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Monday, April 13, 2015
Old railroad tunnel along Chiques Rock rail trail.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
To receive the "Daily Encouragement" each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe to our email list. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or through a Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.)
Are
our daily encouragement messages a blessing to you? We ask you to
consider making a donation to Daily Encouragement Net so that we can
continue to prepare and provide this daily resource which is
accessed by believers and seekers all over the world. Daily
Encouragement Net relies solely on the generosity and financial support
of its readers and podcast listeners. See here
for more information on supporting this
ministry. Gifts are tax deductible.
Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. I do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Text only version for printing: To make a text only version for printing (without photos or any of the supplemental materials)
1) Open the basic text editor that comes with all computers (known as wordpad, textpad, etc.) You can also use a program like Word and select paste text only.
2) Select and copy the text from the portion of the message you want to print.
3) Paste into the text pad. (The photos won't show up but you will have a brief text description of the photo which you can delete or just ignore.)
4) Format if you desire (change font, increase or decrease size, etc.)
5) Print!
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."
© Copyright 2015 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
<Previous Message Next Message>
Monday, April 13, 2015
Old railroad tunnel along Chiques Rock rail trail.
"Mundane Faithfulness"
Listen to this
message on
your
audio player.
"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord" (Romans 12:11).
Stanley
Horton was one our highly esteemed professors when we attended Bible
College back in the mid-seventies. At that time he seemed old although
he was
actually about our age now! He went on to live 98 years,
passing away just last year. He continued in active service practically
to the end and maintained an active Facebook page and blog, making his
last post after his 98th birthday!
He was a brilliant man with an encyclopedic knowledge of Scripture. I recall asking him a question about an obscure verse although I didn't even have the reference. He immediately recognized the verse, gave the reference, and provided a satisfactory answer.
I read this quote in an article concerning his death, "Some people make a big splash in life. Others spread their impact more quietly over decades." In the case of Dr. Horton his influence spread out for nearly 80 years impacting scores of young people preparing for ministry.
It was Martin Luther who asked his thoughtful listeners, "What will you do in the days of mundane faithfulness?”
Most of us aren't making a big splash. Our service might even be described as "mundane faithfulness". We go about our days seeking to be faithful in the little things. We are open to making a big splash if that's what God ordains but many of us never do.
Mundane faithfulness is unheralded. It's couples who keep their marriage vows, workers who do their jobs conscientiously, parents who steadily care for and nurture their children and there are many areas where mundane faithfulness can be applied in the church setting.
We should see a lot of this in a healthy local church. I did yesterday. I was standing in the foyer before the service visiting with several men when Dick walked in. Last week his wife, Ruby, fell and broke her hip and now recovers in a rehab hospital. The men gathered around Dick to lend support as he sought to restrain his tears. Married for nearly 60 years this is a tough time for him. But he found encouragement in a small group of men who showed compassion as they assured him they help carry his burden in prayer.
We dedicate this message to the many, many people we've come across in our journey who are steadfastly making an impact for Christ in ways barely visible outside their own relatively small sphere of influence as they practice "mundane faithfulness".
Yesterday I changed the message on our church sign read by those who travel along scenic Mount Pleasant Road. I will be
preaching next Sunday while our pastor is visiting relatives so he asked me to put up my sermon title on the sign. Ester
watched me and recalled our sign changers while we were in New England.
Bill and Veda Shibilo served the Lord in a variety of ways in our congregation, including faithfully changing our sign each week along busy Rt 44 in Taunton, Massachusetts, posting Scripture verses and quippy sayings, which we hoped would speak to driver's hearts as they passed. We periodically received comments from passers-by but only the Lord knows the impact of these truth statements in spiritually barren New England.
Those
who serve in their churches are too numerous to count. Our thoughts
immediately race to those who have platform ministry. But consider
today Naomi who sat in a church nursery tending the toddlers while
their parents enjoyed undistracted worship. How about the trustees who
arrive before everyone else, unlocking the doors, adjusting the
temperature, staying till all have left the building, checking the
bathrooms, turning off lights and locking up. We think of those, like
our friend Sherry, who year after year, has visited a nursing home
weekly to express spiritual and physical care.
