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Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
Friday,
February
28,
2020
This
large hose is crossing the trail we often walk that
starts right across from our house. While Brooksyne
was walking Mollie and Sadie she took this photo.
Hint:
it's not a water hose!
"Fear
or Trust?"
Message summary: God continues to speak, "Fear not". We must act upon His loving command if we are to have deep abiding peace and growing trust in the One who truly cares for those who belong to Him.
Listen
to this
message on your audio player."After
these things the word of the LORD came unto
Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am
thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward"
(Genesis 15:1). "Fear not; I am the first and
the last: I am He that liveth, and was dead;
and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and
have the keys of hell and of death" (Revelation
1:17,18).
We
live in an agricultural area and several times a
year we experience one of the least pleasant
aspects of "living out in the country", the
application of organic fertilizer (AKA animal
manure). Don't misunderstand me, we love country
living, but this particular aspect of living in
the country is very unpleasant, especially the
odor!
This week they are using a
dragline with a large hose running all the way
from the manure pit on a huge dairy farm about 1
mile east of us to the vast farm fields across
from our house. They
pump the material from the pit to a booster pump
up the road from our house then to a tractor that
applies the slurry-like waste to the fields. It's
not a pleasant site but, due to the rains we have
had this week, the odor has been minimal. For the
curiously-minded like me it has actually been
rather interesting to watch.
Since
they don't spray on the tractor trail this hasn't
kept Brooksyne from walking with our two younger
dogs, Mollie and Sadie. Monday was warm and
pleasant so not only was Brooksyne taking in the
view and enjoying the exercise but the dogs were
also busy sniffing groundhog holes and watching
squirrels at play.
But
as they approached the hose that lay across the
trail (pictured above) both dogs came to a
screeching halt and refused to budge. From their
midget level the strange red hose was an intruder,
not usually part of the walk, and it was sheer
terror to them!
What
made it worse, not only for the dogs but Brooksyne
as well, is that the hose suddenly inflated and
made a very loud popping noise as the manure
sludge made its way through the line. She feared
it might spring a leak which would certainly bring
their pleasant walk to a screaming halt, Brooksyne
doing the screaming, of course. As she told me
about her experience we both recalled a humorous
scene from "RV"!
We
open with this lighthearted illustration about the
dogs' fear but certainly there are many situations
in life that induce fear, some logical, others not
so much. Fierce storms, financial issues and
terrorist threats number among so many other
troubles that instill fear. At the time we write
this the news we are all hearing about is the
coronavirus. There's always something that can
create fear.
Fear is generally thought of as negative but there is a positive aspect of fear as well. We are told in Scripture to "fear God", although this is different than all other kinds of fear, having more the sense of reverence and awe. I have preached a sermon on the healthy, holy fear of God, something lacking greatly in the world and even in the Church. Now so many see and even refer to the Holy God as the "man upstairs". His glorious name is without a doubt the most maligned proper name in the English language.
Fear itself is first expressed in the Bible shortly after the transgression in the garden when Adam said to God, "I was afraid" (Genesis 3:10). The remainder of the Bible is full of many expressions of human fear for a wide variety of reasons. It's still that way today and people seem to keep coming up with new causes for fear!
I find great assurance in the tiny phrase found often in Scripture translated "Fear not" in the King James Version (generally "Do not be afraid" in many other versions). This "Fear not" phrase is found from Genesis to Revelation. In today's Scripture texts we have both the first and last occurrences in the Bible.
Today we encourage you to listen carefully for the voice of our heavenly Father. He speaks gently to your heart reminding you to put your confidence in Him. Some of you are really struggling with fear as you read this. It's crippling you spiritually and emotionally and perhaps even physically. When I take the time to stop and really consider my emotions I realize that I experience fear and anxiety most when I'm not trusting in what God has said or what He has shown me through His character traits or what He has revealed to me through my fearful experiences in life.
God continues to speak, "Fear not". We must act upon His loving command if we are to have deep abiding peace and growing trust in the One who truly cares for those who belong to Him.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, I will not fear for You
have redeemed me and called me by name. You
know when I pass through the waters and You
have promised to be with me; when I cross
through the rivers they will not sweep over
me. When I walk through the fire I will not
be burned for You walk with me. Though
trials may engulf me and tempt me to be
paralyzed by fear, I can overcome the enemy
of fear just as Jesus overcame the power of
death. May the resurrected power of Jesus
subside my fears and doubts while building
my faith and trust in the Holy One of
Israel. Amen.
Fear is generally thought of as negative but there is a positive aspect of fear as well. We are told in Scripture to "fear God", although this is different than all other kinds of fear, having more the sense of reverence and awe. I have preached a sermon on the healthy, holy fear of God, something lacking greatly in the world and even in the Church. Now so many see and even refer to the Holy God as the "man upstairs". His glorious name is without a doubt the most maligned proper name in the English language.
Fear itself is first expressed in the Bible shortly after the transgression in the garden when Adam said to God, "I was afraid" (Genesis 3:10). The remainder of the Bible is full of many expressions of human fear for a wide variety of reasons. It's still that way today and people seem to keep coming up with new causes for fear!
I find great assurance in the tiny phrase found often in Scripture translated "Fear not" in the King James Version (generally "Do not be afraid" in many other versions). This "Fear not" phrase is found from Genesis to Revelation. In today's Scripture texts we have both the first and last occurrences in the Bible.
Today we encourage you to listen carefully for the voice of our heavenly Father. He speaks gently to your heart reminding you to put your confidence in Him. Some of you are really struggling with fear as you read this. It's crippling you spiritually and emotionally and perhaps even physically. When I take the time to stop and really consider my emotions I realize that I experience fear and anxiety most when I'm not trusting in what God has said or what He has shown me through His character traits or what He has revealed to me through my fearful experiences in life.
God continues to speak, "Fear not". We must act upon His loving command if we are to have deep abiding peace and growing trust in the One who truly cares for those who belong to Him.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, I will not fear for You
have redeemed me and called me by name. You
know when I pass through the waters and You
have promised to be with me; when I cross
through the rivers they will not sweep over
me. When I walk through the fire I will not
be burned for You walk with me. Though
trials may engulf me and tempt me to be
paralyzed by fear, I can overcome the enemy
of fear just as Jesus overcame the power of
death. May the resurrected power of Jesus
subside my fears and doubts while building
my faith and trust in the Holy One of
Israel. Amen.See
Isaiah 43
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Fear
is a Liar" Video
Zach Williams
"He
Will Hold Me Fast" Video Sovereign Grace
Music
For the
chronically inquisitive: Spreading Manure with
dragline video
Follow-up
to Wednesday's message "The Abyss Of Moral Insanity": We
spoke to the man this week and the foster child has been
removed from their home.
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