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Friday, August 31, 2012
Ester's Border Collie, Mollie, loves to play. She regularly meets us at the fence gate with one of her toys such as this rope toy. Ester took the above photo this morning and we are pleased to see her growing interest in photography. This week she had her first photo published in a company newsletter.
Listen to this message on your
audio player.
"Faithful Men"
"And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2).
Yesterday I was visiting with Greg Esh, a friend of ours,
who was excited about showing me an item he recently acquired. He walked over to the corner of his office
and picked up a leather scabbard from which he pulled out a real sword. Written on the sword was this
inscription from 2 Timothy 2:2: "Commit these to faithful men".
It was a gift from Greg's pastor honoring him for serving many years as a
leader in the church. Now that's a gift I suppose most men would really
appreciate!
It
brings to mind a visit with Floyd Miles, a friend I met when I lived in
New England. Several years ago he served a church in Indianapolis and at the time I had
the opportunity to speak to his congregation. Prior to the service, when
we prayed in his office, he showed me his "armor of God."
Many years ago I heard a short message that I found personally challenging that has had a lasting impact on my life. A pastor was speaking to the students at a Bible College. He candidly shared with them, "I may not be very handsome, I may not be the most dynamic speaker, I may not be musically gifted or have other characteristics normally associated with "success" in ministry."
Then he lowered his voice and said with great conviction, "But one thing I can be is faithful." I sure hope these young people took that message in. It's a good word and a vital challenge for young people preparing for Christ's service. It's a good challenge for all of us, wherever we are at in life.
Faithfulness
is very under-rated today and is often
overlooked, though it should never be taken for granted. Few of
us would have any trouble recalling examples of unfaithfulness. Many
thousands of dedicated
pastors and laypeople serve God week after week with little acclaim but
they are faithful.
In the afternoon yesterday I visited with Dan Wagner who serves as supervisor in his company. For thirty years he and his wife have led services in nursing homes and rescue missions, hardly glamorous fields for ministry. But Dan's been faithful.
In his final book the Apostle Paul gave instructions to Timothy about preparing the next generation who would bear witness for Christ to the world. Although there are certainly many characteristics that are important he emphasizes just one; "faithfulness". Other versions use the word, "reliable".
Down through the ages of the church each generation has had devoted servants of Christ who have faithfully plugged along in service for the Lord. Is your pastor reliable? Does he faithfully preach God's Word week after week? Does he "earnestly contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints?" or is he "blown here and there by every wind of strange doctrine?" Can he be counted upon? If so you are blessed. Let him know you appreciate his faithfulness.
Whether you are a minister or a lay person, are you faithful? Faithfulness makes a difference to those whom you influence and it matters a great deal to God.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
we who have received Your grace, place our faith in You. We
choose to walk uprightly with integrity and conviction. Our words and
actions declare the pure, unadulterated counsel of Your Holy
Word to other faithful leaders, trusting them to pass on that which has
been entrusted to us. In doing so we are faithful stewards of that
which You commanded of us through the great commission: "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every nation...". We do this through Christ Jesus our Lord in whose name we pray. Amen.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resource
"Faithful Men" Video Twila Paris
"Faithful Friend" Video Twila Paris and Steven Curtis Chapman
The
flower photo we share today is an example of a personal hobby we both
have. We like to repurpose old articles we either have saved or
attained. Several years ago I found the old garden cart along the road
free. We crammed it into the van and have found it very useful both to
haul stuff and as a display cart. Brooksyne enjoys
reviving plants and flowers, especially those on clearance at Lowes!
Several years ago we remodeled our bathroom but I kept the old mirrors
from the medicine cabinet and stored them up in our barn loft. Then I
asked some friends at a home improvement company we serve to see
if they could salvage some windows from an old farmhouse they were
renovating. I placed the mirrors behind the old window, hung the frame
on our fence and we have an interesting garden accent (to me anyway!)
<Previous Message Next Message>
Friday, August 31, 2012
Ester's Border Collie, Mollie, loves to play. She regularly meets us at the fence gate with one of her toys such as this rope toy. Ester took the above photo this morning and we are pleased to see her growing interest in photography. This week she had her first photo published in a company newsletter.
Listen to this message on your
audio player."Faithful Men"
"And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2).
Yesterday I was visiting with Greg Esh, a friend of ours,
who was excited about showing me an item he recently acquired. He walked over to the corner of his office
and picked up a leather scabbard from which he pulled out a real sword. Written on the sword was this
inscription from 2 Timothy 2:2: "Commit these to faithful men".
It was a gift from Greg's pastor honoring him for serving many years as a
leader in the church. Now that's a gift I suppose most men would really
appreciate!
It
brings to mind a visit with Floyd Miles, a friend I met when I lived in
New England. Several years ago he served a church in Indianapolis and at the time I had
the opportunity to speak to his congregation. Prior to the service, when
we prayed in his office, he showed me his "armor of God."Many years ago I heard a short message that I found personally challenging that has had a lasting impact on my life. A pastor was speaking to the students at a Bible College. He candidly shared with them, "I may not be very handsome, I may not be the most dynamic speaker, I may not be musically gifted or have other characteristics normally associated with "success" in ministry."
Then he lowered his voice and said with great conviction, "But one thing I can be is faithful." I sure hope these young people took that message in. It's a good word and a vital challenge for young people preparing for Christ's service. It's a good challenge for all of us, wherever we are at in life.
Faithfulness
is very under-rated today and is often
overlooked, though it should never be taken for granted. Few of
us would have any trouble recalling examples of unfaithfulness. Many
thousands of dedicated
pastors and laypeople serve God week after week with little acclaim but
they are faithful.In the afternoon yesterday I visited with Dan Wagner who serves as supervisor in his company. For thirty years he and his wife have led services in nursing homes and rescue missions, hardly glamorous fields for ministry. But Dan's been faithful.
In his final book the Apostle Paul gave instructions to Timothy about preparing the next generation who would bear witness for Christ to the world. Although there are certainly many characteristics that are important he emphasizes just one; "faithfulness". Other versions use the word, "reliable".
Down through the ages of the church each generation has had devoted servants of Christ who have faithfully plugged along in service for the Lord. Is your pastor reliable? Does he faithfully preach God's Word week after week? Does he "earnestly contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints?" or is he "blown here and there by every wind of strange doctrine?" Can he be counted upon? If so you are blessed. Let him know you appreciate his faithfulness.
Whether you are a minister or a lay person, are you faithful? Faithfulness makes a difference to those whom you influence and it matters a great deal to God.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
we who have received Your grace, place our faith in You. We
choose to walk uprightly with integrity and conviction. Our words and
actions declare the pure, unadulterated counsel of Your Holy
Word to other faithful leaders, trusting them to pass on that which has
been entrusted to us. In doing so we are faithful stewards of that
which You commanded of us through the great commission: "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every nation...". We do this through Christ Jesus our Lord in whose name we pray. Amen.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resource
"Faithful Men" Video Twila Paris
"Faithful Friend" Video Twila Paris and Steven Curtis Chapman
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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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