The Christmas Eve Bird 2013

The Christmas Eve Bird

Hello everybody, I heard this story by Paul Harvey many years ago, PLEASE, TAKE TIME TO READ IT !!

The Man and the Birds
by Paul Harvey

The man to whom I’m going to introduce you was not a scrooge, he was a kind decent, mostly good man. Generous to his family, upright in his dealings with other men. But he just didn’t believe all that incarnation stuff which the churches proclaim at Christmas Time. It just didn’t make sense and he was too honest to pretend otherwise. He just couldn’t swallow the Jesus Story, about God coming to Earth as a man.

“I’m truly sorry to distress you,” he told his wife, “but I’m not going with you to church this Christmas Eve.” He said he’d feel like a hypocrite. That he’d much rather just stay at home, but that he would wait up for them. And so he stayed and they went to the midnight service.

Shortly after the family drove away in the car, snow began to fall. He went to the window to watch the flurries getting heavier and heavier and then went back to his fireside chair and began to read his newspaper. Minutes later he was startled by a thudding sound…Then another, and then another. Sort of a thump or a thud…At first he thought someone must be throwing snowballs against his living room window. But when he went to the front door to investigate he found a flock of birds huddled miserably in the snow. They’d been caught in the storm and, in a desperate search for shelter, had tried to fly through his large landscape window.

Well, he couldn’t let the poor creatures lie there and freeze, so he remembered the barn where his children stabled their pony. That would provide a warm shelter, if he could direct the birds to it.

Quickly he put on a coat, galoshes, tramped through the deepening snow to the barn. He opened the doors wide and turned on a light, but the birds did not come in. He figured food would entice them in. So he hurried back to the house, fetched bread crumbs, sprinkled them on the snow, making a trail to the yellow-lighted wide open doorway of the stable. But to his dismay, the birds ignored the bread crumbs, and continued to flap around helplessly in the snow. He tried catching them…He tried shooing them into the barn by walking around them waving his arms…Instead, they scattered in every direction, except into the warm, lighted barn.

And then, he realized that they were afraid of him. To them, he reasoned, I am a strange and terrifying creature. If only I could think of some way to let them know that they can trust me…That I am not trying to hurt them, but to help them. But how? Because any move he made tended to frighten them, confuse them. They just would not follow. They would not be led or shooed because they feared him.

“If only I could be a bird,” he thought to himself, “and mingle with them and speak their language. Then I could tell them not to be afraid. Then I could show them the way to safe, warm…to the safe warm barn. But I would have to be one of them so they could see, and hear and understand.”

At that moment the church bells began to ring. The sound reached his ears above the sounds of the wind. And he stood there listening to the bells – Adeste Fidelis – listening to the bells pealing the glad tidings of Christmas.

And he sank to his knees in the snow.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This is one of my favorite Christmas stories by one of my favorite radio men from yester-year Paul Harvey.  It tells us one of the great meanings of Christmas and I just love it and I wish to share it with you all.

 

But Dear friend, For God so loved the world that He gave  . . .  the gift of God . . . (not of works)

Please accept that gift and accept Jesus as your Savior.

 

God bless you and Merry Christmas Friend,

 

RevDanSam

 

 

 

 

Cooper drives the boat !!

After a long day of Christmas shopping, the last Saturday before Christmas, my wife and I came home, turned on the television set and crashed for a late afternoon nap.  I was waken from the sounds of the TV set and I reached for the remote.  I only flipped a couple of channels and I came to the Turner Classic station and noticed the 1975 movie "JAWS". It was on and about an hour left to watch. So I watch it,  again, but it was the first time in a long time.  And they came to the part where the captain of the boat said we each have a job and "Cooper drives the boat !!"  And God started to move on my heart and mind.

The captain had already called and assigned his men to their positions. Each had a job to do, though there where only three.  The captain, the sheriff and the marine biologist. Yet the captain, called his men to their position. "Cooper drives the boat !!"  The sheriff was complaining about his position. Throwing out smelly fish parts to draw the big shark in them.  A job that was smelly and not exactly clean, not exactly glamorous, yet a needed job to do. 

Jesus is called the captain of our salvation in Hebrews 2:10,For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings

On our trip on the old Ship of Zion, the captain of our salvation has called and assigned our position for Him.  Eph 4 says, And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ¹² for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, obviously, we need to be about our Father's business, seeking for the lost souls for salvation.  Promoting the gospel of Christ !!  What has He called you to do ??

In the gospels, we read " go yet unto all the world", Jesus said in the book of John, "As my Father sent me, so I send you", in the book of Acts, chap. 1;8 ye shall be witnesses, and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.   The call from the captain has come and the assignment has been made, now follow Him.

But dear, there should be salvation before service, He will call you to be saved first, then service will come next.  many will say no to this and many may disagree, but it does not change any thing.  The bible says "Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, and lean NOT on your own understanding"

"Cooper drives the boat" and it was decided by the captain and you must decide to follow Him.

God Bless you,
RevDanSam

Jesus is the reason for the season

M-E-R-R-Y  C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S !!    HAVE  A  HAPPY  CHRISTMAS  SEASON !!

Jesus is the reason for the season.  It's the truth.  But why does all local and main line media refuse the history and happiness of our dear Savior's birth ??  Well, I do know why.  So I have been on my own campaign to remind everybody on my Tweeter and Facebook also, here that "JESUS IS THE REASON F0R THE SEASON"

The denial has been on going for the last past several years.  In one situation with a radio station, they played 24/7 Christmas songs, but only to disclaim the Christ related songs.  Then there were others who emphasized Rudolph and Frosty, snow time and bells. Jolly times and the getting of gifts. All of which is part but not the whole reason.

I like the cookies, cakes and candies as much as anybody. The cooking and the caroling have their place.  :-)

And on the other hand don't go the route of the Christmas tree, as the the wood is the cross and lights represent Jesus.  Sometimes it just a tree with lights part of the Christmas decorations, but hmm,  . . . (wow, this could be opened for debate)  . . .  I mean red for the blood, blue for royalty and white for righteousness. Hmm, . . . 

Anyway, I love this time of the year, this season, and what season is that Dan ?? "CHRISTMAS SEASON !!"

We do and should celebrate and of course, it is the day designated / set side, for our dear Savior's birth. The great miracle where GOD became man. Lived among us and died on the cross for us. (if that isn't love)

What a great plan for us !!  I rejoice and will rejoice !!  GOD demonstrated His Love to us !!  While we were yet sinners, unfavored and undeserved, He loved us.
⁶ For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 
(I know, I know NJKV)  :-) 

Hey, wise men still seek Him !!
 
And my friend, God loves you, and He wants  you trust in Him today, call on the name of the Lord and be saved.

God Bless you all  . . .  M-E-R-R-Y  C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S  !!  and have a Happy Christmas Season !!

RevDanSam

The evolution of Sunday night church

After I got saved, I started to attend church regularly, meaning Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night.   As I got more active in the church,  it became Bus ministry, Sunday school, Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night.  Oh, did I mention choir practices, youth and adult choirs and also the church radio program.   So the day, Sunday, started Sunday morning 8:00am for Bus ministry,  Sunday school at 10:00am, Sunday morning worship 11:00am, of course take the kids home, grab lunch, go to the radio station at 3:00pm or Convalescent  Home meeting,  then Youth choir practice at 4:45pm, Adult choir practice at 5:45pm, of course prayer rooms at 6:45 then Sunday evening church at 7:00.  WOW,  it does sound like a lot, but we were young and younger.  ( I kind of miss it now )  And for me, I had  a 40 hour week job and nightly Bible College .  That was the way it was through much of the 1980s unitl I got married in 1987. (again, I say wow !!)  I went to nightly Bible College, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday night.  No wonder why some concern adults would say to me when do you find time to rest?? !!

In the middle of ALL those services and while serving Him, we had our Sunday night church.  The Best service of the week !!  At least for us it was, We had Great singing, shouting and preaching.  Some say now, it was because we all came together on Sunday night, all the workers, Bus and children.    All I know is that we had great meetings on our Sunday night services.  And I can honestly say, it was unique and has been never been repeated or re-created.  

Interestingly, for me, when my wife and I went into the ministry, we had this idea in our minds.  And at the first church I pastor, we found that Sunday night was the least attended and the least spiritual of ALL of our services.  I really did not understand it.   But then, that’s when an older wiser pastor told me a big lesson.  And it was that each church are different.  But it troubled me for a long time.  How could it be that way, for we had many great Sunday night services?  But even at our home church, there was a move evolve.   We had grown and we had to build.  We moved to our new location and then,  I guess we did loose, little by little the sweetness of the Sunday night service.   

Another evolution of the Sunday night service was the time change, I chuckle and smile about it now, but I can remember when Sunday night church started at 7:30pm, then it was change to 7:00pm, 6:30 in some places then 6:00pm, where it stayed for  a long time,  through the 1990s, now we hear of churches starting at 4:00 and 5:00pm. (well, to each his own I say or whatever works for you)  :-)

 

Well, forsake not the assembling of yourselves together as some have.   Gather yourself together to teach and learn about the ways of the Lord.  We need the fellowship of the saints, the Apostle Paul did and we should too.

God bless you friend, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved.

RevDanSam

Thankful in 2013

Psalm 92

 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High:

² To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,
³ Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.
⁴ For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.

I am very Thankful today for the Lord. He has done so much for me and I cannot praise Him enough. A member of our church made a statement at our offering prayer time that give me " food for thought"  He said the commercial world has just about forgotten about Thanksgiving.  We barley leave Halloween and Christmas is already thrown in our face.  It's almost like Thanksgiving is over looked.  So my fellow church encouraged us on that not to forget about Thanksgiving. 

And so it is in the world's way and wisdom.  Many do forget to be thankful and to even say a friendly thank you to others and in many situations.  It is interesting how a perception becomes a mind thought or even a method of life.  I think there are many worldly thoughts and teachings that try to enter our minds and thoughts that turns us away for the teachings of Christ and the bible.

But today I am Thankful for these three. My Family, my faith and my future. 

I am thankful for family, my wife and my son.  I wasn't raised as being a hugging and lovingly family. But when I got saved, when I became a Christian, a child of God, He took care of what I was missing. Old ways are passed and all things become new.  A new love, laughter (joy) and out look.  And I love my family, my wife and son. My wife completes me and I love her very much.  My son has given me a new direction in life, even though he's out of school, I love him dearly and I am thankful for my family.

And I am thankful for my faith. My belief in God. I love his words, his ways and will. I have two other blogs, but I not as inspired and excited as I am blogging for the Lord. Not that He needs me to, but because I want to. My faith gives me a direction, drive and desire to serve Him and for that I am thankful.

