A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
Wednesday, April
24, 2019
"Alive Forevermore!"
White Rock
vista point on the Appalachian Trail looks out over
Berks and Lebanon Counties.
Can you see
the eagle?
(Click
on photo to enlarge)
Message
summary: The resounding
message from our Lord
surely brought peace to
John in that surreal
setting, but as a part
of the Holy Scriptures
His message speaks to
believers of all
generations. Jesus is
alive forevermore!
Listen to our
message on your audio
player.
Alive,
alive, alive
forevermore
My Jesus is alive, alive forevermore!
My Jesus is alive, alive forevermore!
Fear is a
common topic we deal
with in the course of
our chaplaincy, and
admittedly, within our
own hearts at times. How
about you? What might be
stirring up the cauldron
of fear in your heart
today; world conditions,
the state of our country
and its rapid spiritual
and moral decline, a
personal matter
affecting you or a loved
one? We have all
experienced the emotion
of fear in one way or
another.
Today we
especially have a friend
on our hearts. Tim has a
rapidly advancing form
of ALS yet demonstrates
such overcoming faith as
he shares his hard
journey on his Facebook
page. Tim's faith is
overcoming any fears he
deals with.
His
most recent post states:
"Today we made a new
acquaintance. Based on a
decision last Friday with
our ALS nurse we have made
the proactive decision to
invite hospice into our
world again. Four months
ago it was for Mom. Today
it is for me. Hard to take
it all in. I have been
flooded with cards, notes,
letters, visits and
countless expressions of
love. Overwhelming how
God is showering us with
so many blessings.
Hard to take all that in
too. Thank you friends for
all you continue to do to
support us. Keep praying
for a Julie."
Yesterday we
took a hike along the
Appalachian Trail about
30 miles north of us in
Berks County not far
from a little village
named Fearnot. Several
years ago we wandered
through Fearnot but I
was unable to find the
origin of the village's
most unusual name but
suspect it has a
Biblical background.
Fear itself is first expressed in the Bible shortly after the transgression in the garden when Adam said to God, "I was afraid" (Genesis 3:10). The remainder of the Bible is full of many expressions of human fear for a wide variety of reasons. But the child of God may find such divine relief in God's command to "fear not" which is found in our daily text.
"Fear not" is one of the great statements in Scripture. The first reference in Genesis is a reassuring word to Abraham. "Fear not, Abram, I am Your shield; your reward shall be very great" (Genesis 15:1). Today's text is the final occurrence of "fear not" in the Bible.
Revelation is a very complex book with various interpretations by equally earnest and faithful followers of Christ. Some parts are certainly easier to understand than others. In the first chapter we have the word of Jesus Christ to John on the Island of Patmos. In the presence of Jesus John had fallen "at his feet as dead". Jesus placed His right hand on him and uttered the message in our daily text, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades."
The resounding message from our Lord surely brought peace to John in that surreal setting, but as a part of the Holy Scriptures His message speaks to believers of all generations.
Today in one way or another we will surely hear something or encounter a problem that which will strike fear in our hearts, but let us consider our faithful God who continues to speak "Fear Not" to the hearts of His children. He is alive forevermore!
Jesus is truly the perpetual Living One. As we read of His characteristics in Revelation, first revealed to John and recorded late in the first century over 1900 years ago, we can be assured that they are equally true today and will be throughout eternity!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, You
speak to us
through the
prophet Isaiah,
"Fear not, for I
am with you; be
not dismayed,
for I am your
God". Though
this passage is
somewhat general
we know that You
deal with the
specifics in our
lives as we
encounter
personal
difficulties and
quandaries. How
comforting it is
to know that You
are alive
forevermore and
not only go
before us, but
You walk
alongside us in
our times of
pain and
anxiety, our
confusion and
loss, in our
uncertainties.
Father, there
are so many
experiences or
circumstances in
life that
instill fear in
our hearts. But
we must not
cringe in fear
because Your
oversight
assures us that
things will turn
out for good in
the end, whether
in this life or
the life to
come. Though
Jesus' followers
were devastated
when He hung
limp on the
cross You had a
powerful plan
all along and it
turned out for
the good of all,
even those
responsible for
His death.
Father, we seek
You believing
that You hear us
and will deliver
us from our
unhealthy fears.
We thank You for
it in advance,
through the
precious name of
Jesus. Amen.
Fear itself is first expressed in the Bible shortly after the transgression in the garden when Adam said to God, "I was afraid" (Genesis 3:10). The remainder of the Bible is full of many expressions of human fear for a wide variety of reasons. But the child of God may find such divine relief in God's command to "fear not" which is found in our daily text.
"Fear not" is one of the great statements in Scripture. The first reference in Genesis is a reassuring word to Abraham. "Fear not, Abram, I am Your shield; your reward shall be very great" (Genesis 15:1). Today's text is the final occurrence of "fear not" in the Bible.
