A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
Tuesday, April
23, 2019
Listen to our
message on your audio
player.
"Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them" (Hebrews 7:25).
Sunday morning I was sitting in church waiting for the service to begin. We had a powerful instrumental prelude with the orchestra playing "Easter Song", made popular by the family group "The Second Chapter Of Acts" way back when we were in college. (video link below) It was cutting edge contemporary music at that time, but I suppose now it would be considered "old-fashioned", especially to younger ears. But the message has not changed!
"Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them" (Hebrews 7:25).
Sunday morning I was sitting in church waiting for the service to begin. We had a powerful instrumental prelude with the orchestra playing "Easter Song", made popular by the family group "The Second Chapter Of Acts" way back when we were in college. (video link below) It was cutting edge contemporary music at that time, but I suppose now it would be considered "old-fashioned", especially to younger ears. But the message has not changed!
Hear the
bells ringing
They're singing, that you can be born again
Hear the bells ringing
They're singing, "Christ is risen from the dead!"
Joy to the world, He has risen, Hallelujah
He's risen, Hallelujah
He's risen, Hallelujah
They're singing, that you can be born again
Hear the bells ringing
They're singing, "Christ is risen from the dead!"
Joy to the world, He has risen, Hallelujah
He's risen, Hallelujah
He's risen, Hallelujah
I looked up
at Brooksyne in the
choir and waved as I
always do (much to her
embarrassment). I was
preparing to worship
the risen Christ along
with people not only
in the church we
attend but with people
all around the world
in such a wide variety
of settings; from
large churches to home
groups, people from
every tribe, nation,
race and tongue
declaring, "Jesus
Christ is Risen".
Of course due to the
various time zones
many had already
gathered, including
people on the island
nation of Sri Lanka.
Like many we have our phones set to provide notifications. Just as the service began I received the news through a notification about the Easter Day terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka. What a stunning contrast in scenes and experiences based upon photos of the carnage. A reminder of how I may take my relatively easy life for granted.
The daily Scripture text has rightly brought hope and encouragement to so many through the ages of the Church. Consider the power of each individual phrase, reading them slowly and pondering their rich meanings.
Like many we have our phones set to provide notifications. Just as the service began I received the news through a notification about the Easter Day terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka. What a stunning contrast in scenes and experiences based upon photos of the carnage. A reminder of how I may take my relatively easy life for granted.
The daily Scripture text has rightly brought hope and encouragement to so many through the ages of the Church. Consider the power of each individual phrase, reading them slowly and pondering their rich meanings.
"He is
able",
"to save
completely",
"those who
come to God"
"through
Him"
"to
intercede for them".
I left out the single phrase I want to reflect on this morning. "Because He always lives".
The message that we especially celebrate on Easter is a daily, life-impacting truth. He always lives.
Today some of you are in a valley, and the shadow that falls over you is like a darkness that "veils His lovely face". We certainly consider the people in Sri Lanka. But due to the nature of our work as chaplains we always have people on our hearts going through tough times. The trouble overshadows You while the Savior may seem far away. Remember this important Biblical truth today: He always lives and He is ever interceding for you.
In His wondrous and mysterious providence God ordains the valley for our ultimate good. It is in the valley that He restores our soul and gives us needed perspective. In 2 Corinthians 1:9 Paul writes that he suffered hardships even to the point of feeling the sentence of death. "But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead." God ultimately, in one way or another and not always in the ways we expect, delivers us from our troubles and raises our hopes above our present circumstances.
Others of you are on a mountain of temporary success and well being. Your health is good, the children are obeying, and the job seems steady. We certainly rejoice and give thanks for these peaceful periods in our lives. But remember, it's only temporary and don't be lulled into complacency and self-sufficiency like the man God called a fool. Jesus always lives and He's got a program much larger and better coming.
Because He
lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
Every fear is gone
I know He holds my life, my future in His hands
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
Every fear is gone
I know He holds my life, my future in His hands
(Matt
Maher version)
Be
encouraged today,
Stephen C.
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, no one
who comes to
You through
Jesus goes
away unable to
find
reconciliation
with You, for
You save
completely and
to the
uttermost.
Because Your
Son lives and
intercedes for
us we have
renewed hope
daily for the
circumstances
of our lives
and for the
people that
are dear to
our hearts. We
lift up the
families and
friends of
Christian
worshipers who
were
slaughtered by
Islamic
terrorists in
Sri Lanka on
Easter Sunday.
We also pray
for those who
survived but
are dealing
with injuries,
from minor to
life altering,
some barely
clinging to
life. Though
the
circumstances
are so very
dreadful, we
know that Your
redemptive and
healing power
will result in
people giving
testimony of
Your
faithfulness
even in the
midst of such
horror. May
people be
saved and the
enemy be
defeated, to
the dismay of
those who wish
harm upon
followers of
Christ. Fill
our hearts
anew with
hope,
encouragement
and endurance
as we stand
upon Your Word
and fully
trust You to
guide our
lives this
day, in the
good times and
in the
bad.
Amen.We
always enjoy
sharing photos
of sights we
see along the
way as we
drive through
rural
Lancaster
County.
We
passed these
children
walking home,
a little tired
from a long
day at school,
on a rural
road south of
New Holland.
These
girls were
heading down
their farm
lane on their
brightly
colored
scooters.
Lettuce
and pansy
filled window
box at Kitchen
Kettle Village
in Intercourse
PA
The
street
musician at
Kitchen Kettle
Village along
with his guest
accompanists.
Banjo
Jimmy, who
played for
many years in
the village,
died last
year. Watch
this nice video
tribute.
This
colorfully
painted bike
was in front
of a shop at
the Kitchen
Kettle
Village. The
owner asked us
if this was
the kind of
bike we rode
when we were
children.
Actually,
except for the
kickstand, it
does look
similar to my
first bike,
fenders and
all! My dad
bought it new
for me at the
Western Auto
Store on Main
Street in
Belton,
Missouri about
1963.
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental Resources
"Easter Song"
Video
Second Chapter Of Acts
"Because He
Lives" Video
Matt Maher
"Exalted Over
All" Video
Calvary Church Choir and
Orchestra Brooksyne's
note: Our Easter octavo
presents the important truth
that God is exalted over all;
His name is higher, stronger
and is to be exalted above all
names.
Graphic used in
current series that really
blesses us. Video
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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