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Thursday, May 10, 2012
This "Fork in the road" is in Centerport, PA.
Listen
to this
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audio player.
"The Fork In The Road"
"I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on Your laws" (Psalm 119:30). "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it'" (Isaiah 30:21). "This is what the LORD says -- your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: 'I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go'" (Isaiah 48:17). "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps" (1 Peter 2:21).
We use the
phrase "a fork in the road" to describe the point at which a road branches into two. In Centerport PA, a
tiny village north of Reading, there is a literal super-sized fork in the road
marking such a point! We passed by it this last Sunday and snapped the photo we feature in the lead photo.
But
we also use the phrase "a fork in the road" as a figure of speech
referring to an important decision before us. At such a point we can go
in one of two or more directions. Interestingly, the Bible actually
uses this figure of speech in Ezekiel 21:21 (in several translations).
Today I want to consider a fork in the road that most of us have experienced or will at a future date. Now through early next month all over our country and around the world young people are graduating. Graduation is an important milestone preparing us for adulthood and independence. In so many ways it is a vital fork in the road of life. Often, due to lack of proper direction in the early formative years, so many choose the wrong way at this point.
I want to encourage graduates and all reading this to hear a very clear message from God's Word. This specific phrase "the way" has great meaning in the Scriptures. God chose Abraham to "command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD." Moses urged the people to "walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you." The Psalmist declares, "I have chosen the way of truth." The sense of the Hebrew word for "way" in the above passages is "a course of life or mode of action."
In 1 Peter 2:21 we read, "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps" (1 Peter 2:21). This verse was the inspiration for Charles Sheldon's classic book, "In His Steps".
In the New Testament Jesus said, "I am the Way" and a descriptive designation for the early church in the book of Acts was "the Way". One of the last uses of the phrase in the Bible is so pertinent to our time. It describes when, "Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute" (2 Peter 2:2).
The two daily verses from Isaiah express a truth that we all do well to hide deep in our hearts. "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you." Truly, our heavenly Father knows best. We all need to keep this truth before us, but our young people are especially at a point in life where there is a battle raging over this issue in their souls. They hear so many voices asserting "this way is best for you." Many of these ways are absolutely contrary to God's way!
But God directs us in the way we should go.
My prayer for graduates and all our readers is well stated by the prophet Isaiah in another verse: "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it'" (Isaiah 30:21).
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Jesus,
I pray for families whose children graduate from high school or college
this year. What a tremendous and long-range accomplishment this is
in the lives of our young people. I ask that You would empower our
graduates with great foresight, godly wisdom, daily discipline, and a
sense of purpose as they enter a new season in their lives. May
their hearts be fully consecrated to You as they use their natural
giftings and learned skills in the marketplace. Though much about
their future is not yet revealed, You have given absolute direction
about their personal spiritual walk. No matter what field of study
or where they locate geographically may Your voice be clearly heard,
"This is the way; walk in it." No matter what season of life we're in,
help us to never forsake the unchanging, fundamental truths we learn
from steadfastly walking in Your way. We joyfully acknowledge it is the
best way!
The fork may be in the road but the other two pieces of dining ware are on a tavern across the street!
These old trucks appear ready to go.
This appears to be a home-made SUV parked in front of the Moselem Farms Mill. It would surely get a lot of attention and best of all and perhaps of interest to some readers, it's for sale!
This is a lifesize mailbox
These folks must really like Purple Martins.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Lead Me O Lord" Video Scripture memory songs
"Lead Me Lord" Video Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
"I Have Decided To Follow Jesus" Video Heritage Singers
The story behind the Centerport "fork in the road"
<Previous Message Next Message
Thursday, May 10, 2012
This "Fork in the road" is in Centerport, PA.
Listen
to this
message on
your
audio player."The Fork In The Road"
"I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on Your laws" (Psalm 119:30). "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it'" (Isaiah 30:21). "This is what the LORD says -- your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: 'I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go'" (Isaiah 48:17). "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps" (1 Peter 2:21).
We use the
phrase "a fork in the road" to describe the point at which a road branches into two. In Centerport PA, a
tiny village north of Reading, there is a literal super-sized fork in the road
marking such a point! We passed by it this last Sunday and snapped the photo we feature in the lead photo.But
we also use the phrase "a fork in the road" as a figure of speech
referring to an important decision before us. At such a point we can go
in one of two or more directions. Interestingly, the Bible actually
uses this figure of speech in Ezekiel 21:21 (in several translations).Today I want to consider a fork in the road that most of us have experienced or will at a future date. Now through early next month all over our country and around the world young people are graduating. Graduation is an important milestone preparing us for adulthood and independence. In so many ways it is a vital fork in the road of life. Often, due to lack of proper direction in the early formative years, so many choose the wrong way at this point.
I want to encourage graduates and all reading this to hear a very clear message from God's Word. This specific phrase "the way" has great meaning in the Scriptures. God chose Abraham to "command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD." Moses urged the people to "walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you." The Psalmist declares, "I have chosen the way of truth." The sense of the Hebrew word for "way" in the above passages is "a course of life or mode of action."
In 1 Peter 2:21 we read, "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps" (1 Peter 2:21). This verse was the inspiration for Charles Sheldon's classic book, "In His Steps".In the New Testament Jesus said, "I am the Way" and a descriptive designation for the early church in the book of Acts was "the Way". One of the last uses of the phrase in the Bible is so pertinent to our time. It describes when, "Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute" (2 Peter 2:2).
The two daily verses from Isaiah express a truth that we all do well to hide deep in our hearts. "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you." Truly, our heavenly Father knows best. We all need to keep this truth before us, but our young people are especially at a point in life where there is a battle raging over this issue in their souls. They hear so many voices asserting "this way is best for you." Many of these ways are absolutely contrary to God's way!
But God directs us in the way we should go.
My prayer for graduates and all our readers is well stated by the prophet Isaiah in another verse: "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it'" (Isaiah 30:21).
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Jesus,
I pray for families whose children graduate from high school or college
this year. What a tremendous and long-range accomplishment this is
in the lives of our young people. I ask that You would empower our
graduates with great foresight, godly wisdom, daily discipline, and a
sense of purpose as they enter a new season in their lives. May
their hearts be fully consecrated to You as they use their natural
giftings and learned skills in the marketplace. Though much about
their future is not yet revealed, You have given absolute direction
about their personal spiritual walk. No matter what field of study
or where they locate geographically may Your voice be clearly heard,
"This is the way; walk in it." No matter what season of life we're in,
help us to never forsake the unchanging, fundamental truths we learn
from steadfastly walking in Your way. We joyfully acknowledge it is the
best way!The fork may be in the road but the other two pieces of dining ware are on a tavern across the street!
These old trucks appear ready to go.
This appears to be a home-made SUV parked in front of the Moselem Farms Mill. It would surely get a lot of attention and best of all and perhaps of interest to some readers, it's for sale!
This is a lifesize mailbox
These folks must really like Purple Martins.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Lead Me O Lord" Video Scripture memory songs
"Lead Me Lord" Video Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
"I Have Decided To Follow Jesus" Video Heritage Singers
The story behind the Centerport "fork in the road"
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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.
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