And I am thankful for  my future, I am trusting to His unseen hand.   And I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.  If that means Heaven or literally here on earth, this is my future. And I am thankful for it.

So truly we have much to be Thankful for in our life, Food, fun and fellowship with family and friends. And just to thank Him for what He as done, I bless His dear name. Praise the Lord !!

God bless you friend, for whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Call on Him today.

RevDanSam

Called to the floor

Hello All, the other day while taking my son to work, we encountered a traffic jam.  The road was closed due to a traffic accident. So I thought that I would be helpful and I had my son to tweet a message to the traffic reporter on one of our local TV station.  As she is on my twitter account.  Again, may I emphasize I did not tweet and drive, I had my son, who was on the passenger side, tweeted the message.

Well, another unknown  twitter person, sent a  message to me and said that I should have not done this, he thought I was tweeting and driving and I assured him that I didn't and I had my son, who was a passenger, to tweet the message. We had a couple and word exchange, then I promised I did not indeed, tweet and drive, but I felt like, that I was being "called on the floor" for something that I did or in this case did not do.

But the phrase, being "called the floor" spoke to my heart and mind.  You see, one day, we all will stand before God one day.  The bible says in Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:  One day you will stand before God, and at that time you will not be able negotiate your eternity nor your sinful life.  It's All determine in this life time.  For in this life time, you determine your eternity. This day, choose you this whom you will serve, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.  Now is the accepted time, today is the day of salvation. 

I did not like to be called on the floor for tweeting and driving, but one day we will All appear before Him. Are you prepared for that day ??  Will you be ready ??  

First, you have to be saved, born again, accept Jesus Christ into you heart and Life. Become a child of God,
the bible says in John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  

Call on the name of the Lord and be save, for whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be shall.  I pray that you will.

God Bless you,

RevDanSam
 

6000th blog view

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,  unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages Eph. 3:20

Well, I have made it to another milestone with my blog, the 6000th view.  WOW, praise the Lord.  Am I making to much of this ??  Maybe not, my Lord keeps a record and perhaps I am being a blessing to my faithful readers.

I enjoy working by faith.  The Internet and the world wide web (www) is very similar to a radio signal going through out the land.  I just provide the message and I let God handle where it may go. It's like throwing out the seeds and hoping some will land on good ground and take root.

The bible teaches about the three grounds. (see Mark 4) Some seeds fell on hard ground and did not grow because there was no dept for the roots. Some fell among thorns and it was choked out. But some fell on good ground and God gave the increase. And isn't that's what it is all about, at least for me it is.  I can live with God taking what I do and using it for His name, honor and glory.

Let the praise be heard for Christ our King, who gave his life for all, Let the shouting now begin, let the song of victory swell, praising Christ through ages on, because He saved our soul from Hell.

God bless you friend, I am very happy today, I have to cut this blog a little short, perhaps I will more later. But thanks and I hope the blog is a Blessing and turns many to Christ.

RevDanSam

Happy, Happy, Happy

I appreciate the Lord this morning. I had a good time with the HIM in my Ford pickup while going to work this morning.  I had a gospel CD with a young male quartet that I had for a long time. It was still in a plastic case and sealed.  It was given to us many years ago, as we had visiting groups to come in and sing every 3rd Sunday night.

Now many groups have the professional sound with the  guitars and drums, and they had that on this CD, even on this first song. I thought, well, I will at least hear them out.  But then, the sound got better and the song selection was great and what I enjoyed.  They got to singing about the fountain and how there is a vast supply and how it will not run dry.  Well, that's all it took for me  . . . and I got HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY.

But I wondered, after I calm down a bit. What does a song like that mean to others??  I raised my hands in praise, of course I was at a stop light, but the songs moved me because I knew what it was ALL about.  Also, I was raised on those songs and grew up listening to them. I saw many a christian shout with joy and shed happy tears.  Particularly because, we rejoice in the fact that there is a fountain that has a vast supply and will never run dry.

You see, like the woman at the well, I was seeking and I found HIM, and now I want to share HIM with all.  She thought, I want water for my physical thirst.  But, Jesus had something to drink unto eternal life. The spiritual meaning it's eternal. And so it is with many today, they want and search for temporal satisfaction never considering the eternal or after life.  WHAT YOU DO IN THIS LIFE SHALL PAST, BUT WHAT YOU DO WITH JESUS SHALL LAST !!

God bless you friend, I just wanted to share my happiness in Lord today at writing of this blog post. If you are lost, you need to be saved. Accept Jesus into your heart and life, confess yours sins and live for and with HIM.

For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believed in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.  Eternity it to long to be wrong.  Call on Him today.

May God Bless you,
RevDanSam

(ps. ok, happy, happy,happy is from Duck guy, but it describes what happened to me today)
:-)

Musing 8-2-8

Romans 8:28

 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

 

One day this week, I carried my son to work where he is doing an internship.  As in the days of High school times, he wanted to have prayer time in the Ford F150 pickup truck.  We usually have prayer time while the truck warms up and windows defrost.  We have prayer and quote a bible verse. This particular morning I had him to quote Romans 8:28.  And then I thought about that verse the rest of the day.

 

First, I thought many times that many will miss-quote that verse.  For many will only quote only half of that verse for an excuse or justify something bad that has happened to them.  But an investigation of the verse says first "to them that love God"  a heart felt believing and trusting in God.  The love that a true believer has toward God.  Not mere head knowledge, but a heart knowledge too. 

 

Secondly, the bible says "to them who are the called".   Now many will confuse the call to service when God is calling them to salvation first.  I think it's very consistent in the bible and taught through out the bible. From Adam to Noah, from Abraham to Moses, From the disciples to Peter and Paul.  There was always a personal call to know Him first, then there was service. 

 

I believe in the three Calls. The call of salvation, the call of service and the call of separation or sanctification.  And many religions and many reason these in confusion.  For one to be saved, he then becomes a child of God.  But then he needs to separate worldly wisdom, words and ways out of his life and this is done through the word and the Holy Spirit.  Then you can serve Him, then you will understand what it's all about.  Saved, separated and then serve.  And wait for His second coming, but that's another blog post someday. :-)

 

But truly, I am glad that All things work together for good, but it's for those who love God and those who are called.  I can remember when He called me to salvation and I can remember when He called to service.  And daily He calls me through His word and Holy Spirit to be separated or sanctified. But He's still working on me, To make me what I outta be.   ² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God and conformed to the image of his Son,

 

But dear friend, answer the call, God works at different times and in different ways to get your attention. So hear ye Him while He is near, Draw nigh to the Lord and He will draw nigh to you.

 

God Bless you,

RevDanSam

 

 

 

Our unseen faith

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ² For by it the elders obtained a good report. ³ Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Heb. 11:1-3

One never knows when and what God will do to remind you of a spiritual truth as He did to us.
The other day, I ask my son to take out the trash.  When he came back in the house, he said I have walked through a spider web.  I feel it but I cannot see it.  I instinctively said son that's just like faith.  The substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. 

It reminded me of the little boy who was kite flying.  His kite was so high in the clouds and could not be seen.  Another little boy came by his way, who was his neighbor,  and he ask where's your kite and how do you know it there??  The boy said I know it's there because I feel the tug from the other side.

Truly, in many times and in many ways, God works in the unseen.  When we don't know how, that's when God steps in.  It's like the wind. We can not see the wind but only the effects of it. But the wind feels good on a very hot day.

In our day that we live in now, many have turn away from unseen faith and desire the seen and practical.  It instead of praying for twenty dollars, they want 20 dollars in their hand and they want it now.  But God says to ask, seek and knock.  Ask God, the reason we have not is because we ask not.  Then we should seek God, and look for Him to work and see His workings.  Knock really speaks of opening. Allowing God to open doors and ways for Him to work.

It's like the scriptures that say pray in secret and I will reward thee openly.  We should live and work by faith.
"There is an unseen hand to me, that leads the way I cannot see, while going through this land of woe, His unseen hand will lead me as I go, I'm trusting to, His unseen hand, that leads me through this weary land and some sweet day, I'll reach that strand, still guided by the unseen hand".

Dear friend, trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understanding. For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

God bless you,

RevDanSam

The tragedy of a hidden gospel

2 Corinthians 4

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy,  ³ But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: ⁴ in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

 

This is something that's been on my heart and mind. The tragedy of a hidden gospel.  You see, I was saved, born again and I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I belong to Him.  I heard the glorious gospel and it set me free.  1974 at the Victory Baptist Church 202 Canton road.  I can tell you the time and I can show you place, where the Lord saved me.  It changed by life forever.  I was at a cross road in my life, thirteen years old.  The spirit, The Holy Spirit said "come".  And I got saved.

So the message of the gospel is special to me.  It gave me life and it was truly more abundantly. The message spoke peace to me.  It spoke happiness to me, I am glad I got saved that day.  Then after a while,  the gospel gave me a mission to go on.   I started to serve Him in every way of my life and being.  I wonder sometimes, what would I have done, where would I have gone?? I would have gone down and away.  I probably would have gone a drunkard's life. I would have when down.  I am glad I got saved that day.

Now I have a desire to share that message, His message, the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.   I want others to hear and have the chance to received Jesus Christ into their heart and life.  Especially when the gospel is being hid from a lost and dying world.  That saddens me.

The gospel is hid by the devil.  The enemy of God and the christian.  He attacks the mind, just like he did in the garden of Eden.  "Hath God said ??"  as he purposefully does, to all.  He did it to Adam and Eve and all / everybody since and this day. 

My prayer, if you are a Christan, do not hide the gospel in your acts and activities.  While trying to be relevant to the world.  You should live by faith and trust that God's word will work !!  What Christ did on the cross will work.

There are more to convert, there are more conversions needed.  And if our gospel is hid, it will be hid from them that are lost. 

Dear friend if you are lost, be saved, if you are saved you should be about the Father's business working and laboring for Him.  For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.  Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel and after they are saved baptize them the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, Amen !!

God Bless you,
RevDanSam

Lad and Dad Day

When I was a young preacher,  I was very hard, when preaching, on my fellow Christians.  I heard an elderly preacher say, "young preachers are like a pack of young hunting dogs, they will just bark at anything and bark because other young dogs are barking"   It is very humorous now, in my mid fifties and over 30 years of serving Him, but I still appreciate the zeal of a young preacher, and, I hope they will stay with God. (the god of this world can blind their eyes)

But as a young independent fundamental missionary minded preacher boy, I was hard on my fellow Christians and questioned their love and devotion in attendance and activities to the church. Of course that was when I was a young single man. Family and children changes things. Although many years later, I had a great realization in my life, if I missed a couple of Sundays or Wednesday nights, I still 50 other Sundays or Wednesday nights to attend.  And if I had members there, at church, 50 times a year it was alright. (especially these days)  :-)

I heard an evangelist say many years a go, that God first established the HOME, House of God, then human government.  And just in that order, first the home (family) House of God (worship & fellowship) Human government (rules & laws to live by)   And the devil attacks and is still attacking each one today!!  It is very sad to see the down fall of the home and house of God.  Also human gov but that's another blog post, someday.