How about the dedicated volunteer who calls upon others to prepare a meal when a church member is recovering from an accident or surgery? We benefitted greatly from that when Brooksyne was recovering from surgery seven years ago after she broke her ankle. I contend that the vast majority of the work of Christ is being done by hundreds of millions of believers just like these around the world who work behind the scenes as they practice mundane faithfulness.
"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord" is a command that we do well to practice all the days of our life, whether we're called home young or if we live to be 98, like Professor Stanley Horton. Today, make a fresh determination to faithfully serve the Lord in big or small ways in mundane faithfulness.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father,
it seems the longer we live the more likely it is that we grow weary,
lose interest, or become frustrated by others who might not help carry
the work load, whether it's in the family, work, or church setting. But
if we carry out that which You've laid upon our hearts and faithfully
serve, even in the mundane chores that others are not attracted to, we
do that which pleases You and make an essential contribution to the
overall function of the home, workplace, church, community and world. Even
that which is mundane to others can be appealing to those whose hearts
are zealous, filled with spiritual fervor, because they are "doing
their work heartily as unto the Lord", which is even more important
than doing it for others. Keep us joyfully on track and focused
heavenward as we faithfully serve You in the mundane chores of life.
Amen.
Yesterday afternoon we took a bike ride along the Chiques rail trail along the Susquehanna River. Our Zimbabwe friends joined us and Ester took several photos.
Rock climbing on Chiques Rock. You can barely see this climber, as he's in the cleft of a rock, and almost reached the top. The bike trail runs below this very popular Chiques rock in Lancaster County.
The bike trail bridge over Chiques Creek.
We stopped to look out over the Susquehanna River and I used it as a teaching moment.
Young people sure like "selfies"!
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Faithful Men" Video Twila Paris
"Hope and Joy in my 90s" Stanley Horton's last blog post and Facebook answer to reader
"Leaving a Legacy" with "Prof" Howard Hendricks Video (39 minutes) Life lessons from a master storyteller.
"The Son Shines Down On Me" Video Canton Junction
"He Hideth My Soul" Video Guy Penrod
Listen to this
message on
your
audio player. "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord" (Romans 12:11).
Stanley
Horton was one our highly esteemed professors when we attended Bible
College back in the mid-seventies. At that time he seemed old although
he was
actually about our age now! He went on to live 98 years,
passing away just last year. He continued in active service practically
to the end and maintained an active Facebook page and blog, making his
last post after his 98th birthday!He was a brilliant man with an encyclopedic knowledge of Scripture. I recall asking him a question about an obscure verse although I didn't even have the reference. He immediately recognized the verse, gave the reference, and provided a satisfactory answer.
I read this quote in an article concerning his death, "Some people make a big splash in life. Others spread their impact more quietly over decades." In the case of Dr. Horton his influence spread out for nearly 80 years impacting scores of young people preparing for ministry.
It was Martin Luther who asked his thoughtful listeners, "What will you do in the days of mundane faithfulness?”
Most of us aren't making a big splash. Our service might even be described as "mundane faithfulness". We go about our days seeking to be faithful in the little things. We are open to making a big splash if that's what God ordains but many of us never do.
Mundane faithfulness is unheralded. It's couples who keep their marriage vows, workers who do their jobs conscientiously, parents who steadily care for and nurture their children and there are many areas where mundane faithfulness can be applied in the church setting.
We should see a lot of this in a healthy local church. I did yesterday. I was standing in the foyer before the service visiting with several men when Dick walked in. Last week his wife, Ruby, fell and broke her hip and now recovers in a rehab hospital. The men gathered around Dick to lend support as he sought to restrain his tears. Married for nearly 60 years this is a tough time for him. But he found encouragement in a small group of men who showed compassion as they assured him they help carry his burden in prayer.
We dedicate this message to the many, many people we've come across in our journey who are steadfastly making an impact for Christ in ways barely visible outside their own relatively small sphere of influence as they practice "mundane faithfulness".
