A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Wednesday,
November 21, 2018
"A
Blessing On Your Barns"
Message
summary: In the Doxology we
sing "Praise God from whom all blessings
flow." God continues to send forth His
physical and spiritual blessings. Sadly,
many reject the reality of this source
of all blessings or exhibit an
entitlement attitude. God owes us
nothing and yet provides for all that we
need.
Listen
to our message
on your audio player.
"The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to" (Deuteronomy 28:8). Convene
meeting in Star Barn
Click to enlarge
We
had a meeting yesterday in the Star
Barn, a huge barn that for many years
stood in a pitiful state of disrepair
along the main freeway from Lancaster
to Harrisburg, PA. In the last several
years it has been carefully
dismantled, relocated and then
meticulously and historically restored
to its original state here in
Lancaster County. It is now an event
venue and yesterday was the first time
we went to a meeting in the upper
level. Our photos do not begin to show
how outstanding the interior of the
barn is!
We both like barns. We have a small two story utility barn which is probably the only barn I will have on this side of eternity. This prompts a consideration of whether there will be barns in heaven. Since the Bible mentions horses in heaven we feel there must be barns! Barns
vary in size, design, color and even
their intended usage. There are cattle
barns, feed barns, equipment barns and
many other kinds of barns. As a little
boy I would play in my Uncle Gentry's
barn on his farm outside of Harwood,
Missouri. When the cousins came
together for family gatherings we'd
play in the barn and especially the
hay loft. Occasionally Uncle Gentry
would hitch a wagon to his
Allis-Chalmers tractor and take us for
a ride in the fields. When we could
hear the ringing of the dinner bell
we'd run back to the old white 1880's
farmhouse for Aunt Dora's country
fried chicken!
Barns
are mentioned throughout the Bible
with today's verse being the first
reference in the Scripture. This was
prior to the crossing of the Jordan
River into the Promised Land and thus
a prophetic promise, since they at the
time were concluding their wilderness
wanderings.
"The
Lord will send a blessing on your
barns and on everything you put your
hand to." It's a wonderful
promise to them and in principle
to all of us whether or not we have a
barn.
"The Lord will send" It's so vital to recognize where the blessings come from. In the Doxology we sing "Praise God from whom all blessings flow." God continues to send forth his physical and spiritual blessings. Sadly, many reject the reality of this source or exhibit an entitlement attitude. God owes us nothing and yet provides for all that we need. "A blessing on your barns" indicates the agricultural way of life so common in the Bible period. But in principle it surely also means your work or business, whatever that may be, that relates to the way we make a living today. This thanksgiving season let us especially thank God for His blessings. But note carefully that this Scripture expresses a cooperative relationship. God is faithful to bless. But notice the phrase, "On everything you put your hand to." Farmers don't just lay around waiting for God's blessing. They work hard, using the skills God has taught them over the years, often through the trials and errors of farming. Although most of us don't work on farms the principle is surely the same in life. Many tend to see work as a mere necessity to be avoided as much as possible. But God has called us all to use our hands. Consider these verses: "He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need" (Ephesians 4:28). Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you" (I Thessalonians 4:11). "We work hard with our own hands" (1 Corinthians 4:12). Let us claim today's promise and let us faithfully obey God's commands. And then let us give thanks. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber The
barn was renovated and restored to its
original historic design though the new
owners were unable to determine what
this tunnel-like room had been used for
originally.
Click to enlarge
The
entire milk house attached to the barn
has been repurposed as the area in which
the bride and her attendants get prepped
in.
Click to enlarge We
understand this tack room is where the
groom and his friends might hang out
before the wedding.
Click
to enlarge
The
Star Barn has many historical displays
of old tools such as this one of old
wooden hammers.
Click to enlarge Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"The
Doxology" Video
Anthem Lights and Selah
Just voices!
"Is
He Worthy?/Hallelujah, What A
Savior" Video
Calvary Church Choir from our
service this last Lord's Day.
Convene
The meeting we attended in the
Star Barn yesterday was
sponsored by Convene, a business
group equipping business owners
and leaders to serve Christ in
the Marketplace. Local Chair and
long-time friend Ron Hoover
makes this point to business
leaders: "When we stand before
the Bema judgment (Judgment Seat
Of Christ) Christ will not be
asking about our Balance Sheet
and P/L but He will be asking
how we did caring for the people
He gave us!"
Finally today:
Heading
into Hershey, PA following our
meeting in the Star Barn we
followed this Mission BBQ truck,
a renovated army convoy truck
that apparently had a BBQ smoker
built over the bed which sure
smelled good as we drove along!
Though it was a very cold day we
were tempted to drive along with
our windows down. (If you look
carefully you'll see some of
Hershey Park to the right and
you'll even spot three or more
Hershey Kiss street lights.
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 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 |