So the lad and I will spend time to together this weekend.  Another model train weekend.  We will pray and we will play.  Or execute the proper train load and composition of freight cars in the era of our models.  :-)   (maybe he will remember the good times)

But dear friend, the bible seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, Acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart.  Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

God Bless you,

RevDanSam

(song, I'd rather have Jesus)

How to draw all men

  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. John 12:32

I am amused and interested in the things in which today's modern church will do to bring the lost in to the church.  So Pastors are numbers men, they are always wanting and going for the large numbers.  And I understand their argument for doing it.   The more you get, is the more you win.  And some will say this is what Jesus did, then use the numbers from the Feeding of the 5000, to back it up. 

Some are into name changing.  You don't call it church, you call it a Family Center. you don't call it Sunday school, you call it Bible study or small groups.  And you definitely don't mention denomination such as Baptist or Methodist.   And I want to say, that I am not throwing rocks here, just making a friendly observation.  We should be laborers together with Him.  :-)

But if you use secular ideas to draw them, then you will have to use secular ideas to keep them.  If you use entertainment to draw them, you will have to use entertainment to keep them.  If you use music to draw them, then you will need music to keep them.  And so-on and so-forth . . .

Jesus used healing, helping and happiness of truth to gain His multitudes. Those who were healed and many of their family members followed Him.  Those who were helped and their family members followed Him.  Those who were so happy about His great and loving truth that He taught followed Him.  His miracles, mission and message is what He used in that day.

In my half century life, of which 37 years was spent serving and following Him, I still think the cross will work, the cross will still draw men.  It touched many hearts and will continue to touch hearts.  The gospel is the net and can still be used today.  If we lift Him up to the world see a loving sacrificial savior, then He will draw all men. If you use the cross to draw them, then the cross with keep them. 

So let us be laborers together and work for Him.  Followers of Christ make followers of Christ.  Go ye into ALL the world.   If each one could reach one.  The church would double tomorrow.

But dear friend, if you have never accepted Christ as your Savior, you need to do so today.  Now is the accepted time, for whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.  For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever shall believes in Him shall not perished but have eternal life.

God Bless you,

RevDanSam

Something I will never forget

1985 was an interesting year in my life.  I was on Bible College at night, preaching on our local radio station on Sundays and very active in my home church, while holding a 40 hour a week job at an electronics company.  Our church had a grown to a 300 member church and my Pastor wanted to take us to another level spiritually.  "Campmeeting"  Some churches and Pastors had met in the North Atlanta area had gotten together to form a large co-operative choir and booked local pastors and evangelist.  The newness was great.  The worship in singing, shouting and sharing was great.

The church where we had the actual meeting was in Norcross Georgia.  It was a little less than one mile from my office where I worked.  And for a week and half I was able to take my lunch hour during  the day services, for we had day and night services.  And I was able to experience that each day at lunch time, something that I would never forget.

There was a sweetness about those morning services.  Some days I would come in and there was hard preaching going on and another time I came in there was testifying and worshipping going on in the services. Like I said before, just another level of spiritual worship.  For we had revivals, and they were good, we had mission conferences and they were good.  But the camp meeting worship was another level.

I met people that year that have been friends for life since that time and now I still worship with them.  That meeting in 1985 ran it's course and a couple of years later we had our own camp meeting which became an annual event for us and many years to come.  But I will never forget that year that I got to go to church, that is, go to camp meeting during my lunch time.

But dear friend, God may be speaking to you.  Do you hear Him while He is calling you?? Accepting Him today, in you heart, will be a something that you will never forget.  Call on Him today, trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, for whosoever shall call on the name of Lord shall be saved.

God Bless you and have a great day,

RevDanSam

What a connection

A few years ago, I had an opportunity to conduct a prayer service at an assisted living home for the elderly.  It was nothing new to me for I have been there and done that before.  The first place that I was called to was a local convalescent home in my home town. There was only one at that time and now there are several in the area.  This was a new one and they wanted a mid-week service.  So Kathy and I went, she played the piano and I led singing and preached. (preaching, praying, singing, shouting)  :-) 

One couple that was there heard me talk about my first bible.  It was given to me from one of my Mother’s co-worker, Mrs. Whittmire.   A red cover bible and she put my name in it and the date that she gave it to me in 1973.  Also, she wrote on the cover Proverbs 3:6.  Hand written Beautifully,  she wrote out the whole verse.  Proverbs 3:5-6 would become my Life’s verse and would be the first verses that I taught my son.

But, this couple whom I was preaching to was friends with my Mom’s co-worker, and had known her for very long time.  And it was no surprise to them and he shared with me how she was a dear Christian friend and lady.  It was like her good works came full a circle for me.   What a connection!!

I think about this and it puts a smile on my face.  Who but God could make a connection like that?  Perhaps God allowed it for me or maybe to show me that approved what I was doing.  That bible was given to me in 1973, I met that couple in 2009, some forty-six year later that that gift kept on giving. WOW !!

