Monday 9/5/16 Labor Day

Dear Father in Heaven: I love You, and I give thanks for another day here on earth. Please, dear Father, forgive me of my sins. Dear Father, please heal Bob Coburn from cancer. Lord, this man has worked hard in his life trying his best to save life and property by being a first responder. Lord, we need more men and women willing to lay down their lives for others. Please, Lord, protect all our police and firefighters and all of our military and all others who work to keep us safe. Help Charles with the mission he has set out to do. Lord, please help Pat and others who are growing food for the needy. Please, Lord, bless me now with a message and help me get it dispatched. In the mighty name of Jesus, I give thanks and offer up my prayers. Amen.

Dear brothers and sisters, Chief Robert (Bob) Coburn's cancer has returned. Please pray hard for this first responder.  The other day when I called him and he told me about the cancer he was, yes, in a fire truck. Please also pray daily for the upcoming election. Please pray for "Rick" who travels to Baltimore from Central PA to work. Time to get to the message and this one for Labor Day.

Monday: September 5, 2016: Labor Day

Exodus 20:8 - Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or your maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.  (NIV)

Brothers and sisters, I don't know when the first Labor Day was, however, I do understand that it was a holiday to give those who worked and labored hard the day off. I think it was started for those in Labor Unions. As I look at the scripture above, the fourth of the original ten commandments, God has built us in a day of rest, including the animals. Jesus changed or relaxed some of that commandment by healing people on the Sabbath.

In this fast-moving world we live in today, we all need to look back and know that God built in a day of rest for us, because He knew and understood our tired bodies would need rest. I wonder what it would be like today if indeed everything would close up for the Sabbath. Would we all  close  up on Saturday, the seventh day on our calendars, or would some want to close down on Sunday, the day most Christians call their Sabbath? Many a God-fearing Christian would be upset if all the restaurants were closed on Sundays and after church they had no place to go to eat! Hospitals need to be open year-round, nurse and doctors must work. People must tend their animals, and even the Amish use their horses to go to church.

Here would be my suggestion. Love Jesus with all your heat and all your soul and love all others also. Ask Jesus into your hearts and know that he went to the Cross for our sins and He will forgive our sins. Rest yourself and try to relax and talk to our Lord Jesus often. Take care of what must be done each day and on Sunday find a GOOD church where Salvation by Jesus is preached and taught. Take time to rest and be with family. I know one man who did not do this, tried to work around the clock seven days a week and it cost him a lot over the years. He wore out early and really missed out on a lot of things in life. Later he found Jesus and has worked at turning it around. I know this man well, for he is typing this message.

Do things like this, above all love Jesus. I said above all love Jesus, love your family and friends and enjoy them. Have a great holiday.

Now go forth and remember and labor for the Lord 24/7 and you can do that as you rest. Love ya.

Pastor Dan