A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Volunteer
neck pumpkins in our raised garden.
"Blooming
Where You Are Not Planted"
Several years ago we
downsized our already relatively small
vegetable garden to an even smaller raised
garden, a size suitable for several tomato
and pepper plants. Our little garden
presently abounds in fruit (or is it
vegetables!).
Daily
prayer: Father, You appoint Esther moments
to every devout believer who wants to
wholeheartedly serve You and Your kingdom.
There are times when You plant me in
unfamiliar or even hostile territory and ask
me to be fully reliant upon You. There is
great blessing when I follow Your leading, I
grow more mature in my faith, and I am
useful in Your kingdom. Help me not to fear
the outcome, for that is in Your hands.
Thank You for Your prompting and entrusting
me to be a part of your grand purpose. What
a privilege and responsibility. Amen.
Message
summary: Yesterday's
message was titled, "Blooming
Where You're Planted". Today let us
consider "Blooming Where You Are Not
Planted"
Listen to
our message on your audio player.
Listen to
our message on your audio player."And
who knows but that you have come to royal
position for such a time as this?" (Esther
4:14).
Several years ago we
downsized our already relatively small
vegetable garden to an even smaller raised
garden, a size suitable for several tomato
and pepper plants. Our little garden
presently abounds in fruit (or is it
vegetables!).But
we noticed something else is growing, neck
pumpkins, which we did not plant.
They also are blooming and producing fruit
(photo above). They are kind of hidden back
behind the tomatoes as if to say "You still
have a little room for me don't you!". We
surmise that they are from neck pumpkins
processed last fall.
After peeling, chopping and pureeing the
pumpkins we then dropped the seeds and pulp
into our compost bin, which was then mixed
in this spring to enrich the garden soil.
An
interesting term used to describe plants
that grow like this is "volunteer plants".
Those of you who garden know just what I'm
talking about. These are plants that grow
from spilled or discarded seeds. Sometimes a
bird drops a seed or the wind blows a seed
into a place where it was not planted.
Morning Glories are a great example of
volunteer plants. Years ago Brooksyne
intentionally planted some but now they
reseed themselves and grow all over, often
crowding out other plants. We've just
determined to enjoy morning glories cause
they sure don't seem to be going away
anytime soon!
Yesterday's
message on blooming where you are
planted was used in the sense of intentional
planting. But sometimes we may find
ourselves providentially planted where we
had not planned to be or where we had no
choice in the matter. In fact it may be in a
place we would rather not be. A true
test of character is the way in which we
bloom in such circumstances. In this
case we are still called to bloom where we
are not planted!
An example of this is Esther. Esther is a remarkable book. Most Bible students are aware of the fact that God is not specifically mentioned by name in the entire book (the only book of the Bible with this distinction.) Esther was one of the Jewish exiles in Persia who, due to her natural beauty, was unexpectedly placed in a position she probably never imagined herself being in. She was selected to be the queen!
Just as Ruth reminds us that God is at work in the lives of "ordinary people", Esther reveals God at work among the "higher classes." Both remind us that His work is often "behind the scenes." He is, as a song states, "quietly sovereign". "Esther moments" are special times when God's purpose for our life is especially apparent albeit in unexpected times. This concept is based on the daily text when Mordecai encouraged Esther to take a stand. The Jews faced annihilation (as they so often have throughout history) and Esther was in a position to act for their preservation by appealing to the king.
Esther's uncle Mordecai* was confident that, in one way or another, the deliverance of the Jews would come. "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place." Amazingly in the bigger picture God's grand purposes are always fulfilled with or without our cooperation.
An example of this is Esther. Esther is a remarkable book. Most Bible students are aware of the fact that God is not specifically mentioned by name in the entire book (the only book of the Bible with this distinction.) Esther was one of the Jewish exiles in Persia who, due to her natural beauty, was unexpectedly placed in a position she probably never imagined herself being in. She was selected to be the queen!
Just as Ruth reminds us that God is at work in the lives of "ordinary people", Esther reveals God at work among the "higher classes." Both remind us that His work is often "behind the scenes." He is, as a song states, "quietly sovereign". "Esther moments" are special times when God's purpose for our life is especially apparent albeit in unexpected times. This concept is based on the daily text when Mordecai encouraged Esther to take a stand. The Jews faced annihilation (as they so often have throughout history) and Esther was in a position to act for their preservation by appealing to the king.
Esther's uncle Mordecai* was confident that, in one way or another, the deliverance of the Jews would come. "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place." Amazingly in the bigger picture God's grand purposes are always fulfilled with or without our cooperation.
However
Mordecai challenged Esther to be the agent
of God's deliverance as expressed in the
daily text, "And who knows but that you
have come to royal position for such a
time as this?"
Scripture records that Esther did listen to Mordecai and heeded his challenge to present herself to the king, even if it meant death. Consider the resolute attitude she expressed when she made up her mind to be the mediator for her people, "If I perish, I perish". When we're weighing various options there comes a point that we've got to make up our mind and act upon that decision.
Through the outstanding example of Esther, who took a consecrated stand, God sends a message to all who truly follow Him; we are not to be people of fear when we find ourselves planted where we would rather not be, but we are to persevere even if it means death.
Today all over the world God is working through His people, accomplishing His purpose. Some had a role in planning and in a sense choosing where they are planted but for others they may find themselves in a place they'd rather not be. We especially consider those who are tortured, imprisoned, or separated from their families because of their stand for Christ.
Scripture records that Esther did listen to Mordecai and heeded his challenge to present herself to the king, even if it meant death. Consider the resolute attitude she expressed when she made up her mind to be the mediator for her people, "If I perish, I perish". When we're weighing various options there comes a point that we've got to make up our mind and act upon that decision.
Through the outstanding example of Esther, who took a consecrated stand, God sends a message to all who truly follow Him; we are not to be people of fear when we find ourselves planted where we would rather not be, but we are to persevere even if it means death.
Today all over the world God is working through His people, accomplishing His purpose. Some had a role in planning and in a sense choosing where they are planted but for others they may find themselves in a place they'd rather not be. We especially consider those who are tortured, imprisoned, or separated from their families because of their stand for Christ.
At
times like this may we especially sense His
work through us in a specific way. What a
great joy these experiences bring to our
spiritual walk. May the Lord grant all of us
these "Esther moments" when we bloom where
we are planted by providence. Often we may
not immediately sense the significance of
our obedience but obedience always
brings blessing. Let us stay faithful!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, You appoint Esther moments
to every devout believer who wants to
wholeheartedly serve You and Your kingdom.
There are times when You plant me in
unfamiliar or even hostile territory and ask
me to be fully reliant upon You. There is
great blessing when I follow Your leading, I
grow more mature in my faith, and I am
useful in Your kingdom. Help me not to fear
the outcome, for that is in Your hands.
Thank You for Your prompting and entrusting
me to be a part of your grand purpose. What
a privilege and responsibility. Amen.*
Some consider Mordecai a cousin to Esther.
Brooksyne
passed this farm
scene on Colebrook Road on
an early morning walk with her friend Jane.
Looks like these fields will have a great
harvest.
(Click
to enlarge)
Yesterday
afternoon we volunteered with a group of
employees from White Oak Display preparing a
meal for the guests of the Ronald McDonald
House near Penn State Children's Hospital in
Hershey, PA.
Since
Ronald McDonald was seated at a bench we
decided to take our photo with him. We were
recipients of the generosity of Ronald
McDonald House in Danville, PA from 1988-1992
where Ester underwent five heart operations as
an infant and small child and where we also
fostered other children from Guatemala who
received surgeries at Geisinger Medical
Center. We lived in St. Marys, PA over three
hours away. The longest hospitalization Ester
had was after her arrival from Guatemala at 3
months of age when she underwent two surgeries
and also had endocarditis. It took three
months for us to finally have her as our own
but it seemed so much longer. The small fee we
paid for lodging at Ronald McDonald sure
helped with expense of travel, food and
lodging.
Coming
home last night from Hershey we passed this
produce stand and thought the classic car
gave it a nostalgic look.
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"Brighten The Corner Where You Are"
Video
The Statesmen Quartet A great classic hymn
based upon the author's own experience of
being unable to fulfill her dreams because of
her father's injury driving a "horseless
carriage". She chose to stay and care for him
and bloomed where she was planted by writing
this timeless hymn. Here are two verses:
Do
not wait until some deed of greatness you may
do,
Do not wait to shed your light afar,
To the many duties ever near you now be true,
Brighten the corner where you are.
Do not wait to shed your light afar,
To the many duties ever near you now be true,
Brighten the corner where you are.
Here for all your
talent you may surely find a need,
Here reflect the bright and Morning Star;
Even from your humble hand the Bread of Life may feed,
Brighten the corner where you are.
Here reflect the bright and Morning Star;
Even from your humble hand the Bread of Life may feed,
Brighten the corner where you are.
Finally
today:
It
remains very hot here in Pennsylvania and the
workplaces are especially hot. This old stand
fan, likely from the fifties, was put back in
service and it sure puts out the breeze. But
we doubt if it would ever pass current OSHA
safety standards. You could practically stick
your whole arm in it. We definitely don't
believe it would be suitable for a children's
day care facility!
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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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