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This morning Brooksyne took this photo of the goldfinches. We have three couples hanging out at our birdfeeders. You can see one of them coming in for the landing.
Here's a larger version.
Listen to this message on your
audio player.
"God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; He does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.'" (Job 37:5,6).
We
are in the midst of another large snowstorm here in Pennsylvania. As I
look out my window this morning the snow is falling steadily and just
before sending our message out I measured about 12 inches of new snow.
Brooksyne is enjoying watching the birds, especially the finches, snowbirds and cardinals. As noted several times in our messages the cardinals capture our attention since their scarlet color is like a red fluorescent light gleaming in the broad landscape of white snow.
The Bible doesn't mention snow a lot as it was not that common in the region where Bible events took place. But the Bible peoples certainly knew of snow and it is periodically used as an illustration.
The daily verse is part of the speech of Elihu, who spoke following the exchange between Job and his three friends. I have always enjoyed Elihu's perspective, although God certainly has the final word at the end of the book. The falling snow is another reminder of God's providential care and ruling over all the earth.
"God's voice thunders in marvelous ways." I desire to have a perspective on life in which I hear God's voice in the silent falling snow, the splattering rain, the mighty winds and even the occasional pelting hail that falls from the sky. I marvel at the variety of ways God speaks to us and provides for our spiritual and physical needs. Each element of nature has a divine and practical purpose.
We may choose to focus on how it inconveniences our lives and alters our schedules. Or like Elihu, we may simply remember this plainly spoken truth, "He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.'" It's God's ways and we do well to recognize His sovereign rule over humankind. Witnessing God's almighty power puts mankind's limited power into proper perspective.
"Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail?" (Job 38:22). God did not intend that snow or hail take up permanent residency like the giant oaks, the mighty seas or mountainous structures that have stood for thousands of years. Our lives and this world are subject to His sovereign design and His eternal time table.
"He does great things beyond our understanding." This is a great verse to ponder. What He does is great although it may go beyond our finite understanding. In fact, it might not make any sense at all to us. In researching music for this message I came across a song written by Steven Curtis Chapman. The lyrics indicate that we have an underlying trust that God is in control though circumstances may not always be to our liking. We declare God to be holy, sovereign, and His will for our lives will not be fully understood on this side of heaven. Full understanding comes when we step on heaven's shore.
Today let me encourage you to again keep the focus on God, who continues to do "great things beyond our understanding." He who works in the storm is also working in our lives this day. Often it's in the precipitous storm that He is speaking. Be sure to listen. He is in control and will have the final say!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we recognize Your handiwork in nature and we welcome Your handiwork in our lives. Help us to look to You and trust Your sovereign plan to unfold in our lives day by day, year by year while we look to You as our Hope and Stay! It is the only real and lasting stability we have in this life. We thank You for it in Jesus' name. Amen.
A friend responded to yesterday's message. She tells a cute story from her childhood:
"Our God Is In Control" Video Stephen Curtis Chapman
"Whiter Than The Snow" Video
"Because Of Who You Are" Video
"More Than Enough" Video Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
"God Will Carry You" Video Shannon Wexelberg
Monday's message was titled "The One True God" and was a defense of Biblical orthodoxy. This morning I came across a great article on this matter titled, "Doctrine Divides"
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
This morning Brooksyne took this photo of the goldfinches. We have three couples hanging out at our birdfeeders. You can see one of them coming in for the landing.
Here's a larger version.
Listen to this message on your
audio player. "God's Voice"
"God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; He does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.'" (Job 37:5,6).
We
are in the midst of another large snowstorm here in Pennsylvania. As I
look out my window this morning the snow is falling steadily and just
before sending our message out I measured about 12 inches of new snow. Brooksyne is enjoying watching the birds, especially the finches, snowbirds and cardinals. As noted several times in our messages the cardinals capture our attention since their scarlet color is like a red fluorescent light gleaming in the broad landscape of white snow.
The Bible doesn't mention snow a lot as it was not that common in the region where Bible events took place. But the Bible peoples certainly knew of snow and it is periodically used as an illustration.
The daily verse is part of the speech of Elihu, who spoke following the exchange between Job and his three friends. I have always enjoyed Elihu's perspective, although God certainly has the final word at the end of the book. The falling snow is another reminder of God's providential care and ruling over all the earth.
"God's voice thunders in marvelous ways." I desire to have a perspective on life in which I hear God's voice in the silent falling snow, the splattering rain, the mighty winds and even the occasional pelting hail that falls from the sky. I marvel at the variety of ways God speaks to us and provides for our spiritual and physical needs. Each element of nature has a divine and practical purpose.
We may choose to focus on how it inconveniences our lives and alters our schedules. Or like Elihu, we may simply remember this plainly spoken truth, "He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.'" It's God's ways and we do well to recognize His sovereign rule over humankind. Witnessing God's almighty power puts mankind's limited power into proper perspective.
"Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail?" (Job 38:22). God did not intend that snow or hail take up permanent residency like the giant oaks, the mighty seas or mountainous structures that have stood for thousands of years. Our lives and this world are subject to His sovereign design and His eternal time table.
"He does great things beyond our understanding." This is a great verse to ponder. What He does is great although it may go beyond our finite understanding. In fact, it might not make any sense at all to us. In researching music for this message I came across a song written by Steven Curtis Chapman. The lyrics indicate that we have an underlying trust that God is in control though circumstances may not always be to our liking. We declare God to be holy, sovereign, and His will for our lives will not be fully understood on this side of heaven. Full understanding comes when we step on heaven's shore.
Today let me encourage you to again keep the focus on God, who continues to do "great things beyond our understanding." He who works in the storm is also working in our lives this day. Often it's in the precipitous storm that He is speaking. Be sure to listen. He is in control and will have the final say!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we recognize Your handiwork in nature and we welcome Your handiwork in our lives. Help us to look to You and trust Your sovereign plan to unfold in our lives day by day, year by year while we look to You as our Hope and Stay! It is the only real and lasting stability we have in this life. We thank You for it in Jesus' name. Amen.
Photos of today's storm
I took this during the snowfall.
It
took a lot of persuading but we managed to get Roxie out in the snow
two days ago. She'd probably be buried under the snow if I were to
take this photo today.
She would much rather be here.
She would much rather be here.
The
goldfinches lose their vibrant colors in the winter, but we were able
to capture some of their yellow color amidst the white background.
A friend responded to yesterday's message. She tells a cute story from her childhood:
Growing up in Illinois I can relate to having to shovel
the snow off the roof....well, actually, my DAD can relate. Many a
winter he would be up on our roof with shovel in hand. It was real life
out there, a necessity, and I remember my sister's Jr High School
having to cancel school one day due to a roof caving from too much
weight.
The up side to shoveling all that
rooftop snow is that it made for a natural toboggan run! As kids we'd
form the snow that had just been pushed off the house into curves and
bumps in efforts to make our "run" all the more exciting....it was our
own little Olympic luge. It kept us out from under Mother's feet for
hours.
I even have memories of one
winter when my little brother had ramped up his pesty-ness. After
repeated warnings, my father opened an upstairs window, grabbed my
brother by an arm and a leg, who was still in his pj's, and threw him
outside, much like one would throw someone in the pool. With all the
freshly shoveled off rooftop snow he had a cushioned, albeit, startling
awakening to help turn his bothersome attitude around. Sometimes we all
just need a sharp reminder to get ourselves back on track, and that
winter plunge helped my little brother do just that. Or....at least for
the rest of the morning!
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.)
(In some cases you may also need to click again to start the song.)
"Our God Is In Control" Video Stephen Curtis Chapman
"Whiter Than The Snow" Video
"Because Of Who You Are" Video
"More Than Enough" Video Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
"God Will Carry You" Video Shannon Wexelberg
Monday's message was titled "The One True God" and was a defense of Biblical orthodoxy. This morning I came across a great article on this matter titled, "Doctrine Divides"
Send
a message to Stephen &
Brooksyne.
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Text only version for printing: To make a text only version for printing (without photos or any of the supplemental materials)
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3) Paste into the text pad. (The photos won't show up but you will have a brief text description of the photo which you can delete or just ignore.)
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5) Print!
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
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
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