A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Wednesday,
November 25,
2020
The
answer is ... We should!
Quote and photo by Sabra Penley "Not
The Path I Would Have Chosen"
Message summary: If you’re on a winding, bumpy detour may you have the perspective of the apostle James and "consider it pure joy". “In
everything give thanks; for this is God’s
will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians
5:17). “Consider it pure joy, my brothers,
whenever you face trials of many kinds, because
you know that the testing of your faith develops
perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so
that you may be mature and complete, not lacking
anything” (James 1:2-4).
Brooksyne
and I enjoy traveling, even the local trips we take
related to our chaplaincy ministry, though she would
say I like it more. When we travel we
have a goal to reach a destination but intentionally
seek to enjoy the journey along the way. We may even encounter some detours and we
do well to make the best of them. Many
years ago we saw a church
sign that wisely stated, "Contentment is enjoying
the scenery while on a detour".
A detour is "a deviation from a direct course or the usual procedure" (Merriam Webster). Unplanned detours in life are something we all experience in different ways and in different degrees of severity. We may wisely plan ahead but we have all experienced detours in life, an unexpected deviation from the smooth route we had planned for ourselves. Karen Peck in her outstanding song titled "I Choose Christ" writes, "It was not the path I would have chosen". We've all been on paths we would not have chosen! In one of our first messages in 2020 we ask this question, "Now we begin another year. What lies ahead for me and my loved ones? What lies ahead for you and your loved ones?" At that time how many of us had any idea 2020 would be anything like it has been? I think most of us would say regarding 2020, it's not the path I would have chosen! In a
sense we've all been on a detour together in 2020.
In road work detours are often planned and an
alternate route is clearly marked out with signs
to keep us on the right path. But this detour has
been anything but planned and we've had little
signage for alternate routes. What's more, we
don't even know when we will be back on the main
road and what that will look like!
The daily texts are among the first Scriptures we memorized as young Christians in the seventies. Being thankful during the detours does not mean that we don’t pray for God’s intervention and seek for a resolution to our problem. Certainly if I’m on a detour while traveling I still have a goal to arrive at the proper destination in a timely fashion. However while following the detour I can choose to be annoyed by the change of routine that requires extra time in my schedule or I can enjoy the new landscape, adjust my schedule, and reach my final destination with a good, or at the very least, an overcoming attitude. The key to “enjoying the scenery” and being thankful during life’s detours is based on two foundational truths that should be the bedrock of our faith. We must be firmly persuaded that: 1)
God is in absolute control. “Many are
the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the
purpose of the Lord that will stand”
(Proverbs 19:21).
2) He is ultimately fulfilling His purpose in our lives. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). Notice the progression of purpose in our daily text: 1) The
trial (detour) is a testing of faith.
2) This testing of faith develops perseverance. 3) Perseverance must finish its work. 4) This work makes us mature and complete, not lacking anything. So today as we all go through this winding, bumpy detour which has been 2020 may we have the perspective of the apostle James and “consider it pure joy”. In thankfulness may we enjoy the scenery while on this detour. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, it is
not by mistake but by Your design that we experience
the detours of life that give us perspective in a
way that nothing else does. Though we see others who
travail in difficulty, it is particularly difficult
when we ourselves experience tough terrain that we
seek to understand Your purpose for the trial we are
enduring. Help us to persevere in the midst of
uncertainty and unfamiliar landscape. May we find
joy in the simple pleasures we overlooked when
life’s journey was routine and uninterrupted by the
surprise bends in the road or difficult detours that
bring about delay or a change of plans. May the
testing of our faith bring about maturity and give
us a new perspective that makes us stronger in our
faith and more effective in our witness to those
around us. May they see a grateful spirit in us even
as we undergo difficulty so that we glorify Your
name rather magnify our problems. Amen.
This
is the song that has the line, "It was not
the path I would have chosen".
We
have been so blessed singing this song in
our church and it seems especially
appropriate during the Covid season.
Consider this refrain as you seek to
overcome a heavy heart:
Yes
I will, lift You high in the lowest valley
Yes I will, bless Your name Oh, yes I will, sing for joy when my heart is heavy For all my days, oh yes I will Today
we dedicate this song to Dave, a long time
reader, who informed us his fourteen year
old grandson committed suicide yesterday. A
young man in the making, whose grandmother
led him to Christ at a young age. What a
devastating loss for his parents and
grandparents who must wrestle with the
aftermath of a suicide, since "Suicide
doesn't end pain. It only lays it on the
broken shoulders of the survivors"
(Ann-Grace Scheinin). Please remember this
grieving family in your prayers.
Today's
lead photo was taken by Sabra Penley. We met
David and Sabra Penley through Daily
Encouragement over 10 years ago. David
served as a seminary professor at Southwest
Baptist Theological Seminary for many years
but due to some health problems was unable
to continue. They have been on a detour they
certainly didn't plan but both demonstrate
steadfast faith and an overcoming spirit. We
shard David's story in a message titled "A Lesson From
Epaphroditus"
Finally
today:
Last
week I walked through a company and saw a
stack of old computers that were being
disposed. Having in mind my friend, Jesse,
who needs limited use of a computer for his
masonry business I asked if one might be
suitable and available for such a purpose.
The
company cleaned one up and gave it to me for
Jesse. He needs to use it primarily for
email and I set it up for
him yesterday. It
seems to be suitable but I need to find a
way to get him on the internet since he
doesn't have a line coming in. Sometimes
it's nice to be a middle
man!
To receive the
"Daily Encouragement" each Monday-Friday
through email see this
page to subscribe to our email list. You can also
subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or
through a Wordpress email subscription.
(See the email subscription on the right side
after opening this page)
We want to thank all who
financially support our ministry. We
realize there are many fine ministries and
causes requesting support but if the Lord
would lead you we surely need and appreciate
the financial support from our readers and
listeners. Our ministry
labor is comprised of approximately half our
time to Daily Encouragement and the other half
to our chaplaincy ministry to companies for
which we receive compensation. Each of these
ministries essentially is the same as a
part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of
us. Our goal for many years is that each would
provide half of our ministry expenses and
income.
If you would consider making a donation to our ministry see here for more information. To donate directly online here. This will open to a page that designates the offering to: WEBER,STEPHEN CHAP, Specialized Chaplaincy Ministry ID: 700001-237376
Please Note:
We also provide this easy option due to
the convenience, for international
supporters, and for those who may not be
concerned regarding receiving an official
tax deductible receipt.
Click
here to send an offering using
PayPal. This will open to a page that
states "Brooksyne Weber".
Permissions:
Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and
distribute any material on Daily Encouragement
Net, in part or in whole, in any format,
provided that you do not alter the wording in
any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of
reproduction. It is our desire to spread this
material, not protect or restrict it. We do
request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription
information intact.
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 |