A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
Wednesday,
January 30, 2019
Lancaster
County farm in snow, mid-afternoon yesterday
(Click
to enlarge)
"The
Unplanned Journey"
Message
summary:
Our
daily text we has a
simple truth, "The
mind of man plans his
way, but the Lord
directs his steps".
Listen to our
message on your audio
player.
"The mind
of man plans his way,
but the Lord directs
his steps" (Proverbs
16:9).
It was not
the path I would have
chosen
I could see no hope from where I stood
Even though I knew what God had promised
I didn't see how He could work it for my good
Yet that road where pain was my companion
Took me to an unexpected place
And standing in the middle of the darkness
That was where my heart would learn to say
I could see no hope from where I stood
Even though I knew what God had promised
I didn't see how He could work it for my good
Yet that road where pain was my companion
Took me to an unexpected place
And standing in the middle of the darkness
That was where my heart would learn to say
(Chorus
below message)
Tim is a
friend of ours whom we
met several years ago.
He is a solid,
faith-filled believer
who always conveys a
joyful disposition and
engages his listener in
uplifting conversation.
Earlier in his career he
served as a pastor but
for the last several
years he has worked in
the business world. Yet
he remains active in the
Lord's work with fill-in
speaking opportunities
as he consistently lets
his light shine wherever
he is.
Brooksyne saw
a note on his Facebook
page yesterday informing
his friends that,
following a series of
tests, he has been
diagnosed with ALS (also
known as Lou Gehrig
Disease). In his
announcement he
characteristically
expressed his faith in
the Lord with this
statement, "Not the
journey Julie and I had
planned, but I know this
hasn’t been a surprise
to God. He’s still in
charge and that’s good
enough for us."
Unplanned
journeys are something
we all experience in
different ways and in
different degrees of
severity. We wisely plan
ahead but have all
experienced detours in
life. Karen Peck in her
outstanding song "I
Choose Christ" writes,
"It was not the path I
would have chosen." We've
all been on paths we
would not have chosen.
Today we think
of some of our friends
who are on unplanned
journeys, those who
recently started and
those who've been on
their unplanned journey
for many years:
- A cousin of mine (Stephen's) is a career broadcaster and a very kind man. Several weeks ago he accidentally mangled some words on air which some took as a racial slur and has been through the fire since then, due to the social media mobs. He is presently suspended from a job he has had for 23 years.
- A
professor at a Texas
seminary who became a
friend through Daily
Encouragement endured
a severe health trial
several years ago
which set him off on
an unplanned journey.
He and his wife
readjusted and
continue to have a
vibrant ministry
though it wasn't the
kind of ministry they
had planned.
- A friend from 1st grade whose wife has now dealt with MS for many years. They have pressed on and are an ongoing inspiration to many who observe their marriage, life and overcoming perspective.
- Brooksyne
has a good friend who
was diagnosed with a
rare form of cancer
just over a year ago.
While going through
her extensive
treatments her husband
became very ill and
underwent multiple
surgeries to save his
life. They continue to
recover from their
fiery ordeal.
We've heard
Tim preach and have been
so blessed by his
messages so today I will
use his faith statement,
as written on his
Facebook page, as an
outline for a
mini-sermon on unplanned
journeys.
1) "Not the journey Julie and I had planned." Over 15 years ago I had a severe intestinal problem which required 4 surgeries and much distress over the course of a year. At that time I developed a phrase I have since used often, "We don't pick our problems and we don't schedule them". Many of us have been on detours in life that we would never have imagined, much less planned!
2) "But I
know this hasn’t been
a surprise to God."
That's a critically
important understanding
of the providence of
God. Life is full of
surprises, many pleasant
but some not so much.
None of them is a
surprise to God so He is
not thrown off-course in
His guidance and will
for our lives.
3) "He’s
still in charge."
We have often heard or
used this as a pithy
slogan but when you are
in the midst of a fiery
trial it's an
outstanding faith
statement. Indeed He is
still in charge; He's
still on His throne, not
wavering in helplessness
or anguish about
anything.
