“I Still Serve An Amazing God!”
July 21, 2017
Colossians 3:16 on sign in Good’s Store
“I Still Serve An Amazing God!”
Listen to our message on your audio player.
“Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your presence, O LORD. They rejoice in Your name all day long; they exult in Your righteousness” (Psalm 89:15,16).
When life is full of trouble, pain, and fear;
The answer may seem simple: though everything else crumbles,
One thing has remained through all the years.
What are you learning about today? We may associate learning primarily with our younger years but we both like the phrase, “life-long learner”. We have a number of interests; some mutual, others individual. Brooksyne continues to enjoy learning about plants and recipes, in recent years more “healthy” recipes. I enjoy history and geography, especially poring over a Google Earth and studying the history of an area based on the location. Lately I have been studying about the Anthracite coal regions of Pennsylvania.
Saturday we will be traveling through that region on the way to Jim Thorpe for a train and bike ride up and down the Lehigh Gorge.* On the way back we plan to explore some coal country and drive by the massive Old Saint Nicholas breaker (click on photo for larger view) to see if it is still standing. At one time it cleaned and sorted 12,500 tons of coal daily! (We burn about 4 tons of anthracite coal each winter to heat our home.) The coal region is very interesting to explore on Google Earth since it has a very distinct topography due to surface mining. (See here for Google map of the area around the Old Saint Nicholas breaker.)
Well, I’m sure you are learning something new each day, which keeps life interesting and our minds alert. Today we invite you to consider a type of learning in which we should all be participants.
It’s included in our daily text, “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you.”
The Hebrew “teruw’ah” for “acclaim” has the sense of “acclamation of joy”. Even more literally it means, “blast of the trumpet” or “shout of joy”.
Although we tend to associate the Psalms with David this Psalm is identified as “A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite” the only Psalm so designated. Ethan means “strong and optimistic, solid and enduring; permanent”. He is also mentioned in 1 Kings 4:31 as a wise man, yet not as wise as King Solomon, who “was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite.”
Like Ethan I want to learn to acclaim God all day long. This seems to me to be a real key to living the abundant life in Christ. So many pressing matters will trouble us, so many clouds of uncertainty and instability can easily distract us.
He’s always brought me through the troubled seas.
The One who fed the thousands, whose words could calm the tempest
He’s my Bread of Life, and He’s my Peace.
But when we keep our focus on God by acclaiming Him we can live above the clouds. Paul and Silas acclaimed God from the dismal prison after being “severely flogged” and placed in stocks. In the hearing of the other prisoners they prayed and sang hymns to God. Certainly, things didn’t look too good on this side and the beaten men surely ached all over. But they had learned to acclaim God, even in the most undesirable circumstances.Today will you join us in acclaiming God? Let us shout the joyful sound and walk in the light of His presence. Remember, we still serve an amazing God!
He’s been with me every mile my weary feet have trod;
He still cares, He still hears;
He’s still mending broken hearts and drying tears;
This old world is about to change,
But I’m glad I know the One who always stays the same,
And my song will ever be,
Amazing God, You’re still amazing me.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we want to be among those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your presence, who rejoice in Your name all day long and exult in Your righteousness.We have heard the joyful sound of the gospel and have chosen to obey it, so now we experience its power within our hearts. And now You bring forth good fruit into our lives for which we can grow and bless others as well. We are delighted and thankful through Christ our Lord. Amen.
We passed this nice country view yesterday near New Holland, demonstrating beauty and function with the Canna Lilies planted in front of large hay bales and field corn.
We serve as chaplains to the Val-Co Company, a manufacturer of agriculture equipment located north of New Holland. It is in an area with a lot of old-order Mennonites, which are a similar group to the Amish. We stopped yesterday at a family run roadside fruit stand for some fresh lima beans and saw this rather interesting father/son team. The young son was on a horse pulling a cultivator with his dad behind it. It was a very hot day so consider hard work like this as you eat your vegetables today!
Leaving Val-Co we saw this farmer driving a two horse team pulling an empty wagon along busy Route 322. His young daughter was watching for traffic from behind.
Such as this large truck carrying farm equipment!
“I Still Serve An Amazing God” Video Triumphant Quartet We sure hope to hear this song Sunday evening!
For local readers: This coming Sunday evening, July 23, The Triumphant Quartet will be in Lebanon, PA for the Music In The Park summer concert series. See here for info. This is a free concert! (A free-will offering is received). We plan on attending with our long-time friends Ken and Nila Pierce and their children.
* Finally today: Saturday we will be taking the bike train up from Jim Thorpe and then riding bikes back down the gorge on an abandoned railroad grade, a tremendous biking experience. Here’s a video. Worth watching for the music!
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
We want to thank all who financially support our ministry. We realize there are many fine ministries and causes requesting support but if the Lord would lead you we surely need and appreciate the financial support from our readers and listeners. Our ministry labor is comprised of half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies for which we receive a fee (of course this percentage of time varies week by week). Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many years is that each phase would provide half of our ministry expenses and income. If you would like to make a donation to our ministry see here for more information. Donations through my chaplaincy endorsing ministry are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by them. Thank you!
Please Note: Our chaplain agency is unable to provide a receipt if the donation is made through PayPal. However we provide this option due to the convenience, international supporters, and for those who may not be concerned regarding receiving an official receipt. Click here to donate using PayPal.
“Serving Out Of The Spotlight”
July 20, 2017
Tim Morrison, always pleasant as he speaks to us in the workplace. He is supervising a team of workers who spread glue (as seen on his apron) on panels and then attaching various flooring patterns for display in retail stores – not an easy or pleasant job but someone has to do it and he does it very well!
“Serving Out Of The Spotlight”
Listen to our message on your audio player.
“God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them” (Hebrews 6:10).
Tuesday afternoon we visited with Tim Morrison (photo above), an employee at White Oak Display. He was excited to tell us about his previous week’s ministry when he served as a speaker at a summer camp. Tim has Bible College ministerial training and has served as a pastor in the past. He now works as a supervisor, usually making displays for flooring companies. He’s a few years younger than us but we are always heartened to talk to him due to his vibrant servant’s heart.
He sees his ministry right where he’s at, as well as serving in his local church and other opportunities that arise. He’s certainly not in any spotlight and that’s not what he seeks.
This week I listened to a podcast on “Breakthrough Pastors” with Doug Black who has an interesting ministry as a purposeful bi-vocational pastor in Philadelphia (he’s also a web designer). He makes an interesting point. “There are a lot of people trying to grab the spotlight in our world. The platforms that have no spotlight or that are far away from the spotlight are always empty so we need to find God right there.” I believe Doug is saying, look for ministry opportunities that don’t always have the spotlight on them.
When we were young and just beginning ministry we recall being challenged many times to “do something great for God”.
That was over 40 years ago and life is continually transitioning day by day, year after year. I don’t imagine any objective analysis of my life up to this point would warrant a claim that I’ve done anything really great. I’ve never pastored a large or nationally known local church. I never gained fame as a worldwide evangelist such as Billy Graham or D.L. Moody. For sure my name is not associated with recording artists! As a writer I don’t have any published books or best-sellers although I find satisfaction in preparing these daily messages since 1996. This, along with my service as a chaplain to some 500 employees in various companies, is now the way I serve and of course Brooksyne and I share both of these ministries together. We have appreciated gracious feedback over the years indicating that we have touched people’s lives but certainly make no claim to greatness or being in any spotlight.
The aspiration to do something great is commendable. Yet a sense of unworthiness can sweep over a person, who, after an honest assessment of their giftings or lack thereof, realize they’re simply unable to accomplish anything reckoned as great by others. Many have dropped the baton of service when their aspiring dream never fully materialized. They could only imagine worthiness of ministry if serving in a big way or in the spotlight.
We propose another aspiration that may initially seem rather uninspiring: “do something ordinary for God!” All of us can do that and faithfulness in the ordinary really does matter.In our view the vast, vast majority of work being done for God is done by ordinary people doing ordinary things out of the spotlight.
Now, praise God, sometimes the ordinary does become great, such as the young boy with the fish and bread that Jesus multiplied to feed the crowd. He simply offered the ordinary he had and Jesus performed the miracle. We read nothing more in Scripture of that boy again. We can assume he went on to live an ordinary life, hopefully in faithful service to Christ. Our aspiration should be to glorify God in our obedience and service to Him, not to make anything great of ourselves, let alone seek the spotlight.
Let us consider the daily verse, written to a group of people “The Hebrews”, none of whom we know by name. But as part of the Holy Scriptures we can read this verse applying it to our own lives.“God is not unjust.” That’s a simple four word phrase we do well to memorize. Unjustness permeates our world and at times God’s ways don’t make sense, even tempting us to question His justness. But the infallible Word of God proclaims, “God is not unjust”.
“He will not forget your work.” Others may forget or not even notice, but God always sees and remembers!
“And the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people.” How do we show our love for God? Surely through our praises, thankfulness, obedience and in many other ways. But this verse specifies a way that goes to the very heart of ministry and it’s generally demonstrated in ordinary ways. In some wonderful way as we help and serve God’s people, we are actually helping and serving God. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).
“And continue to help them” The writer of Hebrews was confident that this help was active and ongoing, as he finished the sentence with this phrase. Are you in active service for God and His people today? If so, keep it up. What a great blessing long-term, faithful, and dependable workers are in the kingdom of God. You may not be in the spotlight, in fact it’s likely you’re not. But He sees and will not forget your work. He generously rewards us in this life but His greater reward will be given in the life to come! Today do something ordinary for God so that He will use it for His extraordinary purposes.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, as You call us You also equip us to do that which You lay upon our hearts. May we respond to those in need in whatever capacity we can help. Certainly we can pray, we may need to write or call, and then there are the times we are to go and accomplish that which we are called to do. May our motive, in everything we say, do or think be to glorify You as we shine our light, not for our own glory, but always for Your glory and honor while also spotlighting the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Amen.
I want to tell you about someone only a few of our readers will know. I accepted Christ when I was a teenager and attended a small church in Independence, Missouri. Through the years I kept up with my first pastor and his wife as they aged. Pastor Howard died about twenty years ago. I last visited with Sister Howard in 2006 along with my brother. She insisted on taking us out for ice cream, which gave us an opportunity to thank her for the impact she and her husband had on our lives. They were great examples as they demonstrated Christ’s love and total dedication to the flock. Here’s a photo of Sister Howard and me taken during that visit. She and her husband are a vital part of my spiritual heritage.Several years after this visit I tried to call her but got a recorded message that her phone had been disconnected. I had a sense that she may have moved on to her eternal destination. On a hunch I typed her name and “obituary” into the search engine and sure enough she had passed away at 91 years of age. Her obituary had this descriptive statement, “As a minister for over fifty years, a published author and a teacher, she devoted her life to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with others.”
