A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
Tuesday, March 19,
2019
Farm view from an Amish one room schoolhouse
(Click on Photo
to enlarge)
"Keeping
Your Heart On The Right Path"
Message
summary:
There are many paths in
life that beckon us. But
spiritually there is
only one path that leads
to spiritual and eternal
life; the path of
righteousness.
Listen to our
message on your audio
player.
We
have a country path we
have often walked on since
moving to our current home
in April, 2002. It's
actually "Meeting House
Road", still an official
township road that has
long been abandoned and
overgrown which is OK by
us. We like to think of it
as our personal path. As
the weather warms up we
will be making our local
walks along this pleasant
path that begins right
across from our home.There are many paths in life that beckon us. But spiritually there is only one path that leads to spiritual and eternal life; the path of righteousness. There are many other paths that ultimately lead to death, however pleasant they may temporarily be, along the way.
An example of sin's deceitfulness is the way it takes hold of our lives when we're guided by our feelings rather than the absolute truths of God's Word. The writer of Proverbs 14:12 put it this way: "There is a way (path) that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." The Lord Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
"Listen, my son, and be wise." The writer of Proverbs is referring to listening to God's truth, the only truth which will make us truly wise. This wisdom speaks not only of head knowledge but also heart knowledge and godly understanding. This wisdom is not a result of any degree of innate intelligence or formal education as the world reckons it. In fact there may be absolutely no correlation between these characteristics and attaining godly wisdom. Worldly wisdom is summed up in Romans 1:22, "Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools".
"Keep your heart on the right path." For all of us who earnestly seek to follow Christ this is a simple seven word phrase to keep before us each day. There are so many distractions and disturbances that seek to get us off the right path. We need to listen intently and obey the Voice of Truth. We can hear this voice through the Holy Scriptures which are able to make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus (see 2 Timothy 3:15).
We conclude our message with one more Scripture verse that supports today's emphasis; "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life" (Proverbs 4:23).
"But the Voice
of Truth tells me a
different story.
The Voice of Truth says 'Do not be afraid'.
And the Voice of Truth says 'This is for My glory'.
Out of all the voices calling out to me.
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth."
The Voice of Truth says 'Do not be afraid'.
And the Voice of Truth says 'This is for My glory'.
Out of all the voices calling out to me.
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth."
Be encouraged
today,
Stephen &
Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, may
the choices I
make today
reflect the
Voice of Truth
that points me
in the way of
life
everlasting.
If I should
instead choose
to go by my
feelings about
a matter I am
sure to make a
mistake I'll
later regret.
But when I
follow Your
commands, they
are not based
upon the
feelings I
have now that
could change
later, but
they're based
upon Your
immutable
truth intended
for all time.
Help me to be
wise, strong,
and obedient
so that I will
keep my heart
and life on
the right
path. Amen.Brooksyne's
note: Some
of you will
recall the
very popular
and beautiful
song of the
70's "You
Light Up My
Life." It has
a troubling
line that has
always
bothered when
I hear it; "It
can't be wrong
when it feels
so
right."
It's a good
example of the
way sin takes
hold of our
lives, when
we're guided
by our
feelings
rather than
the absolute
truths of
God's Word.
The song was
written in the
seventies when
we were young
but now we
have
encountered a
lot of people
along the way
who do make
their
decisions
based upon
their feelings
rather than on
what is right,
particularly
in the area of
marital
infidelity.
Brooksyne's
second note:
Last Friday
Stephen and I
joined the
children in an
Amish one room
schoolhouse for
lunch. Anna Ruth
provided hot
sandwiches, we
provided sodas,
and Ester
provided
cupcakes and a
vanilla frosted
cake. We never
fail to be
blessed by the
diligent
"scholars" at
the school -
eight grades in
the same room
working
together,
playing
together, and
learning
together. This
year's class has
20 students and
an 18 year old
teacher. The
children are so
well behaved and
very bright. We
stuck around as
guests and
watched all the
children play
softball
together,
listened to them
sing hymns and
choruses,
watched as sever
did their math
and spelling on
the large chalk
board, 2nd
graders read
aloud, many
worked
individually at
their desk, and
others promptly
answered the
teacher as she
threw out
question after
question. For
example the
second graders
were asked a lot
of questions
including
this: How
many cups in a
gallon? I had to
do some math in
my head but
Lizzy answered
immediately.
Since there are
4 cups in a
quart, and 4
quarts in a
gallon I figured
4X4 = 16 cups.
Here
are some notes
and photos
from a similar
visit 9 years
ago.
On
the back roads
of Lancaster
County you
never know
what you will
come across
such as this
Amish semi we
passed last
Friday
morning. The
driver was
hauling a bin
with some type
of cast metal
fittings, a
heavy load, on
a pallet on a
small wagon. I
would sure
like to see
better
strapping for
such a heavy
load and the
tires look
kind of
wobbly. It
would be quite
a mess and
danger if the
wagon tips or
if there's a
tire blowout.
But notice
he did have
the orange
safety flag!
Jerry,
a friend at
work, asked
about the
recording
aspect of our
ministry so
Ester took
this photo of
us yesterday.
We podcast
each message
as well as
sending 1
minute
messages to WDAC,
one of our
local
Christian FM
radio
stations. We
make about 45
minutes to 1
hour of
recorded
messages each
week using a
USB connected
Blue
Snowball
microphone
and Acoustica
Mixcraft Pro
studio
software.
You can hear
today's
message here.
To listen to
the daily
messages click
the "Listen"
link right
below the
title.
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"The
Voice Of Truth" Video
Casting Crowns
"Show Me Your Ways" Video
"This Is My Desire" Video Michael W Smith
"Show Me Your Ways" Video
"This Is My Desire" Video Michael W Smith
"Until Then"
Concert: This coming
Sunday afternoon at 3:00 PM 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, as a young person, and am
thrilled to be singing it again
in this setting since the words
now seem more meaningful than in
my youth. 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. We will be
singing "Until Then" so
here's a video by
Jason Crabb singing this
beautiful song.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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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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