A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
Monday, March 18,
2019
Eshelman's Mill Covered Bridge
Friday morning
we came up over a hill on this long stretch of Belmont Road
in Eastern Lancaster County.
"The
Value Of Little Parts"
Message
summary: The
little parts matter!
Listen to our
message on your audio
player.
"For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself" (Romans 14:7). "From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work" (Ephesians 4:16).
Last
Friday morning I visited
for a few minutes with
Stephen and André, two
young Val-Co engineers.
They showed me a small
prototype part they were
developing which was
made with a 3D printer.
The part will be a
component in a system
used in chicken houses.
It's a little part with
a significant function.
I really doubt when most
of us eat a Chick-fil-A
sandwich we think much
about all that goes into
it!Stephen and André demonstrate what is essentially an unseen and little considered aspect of cooperation that really, for most of us, makes life work as it does. Very few live on completely self-sufficient farms. Cooperation is an act or instance of working or acting together for a common purpose or benefit, a joint action. When we give thanks for our meals we certainly thank the Lord, but we also consider many people who had a cooperative role in getting that food to our plate, including Stephen and André. Next time you offer a blessing to the effect, "Thank you Lord for this food. Bless the hands of those who prepared it" consider not only the cook but many others who had a role and be thankful for them!
This is analogous to the Body of Christ at work in cooperative service. A common representation of the Church is the image of the Body. Today's text draws a powerful analogy from the human body and speaks of how each part of the spiritual body works together: "From Him [Christ] the whole body [Church], joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."
But in this message let me merely focus on the final phrase, "as each part does its work" (NIV). Other versions translate this phrase similarly, "According to the proper working of each individual part" (NASV) and "When each part is working properly" (ESV). This phrase highlights the contribution of each member to the life and development of the body as a whole.
Little parts do matter and their failure to perform properly and on time can impair or possibly destroy the functioning of the whole. Think about it, essentially everything that fails does so ultimately because of something small. Even a catastrophic failure generally begins with something small. (Consider the current news concerning the Boeing 737 MAX 8 airplane or the raging forest fire due to a single discarded cigarette butt.)
The Body of Christ truly works as the church "grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work". Let us do our part today in advancing the cause of Christ in the various ways we serve and realize this is best done in a generous spirit of cooperation and good communication.
We encourage
you today to faithfully
and cooperatively serve
in whatever manner God
has led you; in your
marriage, family, local
church, ministry, job,
neighborhood, community,
or any other area of
service, working as for
the Lord Jesus Christ
since we are instructed
to "Work willingly
at whatever we do, as
though we were working
for the Lord rather
than for people"
(Colossians 3:23).
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, I pray
for a spirit of
cooperation and
eagerness to
contribute to
the needs of the
whole body, so
that Your Church
is built not
just with sweat,
bricks, and
mortar but with
love, integrity,
and cooperative
teamwork. We go
forth in unity
and purpose as
we do our part
in building each
other up while
encouraging
others to use
their God-given
talents and
acquired skills,
all the while
striving for
unity in the
faith. In the
name of Jesus we
go forth in
faithful
service. Amen.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, I pray
for a spirit of
cooperation and
eagerness to
contribute to
the needs of the
whole body, so
that Your Church
is built not
just with sweat,
bricks, and
mortar but with
love, integrity,
and cooperative
teamwork. We go
forth in unity
and purpose as
we do our part
in building each
other up while
encouraging
others to use
their God-given
talents and
acquired skills,
all the while
striving for
unity in the
faith. In the
name of Jesus we
go forth in
faithful
service. Amen. Brooksyne's
note: As I
edited today's
message a
recurring
thought came
to my heart
regarding the
cooperative
work of the
body of
Christ. We've
considered the
Scripture that
speaks to
everybody
pitching in,
excelling in
their
God-given
giftings, and
uniting in
purpose. But I
also consider
another aspect
of the body
working
together
cooperatively
and that is,
resisting sin
which would
disrupt the
flow and
cooperative
working of the
church body. I
consider a
church I
visited in the
past where I
spent some
time with the
pastor and his
wife
afterwards. As
I inquired
about the
church they
confided with
me that the
adult Sunday
School teacher
had recently
begun an
affair with
another woman.
