DANIEL & MIINOR PROPHETS

It is Sunday morning, and there is ice on the ground.  We will not be able to run the buses, and we will see how it affects people driving in for church.  Tonight is our Christmas program.  Last year at this time, we had snow, and we could not have our Christmas program until January 14th!  Let us pray for a better season of weather. I'm reading in the Minor Prophets, and I'm starting with Daniel which is the last book in the Major Prophets.  They are not minor in importance, but in length.  Here are some great thoughts: 1) HE IS ABLE-  When confronted by the fiery furnace, the three Hebrew children responded to the King in Chapter 3, verse 17:  "...our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thy hand, O king:"  Never question God's ability.  What He chooses to do is up to Him, but He always has the ability to do whatever He pleases.  They go on to say:  "But if not.....we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."  They were confident in God's ability, and willingness to deliver, but even if God chose not to deliver, they were not going to bow down to some dumb idol or image of the king!  God is able, but if He chooses not to deliver.... will your faith be just as strong?  When faced with an impossible situation, remember this:  God will deliver; or, God will grant grace to go through the situation!  We are all going to die one day, but however God chooses to take us home to Heaven, let us have grace to go home happy and trusting in Him. 2) SHINE LIKE THE STARS FOREVER!  Daniel 12:3  "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."  Turning many to rightiousness is soul-winning!  Sharing the Gospel and seeing many people trust Christ as their Savior.  This year I have had the joy of praying with 3,550 people in America, Philippines, Africa, and India.  It has been a joy to see people come to Jesus Christ.  Those are the ones I personally prayed with.  I have been going soul winning ever since my father took me to visitation when I was just 12 or 13 years old.  Now I'm 55!  I plan to be sharing my faith in Jesus Christ with others till I cannot stand up anymore, and then I hope to get a wheel chair and tell others until I cannot any more push the wheelchair, and then I hope to get an automatic one and share the Gospel till I have no more voice, and then I hope to get a computer that speaks to share the Gospel or hand out tracts with the help of someone willing.  In other words, I want to go out like I started.... sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and seeing people get saved!!  I hope that is your desire too.  The World has a lot of Christians.... but not a lot of ones who lead others to the Savior.  How about you?  Are you doing your part? Well, I've spent a lot of time on only two points... but they are good points!  Hope you have a blessed Sunday!!  Pastor Mike Mutchler