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Thursday, November 16, 2017
Autumn beauty
(Photo by Doris High)
"Dying Well"
Message summary: The apostle Paul's perspective on life and death is so liberating.
Listen to our
message on your
audio player.
"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8).
My brother Pat shared an account concerning a friend of his who died following a long illness. At his time of death he was with his wife and family. After expressing his love to them he raised his hands and said, "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord" just before he died.
Pat didn't know whether his friend had purposefully planned ahead for this inevitable event and make his dying words a faith declaration or if it was a spontaneous Spirit-led declaration. Either way, what a confident, victorious way to depart this earth!
Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for
Christ, had
a significant influence in my life since I received much of my early
Christian discipling through this ministry. In an interview toward the
end of his earthly life he offers this perspective. "The most
important moment in anyone's life as a believer is the last breath
because the next breath is in heaven. To be absent from the body
is to
be present with the Lord. A Christian can't lose, if we live, we go on
serving Him. That's an adventure. If we die, we're in heaven with Him,
and that's incredible."
The verse my brother's friend quoted is part of a teaching by the apostle Paul. Notice how he introduces the concept with the words, "We are confident". Of all things in which to be confident this is surely at the top, an assurance of our future home due to what Christ has done for us.
The present tense "are" describes Paul's attitude as one of continuous, courageous confidence because of God's express purpose and promise to bring Paul (and all believers) to glory and because of the Spirit who indwelt him and strengthened him to continually fight the good fight of faith. This courageous confidence was not a passing emotion for Paul but a continual state of mind. Paul's courageous mindset enabled him to face death not with fear but with great confidence. (Precept Austin commentary note on 2 Corinthians 5:8)
The apostle Paul's perspective on life and death is so liberating. After his conversion on the Damascus road he began experiencing the great joy that comes in living for Christ. In confidence he faces death, with a willingness "to be absent from the body". Indeed at our death, though our body remains, our spirit departs to be with the Lord. We are "present with the Lord".
Today, what a joy it is to follow Christ and have a deep, abiding assurance of His love. When the time comes for our departure we shed our frail, aging, and mortal body and abandon our residency in this world that is day by day sliding into decadence and destruction. We will "gain" and be better off by far with our immortal, ageless, and healthy bodies residing in a place that is timeless, ageless, and sinless. That's what we live for! Praise the Lord, today I am a child of the King with my home address on earth, but some "tomorrow", as a child of the king, my home address will be heaven. Won't you join me there as we finish well here.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
as I live out my time here on this earth, I'm so glad that I belong to
You. You hold my right hand and guide me with Your continuous presence
and daily bread which is leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I
in heaven but You and I desire You more than anything on earth. My
health may fail and my spirit may even grow weak, but Father, You
remain the strength of my heart and You are my portion forever. My
Refuge, my Fortress and my Deliverer, I will joyfully tell of Your
mighty works as I seek to finish well on this side. I long for the day that You call me to my eternal
home, when I will be absent from the body on this side and present with You on the eternal side of glory. Amen.
Another touching death message:
In September we shared a message about a tragic vehicle accident in our area in which two men were killed. Tim, a minister friend of ours, was a friend with Bob, one of the two men struck and killed by a vehicle. He conducted the funeral service and shared with us how at the service Bob's daughter expressed a very moving tribute to her dad.
She shared how growing up her dad had always insisted that every departure, even going to bed each evening, be accompanied by a verbal expression of "I love you" to one another in his family. He did this when his girls were young and continued to do so when they were adults. And of course he did so with his wife.
The accident followed his car breaking down along a busy 4 lane highway here in Lancaster County. Bob, the motorist, had called a tow truck driver who had arrived and loaded the car. Just as they were preparing to leave a drunk driver slammed into them, killing them both (Bob and tow truck driver).
Just moments prior to the accident he had texted his wife informing her of the breakdown. He took a photo and shared "I Love You". Unknown to him, that would be his final message to the one he loved the most.
Today's
lead photo of the Autumn scene was taken by Doris High. We met Doris
and her husband Cerwin at a Transport For Christ retreat ten years ago
and have often used her photos here on Daily Encouragement. She is a
prolific photo blogger with regular posts of outstanding photos on her
blog "My Journey".
Cerwin and Doris have four married children and sixteen grandchildren. Two granddaughters are married and we have one great-grandson. They serve with Transport For Christ - a ministry to truck drivers - and love life in rural Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Finish Well" Video Karen Peck and New River
Each year we offer these resources to families and church leaders to enrich the spiritual impact of the Thanksgiving holiday. We will post these resources through Thanksgiving Day here in the US (November 23).
"Thankful For The
Thorns": A
family reading and exercise that is a
wonderful way to give a thoughtful focus around your Thanksgiving
Table. The
Thanksgiving celebration typically includes family coming together for
a huge meal and hopefully a heartfelt prayer of thankfulness. However
it can often be difficult to have a spiritually oriented conversation.
