“Faithful In Prayer”
June 25, 2010
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“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.”
Yesterday we stopped by The Village Farm Market, east of Ephrata Pennsylvania for lunch. As I waited for Brooksyne to bring out our made–to-order ham and cheese subs I sat down at one of the picnic tables under the big roof overhang in front of the store. Two younger “Plain” men who sat at the table right next to me appeared to be carpenters. Without saying a word to each other they bowed their heads for a few moments of silent prayer as is their custom prior to a meal. From an early age they were taught by word and example the practice of giving thanks for the food set before them. Of course I have no idea about other aspects of their spiritual life, but was heartened by this simple act of faithfulness and devotion toward God.
Prayer is a foundational expression of faith. We speak but cannot see the One to whom we speak. We listen, not with our physical sense of hearing, but rather the spiritual inner heart. Jesus says in John 4, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” The effects of our prayers are often not immediate and at times seem ambiguous, at least from our perspective. Bluntly we may wonder if prayer really does any good.
In Colossians 4:2 Paul offers a similar verse to today’s text: “Devote yourselves to prayer.” In fact in the Greek it is the very same phrase. The sense of “devote” implies a strong attachment, allegiance, and affection for someone or something; in this case, prayer and the act of praying. It would include one’s passion, time, and needed resources. One who is devoted is passionate in his commitment and consistency and will not be disloyal, inconsistent, or indifferent. This character description should give us a mental picture of one who is devoted to prayer.
“Faithful” is in the present imperative which denotes that we are to continually, habitually follow this command. It is to be one’s continual way of life (lifestyle). This Scriptural call is not a suggestion but a command to make it our habitual practice. Remember that whatever God commands of us He also provides the grace and empowerment through His Spirit to carry out.
Someone has well said that “Prayer is the breath of the Christian life and almost nothing decays so fast in the fallen human heart as the desire to pray.” In other words, nothing is more vital than prayer in Christian existence, and few things are more vulnerable to neglect. We must come back to it again and again and stoke the fire lest, out of neglect, it becomes nothing more than useless cold embers.
Most Christians will confess the difficulty of maintaining a regular and effective prayer life. The reason is not difficult to discern. If Satan can keep us out of touch with God, he will not have to worry about any trouble we might cause for his evil kingdom.
Believing friend, when we are prayed up our allurement to sin is far less appealing, our spirit is strengthened, and our communion with God becomes the anchor which holds us steady in the daily stresses and major events of our life.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, the clamor for our heart’s devotion comes from many sources and often overpowers the beckoning command from Scripture to devote ourselves daily to prayer. As we are faithful in prayer we have power to overcome the enemy and intensify our love and devotion to You. We know that prayer is not optional for the believer, but an ordinance from the Bible. You who created us knows what will sustain us and keep us from falling into the hands of our enemy. Help us to be faithful in prayer so that we will be also be joyful in hope and patient in affliction. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Yesterday Tom, a longtime friend from northern PA, commented on the message “Patient in Affliction” and suggested reading Psalm 66. I note verses 10-12 are especially pertinent to the topic.
I was visiting some men in a factory in the course of our chaplain work yesterday and noticed this scene outside of one of the shipping docks. I suppose this is not a common sight for too many of our readers where they work!
The wheat is cut and then stacked in shocks to dry. It will be gathered and the grain will be removed with a thresher (see photo). I spoke to my friend Elvin, a member of an old order group yesterday, and he told me that the children will help in pitching up the wheat onto the wagons. That would be a great photo!
This farmer had five of his children on the wagon.
Notice the little girls with their bonnets!
We had a thunderstorm yesterday afternoon and this farmer managed to get his freshly baled alfalfa into the barn just in time!
We stopped by a friend’s house for a visit late yesterday afternoon and Daniel invited me to sit up on his cart. It was a pleasurable sight to watch him riding along on his cart as he was delivering some plants to neighbors. I thought you’d get a sense of how miniature the horse is if I sat on the cart. Some dog breeds are bigger than these horses.
Today’s Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
Click on the link to open and play.
(In some cases you may also need to click again to start the song.)
“I Must Tell Jesus” Video Mark Jones and the Cornerstone Church Choir. We are both greatly blessed by this hymn and this particular version. The soloist sings with such earnest expression. A line in this hymn has often spoken to my heart and is so needed today:
O how my heart is tempted to sin,
I must tell Jesus, and He will help me
Over the world the vic’-t’ry to win.
“I Need Thee Every Hour” Video Selah (Includes an eclectic mix)
“Sweet Hour Of Prayer” Video George Beverly Shea
Instrumental version
“Give Me Jesus” Video Fernando Ortega Includes some very touching video clips from the funeral service for Ruth Bell Graham. It shows you the power of prayer in a woman whose life was fully devoted to God.
“Daily Manna”
November 20, 2009
enjoy snuggling up together in front of our coal stove.
Listen to us share this message on your audio player.
“Daily Manna”
“The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan” (Joshua 5:12). “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11).
Periodically we mention our pets, Dottie and Roxie. Our dog Roxie has a bit more colorful petality (pet personality) and thus we tend to tell more stories about her, but today I want to share an observation concerning our cat, Dottie.
When we moved to Pennsylvania in February 2001 we rented an old farmhouse for a year. Ernie, our landlord, did not allow pets (due to pet problems with the previous tenants who ran an illegal dog kennel which caused a lot of trouble for him). However a wild barn cat adopted us and three months later she gave birth to a litter of four kittens in a portion of the old farmhouse known as the “summer kitchen”. When Ernie saw how much Ester liked the kittens he allowed her to keep one, a black and white female she named Dottie. She’s been with us for 8 years now, the longest we’ve ever had a cat.
Dottie has lived in our house until recently. Due to her scratching our good furniture she now spends most of her time in a small barn right next to our house. She seems OK with that as long as we keep her fed and watered. Each morning I call to Roxie, “Let’s go see Dottie” so we go out together and at first the pets rub their furs together and then play a little. Then I pick Dottie up and she’ll happily purr for a few minutes till she’s had enough and then she’s just fine being all alone.
We provide her with an automatic feed dispenser that only needs filled about once a month. Whenever the feed dispenser gets low Dottie seems to be nervous. Even though there is still some feed left in the dispenser she apparently senses that it is running out. She hurriedly meets me at the door, rubs up against me and then walks over and claws at her feed as if to say, “Just in case you don’t realize it, I’m about out of feed.”
When I fill the hopper Dottie watches on intently. In trying to detect the thoughts of a “spiritually” minded cat I believe her joyful meow is declaring, “My dispenser is overflowing. My prayers have finally been answered!”
On a much more serious note, God miraculously provided the manna for the children of Israel in the wilderness for 40 years. At first it was seen as an incredible miracle; a rather fascinating way to receive daily bread and it was quite tasty (Exodus 16).
But over time it became a source of discontent and grumbling (Numbers 11:6). Surely many in the younger generation merely took the manna for granted as they had grown up with this miraculous provision. They had acquired no taste for other varieties of food so they didn’t necessarily realize what they were missing out on. But when our daily text was written the people had crossed over to the Promised Land and were then instructed to eat of provisions from the land. The next morning, for the first time in forty years, the daily provision of manna no longer rained down from heaven.
God provides but not always as we expect. We care about Dottie and we are going to be sure she has food. We may change the brand of cat food or the dispenser which might bewilder or even worry her, but she will be cared for by her caring guardians. God cares infinitely more for us, His children!!!
Consider His care in your life today. Jesus taught us in the Lord’s prayer to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” God is our Provider and desires our dependence on Him as an expression of faith.
Are you worried and upset about a matter? In God’s timing and in accordance with His specific plan for your life He sends manna. At other times He stops and makes other provision. Surely the ceasing of what had become routine was just as mysterious to the people as the initial provision, but God was in control. He still is and He always will be!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we’re reminded of Your absolute faithfulness as we reflect upon the Israelites journeying in the wilderness. Even when they were unfaithful, You in Your unwavering faithfulness, provided for their daily needs. We read the words of the prophet Jeremiah who wrote in Lamentations, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is Thy faithfulness.” And we sing along with the hymn writer, inspired by the words of Jeremiah, who penned these words, “All I have needed thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness Lord unto me.”