But my friend, Jesus gave his life for you, that you might have life, eternal life, in eternity. First, you have to be saved, born again, accept Jesus Christ in to your heart and ask forgiveness of sins.  Trust in the Lord with all your Heart.  And “ In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct they path”.  That verse was given to me in a bible and I give it now to you. P-R-A-I-S-E   T-H-E   L-O-RD !!

God bless you,

RevDanSam

Unexpected Hand

Isaiah 59:1

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save;
neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened at all, that it cannot save, nor His ear dull with deafness, that it cannot hear.

In my last blog post, I talked about my son holding my hand to have prayer time, of which was an unexpected blessing, see “ train up a child” blog.  But a similar thing happened many years ago when he was a very young child.  We were out in a field flying a kite.  Then when we were done we started to walk home across the field.  The grass was a little high, not for me, but it was for him.  And as we walked through the grass I felt him grabbed my hand.  For he needed me to help him walk through the roughness of the grass.  He didn’t say anything; he just grabbed hold of my hand.  It was unexpected but I was glad to help him and it felt good.

On the day that  he re-started his prayer time with me and grabbed my hand for prayer it was unexpected and a blessing, but as I thought about this at work God moved and touched my heart. I work in a shared office where I am in one corner and my co-worker is in the other.  He’s on the phone and I’m on the phone.  But as I thought about my son, I thought about our Heavenly Father. And I wanted Him to hold my hand as I prayed that morning. So I held out my hand to Him and a tear came to my eye. I prayed and called on His name.

Perhaps it was unexpected, but nothing ever surprises God.  And there in the quietness of my shared office I wanted to hold the Lord’s hand as I prayed. And His hand is not short at ALL. Nor is His ear dull with deafness.  And I say praise the Lord and rejoice and do rejoice in Him.

But dear friend, GOD wants you to reach out to HIM.  HE IS THERE. He said call unto me and I will show you great and mighty things, which you don’t know about.  Most of all, He wants you to call on Him for salvation, to be saved, to be born again. He wants you to become a Christian, His child. For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and He shall direct your path.

God Bless you,

RevDanSam

Train up a Child

 

The Bible says our children are our heritage. Many times, they are a blessing or a burden to us.  We have a tendency to say that’s my boy, when they do good and / or say look what YOUR boy done when they do something wrong.  Well, this time, I would like to write is when my son was a blessing. 

For many years, I took my son to school every Monday morning, as I had Mondays off and I worked a four day work week Tuesday through Friday.  So we would climb into my Ford F150 pickup and we would have prayer time while the truck warmed up and before we started out.  I know we did this every week and every year that he was in high school.  I was really inspired to do this from one of our church friends, that said at one of our testimony meetings, that she would have prayer with her daughter in the living room before she carried her daughter to school.  So it was a “my thing” with my son and we would have prayer time and quote a bible verse.  John 3:16, prov3:5-6. John14;6 …etc just to name few verses that I had him to quote and he still knows them today.

Well, my son graduated high school and started an internship with the Siemens corp. in Atlanta, Project Life.  My job changed and I started working Monday through Friday, with the hours of 9-6.  So I am with him in the mornings.  After my wife leaves for work, I check my emails and Twitter account on the computer.  On one particular morning, while I was on the computer, my son grabbed my hand and said Dad let’s have prayer time.  WOW, it took me off guard, I wasn’t expecting it, but he wanted to pray before he started his day. And I thought, well praise the good Lord’s name. The bible says train up a child and he shall NOT depart from his ways.  Boy, did I see that verse become true in our lives.

But dear friend, verses in the bible about salvation are true, you must be born again. You must call on the name of the Lord.  For whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.  Why don’t you call on Him today? 

God Bless you,

RevDanSam

The Next Best Thing

The next BEST thing

My late Pastor (and father-in-law) had a saying that rings in heart and mind to this day.  He would say " the next best thing to getting save is to lead another person to be save !!"  Of course, he was talking about the joys of our salvation.  In the book of Psalms, David would cried to the Lord and prayed "restore unto me the joys of thy salvation." see Psalms 51:12

As my mind goes back to those great services we had in the mid 1980s, we had great singing, shouting, preaching and testimonies. Folks would come to God and get helped, many times it helped us in the pews.  We saw a lot of great conversion, many people getting saved and getting right with the Lord, that we still talked about today.

We had one salvation, that we still talk about today.  One of our christian ladies, would always go to the altar to pray for her husband to be saved every Sunday night.  It was an expectant thing and we were with her. Well, her husband came to church and was gloriously saved !!  (and made a preacher too!!) But it was just one more of those times when my pastor said "seeing someone get saved is the NEXT BEST thing to getting saved !! And I Amen, Glory to God and Hallelujah !!!

Actually, my last blog, the Lift we need, when I lead a young man to the Lord, while on the telephone at my kitchen table. It gave me a lift, love and joy that I needed and reminded ME of the next best thing.  ;-)

But dear friend, you must be born again, born from above, see John chapter 3 in the bible, the great bible chapter and explanation on the new birth. Eyes have not seen nor has ears all heard of the things that God has for us. But first, accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, accept Him into heart and then you will enjoy the BEST thing.

For God so love the world to He gave his only begotten son, THAT, whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.  PTL !!

