Give your heart to Jesus

Give your heart to Jesus

Trust in the LORD with ALL you heart, and lean not on your own understanding" prov 3:5

Well, many preachers and churches this week,  will no doubt have the sermon or theme “Give your Heart to Jesus”, and why not, love is in many people's heart and mind this week, why not go with it to drive home the point, that ALL need to accept Jesus into their heart as Lord and Savior, and we should use this as an evangelistic tool.  

I gave my heart to Jesus because of  my past, present and future.  Allow me to explain and I hope it’s a blessing.  For in the past, before salvation, I was lost and on my way to the dreadful place called Hell. I was without a hope and without God and His son.   The Apostle Paul said it best in New Test in the book of Ephesians chapter 2,   And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, ² in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, ³ among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. My past, before salvation was an awful condition to be apart of in life.  I needed to be saved.

So I'm glad I gave my heart to Jesus and it has help me in the present.  You see, I got saved, I became a child of God and my past sins are forgiven. PTL !!  For this present time I need a Lord, with laws to live by and his happiness in my life.  For the LORD is my shepherd and He leads me in my life.  He leads me in the scriptures, praise his name,  He leads me in service, doing the Lord’s will and his work.  Then in many situations, He leads me, so I gave my heart to Him, and He helps me in the Present. :-) 

Not only did I give my heart to Jesus because of my past and for my present, but also for the future.  David said "that I may dwell in the house of the Lord for ever"  Now I thought that meant going to church, God’s House, and I lived with that thought and enjoyed that thought because it’s great to go to God’s house on Sunday, the first day of the week, to worship the Lord, to fellowship with the saints, sing and rejoice.   But I read in F.B Myers book on Psalms 23, where it says “that I may dwell in the House of the Lord for ever, and this means Heaven. For in my Father’s House are many mansions and Jesus said, I go to prepare a place for you and If I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there you will be also. PTL!!

SO, dear friend, I’m glad I gave my heart to Jesus, But friend, will you ??  Jesus is the best thing that has ever happened to me.  And today this the accept time, today is the day of salvation, for whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord Shall be saved, with the heart, man believes unto salvation.  Please, call on Him today.

God Bless you,

RevDanSam

White as SNOW

Isaiah 1:18

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

 

While I was in Bible College, I took a course studying the Greek language.  (In a humorus way, I heard a preacher say that he knew a little Greek, and  . . . he was about four foot high :-)   . . . ha ha right??  Anyway, this course that was required for my Master's degree.  There are many reasons for studying the original language and I appreciate what I learned and it has helped me and it made God's word very enjoyable to me.  I love looking up the original Greek word in a verse and finding the English meaning.  Everybody may not have a chance to do this, but it will help you weed out the good and bad translations that are out there for money gain and rather than to help you understand the bible,  but that's another blog subject someday.  :-)

 

It was in this class where I remembered this thought and verse, although , it's in the Hebrew language being the Old Testament, the same applies.  Sometimes, as a preacher, teacher and student of the bible, you have to translate words for understanding.  Here in Isaiah 1:18, it mentions the word "snow" or "white as snow".  There are some in the world who have never seen snow or even know what it is, and you would need to translate white as snow as maybe white as ivory, or the white elephant's tusk, to understand that verse of scripture.

 

Well, it has snowed here in North Georgia this week and I thought about the scriptures in Isaiah 1:18. How our sins can be made "white as snow"  and as I look out my window and see the beauty of the clean and white snow, I have a word picture and greater understanding of how clean God has washed away our sins.  In His eyes, He sees us, through the sacrificial shed blood of Jesus, it has made us white as snow, and we are declared righteous without sin as we stand before God. (and that's big stuff  with God) and it should be big to you. Hebrews 9 tells ²⁷ And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. And friend are you ready ??  Are you ready to stand before God at the judgment??  

 

Well you can be ready.  God has provided a way, THE WAY !!  Jesus said in John 14, I am the way, the truth and the life. No man can come to the Father (the heavenly father) but through Him, Jesus.

 

So the natural snow we see reminds us of the spiritual truth, that God can wash us as white as snow.

 

God Bless you Friend,

RevDanSam

(regenerated, redeemed, righteous)

 

 

 

  

Time to sale some cows

I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.  For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. Psalms 50:9-10

Time to sale some cows

I was reminded of this story that I heard many years ago from a church bus driver and worker at my home church in the mid 1980s and I would like to share it with you today.

A preacher in Chicago whose church was near a railroad and livestock yard was in prayer for his church finances.  A very common thing in the day was the delivery of cattle on the trains and the sales of them at the stock yard.  As he prayed and had his morning devotional from the scriptures, he came across the scriptures in Psalms 50 where the LORD says the cattle upon a thousand hills are mine. Having seen the sales of cows a very common thing and with the bible scriptures in mind. The preacher prayed a prayer "Lord, it's time to sale some cows".

Well later on, the preacher was at his church and heard a knock on the door. He saw a Texas style looking man with cowboy hat, business coat with jeans and boots.  He said I just had a big sale at the stock yards today and the Lord told me to find a church to give a donation to and before I head home I want to give a donation to your church from the sale of the cows.

You may ask,"could it be real ?? could it be true?? I say just try God !!

Paul said, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). God knows our needs, and He knows how to meet those needs. If you have a need today, call upon Jehovah-Jireh, and expect a cow or two to show up somewhere in your life!

But first friend, you must be born again, call on the name of the Lord for salvation.  The call of salvation will come first, and sometimes, the Lord will answer a prayer to get your attention. But that's His business. As the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart, you should answer the call. For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved, with the heart, man believes and with mouth confession is made.

God Bless you,
RevDanSam

The Super Bowl - we've become our children

Well, it's Super Bowl weekend.  Nobody enjoy sports no better than I do and I try to keep it in it's place, "It's just a GAME"  But we all enjoy it when our team wins. We enjoy winners.  I always pull for the home team, in my state and in my city where I live.  I have conference pride (SEC) and I pull for teams that I have connections with people, family and friends. But that's just me.

But even at the Pro level of sports, we have become our children.  Let me explain myself.  For many years, we attended my son's high school football games.  Every Friday night either home or away.  I actually enjoyed the away game better, there seem to be a togetherness and more interest in the game.  But I may be getting ahead of my self here. 

The home games were different.  And if it was winning season or losing season, it was a more about a social event in the stands than the game on the field.  Especially with the kids and some adults.  Fast forward to the College Level and tailgating.  It's all about the tailgate party more than the actual game. And I have found these fans are more critical and get very angry at a lost. Not good fans.

Then we come to the Pro Level and we have become our children or is there really a change??  We meet to socialize and have a Super bowl party.  Never mind the game.  There's pre-game activities, the Big Half time show, the commercials and post game analyzes.  More eating, drinking  and laughing than looking at the game.

Do you see the pattern ??  At every level, it's all the same. But I am not complaining here, just making a  social observation that seems a bit negative. To each his own, I say, I like the game. but I like the hot dogs and burgers too.  We have a family tailgate party in the living room next to the big screen TV on Saturday College football game.  We like the late game, the noon game is early for us , 4:00pm game is alright, but we like the 7:00pm game.  Burgers, chips, dips, wings and diet cherry cola. :-)

The bible says But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  If you are looking for Him, realize, that He's actually looking for you. And trust in the Lord with all your heart and He shall direct your path. Call on Him today.

So Let's keep the games in it's proper perspective.

God Bless you,
RevDanSam

(ps. go Denver, just pulling for Peyton Manning) :-D

The Radio Station

One Saturday morning, I woke up early to carry my son to meet one of his train club members for a model train show.  It was still dark as we drove down Highway 9 by the old radio station. It had closed down many years ago and I thought that it might be a point of interest for my son.  So I mentioned it to him,"there's the old radio station" and he said I know, we use to drop off tapes there for our church broadcast.  And then my mind went back . . . yester-year . . .

It was a small 10,000 watt day light radio station, meaning it could only broadcast from sun up to sun down. It was not really a full time gospel / religious station, but they played Southern Gospel a lot.  The morning show was gospel music and programming.  As a young preacher boy, I thought it was a great thing when I was asked to preach the morning devotional program.  But they had Southern gospel music in the mornings, then country music in the afternoon and in the evening "Supper time gospel" until sun down or the end of the day.  In the summertime they ran 6am to 9pm.  Just great memories.

But as my mind went back I immediately thought about the different times and the different days that I had been there through out my young Christan life.  First, I thought about our youth group singing at the radio station.  Usually on a Sunday afternoon, we would crowd into the small radio program area which had an out of tune piano that someone or a church had donated and we sang loud for the glory of God.  Giggles and laughter was going on with "SSSHH" we are going on the air !! All turn serious and we sung as best we could.  (I still smile thinking about it)

Then a couple of preacher friends of mine bought some time and had a weekly Sunday program.  We would have 5 to 6 preachers a Sunday there, hoping that one of the preachers would yield his time to us preacher boys.  Later we would have two 30 minute broadcasts from 3pm to 4 pm.  And we had enough preachers to support both Sunday broadcasts.  (it was a great time)

Then I went on my own, and had a weekly 15 minute program. One was at 4:15pm and then later at 5:15pm, the most wanted time among preachers, 5:15 pm, it was right after the obituary report and when it had its highest listener ship.  :-)  (many still say to this day we heard you back then)

Finally, I wanted to promote the church that I pastor, and I had a 15 minute weekly Sunday morning at 8:15am. And that's where my son remembered dropping off a tape at the radio station for our weekly church program and then going to church. 

It was great happy times for me and I was glad that in midst of it all, I was serving the Lord.  I know my Lord keeps a record.  And I count it a real joy knowing God would take that radio signal and deliver it to a soul or a someone that needed help /  a message from Him.

God bless you friend, maybe this is a message for you ?? You MUST be born again (see john 3) or God is calling you to promote and proclaim the Gospel of Christ, if so, or in either case "Hear ye Him !!"

Brethren, pray for us,

RevDavSam

The servants knew

When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) John 2:9

The other day, I realized that I had not done a blog post in a couple of weeks.  I wondered what was going with God or what was going on with me ??  No spiritual life lessons, no movement from Him, I noticed,  and no Ford pickup experiences, which is the usual for me.  A cold dim sadness had crept in unaware to me.  Life has a way of doing this, the secular life of work and making a living.  Also, the family, where I am a Husband to my wife and a Father to my son, of which, I am very thankful.
But I needed to hear from God !!  So before going to sleep, as my wife had already crashed for the night, as she has to wake up earlier than I do, I reached for the bible to hear from the Lord.  My hands seem to turn the pages of the large print New Testament bible, of which I needed the reading glasses anyway, and I came to John chapter 2.

Really I wanted to re-read how Jesus was there for the marriage in Cana of Galilee, showing His approval of a husband & wife marriage, even in that day. And then . . . the words jumped right at me, "the servants  . . . knew"  WOW, talk about been there done that !!  Not that I have seen water turned into wine (grape juice) but what the servants saw and experienced.   You see they started with water and it became wine.  The servants knew !!

It's just like the Lord to take the normal and change it into something great. He changed the water into wine !!  The servants brought water pots (jars) which was not exactly a super task, perhaps boring and trivial, but then "He changed the water into wine" and the servants knew it !!
I love it when the Lord takes the little things and make a big thing out of it.  To take a common thing and make a big thing out of it.  Praise the Lord, the servants knew !! and saw what had happened.
I want to be there when the Lord takes the common and makes it big.  That's Him, that's how He works.  May we learn from the great miracle of the turning the water into wine (grape juice) :-)
There's the lesson for the servants and for those who were in need which He provided for them.
There are indeed, many lessons here, but for me, it blessed me to realize "the servants knew"

But dear friend, you can know Him too.  And that is to be saved, be born again, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, for whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved !!
For with the Heart men believes unto salvation, PTL !!

(see 1John, these things were written that you might know) PTL !!

God Bless you,
RevDanSam

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.

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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