A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
Wednesday,
October
28,
2020
Yesterday's
view from the Kimmel lookout on the Appalachian Trail near
Bethel, PA
Click
on photo to enlarge
"Fading
Leaves"
Message
summary: Am
I like an "oak with fading
leaves" or like "a tree firmly
planted by streams of water, which yields its
fruit in its season and its leaf does not
wither"?
Listen
to
our message on your audio player.
"You
will
be like an oak with fading leaves" (Isaiah 1:30). "That person is
like a tree planted by streams of water, which
yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does
not wither..." (Psalm
1:3).
Yesterday morning we hiked a very small portion of the Appalachian Trail to Kimmel Lookout near Bethel, PA. The lookout offers a panoramic view looking south of Berks and Lebanon Counties. We walked down the trail to the lookout and took photos, somewhat disappointed by the overcast skies, before returning to the trailhead along PA Rt. 501 where we had parked. At that point the bright sun came out so Brooksyne suggested, "Let's go back" and that's just what we did.
It was worth it and we are pleased to share several photos today, although we also have some from our autumn leaves collection.
The Appalachian Trail in most places is nothing more than a narrow path beaten down by many years of foot traffic. We have walked the trail here in the northeast as well as Virginia and North Carolina. It's not all a rustic path though. It uses the busy I-80 bridge to cross the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and New Jersey! (See here). We have never walked the entire length which is quite a feat but on many occasions have walked the entire width!
Yesterday the trail was covered with leaves hiding the perils of protruding rocks so we treaded carefully, especially going downhill. But the colorful leaves also added to the beauty of the hike and Brooksyne collected an assortment to bring home to Ester.
We're in the autumn season when leaves from the deciduous trees have changed their colors and texture. Red, yellow, orange, brown, and crimson hues are still on trees but are also strewn on the ground and gathered in piles at fence lines and among the bushes. As the season progresses trees go through a process known as abscission; that is, they drop their leaves.
We have two oaks with an interesting
characteristic. They tend to keep their leaves
well into the winter, their crimson leaves
stubbornly holding on for dear life, though they
have little concern for the piles of acorns that
drop into our yard. Not only are the squirrels
quite pleased to collect the acorns but so is
Sadie Willow. She fills her jowls with acorns and
drops them once she enters the house so now we
have not only acorns in the yard but also in the
house. We shared a photo of
one of our oaks several years ago and you can even
see the bagged leaves along the road ready for
pick-up.
Today let us examine a rarely considered Bible text in Isaiah that draws an illustration from fading leaves.
The text is taken from a portion of Isaiah dealing with the rebellious nation of Israel. It's a stunning chapter and includes this warning, "Woe to the sinful nation, a people whose guilt is great, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him" (Isaiah 1:4).
Various
illustrations are used to describe Israel's
condition including
today's text, "You
will be like an oak with fading leaves" (Isaiah
1:30). Now
the meaning in context is speaking of the nation's
condition as the people rebel against God.
An oak is a splendid tree and is the first specific species of trees mentioned in the Bible, "Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh" (Genesis 12:6). Although we realize that there is the God-designed process of trees, the fading and eventual dropping of leaves as part of the tree's life cycle, there is also an untimely fading due to lack of water which is what Isaiah seems to mean when the verse continues "or as a garden that has no water."
A healthy tree and a healthy spiritual life is like "a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither" (Psalm 1:3).
Today we can consider the text on the national level (wherever we may live) and wonder if our nation is "like an oak with fading leaves". It's an interesting analogy to consider especially as we witness the increase, approval and even celebration of evil.
However let us consider the verse on a personal level in an examination of our relationship with the Lord. Am I like an "oak with fading leaves" or am I like "a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither"?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, I want to be like a tree firmly
planted by streams of water, fruitful in every
season of my life. I want to hold fast to the
profession of my faith and not let it fade over
time. I can do that by living a life above
reproach, clinging to Your promises, and trusting
You for all that concerns me in every season of my
life, knowing that You will provide for all my
needs. Like a tree receives health by drawing from
its water supply I remain spiritually healthy by
drinking from the springs of living water and
eating from the bread of life. Amen.
Listen
to
our message on your audio player.
"You
will
be like an oak with fading leaves" (Isaiah 1:30). "That person is
like a tree planted by streams of water, which
yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does
not wither..." (Psalm
1:3).Yesterday morning we hiked a very small portion of the Appalachian Trail to Kimmel Lookout near Bethel, PA. The lookout offers a panoramic view looking south of Berks and Lebanon Counties. We walked down the trail to the lookout and took photos, somewhat disappointed by the overcast skies, before returning to the trailhead along PA Rt. 501 where we had parked. At that point the bright sun came out so Brooksyne suggested, "Let's go back" and that's just what we did.
It was worth it and we are pleased to share several photos today, although we also have some from our autumn leaves collection.
The Appalachian Trail in most places is nothing more than a narrow path beaten down by many years of foot traffic. We have walked the trail here in the northeast as well as Virginia and North Carolina. It's not all a rustic path though. It uses the busy I-80 bridge to cross the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and New Jersey! (See here). We have never walked the entire length which is quite a feat but on many occasions have walked the entire width!
Yesterday the trail was covered with leaves hiding the perils of protruding rocks so we treaded carefully, especially going downhill. But the colorful leaves also added to the beauty of the hike and Brooksyne collected an assortment to bring home to Ester.
We're in the autumn season when leaves from the deciduous trees have changed their colors and texture. Red, yellow, orange, brown, and crimson hues are still on trees but are also strewn on the ground and gathered in piles at fence lines and among the bushes. As the season progresses trees go through a process known as abscission; that is, they drop their leaves.
We have two oaks with an interesting
characteristic. They tend to keep their leaves
well into the winter, their crimson leaves
stubbornly holding on for dear life, though they
have little concern for the piles of acorns that
drop into our yard. Not only are the squirrels
quite pleased to collect the acorns but so is
Sadie Willow. She fills her jowls with acorns and
drops them once she enters the house so now we
have not only acorns in the yard but also in the
house. We shared a photo of
one of our oaks several years ago and you can even
see the bagged leaves along the road ready for
pick-up.Today let us examine a rarely considered Bible text in Isaiah that draws an illustration from fading leaves.
The text is taken from a portion of Isaiah dealing with the rebellious nation of Israel. It's a stunning chapter and includes this warning, "Woe to the sinful nation, a people whose guilt is great, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him" (Isaiah 1:4).
Various
illustrations are used to describe Israel's
condition including
today's text, "You
will be like an oak with fading leaves" (Isaiah
1:30). Now
the meaning in context is speaking of the nation's
condition as the people rebel against God.An oak is a splendid tree and is the first specific species of trees mentioned in the Bible, "Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh" (Genesis 12:6). Although we realize that there is the God-designed process of trees, the fading and eventual dropping of leaves as part of the tree's life cycle, there is also an untimely fading due to lack of water which is what Isaiah seems to mean when the verse continues "or as a garden that has no water."
A healthy tree and a healthy spiritual life is like "a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither" (Psalm 1:3).
Today we can consider the text on the national level (wherever we may live) and wonder if our nation is "like an oak with fading leaves". It's an interesting analogy to consider especially as we witness the increase, approval and even celebration of evil.
However let us consider the verse on a personal level in an examination of our relationship with the Lord. Am I like an "oak with fading leaves" or am I like "a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither"?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, I want to be like a tree firmly
planted by streams of water, fruitful in every
season of my life. I want to hold fast to the
profession of my faith and not let it fade over
time. I can do that by living a life above
reproach, clinging to Your promises, and trusting
You for all that concerns me in every season of my
life, knowing that You will provide for all my
needs. Like a tree receives health by drawing from
its water supply I remain spiritually healthy by
drinking from the springs of living water and
eating from the bread of life. Amen.A
thoughtful note regarding yesterday's
message titled "A Vice For The Soul":
Joyce,
who was a part of the church we served in New
England in the 90's, observed that vice as a
tool was spelled vise. I checked out closely
and she is correct.
Preparing
the message I googled "vice grips" and saw the
photos and didn't pursue further.
Indeed as a tool it is usually spelled vise.
Indeed as a tool it is usually spelled vise.
But...
Wikipedia states: "Locking pliers (or
Vise-Grips or a Mole wrench or a vice
grip) are pliers that can be locked into
position, using an over-center toggle
action." Also this article WHAT IS A VICE GRIP?
Some
photos of the Appalachian Trail
The
trail would be hard to find without these
signs. Our van is parked in the small parking
area in the background.
A
panoramic view of Kimmel Lookout on the
Appalachian Trail near Bethel, PA
Click
on photo to enlarge
Here
is how the trail looks covered in leaves.
Watch out or those hidden rocks!
Brooksyne
caught me walking ahead down to the lookout
point.
Here's
a variety of leaves Brooksyne picked up to
share with Ester.
Kimmel
Lookout is located here on Google map
We
are pleased now being in our mid-sixties to
still be able to walk on hikes like this
although we walked vary carefully since
falling hurts a lot more than it did 40 years
ago!
(Click on photo to enlarge)
It
was a beautiful drive coming down from the
Blue Mountain Ridge on PA Rt 501.
Click
on photo to enlarge
Finally
today:
Yesterday
morning we saw this truck with a riding dog
at Audrey's, a wholesale distributor of home
decor items. It brought back an early memory
of our first dog as a married couple, Enoch.
Enoch
loved to ride in the back of our old blue
Datsun pickup on the wheel-well with his
head hanging out facing the wind. No matter
how much we scolded he persistently rode on
the wheel well. One time we were heading
down a country highway about 45 miles per
hour and heard a loud thump. Looking in the
rear-view mirror we saw a ball of fur
tumbling down the highway. We came to a
quick stop and thought it was the end for
Enoch, but as soon as he stopped rolling he
got up and ran toward us with a look as if
to say, "That was fun, let’s do it again!"
However Enoch never fell out of a pickup
again, although he still rode on the
wheel-well.
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