A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
Monday,
February
24,
2020
Yesterday
afternoon we passed by "Boathouse Row", an historic
site in Philadelphia on the east bank of the
Schuylkill River. Ester snapped this photo from the
Schuylkill Expressway.
(Click
on photo to enlarge)
"Christ
Will
Hold Me Fast"
Message summary: Today's message is written for those struggling to hold on.
"Your
right hand will hold me fast" (Psalm 139:10).
"To Him who is able to keep you from
stumbling and to present you before His glorious
presence without fault and with great joy — to
the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power
and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord,
before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen"
(Jude 1:24,25).
When
I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me
fast;
When the tempter would prevail, He will hold me fast.
I could never keep my hold through life's fearful path;
For my love is often cold; He must hold me fast.
When the tempter would prevail, He will hold me fast.
I could never keep my hold through life's fearful path;
For my love is often cold; He must hold me fast.
Ashley
and her husband Justin are young friends of ours.
We met Ashley about ten years ago when she served
with Brooksyne on the worship team in a small
church we were pastoring at the time. Ashley loves
to sing for the Lord and plays cello as well. I
participated in their wedding ceremony and we have
stayed in contact as their family has grown. On
November 26 Ashley gave birth to identical twins,
Emerson and Wyatt, and on New Year's Eve began a
trial she and Justin would have never picked or
scheduled.
Emerson
came down with RSV (respiratory syncytial virus)
and was flown to Children's Hospital of
Philadelphia (affectionately known as CHOP). Both
twins dealt with this very serious viral
infection, but Wyatt recovered over a week's time
in the Hershey Children's Hospital. Emerson
struggled longer but finally recovered from the
infection and now deals with damage due to the
intubation that left narrowing of his airway. He
has a long road ahead of him and it is a heavy for
load for Justin and Ashley to deal with.
Last
week we read an updated Facebook post by Ashley
and through the night Saturday I had a burden that
we should go visit. So yesterday we headed to
CHOP. We wanted to encourage both Ashley and
Justin but he was over at the hospital with
Emerson so we visited with Ashley and their older
son Carson and young Wyatt at the Ronald McDonald
House. Ashley was in good spirits but we could see
how understandably weary she was. Our goal was to
assure her that Christ would hold her fast through
this hard trial, and prayed to that end before
leaving her.
A benediction is a short prayer
for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually
spoken at the end of a worship service. The word
comes from the latin “bene”, well and “dicere”, to
speak. Through the years I have used a variety of
Biblical benedictions when I conclude a worship
service. In fact I have them adhered to the back
flyleaf on my pulpit Bible. (I also have
invocations to use at the beginning of a worship
service on the front flyleaf.)The first part of Jude’s benediction expresses what God will do for us using the glorious phrase, "He is able".
1) He is able to keep us from stumbling.
2) He is able to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.
He is able and faithful to hold us fast through this life, to “keep us from stumbling” and prepare us for the life to come, “To present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy”.
In the epistles there are several rich expressions of what God is able to do for us:
- He is able to establish us according to the gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ (Romans 16:25).
- He is able to make all grace abound to us, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, we may have an abundance for every good deed (2 Corinthians 9:8).
- Since He Himself was tempted in that which He suffered, He is able to come to our aid when we are tempted (Hebrews 2:18).
- He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25).
"To God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever."
Today we pray this benediction for each reader that you will experience rich assurance and great joy as you recognize your position in Christ. Hold fast to the truth that He is able to save us who draw near to God through Him, and He is making intercession for us. Be assured that Christ will hold you fast!
He
will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Savior loves me so
He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Savior loves me so
He will hold me fast
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, what great joy and peace
comes when we realize that You will always
hold us fast. Give us
the rich assurance of sufficient strength for
today and bright hope for tomorrow. Only You are able to keep us from
falling and to receive us before Your glorious
presence without fault and with great joy. You
are the only wise God our Savior in whom we
can truly ascribe glory, majesty, power and
authority through Jesus Christ our Lord in all
generations both now and forevermore. In
Jesus’ mighty Name. Amen.Brooksyne's
Note: We could relate
somewhat to Justin's and Ashley's ordeal
as Ester also had RSV when she was 9
months old, only three months after her
first two heart operations that required
a three month stay in Geisinger Hospital
three hours from home. Her RSV was very
critical since was already on home
oxygen. Stephen and I were about the
same age as Justin and Ashley so we feel
empathy for their hard situation
remembering the strain of such a trial.
We were blessed as Ashley told us how
the church folks are coming together and
helping to care for the boys while
Justin is at work and the many other
ways God is providing for their needs,
including the housing and other
provisions at Ronald McDonald House. God
is able to relieve us of a burden or He
may choose to reveal His faithfulness in
ways we never thought possible.
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"He
Will Hold Me Fast"
Video
Keith
and Krystyn Getty. This version has a long intro but
we use it because we feel the words will bless you.
"He
Will Hold Me Fast" Video As part of the Sing!
conference last year, Selah led this stirring rendition
of “He Will Hold Me Fast” at the historic Grand Ole Opry
House.
"He
Will Hold Me Fast" Blog article with background to song
The song was
first introduced in Philadelphia in the early 1900's
During a
campaign in Toronto, Canada, a young convert
with whom I was dealing expressed the fear that he
would not be able to "hold out."
A day or two later in a letter to Miss Ada Habershon, of London, I mentioned the need for a song which would give definite assurance of success in the Christian life.
The weeks passed and a couple of months later during a great campaign in Philadelphia, U.S.A., I received a batch of seven new songs written by Miss Habershon.
As Dr. Torrey preached his sermon one afternoon (instead of listening!) I occupied the time in setting the seven lyrics to music. One of these was "He will hold me fast".
A day or two later in a letter to Miss Ada Habershon, of London, I mentioned the need for a song which would give definite assurance of success in the Christian life.
The weeks passed and a couple of months later during a great campaign in Philadelphia, U.S.A., I received a batch of seven new songs written by Miss Habershon.
As Dr. Torrey preached his sermon one afternoon (instead of listening!) I occupied the time in setting the seven lyrics to music. One of these was "He will hold me fast".
The
same evening it was introduced by Chas. M.
Alexander to an audience of 4,000 people. Its
success was immediate, and it has continued to be
a great favourite. It has been translated into
many languages.
Robert
Harkness
We
enjoyed our visit yesterday with Ashley along with her
oldest son, Carson, and one of her twin sons, Wyatt at
the Ronald McDonald House. Justin was at CHOP caring
for their other twin, Emerson.
This photo
is from ten years ago shortly after we met Ashley. She
worked at the National Christmas Center at that time.
We visited
Ashley at the Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia
which was the very first Ronald McDonald House opened in
the world.
Finally
today:
Heading
home from the hospital yesterday Ester took this photo
of the Philly skyline. Being in the city a few hours
reminds me of why I like living in the country! However
we recall the perspective from Otis, a Boeing engineer,
who lives in the heart of the city of Philadelphia who
told us he is uncomfortable when he's in the country.
That's good because we don't want the country to get
crowded!
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."
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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Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA