A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
Wednesday,
June 17,
2020
Our neighbor
on Kraybill Church Road making hay while the sun is still
shining.
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
"Opportunities"
Message
summary: Today may the Lord
help each of us to "make the most of every
opportunity".
Listen
to this
message on your audio player.
"And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone" (Colossians 4:3-6).
Our friends, Rick and
Rachel Caldwell, observed this squirrel through
a window in their house in York County. An
onlooker might think he's at a pulpit preaching
to a vast audience of red and gray squirrels the
gospel in a nutshell! His text was John 3:16
(often called the gospel in a nutshell).
Listen
to this
message on your audio player."And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone" (Colossians 4:3-6).
Our friends, Rick and
Rachel Caldwell, observed this squirrel through
a window in their house in York County. An
onlooker might think he's at a pulpit preaching
to a vast audience of red and gray squirrels the
gospel in a nutshell! His text was John 3:16
(often called the gospel in a nutshell).But actually he's
preparing to open a special squirrel feeder
filled with peanuts. The opportunistic squirrels
have learned to lift the lid for a tasty treat.
They received the squirrel feeder from a friend,
in hopes that the squirrels which they have
named Frick, Frack, and Froe, would leave the
bird feeders alone and gather around their own
peanut stash, kind of like when you go to the
Texas Roadhouse and get a bucket of "free"
peanuts!
Squirrels are cute especially as they sit on their hind legs and devour their acorns. We have many around our place, especially under and in our oak trees. We don’t dislike them but we sure don’t buy the expensive black-oil sunflower seeds for them, although we welcome them to eat whatever falls to the ground. We want to see the variety of birds that come to our feeders! But the squirrels persistently manage to get to the seeds unless you have a squirrel-proof feeder, but then they still try! An admirable trait of the squirrel is their making the most of their opportunity.
Among our chaplaincy duties we seek to encourage and equip Christians to serve and let their light shine in the workplace. With interest in organized religion and "going to church" declining in America it is more vital than ever for believers to be salt and light in our increasingly secularized world.
What a blessing in the course of our ministry to see this taking place. Several years ago a woman who worked in the HR office of a company we had served was diagnosed with cancer. She was a quiet spoken woman but I recall periodically speaking to her when I’d visit the company. She was able to work a while after her cancer diagnosis but then her condition worsened to the point she was no longer able to work and she eventually passed away.
She used this hard period in her life to serve God faithfully and to share her faith. Her last day in the office she made the most of the opportunity and left a remarkable message to her fellow workers thanking them for the association she had with them. She also included this clear witness of her faith:
What a blessed peace and assurance she conveyed in her note during her final days on this earth and even now after she has been gone for several years. What greater legacy of eternal value could a co-worker leave with those whom she'd worked beside day after day, year after year.
The Director of Human Resources in that company, also a believer, sent out a very moving notification to the entire company, informing them of her death and included her written witness. I can just imagine how many in this company were impacted by the thoughtful words she spoke in writing where she made the most of her opportunity.
Let us focus on just a phrase in our daily Scripture portion, "make the most of every opportunity". These are the opportunities where "we proclaim the mystery of Christ". The apostle Paul requested prayer from the Colossian believers, "that God may open a door for our message". That's a prayer we ought to offer regularly!
This is not just for those in formal positions of “ministry” such as a pastor or missionary, but for all who follow Christ and seek to let His light shine through them. Like the woman whose cancer ridden body did not steal her soul, nor her witness for Christ, but she left a life changing testimony and provided a powerful witness to share among the employees.
Squirrels are cute especially as they sit on their hind legs and devour their acorns. We have many around our place, especially under and in our oak trees. We don’t dislike them but we sure don’t buy the expensive black-oil sunflower seeds for them, although we welcome them to eat whatever falls to the ground. We want to see the variety of birds that come to our feeders! But the squirrels persistently manage to get to the seeds unless you have a squirrel-proof feeder, but then they still try! An admirable trait of the squirrel is their making the most of their opportunity.
Among our chaplaincy duties we seek to encourage and equip Christians to serve and let their light shine in the workplace. With interest in organized religion and "going to church" declining in America it is more vital than ever for believers to be salt and light in our increasingly secularized world.
What a blessing in the course of our ministry to see this taking place. Several years ago a woman who worked in the HR office of a company we had served was diagnosed with cancer. She was a quiet spoken woman but I recall periodically speaking to her when I’d visit the company. She was able to work a while after her cancer diagnosis but then her condition worsened to the point she was no longer able to work and she eventually passed away.
She used this hard period in her life to serve God faithfully and to share her faith. Her last day in the office she made the most of the opportunity and left a remarkable message to her fellow workers thanking them for the association she had with them. She also included this clear witness of her faith:
"According to the
doctor I may not have real long to live,
however that is ultimately in God’s hands. I
want you to know that although I don’t want to
die yet, if that occurs I am ready. I’m ready
because I’m reconciled with God. And that is
because of Jesus, and the fact that He died on
the cross for me. I believe in Him, and that
He’s paid the price for my sins. This is a
wonderful gift of mercy and grace available to
us all. Because of this, I am not afraid of
death and know that when I die I will go to
heaven. My hope and prayer is that each one of
you will also accept this gift from God.
Believe me, it’s what really matters."
What a blessed peace and assurance she conveyed in her note during her final days on this earth and even now after she has been gone for several years. What greater legacy of eternal value could a co-worker leave with those whom she'd worked beside day after day, year after year.
The Director of Human Resources in that company, also a believer, sent out a very moving notification to the entire company, informing them of her death and included her written witness. I can just imagine how many in this company were impacted by the thoughtful words she spoke in writing where she made the most of her opportunity.
Let us focus on just a phrase in our daily Scripture portion, "make the most of every opportunity". These are the opportunities where "we proclaim the mystery of Christ". The apostle Paul requested prayer from the Colossian believers, "that God may open a door for our message". That's a prayer we ought to offer regularly!
This is not just for those in formal positions of “ministry” such as a pastor or missionary, but for all who follow Christ and seek to let His light shine through them. Like the woman whose cancer ridden body did not steal her soul, nor her witness for Christ, but she left a life changing testimony and provided a powerful witness to share among the employees.
May the Lord help all of us this day to indeed "make
the most of every opportunity".
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, You supply us with many opportunities to
be a witness for Your kingdom. We must make the
most of these opportunities to be light and salt
in this darkened world. Since our lives are the
“only Bible that some people read” we must be
careful of what we say and do. May our attitudes
reflect that of Christ and our words bring
truth, hope and guidance to those traveling on
the broad road that leads to destruction. By the
power of Your Holy Spirit we can make a
difference to those whose path we cross today.
Amen.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, You supply us with many opportunities to
be a witness for Your kingdom. We must make the
most of these opportunities to be light and salt
in this darkened world. Since our lives are the
“only Bible that some people read” we must be
careful of what we say and do. May our attitudes
reflect that of Christ and our words bring
truth, hope and guidance to those traveling on
the broad road that leads to destruction. By the
power of Your Holy Spirit we can make a
difference to those whose path we cross today.
Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Wonderful
Grace of Jesus" Video Elnora Dresselhaus We
met Richard and Elnora Dresselhaus on a visit to San Diego
several years ago. For many years Richard was the pastor
of a large church in San Diego. They both stay active in
ministry in their senior years with a daily message from
Richard called "One For The Road" and since the
pandemic began Elnora has been posting a daily hymn on her
You Tube channel. She is a gifted
musician who will bless those who especially enjoy the
classic hymns and other inspirational music.
Making a
squirrel feeder from scrap wood Video (my next project)
Today we
will share some scenes from our travels throughout
Lancaster County
The "Down
On The Farm Creamery" farm is south of Strasburg and
has delicious ice cream.
Click
to enlarge
This
young Amish boy is unloading a pallet off the truck
demonstrating the strong work ethic instilled early on
in the Amish culture.
Click
to enlarge
The
characteristically well-tended garden on the farm. It
appears that there is still much more to be planted.
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
These large
green hay bales are seen on Colebrook Road, Mount Joy.
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Finally
today:
Tim is a
man we visit who has a vibrant testimony for Christ.
He recently shaved off the tips of two of his fingers
on a saw at work. Thankfully, it was finger tips, not
fingers. He told me he has an internal 3-D printer
adding layer after layer of new skin to the wound.
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."
© Copyright 2020 Stephen C. & Brooksyne
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