A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
Monday, November 11, 2019
This entire
field of Chinese Silver Grass (or a similar grass) was
glimmering on Friday afternoon due to the bright sun. With
the tassels blowing in the wind against the beautiful blue
sky it was a sight to behold.
"A
Consideration
of Spiritual Veterans"
Today is Veteran's
Day here in the United States, a day in which we properly
remember and honor military veterans and
consider the
price paid for our temporal freedoms. I realize
many veterans read these messages regularly
including several we know personally, as well as
those who are in active service. We thank you
for your service. I specifically consider my dad
(left) who served as a pilot during WW2 and
Brooksyne's dad (right) who served during the
Korean War.
We
have always sought to honor the elderly in our
ministry. Our first church, which we planted
right out of Bible College in our early 20's,
was mostly young people. But it was in our young
years that we developed ministries to the
elderly in nursing homes and some of those who
served from our church were in their late teens.
Tom and Marsha
Neizmik (left), now
grandparents themselves, are still faithfully
providing services some 40 years later,
specifically. In our mid thirties we moved to an
established church in New England with a nice
mix of young and old. Throughout our 20+ years
of chaplaincy we focus on all ages.
But it sure seems that honor and esteem for the elderly has changed during our lifetime with many forgetting and neglecting a powerful Scripture truth that states, "Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?" We need to value our elderly and specifically spiritual veterans. They have insights which can bring needed perspective and blessing to our lives. As they live faithfully for the Lord, during the good times as well as the bad, they are living testimonies that we can observe.
Today
let us remember and honor the contribution made
by the countless old spiritual veterans who have
gone before us, through the Bible times and
church history as well as those we personally
know. Let us consider an easily overlooked
statement made by the apostle Paul, a true
veteran of the Christian conflict. He had
fought the good fight of faith and was not at
all hesitant in identifying himself in the text
as an "old man". (The KJV states
"the aged".)
Scores of men and women through the history of the church have taken great risks to the point of laying down their lives. They faced hardship and otherwise bear the scars of battle for Christ and for our souls. Our spiritual freedom was supremely paid for by Christ's death on the cross. However many others have paid a price to bring that message to us and help keep our flame lit. Let's honor them and let us now take our place in the line of the faithful!
Along with military veterans I'm sure you can think of some spiritual veterans today. Why don't you take a moment to thank God for them, and if you're able, give them a personal expression of thanks. You'll make their day.
Finally, each of us will become a spiritual veteran should the Lord keep us on this side. Brooksyne and I state our determination to stay faithful as Christian soldiers. No AWOL for us! So let's continue to march forward, as we lift high the banner of the cross.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, how indebted we are to
those whose devotion to You has marked out a
path for us to follow. From the Biblical
characters like Joseph, Moses, Daniel, Ruth,
Peter, Paul and Timothy to those in later
generations like D.L. Moody, George Whitfield,
John and Charles Wesley, Billy Graham along with
countless missionaries who gave their all to
spread the Gospel whether by word of mouth or by
translating Scripture so that people can learn
about You in their own language. Thank You for
the individual(s) who shared the gospel message
with me so that I might know You personally and
receive a crown of life in the hereafter where I
will dwell with You, the King of glory for all
eternity. Amen.
Message
summary: Each of us will
become a spiritual veteran should the Lord keep
us on this side. Brooksyne and I state our
determination to stay faithful as Christian
soldiers. No AWOL for us! So let's continue to
march forward, as we lift high the banner of the
cross.
Listen
to this
message on your audio player.
Listen
to this
message on your audio player."Is
not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long
life bring understanding?" (Job 12:12). "I
then, as Paul--an old man and now also a
prisoner of Christ Jesus" (Philemon 1:9b).
"Therefore, since we also have such a large
cloud of witnesses surrounding us" (Hebrews
12:1).
Today is Veteran's
Day here in the United States, a day in which we properly
remember and honor military veterans and
consider the
price paid for our temporal freedoms. I realize
many veterans read these messages regularly
including several we know personally, as well as
those who are in active service. We thank you
for your service. I specifically consider my dad
(left) who served as a pilot during WW2 and
Brooksyne's dad (right) who served during the
Korean War.
But today we want to focus our message
on spiritual veterans. Many have gone
on before us and are now in what Hebrews 12:1
calls "a great cloud of witnesses".
Others are still on this side of eternity in
the senior years of life. They have faithfully
served God in their generation and continue to
do so though their acts of service may be
modified due to their health challenges and
mobility issues. Grover Devault is a
long-retired army chaplain who is 90 and is
still in service in the Lord's army.
At one time we would have shared this message as young people, a time when being old seemed so far away. Life progressed through our middle ages and now we must even say goodby to that moniker. However at this point we can say we are a young old!
At one time we would have shared this message as young people, a time when being old seemed so far away. Life progressed through our middle ages and now we must even say goodby to that moniker. However at this point we can say we are a young old!
We
have always sought to honor the elderly in our
ministry. Our first church, which we planted
right out of Bible College in our early 20's,
was mostly young people. But it was in our young
years that we developed ministries to the
elderly in nursing homes and some of those who
served from our church were in their late teens.
