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Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Lebanon County farm 4/9/19 (Click to enlarge)
Early yesterday morning we passed this Lebanon County farm.
(Click to enlarge)

"A Consideration Of Tabbed Thinking"

Message summary: When our minds are stayed on God and we fully trust Him problems will not dismay or overwhelm us, for dismay and trust simply cannot coexist.

Listen to our message on your audio player.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee" (Isaiah 26:3).

Too many tabsWe appreciate home decor items that make a thoughtful statement. Yesterday we saw this message on a small decorative blackboard at Audreys, "My Brain Has Too Many Tabs Open". It's a reference to having multiple tabs open on an internet browser known as "tabbed browsing". As a session of study, work or even just plain web surfing progresses, you may end up with lots of tabs open, a type of multitasking.

That's a neat feature that can also become cluttered. Periodically I have so many tabs open I just shut down my browser to start fresh.

In life my brain can also have too many tabs open. That's when I've got a lot on my mind and may lose focus, especially the focus on that which is most important. Illustratively we will call it "tabbed thinking".

During our young dating years in Bible College Brooksyne and I frequently exchanged Scripture verses in our written correspondence (long before email and texting were available). I often shared Isaiah 26:3 which we put to memory. Years later we sang it to a tune which permanently attaches the words to our memory. Through the years we have both found this passage to be a guiding principle when we have too many tabs open. It is also
a spiritual healing balm when going through troubling circumstances.

There's a lot to dismay us, isn't there? World situations, national tragedies, crazy politics, personal matters; they can all dismay, often concurrently. What dismays you today?

Isaiah 26:3What glorious truth our daily Scripture verse conveys! Isaiah in chapter 26:3 shares a truth held dear by many believers: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee." This is from the KJV, which we memorized. Other versions state, "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in you" (ESV) and "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You" (NIV). For additional comparison in various versions use this nifty tool.

Today let us focus just on the phrase, "Whose mind is stayed on Thee"; that's the key, and that's where I suspect so many of us have the problem. We sure do! With all the possible tabs open we keep getting our minds and hearts off the Lord and onto the problems at hand. We approach the problems from every angle and get everyone’s take on it. We go to bed with the problems on our hearts and if sleep does come it may very well be diluted by a dream (or even a nightmare) that relates to the problems. We awaken and the same old problems loom over the new day!

However when our minds are stayed on God and we fully trust Him to be interceding on our behalf problems will not dismay or overwhelm us, for dismay and trust simply cannot coexist. Certainly we’re tempted to be dismayed by our troubles, but the key to trust is to turn our mind to the Lord in prayer and stand on His promises.

Warren Wiersbe reminds us that "The peace of God is not the absence of problems; it is the presence of divine sufficiency in the midst of problems." George Morrison said, "Peace is the possession of adequate resources" and those resources come from the Lord when you yield your heart and mind to Him.

Our trust is in the One who is a tested and tried stone, the Solid Rock; the One who is a sure foundation. He is ever trustworthy and ever faithful. Put your complete trust in Him today!

Like Frances Havergal in her song, "Like A River Glorious", we must fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. If we are "stayed upon Jehovah" we will remain balanced even if the world around us sways.

Stayed upon Jehovah,
Hearts are fully blest;
Finding, as He promised,
Perfect peace and rest.


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Praying manDaily prayer: Father, because we place our trust in You as our sovereign Lord we have an enduring peace that You are the Great Deliverer and that You work all things together for good to those who love You and are called according to Your purpose. We seek to glorify Jesus, our Solid Rock, who was put to the ultimate test and laid an unshakable foundation for our faith, as He remained true to His mission to provide our salvation. Our faith is strengthened and our peace perfected as we keep our minds stayed upon You, not only on the bright, cheerful days but on the dismal days when the cloud of discouragement would otherwise obscure the brightness of Your promise to keep us in perfect peace if we keep our minds stayed upon You. Amen.



Union Canal, Lebanon, PA 4/9/19 (Click to enlarge)
Yesterday we hiked along the tow path of the historic Union Canal in Lebanon County. Notice the white blooming tree in the far left background.
(Click to enlarge)

Union Canal tunnel, Lebanon, PA 4/9/19 (Click to enlarge)
The Union Canal Tunnel is the oldest existing transportation tunnel in the US.
(Click to enlarge)

Union Canal flowering trees, Lebanon, PA 4/9/19 (Click to enlarge)
Union Canal Flowering Trees
(Click to enlarge)

Cardinal in Forsythia 4/9/19 Walter from White Oak
Walter, a friend at White Oak Display, has a great view outside his office window, especially when the Forsythia blooms in the spring and the Cardinal rests on a branch. Walter's hoping that the cardinal might build a nest within his view. If so, I (Brooksyne) will make a pest of myself at his window during our weekly visits!



Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Like A River Glorious"  Video  Stonebriar Community Church (Note: I had never heard of this church before but see it is where Chuck Swindoll now preaches. We have appreciated his ministry and books for many years and see that he is still going strong at 84 (Near Caleb's age when he proclaimed, "I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then" (Joshua 14:11)! Here's a video of his sermon from this last Sunday (which was over 1 hour!). I also appreciate this church posting a very comprehensive statement of faith on their website that candidly and Biblically deals with current issues.

"God Will Take Care of You"  Video  Antrim Mennonite Choir

"No Longer Slaves"  Video  Zach Williams

Finally today:

The farmer who owns the land behind us had a crew clear some trees and level the land to expand his tillable land. The crew was rather careless in burning off the brush and not staying around to tend the fire. In fact they paid a very expensive price as this dozer was burned up that they had been using when it was left too close to the fire!

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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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