Previously he
and his wife
were very
involved in
ministries
within the
church as well
as their
children. The
pastor, his
wife and the
church body
were
heartbroken
and the
working of the
Holy Spirit
was disrupted
among the body
as they saw a
church
leader's
integrity
stained. Not
only does God
call us to
contribute in
our talents
and service,
but also in
the way we
live our
lives. We must
be above
reproach so
that the
testimony of
Christ within
our lives
continues to
be a beacon of
light in the
dark world in
which we live
and within the
body of Christ
where we set a
godly example
for others to
follow.
Saturday
evening we were
blessed to see
the "JESUS"
presentation at
the Sight and
Sound Theater
here in
Lancaster
County. This is
the view as we
left late
Saturday
evening. If you
visit Lancaster
County or
Branson, MO we
highly recommend
the Sight
and Sound.
We
were blessed to
have attended
the show, along
with a behind
the scenes stage
tour, courtesy
of Jordan Kopp.
He and his
girlfriend Shea
both work at
Sight and Sound.
Brooksyne taught
his brother
Jonathan and
Jordan in Sunday
School when he
was a very young
boy and we were
both heartened
to see his
maturity and
earnestness in
his service for
Christ. The
theater seats
2000 and all
three Saturday
shows were
practically sold
out. He works
behind the
scenes on the
stage crew of 18
and has a very
hard, intense
job. The stage
is practically
as deep as the
seating area is.
Shea is an
animal handler
and was in the
show riding down
an aisle on a
horse!
In our
behind the
scenes tour
Brooksyne
greeted Chester,
one of the
show's camels.
We kind of
expected Chester
to speak to her
reminding us of
another one of
those really
funny GEICO ads
"Hump Day"
Video
(30 seconds)
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"Landon
Mak Sings the Star-Spangled
Banner" Video In last Thursday's
message we mentioned a 4 year old
who did an outstanding job of
singing the national anthem at the
Hershey Bears hockey game we
attended last Wednesday night.
Last night Casting
Crowns and Zach Williams were at
the Giant Center for a concert.
Brooksyne and Ester volunteer in a
ministry where they can serve and
attend the concert for free but
after our late Sight and Sound
night and Sunday morning church
service and afternoon ministry in
a nursing home we just didn't feel
we would have the energy to get
out again! But today we will share
a favorite song from each.
"Who Am I?" Video Casting Crowns We first heard Casting Crowns at the Giant Center about 15 years ago. This is a song that launched their ministry early on, also a great reinforcement of the message we heard at Sight and Sound!
"Chain Breaker" Video Zach Williams This video begins with silence so hang in there. What a touching message. We see so much of the ravages of alcohol and drugs. Recently we visited with a grandpa holding his baby granddaughter whose mother has alcohol addiction, and sadly it the effects of the mother's alcoholism was evident in the infant as well. No one lives unto oneself alone, for the choices we make and the lifestyle we embrace either helps or harms us. It affects those around us in similar manner.
"Who Am I?" Video Casting Crowns We first heard Casting Crowns at the Giant Center about 15 years ago. This is a song that launched their ministry early on, also a great reinforcement of the message we heard at Sight and Sound!
"Chain Breaker" Video Zach Williams This video begins with silence so hang in there. What a touching message. We see so much of the ravages of alcohol and drugs. Recently we visited with a grandpa holding his baby granddaughter whose mother has alcohol addiction, and sadly it the effects of the mother's alcoholism was evident in the infant as well. No one lives unto oneself alone, for the choices we make and the lifestyle we embrace either helps or harms us. It affects those around us in similar manner.
Until
Then Concert: This
coming Sunday afternoon at 3:00PM
the Calvary Church Choir and
Orchestra will feature a concert
with the theme of heaven. I
(Brooksyne) have sure enjoyed our
rehearsals and look forward to
singing in this concert. Selections
include time honored hymns sung with
the congregation and several newer
selections with the theme of heaven.
When I was a teenager "Until Then"
was a choir number that we sang
often in church and revivals. I
never wearied of its message or tune
and am thrilled to be singing it
again in this setting. I still
attend many concerts aimed at the
younger crowds and enjoy them, but
I'm also glad for a concert that has
the older generation in mind. I hope
locals can come out and be blessed
by this concert. Come early because
it will likely be very crowded.
Here's a song we will sing. "Finish
Well" Video
Karen Peck and New River
Finally
today: I
(Stephen) recall a song from many
years ago by Ray Hildebrand that
describes this cooperation titled,
"We Really Do Need Each Other."
I've never been able to find it on
YouTube. But found this one: "Didn't
He" Video
Ray Hildebrand
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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