A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
Wednesday, March
20, 2019
Sunset
across the street from our house.
(Photo
taken by our neighbor, Doug Maxwell)
"A
Consideration Of The Vernal Equinox"
Message
summary: Today
we consider the steady,
yet often ignored,
testimony of God's great
faithfulness seen in the
changing of the seasons
expressed in this
promise.
Listen to our
message on your audio
player.
"Then God
said, 'Let there be
lights in the expanse
of the heavens to
separate the day from
the night, and let
them be for signs and
for seasons and
for days and years'"
(Genesis 1:14). "As
long as the earth
endures, seedtime
and harvest, cold and
heat, summer and
winter, day and night
will never cease"
(Genesis 8:22).
Today is the official first day of Spring. Yay! (Double yay from Brooksyne's perspective!) We are certainly ready for the seasonal change after a long, cold and often snow blanketed winter. Our front yard oaks held onto their leaves through the winter months until the heavy snowfalls finally pummeled them to the ground so we have plenty of raking. The seasonal changes contribute to the variety of life.
As the days warm up I (Stephen) have already been doing some lawn clean-up and minor outdoor home repairs as well. In fact I worked way too hard on Monday and paid a price for it. I'm learning, somewhat painfully, that I just can't do the same work I did just a few years ago! As we turn the calendar page month by month, season by season and year by year our bodies have a way of telling us that even as the earth endures our bodies must endure the inevitable changes that come with aging.
The four days of each calendar year representing the change of seasons are regular reminders of the cosmic order established at Creation in our first daily text and of God's faithfulness in His keeping of the longstanding promise in our second daily text. This promise will be kept "as long as the earth endures".
The Equinoxes are the two days out of the whole year when the northern and southern hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight, and the days and nights are the same (equal) length. (Equinox means "equal night.") In the spring it is technically called the vernal equinox (Vernal means "of, relating to, or occurring in the spring", in the fall it's knows as autumnal equinox). On these days the sun is directly over head at the equator. It's another remarkably predictable evidence of God's faithfulness and the precise order in His providential design.
Due to the Creator's remarkable order astronomers can determine centuries ahead when this day will occur. For instance the Vernal equinox will be at 4:18 PM EST on March 20, 2547 just in case you want to plan ahead and get that marked on your calendar. It's astounding that many of these same scientists are blinded to the Creator behind the precise design! Which takes greater faith; that this is all a result of random chance or a purposeful, intelligent design by our Creator God?
Many years ago I read an article by an astronomer named Robert Jastrow, who made this statement. "At this moment it seems as though science will never be able to raise the curtain on the mystery of creation. For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries." Hallelujah, I am sitting on that final rock!
Genesis makes it clear that the universe was indeed created in an instant: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light."
God gave Noah the wonderful promise expressed in the second daily verse immediately after the flood. It's a promise that we see fulfilled every day, but should particularly note at the seasonal changes.
Consider the steady, yet often ignored, testimony of God's great faithfulness seen in the changing of the seasons expressed in this promise. It can give us a rich assurance today of God's faithfulness in all things and certainly those things that concern us personally. In fact it was the inspiration behind one of the verses to a classic hymn most of you will recognize. It happens to be Brooksyne's favorite hymn. With joy and assurance receive it today!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
Your watchful
eye brings great
assurance to my
heart as You,
Almighty Father,
are a God of
perfect order.
Your unblemished
design of the
universe and all
of created life,
both human and
vegetation, is
also testimony
to Your
unchanging
faithfulness. We
marvel in the
wonder of each
hour of the day
and of the
night, hill and
meadow, tree and
flower, sun and
moon and stars
of light. The
redeemed join
with all of
nature in
declaring Your
wondrous beauty
in all creation
as we bring
praise, honor
and glory to
You, our
Faithful God.
Amen.
* Many confuse astronomy with astrology. Astronomy is the science that deals with the material universe beyond the earth's atmosphere. Astrology is an occultic pseudoscience claiming divination by the positions of the planets and sun and moon.
Today is the official first day of Spring. Yay! (Double yay from Brooksyne's perspective!) We are certainly ready for the seasonal change after a long, cold and often snow blanketed winter. Our front yard oaks held onto their leaves through the winter months until the heavy snowfalls finally pummeled them to the ground so we have plenty of raking. The seasonal changes contribute to the variety of life.
As the days warm up I (Stephen) have already been doing some lawn clean-up and minor outdoor home repairs as well. In fact I worked way too hard on Monday and paid a price for it. I'm learning, somewhat painfully, that I just can't do the same work I did just a few years ago! As we turn the calendar page month by month, season by season and year by year our bodies have a way of telling us that even as the earth endures our bodies must endure the inevitable changes that come with aging.