4) "That’s
good enough for us." A
hard road lies ahead for
Tim, Julie, and their
entire family. Of course
they know that and it is
our heartfelt prayer
that the assurance
expressed in Tim's faith
statement endures no
matter how severe the
testing. May the Holy
Spirit give them
confidence and assurance
all the way through.
In our daily
text we have a simple
truth, "The mind of
man plans his way, but
the Lord directs his
steps".
I choose
Christ when everything
around me says give up
I choose faith, I choose to trust
To believe He is good,
He'll come through like He said He would
Every time, oh, I choose Christ.
I choose faith, I choose to trust
To believe He is good,
He'll come through like He said He would
Every time, oh, I choose Christ.
Be encouraged
today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, when we
as believers
choose to walk
the narrow path
of
righteousness,
we don't know
where it will
lead us. But we
do know that we
never walk alone
and that You are
there to guide
us through every
detour we
encounter along
the way. We
might see them
as detours that
slow us down or
require us to
rescript the
tour we planned
for our life's
journey. But You
use detours for
Your greater
purpose to
strengthen our
faith, to bring
us to our knees
in prayer, and
to help us
empathize with
others who are
hurting. It's
one thing to
theoretically
tell others that
we trust You no
matter what, but
it is far more
effective when
we can
experientially
tell others our
sufficiency is
in Christ. We
pray for those
who are
beginning a new
journey, one
they did not map
out for
themselves, that
they will find
that You are
all-sufficient
to meet their
every need and
that You guide
them every step
of the way, even
their mis-step,
for You uphold
us with Your
righteous right
hand. Thank You
that You replace
worry and fear
with trust and
assurance. Amen.
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, when we
as believers
choose to walk
the narrow path
of
righteousness,
we don't know
where it will
lead us. But we
do know that we
never walk alone
and that You are
there to guide
us through every
detour we
encounter along
the way. We
might see them
as detours that
slow us down or
require us to
rescript the
tour we planned
for our life's
journey. But You
use detours for
Your greater
purpose to
strengthen our
faith, to bring
us to our knees
in prayer, and
to help us
empathize with
others who are
hurting. It's
one thing to
theoretically
tell others that
we trust You no
matter what, but
it is far more
effective when
we can
experientially
tell others our
sufficiency is
in Christ. We
pray for those
who are
beginning a new
journey, one
they did not map
out for
themselves, that
they will find
that You are
all-sufficient
to meet their
every need and
that You guide
them every step
of the way, even
their mis-step,
for You uphold
us with Your
righteous right
hand. Thank You
that You replace
worry and fear
with trust and
assurance. Amen.Brooksyne's
Note: My
good friend,
Rose, whom we
included in the
fourth example
of one who has
endured a
tumultuous
journey over the
past year writes
this in her
Christmas
letter: "We
know and
believe that
God is
faithful, He
is our
Deliverer and
our Healer,
and without
Him we would
not be here.
We are far
from being
strong and
able yet, but
we rejoice in
each new day
and the
blessings we
have.
It's
one thing to
write such a
victorious
message in
faith, but it
carries even
more weight from
one who has gone
through the
fire, still
recovering from
the devastation
it brought, and
has remained
faithful
testifying to
God's
faithfulness
along the way.
Early
yesterday
morning we began
our travels in
light snow to
visit the
employees at a
company in rural
Lebanon County.
By mid
afternoon the
snow was really
coming down as
we passed this
farm in
southeast
Dauphin County.
(Click
to enlarge)
At
4:12 in the late
afternoon we had a
power outage due
to an accident up
the road.
Brooksyne was
baking our
lunch/dinner combo
which was nearly
done. So we sat in
the dark in our
living room while
eating our ¾ baked
potatoes and
watched the birds
gathered at the
feeders through
our front picture
window. Ester went
outside and played
with Mollie who
absolutely loves
the snow! About
6:30PM the power
was restored.
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"I
Choose Christ" Video
Karen Peck & New River
"Like A River
Glorious" Video
Smucker Family
Every joy or trial
falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Son of Love;
We may trust Him fully, all for us to do;
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.
Traced upon our dial by the Son of Love;
We may trust Him fully, all for us to do;
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.
Finally today:
Last
night after the snow stopped our
neighbor Leon came over to plow us
out.
We
live in a great neighborhood!
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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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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