A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Monday, October 1,
2018
"I Will Lie Down And Sleep - Psalm 4:8" Video Steve Green and children Brooksyne's note: This song was on our playlist (as they call it today) back when Ester was a young child. We enjoyed the two CD's Steve Green sang with children, "Hide 'Em In Your Heart" Scripture songs. I also taught this to many children in our churches. But it also was a song that I hid deep in my heart, sang aloud when I was lacking peace and rest, and found the words very reassuring.
"Peace of God" Video
Finally today:
We have a
huge brand
new Wegmans grocery store in Lancaster. We stopped in
this weekend to check it out and especially enjoyed
seeing this old truck.
(Click on photo to enlarge)
Listen to our message on your audio player.
Last night I had a "sleep study" at Hershey Medical Center. This was ordered by my pulmonologist as a result of the asthma attack I had this summer that landed me in the emergency room. I won't know the results for three weeks but can say, though I had a sleep number bed, it is much nicer to sleep at home! My asthma condition has improved drastically with two new medications I have been on for a month which in turn has alleviated some of the issues regarding my sleep.
But in
fact we both periodically have a hard time
getting a good night's sleep, ourselves, for
very different reasons. It's been a long time
since we "slept like a baby!" We're told
it comes with the aging process. Based upon all
the advertisements for mattresses, sleeping aids
and other sleep related items we are not alone.
According to a report on "CBS This Morning"
people are increasingly digging into their
pockets for help sleeping. In 2015 Americans
spent an estimated $41 billion on sleeping aids
and remedies - a number that is expected to jump
to $52 billion by 2020.
Much research has been done on the subject of sleep. Studies are conducted daily in hospital clinics for the sleep-deprived in our society. Many reading our message today will identify. Last night while waiting to enter my "bedroom" for the study I conversed with a man who had Narcolepsy, a sleep disorder causing overwhelming and uncontrollable drowsiness. These sudden sleep attacks may occur during any type of activity at any time of the day. It's a dangerous condition to have. Of course many others suffer to varying degrees with insomnia. I have a friend who goes days without sleeping, which causes many other health problems.
I am not sure I have ever given much thought to this universal aspect of life. In considering things we have in common we all eat, drink, breathe and sleep. My "sleep study" prompted a consideration of a "sleep study" in the Bible.
The first Biblical reference to sleep was when God made Eve, "the Lord God caused the man (Adam) to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, He took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh" (Genesis 2:21). This was a one-time event!
Numerous times God causes a withholding of sleep to get someone's attention such as Nebuchadnezzar, "In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep" (Daniel 2:1). Or in Esther when, "That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him" (Esther 6:1). We should consider this when we are unable to sleep. Rather than grow in frustration at our lack of sleep we could inquire of the Lord, "Do you have something you want to speak to my heart about?"
Sleep
can be a time of peaceful assurance. "I
lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the
Lord sustains me" (Psalm 3:5) and "In
peace I will lie down and sleep, for you
alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety"
(Psalm 4:8). "When you lie down, you will
not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep
will be sweet" (Proverbs 3:24). During a
storm even when seasoned fisherman were in a
panic, "Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on
a cushion" (Mark 4:38). Peter "the
night before Herod was to bring him to trial,
was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with
two chains, and sentries stood guard at the
entrance" (Acts 12:6).
Sleep is a blessed consequence of hard work. "The sleep of a laborer is sweet" (Ecclesiastes 5:12).
What a blessed source of assurance comes from realizing, "Indeed, He (God) who watches over Israel (and all His creation) will neither slumber nor sleep" (Psalm 121:4).
Finally sleep is used in at least two other ways figuratively:
Today God is in control in your life and in mine. Real peace and assurance is a result of a deep, abiding knowledge of His control. Are you going through a storm or are you enduring a "trial"? Are you experiencing sleepless nights due to worries, busy schedules, or physical infirmities? Remember, God is in control!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:
Father,
we find great comfort from Scripture that
reassures us You are with us
at all times even during the night hour
since You neither slumber nor
sleep. You are watching over us, taking
great delight in us,
quieting us with Your love. You actually
rejoice over us with singing.
Believers can find consolation and restful
peace in Scriptures hidden
in their hearts or put to a lullabye tune
such as Psalm 4:8, "I
will lie down in peace, for You alone O
Lord make me dwell in safety."
You
replace our fear with peace and grow our
faith as we look to You during
the night hour, whether it is the literal
night hour or the night hour
of our soul. We're assured that after the
long night passes the
sun will rise on the horizon at the break
of day. For that we are very
thankful! Amen.
(Click on photo to enlarge)
"A
Sleep Study"
Message
Summary: Today God is in control in your
life and in mine. Real peace and assurance is
the result of a deep, abiding knowledge of His
control. Are you going through a storm or are
you enduring a "trial"? Are you
experiencing sleepless nights due to worries?
Remember, God is in control.
Listen to our message on your audio player.
Last night I had a "sleep study" at Hershey Medical Center. This was ordered by my pulmonologist as a result of the asthma attack I had this summer that landed me in the emergency room. I won't know the results for three weeks but can say, though I had a sleep number bed, it is much nicer to sleep at home! My asthma condition has improved drastically with two new medications I have been on for a month which in turn has alleviated some of the issues regarding my sleep.
But in
fact we both periodically have a hard time
getting a good night's sleep, ourselves, for
very different reasons. It's been a long time
since we "slept like a baby!" We're told
it comes with the aging process. Based upon all
the advertisements for mattresses, sleeping aids
and other sleep related items we are not alone.
According to a report on "CBS This Morning"
people are increasingly digging into their
pockets for help sleeping. In 2015 Americans
spent an estimated $41 billion on sleeping aids
and remedies - a number that is expected to jump
to $52 billion by 2020.Much research has been done on the subject of sleep. Studies are conducted daily in hospital clinics for the sleep-deprived in our society. Many reading our message today will identify. Last night while waiting to enter my "bedroom" for the study I conversed with a man who had Narcolepsy, a sleep disorder causing overwhelming and uncontrollable drowsiness. These sudden sleep attacks may occur during any type of activity at any time of the day. It's a dangerous condition to have. Of course many others suffer to varying degrees with insomnia. I have a friend who goes days without sleeping, which causes many other health problems.
I am not sure I have ever given much thought to this universal aspect of life. In considering things we have in common we all eat, drink, breathe and sleep. My "sleep study" prompted a consideration of a "sleep study" in the Bible.
The first Biblical reference to sleep was when God made Eve, "the Lord God caused the man (Adam) to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, He took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh" (Genesis 2:21). This was a one-time event!
Numerous times God causes a withholding of sleep to get someone's attention such as Nebuchadnezzar, "In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep" (Daniel 2:1). Or in Esther when, "That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him" (Esther 6:1). We should consider this when we are unable to sleep. Rather than grow in frustration at our lack of sleep we could inquire of the Lord, "Do you have something you want to speak to my heart about?"
Sleep
can be a time of peaceful assurance. "I
lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the
Lord sustains me" (Psalm 3:5) and "In
peace I will lie down and sleep, for you
alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety"
(Psalm 4:8). "When you lie down, you will
not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep
will be sweet" (Proverbs 3:24). During a
storm even when seasoned fisherman were in a
panic, "Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on
a cushion" (Mark 4:38). Peter "the
night before Herod was to bring him to trial,
was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with
two chains, and sentries stood guard at the
entrance" (Acts 12:6).Sleep is a blessed consequence of hard work. "The sleep of a laborer is sweet" (Ecclesiastes 5:12).
What a blessed source of assurance comes from realizing, "Indeed, He (God) who watches over Israel (and all His creation) will neither slumber nor sleep" (Psalm 121:4).
Finally sleep is used in at least two other ways figuratively:
1)
Describing our death. "But we do
not want you to be uninformed, brethren,
about those who are asleep, so that you
will not grieve as do the rest who have no
hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
2) Describing a careless spiritual condition. "So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober" (1 Thessalonians 5:6). This was demonstrated by the disciples both literally and figuratively in the Garden Of Gethsemane. "And He (Jesus) came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?" (Mark 14:37).
2) Describing a careless spiritual condition. "So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober" (1 Thessalonians 5:6). This was demonstrated by the disciples both literally and figuratively in the Garden Of Gethsemane. "And He (Jesus) came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?" (Mark 14:37).
Today God is in control in your life and in mine. Real peace and assurance is a result of a deep, abiding knowledge of His control. Are you going through a storm or are you enduring a "trial"? Are you experiencing sleepless nights due to worries, busy schedules, or physical infirmities? Remember, God is in control!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:
Father,
we find great comfort from Scripture that
reassures us You are with us
at all times even during the night hour
since You neither slumber nor
sleep. You are watching over us, taking
great delight in us,
quieting us with Your love. You actually
rejoice over us with singing.
Believers can find consolation and restful
peace in Scriptures hidden
in their hearts or put to a lullabye tune
such as Psalm 4:8, "I
will lie down in peace, for You alone O
Lord make me dwell in safety."
You
replace our fear with peace and grow our
faith as we look to You during
the night hour, whether it is the literal
night hour or the night hour
of our soul. We're assured that after the
long night passes the
sun will rise on the horizon at the break
of day. For that we are very
thankful! Amen.
Brooksyne's Note: Since
I have struggled most of my life, even
as a child, with insomnia -
nights can be long and frustrating for
me. Thankfully, the carpal
tunnel that kept me awake many nights
for many years has been
alleviated with the surgery I had back
in February of 2017. But I still
struggle frequently with lack of
sleep. Sometimes I lie awake turning
and tossing but other times my
mother-in-law's words come back to me
in
a very instructional way. She told me
when she couldn't sleep she would
begin to pray for other people. When I
put that into practice I turn my
sleeplessness into intercessory prayer
and before long I find myself in
a more restful state and often drift
into sleep after a while.
Saturday
afternoon we went to the JK Mechanical
company picnic and had a sketch made by
a very colorful and enthusiastic artist
who testified to using his art skills as
a means of witnessing for Christ.
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"I Will Lie Down And Sleep - Psalm 4:8" Video Steve Green and children Brooksyne's note: This song was on our playlist (as they call it today) back when Ester was a young child. We enjoyed the two CD's Steve Green sang with children, "Hide 'Em In Your Heart" Scripture songs. I also taught this to many children in our churches. But it also was a song that I hid deep in my heart, sang aloud when I was lacking peace and rest, and found the words very reassuring.
"Peace of God" Video
Finally today:
Ester took this photo
of Mollie who is always ready for
anyone to toss her rings to her!
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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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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