Why not add some stimulating discussion about the ways
God has worked in your life over the past year! Some of
you are not in charge and are only visitors at your Thanksgiving
gathering, but if it is possible share together
around
the table the theme of "Thankful for the Thorns" (printable webpage).
"A Thanksgiving family exercise" (pdf) We have used this questionnaire as a stimulus for discussion among family members in the past in our home. We encourage you to share results around the table at Thanksgiving before or after the meal.
A Thanksgiving prayer: Written by Joe Sherer, a pastor friend of ours and shared as the benediction at our community Thanksgiving Eve service several years ago. (webpage) For those who enjoy written prayers this would be a beautiful prayer to read together at the Thanksgiving table.
A Thanksgiving Scripture reading: A selection of Old and New Testament readings dealing with thankfulness appropriate for church, family and personal readings. (pdf) (Suitable for printing out and copying.)
Today and all through this period we will share a selection of Thanksgiving music.
"In Everything Give Thanks" Video Charlotte Ritchie, Jeff & Sheri Easter This song will bring joy to your heart!
"Now Thank We All Our God" Video Best Loved Hymns
"Come Ye Thankful People Come" Video Traditional version
Contemporary version but thankfully maintaining same tune and lyrics Video
"Thanksgiving Medley" (We Gather Together, For The Beauty Of The Earth, Come Ye Thankful People Come) Video Studio Musicians
"Give Thanks" Video Don Moen
"Thank You Lord" Video Community Choir at a Lancaster Day of Prayer event in 2008.
"Thank You Lord For Saving My Soul" Video Holland Davis
"Be Magnified" Video Kim Hill
"Thanks" Video Marshall Hall and the Homecoming Singers
"I Want To Thank You" Video Karen Peck and New River This is a song expressing thankfulness to the many people who impact our lives and also reminds us of the blessing of seemingly insignificant expressions of faith. From the Gaither Homecoming series.
"Thank You Lord For Your Blessings On Me" Video Gordon Mote & Jason Crabb
"I'm Forever Grateful" Video Willow Creek
"When I Thank Him For What He Has Done" Video The Cathedrals
"Worthy Is The Lamb, Crown Him, Crown Him With Many Crowns" Video Travis Cottrell
"Thank You, Lord" Video Dennis Jernigan
"Thank You For Loving Me" Video Tommy Walker
"10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)" Video Matt Redman
"For These Reasons" Video Lincoln Brewster
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
Autumn beauty
(Photo by Doris High)
"Dying Well"
Message summary: The apostle Paul's perspective on life and death is so liberating.
Listen to our
message on your
audio player."We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8).
My brother Pat shared an account concerning a friend of his who died following a long illness. At his time of death he was with his wife and family. After expressing his love to them he raised his hands and said, "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord" just before he died.
Pat didn't know whether his friend had purposefully planned ahead for this inevitable event and make his dying words a faith declaration or if it was a spontaneous Spirit-led declaration. Either way, what a confident, victorious way to depart this earth!
Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for
Christ, had
a significant influence in my life since I received much of my early
Christian discipling through this ministry. In an interview toward the
end of his earthly life he offers this perspective. "The most
important moment in anyone's life as a believer is the last breath
because the next breath is in heaven. To be absent from the body
is to
be present with the Lord. A Christian can't lose, if we live, we go on
serving Him. That's an adventure. If we die, we're in heaven with Him,
and that's incredible."The verse my brother's friend quoted is part of a teaching by the apostle Paul. Notice how he introduces the concept with the words, "We are confident". Of all things in which to be confident this is surely at the top, an assurance of our future home due to what Christ has done for us.
The present tense "are" describes Paul's attitude as one of continuous, courageous confidence because of God's express purpose and promise to bring Paul (and all believers) to glory and because of the Spirit who indwelt him and strengthened him to continually fight the good fight of faith. This courageous confidence was not a passing emotion for Paul but a continual state of mind. Paul's courageous mindset enabled him to face death not with fear but with great confidence. (Precept Austin commentary note on 2 Corinthians 5:8)
The apostle Paul's perspective on life and death is so liberating. After his conversion on the Damascus road he began experiencing the great joy that comes in living for Christ. In confidence he faces death, with a willingness "to be absent from the body". Indeed at our death, though our body remains, our spirit departs to be with the Lord. We are "present with the Lord".
