A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Wednesday,
June 9,
2021
Dreibelbis
Covered Bridge, Berks County built in 1869.
Notice the
distinctive hex sign, a form of Pennsylvania Dutch folk
art, above the bridge featured on many of the barns
in Berks County.*
(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
"The
Blessing Of Road Signs"
Listen
to this message on your audio player.
"Set up road signs; put up guideposts. Take note of the highway, the road that you take" (Jeremiah 31:21). "The highway of the upright avoids evil; he who guards his way guards his life" (Proverbs 16:17).
Returning
from our bike riding trip in Bethlehem this last
weekend we moseyed through a scenic rural portion of
Berks County northeast of Reading, PA. To "mosey" is
defined as "to walk or move (drive) in a leisurely
manner", and we certainly do that when we're
exploring an unfamiliar location.
Moseying
is something I (Stephen) especially enjoy and, after
45 years of marriage, Brooksyne has come to expect
it and is patient with me, since she also enjoys the
sights we see along the way. J.R.R. Tolkien wrote,
"Not all who wander are lost", which to me has the
sense of exploration. For instance we passed a place
I mentally noted for a future visit called the
"Found Objects of Industry, Inc".
At
one point we
were heading up a hill after driving through the
Dreibelbis Covered Bridge near Virginville when we
saw a road sign with some rather odd directions. It
was intended to be a caution for a left bend in the
road but apparently a bolt had come out from the
post and it had flipped upside down and thus
conveyed a rather confusing message since it
indicates the next bend will take you right into the
telephone pole.
one point we
were heading up a hill after driving through the
Dreibelbis Covered Bridge near Virginville when we
saw a road sign with some rather odd directions. It
was intended to be a caution for a left bend in the
road but apparently a bolt had come out from the
post and it had flipped upside down and thus
conveyed a rather confusing message since it
indicates the next bend will take you right into the
telephone pole.There
are a lot of signposts in life that are that way and
in many cases people are intentionally creating
signage that directs us in the wrong direction. How
vitally important to discern the right signage in
life!
In
the first daily text the Lord directed Jeremiah to "Set
up road signs; put up guideposts". When
I travel I appreciate periodic road signs informing
me that I'm on the right highway, as well as caution
signs intended to protect me. Even if I am familiar
with the route I value these signs that assure me
that I am going the right way. Hebrews 12:1 refers
to "the race marked out for us". (The
Amplified Bible states, "the appointed course of
the race that is set before us".)We are
all presently on the road to our eternal
destination. In creating our free will God has given
us the choice to steer our lives in the direction of
our choosing. Since there are many roads we may
travel He equips us with the Bible road map that
tells us what to expect when we choose a particular
route. One road is broad, well-traveled and
seems very enticing. But since the futile end of
this road extends beyond our initial view, Solomon
warns travelers, “There is a way that seems
right to a man, but in the end it leads to death”
(Proverbs 14:12).
Every
one of us needs to, "Take note of the highway,
the road that you take". We are all on a
highway. Jesus said, "Enter through the narrow
gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road
that leads to destruction, and many enter through
it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that
leads to life, and only a few find it"
(Matthew 7:13,14). I want to be among those
traveling the road that leads to life!
The Scriptures are an absolutely reliable map to direct the course of life toward the highway to heaven.
Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, this journey of faith
began at mile zero which was, for those who
believe, the moment we realized the tremendous
sacrifice of Jesus' death on the cross. After we
repented of our sins and placed our faith in
Christ we began this faith journey and the
milestones along the way have assured us that
the route we're on leads to eternal life. We
reject the philosophies from the broad road and
follow Your roadmap that keeps us on the highway
of holiness as we are ever watchful for the
prowling enemy attempting to steer us off
course. Though sorrow and mourning have
accompanied us on this journey, we will enter
Zion rejoicing and singing as You crown us with
everlasting joy! And the marvelous blessing is
that the end of this earthly journey is really
only the beginning of our eternal journey! Thank
You, Jesus, for making it possible! Amen.
Daily
prayer: Father, this journey of faith
began at mile zero which was, for those who
believe, the moment we realized the tremendous
sacrifice of Jesus' death on the cross. After we
repented of our sins and placed our faith in
Christ we began this faith journey and the
milestones along the way have assured us that
the route we're on leads to eternal life. We
reject the philosophies from the broad road and
follow Your roadmap that keeps us on the highway
of holiness as we are ever watchful for the
prowling enemy attempting to steer us off
course. Though sorrow and mourning have
accompanied us on this journey, we will enter
Zion rejoicing and singing as You crown us with
everlasting joy! And the marvelous blessing is
that the end of this earthly journey is really
only the beginning of our eternal journey! Thank
You, Jesus, for making it possible! Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Therefore The Redeemed of
the LORD Shall Return" Video
Maranatha! Vocal Band (Based on verse
alluded to in today's prayer).
* Hex signs are a form of
Pennsylvania Dutch folk art, related to
fraktur, found in the Fancy Dutch
tradition in Pennsylvania Dutch Country.
Barn paintings, usually in the form of
"stars in circles", began to appear on the
landscape in the early 19th century and
became widespread decades later when
commercial ready-mixed paint became
readily available. By the 1950s
commercialized hex signs, aimed at the
tourist market, became popular and these
often include stars, compass roses,
stylized birds known as distelfinks,
hearts, tulips, or a tree of life. Two
schools of thought exist on the meaning of
hex signs. One school ascribes a
talismanic (possessing or believed to
possess magic power) nature to the signs;
the other sees them as purely decorative.
Both schools recognize that there are
sometimes superstitions associated with
certain hex sign themes and neither
ascribes strong magical power to them. The
Amish do not use hex signs. (From Wikipedia article)
For
the terminally inquisitive here is the area
we moseyed about in Berks County (google map)
The
origin of the name Virginville is obscure.
Some say it is the English translation of a
Native American word, while others believe
the community was named for virgin forests
in the area. However, the leading theory is
that the name is derived after your maternal
figure. "Virgin" may be an alternate
translation of the Indian-named Maiden
Creek, which runs through the town and also
meets up with Sacony Creek. Pennsylvania has
many interestingly named town and roads
including a road near Virginville named,
"Witchcraft Road" (From Wikipedia article)
Several
photos from our trip last weekend as we
moseyed through rural Berks County, PA.
Berks County rural scene
(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
We
got some fresh strawberries and rhubarb from
the Berry
farm and orchard
(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
Finally
today:
We often are able to mosey, even
as we travel from company to company in
our chaplaincy visitation. Yesterday we
passed this thought-provoking sign in
rural Lebanon County. It brought to mind a
song we have been enjoying titled "Battle
Belongs" which has this verse,
So when I fight I’ll fight on my
knees
With my hands lifted high
Oh God the battle belongs to You
And every fear I lay at Your feet
I’ll sing through the night
Oh God the battle belongs to You
With my hands lifted high
Oh God the battle belongs to You
And every fear I lay at Your feet
I’ll sing through the night
Oh God the battle belongs to You
"Battle Belongs" Video
Lifespring Worship
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Weber".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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