Daily Encouragement (Archive Edition)

The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.

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Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Bryce Canyon, Utah (Photo by Howard Blichfeldt)

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Thor's Hammer Hoodoo is in the center of the photo

We visited Bryce Canyon last fall and at the time thought "This must be beautiful in the winter". This winter photo is on our friend Howard Blichfeldt's site. During our visit we took a long hike down a trail where the snow is deep in this photo. Here's a photo of the Thor's Hammer hoodoo we took from the trail.

"Intermittent Or Continual Praise?"

Message summary: Today let's praise the Lord at all times. May His praise be continual not intermittent!

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"I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth" (Psalm 34:1). "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that openly profess His name" (Hebrews 13:15).

Robert William Kearns is a name that few readers have ever heard of. However most of us surely appreciate his invention; the intermittent windshield wiper. Do any of you recall that annoying squeaking sound when the wipers ran continuously? He modeled his mechanism on the human eye, which blinks every few seconds.

Intermittent is a helpful feature for windshield wipers but is not the pattern for how often we are to praise God! The Bible says, "I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth".

This brings to mind another windshield illustration. We were driving along in the rain when the passenger side wiper blade snapped off. I was concerned that the metal on the wiper arm would scratch the glass so I lifted it up as you do when cleaning the windshield. It worked OK but looked somewhat interesting as it moved back and forth jutting straight up from the windshield as though it was waving. Brooksyne said, "Look, the wiper arm is praising the Lord!"

Well, that sure prompted my family to praise the Lord and became another reminder of God's call that everything that has breath is to praise the Lord (though I will quickly admit wipers do not breathe).

God clearly calls His people to praise. We may have a tendency to segment praise to a specific place (church) or time (the Lord's Day). Perhaps we may associate praise with a particular action such as a vocal exclamation, a praise song or raising our hands. We may even allow our emotions to dictate our praise such as when we're "in the mood" or "as we feel led".

But in the first daily verse the Psalmist provides a personal testimony of praise and is an example to all of us: "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth". That's all the time, which has to be everywhere! Praise is an acknowledgement and declaration of God's worthiness. And His worthiness never changes! Praise the Lord!!!

Some of our "old-timers" will remember the following chorus that expresses the need to continually lift up the name of Jesus:

Wherever I am, I'll praise Him,
Whenever I can, I'll praise Him;
For His love surrounds me like a sea.
I'll praise the name of Jesus,
Lift up the name of Jesus,
For the name of Jesus lifted me.

Today let's praise the Lord at all times. May His praise be continual not intermittent!

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: We praise You, O Lord our God! We make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation and enter into Your presence with thanksgiving and praise. We sing songs of unending praise, for You O Lord are a great God, and a great King above all gods. We praise You in Your sanctuary and praise You in Your mighty heavens! We praise You for Your mighty deeds and praise You according to Your excellent greatness! May our unending praise and thanksgiving toward You reflect Your unending love and grace poured out upon us. Amen.

Adapted verses from Psalm 95, Psalm 150

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Wherever I Am" Video The Talleys

"Uncommon Praise" Video The Guardians

"The Healer Hasn’t Lost His Touch" Video Tribute Quartet

Robert Kearns inventor of the intermittent windshield wiper.

Howard Blichfeldt whose Bryce Canyon photo we share today is a longtime friend and professional photographer.

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Ministry Update

We want to thank all who financially support our ministry. We realize there are many fine ministries and causes requesting support but if the Lord would lead you we surely need and appreciate the financial support from our readers and listeners. Our ministry labor is comprised of approximately half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies for which we receive compensation. Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many years is that each would provide half of our ministry expenses and income.

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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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