A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
Monday, October
7, 2019
While at
the Grand Canyon National Park, which is celebrating
its 100th year, we rented bikes to ride around the
rim. They have some excellent bike trails including
portions that have far fewer visitors.
"The
Glory Of The Unseen Eternal"
"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:17,18).
On our western trip Brooksyne saw the Grand Canyon for the first time in her life. (I had first seen it a few years ago during a trip for a chaplaincy conference in Phoenix). Of course she has viewed photos and knew it was immense, but actually seeing it is quite different. No photo really begins to capture the immensity, majesty and grandeur of actually being there. In fact you only see a small part of the canyon from any viewpoint.
That's similar to our comprehension of heaven. We may consider the very best or very biggest in this world and realize heaven is a lot bigger and better than that. But even that's woefully inadequate. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him" (1 Corinthians 2:9)
In the daily text Paul calls us to focus on the unseen. "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen." Fixing our eyes in this manner requires concentration and focus. It means to "fix one's gaze upon, to concentrate one's attention on." Physically our eyes observe what is seen but Paul is referring to our spiritual eyes here, a focus on the unseen, eternal Kingdom that awaits all who follow Christ.
"For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." What we now see with our physical sight is extremely limited and temporary. Only God who created and oversees the entire universe is stable and unchanging. The Greek word used here for "temporary" (proskairos) indicates the contrast between the temporal, which is also indefinite and the eternal, which is definite.
Today we urge you to focus your heart on the One of whom we sing, "Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not, as Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be". Fix your eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. In the midst of any challenges you face on this day view them not just with a temporal viewpoint but from an eternal perspective.
We are especially aware of readers who are going through difficult times as you read this. Just last night we received word that a longtime friend of ours went home to be with the Lord after a long hard struggle. Thinking he was making improvement the notification surprised us and the grief of such a loss filled our minds all through the night, most especially for his now widowed wife, children, and grandchildren.
The immediate preceding verse declares, "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (2 Corinthians 4:17). "For our light and momentary troubles." To make any sense from this phrase we must have an eternal perspective. During a season of trial it may not seem light or momentary but God's Word can bring assurance and confident faith to the believer.
We were blessed to see the grandeur of famous sights like the Grand Canyon. But we do well to remember all that we see with the visible eye is temporary, and that which God is building and designing in heaven will last for eternity. It will make the grandeur of this world pale in comparison. Let us fix our eyes on the unseen, which includes an eternal glory that far outweighs the visible trials on this side.
When we fully embrace this perspective it will make our troubles seem very light and momentary. But if we fail to do so the trials of life will rob us of the wellspring of joy that Jesus gives to each believer to help us endure, overcome, and triumph on our foes. To keep the eternal perspective we must remember to "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:12).
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: In the maze of life's events
where we're often a passenger on the
rollercoaster of life's ups and downs,
may we never lose sight of You, Jesus.
You are the unseen but ever-present
Shepherd who protects, guides and
tenderly comforts us in all our trouble.
Thank You, Lord, that when change is
constantly about us, You remain
steadfast, faithful, and dependable. You
are the Anchor that keeps us grounded in
the unseen but eternal truths we build
our lives upon. Keep us faithful and
help us to fix our eyes on the unseen as
we await that glad day when our faith
will be rewarded with the visible,
eternal blessings You have stored up for
those who believe. Amen.
Grand Canyon photos
The mules used for the famed trail walk down into the canyon. Only one person has ever died while riding a mule up or down the canyon, a mule train employee crushed by one of the animals in a fall.
While on our bike ride, following a light rainfall, we saw this faint rainbow over the canyon. In fact, we saw two but this one we captured on camera.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
Message
summary: We consider
the grandeur of famous sights like the Grand Canyon,
but all that we see with the visible eye is temporary.
Let us fix our eyes on the unseen, which includes an
eternal glory that far outweighs the visible trials on
this side.
"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:17,18).
When
through the woods, and forest glades I
wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.
On our western trip Brooksyne saw the Grand Canyon for the first time in her life. (I had first seen it a few years ago during a trip for a chaplaincy conference in Phoenix). Of course she has viewed photos and knew it was immense, but actually seeing it is quite different. No photo really begins to capture the immensity, majesty and grandeur of actually being there. In fact you only see a small part of the canyon from any viewpoint.
That's similar to our comprehension of heaven. We may consider the very best or very biggest in this world and realize heaven is a lot bigger and better than that. But even that's woefully inadequate. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him" (1 Corinthians 2:9)
In the daily text Paul calls us to focus on the unseen. "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen." Fixing our eyes in this manner requires concentration and focus. It means to "fix one's gaze upon, to concentrate one's attention on." Physically our eyes observe what is seen but Paul is referring to our spiritual eyes here, a focus on the unseen, eternal Kingdom that awaits all who follow Christ.
"For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." What we now see with our physical sight is extremely limited and temporary. Only God who created and oversees the entire universe is stable and unchanging. The Greek word used here for "temporary" (proskairos) indicates the contrast between the temporal, which is also indefinite and the eternal, which is definite.
Today we urge you to focus your heart on the One of whom we sing, "Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not, as Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be". Fix your eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. In the midst of any challenges you face on this day view them not just with a temporal viewpoint but from an eternal perspective.
We are especially aware of readers who are going through difficult times as you read this. Just last night we received word that a longtime friend of ours went home to be with the Lord after a long hard struggle. Thinking he was making improvement the notification surprised us and the grief of such a loss filled our minds all through the night, most especially for his now widowed wife, children, and grandchildren.
The immediate preceding verse declares, "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (2 Corinthians 4:17). "For our light and momentary troubles." To make any sense from this phrase we must have an eternal perspective. During a season of trial it may not seem light or momentary but God's Word can bring assurance and confident faith to the believer.
We were blessed to see the grandeur of famous sights like the Grand Canyon. But we do well to remember all that we see with the visible eye is temporary, and that which God is building and designing in heaven will last for eternity. It will make the grandeur of this world pale in comparison. Let us fix our eyes on the unseen, which includes an eternal glory that far outweighs the visible trials on this side.
When we fully embrace this perspective it will make our troubles seem very light and momentary. But if we fail to do so the trials of life will rob us of the wellspring of joy that Jesus gives to each believer to help us endure, overcome, and triumph on our foes. To keep the eternal perspective we must remember to "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:12).
Then
sings my soul, My Saviour God, to
Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: In the maze of life's events
where we're often a passenger on the
rollercoaster of life's ups and downs,
may we never lose sight of You, Jesus.
You are the unseen but ever-present
Shepherd who protects, guides and
tenderly comforts us in all our trouble.
Thank You, Lord, that when change is
constantly about us, You remain
steadfast, faithful, and dependable. You
are the Anchor that keeps us grounded in
the unseen but eternal truths we build
our lives upon. Keep us faithful and
help us to fix our eyes on the unseen as
we await that glad day when our faith
will be rewarded with the visible,
eternal blessings You have stored up for
those who believe. Amen.Grand Canyon photos
Brooksyne's
first Grand Canyon view
Without
a doubt I was in awe of the beauty,
splendor, and immensity of the Grand
Canyon up to 18 miles wide in some
areas. The multi-hued rock formations
captured my attention and I could
hardly pull myself away from any spot
we viewed. In my youth I loved to
climb big rocks and look down to the
earth below, so each viewing brought
back that sensation and desire once
again. Of course, I knew that was
ridiculous to even go there in my
mind, as I looked out at the
impossibility of exploring these rock
formations - all I could see was
extraordinary beauty and vast danger.
But
then, it was as though the Spirit of
God began to remind me of the
difference of that which we experience
and view on earth to that which He has
for us in heaven. I considered that He
has an even more immense and
spectacular grand canyon in heaven,
many rock formations formed from
jasper, sapphire, turquoise, diamonds
and other beautiful jewels. But the
thoughts that especially brought a joy
to my heart is that I won't just be
viewing it from afar due to the danger
of climbing or the exhaustion from
walking to these sights. There will be
no death in heaven, no danger of
falling will be present, no breaking
of limbs, no knee pain for aging
joints, no warning signs of "Danger
Ahead" and perhaps we will even fly to
the very spot we want to look at up
close, to feel its texture and view
its beauty.
These
thoughts remain with me today as I
consider what an awe inspiring time I
had visiting the Grand Canyon, and I
hope I'll never forget the
conversation I had with God about what
He has in store for us when we reach
our final destiny in heaven.
The mules used for the famed trail walk down into the canyon. Only one person has ever died while riding a mule up or down the canyon, a mule train employee crushed by one of the animals in a fall.
While on our bike ride, following a light rainfall, we saw this faint rainbow over the canyon. In fact, we saw two but this one we captured on camera.
One
of the disquieting features for me
concerning our visit was the people
standing right on the edge. I don't
have a fear of heights as I can be in
a tall building, on a mountain or in
an airplane. But I
have a very rational fear of
edges, especially when people are
standing at the edge of a deep
canyon!
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Exalted
Over All" Video Calvary
Church choir and orchestra from
yesterday's service. What a powerful
reminder!
One
name is higher,
One name is stronger.
Than any grave, than any throne,
Christ exalted over all.
The only Saviour, Jesus Messiah.
To You alone our praise belongs,
Christ exalted over all.
One name is stronger.
Than any grave, than any throne,
Christ exalted over all.
The only Saviour, Jesus Messiah.
To You alone our praise belongs,
Christ exalted over all.
"How
Big Is God?" Video Big John
Hall (He's been around a long time since
he was popular while we were in Bible
College visiting our chapel services.)
"How Great Thou Art" Video
"Good, Good Father" Video Casting Crowns
"How Great Thou Art" Video
"Good, Good Father" Video Casting Crowns
Finally
today:
Early
yesterday morning as Brooksyne was
rehearsing with the choir I visited with
Grover Devault, a 90 year old retired
Army chaplain. Grover had a vital role
as a State Police chaplain during the
very tragic Amish schoolhouse shooting
in Nickel Mines. He makes an annual
visit to the affected families and had
just done so this past week on the 13th
anniversary of that horrible event.
Here's a report that Grover made
following the shooting. (PDF)
What an example of a faithful minister
of the Gospel!
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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