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Thursday, July 5, 2018
Sinnemahoning Creek along scenic Route 120 in Cameron County PA
Message summary: Each of us knows people like Sally regardless of where we live.
Listen
to our
message on your audio player.
"Now in Joppa there was a disciple
named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is
called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with
deeds of kindness and charity which she
continually did" (Acts 9:36).
Sally didn't face those situations
with a "Why me?" mindset but rather she trusted
Jesus for every trial she went through. During
testimony service she would stand to her feet and,
with a smile big enough for the whole congregation
to see, she would say, "I just want to say that I
love Jesus" and then went on to give praise for
how God was working in her life and how He was
giving her opportunities to witness to clients she
saw weekly when she went in to clean their homes.
We've kept up with Sally through the
years since we left that area in 1993 and she
visited us here in Mount Joy. In 2007 we traveled
to Virginia where I conducted the wedding service
for her youngest daughter, Becky, and it was a
joyful occasion.
As mentioned before Sally has had
many overcomings in her lifetime, more than her
fair share, we might say. And yet she is now
currently dealing with a major medical trial. She
was diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease
earlier this year, though she likely had it months
earlier. Many of you have known or know someone
who is battling this ruthless disease so you can
imagine what she is going through, her family as
well.
The early
church had people like Sally who dealt with the
variables of life and yet extended themselves to
others in need. One such person is Tabitha more
commonly known by her Greek name, Dorcas. An
active part of the faith community in Joppa, she
was characterized as a "woman who was
abounding with deeds of kindness and charity
which she continually did". In verse 39 we
read that she was a seamstress and blessed others
by the garments she sewed for them.
You and I can think of those whose lives are characterized by their kind words and charitable acts in our own lives.
Each of us knows people like Sally regardless of where we live. There are many in the church like her. Little known and in many cases receiving little acclamation or appreciation, but God sees every deed of kindness and hears every encouraging word and prayer offered on behalf of others. People like Dorcas in the Bible and Sally in our modern day illustration are really the backbone of the church!
Let them know of their great value to you personally and to the body of Christ as they give of themselves heartily unto the Lord.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, keep
our hearts open to those who are in need of a
compassionate touch, a charitable act, or a kind
word. Let it come naturally from our hearts that are
in tune with the heart of Jesus. May we view others
through the eyes of Christ, walking in His
compassion and His benevolent ways. We thank you for
the scores of people like Dorcas and Sally who have
served You and those within local churches and their
communities all throughout the church age. We
pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
"Through It All" Video Selah Dedicated to Sally
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.)
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. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
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 2018 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
Thursday, July 5, 2018
Sinnemahoning Creek along scenic Route 120 in Cameron County PA
"A
Tribute To Sally"
Message summary: Each of us knows people like Sally regardless of where we live.
Listen
to our
message on your audio player.Last weekend we
traveled back to Northwest PA where we had served a church over 25 years ago.
We went primarily to visit Sally. She and her
children joined our church within a few years of
our church plant in 1977. She was a blessing in so
many ways as she faithfully taught children the
word of God and volunteered wherever there was a
need. But what especially touched our lives and
many others was her overcoming attitude as she
experienced many major disappointments in life.
The early
church had people like Sally who dealt with the
variables of life and yet extended themselves to
others in need. One such person is Tabitha more
commonly known by her Greek name, Dorcas. An
active part of the faith community in Joppa, she
was characterized as a "woman who was
abounding with deeds of kindness and charity
which she continually did". In verse 39 we
read that she was a seamstress and blessed others
by the garments she sewed for them.You and I can think of those whose lives are characterized by their kind words and charitable acts in our own lives.
Each of us knows people like Sally regardless of where we live. There are many in the church like her. Little known and in many cases receiving little acclamation or appreciation, but God sees every deed of kindness and hears every encouraging word and prayer offered on behalf of others. People like Dorcas in the Bible and Sally in our modern day illustration are really the backbone of the church!
Let them know of their great value to you personally and to the body of Christ as they give of themselves heartily unto the Lord.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, keep
our hearts open to those who are in need of a
compassionate touch, a charitable act, or a kind
word. Let it come naturally from our hearts that are
in tune with the heart of Jesus. May we view others
through the eyes of Christ, walking in His
compassion and His benevolent ways. We thank you for
the scores of people like Dorcas and Sally who have
served You and those within local churches and their
communities all throughout the church age. We
pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.Sally's disease has progressed to
the point she is no longer able to speak or
move voluntarily. She communicates by using a
laser pointer taped to the outer edge of her
glass frames. Moving her head slightly
the laser points to large letters or numbers
on a sheet of paper spelling out what she
wants to say. Stephen asked her who he was and
she clearly spelled out P-A-S-T-O-R which
warmed our hearts. Her oldest son, Bill, who
lives in that area visits her faithfully and
devised this helpful communication system.
Sally still has her delightful
smile. We've connected with several of Sally's
children and pray that this tribute will be of
blessing to them.
Sally was raised on this farm in
rural Cameron County, PA, one of the few
farms in this very wooded, mountainous part
of the state.
(Click
to enlarge)
This thought-provoking Memorial
Stone sits on a church lawn in Emporium, PA.
Another view of the Sinnemahoning
Creek with mountains in the background.
Sinnemahoning means "stony lick" in the Lenape
language.
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"Through It All" Video Selah Dedicated to Sally
Brooksyne's
follow-up regarding canning Cherry Almond
Preserves: Yesterday I mistakenly referred to
my canning steamer as a Victoria Steamer and
confused people who were interested in learning
more. It is actually a Victorio Steam Canner which I
have used for five years now and like it much more
than the water bath canner. If interested, you can
learn more about it here.
Finally today:
A
photo of Sally from 2007 at her daughter Becky's
wedding, along with a much younger Ester.
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.)
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. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
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 2018 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA