A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
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Tuesday, August
20, 2019
On Sunday as we crossed I-83 Ester took this photo of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Bridge with the Harrisburg skyline in the background. The bridge has fifty-one concrete arches.
Click to
enlarge and see our state capitol.
(Part
2)
"When
Trials Come, Love Endures"
Message
summary: When
trials come, love
endures.
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (1 Corinthians 13:7).
In yesterday's message we made a challenge concerning keeping our marriage vows, which are the most important vows we make in life with another human. In the marriage ceremony I have developed through my 40+ years of ministry I offer this final prayer for the couple before pronouncing them husband and wife.
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (1 Corinthians 13:7).
In yesterday's message we made a challenge concerning keeping our marriage vows, which are the most important vows we make in life with another human. In the marriage ceremony I have developed through my 40+ years of ministry I offer this final prayer for the couple before pronouncing them husband and wife.
"Our
loving Father,
thank you for this
newly married
couple, Joe and
Taylor. Thank you
for their
commitment to one
another witnessed
here in this
marriage ceremony.
Protect the solemn
vows they have
promised. Help
them to be good to
one another. Help
them to be
patient, strong
and faithful when
the inevitable
hard times come.
May their marriage
be a true
reflection of Your
love toward the
Body of Christ.
May Your Spirit
inhabit their
marriage and fill
it with abundant
joy. Amen."
I look at the couple and especially emphasize that line, "when the inevitable hard times come". Indeed hard times in one way or another will inevitably come to any marriage in a variety of ways and we can't avoid, pick or predict them. As I have often said following a difficult health matter over 15 years ago, "You don't get to pick your problems and you don't schedule them". If I could pick and schedule only problem in life I would choose to have a fender bender when I'm 95. Which means I would still be driving!
Ministry has many contrasts. There are those who specialize in working with children, youth, singles, newly married, etc. I have several friends who are hospice chaplains, a valuable ministry to those at the end of life. But I am a generalist, meaning I don't have a specific focus on any one age group or life event.
On Saturday I experienced the joy of conducting a wedding service and then Sunday Brooksyne, Ester and I went over to Gettysburg, PA to visit our longtime friends, Rick and Rachel, who are encountering a life-jarring event. They have been married 30 years and are blessed with grandchildren. We have had many fun times together including a trip up to Yankee Candle in Deerfield, MA.
Nearly two months ago Rachel was hospitalized and has been in recovery since that time, with many milestones in her recovery and numerous setbacks. Rick has stayed by her side the entire time and is very active in her care and recovery. It's been very tough for him but he is maintaining and growing in his faith. When they got married they sure didn't see this coming.
Along with many others we have sought to be a support to them including their family and pastors from their church and business associates. Rachel's aging parents have sat with her day after day as they pray for her complete recovery.
I didn't conduct Rick and Rachel's wedding but if I had prayed over them 30 years ago, "Lord, help them to be patient, strong and faithful when the inevitable hard times come", I don't suppose they would ever have imagined going through that which they are now experiencing. But now, this many years later, they are in the midst of the inevitably hard times. When trials come and a couple's love endures the test, the genuineness of their marital vows are most visible to onlookers, most especially their own family.
When
couples are young
the last thing most
envision is the
failing health of
their spouse, though
the scenario is
included in the
traditional wedding
vows, "in sickness
and in health". The
real test of love is
not so much in the
romantic attraction
one has for his or
her mate but in
following the
Scriptural command
to leave father and
mother, and cleave
unto one's spouse,
becoming one flesh.
Becoming one is
representative of
the union not only
of husband and wife,
but also symbolizes
the union of the
Trinity; Father,
Son, and Holy
Spirit.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
Prayer: Father, we
consider the words
of Solomon who
wisely wrote that, "Two
are better than
one, because they
have a good return
for their labor:
If either of them
falls down, one
can help the other
up. But pity
anyone who falls
and has no one to
help them up.
Also, if two lie
down together,
they will keep
warm. But how can
one keep warm
alone? Though one
may be
overpowered, two
can defend
themselves. A cord
of three strands
is not quickly
broken." We're
so thankful that You
are the third strand
in the cord of
husband and wife who
commit themselves to
following You. You
fortify and lead
them along life's
highway, through the
smooth and bumpy
roads from their
youth into their old
age. For this we are
thankful. Amen.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
Prayer: Father, we
consider the words
of Solomon who
wisely wrote that, "Two
are better than
one, because they
have a good return
for their labor:
If either of them
falls down, one
can help the other
up. But pity
anyone who falls
and has no one to
help them up.
Also, if two lie
down together,
they will keep
warm. But how can
one keep warm
alone? Though one
may be
overpowered, two
can defend
themselves. A cord
of three strands
is not quickly
broken." We're
so thankful that You
are the third strand
in the cord of
husband and wife who
commit themselves to
following You. You
fortify and lead
them along life's
highway, through the
smooth and bumpy
roads from their
youth into their old
age. For this we are
thankful. Amen.
Ecclesiastes
4:9-12
Rick and Rachel enjoying a walk over the Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls Massachusetts when we went to Yankee Candle in 2011. This bridge was formerly a Trolley Bridge converted to a bridge of flowers in 1929. A lovely, even romantic walk, as pedestrians are surrounded by flowers on both sides. It's easy to forget that you are actually walking on a bridge over a river! The entire trip was one of the wettest trips we ever made, since it rained "cats and dogs" the entire time except for the few minutes we were at the Bridge of Flowers. As you can see Rachel is holding an umbrella in her left hand.
The
facility where
Rachel is in rehab
is right across from
the Gettysburg
Battlefield with the
distinctive split
rail fencing.
We think
this quote is
altogether too true.
The Babylon
Bee satire site just
published a
thought-provoking
article.
They had
some type of
function at the
Gettysburg High
School on Sunday
afternoon with this
large flag being
hoisted between two
fire trucks.
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental Resources
"When Trials
Come" Video
Keith & Kristyn
Getty This song has
touched our hearts. It is
our prayer for any of you
going through a prolonged
trial that you will find
"hidden treasures in the
dark" as Kristyn Getty sings
about in this song.
When Trials
Come
When trials come no longer fear
For in the pain our God draws near
To fire a faith worth more than gold
And there His faithfulness is told
And there His faithfulness is told
Within the night I know Your peace
The breath of God brings strength to me
And new each morning mercy flows
As treasures of the darkness grow
As treasures of the darkness grow
When trials come no longer fear
For in the pain our God draws near
To fire a faith worth more than gold
And there His faithfulness is told
And there His faithfulness is told
Within the night I know Your peace
The breath of God brings strength to me
And new each morning mercy flows
As treasures of the darkness grow
As treasures of the darkness grow
When I am weary
with the cost
I see the triumph of the cross
So in its shadow I shall run
Till You complete the work begun
Till You complete the work begun
I see the triumph of the cross
So in its shadow I shall run
Till You complete the work begun
Till You complete the work begun
"Broken
Together" Video
Casting
Crowns
"The God Who
Stays" Video
Matthew
West
"I'm Just A Nobody" Video Casting Crowns/Matthew West This song will make you smile!
Finally today:
For local
readers: We invite you to
a special concert this
coming Sunday for a
special hymn sing.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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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