Brooksyne’s note: Some of you may wonder why we don’t declaw Dottie. We would have early-on except that we wanted her to be able to play outside and feared for her safety. Several months ago I called a number of veterinarians offices to see if we could possibly do this for her now, but was strongly advised against doing so due to her age. It seems that cats who are older do not respond well to this treatment and they can form bad habits as a result. So we’re thankful for our nice barn where she can have lots of room and as long as she has feed and water she rests peacefully on an old office chair. We do bring her in the house for short periods of time when we are able to keep a close eye on her or when it’s really cold. Some of our readers may be curious as to what our barn looks like.
We regularly receive comments and notes that encourage and reaffirm our calling to this online writing ministry. This morning we received the following email that we thought our readers might enjoy reading as well….. I just had to send another quick thank you to you both for the lovely Fall pics that Brooksyne took and sent in yesterday’s (11/19/09) daily encouragement emailing. I’m looking at my new wallpaper of beautiful Autumn leaves as I type this reply. Even though my health problems keep me inside, those pics allow me to enjoy our Father’s creation once again. I used to love going for hikes in the woods, and those pics bring all the sights and smells back to me. I can almost feel the wind in my face. God bless you both for allowing the Lord to use you to “visit the sick” through these emails, encouraging His Body.
(In some cases you may also need to click again to start the song.)
Today I would like to share some links I discovered in searching for a musical version of the Lord’s prayer.
Here’s a nice selection of Scriptures, background video and music with the Lord’s prayer. Video
A classic, instrumental version of the Lord’s prayer song Video
A new tune Video
A very interesting video of how the Lord’s Prayer would sound in 11th century English. Video This really demonstrates how much language changes!
Finally here’s the Lord’s prayer in Aramaic, the language spoken at the time when Christ dwelt among men. Video
We want to offer these ideas to families and church leaders
to enrich the spiritual impact of the Thanksgiving holiday.
(We’ll be posting these resources through Thanksgiving.)
“Thankful For The Thorns”: A family reading and exercise that is a wonderful way to give a thoughtful focus around your Thankgiving Table (printable webpage) The Thanksgiving celebration includes family coming together along with the turkey and trimmings. Often there’s a lot of food with little meaningful conversation. Why not add some stimulating discussion about the ways God has worked in your life over the past year! Some of you are not in charge and are only visitors at your Thanksgiving gathering, but if it is possible share together around the table the theme of “Thankful for the Thorns” or the questionnaire we’ve provided in the link below. A Thanksgiving family exercise – We have used this questionnaire as a stimulus for discussion among family members in the past. We encourage you to share results around the table at Thanksgiving before or after the meal. (pdf) Perhaps you could just use it as a discussion guide to provide stimulus for other’s reflections.
A Thankgiving prayer: (written by Joe Sherer, a pastor friend of ours and shared as the benediction at our community Thanksgiving Eve service several years ago.) Webpage For those who enjoy written prayers this would be a beautiful prayer to read together at the Thanksgiving table.
A Thanksgiving Scripture reading: A selection of Old and New Testament readings dealing with thankfulness appropriate for church, family and personal readings. (pdf) (Suitable for printing out and copying.)
A Day of Rest in Plimouth Colony: This is a summary of a chapter in the lives of the pilgrims that Brooksyne uses to teach about their Sunday worship. (pdf)
Resources used in Brooksyne’s research on the Pilgrims:
Saints & Strangers By Vision Video
Three Young Pilgrims By Cheryl Harness / Simon & Schuster
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“The Ultimate Harvest Prayer”
September 30, 2009
Large view
Listen to us share this message on your audio player.This week we are sharing a series on the Ultimate Harvest based on Matthew 9:35-38. It’s harvest time here in our area and all around us we see, hear, and at times even smell evidence of the harvest.
“When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field” (Matthew 9:36-38).
Monday and Tuesday of this week we wrote about the first part of today’s Scripture portion where Matthew described Jesus’ response as He looked out upon the crowds. It is Jesus’ example that shows us:
- The ultimate motivation for ministry is that of compassion.
- The ultimate need is people who are “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Then Jesus addressed His disciples. “Then He said to his disciples.” This was a memorable teaching moment that surely impacted them long after He returned to heaven, enough so that Matthew recorded it in the Holy Scriptures. As they sought to fulfill the Great Commission I am sure this challenge often came to mind and was a recurring theme for sermons the disciples preached.
“The harvest is plentiful.” Farmers strive for a good harvest. In seedtime they labor with the goal of having a plentiful harvest. Christ looked out on the vast fields of the human harvest and saw plenty. I feel this is one of those statements that is always true; at the time He said it and ever since. The harvest is always plentiful. Elsewhere Jesus had said, “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (John 4:35).
“But the workers are few.” He had worked with twelve disciples and others, such as the Seventy, who served with Him during His ministry on this earth. Nevertheless He stated “the workers are few.” This is an ongoing condition in the church. Local churches may have specific positions filled, but we realize our inadequacy when we acknowledge that the harvest field is the world.
“Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.” This is the ultimate harvest prayer. The Almighty God of the universe is called “The Lord Of the Harvest”.
1) The harvest prayer is a simple prayer to pray. In fact every reader could memorize it in a few minutes. “Lord of The Harvest, send workers into Your harvest field.” This is a prayer for all ages, from youngest to oldest. Sunday afternoon I spoke at an area nursing home and challenged the elderly residents to pray this prayer. Little children can earnestly pray this as well.
2) The harvest prayer is a simple prayer to understand. Even those far removed from agriculture know that the harvest takes workers. Surely there were more needed in ancient farming practices, but even when using modern farming methods many workers are needed. It may be the worker in a John Deere factory making the equipment. It may be a local farm equipment salesman like my friend Curt, or Lee, who puts the equipment together just prior to delivery. But there’s still work in the fields and scores of farmers are now at work bringing in the harvest. Likewise modern evangelism methods such as the internet have not diminished the need for workers. We still are best touched by one on one witness. As evangelism has been described: One beggar telling another beggar where to get bread.
3) The harvest prayer is a simple prayer to appropriate. Certainly this prayer is not to be prayed in a detached way but rather with a willingness to do our part as a worker in the harvest. The early disciples surely didn’t see this prayer as an excuse for not working in the spiritual harvest fields themselves. Likewise we all have a call to serve in some capacity as a worker. Our failure to do so is not because it is too hard, for God equips those He calls.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: “Lord of The Harvest, send workers into Your harvest field.”
They still use the small bales giving many young men a taste of what real work is! Several years ago I helped Jesse and his dad Eli put up hay although I really didn’t last very long in the blistering heat. Shortly after we moved to Lancaster County in 2001 my friend Galen told me:
“You know, they banned the round bales of hay!”
Perplexed by his statement I asked him why.
He responded, “They said the cattle were no longer getting square meals everyday!”
It took a second for the information to sink into my head that this was a farmer’s joke! I’ve told it many times since to my “uninformed” friends who visit the area.
Today’s Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
Click on the link to open and play.
(In some cases you may also need to click again to start the song.)
“Be Ye Glad” Video Glad
“Abba Father” Video
“Bringing In The Sheaves” Video The Chuck Wagon Gang
I recall trips with our Amish friends Jesse and Anna Ruth. They sing in their home and this is one of the songs the kids just love to sing. As we travel along I often hear them singing it in the back of the van.
“Field Of Souls” Video
“The Harvest” I was unable to find a version of this powerful video to view online but if you can get a hold of it, it will surely touch your heart.
The Harvest, Multiple Language DVD Edition
By Randolf Productions Inc
The season to gather in the crops has arrived, but in the midst of crisis, only a young boy’s prayer can save The Harvest. Based on a true story, this powerful modern-day parable will inspire you to commit your energy and talents to reach the world for Christ—one person at a time. Approx. 17 minutes.
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“Let Us Pray”
May 7, 2009
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
(photo by Doris High)
Listen to us share this message on your audio player.
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Today is the “National Day of Prayer” here in the USA. Our encouragement message goes out to believers in many different countries so we try to write for the spiritual edification of all true believers regardless of where they live. We are unaware of other countries that might have official national days of prayer as we have here in America. However I genuinely believe this is a very important day here in the country where God has providentially ordained that I should live out my life here on this earth.
America is in deep trouble and is in need of genuine repentance. Although there is an active remnant of true believers, the vast majority of our population gives little or no attention to God. Our government and court systems increasingly pass laws and policies that will surely lead to persecution for the believers. Our arts and entertainment industry is a cesspool of immorality. Broken marriages and troubled households abound and in recent years a massive effort is being made to drastically redefine what constitutes marriage. Violence fills the land. Our educational system has been very successful at breaking down the moral constraints. Brooksyne and I see this brokenness first hand in our ministry to the workplace, but it’s evident to anyone who turns on the news or reads a newspaper. I believe one of the greatest evidences of this escalating trouble is spiritual blindness.
I have often pondered the daily verse and committed it to memory many years ago. It will surely be quoted in many prayer services today. It is initially expressed as a condition and promise to Solomon during a time of great personal and national consecration as the temple is being dedicated approximately 3,000 years ago. I believe there is an element to this promise that is unique to Israel as a nation, who as a national people were called by God’s Name.
The phrase “My people” in the daily verse in its initial application applied to these people and this specific land. Thus I feel there is interpretive error when we view our specific country (wherever we live) as God’s land in the same sense as that spoken of in the initial promise. True believers foundationally hold heavenly citizenship (far superior to our national citizenship).
Having said that, I believe there is still great application in the condition and promise today. There is surely a sense that “My people” today refers to the redeemed in Christ who live throughout the world.
God requires these conditions of His people:
- Humble themselves
- Pray
- Seek My face
- Turn from their wicked ways
God promises these blessings for His people:
- Then will I hear from heaven
- And will forgive their sin
- And will heal their land
As God’s people we are indeed called to humble ourselves, to pray, to seek His face and to turn from our wicked ways. Wherever we may live let those of us who love God apply these conditions! The eternal, unchanging God is still speaking from heaven, forgiving sin, and extending His saving touch to all who look to Him. Regardless of what happens to America or the land where you live, His promise to the individual who earnestly seeks Him is always bright and good.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father in Heaven, We lift our eyes toward Your Throne, where You reign in righteousness. Your Word assures us that when Your people cry out in sincerity and humility, You will never turn a deaf ear to us. We call upon You now, seeking Your forgiveness and favor. Look over this fevered landscape and heal us, Lord. Drop knees to the floor and raise eyes to the sky, for we know where our help comes from. Unite these States again in devotion to You, and blur every dividing line. Do not give us over to our sins. Give us, instead, over to passionate prayer that moves Your heart. “May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You.” In the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen
Today’s prayer is the same as the one posted on the National Day of Prayer website.
Click on the link to open and play.
In some cases you may also need to click again to start the song.
“If My People Pray” 2 Chronicles 7:14 from the Integrity Scripture memory series Audio
“If My People Pray” Video by Avalon
Some random notes:
* Today’s text brings to mind an incident from Bible College over 30 years ago. Once we had a US congressman from southwest Missouri as our chapel speaker and he referred to the daily verse but mistakenly said 2 Corinthians 7:14 (rather than 2 Chronicles 7:14). We had a very colorful student who came out of an addictive background who had the nickname Hallelujah Frank due to his very expressive worship nature. Hallelujah Frank ran up to the front right after chapel was over to correct the congressmen concerning the mistaken reference, embarrasing the college administrators as I recall, in the brusque way he handled the congressman’s innocent error.
* Yesterday Steve Higgins, a friend from Massachusetts, shared an interesting perspective: “I recently read an article in, of all places, the Boston Globe and the person being interviewed said something I found intriguing. One of the biggest dangers we face in the church today is becoming admirers of Jesus and not followers. Isn’t it great to come to church, pat each other on the back and talk about all of the good things Jesus did? It’s almost to some even in the church that he is just another cult hero. But to be a follower takes commitment. Commitment is something many of us never truly make anymore.”
* Our friend Doris High took the outstanding close-up of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak used at the top of today’s message. See here for more from her Rose-breasted Grosbeak collection.
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