A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
Tuesday, July 2,
2019
Sights in
the country
Larry
riding by our place on his 1953 restored FarmAll
tractor.
(Click
to enlarge)
"Beulah
Land"
Message
summary:
The concept of
Beulah land as a
reference to heaven
comes from John
Bunyan's Pilgrim's
Progress.
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"For now we see through a glass, darkly" (1 Corinthians 13:12).
We have known several women named Beulah, including several here in Lancaster County, but our first memorable Beulah early in our marriage, was an elderly lady in the first church we served in Fair Grove, MO named Sunnyvale.
Beulah
and her husband
Tracy, who had been
a farmer, had been
in the church for
many, many years.
They likely hadn't
traveled any farther
than to see their
daughter who lived
several hundred
miles away in
Illinois. They had
very few material
possessions, yet
they sure lived a
rich life. The photo
shows Tracy and
Beulah Sutherland
with a very
young 21 year old
Brooksyne during the
big hair & perm
days.
One Saturday afternoon in 1977 we decided to throw a surprise homemade ice cream party for them. Both were in their 90's and were celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary, as I recall. We had prearranged for their son, Jerry, to bring them to the party after the church folks had everything set up. On the pretense that he wanted to take them for an afternoon country drive, he drove right past our rural church.
The Sutherlands noticed right away that there were church people seated in the picnic area. Jerry told us that Beulah said in a rather meek, but troubled tone, "I wonder what they're doing at Sunnyvale and why they didn't invite us?" This couple had been members for probably 50 years at the time.
Of course, Jerry turned the car around about that time and drove into the circle drive so that we could all yell, "Surprise"! But we were the ones in for a surprise at Beulah's response. She had her hair in pin curls preparing for church the next day and would never have shown up at a party (especially, in her honor) with pin curls. After she got over the initial humiliation she and Tracy were absolutely delighted with the loving attention of that small country congregation - many of them young Bible College students from nearby CBC in Springfield.
Of course Beulah and Tracy are now with the Lord although Beulah lived past 100. They have entered what has affectionately been called "Beulah Land" the title of a beautiful old hymn with a newer rendition by Casting Crowns.
The hymn's name is derived from the King James Version of Isaiah 62:4: "Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate; but thou shalt be called Hephzibah and thy land Beulah; for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married."
The verse is in reference to the return of the Hebrews from their exile in Babylon in which the Hebrews shall no longer be called Forsaken, but Hephzibah (My Delight Is in Her), and Jerusalem shall no longer be called Desolate, but Beulah (Married). This implies that the Hebrews have turned back to the worship of God.
The concept of Beulah land as a reference to heaven comes from John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress in which he states "Therefore it is, I say, that the Enchanted ground is placed so nigh to the land Beulah and so near the end of their race (Heaven)."
The song begins with these words, "I'm kind of homesick for a country to which I've never been before". As believers we look homeward as Paul writes, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).
Randy Alcorn writes in "If God Is Good": "The life to come flows out of this one; hence the believer's present sufferings comprise only a tiny part of our total life experience, which will continue forever." We can be victorious daily if we keep that perspective during times of trouble and sorrow on this side. Otherwise we might feel cheated in this life and question God or worse yet, blame Him for our difficulties. Once again I want to quote Alcorn:
It's very comforting to know that if we "consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, we will not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:2-3). Once again, in the midst of our suffering, we must focus on Jesus' life and His overcomings to enable us to experience our own overcomings.
We face opposition in one way or another every day of our lives. Faithful readers of Daily Encouragement will quickly recognize that we often hit on the theme of suffering, pain or loss since we're exposed to this regularly through our ministry. Even as we prepare this message we have several people on our hearts.
Stay faithful and rely on God's promises that are faithful and true. Certainly you may suffer grief in all kinds of trials as those who have gone before you have done so. Let us also declare with the Psalmist, that weeping may come for a season, but joy will come in the morning!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"For now we see through a glass, darkly" (1 Corinthians 13:12).
We have known several women named Beulah, including several here in Lancaster County, but our first memorable Beulah early in our marriage, was an elderly lady in the first church we served in Fair Grove, MO named Sunnyvale.
Beulah
and her husband
Tracy, who had been
a farmer, had been
in the church for
many, many years.
They likely hadn't
traveled any farther
than to see their
daughter who lived
several hundred
miles away in
Illinois. They had
very few material
possessions, yet
they sure lived a
rich life. The photo
shows Tracy and
Beulah Sutherland
with a very
young 21 year old
Brooksyne during the
big hair & perm
days.One Saturday afternoon in 1977 we decided to throw a surprise homemade ice cream party for them. Both were in their 90's and were celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary, as I recall. We had prearranged for their son, Jerry, to bring them to the party after the church folks had everything set up. On the pretense that he wanted to take them for an afternoon country drive, he drove right past our rural church.
The Sutherlands noticed right away that there were church people seated in the picnic area. Jerry told us that Beulah said in a rather meek, but troubled tone, "I wonder what they're doing at Sunnyvale and why they didn't invite us?" This couple had been members for probably 50 years at the time.
Of course, Jerry turned the car around about that time and drove into the circle drive so that we could all yell, "Surprise"! But we were the ones in for a surprise at Beulah's response. She had her hair in pin curls preparing for church the next day and would never have shown up at a party (especially, in her honor) with pin curls. After she got over the initial humiliation she and Tracy were absolutely delighted with the loving attention of that small country congregation - many of them young Bible College students from nearby CBC in Springfield.
