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Friday, June 1, 2018
Yesterday we stopped by the Flower Wagon greenhouse near Lititz, PA.
(Click to enlarge)
"Joy Is The Flag Flown High"
Message summary: Today we all have an outlook choice, rejoice or complain.
Listen
to our
message on your
audio player."And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice" (Philippians 1:18). "Do everything without complaining" (Philippians 2:14). "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4).
An old song comes to mind as we prepare today's message. It's a children's song but it has a great message for all ages. A few of you old-timers have heard and sung it!
Let me ask you a candid question. Have you complained about anything thus far today? I'm not only speaking of verbal murmurings expressed to others, but inner complaining within your own heart. (Aren't you glad you don’t have to answer that question, at least where others might hear!)
Life is jam packed with opportunities to complain if we so choose. I suspect this is true wherever we live; regardless of what situations we endure or conditions in which we live. However each day, really, each moment we have a major outlook choice; we can rejoice or complain.
A longtime preacher friend of ours made an interesting observation: "Essentially, complaining is accusing God of not doing it right." Think about that statement in light of God's providential dealings in your life. Isn't the traffic jam ultimately under God's control? What about that annoying associate? If God is really in control (and I sure believe He is), complaining is essentially accusing God of not doing it right. It's like telling God, "You are getting this all wrong. How about doing it right this time the way I want it?"
We wouldn't dare say those words, but our attitude often conveys such a disrespectful discourse, when we find ourselves grumbling to God. It's easy to criticize the Israelite's frequent murmurings and thankless hearts as they journeyed to the Promised Land, but we do the same, far more often, as we journey to our promised land.
We encourage you to read this Scripture carefully: "The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks" (Acts 16:22-24).
Try to imagine, even empathize with Paul and Silas' ordeal; physically, emotionally and spiritually. Their exterior circumstances in this single experience is a more traumatic trial than I've known in my 63 years of life. Look at the key words describing their situation: attacked, stripped, beaten, severely flogged, thrown in prison, guarded carefully, inner cell, feet fastened in stocks. This injustice took place in Philippi.
If anyone ever had uncomfortable and unwarranted conditions to complain about, Paul and Silas sure did! But the very next verse tells us just what they did: "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them" (Acts 16:25).
Paul later wrote a letter to the church in Philippi and gives two simple straightforward commands: "Do everything without complaining" (Philippians 2:14) and "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4). He sure had the credibility to make these statements!
It's very easy to make super-heroes out of these disciples of Christ, but they were human just like us. The Scriptures do not speak of their complaining or murmuring, but it's possible they did initially (we really don't know). But we do know that their prevailing attitude led them to conclude that God is worthy of our praise no matter how miserable or unjust their circumstance! We are to glorify God in the good and bad, for "no one lives unto himself". Onlookers see our countenance and observe our attitudes which provides for us an opportunity to glorify God and serves as a witness to others of the positive difference Christ makes in our lives.
Today we all have an outlook choice: "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!" It's a proclamation every single one of us can make this day and every day!
This is when you get your hankie out and wave it while singing!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father,
we're told to do everything without complaining, so that we shine like
stars in the universe. We know that people are drawn to light where
brightness is present and warmth is extended. Help our conversation to
be full of grace, tenderness, light, and truth so that we will
positively affect those around us. May we be as a sweet aroma to
You and those whom we meet on our life's journey. Give us an enduring
spirit when matters press in on us and grace to see us through to
victory. In Jesus' name we
pray. Amen.
Purse planter at the Flower Wagon greenhouse. Brooksyne got a kick out of this purse with pockets (the style she always buys). She commented, "Flowers in the pockets" - that's just like a woman - filling every pocket in her purse!
Driving near New Holland, PA
(Click to enlarge)
Driving through rural Lancaster County we find abundant evidence of entrepreneurship!
These home decor items are for sale on a farm near Intercourse, PA
Today's
Suggested Music and
Supplemental Resources
"Joy Is The Flag Flown High" Video
Finally today:
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 make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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