Today, what a joy it is to follow Christ and have a deep, abiding assurance of His love. When the time comes for our departure we shed our frail, aging, and mortal body and abandon our residency in this world that is day by day sliding into decadence and destruction. We will "gain" and be better off by far with our immortal, ageless, and healthy bodies residing in a place that is timeless, ageless, and sinless. That's what we live for! Praise the Lord, today I am a child of the King with my home address on earth, but some "tomorrow", as a child of the king, my home address will be heaven. Won't you join me there as we finish well here.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
as I live out my time here on this earth, I'm so glad that I belong to
You. You hold my right hand and guide me with Your continuous presence
and daily bread which is leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I
in heaven but You and I desire You more than anything on earth. My
health may fail and my spirit may even grow weak, but Father, You
remain the strength of my heart and You are my portion forever. My
Refuge, my Fortress and my Deliverer, I will joyfully tell of Your
mighty works as I seek to finish well on this side. I long for the day that You call me to my eternal
home, when I will be absent from the body on this side and present with You on the eternal side of glory. Amen.Another touching death message:
In September we shared a message about a tragic vehicle accident in our area in which two men were killed. Tim, a minister friend of ours, was a friend with Bob, one of the two men struck and killed by a vehicle. He conducted the funeral service and shared with us how at the service Bob's daughter expressed a very moving tribute to her dad.
She shared how growing up her dad had always insisted that every departure, even going to bed each evening, be accompanied by a verbal expression of "I love you" to one another in his family. He did this when his girls were young and continued to do so when they were adults. And of course he did so with his wife.
The accident followed his car breaking down along a busy 4 lane highway here in Lancaster County. Bob, the motorist, had called a tow truck driver who had arrived and loaded the car. Just as they were preparing to leave a drunk driver slammed into them, killing them both (Bob and tow truck driver).
Just moments prior to the accident he had texted his wife informing her of the breakdown. He took a photo and shared "I Love You". Unknown to him, that would be his final message to the one he loved the most.
Today's
lead photo of the Autumn scene was taken by Doris High. We met Doris
and her husband Cerwin at a Transport For Christ retreat ten years ago
and have often used her photos here on Daily Encouragement. She is a
prolific photo blogger with regular posts of outstanding photos on her
blog "My Journey".Cerwin and Doris have four married children and sixteen grandchildren. Two granddaughters are married and we have one great-grandson. They serve with Transport For Christ - a ministry to truck drivers - and love life in rural Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Finish Well" Video Karen Peck and New River
Special Thanksgiving Resources
Each year we offer these resources to families and church leaders to enrich the spiritual impact of the Thanksgiving holiday. We will post these resources through Thanksgiving Day here in the US (November 23).
"Thankful For The
Thorns": A
family reading and exercise that is a
wonderful way to give a thoughtful focus around your Thanksgiving
Table. The
Thanksgiving celebration typically includes family coming together for
a huge meal and hopefully a heartfelt prayer of thankfulness. However
it can often be difficult to have a spiritually oriented conversation.
Why not add some stimulating discussion about the ways
God has worked in your life over the past year! Some of
you are not in charge and are only visitors at your Thanksgiving
gathering, but if it is possible share together
around
the table the theme of "Thankful for the Thorns" (printable webpage)."A Thanksgiving family exercise" (pdf) We have used this questionnaire as a stimulus for discussion among family members in the past in our home. We encourage you to share results around the table at Thanksgiving before or after the meal.
A Thanksgiving prayer: Written by Joe Sherer, a pastor friend of ours and shared as the benediction at our community Thanksgiving Eve service several years ago. (webpage) For those who enjoy written prayers this would be a beautiful prayer to read together at the Thanksgiving table.
A Thanksgiving Scripture reading: A selection of Old and New Testament readings dealing with thankfulness appropriate for church, family and personal readings. (pdf) (Suitable for printing out and copying.)
Today and all through this period we will share a selection of Thanksgiving music.
"In Everything Give Thanks" Video Charlotte Ritchie, Jeff & Sheri Easter This song will bring joy to your heart!
"Now Thank We All Our God" Video Best Loved Hymns
"Come Ye Thankful People Come" Video Traditional version
Contemporary version but thankfully maintaining same tune and lyrics Video
"Thanksgiving Medley" (We Gather Together, For The Beauty Of The Earth, Come Ye Thankful People Come) Video Studio Musicians
"Give Thanks" Video Don Moen
"Thank You Lord" Video Community Choir at a Lancaster Day of Prayer event in 2008.
"Thank You Lord For Saving My Soul" Video Holland Davis
"Be Magnified" Video Kim Hill
"Thanks" Video Marshall Hall and the Homecoming Singers
"I Want To Thank You" Video Karen Peck and New River This is a song expressing thankfulness to the many people who impact our lives and also reminds us of the blessing of seemingly insignificant expressions of faith. From the Gaither Homecoming series.
"Thank You Lord For Your Blessings On Me" Video Gordon Mote & Jason Crabb
"I'm Forever Grateful" Video Willow Creek
"When I Thank Him For What He Has Done" Video The Cathedrals
"Worthy Is The Lamb, Crown Him, Crown Him With Many Crowns" Video Travis Cottrell
"Thank You, Lord" Video Dennis Jernigan
"Thank You For Loving Me" Video Tommy Walker
"10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)" Video Matt Redman
"For These Reasons" Video Lincoln Brewster
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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