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Thursday,
June 18,
2020
A bike ride
this week along a new section of the Lebanon Valley Rail
Trail took us to the the Union Canal tunnel, the oldest
transportation tunnel in the USA!
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
"Full
of God's Creatures"
Message
summary: Scripture teaches
that there was nothing but God and that God, by
means of His incalculable wisdom and infinite
power, alone brought the universe (all matter,
energy, time, and space) into existence from
nothing. Have you got that all figured out?
Listen
to this
message on your audio player.
"How many are your works, O Lord in wisdom You made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures” (Psalm 104:24).
Two boys from the city were
out in the country on their very first camping
trip. That night the mosquitoes were biting so
badly that the boys tried to hide in their
sleeping bag to keep from being devoured. When
they saw some lightning bugs, one boy said to
the other, "We might as well give up, they're
coming at us with flashlights!"
In
our area the lightning bugs (AKA fireflies) are
lighting up the dark skies. The other night I
laid on our oversized
deck swing preparing to fall
asleep. I watched their silent display as the
back yard began to glow with lots of
matchmaking. Usually male fireflies fly around
and flash their light to let females know their
whereabouts. If a female is interested, she will
send out a brief flash as a reply to the males.
The firefly, although not mentioned in the
Bible, is one of God's many creatures testifying
to the truth of the phrase in our daily text, "the
earth is full of Your creatures".
Listen
to this
message on your audio player."How many are your works, O Lord in wisdom You made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures” (Psalm 104:24).
Two boys from the city were
out in the country on their very first camping
trip. That night the mosquitoes were biting so
badly that the boys tried to hide in their
sleeping bag to keep from being devoured. When
they saw some lightning bugs, one boy said to
the other, "We might as well give up, they're
coming at us with flashlights!"In
our area the lightning bugs (AKA fireflies) are
lighting up the dark skies. The other night I
laid on our oversized
deck swing preparing to fall
asleep. I watched their silent display as the
back yard began to glow with lots of
matchmaking. Usually male fireflies fly around
and flash their light to let females know their
whereabouts. If a female is interested, she will
send out a brief flash as a reply to the males.
The firefly, although not mentioned in the
Bible, is one of God's many creatures testifying
to the truth of the phrase in our daily text, "the
earth is full of Your creatures".This is my
Father’s world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and 'round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.
All nature sings, and 'round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.
The
term "ex nihilo" is a Latin phrase meaning "out
of nothing". The ancient Nicene Creed states,
"We believe in one God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible
and invisible".Scripture teaches that there was nothing but God and that God, by means of His incalculable wisdom and infinite power, alone brought the universe (all matter, energy, time, and space) into existence from nothing. Have you got that all figured out?
We observe and proclaim with the Psalmist, “How many are Your works, O Lord in wisdom You made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures” (104:24). Let us make a renewed commitment this day using the words of the Psalmist, “I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to Him, as I rejoice in the LORD” (Psalm 104:3,34). Won't you join us?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, in Psalm 5
the Psalmist directs His prayer to You: “O
Lord, in the morning will I direct my prayers
to You and I will look to You with
expectation.” Though You neither slumber
nor sleep and certainly have no need for an
alarm clock, we know it brings delight to Your
ears to hear Your children vocalizing their
praises first thing upon awakening to a new day.
Your steadfast love never ceases, Your mercies
are unending, and Your creation abounds in
originality, wonder, beauty, and power. We
declare our praises to You, Faithful Father, as
You lead us in paths of righteousness. For You
bless the godly, O Lord, and surround them with
Your shield of love and protection. Amen.Today's opening
story reminds me of another "city boy" story
from about twenty years ago.
When we moved from
New England to Lancaster County we rented an old
farmhouse north of Mount Joy for the first year
before we bought our current home. The farmhouse
overlooked a covered bridge over Little Chiques
(Chickies) Creek. Up the creek a bit from the
bridge was a densely wooded area with a spooky
looking very old truck parked in it, probably
right where it broke down.
Yvette and her son, Joey, came to visit us from our former church in New England. Joey was going through a very rebellious teen season. He was a city kid unfamiliar with the country and I was and still can be a bit of a rascal so I decided to issue a challenge to him.
It was very dark and I challenged street tough Joey to go into those dark woods on Risser Mill Road where the truck was parked and take a photo from inside the cab. He took up the challenge and was gone for quite a while. When he finally came back he told us he found the truck and took a photo, but we only had a film camera in 2001 so we had to wait till we had the film developed to see the proof. Sure enough he was telling the truth! I sure wish I could find that photo now!
Joey is now a pastor in Philadelphia and is married with 2 children!
Yvette and her son, Joey, came to visit us from our former church in New England. Joey was going through a very rebellious teen season. He was a city kid unfamiliar with the country and I was and still can be a bit of a rascal so I decided to issue a challenge to him.
It was very dark and I challenged street tough Joey to go into those dark woods on Risser Mill Road where the truck was parked and take a photo from inside the cab. He took up the challenge and was gone for quite a while. When he finally came back he told us he found the truck and took a photo, but we only had a film camera in 2001 so we had to wait till we had the film developed to see the proof. Sure enough he was telling the truth! I sure wish I could find that photo now!
Joey is now a pastor in Philadelphia and is married with 2 children!
Joe Cullen holding
his oldest daughter at a Minister's Conference
several years ago.
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Psalm 5"
Video
Chuck Girard
"This Is
My Father's World" Video The Collingsworth Family
The
Lebanon Valley Rail Trail
This week
we rode on two portions of the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail
Beginning
at the Colebrook trail-head we had a long, mild but
steady 3 mile grade up to beyond Mount Gretna. The grade
was barely discernible and since we have not ridden this
trail in several years I had forgotten about the grade.
I couldn't understand why it was so hard to pedal. I
even checked to see if the brakes were sticking. What a
blessing to reach the summit and then coast easily for
awhile. But alas we had that grade coming back!
Click
to enlarge
A ride
through the old iron railroad bridge in Cornwall. On the
way back we sat at one of the benches and met an
interesting older couple. They live in Cornwall Manor, a
retirement community near the trail. In their 80's they
remain very active and earlier that day had ridden 18
miles on the trail. Amazingly, they told us they log
their miles on their bikes, and over the past twelve
years, they've biked 20,000 miles with their dog, Sadie,
in the back in a small crate.
Click
to enlarge
The
Cornwall iron railroad bridge from below on our way to
work on Tuesday.
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Along the
Lebanon Valley Trail walkers and bikers pass the giant
Lebanon County root beer barrel. Video
Late
Tuesday morning we rode a new section of the trail north
of Lebanon which is beside the Union Canal. Here's a video of a drone in the tunnel
with some backround.
Click
to enlarge
Finally
today:
The Seyfert
Orchards sales barn is now open in Lebanon. We checked
and they will soon have Brooksyne's favorite fruit for
making jams, sour cherries!
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
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