Early in their marriage they faced a loss that required significant overcoming. While they were pastoring a church in Iowa their eleven year old son, while delivering newspapers, was killed by a drunk driver. When we visited her in 2006 she wept as she told us the details of her heartbreaking story, some 50 years earlier. Both she and her husband understandably had a very difficult time but by God’s grace they overcame and went on to touch
Here’s a “out of the spotlight” ministry opportunity:
Years ago we met Paul Popov* of Door of Hope International ministry, which has a special focus on the persecuted church. Just as we were doing the final work on today’s message this email came through:
Door of Hope International can provide you with a name and email address to begin your email correspondence.
We have hundreds of names and email addresses from people who live in Muslim countries waiting for a “PenPal.” They want to improve their English skills and learn about Western culture.
This is a great opportunity for Christians in the West to develop a friendship and share their faith in Jesus Christ with their new PenPal from the Middle East, Asia, North Africa, or the Gulf States.
It doesn’t cost you anything but a few minutes of your time.
There are two criterias to become a GlobalFriend:
- You must believe that Jesus is the Son of God and salvation is found only through Him.
- You must be proficient in the English language.
For more information click here and fill out the online application to become a GlobalFriend today!
Together in His Ministry,
Paul H. Popov
* Paul is not to be confused with Peter Popov! Paul is the son of Haralan I. Popov, a prominent pastor in Bulgaria, who was arrested and falsely accused of “being a spy” for the United States and Great Britain. Pastor Popov spent 13½ years in 16 Communist prisons and concentration camps for his uncompromising faith in Jesus Christ. His prominence as a devote Christian leader brought him severe physical torture at the hands of the Soviet KGB and their Bulgarian quislings. His amazing testimony of Christian courage is recorded in his autobiography, “Tortured For His Faith” (Zondervan Publishers).
Our friend Phil Huber from “Your Hearts Delight” shared this photo of Swatara Falls he had taken this last weekend. These falls are in a remote location but not really that far away. For local readers here is some information and location on Google map. It’s interesting that it is very near to some large surface mines.
Breakthrough Pastors podcast with Doug Black (Caution: very loud at first!)
“Use Me” Video Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
“Love Came Calling” Video Triumphant Quartet
For local readers: This coming Sunday evening, July 23, The Triumphant Quartet will be in Lebanon, PA for the Music In The Park summer concert series. See here for info. This is a free concert! (A free-will offering is received). We plan on attending with our long-time friends Ken and Nila Pierce and their children.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
We want to thank all who financially support our ministry. We realize there are many fine ministries and causes requesting support but if the Lord would lead you we surely need and appreciate the financial support from our readers and listeners. Our ministry labor is comprised of half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies for which we receive a fee (of course this percentage of time varies week by week). Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many years is that each phase would provide half of our ministry expenses and income. If you would like to make a donation to our ministry see here for more information. Donations through my chaplaincy endorsing ministry are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by them. Thank you!Please Note: Our chaplain agency is unable to provide a receipt if the donation is made through PayPal. However we provide this option due to the convenience, international supporters, and for those who may not be concerned regarding receiving an official receipt. Click here to donate using PayPal.
“The Original Identity Theft”
July 19, 2017
Brooksyne thoroughly enjoys her evening walks in our neighborhood. The beauty of the Esbenshade soybean field captured her attention so she brought home this photo. With abundant rains so far this summer our farm fields are healthy and lush.
(Click on photo for larger view)
“The Original Identity Theft”
Listen to our message on your audio player.
“The woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate’” (Genesis 3:13). “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).
About ten years ago I pastored a church in the Harrisburg area on an interim basis. We had a colorful senior nick-named “Red” in the church. During the Second World War Red served in the Navy in the Pacific while still a teenager. His aircraft carrier (the Hornet CV8) was sunk by Japanese kamikaze pilots in 1942. Incredibly, he, along with three other men, clung to a log for seventeen days before finally being rescued.
In his late twenties Red accepted the Lord as His Savior. He later experienced heartache when his first wife died leaving him a teenage son to raise. Sometime later he met Elsie, a Christian woman, while he was driving her tour bus. After a time of courtship he and Elsie married and while I was their pastor they had been married for over thirty years. As a side note, after his military service, Red drove a tour bus for 55 years without a single accident.
One Saturday morning I joined several of the men for breakfast, including Red, and we had the above photo taken. Of course it didn’t really look like this as I had some fun with the photo by making everyone look like Red! (This was at a time when I enjoyed puttering around with Photoshop.) Can you identify which one in the photo is the “real” Red?
We know people who’ve had her identity stolen. Identity theft has soared to one of the top modern crimes. Years ago a humorous commercial that ran on TV was a company that claimed to provide protection from identity theft. The ads show the actual person whose identity was stolen speaking in the voice of the thief declaring the real truth of how they would spend the stolen money. It was a humorous ad but the experience of having your identity stolen is not humorous at all.
Identity theft is a growing form of crime that primarily involves stealing vital information about another person and using that information to get credit cards and other forms of financial theft. But at times this information is also used by criminals in the commission of other crimes, so that the evidence trail leads back to the person whose identity had been stolen. And now there’s also medical identity theft!
Being a victim of identity theft is a very grievous experience. It’s not only time–consuming and expensive to resolve, but emotionally difficult as you seek to verify that you really are who you know you really are! It can damage a good reputation. Sin continues to abound in this fallen world, taking on new forms and depths of depravity. New technology is often at the forefront of facilitating ever newer forms of temptation and sin.
But there’s an ancient form of identity theft that we, as Christ’s followers, need to be on constant guard against.
From the very beginning Satan has used identity theft and disguise as a means of deception, as in the garden he disguised himself as a serpent. Today’s first Scripture recounts Eve’s response following the fall, “The serpent deceived me.” To her credit she recognized spiritual deception albeit after the fact. Satan, through the serpent, had presented himself as providing a better way than God which remains his primary strategy many millenniums later and, by the scores, Eve’s descendants are still falling for it, although he no longer deceives through the serpent.
Jesus, in His most lengthy teaching on Satan said, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).
Today’s third Scripture forthrightly states, “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” Satan is the original identity thief. He seeks to steal the identity of an angel of light and then present himself as good. The word translated “disguises” is very interesting. Other translations use the words “transform” or “masquerade” to translate the Greek word “metaschēmatizō”, which means “to change in fashion or appearance.”
A great line in the hymn “A Mighty Fortress” expresses it this way:
His craft and power are great and armed with cruel hate
On earth is not his equal.
Thank God for the balance of the great old hymn which reminds us of God’s provision to overcome our enemy, the original identity thief, through the infinitely greater power of Jesus Christ. Today we encourage you to turn fully to Christ and be ever vigilant against our deceptive enemy, the original identity thief.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we look to You and depend on Your Word to teach us spiritual discernment so that we can readily identify Satan when he regularly appears in disguise. Thank You for Your indwelling Holy Spirit that bears witness with ours when we test the spirits to see that which is from You and that which is from the enemy. When we’re uncertain surround us with godly counsel and reveal to us Your truths as we prayerfully look to You for daily guidance. Amen.
Last night’s sunset with the red rubber ball seemingly resting atop the cornfield. Yesterday we based our message on the predictability of each sunrise and sunset as evidence of the Creator God’s design and faithfulness. Tommy Carpenter, a friend from Arkansas, who just may be the most inspirational Facebook poster we know, read our message and shared an interesting perspective from Jeremiah 33:20-26. It refers to a promise God made with a covenant for the day and a covenant for the night, so that day and night will be at their appointed time, as a sign of His great faithfulness.
Lovely intermingling of black-eyed susan with crepe myrtle blooms.
This year we removed a larger garden we had used since we moved here in 2002 and made a small raised garden behind our utility barn. We had lots of composted material and our tomato plants are growing so tall, although we still aren’t harvesting ripe tomatoes! These plants are now over 7 feet tall making it difficult to stake them effectively.
Another soybean field, two houses to the north of us, in a photo Brooksyne took on her early morning walk. Such awe and beauty lies in the varying shades of green amidst the clear blue sky.
Here’s a daily encouragement we wrote many years ago about Red. He passed away several years back but we believe his wife Elsie is still living. Elsie went to Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, Missouri near the time my cousin, Dub, also attended.
“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” Video Large men’s conference
“O The Blood” Video Triumphant Quartet
For local readers: This coming Sunday evening, July 23, The Triumphant Quartet will be in Lebanon, PA for the Music In The Park summer concert series. See here for info. This is a free concert although a free-will offering is received. Note: The last several days we had mistakenly posted this date as the 25th which is a Tuesday, probably because that is the day we plan to take our Amish “grandchildren” to Knoebels Park! Thanks to several alert readers who called this to our attention.
Finally today:
Here’s the original photo of the men at the men’s breakfast mentioned in today’s message with Red in front and left center. The guys sure had fun with the doctored photo I took to church the following Sunday.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
We want to thank all who financially support our ministry. We realize there are many fine ministries and causes requesting support but if the Lord would lead you we surely need and appreciate the financial support from our readers and listeners. Our ministry labor is comprised of half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies for which we receive a fee (of course this percentage of time varies week by week). Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many years is that each phase would provide half of our ministry expenses and income. If you would like to make a donation to our ministry see here for more information. Donations through my chaplaincy endorsing ministry are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by them. Thank you!Please Note: Our chaplain agency is unable to provide a receipt if the donation is made through PayPal. However we provide this option due to the convenience, international supporters, and for those who may not be concerned regarding receiving an official receipt. Click here to donate using PayPal.
“A Consideration Of The Greater Light”
July 18, 2017
Sunset July 15, 2017
(Photo by Ester)
“A Consideration Of The Greater Light“
Listen to our message on your audio player.
“God made two great lights – the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth” (Genesis 1:16,17).
We have, in our admittedly biased opinion, outstanding sunset views from our front porch. We often share photos of what the Bible calls “the greater light” such as today’s photo which Ester took Saturday evening. For some reason it looks like the kind of photo you would see from Africa but indeed that’s an authentic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA sunset!
The setting of the sun is a tremendously predictable aspect of God’s created order. It’s true that future sunrise and sunset times are precisely known many years ahead. For instance in 37 years, July 18, 2054 (the year I will turn 100) sunset in Mount Joy will be at 8:33 PM (just in case I want to plan ahead for any social gathering). See this site. Note: The date range on this widget only goes to 2099 so if you have plans beyond that year you will have to find your own site.
Isn’t it amazing to consider the great faith many people have that all of this is just a matter of random chance!