Tom and Marsha
Neizmik (left), now
grandparents themselves, are still faithfully
providing services some 40 years later,
specifically. In our mid thirties we moved to an
established church in New England with a nice
mix of young and old. Throughout our 20+ years
of chaplaincy we focus on all ages.But it sure seems that honor and esteem for the elderly has changed during our lifetime with many forgetting and neglecting a powerful Scripture truth that states, "Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?" We need to value our elderly and specifically spiritual veterans. They have insights which can bring needed perspective and blessing to our lives. As they live faithfully for the Lord, during the good times as well as the bad, they are living testimonies that we can observe.
Today
let us remember and honor the contribution made
by the countless old spiritual veterans who have
gone before us, through the Bible times and
church history as well as those we personally
know. Let us consider an easily overlooked
statement made by the apostle Paul, a true
veteran of the Christian conflict. He had
fought the good fight of faith and was not at
all hesitant in identifying himself in the text
as an "old man". (The KJV states
"the aged".)Scores of men and women through the history of the church have taken great risks to the point of laying down their lives. They faced hardship and otherwise bear the scars of battle for Christ and for our souls. Our spiritual freedom was supremely paid for by Christ's death on the cross. However many others have paid a price to bring that message to us and help keep our flame lit. Let's honor them and let us now take our place in the line of the faithful!
Along with military veterans I'm sure you can think of some spiritual veterans today. Why don't you take a moment to thank God for them, and if you're able, give them a personal expression of thanks. You'll make their day.
Finally, each of us will become a spiritual veteran should the Lord keep us on this side. Brooksyne and I state our determination to stay faithful as Christian soldiers. No AWOL for us! So let's continue to march forward, as we lift high the banner of the cross.
Oh,
may all who come behind us find us faithful,
May the fire of our devotion light their way.
May the footprints that we leave, lead them to believe,
And the lives we live inspire them to obey.
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful.
May the fire of our devotion light their way.
May the footprints that we leave, lead them to believe,
And the lives we live inspire them to obey.
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, how indebted we are to
those whose devotion to You has marked out a
path for us to follow. From the Biblical
characters like Joseph, Moses, Daniel, Ruth,
Peter, Paul and Timothy to those in later
generations like D.L. Moody, George Whitfield,
John and Charles Wesley, Billy Graham along with
countless missionaries who gave their all to
spread the Gospel whether by word of mouth or by
translating Scripture so that people can learn
about You in their own language. Thank You for
the individual(s) who shared the gospel message
with me so that I might know You personally and
receive a crown of life in the hereafter where I
will dwell with You, the King of glory for all
eternity. Amen.Prayer for
our Military Veterans: Father, we
honor our military veterans who gave their all
that we might enjoy our freedoms. Some died
young never having the opportunity to live out
their life on this side. Others bear visible
reminders such as a missing limb, or a jagged
scar. Others carry less visible signs such as a
pin holding a bone together, shrapnel buried
beneath their skin, tortuous physical and mental
images that cannot be erased from their minds,
causing many of them deep disturbance in their
mental health. We pray that You will encourage
the veterans and their families, provide
physical, financial and emotional services.
Place godly people in their paths who will share
their faith so that these soldiers will meet
Jesus as their personal Savior, the One who
grants eternal life and leads us when the arm of
flesh fails us. Amen.
As we
progress through life we make many transitions. When
you are young the "professionals" in your life are
all older than you. Then they are similar age, then
they're younger. My doctor is now some 15 years
younger than me. Up till several years ago we always
had a pastor who was older or our peer.
Now we
have a middle-aged pastor and as you get older even
middle-aged can seem young! Yesterday Pastor Beau
Eckert preached on the Parable of the Sower and then
followed by a very pastoral heart to heart
application message to the congregation of every age
that really touched us. That part starts here (video). We believe it will
bless our readers. We were especially touched at the
respectful way he addressed the seniors, as there
are many in our congregation. The church stressed
the importance of having an intergenerational
congregation where each generation benefits from the
other.
Today's
Suggested Music and
Supplemental Resources
"Find
Us Faithful" Video
Let There Be Praise singers
"We Will Not Forget" Video Mark Harris
"When Love Comes Home" Video Matthew West
"The Mission" Video Steve Green
"One Pure And Holy Passion" Video The Passion Worship Band
"Letters From War" Video Mark Schultz
"We Will Not Forget" Video Mark Harris
"When Love Comes Home" Video Matthew West
"The Mission" Video Steve Green
"One Pure And Holy Passion" Video The Passion Worship Band
"Letters From War" Video Mark Schultz
"You Are The King
Forever" Video
Calvary Church worship team
Finally today:
Brooksyne purchased
some freshly harvested brussels
sprouts fresh from the fields
from the Corn Crib last Friday.
Since they're so fresh and small
they are especially tender and
the dish she prepared was
delicious. The brussels sprouts
are tasty in themselves but when
she adds onions, garlic, bacon
pieces, and feta cheese it adds
lots of great flavor!
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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