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Monday, September 7, 2009

An Eastern Black Swallowtail butterfly in our Autumn Joy Sedum.
Our Sedum lines the walkway in the front of our home and at this time of year is teaming with butterflies, bees and all kinds of other insects!

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"Under Construction"

"Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).

Today is "Labor Day" here in the USA. There'll be some parades and rallies but for most it's merely the final big day off and the unofficial conclusion of summer. Many of us will gather with family and friends. We have two separate invitations: a mid-day cookout and later home-made ice cream! This will also be the last big camp-out for many and perhaps the bear featured in our photo is counting on finding some people food since the table where he sits looks pretty bare!

Yesterday I spoke to our congregation on "God's Finished Work" in creation, redemption and preparing our future home in heaven.

At the conclusion of Creation, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good" (Genesis 1:31).
On the Cross Christ proclaimed the full price paid for our redemption, "It Is Finished" (John 19:30).
In His final teaching to His disciples He told them, "I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2). I am absolutely confident that this project, if not completed, is on schedule and on budget!

One project remaining "Under Construction" and unfinished is His continued work in each of our lives. He continues to inform, perform, and transform willing subjects. Many of us will recall a song from many years ago that states, "He's Still Working On Me." Yesterday I asked Brooksyne to share the words of this song rarely heard these days. She sung the first line and the congregation broke into song right along with her!

He's still working on me
To make me what I ought to be
It took Him just a day to make the moon and stars,
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars.
How loving and patient He must be.
He's still working on me.

Now here's a spiritual lesson. Obviously our Divine Contractor can build as fast as He wants. After all, the Creation account is completed over a mere six day period.

But our personal spiritual growth is in increments over the course of our entire life. There are times when these increments are noticeable and dramatic, particularly in our early days in the faith. There are other times when they may be practically imperceptible and we may wonder whether the Divine Contractor is still at work.

However, we can be sure, based upon the trustworthiness of God's Word and His character, that He is continually at work. In our daily text Paul expresses confidence that the One who began the good work in the lives of the Philippian believers (and each one of us who has placed our faith in Christ) will be faithful to perform or complete it until the day of His return. The Greek word for "complete" means to "fulfill completely." Praise God – He doesn't do a half-hearted, incompetent or incomplete work!

This Labor Day I invite God to keep up His good work in my life. What about you? Hold tight to His loving grip and be confident that He's still at work. In earth's journey we're always "Under Construction" but the hour is coming when God's work will be completed in our lives! Until then I want to be busy working for the Master.

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily Prayer: Father, You began a good work in me the moment of my conception when You created me in Your own image. Incredibly, You choose to reflect Your divine Being through my thoughts, attitudes, and actions though I am numbered among the "frail children of dust." I place my trust in You and have found that You never fail. You never give up or abandon the work You started in my life but Your tender mercies and divine plan continue to break me, mold me, and shape me into Your image. The process will not be completed until the day Christ calls us home. Thank You, Father, for being my "Maker, Defender, Redeemer and my Friend". Amen.

(Portion of Prayer inspired by the hymn, "O Worship the King")

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.)

"He Who Began A Good Work In You" Video This song is based on our daily text (Philippians 1:6) assuring us that God will be faithful to complete the work He began in us when we surrender our hearts to Him.

"I Know Whom I Have Believed" Video Mike Martin, a friend of ours, prepared this video to sing along in a Biker's Church he leads. This is a different tune than we normally sing but it has the same wonderful words. BTW, this song is based on 2 Timothy 1:12, "for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

"In His Time" Video

"O Worship The King" Video

Eastern Black Swallowtail Butterfly

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