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Stephen
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Brooksyne Weber
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A selection of prayers written by Brooksyne used in these
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Agora:
Articles concerning ministry at work. Resources
for Ministers:
Helps and ideas for pastors and others in
ministry.
Hymn
Story Net: Stories and
backgrounds behind the great
hymns. Scripture Memory Songs: A
selection of Scripture verses we
recorded in our home with
some friends. The words are
set to familar music
as an aid to memorization in a discipleship training class. Music:
Songs recorded in my home studio.
Perspectives:
Articles on various contemporary issues.
"A
Little Foolishness" I
invite daily encouragement readers to visit our
blog which is a collection of humorous and satirical
stories
drawn
mostly from our years of ministry, as well as my sometimes fertile
imagination. We also welcome submissions from readers. Humor:
Have a laugh based on real experiences we have had as well as stories
submitted
by readers.
These
are a
selection of books that Brooksyne and I have read that have impacted
our walk with the
Lord and we especially recommend to others!
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"I
am created by God to bring
Him glory. Through God’s Son, Jesus Christ, I have been
redeemed and I make it my life’s goal to honor God through my
faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for
eternity."
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"Therefore,
get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly
accept the Word planted in you, which can save you" (James 1:21).
Yesterday
a friend shared about the physical weariness she was feeling from the
past months of downsizing. Now in their mid-eighties she and her
husband have moved from a large farm house they've lived in for many
years to a much smaller house. Of course such a move results in the
necessity of downsizing furniture, possessions, keepsakes, etc.
Many
of us know how easy it is to accumulate "stuff" over our lifetime. I
recall some of the interesting things my mom held onto that were
finally sold in an auction when she came to live with us. It was
physically and emotionally exhausting for her.
Some
people take the accumulation of "stuff" to a dangerous extreme which is
known as hoarding. In such cases their living place may be barely
usable due to the amount of stuff they keep. In fact there is a TV
program that deals with this problem. The amount of possessions can
practically suffocate them, forcing them to make tunnel like passages
between the piles of junk so they can walk from one end of the room to
the other. In reading about this chaotic lifestyle I feel like a neat
nick (which he is not – Brooksyne's added note)!
Today's Scripture text has a phrase essential to any type of downsizing, "get rid of."
I sometimes have a hard time getting rid of things. In some cases they
have a sentimental value, in other instances I reason that it may be
useful someday or perhaps someone else could make use of it. I suppose
it's the remnant of being raised by depression era parents and that's
certainly not a negative. I think there are some virtues to this form
of thriftiness lacking in our present world which is all to quick to
dispose of anything.
But today's verse is not really about
material things. In regard to spiritual matters having more is usually
better than having less. As I am preparing this message I hear
Brooksyne downstairs memorizing aloud a Scripture verse from 2 Peter
1:5-9 that has the phrase "add to"; speaking of eight virtuous qualities the believer is to possess in increasing measure.
But
is there a case for "downsizing" in the spiritual realm? Indeed there
is. As followers of Christ, and as a result of our call to live "the righteous life that God desires", (verse 20) we are to "get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent."
This is a vivid word picture. James is in effect saying, "Take off your
filthy attitudes and actions (moral defilement) just as you would
soiled, smelly garments!" The picture is that of a snake that sloughs
off its dead skin!
Pastor Steven Coles writes, "We all bring
baggage from our old way of life over into the Christian life. Usually,
we’re blind to much of it. We don’t realize that we’re displeasing God
by our thoughts, words, or actions. As we begin to read God’s word, it
convicts us of areas that we didn’t even know were sin. When this
happens, the receptive heart cleans out the crud of sin and puts on the
clean clothes of new life in Christ. If you don’t do this, the crud
will prevent you from growing as a Christian."
Just as I've
written about the process of physically downsizing there is also a
process in which the Holy Spirit works in our lives:
First, the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins, "And when He comes, He will convict the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment" (John 16:8). Our consciences are pricked leading many of us to repent of our sins.
Secondly the Holy Spirit guides us "into all truth" (John 16:13), revealing those areas in our lives where we need to "get rid of" ungodly thinking, attitudes, and behaviors that dishonor God.
Thirdly, the Holy Spirit wants every believer to "humbly accept the Word planted in you, which can save you."
When we get rid of the detrimental stuff in our life we make room for
that which is helpful and beneficial to our spiritual growth.
Today let us make a renewed resolve to separate ourself from the world, THEN saturate ourself with the Word!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father,
as we humbly receive the Word planted in us through Your Spirit we put
off the old self. Help us to get rid of anything that stimulates our
old way of thinking. Help us to reject that which is detrimental to
our spiritual growth and to embrace that which saves us from the evil
that is prevalent in our world. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Today's
Suggested Music
and
Supplemental
Resources
Click
on the link (usually a Youtube video) to open and play. (In
some cases you may also need to click
again to start the song.)
"Everything We Need"Video This is a portion of the II Peter passage that Brooksyne is memorizing set to music.
"Jesus Is All I Need" Video
In the course of finding music that may fit our message I never know
what I will come across! I was looking for a chorus (perhaps hymn) I
recall from many years ago that states,
"He's all I need, He's all I need, Jesus is all I need."
I couldn't find an online version of this chorus but found this song with excellent lyrics and graphics.
"I Am Resolved"Video This is an old hymn with a high call for the follower who desires to please the Lord.
Here's an article on hoarding. There's also a TV show on this topic.
I took today's photo of the snow geese at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area
in northern Lancaster County. The snow geese stop here on their
migration north and a friend told me yesterday the flock peaked this
last weekend. Here's a photo collection from Middle Creek by a serious photographer.
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