Monday, March 5, 2007



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"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3).

Several weeks ago a car hit our mailbox post and nearly sheared it off.  I temporarily held it together with bungee cords but it got weaker and weaker so this week, as the weather finally warmed up, I attempted a more permanent repair. But after I started the project I realized I didn't have all the materials I needed.  Since I had already removed the box and was going out of town for several days I went to Plan B.  I used my favorite "All Purpose Fix-It" tape.


As a home workshop enthusiast I find two items indispensable to a complete workshop:  Duct tape and WD-40.  (I suppose I should add bungee cords, as well.)  Many years ago we were eating in a diner in Oklahoma where I saw a big construction worker type man with this slogan emblazoned on his sweatshirt, "WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH THE TOUGH USE DUCT TAPE."  I learned early on in life the many virtues of duct tape. That's something my dad taught me.  It's amazing how much can be fixed with it. I've even seen well-worn Bibles covers that Christians refuse to part with bound together with duct tape!

I think of duct tape when I consider our daily verse.  The Hebrew word for "bind" (chabash) has the sense "to bind firmly."  I'm glad God's binding is not a flimsy variety.  This same word is used by Isaiah in describing the mission of the coming Messiah when he states, "He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted" (61:1). 

What a joy to personally experience this healthful binding in my own life and as a minister of the Gospel to help others experience it as well.

Today are you brokenhearted?  Do you have some spiritual wounds?  I've got good news for you!  God has not changed.  He still cares.  And He still acts. "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18).


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer:  Father, we're so thankful that when we mess things up You don't throw up Your arms, shake Your finger at us and say, "You made the mess.  Now you fix it."  Plenty of others might do so, but Your compassion far exceeds Your judgment, for You did not come to condemn, but rather You came to save us from our own folly.  We do lots of temporary "fixing up" in our lives that comes unraveled again or needs ongoing repair.  But when we lay our broken hearts before You, You pick up the fragile pieces and restore us spiritually and emotionally.  Thank You for binding up our wounds and pouring in Your ointment of healing for our sin sick soul.  Only You, Father, can heal the body and spirit.  Once we are touched by Your healing hand, we can't help but reach out to others who need that touch as well.

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I once saw a man wearing a t-shirt and initially the screen print photo of duct tape got my attention but then I asked him to stop so I could read the entire message. "People use duct tape to fix things. Jesus used three nails." That sure is true!

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One more duct tape story!

Ken and Lee are two duct-tape type friends of mine. When Ken got married in 2002 he and his new wife Nila didn't travel from the church to the reception in a stretch limo, like so many do today.  Darrel, a farmer friend, pulled them on a tractor in a hay wagon!