Consider what it would be like if just as the sun set it suddenly stopped and then began to rise again from the west. (Of course I am aware that this would actually involve an abrupt reversal of the earth’s rotation and that would probably be rather painful.) If this were to happen all the problems we presently have would be infinitely trivial in comparison.
Yet it’s really not something we worry about! And sure enough this morning we had another sunrise, right on schedule at 5:52 AM. (Actually, due to an early morning chaplain visit in Lebanon County we had to prepare this the night before so we will need to correct this statement if the sun does not rise.)
Just as predictable as the sun that rises in the east and sets in the west we have a firm, unwavering belief in the Genesis creation account in spite of the relentless assault of modernism. We are aware that many mock our view and would call us simpletons for still believing the Bible. We believe this account forms an inviolable foundation for God’s redemption plan.
However we are aware that there are those who make a profession of faith in Christ, yet concede to the shifting whims of the world on this issue, many asserting the creation account is really not important but just part of a myth. Many Christians may not be aware of the excellent resources available defending the Biblical record.*
“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible” (Hebrews 11:3). Regardless of what view one has concerning creation and origins it takes faith.
Each predictable sunrise and sunset provides a witness to the truth of the creation account, which in part declares, “God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.” Today let us again faithfully serve the God of creation!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: The skies and the earth belong to You, Lord, and have sustained humankind since the time of creation. When You made the world You set everything in its proper place and in its proper timing. You made the moon to mark the seasons and the sun always knows when to set. You make it dark, and it becomes night. Lord, You have made many things; with Your wisdom You made them all. With my whole being I praise You, Almighty God.
A part of today’s text that always interests me is the phrase, “He also made the stars.” Consider the immensity of the universe and the growing number (in man’s estimation) of how many stars there are and yet the first reference in Scripture merely states concerning God, “He also made the stars.” What a mighty God we serve!
* Here are links to two sites that provide abundant resources in defending the Biblical account of creation:
Institute for Creation Research
Answers in Genesis
As Ester and I departed for a Sunday afternoon drive I looked back as I was leaving and saw Brooksyne tossing the frisbee to Mollie.
Later she took an evening walk in our neighborhood with her friend, Tho. They stopped to admire the beautiful flowers at the Brubaker farmhouse and snapped this photo.
We drove to Columbia with this view coming down Chique’s Hill. The Susquehanna River is in the background.
The majestic Columbia/Wrightsville bridge from the Wrightsville side.
(Click to enlarge)
Another view of the bridge from Wrightsville looking across the river to Columbia.
Ester caught this photo of a charter fishing boat, “Catch Your Own River Monster” on the Susquehanna River.
“The Love of God” Video Triumphant Quartet
For local readers: This coming Sunday evening, July 25, The Triumphant Quartet will be in Lebanon, PA for the Music In The Park summer concert series. See here for info. This is a free concert! (A free-will offering is received)
Finally today:
It appears this Amish grandpa took the grandkids with him to fill gas cans.
We both enjoyed going for rides with our grandpas! Brooksyne does not remember her grandpa ever driving a vehicle but remembers riding in the wagon when he drove the team of mules to large fields of pasture land where he was either plowing, planting or harvesting vegetables on the mountain in Arkansas. We look forward to visiting Mountain Top in just over two weeks.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
We want to thank all who financially support our ministry. We realize there are many fine ministries and causes requesting support but if the Lord would lead you we surely need and appreciate the financial support from our readers and listeners. Our ministry labor is comprised of half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies for which we receive a fee (of course this percentage of time varies week by week). Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many years is that each phase would provide half of our ministry expenses and income. If you would like to make a donation to our ministry see here for more information. Donations through my chaplaincy endorsing ministry are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by them. Thank you!Please Note: Our chaplain agency is unable to provide a receipt if the donation is made through PayPal. However we provide this option due to the convenience, international supporters, and for those who may not be concerned regarding receiving an official receipt. Click here to donate using PayPal.
“Lessons From A Mule Team”
July 17, 2017
Amish farmer with mule team harvesting Alfalfa hay.
(Click on photo to enlarge)
“Lessons From A Mule Team”
Listen to our message on your audio player.
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
Saturday morning I wore another hat, so to speak, a straw hat. My Amish friend, Jesse, who opens his Old Windmill Farm to tours had a family reunion and asked me if I would serve as a tour guide for several hours. He gave me a demonstration tour and highlighted information he wanted me to share with farm guests.
The tour begins in the barn where Jesse keeps his mule team. I learned that a team mule can weigh 1600 pounds and yet pull three times its weight. Their recently acquired piglets dutifully climb up a ramp and shimmy down the slide for their treat. The guests get to feed the calves and then if they choose they can milk a cow. Then we walk on through the milkhouse, the chicken coop, the hay barn and finally through the verdant garden where the visitors are invited to pick some vegetables.
Throughout the tour Jesse also seeks to share spiritual truths related to agriculture, which of course is a major illustrative theme throughout the Bible. He shared a thoughtful perspective on the daily text focusing on the words “learn from me”. He pointed out that a young mule will be yoked with an older mule to learn how to serve as a team.
It’s interesting to get a Bible teaching from the perspective of someone who likely uses farming methods similar to the Bible times!
In the Bible times and in our own day, the yoke is still used in many parts of the world. A yoke is a wooden beam which is used between a pair of oxen to allow them to pull a load (oxen almost always work in pairs). They must work in equal cooperation to be effective. Unequal yoking is disastrous in farming, marriage, business partnerships and in ministry. (See 2 Corinthians 6:14-15.)
Bible teacher David Guzik observed in regard to this passage that according to Adam Clarke, the ancient Jews commonly used the idea of yoke to express someone’s obligation to God. There was the yoke of the kingdom, the yoke of the law, the yoke of the command, the yoke of repentance, the yoke of faith, and the general yoke of God. In this context, it is easy to see Jesus simplifying and saying, “Forget about all those other yokes. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me.”
Today we urge our readers to hear and thoughtfully consider these words from the Master.”Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, I’m so thankful for the invitation extended to us through Christ that we can come and lay down our burdens as we take up His yoke. It is through being yoked to Jesus that we unyoke ourselves from the world and learn how to find rest for our weary souls. We also learn gentleness, humility and other fruit of the Spirit as we are yoked together with Christ. Satan is a heavy taskmaster when we are yoked with him since we learn ungodliness even while he seeks to devour us. The results are disastrous and leads to eternal damnation. But when we are yoked with Christ we find that His yoke is easy and our burden is light. The results lead to our eternal dwelling place in heaven. There is never a time that we can be at peace and be unyoked with Christ, just as we cannot bear fruit unless we remain connected to the Vine. We remain steadfast and immovable in this present age as we are yoked with You. Thank You for upholding us with Your righteous right hand. Amen.
See Matthew 11:28-30; John 15:4; Galatians 5:22,23; John 10:10; Isaiah 41:10
For more expositional notes concerning today’s passage we refer our readers to David Guzik’s excellent “Enduring Word” online commentary here.
Additional study note:
Years ago I received a small package in the mail from a friend in Missouri. I opened the package and found a small lapel pin in the shape of a yoke. Al Worthley, who for many years was my chaplain supervisor, included a brief note that identified me as a “fellow yokefellow”, an allusion to Philippians 4:3.
The yoke is a universal symbol of Christian ministry. If we heed Christ’s command to take His yoke upon us (Matthew 11:29) we discover the rich blessing that comes with full participation in the cause of Christ. He offers His yoke to all who will deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Him. In one sense we are yoked with Christ but in another sense we are yoked with all those who are committed to Christ and His cause. We become true yokefellows as we journey here below.
Good’s Store is a locally owned Walmart sized store owned by Old-Order Mennonites. It always has a Scripture verse on a whiteboard in the checkout areas so I took a photo of this very familiar Scripture from Zephaniah 3:17.
Friday evening we had our friends, Rick and Rachel Caldwell, over for a meal and Brooksyne suggested using the backyard flower garden as a background for a photo.
These two Russian/American families enjoyed their tour of the Old Windmill Farm on a very warm Saturday. The highlight for the young girls was feeding water to the calves. The vigorous way they sucked on the bottle, you’d have thought it was filled with milk.
A special feature of Saturday’s tour was explaining the Amish practice of having a church service. They do not use church buildings but rather meet in the homes and barns of church members. On Sunday Jesse and his wife Anna Ruth were hosting the service so the wagon bench sat in their yard. This wagon holds the benches used for the service and travels from place to place.
The neatly stored benches in the back of the bench wagon. The benches are designed to easily convert to being a table where they join together after the service for lunch. In the past we have joined them and it is a pleasant time where men join with the men and boys and women join with other women and girls.
The barn, all cleaned out for the church service, and even had some carpet is laid out! The preacher stands in the middle toward the back and the benches will be placed on both sides facing each other; the men on one side, the women on the other.
Leaving the Old Windmill farm Saturday I passed this miniature horse cart ride while travelling down the lane to the main road.
“Come To Me” Video Scripture memory song of today’s text
“Come to Jesus” Video The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
“My Yoke Is Easy” Video Dennis Jernigan
“We Will Remember” Video Triumphant Quartet
For local readers: This coming Sunday evening, July 25, The Triumphant Quartet will be in Lebanon, PA for the Music In The Park summer concert series. See here for info. This is a free concert! (A free-will offering is received)
Finally today:
Yesterday, prior to our church service, I visited for a few minutes with Grover DeVault, a longtime chaplain friend. Grover has had a long season of ministry as an Army chaplain and professor at Lancaster Bible College. He was the State Police chaplain during the time of the Amish schoolhouse shootings ten years ago and continues to enjoy effective ministry to both the police officers and Amish families. See this article.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
We want to thank all who financially support our ministry. We realize there are many fine ministries and causes requesting support but if the Lord would lead you we surely need and appreciate the financial support from our readers and listeners. Our ministry labor is comprised of half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies for which we receive a fee (of course this percentage of time varies week by week). Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many years is that each phase would provide half of our ministry expenses and income. If you would like to make a donation to our ministry see here for more information. Donations through my chaplaincy endorsing ministry are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by them. Thank you!Please Note: Our chaplain agency is unable to provide a receipt if the donation is made through PayPal. However we provide this option due to the convenience, international supporters, and for those who may not be concerned regarding receiving an official receipt. Click here to donate using PayPal.
“Attentive To Our Cry”
July 14, 2017
Early yesterday morning following our first chaplain visit we passed this family along Strasburg Pike. Like all families the children keep busy in transit. The daughter is reading and the son is still enjoying his breakfast.
“Attentive To Our Cry”
Listen to our message on your audio player.
“The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry” (Psalm 34:15). “Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear” (Isaiah 59:1).
There are burdens that can bring us to our knees
But it’s in those moments when our faith feels weakest
That we simply stand our ground and just believe
As we progress in life’s journey Brooksyne and I are repeating a frustrating phrase common to people in the aging process, “What did you say?” or “Speak up, I can’t hear you!” I (Stephen) had my hearing checked and the audiologist informed me that my hearing is fine except for some weakness in the range associated with the female voice. (Brooksyne’s note: I was at least four aisles away from Stephen in a Sam’s Club store as he came out of the testing lab and I could hear him plain as day tell the technician, “You’ll have to tell my wife the results because she won’t believe I don’t have hearing loss.” The irony is that I had no problem hearing his amplified voice from nearly halfway back in the store.)
Brooksyne heard an interesting story from Deb, a friend from one of the companies we serve as chaplains. She lived with her hard-of-hearing father for about ten years prior to his passing away.
She had stepped outside their house onto the porch to watch a gathering storm. Her dad, not realizing she had stepped outside, noticed the door was unlocked and proceeded to lock it as was his habit day or night. He then sat down and began to watch one of his favorite television shows with the volume turned way up, of course.
The wind was blowing furiously and the storm clouds were about to release a heavy downpour so Deb headed for the door only to find that it was locked. Seeing her dad through the window she yelled repeatedly, banged on the window, and became very animated trying to get his attention as he sat there clueless watching TV.
When all else failed she remembered that she had her cell phone with her though she wasn’t certain that it would help. Due to her dad’s hearing loss he could only hear bits and pieces of conversation such as one time when she called him and said, “Dad, this is your daughter,” to which he replied, “Who is this? I don’t need any water.” But in desperation she gave him a call. When he answered she said, “Dad, this is Deb.” He went right to the door, unlocked it and yelled out, “Deb, you’re wanted on the phone.” *
Anyone who’s ever talked on a cell phone knows the frustration of a bad signal. You’re likely to move toward a window or talk louder (as if that really helps) and ask, “Can you hear me now?” Of course that phrase became a famous ad slogan that Verizon ran many years ago. The geeky technician sent to the most inaccessible places with a cell phone repeatedly asking, “Can you hear me now?” (Not surprisingly, he never gets a bad signal.) Interestingly, he now works for Sprint!
I am so thankful that an immutable (unchanging) characteristic of God is His unflinching loyalty and His ability to always hear us. We don’t need to cry out, “Can you hear me now?” for the Scripture forthrightly declares, “The righteous cry out and the LORD hears them” (Psalm 34:17). The Lord always hears the cries of His children. No bad signals, spotty coverage or low batteries.
But our compassionate Lord doesn’t just hear us; He is attentive to our cry. “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry” (Psalm 34:15). The apostle Peter quotes this Psalm in his letter of encouragement to early Christians (1 Peter 3:12).
But what of the times when the heavens seem as brass and we don’t feel like we’re getting through to God. Most all will testify to having these feelings at times. I consider the title of a book by Francis A. Schaeffer that I read while in Bible College titled, “He Is There And He Is Not silent.”
And the darkness doesn’t mean that He is gone
Cause He promised He would never ever leave us
And you’ve never spent one moment on your own
The key we believe is a firm knowledge of what God’s Word says. There is a multitude of Biblical references to God hearing the prayers of His children. We can emphatically and confidently say when we call out to God, “Father, I know You hear me and are attentive to my cry!”
Right here in the storm He’s still the same
Pray now, Pray now
There is strength and power in Jesus name
So pray now
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, surely Your arm is not too short to save, nor Your ear too dull to hear our prayers. Our iniquities have separated us from You, Father, so we repent of those things that have distanced us from our holy God. May our faith be renewed and our resolve to follow You be firm as we call upon Your name. We desire to walk, not in our own finite wisdom, but in the infinite wisdom of Almighty God whose understanding knows no bounds. May we be found faithful as we call out to You, for we know You always hear us. Amen.
* More about Deb’s dad, Pat: When Pat’s health declined and he was sent to Hospice I (Brooksyne) visited him upon Deb’s request. Before I entered the room I heard people speaking to him as though they were hollering. When I visit folks at hospice I always quote the 23rd Psalm before I pray with them. I thought to myself, will he be able to hear me? After I introduced myself, in the loudest voice I could muster (and I can be very loud like Stephen if needed), I began to quote Psalm 23:1-7. I got his attention and kept it the entire time. There’s little doubt that I also got the attention of nearby rooms and medical staff. Perhaps a patient other than Pat also needed to hear this beautiful reassuring Psalm. I’ll always remember that special time visiting him, his family and then later officiating his funeral. I continue to see Deb on a part-time basis as she is semi-retired.
Last week we shared about our visit to see the raising of the Star Barn near Elizabethtown, PA. Our friends Rick and Rachel Caldwell were at the ceremony raising the cupola and shared this photo with us.
This Saturday I will have the opportunity to help my Amish friend Jesse by hosting tours to the Old Windmill Farm while he and his family attend a family reunion. Yesterday I got my training, including giving visitors an opportunity to feed a calf. (This photo was taken by a guest and posted to one of the review sites.)
“Pray Now” Video Karen Peck & New River
“Sometimes He Calms the Storm” Video Scott Krippayne
“Amazing God ” Video Triumphant Quartet
“Chain Breaker” Video Triumphant Quartet
“Somebody Died for Me” Video Triumphant Quartet
For local readers: Sunday evening, July 25, The Triumphant Quartet will be in Lebanon, PA for the Music In The Park summer concert series. See here for info. This is a free concert! (A free-will offering is received)
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
We want to thank all who financially support our ministry. We realize there are many fine ministries and causes requesting support but if the Lord would lead you we surely need and appreciate the financial support from our readers and listeners. Our ministry labor is comprised of half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies for which we receive a fee (of course this percentage of time varies week by week). Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many years is that each phase would provide half of our ministry expenses and income. If you would like to make a donation to our ministry see here for more information. Donations through my chaplaincy endorsing ministry are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by them. Thank you!Please Note: Our chaplain agency is unable to provide a receipt if the donation is made through PayPal. However we provide this option due to the convenience, international supporters, and for those who may not be concerned regarding receiving an official receipt. Click here to donate using PayPal.
“The Blessing Of Safe Pasture”
July 13, 2017
Early Tuesday morning we passed these donkeys in a Lebanon County pasture. With good rains thus far this summer our area pastures have stayed lush and green.
“The Blessing Of Safe Pasture”
Listen to our message on your audio player.
“Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:1-4).
We enjoy seeing animals out in the pasture. Normally we see horses, cows and sheep but for several months we’ve been driving past a pasture in Lebanon County with donkeys. Now it’s not unusual to see a donkey or two in a field but this pasture has many, much like we often see in a pasture of sheep.
Pasture is land with vegetation cover used for grazing of livestock as part of a farm or ranch. We saw a lot more pasture when we lived in the midwest since the land around here is so valuable tilled and planted in crops. Of course pastures usually have a lot of droppings which brings to mind a recollection of my very colorful Uncle Gentry who was a farmer and banker in tiny Harwood Missouri. He referred to golf as “cow pasture pool”. Fellow Missourian Mark Twain called golf, “a good walk spoiled”.
Likely, for most people the most familiar Biblical use of the word pasture is from the 23rd Psalm where David gives a word picture, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” “Green pasture” connotes health and abundant life.
In today’s verse the Psalmist David, as in Psalm 23, also uses an agricultural illustration to connect to his readers. Today let us examine this passage but especially focus on the words “safe pasture”.
“Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.” All around us we see evil and evildoers, which has been true since the Fall. We need to regularly be reminded by the Psalmist’s consoling advice, “Do not fret”.
“Trust in the Lord and do good.” This familiar exhortation, which is such a common theme through the Scriptures, is reflected in the lyrics of the classic hymn, “Trust And Obey”. This is at the very heart of what God calls each of us to do on our earthly journey.
“Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.” Surely David is foundationally speaking from a spiritual perspective. Safe pasture connotes security, abundance, and faithfulness. A footnote in the NASV indicates that David is counseling his readers to, “feed securely or feed on His faithfulness.” The Amplified Bible directs the reader to, “feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed.”
“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” We can admire a person from a distance for his or her beauty, talent, skills or accomplishments, but to delight in a person holds deeper meaning since it suggests strong relational involvement, not a distant admiration.
To delight ourselves in the Lord is to desire and enjoy His nearness and the truth and righteousness of His Word. As we develop and nurture this kind of relationship with God we surrender our desires to Him so that they are in accordance to His will. The desires that flow from within will be greatly influenced by His abiding presence in our hearts.
The same deep satisfaction that David referred to 3,000 years ago may also be ours today as we regularly delight ourselves in the Lord. It is in this place of safe pasture that the desires of our heart will be carefully shaped by our loving Lord as we feed on His abundance and live by His principles.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we place our complete trust in You, for You are a faithful, trustworthy, and loving God. As we feed on Your faithfulness and live by Your righteousness we find ourselves delighting in Your presence. We delight in You when we sing praises, when we give ourselves in service to others, and most especially when we commune with You in prayer. May the desires of our heart bring delight to Yours as we conform ourselves to Your will and resist the “grass” that lures us to the other side of the fence, outside of Your safe boundaries. We want to dwell in the land You provide and enjoy safe pasture until we reach our future Promised Land where boundaries will not be required, for danger will not exist in heaven. We eagerly await that precious and glorious promotion! Amen.
These horses are enjoying the green pasture on a farm around the corner from our house at the junction of Colebrook and Kraybill Church Road.
Click on photo for a larger view, along with today’s Scripture text.
Cows grazing in the green pasture land on a farm north of New Holland.
We caught these baby lambs grazing pasture on a farm in eastern Lancaster County.
Sheep, two by two, grazing in our neighborhood on Flory Road.
“Green Pastures” Video Fernando Ortega
“In Shady Green Pastures” Video Gaither Vocal Band
“I Will Delight” Video Fernando Ortega
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
We want to thank all who financially support our ministry. We realize there are many fine ministries and causes requesting support but if the Lord would lead you we surely need and appreciate the financial support from our readers and listeners. Our ministry labor is comprised of half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies for which we receive a fee (of course this percentage of time varies week by week). Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many years is that each phase would provide half of our ministry expenses and income. If you would like to make a donation to our ministry see here for more information. Donations through my chaplaincy endorsing ministry are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by them. Thank you!Please Note: Our chaplain agency is unable to provide a receipt if the donation is made through PayPal. However we provide this option due to the convenience, international supporters, and for those who may not be concerned regarding receiving an official receipt. Click here to donate using PayPal.
