Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot - yes, a new branch bearing fruit from the old
root...in that day the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations
will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place. Isaiah 11:1,10
The Savior - yes, the Messiah, the Lord - has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!
And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly
in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others - the armies of heaven - praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is please.”…
The shepherds hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the
manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to
them about this child. All who herd the Shepherds’ story wee astonished, but Mary kept all these things in
her heart and thought about them often. Luke 2:11-19
GOD IS NOT A SHOPPING CART
By: J.R. Dalton
The other day I was Christmas
shopping at a well known big box
store. The weather was 51 degrees
and not a snow cloud in the sky. I
thank Jesus for this beautiful Sunday
morning and the word my Pastor
preached at the altar, the meeting
place with God. You see, I feel you
can’t give someone something that
you don’t have, spiritually or
physically. I can’t speak for you, but
my house shall be a house of prayer.
In my Bible, Elijah calls on God; I
know that the fire of God falls on a
praying church. Darkness in the
‘hood’, hell is on high alert. Chains
and bondage need broken today,
starting out fresh and on fire for
Jesus Christ. Praise Him!
attitudes. It was all about me-me-me, fighting for a shopping cart.
Recently, I witnessed to a married
couple who claim to be Christians
but did not attend a church and
asked what I thought about it. I
said, “You need a church to praise
and worship. The church is a
hospital for all of us. You could save
souls, change lives, meet new
friends in Christ. Also, you’re
married and you can stay married
and never come home at night to
see one another. God wants all of
you! 24-7.” They had never heard
that and today attend a small
church on Indy’s Westside. Praise
God!
I am not one to weekly attend shopping centers or malls. I felt like a
fish out of water. Oh my! I was instantly in sticker shock as I looked
at the prices of produce, meat, canned goods, bread and I had not even
seen the toy department yet! I never heard one Christmas song played
while I shopped. The employees were rude and hateful because they
had to work. The cheerful spirit of God was dead; like walking in to a
beautiful brick and mortar church that is dead. Spiritually God was
never there, or if he was, he has left.
Boy, I am excited. I have cash on
me and I am about to enter the
store. I know visa is not my friend.
As I enter, I noticed that someone at
the store had put all the shopping
cards in backwards and no one
could pull theirs apart, with handles
at the opposite end. I waited
patiently as a sheriff separated them
one by one. People were thick with
My prayers quickly are answered as I turn the corner in the store and
see a brother and sister from church with their beautiful children.
They understand my heart and quickly pray for me in the store. Praise
God! He is an on time God, show up now God and show off. Save
America today! We all need you now!
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I prayed with tears in my eyes as I was pushing my old shopping cart
down the aisle. It’s times such as this that I miss my mom, during the
holidays. That is why it’s a different kind of Christmas this year for my
family. No laughter in our souls like there used to be. Do kids even
write letters to Santa Claus any more? “Oh my God, how we need you?
You have been kicked to the curb. No one has room for you Jesus. The
toys in the store as I shop are more important, sorry God.”
I feel the greatest gift this holiday season I can give anyone is the gift of
Prayer, not a gift box at a store that was made in China. I am talking
about salvation, eternal life after death. Death is not an option. We all
die. I am preaching the message to myself, looking in a mirror. I
remember putting myself in front of God. I am caught up in a driving
ambition in a business where everything had to be
done yesterday. I was successful and very, very
empty inside. God in my head, not in my heart. I was
so busy that I lost all my spirituality. I never thought
about God. I had forgotten how to pray.
That day I saw many, many, young and old Dalton’s
in the store and I pushed my shopping cart to the
truck in the parking lot. “I am sorry God for my
behavior, please forgive me this Christmas as I
celebrate the birth of your son, Jesus Christ.” May this
sound like you—there is HOPE - his name is Jesus
Christ.
I was very thankful that I had a 30% coupon, rewards,
“cold” cash as I pushed my shopping cart closer to
the return bin in the parking lot. Smiling like a little
kid as I blessed a family less fortunate than myself.
I watched the people return their shopping carts and
I was the only one that returned it to the correct spot
in the lot. This is just how people today treat God;
they only call on him when they need him: family
issues, financial difficulties, loss of a child, health
problems, etc. Second and third chances in life and
still never praise God or serve.
This might be the last day of your life. We never
know. The Bible says that, “Today is the accepted
time, today is the day of salvation.” God says I will
not always strive with man, there comes a time when
it is too late. The only way you can come to Christ is
with the Holy Spirit helping you to come.
My Christmas gift to you is that I am asking you to
come to Christ today. This may be the last
opportunity you will have.
A Simple prayer — “I want Jesus in my heart and I’m
going to do my best to repent of my sins and follow
and serve you till death. Amen”
Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday!
J.R. Dalton
Matthew 19:26—With God, all things are possible.
THANKSGIVING UPDATE
This picture tells the story of Thanksgiving at the
Pantry. Literally hundreds of volunteers showed
up on the morning of Saturday, November 21 to
share the love of Christ with those in need.
The first person in line arrived at 3:00 am. Pause
and think about that - people were standing in line
at 3:00 in the morning waiting for their
Thanksgiving meal. How blessed you are!
That one day alone, we served close to 700
families! Praise God that each family received a
turkey and all of the Thanksgiving day food
needed. We are abundantly blessed and we are
grateful that we can share that blessing with those
in need.
Thank you to each one who played a part in
making this day successful; volunteers, those who
donated money, those who prayed for us. With
God, all things are possible!
YEAR END GIVING
As 2015 draws to an end, please consider making
a year end donation to Dalton’s Food Pantry.
This year we have been blessed in so many ways,
first and foremost giving God the glory but we
also couldn’t have done it without your love and
financial support. The Dalton’s Food Pantry
ministry and it’s subsidiary ministries are fully
funded by individuals like you. Anything you
donate is fully tax deductible. Giving is easy:
send a check to 3326 W. 10th Street,
Indianapolis, IN 46222, PayPal through our
website www.daltonsfoodpantry.com or call the
office to make a credit card donation,
317-955-2581.
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God Bless you for all your love and
support of Dalton’s Food Pantry! We are
blessed abundantly and beyond
measure.
On behalf of my family, my employees
and my ministries, Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year!
J.R. Dalton
DA LT O N ’ S F O O D PA N T RY
3 3 2 6 W. 10 T H S T R E E T
I N D I A NA P O L I S , I N 4 6 2 2 2
WWW.DALTONSFOODPANTRY.COM
317.955.2581
[email protected]
What have you done for GOD today?
317.513.2613