tell you how you can burden yourself in sin and/or how you can become involved in it. In other words here Slavery = Sin!
While I said we cannot blame Satan for all of it, sometimes he does come after us, and I have already over the years YELLED at him something like this: "SATAN, GET OUT OF MY LIFE AND GO TO HELL WHERE YOU BELONG. I AM PROTECTED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS!!!" Yes, I call it out as I see it and I love to hear a good message by a pastor who preaches hell so hot you can "feel the heat."
1 Timothy 5:16 New International Version (NIV)
16 If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need. (NIV)
While the scripture talks about women here, I want to broaden that out some by saying this could be also men. What does it mean to me as God is giving it to me? If you, man or woman, have the means to help someone on your own, you should do that the best you can, not throwing that care over to the church so they can help those who ARE REALLY IN NEED. This means to me that we as individuals should be helping those who need a little help and that we have the means to help them a tad. When those who are really hurting and struggling need more than we can do, then the church can help them pulling from the resources of that church. I also feel that our governments should not get involved as much as they do, and Christians should be working harder for Jesus to get this work done. With that said, the government takes so much out of paychecks that sometimes what is left over does not go far. But to make what is left over go farther, GIVE TO GOD FIRST!!!
I hope you are understanding this. It is time to wind up for today, and I want to leave you with a song we have done often, but first the answer to the question. I can run back faster than I run forward. I did not say running backwards. I am talking about when over the years I slipped away from God, I ran "back" faster than I ran to Him in the first place. Okay, now that song, one that you can put on your lips and heart by memory and be singing it all day. Yes, you will remember it for this is the day!
This Is The Day (Les Garrett)
This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made,
that the Lord has made.
We will rejoice, we will rejoice and be glad in it,
and be glad in it.
This is the day that the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made.
Dear Father in Heaven, indeed it is the day that You have made and tomorrow if You give us another it will also be a day that You have made for indeed You are the only day maker there is. We love You and appreciate you. Please keep us safe. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Now go forth loving and serving our Lord Jesus. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Hit it again!!!
This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made,
that the Lord has made.
We will rejoice, we will rejoice and be glad in it,
and be glad in it.
This is the day that the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made.
Dear brothers and sisters: First of all, Dolores and I are requesting prayers for our son, Matthew. Matthew is 48 today and is still down outside of Philly being treated for bipolar disease and yes, the side effects of booze and drugs over the years. Right now he is clean of booze and drugs, and his meds for depression need to be straightened out. Thank all of you very much for your ongoing prayer support for our son Matthew. It is appreciated. AMEN.
I want to mention this again, we have new Read-N-Grow Children's Bibles and if you would like one for a child, grandchild, or great grandchild, please let us know. Carry The Light Ministries will see that you get one FREE. We ordered 12 more of them yesterday. We also have new Gideon's Bibles, mostly untouched that came out of motels. If you want one, let us know. They also are FREE. We also want you to know that yesterday we sent eight Bibles out of the USA, and I think these went to Russia. If you are out of the area, we will get it mailed to you; otherwise, you can make arrangements to pick them up at our Ministry home here in Mechanicsburg, PA. Our phone number is 717 691 8200. Please leave a message if you want a Bible. Even when we are at home, sometimes we do not make it to the phone. Time to get to the message, but first a question, and it is not a trick question. Can you run faster forward or back? Answer after the message.
Tuesday: January 5, 2015: The Big Trip (Day Twenty)
Subtitle: Burdens
Galatians 5:1 New International Version (NIV)
Freedom in Christ
5 It is for freedom that has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (NIV)
So what is the scripture telling us here? First of all Christ, our Lord Jesus Christ, set us free from ourselves. Yes, ourselves. We can blame Satan for a lot of things, and there is no doubt that he comes after us, but it is our giving into sin that causes us the problem most often. The scripture above is not double talk, it is for our PERSONAL freedom that Christ died for us on the cross, and it is with a PERSONAL relationship with Jesus Christ that is needed for this freedom to kick in. It goes on to tell us that we are to STAND FIRM and not to let ourselves be burdened again by slavery. Now, folks, this is not slavery as in the slave trade of our African-American brothers and sisters that went on years ago back before the civil war or the slave trade still going on in some countries and maybe some of that going on right here in America. What this is telling us is we should not let ourselves be burdened again by the yoke of SIN!!! Since all of us are or were sinners at one time or another, I am sure I do not need to tell you how you can burden yourself in sin and/or how you can become involved in it. In other words here Slavery = Sin!
While I said we cannot blame Satan for all of it, sometimes he does come after us, and I have already over the years YELLED at him something like this: "SATAN, GET OUT OF MY LIFE AND GO TO HELL WHERE YOU BELONG. I AM PROTECTED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS!!!" Yes, I call it out as I see it and I love to hear a good message by a pastor who preaches hell so hot you can "feel the heat."
1 Timothy 5:16 New International Version (NIV)
16 If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need. (NIV)
While the scripture talks about women here, I want to broaden that out some by saying this could be also men. What does it mean to me as God is giving it to me? If you, man or woman, have the means to help someone on your own, you should do that the best you can, not throwing that care over to the church so they can help those who ARE REALLY IN NEED. This means to me that we as individuals should be helping those who need a little help and that we have the means to help them a tad. When those who are really hurting and struggling need more than we can do, then the church can help them pulling from the resources of that church. I also feel that our governments should not get involved as much as they do, and Christians should be working harder for Jesus to get this work done. With that said, the government takes so much out of paychecks that sometimes what is left over does not go far. But to make what is left over go farther, GIVE TO GOD FIRST!!!
I hope you are understanding this. It is time to wind up for today, and I want to leave you with a song we have done often, but first the answer to the question. I can run back faster than I run forward. I did not say running backwards. I am talking about when over the years I slipped away from God, I ran "back" faster than I ran to Him in the first place. Okay, now that song, one that you can put on your lips and heart by memory and be singing it all day. Yes, you will remember it for this is the day!
This Is The Day (Les Garrett)
This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made,
that the Lord has made.
We will rejoice, we will rejoice and be glad in it,
and be glad in it.
This is the day that the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made.
Dear Father in Heaven, indeed it is the day that You have made and tomorrow if You give us another it will also be a day that You have made for indeed You are the only day maker there is. We love You and appreciate you. Please keep us safe. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Now go forth loving and serving our Lord Jesus. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Hit it again!!!
This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made,
that the Lord has made.
We will rejoice, we will rejoice and be glad in it,
and be glad in it.
This is the day that the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made.
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