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Thursday,
June 21, 2018

Lebanon Valley farm 6/19/18 (Click to enlarge)
Lebanon Valley farm with Blue Mountain in background
(Click to enlarge)

"A Letter From Christ"


Message summary: "You show that you are a letter from Christ." What do people see in that letter from Christ? Hopefully it will be the fruit of His spirit, supremely His love.

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"You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts" (2 Corinthians 3:2,3).

If not in you, I wonder where
Will they ever see the One who really cares?
If not from you, how will they find;
There's One who heals the broken heart
And gives sight to the blind.

Have you ever been mistaken for someone else or told you resemble someone in appearance? You probably have. That may be flattering or not so flattering depending on who you are mistaken for!

BB's Grocery Outlet Schaefferstown, PAThe other day we were shopping at a BB's grocery store near Quarryville, PA. BB's is a locally-owned discount store ran by the Amish with an interesting, grammatically puzzling motto, "Bents, Bumps and Bunch of Bargains". It generally sells items that are slightly damaged, overstock and in some cases near or even passed their "Best By" date. But if you search hard you might also find interesting items like the time we found Apple lightning charging cords for $1.50.

When we go shopping I typically am ready to move on much faster than Brooksyne who scans carefully for bargains; checking the labels, expiration dates, etc. As I was moseying through the store last Friday waiting for her to finish shopping I noticed an older lady watching me carefully and smiling.

At one point I walked right past her and she whispered, "Are you catching any shoplifters?" It was then I realized that she thought I was an Amish store security guard, I suppose due to my secret service-like appearance and black suspenders commonly worn by the Amish men and boys. Well, I'm a big tease so I went along with her, leaning close within ear range and said in as much a whispered tone as my loud voice could muster, "Please, don't say anything to anyone."

She looked at me with seriousness and said, "Oh, I won't". I then quietly asked her how she knew and she said, "Oh, I could just tell."

Later I was with Brooksyne pushing the cart and disclosed to the lady the fact that I was really just an ordinary shopper! We had a good chuckle!

What interesting mistaken identity stories do you have?

There is one identity we all should all aspire in being mistaken for. For most of us it won't be our physical appearance* but rather our countenance, behavior, and character. Richard Stearns writes
, "As followers of Christ, we bear the responsibility of demonstrating to the world what Jesus might look like were He to walk the earth today. Those who will never enter the door of a church or read a Bible or hear a sermon can still know Jesus by watching us!"

And if not you, I wonder who
Will show them love;
And love alone can make things new.
If not from you, how will they learn;
There's One who'll trade their hopelessness
And give joy in return.

QuotePaul had established the church in Corinth and spent 18 months as Pastor, "teaching them the Word of God" (Acts 18:11), before moving on and leaving the church under the care of others. We have more material written by Paul to the Corinthian believers than to any other single church.

He wrote to them (and as part of the Holy Scriptures to us).
"You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts"

Notice especially the phrase, "
You show that you are a letter from Christ."

What do people see in our "letter from Christ"? Hopefully it will be the fruit of His spirit, supremely His love.

You're the only Jesus, some will ever see
And you're the only words of life some will ever read,
So let them see in you
The One in whom is all they'll ever need,
'Cause you're the only Jesus some will ever see.


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Praying manDaily prayer: Father, as we walk according to Your commands we become more and more like Jesus, as though we are a letter sent from Him written not with ink but by the guidance of Your Spirit with in us. We want to help those who walk in darkness to see the light of salvation through Christ Jesus; the One in whom is abundant life and life everlasting, the One who heals the broken heart and gives sight to the blind. May our lives reflect the very image of Christ in all we say and do. It is in His name that we pray. Amen.



Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"The Apple Cart" A touching story of being mistaken for Jesus!

* Here's a message we wrote about a time it was the presumed appearance of Jesus playing the piano! We also recall another time we saw "Jesus" cleaning our hotel.

BB's Grocery Outlet

"You're The Only Jesus"  Video  The Imperials (Song used in today's message)

"Let Them See Jesus"  Video  Chris Machen

"Let Them See You"  Video   JJ Weeks Band with lyrics

Finally today:
Chicken Coop in greenhouse 6/15/18
We think this is pretty neat, a small chicken coop for sale at a greenhouse presumably for decorative purposes. However it kind of looks like the coop I would see in my grandparent's neighbor's yard.

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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.

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."

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