God Bless you,

RevDanSam


ps. I just read this blog aloud to my wife and it brought tears to our eyes thninking about our pastor and her Dad, PTL !!

The LIFT we need

The other day, I asked the Lord to help me.  Sometimes, I get a little weary working eight hours a day on my secular job, of which, I am very thankful to have to provide for my family.  But I needed a LIFT from Him.  I pondered the thought, finished my day and went home.

Many of you, may remember in my past blogs, where many times God speaks to me while I am in my old Ford pickup truck, (F150 2003 J )  That quiet time that I have when going to and from work, usually about 20 minutes.  Well, He spoke to me again this day while on the way home. 

My mind went back during the mid 90’s.  It was a Sunday morning and I just came back from the local radio station preaching live on the air.  I came into the house and my wife called out my name “Daniel”.  I knew that tone and that sound meant something was up. She said someone on the telephone for you !!,  And it was a young man that heard the radio broadcast. He had called the radio station but I had already left and they gave him my home phone number.  But there in my kitchen at the table I lead that young man to the LORD. He prayed and I prayed and we rejoiced.  I was so excited I forgot to get his contact information, but I believe I will see him in heaven one day.  And ALL those I had a part in leading them to Christ.

It was a great memory and definitely the LIFT I needed.  It put a new spring in my step and joy in my heart. (and I was completely sober and had no drugs J )  I came in the house from work and verified the story with my wife then we went out for supper.

But dear friend, the lift you need now is from Him.  If you’re lost, He can save you!! If you are sad, He can make you glad !!  The bible says “trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean NOT on the own understanding, in ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He SHALL direct your path !!  and whosoever shall call on the NAME of the LORD shall be saved !!

God Bless you, Sharing my LIFT from the LORD.

Revdansam

That will never happen

"That will never happen"

We have had a lot of rain this summer in North Georgia.  It was a very wet July and now August, than we have seen in a long time.  More than I can remember in my life time.  A co-worker came into the office the other day and said, "it gonna rain forty days and forty nights".  And I said something very quick without hesitation, "that will never happen !!".

Well, I was referring to God's promise of the rainbow in the bible story of Noah's Ark. Where it rain forty days and forty nights on the earth. To me, obviously, my co-worker was too.  But my christian belief really came out vocally and I said that will never happen.  He said "don't be so sure", but friend I can be sure !!

You see, I believe God and I believe the bible. And when God said in Genesis Chapter 9, He made a promise, for perpetual generations, that is for future generations, I just believe it, really that's settled weather I better it or not.  A rainbow has it's scientific reasons why it's there and why it happens, but to me, It proves there's a GOD!! But think about it, it's not man made, though one can try, it appears out of the blue, the colors it makes and it's a thing of beauty.  God said that's MY SIGN, this is what I will show, to let you know, I will never destroy the earth with rain again.  It's my sign, an eternal sign for YOU !! And I say praise the Lord for that.

But dear friend, God has also given you another promise, for whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD, shall be saved.  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, acknowledge him in all your ways and HE SHALL DIRECT YOUR PATH.

May God Bless you, have a great day,

RevDanSam

A blog extra

A blog extra the Christian  song: "Near the cross"

From Frances J. Crosby (the blind song writer, she knew Him)

1. Jesus, keep me near the cross,
   There a precious fountain—
   Free to all, a healing stream—
   Flows from Calv’ry’s mountain.
   
   • Refrain:
     In the cross, in the cross,
     Be my glory ever;
     Till my raptured soul shall find
     Rest beyond the river.
2. Near the cross, a trembling soul,
   Love and Mercy found me;
   There the bright and morning star
   Sheds its beams around me.
3. Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
   Bring its scenes before me;
   Help me walk from day to day,
   With its shadows o’er me.
4. Near the cross I’ll watch and wait
   Hoping, trusting ever,
   Till I reach the golden strand,
   Refrain:
   In the cross, in the cross,
   Be my glory ever;
   Till my raptured soul shall find
   Rest beyond the river.Just beyond the river.

God Bless you friend, this song blessed my heart today, my Brother in Christ mentioned Heb.10 19  Therefore, brothers, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus,
then v.22 says "let us draw near" and then this song came to my heart and mind.

God bless you,

RevDanSam

The bird and the breeze

The bird and the breeze

A few months ago life happened and my family could not be in two places at one time and it was Sunday.  Well I wanted my family to meet with the Lord, on the Lord's Day, so we had church in our living room before we headed out for the day.  I thought, well I am a preacher and my wife plays the piano, well we could have church at home today, I mean today, one day, this day only !! :-)

I read some scriptures and read a story from our daily bread, then we sung and had testimonies.  Wow, testifying in church is one thing but only with your family is another thing.  We were all touched by my wife, son and my testimony. We prayed and closed out the service and went our way.  I had to stop for gas for my car and while I was out pumping the gas a little bird flew by and landed on a telephone pole near me and I could hear him chirping. He was just singing away !!  And God spoke to my heart and mind, don't worry, it will be all right.  He did not wait nor wavier, he did what he could and chirped away.  And it was a blessing to me. I believe God sent the bird there at that moment.

Then one morning, while I was on my way to work.  I had  prayer time with God.  And I prayed about the usual things, faith, family and finances.  In that 20 minute time, me and Jesus had our own thing going !!  I pulled into the parking lot and as I open the door to grab my lunch bag, a cool gentle breeze blew by me.  God spoke to me again, it's Him.  The breeze let me know that everything was going to be all right. I believe God sent the breeze at that moment.

God using the birds and  breezes are nothing new to Him.  There many stories in the Bible.  Noah's bird, David's birds in the Psalms and Peter's bird in the gospels.  And breezes or wind, are lessons in OT and in John chapter 3.  He uses the birds and the breeze. 

The birds, are type of angels, that fly around doing the will of God.  No home to rest, totally trusting in God for provisions and protection. (see Matthew 6) Yet his eye is on the sparrow, . . . and I know He watches me. The breeze / wind speaks of his power and leading.  It's all in the book (bible)

But dear friend, praise be to his name, you can be saved, be born again, please, call on Him today. He will save you.  God is not willing that any should perish, but have eternal life.

May God bless you,
Rev DanSam

First things first

I try to not get to preachy in my blogs, but it's a fire burning in me.  In my daily devotions and Saturday readings, I came across a thought that was a great reminder to me and I would like to share it with you today.  "FIRST THINGS FIRST" 

Give the first moments of the day to the Lord. When you begin your day with God you allow Him to set the tone for the rest of the day. Someone has wisely stated, “If you don’t allow God to set the tone for your day, someone else will do it for you.”

Give the first day of the week to God. Sunday should be a time of worship and devotion to God and His house. Make it a priority to attend church and see if it doesn’t change the rest of your week.

Give your first fruits of your financial gain or receiving. It might determine how you are blessed again.  One preacher said you get to give, to get again to give again.  And only you can break that cycle when you become to greedy or lack of faith.

But what a great direction or path for your life.  Seek ye first Him. Give Him the first place.  Give Him first place in your faith, family and finances, also your time, talent and treasures.  :-)

It is easier said than done, but if you commit to Him, He will help you, He will lead you and guide you. I had not thought about this for a long time and now in my early mid 50s I want to focus on these things for me and my family.  Pray for us !!

But first and as always, you must be saved, you must be born again, accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  Call on Him while He is near. Jesus is just a pray away.  Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart.  Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house !!

GOD BLESS YOU FRIEND,

RevDanSam

He wants the whole house

 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Eph 5:18
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Gal 5;16

I was wanting to hear from God this week as  He leads me to write my blog post.  And wow !! Did He speak to me today.  A preacher friend of mine has a daily devotional that talked about D.L Moody, a famous preacher from yester-year and this is where God spoke to heart and mind.

When you get saved, you get ALL of the Holy Spirit.  And as you yield to Him, He fills you. It very similar to getting a new house.  The whole house is yours. And as you go into the house, you open doors to all the rooms and you fill the house.  But what happens in so many believers life is even though we have all of Him, He does not have all of us. There are many of us who keep the door close to rooms and we do not want to fill it.  We say yes to many rooms in the house but we have other rooms He cannot fill.  But as we grow in grace and knowledge of Him, we allow Him to go in and fill many more rooms.  We say YES to Him in our Intellect, emotions and will, then He fills.  And beware, he will not fill nor use a dirty vessel / cup, but that's another blog some day.  :-)

As you yield, He fills and He wants all of you, where you can serve, speak and shout.  All of which needs to be through the power of the Holy Spirit.  It will change your life.

But first friend you must be saved, be born again.  Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

God Bless you,

RevDanSam

(I may add more tonight)

The Ride

THE RIDE

Many years ago, I was a Bi-vocational Pastor, meaning I had a regular secular job, to pay the bills, and I was Pastor of a small Baptist church.  (I could handle it better then, I was younger, in my early thirties) but I was a field service engineer working on computers traveling in my car to my service my customers.  One particular day, I was going to Blairsville Georgia from my home.  I had gone there several times and I took my familiar route, Ga. Hwy. 20 to 575 which turned into 515 to Blairsville.  Well, I got on the four lane road as I went my usual way and I decided I would pray for all the bi-vocational pastors that I knew, for I knew it very hard on a man with a family to have a regular job and pastor a church.  And men’s names and faces started coming  to my mind. One was a truck driver, another was a carpenter, another was a factory worker and others came to mind.  I was driving, but praying and calling their names out to the Lord.  Then, . .  the Spirit of the Lord filled that car.  A 1989 green Altima, became holy ground.  I was crying tears and calling on God.  The windows fogged up and I became very emotional in a happy way while driving up those mountains and hills on that road.  When I calmed down a little I did what any preacher might do, I called my wife, I wanted to share the experience with her.  Well, she was at her office at her school working away and people coming in and out.  I called her on the phone and I said, “Glory to God, He’s filled I car and I am shouting and crying!!”  I guess it was one of those, you had to be there moments,  but she said quietly, “well that’s good honey, just don’t wreck the car !!”

I would go that way many times, but I never had that same experience again.  I tried to pray and quote bible scriptures to myself, but it was never again like that day of the ride, when God through the spirit came into that car with me.

I think back on it and perhaps those preachers needed my prayers that day, maybe I was doing the right thing at the right time  and God smiled on me through the presence  of the Holy Spirit.  I will never forget it!! There was a trueness and holiness that I felt and I was glad that I was there with Him.

But dear friend, to get that close to Him you must first be saved, born again.  You must first accept Jesus into your heart .  Proverbs 3:5 says trust in Him will ALL your heart and do not lean on your understanding.  For with the heart man believes and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Brethren, please pray us.

RevDanSam