Revelation is a very complex book with various interpretations by equally earnest and faithful followers of Christ. Some parts are certainly easier to understand than others. In the first chapter we have the word of Jesus Christ to John on the Island of Patmos. In the presence of Jesus John had fallen "at his feet as dead". Jesus placed His right hand on him and uttered the message in our daily text, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades."
The resounding message from our Lord surely brought peace to John in that surreal setting, but as a part of the Holy Scriptures His message speaks to believers of all generations.
1)
Jesus Christ is the
First and the Last.
He is the God of all
eternity, the Lord of
eternity past and
eternity future. He
always was and is and
evermore shall be. As
Reginald Heber
expressed in his
majestic hymn "Holy,
Holy Holy", "Who wert,
and art, and evermore
shall be!"
2) Jesus Christ is the living one who died, and is alive forevermore. He has the credentials of being resurrected, and lives to never die again though He indeed was dead. The victory that Jesus won over sin and death is a permanent victory. He didn't rise from the dead just to die again. He lives forevermore!
3) Jesus Christ has the keys of Death and of Hades. Some imagine that the devil is somehow the "lord of Hell" and has the authority or power to determine life or death. But only Jesus holds the keys of Death and Hades. We can trust that Jesus never lets the devil borrow the keys!
2) Jesus Christ is the living one who died, and is alive forevermore. He has the credentials of being resurrected, and lives to never die again though He indeed was dead. The victory that Jesus won over sin and death is a permanent victory. He didn't rise from the dead just to die again. He lives forevermore!
3) Jesus Christ has the keys of Death and of Hades. Some imagine that the devil is somehow the "lord of Hell" and has the authority or power to determine life or death. But only Jesus holds the keys of Death and Hades. We can trust that Jesus never lets the devil borrow the keys!
Today in one way or another we will surely hear something or encounter a problem that which will strike fear in our hearts, but let us consider our faithful God who continues to speak "Fear Not" to the hearts of His children. He is alive forevermore!
Jesus is truly the perpetual Living One. As we read of His characteristics in Revelation, first revealed to John and recorded late in the first century over 1900 years ago, we can be assured that they are equally true today and will be throughout eternity!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, You
speak to us
through the
prophet Isaiah,
"Fear not, for I
am with you; be
not dismayed,
for I am your
God". Though
this passage is
somewhat general
we know that You
deal with the
specifics in our
lives as we
encounter
personal
difficulties and
quandaries. How
comforting it is
to know that You
are alive
forevermore and
not only go
before us, but
You walk
alongside us in
our times of
pain and
anxiety, our
confusion and
loss, in our
uncertainties.
Father, there
are so many
experiences or
circumstances in
life that
instill fear in
our hearts. But
we must not
cringe in fear
because Your
oversight
assures us that
things will turn
out for good in
the end, whether
in this life or
the life to
come. Though
Jesus' followers
were devastated
when He hung
limp on the
cross You had a
powerful plan
all along and it
turned out for
the good of all,
even those
responsible for
His death.
Father, we seek
You believing
that You hear us
and will deliver
us from our
unhealthy fears.
We thank You for
it in advance,
through the
precious name of
Jesus. Amen.Today
we will share
some photos of
our hike
yesterday on the
Appalachian
Trail along the
Blue Mountain
Ridge in Berks
County, PA.
We're
not good at
selfies, but
Brooksyne worked
at it and came
up with this
shot, so we
could get both
the beautiful
view along with
proof of our
presence there.
This
part of the
Appalachian
Trail is known
as
"Rocksylvania",
and you can see
why!
Coming
down after
our hike off
Blue Mountain
along PA route
501 we passed
this Berks
County church
built in 1846.
It was so
striking and
well preserved
in a beautiful
setting so we
got out and
walked around to
have a closer
look. We're
familiar with
church mice but
can you find the
church owl in
this photo?
(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
In the
little village
of Bethel, PA
these three
labradoodles
sure caught our
attention. I
wonder if they
fought over who
got to poke his
head out of the
moon roof!
Early
yesterday
morning around
5:00 AM we
heard the
harvester
behind our
house. By mid
morning they
were
harvesting the
Rye from the
field across
from our
house.
(Click
on photo to
enlarge)
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental Resources
"Overcome"
Video
Calvary Church Choir This
song has a lyric that also speaks
to our message today about "Fear
Not".
We
will not be moved
When the earth gives way
For the risen One has overcome
And for every fear
There's an empty grave
For the risen One has overcome
When the earth gives way
For the risen One has overcome
And for every fear
There's an empty grave
For the risen One has overcome
"He Holds The Keys"
Video
Steve Green This video
appears to be more recently
recorded. We both enjoyed Steve
Green back in the eighties who is
still active in service for the
Lord.
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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