Yesterday I changed the message on our church sign read by those who travel along scenic Mount Pleasant Road. I will be
preaching next Sunday while our pastor is visiting relatives so he asked me to put up my sermon title on the sign. Ester
watched me and recalled our sign changers while we were in New England.Bill and Veda Shibilo served the Lord in a variety of ways in our congregation, including faithfully changing our sign each week along busy Rt 44 in Taunton, Massachusetts, posting Scripture verses and quippy sayings, which we hoped would speak to driver's hearts as they passed. We periodically received comments from passers-by but only the Lord knows the impact of these truth statements in spiritually barren New England.
Those
who serve in their churches are too numerous to count. Our thoughts
immediately race to those who have platform ministry. But consider
today Naomi who sat in a church nursery tending the toddlers while
their parents enjoyed undistracted worship. How about the trustees who
arrive before everyone else, unlocking the doors, adjusting the
temperature, staying till all have left the building, checking the
bathrooms, turning off lights and locking up. We think of those, like
our friend Sherry, who year after year, has visited a nursing home
weekly to express spiritual and physical care. How about the dedicated volunteer who calls upon others to prepare a meal when a church member is recovering from an accident or surgery? We benefitted greatly from that when Brooksyne was recovering from surgery seven years ago after she broke her ankle. I contend that the vast majority of the work of Christ is being done by hundreds of millions of believers just like these around the world who work behind the scenes as they practice mundane faithfulness.
"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord" is a command that we do well to practice all the days of our life, whether we're called home young or if we live to be 98, like Professor Stanley Horton. Today, make a fresh determination to faithfully serve the Lord in big or small ways in mundane faithfulness.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father,
it seems the longer we live the more likely it is that we grow weary,
lose interest, or become frustrated by others who might not help carry
the work load, whether it's in the family, work, or church setting. But
if we carry out that which You've laid upon our hearts and faithfully
serve, even in the mundane chores that others are not attracted to, we
do that which pleases You and make an essential contribution to the
overall function of the home, workplace, church, community and world. Even
that which is mundane to others can be appealing to those whose hearts
are zealous, filled with spiritual fervor, because they are "doing
their work heartily as unto the Lord", which is even more important
than doing it for others. Keep us joyfully on track and focused
heavenward as we faithfully serve You in the mundane chores of life.
Amen.Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight.
This robe of flesh I’ll drop, and rise
To seize the everlasting prize,
And shout, while passing through the air,
“Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!”
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight.
This robe of flesh I’ll drop, and rise
To seize the everlasting prize,
And shout, while passing through the air,
“Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!”
Yesterday afternoon we took a bike ride along the Chiques rail trail along the Susquehanna River. Our Zimbabwe friends joined us and Ester took several photos.
Rock climbing on Chiques Rock. You can barely see this climber, as he's in the cleft of a rock, and almost reached the top. The bike trail runs below this very popular Chiques rock in Lancaster County.
The bike trail bridge over Chiques Creek.
We stopped to look out over the Susquehanna River and I used it as a teaching moment.
Young people sure like "selfies"!
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Faithful Men" Video Twila Paris
"Hope and Joy in my 90s" Stanley Horton's last blog post and Facebook answer to reader
"Leaving a Legacy" with "Prof" Howard Hendricks Video (39 minutes) Life lessons from a master storyteller.
"The Son Shines Down On Me" Video Canton Junction
"He Hideth My Soul" Video Guy Penrod
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
To receive the "Daily Encouragement" each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe to our email list. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or through a Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.)
Are
our daily encouragement messages a blessing to you? We ask you to
consider making a donation to Daily Encouragement Net so that we can
continue to prepare and provide this daily resource which is
accessed by believers and seekers all over the world. Daily
Encouragement Net relies solely on the generosity and financial support
of its readers and podcast listeners. See here
for more information on supporting this
ministry. Gifts are tax deductible.Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. I do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Text only version for printing: To make a text only version for printing (without photos or any of the supplemental materials)
1) Open the basic text editor that comes with all computers (known as wordpad, textpad, etc.) You can also use a program like Word and select paste text only.
2) Select and copy the text from the portion of the message you want to print.
3) Paste into the text pad. (The photos won't show up but you will have a brief text description of the photo which you can delete or just ignore.)
4) Format if you desire (change font, increase or decrease size, etc.)
5) Print!
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."
© Copyright 2015 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA