Daily Encouragement

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Lebanon County farm pond (10/16/18) click to enlarge

This farm pond we passed yesterday in Lebanon County, PA might just be the most inviting farm pond I've ever seen. The entire perimeter is lined with stone and they have a sandy beach! We can just imagine the joy of sitting on that front porch and watching the grandchildren swimming and playing.
(Click to enlarge)

"I Got Saved!"

Note: At 4:30 a.m. this morning we leave for BWI heading out to California to visit Stephen's older brother Michael for several days in the Bay area. We do not expect to post Daily Encouragement messages regularly but hope to get one off next Monday (assuming we can get our laptop computer working).

Message summary: Have you called on the Name of the Lord? Have you got saved? (pardon the poor grammar!)

Listen to our message on your audio player.

"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Acts 2:21)

There is a river of gladness
That pours from Emmanuel's veins.
This sinner was plunged beneath the flood and got saved.
Since then I walk in forgiveness,
All of my guilt was erased.
The chains of the past are broken at last;
I got saved,
Oh, I got saved

We meet a lot of interesting people in the course of life. Not only do we see many people in our chaplain ministry but we make it our goal to let Christ's light shine through us wherever we go and whomever we see.

The other day we were in a Lowe's home improvement store and the young lady checking us out had a tattoo to the left temple of her eye that read "Jeremy". Well, those of you who know me know I'm not too bashful so I inquired, "Who's Jeremy? Your boyfriend?". She paused and then blew out a puff of air as she replied, "Oh no, that's a long story" and went on to inform us that Jeremy was in prison and no longer in her life. Normally she tries to conceal the tattoo with make-up but lacked the time to do so as she dressed that morning.

We see a lot of tattoos, as many of you do, and we have two tattoo stories from our chaplain calls yesterday. We met a young man named Casey who has had a very hard life, including time spent in prison (Rikers Island in NYC). His tattoo, "Forgive me" above his eye, caught our attention so I asked him about it. Anyone who has a tattoo applied to their exposed skin should be prepared to answer questions since their body is like a sign for others to examine.

Casey's tattoo was a testimony of his new life. He really wants to live right and follow the Lord and we had the opportunity yesterday to encourage him to do so. He told us he wanted the tattoo to read, "Lord forgive me" but was told there wasn't enough room.

I have absolutely no intention of getting a tattoo anywhere on my body, let alone above my eye, but if I did I would have the tattoo read "Forgiven". What a wonderful state to be in!

For several weeks we have been enjoying a song with the simple title "I Got Saved". We have a couple of versions below if you want to hear the powerful words. A line that grips me so much states,

This sinner was plunged beneath the flood and got saved
Since then I walk in forgiveness
All of my guilt was erased

Casey told us his favorite Bible verse is Romans 8:1. "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus". The word "condemnation" from the original Greek means "an adverse sentence." Because of Christ's death on the cross we are no longer objects of God's wrath, but we are His beloved children and can experience the joy of "no condemnation" or as the song words it, "All of my guilt was erased."

On the Day of Pentecost Peter preached and quoting from Joel, an OT prophet, he set forth a foundational truth for the birth of the church and the rebirth for every repentant sinner, "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

The "everyone" is about as inclusive as you can get. That means you!

Today we must ask you:

Have you called on the Name of the Lord?

Have you got saved? (pardon the poor grammar!)

I'm undone by the mercy of Jesus
I'm undone by the goodness of the Lord
I'm restored and made right
He got a hold on my life
I've got Jesus, how could I want more

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, I thank You for the day I received Christ as my personal Savior, the day I got saved. In my case that was over 45 years ago. But Your nature is to continue to seek and save the lost. Thank you that men and women, boys and girls all over the world are still getting saved. Red and yellow, black and white, they're all precious in Your sight. We pray for Casey and many others like him who have come to faith after years of serving the devil. Thank God Your grace can extend to the uttermost! In Jesus Name we pray. Amen

Brooksyne shares the other tattoo story: Last week I visited with a woman who's been a temp for several months. In the past we hadn't specifically talked about spiritual matters but I felt the Lord leading me to share one of my favorite verses with her, "Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go for to You I lift up my soul" (Psalm 143:8). I briefly shared what that verse meant to me as a believer. She responded with damp eyes in tender appreciation for the Scripture.

All week she has been on my heart so yesterday morning, hoping to see her again, I wrote the verse on a note pad. When I saw her at work I gave her the verse. She looked at me in amazement as she said, "Last Tuesday I went home and told my ex-husband that this chaplain at work told me a verse from the Bible that had a very special message for me. When asked what it was I couldn't remember. So he said, 'Look it up in the Bible'. I didn't know where to start."

She further explained that she likes tattoos and she was so touched by Psalm 143:8 that she wanted to get it as a tattoo but needed the words to do so. I chuckled inwardly, since tattooing is certainly not an art we as older Christians like to wear on our bodies. My style is to make a bookmark of a Scripture or put it on my bathroom mirror, above my kitchen sink or tape to the dashboard. Better yet I like to put a Scripture to music which is how I memorized Psalm 147:8. As William Cowper wrote, "The Lord works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform."

Casey at White Oak with Brooksyne 10/16/18

Casey, featured in our message today, with Brooksyne. We ask our Daily Encouragement readers to pray for this young man that he will stay faithful. Being a temp worker at the company where we met him we may never see him again but believe the Lord had us there yesterday for Casey. We exchanged contact info and hope to connect again, even if he does not return with the temp agency. We were pleased that he is involved with Celebrate Recovery, a very effective ministry for those in recovery. He also spoke well of his pastor, who is a former heroin addict.

Steve at White Oak with Stephen 10/16/18

Stephen is talking to Steve who is a supervisor at White Oak Display. We sure appreciate caring supervisors. This man has shown great care for troubled workers under his supervision. The peg board was not just a prop but some material the company was getting rid of that we plan to use for a project.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"I Got Saved" Video Corey Voss This song really, really touches and enthuses us!!! This version has the lyrics

"I Got Saved" Video Corey Voss Live version. What a joy to see the young people worshiping!!!

"I Got Saved" Video Selah

Finally today:

The distinctive truck is used for apple harvest at Seyfert Orchards near Lebanon, PA.
Seyfert Orchards is on Mount Zion Road in Lebanon County on the way to one of our chaplaincy locations. See the photo on their website for another interesting view of their modified harvest trucks!
(Click to enlarge)