A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Tuesday, November
20, 2018
These buggies are lined up at an Amish wedding we passed in eastern Lancaster County. The Amish have many weddings in November on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Several weeks ago I was at Costco and saw a young Amish couple shopping. They told me they were getting married in two weeks. That brought back old memories from 42 years ago when Brooksyne and I went grocery shopping for the first time as a newly married couple in Springfield, MO. We recall getting store brand Mac & Cheese and Van Camps Pork & Beans, since Brooksyne has always thought that Van Camps is the best brand. We still enjoy shopping together although I am ready to get done a lot faster and Brooksyne rarely buys Mac & Cheese and Pork & Beans these days!
For a larger photo with Scripture text click here.
"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect" (1 Corinthians 15:10).
I can imagine when people first heard of the Apostle Paul's (Saul at that time) conversion they shook their heads in disbelief, "Oh, I can't believe he could ever change!"
Daily
prayer: Father,
only through the death of Your Son could
we know the full extent of Your grace.
Though our sins bring untold loss, Your
grace brings infinite gain. Your grace
exceeds our rebellion and points us to
the Refuge for our sinful souls. Thank
You, Father! You don't grant a
partial pardon, but You extend a full
pardon to all who call upon Your name.
Your grace is incomprehensible,
infinite, and indiscriminate to all of
Your creation. Help us to extend grace
to others as You have richly extended
Your grace to us. Amen.
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!
These buggies are lined up at an Amish wedding we passed in eastern Lancaster County. The Amish have many weddings in November on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Several weeks ago I was at Costco and saw a young Amish couple shopping. They told me they were getting married in two weeks. That brought back old memories from 42 years ago when Brooksyne and I went grocery shopping for the first time as a newly married couple in Springfield, MO. We recall getting store brand Mac & Cheese and Van Camps Pork & Beans, since Brooksyne has always thought that Van Camps is the best brand. We still enjoy shopping together although I am ready to get done a lot faster and Brooksyne rarely buys Mac & Cheese and Pork & Beans these days!
For a larger photo with Scripture text click here.
"Not
Without Effect"
Message
summary: Let us join with Paul
and proclaim together, "His grace to
me was not without effect!"
Listen
to our message
on your audio player.
"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect" (1 Corinthians 15:10).
They
baptized Jesse Taylor in Cedar Creek
last Sunday
Jesus gained a soul and Satan lost a good right arm
They all cried Hallelujah when Jesse's head went under
Cause this time he went under for the Lord
Jesus gained a soul and Satan lost a good right arm
They all cried Hallelujah when Jesse's head went under
Cause this time he went under for the Lord
I
saw a man in church this last Sunday
whom I met several months ago. After
visiting a few minutes he said, "I'm
sorry, I forgot; what's your name
again?" I told him and then I
asked his name which I also
couldn't recall. His was Paul. He told
me he was going to remember my name with
the keyword "Stoned" recalling of course
the death of my namesake (not in the
inebriated sense)! I told him I
would recall his name as "Stoner"
alluding to Paul's role at the stoning
death of Stephen.
In
today's text Paul is sharing his
personal testimony. The biographical
information we have in the book of Acts
and Paul's letters truly indicate that
the grace of God made a wonderful change
in his life. Today
we focus on the phrase, "His grace
to me was not without effect."
I can imagine when people first heard of the Apostle Paul's (Saul at that time) conversion they shook their heads in disbelief, "Oh, I can't believe he could ever change!"
Then
years later when Paul shared his
testimony
and people heard his
violent past and persecution of the
church, they surely shook their heads in
disbelief, "Oh, I can't believe he
was ever like that!"
Can
you think of some people who’ve changed
like that?
In
his own written testimony Paul states, "I
was once a blasphemer and a persecutor
and a violent man" and "the
worst of sinners" (see 1 Timothy
1:12-17).
But
the one time persecutor became the
persecuted. He who had consented to the
stoning of Stephen (Acts 8:1) was
himself stoned (2 Corinthians 11:25). If
it had been written in Paul's day it
might include a gospel song with a
story. Though it would read quite
differently for Saul/Paul it would also
have redemptive lines like that of "The
Baptism of Jesse Taylor":
Among
the local taverns there'll be a slack in
business.
Cause
Jesse's drinking came before the
groceries and the rent
Among
the local women there'll be a slack in
cheating
Cause
Jesse won't be stepping out again
The
scars on Jesse's knuckles are more than
just respected
The county courthouse records tell all there is to tell
The pockets of the gamblers will soon miss Jesse's money
And a black eye of the law will soon be well
The county courthouse records tell all there is to tell
The pockets of the gamblers will soon miss Jesse's money
And a black eye of the law will soon be well
What
a dynamic transformation had taken place
in Jesse Taylor's life similar to what
happened in Paul's life. Years later
Paul was able to declare this marvelous
truth, "His grace to me was not
without effect".
Authentic grace makes a difference in one's life. Titus 2:11,12 states, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age." For some the change is more dramatic than others, but genuine grace will always bring about transformation in every recipient.
What about you today?
Authentic grace makes a difference in one's life. Titus 2:11,12 states, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age." For some the change is more dramatic than others, but genuine grace will always bring about transformation in every recipient.
What about you today?
- Do you need to turn
you life over to Christ? Repent!
- Has Christ changed
your life? Rejoice!
- Is He still working on
you? Respond and be resolute in
your walk with Jesus!
Let
us join with Paul and proclaim together,
"His grace to me was not without
effect!"
From now on
Nancy Taylor can proudly speak to
neighbors
And tell them just how Jesse took up with little Jim
Now Jimmy's got a daddy and Jesse's got a family
And Franklin County's got a lot more man
And tell them just how Jesse took up with little Jim
Now Jimmy's got a daddy and Jesse's got a family
And Franklin County's got a lot more man
Be
encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
only through the death of Your Son could
we know the full extent of Your grace.
Though our sins bring untold loss, Your
grace brings infinite gain. Your grace
exceeds our rebellion and points us to
the Refuge for our sinful souls. Thank
You, Father! You don't grant a
partial pardon, but You extend a full
pardon to all who call upon Your name.
Your grace is incomprehensible,
infinite, and indiscriminate to all of
Your creation. Help us to extend grace
to others as You have richly extended
Your grace to us. Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"The
Baptism of Jesse Taylor"
Video
Gaither Vocal Band I like
songs that tell a story and this
is a great story of redemption
and a changed life!
"Sinner
Saved By Grace" Video
Gaither Vocal Band
We had a
very special service this last
Sunday at Calvary Church here in
Lancaster that included an
unusual preaching format and
more than the usual amount of
music, in a variety of formats.
The message concluded a series
on the One Story of the Bible
and focused on eternal praise to
God, "The Glorious Worship
of Jesus Christ - To God be
the Glory" Here is the video. It
was one of the most powerful
messages on the Book Of
Revelation we have ever heard.
The way the message was tied to
the music was outstanding. Here
is the concluding song. Video
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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