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Friday,
October
9,
2020
Pennsylvania
Grand Canyon
"A
Beautiful Story"
Message summary: God works all things out for the ultimate good, although I believe in some cases much will be revealed or clarified on the other side.
Listen
to this message on your audio player."Do not lose heart… For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (2 Corinthians 4:16,17). "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
You write a beautiful story
From glory to glory I believe
You write a beautiful story
Beginning to ending and in between
From glory to glory I believe
You write a beautiful story
Beginning to ending and in between
Last
weekend we attended a church where our long-time
friend, Darryl Eyler,
presently pastors near Wellsboro, PA.
We worked with Darryl as a chaplain in the early
part of this millennium.During that time his first wife, Jody, died after a long battle with cancer so it was a very trying time for him. With two young daughters the future was rather bleak. But through it all Darryl's faith never wavered as he continued to serve as a chaplain and sought God's direction in raising his daughters. We recall visiting with him at that time and can only imagine the painful trial he was enduring.
But that was not the end of Darryl's story!
During the church service his second wife, Melissa, shared a brief testimony that we feel will bless many of our readers.
One of my favorite songs to listen to
lately is "Beautiful Story" (see below for video
link). This song talks about how God is writing the
story of our lives: "Trust that He is
orchestrating/custom-making all things for our good"
(Romans 8:28).
There are times in our lives that just do NOT seem to be "good". Here’s our story: Darryl went through the tragic circumstances of his wife, Jody, getting cancer and eventually passing away. He had two daughters at the time. Meanwhile I was a widow with two small children. My husband, Erik, was 32 when he came home sick from work and passed away a few hours later.
Both Darryl and I experienced such heartache and loss. In the middle of our grief, it was hard to believe that anything was good. This was not the story we thought that God would write for our lives!
But our stories were far from over and several years later God brought our two families together. Next month we celebrate 13 years of marriage.
What part of your story are you in? With the pandemic and all that is going on in our nation and around the world it is easy to wonder, "How is any of this for good?" Hang in there! Your story is not done yet!
There are times in our lives that just do NOT seem to be "good". Here’s our story: Darryl went through the tragic circumstances of his wife, Jody, getting cancer and eventually passing away. He had two daughters at the time. Meanwhile I was a widow with two small children. My husband, Erik, was 32 when he came home sick from work and passed away a few hours later.
Both Darryl and I experienced such heartache and loss. In the middle of our grief, it was hard to believe that anything was good. This was not the story we thought that God would write for our lives!
But our stories were far from over and several years later God brought our two families together. Next month we celebrate 13 years of marriage.
What part of your story are you in? With the pandemic and all that is going on in our nation and around the world it is easy to wonder, "How is any of this for good?" Hang in there! Your story is not done yet!
In the midst of lingering troubles or tragedy it is essential that we not allow the troubling and mysterious circumstances of life to drain us of the eternal hope that comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit. Paul warned the Corinthian believers, "Do not lose heart…..For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (2 Corinthians 4:16,17).
The Life Application Bible gives an important faith perspective on this passage in its study notes:
"Our
troubles should not diminish our faith or
disillusion us. We should realize that there is a
purpose in our suffering. Problems and human
limitations have several benefits:
1) They remind us of Christ’s suffering for us;
2) They keep us from pride;
3) They cause us to look beyond this brief life;
4) They prove our faith to others; and
5) They give God the opportunity to demonstrate His power. See your troubles as opportunities!"
1) They remind us of Christ’s suffering for us;
2) They keep us from pride;
3) They cause us to look beyond this brief life;
4) They prove our faith to others; and
5) They give God the opportunity to demonstrate His power. See your troubles as opportunities!"
By faith we must look beyond the painful circumstance visible to all and remind ourselves that God is working in the invisible realm of the minds and hearts of those impacted by the tragedies of this life. By faith let us see the "bigger picture". Remember though, the final outcome is not always seen on this side since the “eternal glory” that outweighs life’s troubling circumstances will not be fully revealed in this life.
Believers have long received great assurance from Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." It was one of the first verses I memorized as a young Christian. How often I have drawn strength from it and do so again as I slowly read it and again ponder its truth. Whatever you are going through, keep the faith. God’s going to work this out for the ultimate good, although I believe in some cases much will be revealed or clarified on the other side, if that is of benefit to our existence in heaven.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, because we are visually
stimulated by that which surrounds us it is easy to
become discouraged by troubling circumstances that
we see. Yet we choose to live by faith, not by sight
so that we can rise above life’s visible
circumstances to images invisible here on earth but
made known to us through Scripture. Regardless of
our limited perspective or personal cost we
persevere in the hardships of life’s circumstances,
so that we will gain an eternal glory that far
outweighs them all remembering that our troubles
here are only momentary in comparison to eternity.
Amen."Beautiful
Story"
Video
Newsboys
"Something
Beautiful" Video Gaither
Vocal Band
Darryl
and Melissa Eyler
(God
blessed the union of their second marriage
with the birth of a daughter about nine years
ago.)
Last
Sunday afternoon we rode our bikes on the Pine
Creek Rail Trail through Pennsylvania's Grand
Canyon, only a couple of miles from Darryl's
church. Later we visited the state park on the
rim. Today we share our final set of photos
from our trip north to see the fall foliage
last weekend.
The Pine Creek Rail Trail
runs 62 miles along Pine Creek. We rode down
about nine miles from the Darling Run access
point to the rustic Tiadaghton Campground and
back.
The
trail runs on an old railroad grade along Pine
Creek. The fall foliage was visible in every
direction, with falling leaves bidding
farewell to summer and ushering in the autumn
season as we biked along the trail. We both
got a kick out of leaves tumbling down on us
and frequently Brooksyne called out, "Stephen,
it's leafing." She might endure "leafing", but
I know she wouldn't be biking if it was
snowing, as she does not endure the cold
weather so well. Locals expect the foliage
will probably peak this weekend.
The
Ole
Covered Wagon Tours offers a horse drawn
wagon ride into the canyon. It was the first
time on our bike rides that we saw the loaded
wagons with about 30 people inside. Horses are
instructed to use the lower dirt trail while
bikers ride on the upper trail. We listened to
the clip clopping of the horse's hooves on the
dirt trail and heard the tour guide informing
the tourists about the history of Pine Creek.
And, lastly, everyone waved as we rode in
opposite directions so it left a warm lasting
memory. (Actually, the horses were not
instructed about the proper trail, but their
riders were.)
Since
we often see evidence that horses have been on
the trail, it was a ride when we actually met
up with the horses and their friendly riders.
A
Tioga County rural scene
Our
attempt at a selfie on the canyon rim at the
Leonard Harrison State Park.
Finally
today:
Yesterday
we met up with long time friends Larry and
Tina Kester, from Bethlehem, PA who are visiting this area and
went to Sight and Sound last night. We enjoyed
breakfast at The Casey Jones restaurant at the
Red Caboose that's just up the road from The
Old Windmill Farm. A lot of laughter was added
to our gathering since 3 year old Stephen and
5 year old Sara Beth Lapp joined us for
breakfast!
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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