Of course Beulah and Tracy are now with the Lord although Beulah lived past 100. They have entered what has affectionately been called "Beulah Land" the title of a beautiful old hymn with a newer rendition by Casting Crowns.
The hymn's name is derived from the King James Version of Isaiah 62:4: "Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate; but thou shalt be called Hephzibah and thy land Beulah; for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married."
The verse is in reference to the return of the Hebrews from their exile in Babylon in which the Hebrews shall no longer be called Forsaken, but Hephzibah (My Delight Is in Her), and Jerusalem shall no longer be called Desolate, but Beulah (Married). This implies that the Hebrews have turned back to the worship of God.
The concept of Beulah land as a reference to heaven comes from John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress in which he states "Therefore it is, I say, that the Enchanted ground is placed so nigh to the land Beulah and so near the end of their race (Heaven)."
The song begins with these words, "I'm kind of homesick for a country to which I've never been before". As believers we look homeward as Paul writes, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).
Randy Alcorn writes in "If God Is Good": "The life to come flows out of this one; hence the believer's present sufferings comprise only a tiny part of our total life experience, which will continue forever." We can be victorious daily if we keep that perspective during times of trouble and sorrow on this side. Otherwise we might feel cheated in this life and question God or worse yet, blame Him for our difficulties. Once again I want to quote Alcorn:
"When
we feel upset with
God and tempted to
blame Him, we
should look at the
outstretched arms
of Jesus and focus
on His wounds, not
ours. When we lock
our eyes on our
cancer, arthritis,
fibromyalgia,
diabetes,
disability, [or
any other life
challenge]
self-pity and
bitterness can
creep in. When we
spend our days
rehearsing the
tragic death of a
loved one, we will
interpret all life
through the
darkness of our
suffering. How
much better when
we focus upon
Jesus!"
It's very comforting to know that if we "consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, we will not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:2-3). Once again, in the midst of our suffering, we must focus on Jesus' life and His overcomings to enable us to experience our own overcomings.
We face opposition in one way or another every day of our lives. Faithful readers of Daily Encouragement will quickly recognize that we often hit on the theme of suffering, pain or loss since we're exposed to this regularly through our ministry. Even as we prepare this message we have several people on our hearts.
Stay faithful and rely on God's promises that are faithful and true. Certainly you may suffer grief in all kinds of trials as those who have gone before you have done so. Let us also declare with the Psalmist, that weeping may come for a season, but joy will come in the morning!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father,
just as there
are seasons
throughout the
calendar year
there are
seasons
throughout our
lives; many of
them
invigorating
and
celebratory,
others
wearying and
dreaded. Yet
it is both
joyous times
and dreaded
occasions that
shape us into
Your image so
that we bear
the likeness
of Your Son,
Jesus Christ
who endured
great
hardship. We
are to fix our
eyes on Him,
who for the
joy set before
Him, endured
the cross
despising its
shame knowing
that without
full obedience
He could not
offer full
redemption for
our sins. May
we not
interpret all
of life in the
"darkness of
our suffering"
but in the
brightness of
Your
resurrected
Son. In the
"furnace of
affliction"
may we be
found faithful
in Your
refining
process until
we reach
Beulah Land.
In the name of
Jesus we pray.
Amen.Note: There are two hymns by the same title, one written in the late 1800's and the other in 1972 by Squire Parsons. Today's quotations are from the latter version.
Larry,
like many who
grew up on a
farm, has a
special
fondness for
his first
tractor. He
recalls
working on
this 1953
McCormick
FARMALL in a
field in our
neighborhood
when he was
seven years
old. Larry's
son now lives
on the
property
around the
corner from
our house with
his wife and
young children
who are now
the sixth
generation to
live on that
property.
(Click
to enlarge)
Jerry,
a buyer at
Kleen-Rite,
had a big
smile last
Friday when I
visited him on
his last day
at work before
retiring.
A
fellow
employee made
this poster.
Rachel
is a friend
recovering in
the hospital
and got this
nice poster
card from her
friends at
White Oak
Display and
Design. Please
remember her
and her
husband, Rick,
in your
prayers that
God will
restore her to
wholeness.
Saturday
afternoon we
joined the
employees of
the Smucker
company for a
picnic and
played some
serious
cornhole.
I managed to
make it to the
semi-final
round of three
teams. Marlin,
one of the
company
owners,
decided to
give one of
the teams a
bye for the
semi-final
round. He
said, "I have
a number in my
head so pick a
number between
1 and 50. The
team that's
closest to
that number
will get a
bye". The
other team
inexplicably
chose 47 so I
quickly
considered the
odds and
shrewdly chose
46 and we won
the bye.
Brooksyne
walked over at
that time and
overheard me
say 46 and
seriously
thought maybe
Marlin had
asked for my
waist size!
Now I don't
care to
disclose my
waist size
over the
internet but
let's just say
it's between 1
and 50. Note:
My team lost
in the final
round to the
team that lost
the bye!
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental Resources
"Beulah Land"
Video
Casting Crowns Hearing
this fresh rendition of this
older song on the radio the
other day prompted
consideration of today's
message.
"Home"
Video
Gaither
Vocal Band
"Homesick For
Heaven" Video
Jim
Brady Trio
Finally today:
Brooksyne will share her
thoughts on her experience
last week at the Joni and
Friends Family Retreat
tomorrow.
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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