A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Friday,
January 1,
2021
Ester's photo
of the full moon with her own version of photoshop!
"One
Day"
Note:
We're often hesitant to post a new message on a
holiday with many readers traveling, tending to
special gatherings, or experiencing a break in their
routine. But we personally find guidance, assurance
and strength from eternal truths we glean from God's
Word and consider that maybe others need the same
reminders today on this first day of 2021.
Message summary: As we ground our faith in the truths of
God's Word we can, in the midst of uncertainty or
unpleasant circumstances, experience the hope, peace
and assurance that is at the very core of living an
abundant life.
Listen
to this message on your audio player.
“We know and rely on the love God has
for us” (1 John 4:16). “The LORD appeared to us in
the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an
everlasting love; I have drawn you with
loving-kindness’” (Jeremiah 31:3). “God has said,
never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and
forever” (Hebrews 13:5,8).
One day You'll make everything new, Jesus
One day You will bind every wound The former things shall all pass away No more tears As we prepare our first encouragement
message for 2021 we consider the various burdens and
uncertainties so many are dealing with. Honestly we
feel a sense of foreboding more so than at the
beginning of any year in the past that we can ever
recall. Let us stress, though, this sense of
foreboding (defined as "fearful apprehension; a
feeling that something bad will happen") is only in
the sense of life as we have experienced thus far on
this earth. When we get an eternal, heavenward focus
we can declare, "All Is Well"! That's where we focus
today.
In some cases Brooksyne and I can
visualize who you are and the situations in which
you struggle. You may be a family member, a friend,
or former parishioner from the 30 some years of our
pastoral service. Perhaps you’re among those we meet
in our chaplain service or you’re a faithful
long-time reader of Daily Encouragement, maybe one
who has even shared a personal burden with us.
At creation God established the annual unit of time (Genesis 1:14). The passing of years is like a chapter in one’s life, a good time to do some reflecting on the past as well as looking ahead to the next phase in our life’s journey. Each of us can look back to particular milestones this past year. But many face the New Year with a great
sense of uncertainty, especially in this age of
covid, political turmoil, societal implosion which
affects each one of us. Add your own personal ordeal
which may be physical pain, ongoing management of a
life altering disease or disability, a wayward
child, financial hardship, the loss of a loved one,
stress related to your care-giving role, on and on
the list goes.
Some things in our day to day existence
include circumstances we have little to no control
over. Since the computer age and the search engine
availability we seek answers and cures for
everything that troubles, confuses or pains us and
still we shake our heads in disbelief that we can't
resolve the ongoing problem we would rather not deal
with. It makes no sense to our way of thinking.
Consider the following words that speak to a future
time for the believer:
One day You'll make sense of it all, Jesus
One day every question resolved Every anxious thought left behind No more fear Settle deep in your spirit that our one
and only certain source of living hope is Jesus
Christ. Over the past year we heard day after day
regardless of political party phrases like "We're
fighting for the soul of our nation". Indeed there
is a great battle going on but not in the sense many
take it.
But keep this foremost in your hearts,
Jesus alone is the anchor for our soul, holding it
firm and secure expressed so well in the great hymn,
“The Solid Rock”, especially in the line, “My hope
is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and
righteousness.”
Hope that is built on friendships, finances, work, education, politics or even our family and church relationships will eventually let us down, but hope that is built solidly on Jesus increases with intensity as our earthly journey moves us closer to the Promised Land. We selected verses today that express four unchangeable truths concerning God:
As we ground our faith in these truths we
can, in the midst of pleasant or unpleasant
circumstances, experience the hope, peace and
assurance that is at the very core of living an
abundant life.
We've been blessed by a song that
combines an old hymn with some new verses called
"One Day" by Matt Redman. It reminds us of a most
certain reality; that Jesus will still be there. His
love will never change, no matter what changes
around us. As we have ended another year and move
into a new one He is a never-changing presence and
lasting security in our lives. We can
absolutely rely upon His everlasting love.
Yes, one day we will see face to face,
Jesus
Is there a greater vision of grace? And in a moment, we shall be changed Yes, in a moment, we shall be changed In a moment, we shall be changed On that day Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, we seek to be unwavering in
our faith and confident in Your plans for our life
as we stand on Your unending promises. You promise
never to abandon us but steadfastly guide us through
the steep hills and dark valleys included in this
earthly journey. Our hope and peace increase as we
sustain our faith through reading and obeying Your
Word and focusing our attention on the future event
when we are caught up with You on the other side.
Grant us strength and courage in the days, weeks and
months ahead in this new year of 2021. We gratefully
stand on the Solid Rock, unchanging, firm and
secure, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"One
Day (When We All Get To Heaven)"
Video
Matt Redman
"One Day" Video Calvary Church Orchestra and Choir from a service early last year. This version features the music along with the slides of those who were remembered. We only knew a couple of the people shown on the slides but at that time we both considered those we do know who went to be with the Lord the last year and do so again. If you choose to watch it perhaps you will consider those you want to remember who passed away this last year. "One Day" Video Calvary Church Orchestra and Choir This version was recorded from the balcony by Ester and shows the choir and orchestra singing the song. We sue miss seeing choirs! "I
Will Wait For You (Psalm 130)"
Video
Shane
& Shane This song also seems so
appropriate as we face another year.
Stephen's
mother, Georgia Mae, lived with us the
last four years of her life, until she
passed away in 2005. Born on Dec. 31,
1920, even in her old age she got as
excited as a child when her birthday
neared each year. Aging didn't seem to
trouble her and we all had such a good
time celebrating with her. Yesterday
would have marked her 100th birthday so
Ester purchased a cake and put the
candles on top to mark her 100th. Each
of us blew out one candle in remembrance
of our dear loved one now enjoying the
glories of heaven. We sure miss her.
Finally
today:
We received word that Jake Shenk went home to be with the Lord this morning. Jake and his wife Nancy have served as missionaries in Africa since 1958 and just celebrated their 64th anniversary on Dec. 28th! He grew up in the farm house we first lived in when we moved to Lancaster County in 2001. We testify that, like the old E.F. Hutton ad stated, "When Jake Shenk spoke people listened". He indeed had a riveting gravitas. Many years ago he challenged us to see Christ's question to Peter as a question to all of us, "Do you truly love me more than these?" He shared how the unspecified "these" could be all the possible objects of our love. This is a scene we miss with all this social distancing. Several years ago many in the congregation crowded around the Shenks as we prayed for safe travel and continued blessings on their ministry as they departed once again for Zimbabwe. As the pastor shared in his email this morning, "In time we can also rejoice in the memory of his faithful service and the knowledge he has been welcomed home by Jesus with the words, 'Well done good and faithful servant!'"
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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."
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