The four days of each calendar year representing the change of seasons are regular reminders of the cosmic order established at Creation in our first daily text and of God's faithfulness in His keeping of the longstanding promise in our second daily text. This promise will be kept "as long as the earth endures".
The Equinoxes are the two days out of the whole year when the northern and southern hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight, and the days and nights are the same (equal) length. (Equinox means "equal night.") In the spring it is technically called the vernal equinox (Vernal means "of, relating to, or occurring in the spring", in the fall it's knows as autumnal equinox). On these days the sun is directly over head at the equator. It's another remarkably predictable evidence of God's faithfulness and the precise order in His providential design.
Due to the Creator's remarkable order astronomers can determine centuries ahead when this day will occur. For instance the Vernal equinox will be at 4:18 PM EST on March 20, 2547 just in case you want to plan ahead and get that marked on your calendar. It's astounding that many of these same scientists are blinded to the Creator behind the precise design! Which takes greater faith; that this is all a result of random chance or a purposeful, intelligent design by our Creator God?
Many years ago I read an article by an astronomer named Robert Jastrow, who made this statement. "At this moment it seems as though science will never be able to raise the curtain on the mystery of creation. For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries." Hallelujah, I am sitting on that final rock!
Genesis makes it clear that the universe was indeed created in an instant: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light."
God gave Noah the wonderful promise expressed in the second daily verse immediately after the flood. It's a promise that we see fulfilled every day, but should particularly note at the seasonal changes.
Consider the steady, yet often ignored, testimony of God's great faithfulness seen in the changing of the seasons expressed in this promise. It can give us a rich assurance today of God's faithfulness in all things and certainly those things that concern us personally. In fact it was the inspiration behind one of the verses to a classic hymn most of you will recognize. It happens to be Brooksyne's favorite hymn. With joy and assurance receive it today!
"Summer and
winter, and springtime
and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above.
Join with all nature in manifold witness,
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love."
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above.
Join with all nature in manifold witness,
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love."
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
Your watchful
eye brings great
assurance to my
heart as You,
Almighty Father,
are a God of
perfect order.
Your unblemished
design of the
universe and all
of created life,
both human and
vegetation, is
also testimony
to Your
unchanging
faithfulness. We
marvel in the
wonder of each
hour of the day
and of the
night, hill and
meadow, tree and
flower, sun and
moon and stars
of light. The
redeemed join
with all of
nature in
declaring Your
wondrous beauty
in all creation
as we bring
praise, honor
and glory to
You, our
Faithful God.
Amen.* Many confuse astronomy with astrology. Astronomy is the science that deals with the material universe beyond the earth's atmosphere. Astrology is an occultic pseudoscience claiming divination by the positions of the planets and sun and moon.
Today
we feature our
neighbor
Doug's photos.
These
two photos are
of snow geese.
It
was probably the
day Doug posted
this blue bird on
Facebook that I
(Brooksyne) said
to Doug: "Doug,
you have lots of
blue birds and
we've only seen
one or two all the
years we've lived
next door (almost
17 years).
Couldn't you send
a few our way?" He
kindly responded,
"I'll send some
over." Sure enough
the very next day
we had three blue
bird couples and
have been seeing a
few just about
every day. (Did he
really say
anything to the
birds, did they
overhear us, or
could they have
stopped in because
Stephen put out
about six suet
stations and hung
four feeding
stations for the
big snow that was
forecasted. Plus,
he even spread a
little peanut
butter on the suet
since they like
peanut butter.
Whatever the
reason they
finally decided to
visit, I love to
see their
beautiful blue
feathers.)
Doug
is often seen
standing in his
driveway with
camera in hand,
while Ester is
standing in our
driveway with
her camera in
hand. Our
driveways run
parallel and are
only about 50
feet apart.
They're waiting
for just the
right moment to
get a good
sunset picture.
Doug has a
pretty fancy
camera with
filters and
several lenses
and gets some
excellent shots.
We must have a
very photogenic
spot since we
often see cars
stop across from
our house for a
sunset photo!
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"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 many of our local readers
can come out and be blessed by
this concert. Come early because
it will likely be very crowded.
Here's another song we will be
singing "He Is Worthy",
a newer song so here's a video by
Andrew Peterson singing this
beautiful song. This was one of
our favorite songs we learned
over the past year. May it bless
you as you listen.
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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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Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA