A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Friday, November
16, 2018
We got our
dog Roxie in early 2005 when she was a
pup. The photo to the left shows her
preparing to go to an assisted living
center as a "therapy dog" when she was
just a year old. But she's now 14 and
experiencing symptoms related to old
age. Though she still enjoys a couple
mile walk with Brooksyne she has a hard
time climbing stairs and has no interest
in playing with Mollie, much to Mollie's
disappointment. Prior to a couple of
weeks ago she had never been to the vet
under our care except when she was
"fixed" as a puppy. We take her to
Tractor Supply for her 3 year rabies
shot. She's had a fulfilling life here
in the country, including memorable
encounters with skunks, electric fences
and fox traps.
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 22).
"Thankful
For The Thorns": A
family reading and exercise that
is a wonderful way to give a
thoughtful focus around your
Thanksgiving Table. (Note: You
will need a good reader who
should be given the story ahead
of time to review so that it's
read with expression and
clarity.) For many of us 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! Here's an
idea for sharing 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 many years ago. (blog post) 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.)
A Suggestion for a Family Tradition from our long-time friend Bob Southard: After the turkey, the cranberries, the pie, we all get out our Bibles to read our favorite thanksgiving verse. From the youngest to the oldest we share God’s Word and tell why it is so special to us!
Yesterday
we shared a photo of our first seasonal snow as it was
starting in the morning. Here's a photo in late
afternoon after the snow stopped and the wind blew
snow off the trees. We ended up getting about 6 or
more inches and it has sure caused traffic accidents
and evening cancellations including an event we were
to attend last night.
"Assumptions
Can Be Wrong"
Message
summary: We can make a lot of
assumptions in life and sometimes they
make sense based on the information we
have at our disposal. If we don't seek
further clarification there's a tendency
to invest in those assumptions which can
blind us to real facts once they are
revealed.
Listen
to our message
on your audio player.
"The
LORD does not look at the things man
looks at. Man looks at the outward
appearance, but the LORD looks at the
heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).
We got our
dog Roxie in early 2005 when she was a
pup. The photo to the left shows her
preparing to go to an assisted living
center as a "therapy dog" when she was
just a year old. But she's now 14 and
experiencing symptoms related to old
age. Though she still enjoys a couple
mile walk with Brooksyne she has a hard
time climbing stairs and has no interest
in playing with Mollie, much to Mollie's
disappointment. Prior to a couple of
weeks ago she had never been to the vet
under our care except when she was
"fixed" as a puppy. We take her to
Tractor Supply for her 3 year rabies
shot. She's had a fulfilling life here
in the country, including memorable
encounters with skunks, electric fences
and fox traps.A
couple of weeks ago Brooksyne and Ester
took Roxie to the vet due to some
medical concerns. Immediately following
the vet visit we made a chaplain visit
to our nearest company where I met a
customer, Jim, who had come in to
purchase some supplies. He was a very
friendly man and, after I told him I was
the company chaplain serving alongside
my wife, he enthusiastically expressed
his faith in the Lord. Like so many we
meet he was not familiar with the
concept of a corporate chaplain but
expressed his full support toward our
role as chaplains.
Jim
then
inquired about the warehouse supervisor,
Rox
anne (whom he called Roxie)
pictured to the right. Over the past
year Roxanne has gone through major
cancer treatment and then her daughter,
Heather, who was a long time employee of
the same company, died suddenly in
August.* I had not yet talked to
Roxanne that day but told him my wife
regularly followed up with her.
anne (whom he called Roxie)
pictured to the right. Over the past
year Roxanne has gone through major
cancer treatment and then her daughter,
Heather, who was a long time employee of
the same company, died suddenly in
August.* I had not yet talked to
Roxanne that day but told him my wife
regularly followed up with her. After
our chaplain visit that afternoon
Brooksyne told me about an interesting
conversation she had with a nice
customer she had met. I'll let her tell
the story:
As
I was walking through the large
warehouse a customer approached me and
said, "So you're the chaplain!" I was a
bit surprised that a complete stranger
could pick me out as a chaplain but I
responded, "Yes I am." He then inquired,
"How's Roxie doing?"
It
was one thing that he could pick me out
as the chaplain, having never met me.
But then, how did he know about our dog,
Roxie, who was still fresh on my mind
since I'd just been to the vet. A little
flabbergasted all I could say was, "And
how do you know about Roxie?"
He
then went on to ask with genuine
interest, "I just wondered how Roxie's
doing since her daughter's death?" Then
a bright light came on, and I felt like
such an idiot, when I realized he was not
inquiring about our dog, Roxie, but
Roxanne, whom we never call
Roxie! Once I realized who he was
talking about our conversation turned to
the kind of talk that chaplains often
have with employees, and in this case, a
customer of the company. BTW, Stephen
shared this story with Roxanne, the
supervisor, and she chuckled about the
confusion in names, also giving us
permission to share this story today.
We
can make a lot of assumptions in life
and sometimes they make sense based on
the information we have at our disposal.
If we don't seek further clarification
there's a tendency to invest in
those assumptions which can blind us to
real facts once they are revealed.
Let's examine a portion of the Bible when an assumption was made that turned out to be wrong. Today's Scripture text concerns Samuel's selection of a king. Initially Samuel was focused on man's outward appearance and assumed these were the things that mattered to God.
He saw one of Jesse's sons named Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed stands here before the LORD." It might have been Eliab's height or muscular appearance that led Samuel to make the assumption this was the future king.
Let's examine a portion of the Bible when an assumption was made that turned out to be wrong. Today's Scripture text concerns Samuel's selection of a king. Initially Samuel was focused on man's outward appearance and assumed these were the things that mattered to God.
He saw one of Jesse's sons named Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed stands here before the LORD." It might have been Eliab's height or muscular appearance that led Samuel to make the assumption this was the future king.
But he received correction from the
Lord. The full verse states, "But
the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not
consider his appearance or his height,
for I have rejected him (Eliab).
The LORD does not look at the things
man looks at. Man looks at the outward
appearance, but the LORD looks at the
heart'."
We can make a lot of assumptions based on appearance and sometimes we're correct but other times we stand corrected. Before jumping to conclusions we need to go beyond the outward surface and try to understand a person's heart. Appearances can be deceiving; true character is shown by one's life and actions. We need to view people in the same light that God views them, though God sees and knows far more than we as humans can, so His evaluation far surpasses people's assessments. We often judge people by their appearance and actions, but God knows the very motive and intent of our actions.
A couple of thoughts concerning "Man looks at the outward appearance":
* Outward appearance can be deceiving; a clean-cut, well-dressed individual on the outside may be altogether different on the inside, and vice-versa!
* Acceptable outward appearance varies by culture and age. Features like facial hair, clothing styles and so forth vary generation by generation. Very few of us dress as those in the Bible times!
Since "the Lord looks at the heart" we also need to direct our attention to the heart of a person. He or she is someone God loves and wants to redeem or someone God has redeemed and may be in the process of transforming. Actually, we are all in that transforming process aren't we?
Be encouraged today!
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, while the world obsesses about
outward appearances such as good
looks, muscular bodies or perfect
figures Your Word is impassioned with
teaching regarding the inner heart;
the very character of who we really
are that nobody can see except You.
Help us to be more concerned about
what You see on the inside than what
others view from the outside. Peace,
joy, love and many other Christian
virtues come from within our redeemed
spirit which no education, outward
adornment, fashion accessory or
muscular frame can produce or
duplicate. Help us to be slow to judge
and quick to pray for those who are
different from us and help us to see
them and love them as Jesus does. It
is in His name that we pray. Amen.
On A Lighter Note about false assumptions: We are glad Brooksyne's initial assumption was quickly clarified regarding her confusion between our dog Roxie and Roxanne when she talked to the customer. What if she would have gone into detail about Roxie's afflictions; how she was having trouble with her memory, how she wanders out of the yard, the mysterious round lesions on her back and so forth. What if she had said, "It's getting close to the time we have to consider letting her go!" (Scratch that last statement as Brooksyne gets very upset with me if I ever approach that subject! She quickly reprimands me by saying it's no teasing matter. She's right, of course.) Thankfully, Roxie's situation is treatable and we hope she will soon be back to her normal self as she has been a wonderful pet for the past 14 years!
We can make a lot of assumptions based on appearance and sometimes we're correct but other times we stand corrected. Before jumping to conclusions we need to go beyond the outward surface and try to understand a person's heart. Appearances can be deceiving; true character is shown by one's life and actions. We need to view people in the same light that God views them, though God sees and knows far more than we as humans can, so His evaluation far surpasses people's assessments. We often judge people by their appearance and actions, but God knows the very motive and intent of our actions.
A couple of thoughts concerning "Man looks at the outward appearance":
* Outward appearance can be deceiving; a clean-cut, well-dressed individual on the outside may be altogether different on the inside, and vice-versa!
* Acceptable outward appearance varies by culture and age. Features like facial hair, clothing styles and so forth vary generation by generation. Very few of us dress as those in the Bible times!
Since "the Lord looks at the heart" we also need to direct our attention to the heart of a person. He or she is someone God loves and wants to redeem or someone God has redeemed and may be in the process of transforming. Actually, we are all in that transforming process aren't we?
Be encouraged today!
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, while the world obsesses about
outward appearances such as good
looks, muscular bodies or perfect
figures Your Word is impassioned with
teaching regarding the inner heart;
the very character of who we really
are that nobody can see except You.
Help us to be more concerned about
what You see on the inside than what
others view from the outside. Peace,
joy, love and many other Christian
virtues come from within our redeemed
spirit which no education, outward
adornment, fashion accessory or
muscular frame can produce or
duplicate. Help us to be slow to judge
and quick to pray for those who are
different from us and help us to see
them and love them as Jesus does. It
is in His name that we pray. Amen.*Heather
Leaman worked for Kleen-Rite for
21 years and had major health issues
that eventually claimed her life at age
41. She had great enthusiasm for her
workplace and has been greatly missed,
not only by her family, but also by her
co-workers and friends since her
untimely death.
On A Lighter Note about false assumptions: We are glad Brooksyne's initial assumption was quickly clarified regarding her confusion between our dog Roxie and Roxanne when she talked to the customer. What if she would have gone into detail about Roxie's afflictions; how she was having trouble with her memory, how she wanders out of the yard, the mysterious round lesions on her back and so forth. What if she had said, "It's getting close to the time we have to consider letting her go!" (Scratch that last statement as Brooksyne gets very upset with me if I ever approach that subject! She quickly reprimands me by saying it's no teasing matter. She's right, of course.) Thankfully, Roxie's situation is treatable and we hope she will soon be back to her normal self as she has been a wonderful pet for the past 14 years!
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
Brooksyne
is looking forward to a special
service, which includes the
choir, at our church this
weekend. It includes a number of
songs we enjoy including these
two:
"What
A Beautiful Name" Video
The Brooklyn Tabernacle
Choir What a blessing and
glimpse of heaven to watch and
hear the multi-racial,
multi-ethnic Brooklyn Tabernacle
Choir! We attended a service at
this church about ten years ago.
About twenty-five years ago
Brooksyne attended a choral
training conference with Carol
Cymbala the BTC director.
"Behold
Our God" Video
California Baptist University
Choir and Orchestra.
We enjoy the new emphasis
of using joyful expression when
you sing! For those who don't
sing solo, in a choir, or choral
arrangement may not realize just
how hard it is to smile while
singing! It takes a good choir
director to get all the
choir members on board for such
a presentation.
Special
Thanksgiving
Resources
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 22).
"Thankful
For The Thorns": A
family reading and exercise that
is a wonderful way to give a
thoughtful focus around your
Thanksgiving Table. (Note: You
will need a good reader who
should be given the story ahead
of time to review so that it's
read with expression and
clarity.) For many of us 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! Here's an
idea for sharing 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 many years ago. (blog post) 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.)
A Suggestion for a Family Tradition from our long-time friend Bob Southard: After the turkey, the cranberries, the pie, we all get out our Bibles to read our favorite thanksgiving verse. From the youngest to the oldest we share God’s Word and tell why it is so special to us!
We appreciate
listening to and singing the
Thanksgiving hymns and songs.
"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.
"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 in big and small ways. It 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
"Worthy Is The Lamb, Crown Him, Crown Him With Many Crowns" Video Travis Cottrell
"Thank You, Lord" Video Dennis Jernigan
"10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)" Video Matt Redman
"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.
"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 in big and small ways. It 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
"Worthy Is The Lamb, Crown Him, Crown Him With Many Crowns" Video Travis Cottrell
"Thank You, Lord" Video Dennis Jernigan
"10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)" Video Matt Redman
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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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