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Monday, January 5, 2009
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"Living Responsibly"
"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matthew 25:21). Last night I got a call from Ray, a friend who lives about 100 miles away. He and his wife Vicky are celebrating their 35th anniversary today. This weekend they're planning a trip to Lancaster County so they can go to our local dinner theater and they're also fitting us into their plans so we can visit. I invited them to stay over for church on Sunday but they declined since they need to get back for a missions service in their own church in which Vicky has a role. Initially I suggested that they try to get out of it and then it struck me that this is the very type of commitment and responsibility that I value so highly and try to model myself! This wonderful commendation in our daily Scripture text is part of a parable Jesus told late in His earthly ministry. "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things." This servant had used the talents that were given to him wisely and responsibly. I believe responsibility is a character trait that is often under-rated in our modern world. Actually I would have to say in my observation that irresponsibility is increasingly becoming far more common. We express our faithfulness to God in a number of ways:
We practice these responsibilities in a number of different ways: when we nurture our relationships; when we handle our finances with care and integrity; when we properly care for our belongings; and when we practice healthful living as stewards of the body that God has given us. These matters may not be very "spiritual" sounding but I believe they are important ways we glorify God. Through my years in ministry I've met quite a number of people who appear to have it altogether in personality, appearance, or giftings, but have made a fiasco of their relationships or finances. Or they've ignored repeated warnings about other important matters in their lives. As we begin the first work week of another New Year let me urge you to closely examine your life as a follower of Christ. Are you living in responsible obedience to God on a day by day basis? May God help us this New Year to live our lives responsibly! Be encouraged today, Stephen C. Weber Daily Prayer: Father, we pray that You will empower us to live responsible lives so that we can be living examples of what it means to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. Help us to resist temptations that weaken our resolve to live holy lives by memorizing and quoting Scripture that speaks to that sinful behavior, even while we're being tempted. We desire to bring joy to Your heart as we live responsibly and cast off that which hinders our spiritual growth. We want to seek first Your Kingdom and Your righteousness so that we will be kingdom servants pursuing righteous living. In the name of Your Son, Jesus, we pray. Amen. Friday evening we had wonderful fellowship with Chris Muhlhammer
along with her daughter Katie and son Mike in Raleigh, North Carolina.
They attended our church in northern Pennsylvania before moving to
Raleigh 19 years ago, so it was an exciting joyful reunion. As we
joined in a time of prayer it was as though we were once again in
church together and the time gap ceased to exist. Much adversity has
occured in those 19 years, so it was good to see these dear folks
remaining vibrant and faithful in their Christian walk. Mike has a
wonderful testimony of overcoming his physical adversity.
The Muhlhammers have two very friendly and boisterous golden retrievers and Ester had quite a lively time with them!
During
our trip last week we visited Stephen's favorite store in three
different places (Charlotte NC, Richmond VA, and Baltimore MD). Can any
readers tell us in what store Brooksyne would be able to hold hands
with a grizzly bear, hang on to her purse, and keep a smile on her
face? (It looks like the bear is smiling also.) Respond here.
The photo posted in Friday's encouragement message of Stephen's sister and family was taken on the London Eye. 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.)
"Find Us Faithful" Video This is a video prepared by a pastor for his parent's 50th wedding anniversary. His mother was in the hospital with leukemia at the time, and she passed away five days before the anniversary but she did get to see this video. Even though I don't know them I am blessed by the message the video conveys. What a wonderful way to honor a faithful mother! I was looking for a song that came out about the same time that Steve Green sang called "The Mission" which has these words, "There's a call going out, across the land in ev'ry nation, A call to all who swear allegiance, to the cross of Christ, A call to true humility, to live our lives responsibly, To deepen our devotion, to the cross at any price. To love the Lord our God, is the heartbeat of our mission, The spring from which our service overflows. Across the street or around the world, The mission's still the same, Proclaim and live the truth in Jesus' name. Send
a message to Stephen &
Brooksyne.
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Scripture
references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version.
© 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD
BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation,
New King James
Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the
King
James Version.
Personal
Mission Statement:
"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 please the Lord.
My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and
to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved
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