A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Monday,
August 2,
2021
Here's a
photo taken last Saturday afternoon of our "new" walking
trail between corn rows. As the corn grows it's like a
corn canyon! This is what remains from the tree-lined
trail we walked for many years and still do though the
"tree lined ambience" is drastically changed. See below
for a "before" photo.
"A
Consideration Of Waiting"
Listen to this message on your audio player.
"I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope" (Psalm 130:5). “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” (Romans 8:25).
Hershey Medical Center has a large
parking garage that requires a short walk to and from
the main hospital with a very busy intersection designed
for traffic coming from multiple directions. A safety
feature they have is not only a visual walk light but
also an audible voice for the
visually-impaired that also
directs you.When the walk light is red a stilted computer voice repeats over and over “Wait, Wait, Wait” until it is safe to cross the intersection. Having sight I am also able to anticipate when the light will turn green but I consider those who don’t have that advantage. The persistent “Wait” recording would be indefinite, although the person would still know the certainty of an eventual green crossing signal.
A young lady in our Bible Study gave an interesting illustration about "waiting." She told us that she had placed separate orders for two items. She was able to track one item online and could find out exactly where it was in the process of arriving at her front door. She found reassurance and growing excitement as she was tracking her package and knew exactly where it was and when it was going to arrive.
The other order had also been sent at the same time, but the whereabouts and specific time of delivery was unknown. In so many experiences of life we are waiting for God's promise to be fulfilled but we're uncertain of His timing in the process. Although the reality of the promise is assured the timing and often the means by which God will bring about the promise is unspecific.
That’s the way a lot of our waits are. In so many experiences of life we are waiting for God’s promise(s) to be fulfilled but we’re uncertain of the timing in the process. Although the reality of the promise is assured the timing and often the means by which God will bring about the promise is unspecific.
And frankly this is true of the specific outcome as well. We may have an assurance in the promise that the outcome will ultimately be for our good and God’s glory but sometimes the short-term outlook on this side sure doesn’t seem that way.
The Psalmist wrote a lot about waiting. Today's text is such a source of encouragement. "I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope" (Psalm 130:5).
We want to especially encourage our readers today who are in the midst of a waiting period. For some of you it's been a long time and really there is no end in sight.
"I wait for the Lord" is the purposeful resolve of the Psalmist and should be ours as well. Waiting has always been hard. But in the midst of the wait we are called to be strong and take heart, to be courageous.
"My whole being waits" This phrase especially intrigues me as I prepare this message. It seems to speak of a real focus on waiting.
"In His word I put my hope". When we fail to place our hope in God and His Word we then begin to live in the vacillating realm of “What if?” The “What if” mental game can take our minds on hopeless explorations God never intended. That’s when we grow anxious, even fearful, because we’ve shifted our focus to uncertainty instead of the certainty of hoping in God.
Consider these observations for those who are waiting on God:
- Waiting in one way or another has been the common experience of God’s people in the Bible and throughout church history.
- Waiting can result in a conflict between fulfilling our desires versus fulfilling God’s purposes.
- At times the wait is for another purpose or for the benefit of someone else.
- God gives grace during the waiting period.
- Living a fulfilling, abundant life is ultimately a result of our relationship with God, which is always current. We must learn to experience that in the waiting period.
- Remember, when it’s beyond our control, it is always within God’s control!
We all
deal with waiting and unexpected delays that try our
patience and bring on the anxiety jitters which may
include sleepless nights. But remember this truth today;
when it’s beyond our control, it is always within God’s
control!
Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
You made us to be time-sensitive creatures.
Our schedules are guided by hours, days,
weeks, years, seasons and on and on it goes.
While most of our activity is decided by our
prearranged schedules we don’t usually allot
waiting time, but You do. You arranged it for
the patriarchs of old and expect it of Your
followers throughout the ages as we often find
ourselves waiting and waiting and
waiting. But it’s not a waste of our
precious time, for You tell us that we are
strengthened in the wait, as we depend upon
You to work out the details for our lives.
You’ve promised that if we wait upon You our
strength will be renewed and we will mount up
with wings as eagles. As we do so we’re
refreshed in our spirit and find ourselves
more patient, confident, and courageous as we
wait upon You to accomplish Your intended plan
for our lives. We look to You and are
sustained by Your Almighty Hand during the
wait! Amen.
Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
You made us to be time-sensitive creatures.
Our schedules are guided by hours, days,
weeks, years, seasons and on and on it goes.
While most of our activity is decided by our
prearranged schedules we don’t usually allot
waiting time, but You do. You arranged it for
the patriarchs of old and expect it of Your
followers throughout the ages as we often find
ourselves waiting and waiting and
waiting. But it’s not a waste of our
precious time, for You tell us that we are
strengthened in the wait, as we depend upon
You to work out the details for our lives.
You’ve promised that if we wait upon You our
strength will be renewed and we will mount up
with wings as eagles. As we do so we’re
refreshed in our spirit and find ourselves
more patient, confident, and courageous as we
wait upon You to accomplish Your intended plan
for our lives. We look to You and are
sustained by Your Almighty Hand during the
wait! Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"I Will Wait For You (Psalm 130)" Video Shane & Shane I have enjoyed this group for many years and appreciate their placing Scripture to music which is an aid to memorization.
"Satisfy Us With Your Love (Psalm 90)" Video Shane & Shane
"Even If" Video Mercy Me
"I Will Wait For You (Psalm 130)" Video Shane & Shane I have enjoyed this group for many years and appreciate their placing Scripture to music which is an aid to memorization.
"Satisfy Us With Your Love (Psalm 90)" Video Shane & Shane
"Even If" Video Mercy Me
Our
Hydrangea trees are in full bloom.
Saturday
we took our pets to the pet clinic at
Tractor Supply for their rabies shots.
Mollie was not too thrilled about it but
we assured her it was for her own good
(and others).
As
it turns out Sadie was up to date with
her shot and just got to ride around the
store in the shopping cart as we waited!
Yesterday
our ABF teacher was 80 year old Don
Albam who shared a message based on
Daniel 3 with guidance of when to obey
and when to
reject authority.
Last
night just before sunset I (Brooksyne)
took a walk with the dogs but it didn't
take long to realize a storm was
brewing. I walked on thinking we might
beat the storm. This is the Espenshade
farm (you've seen it often if you're a
regular reader since it's my favorite
view in our neighborhood). Usually the
pasture is filled with corn but this
year Al is growing soybeans. Suddenly
the sky turned completely dark and the
wind picked up and rain droplets were
pounding upon us. I called Stephen to
come rescue us several times but no
answer! He hadn't turned his phone back
on since we left church on Sunday
morning. Mollie is very frightened of
storms so we really picked up the pace
and then what'd you know - I saw the
headlights coming from our driveway and
Stephen was coming to pick us up. By
then I was almost home so we made it
before the major downpour came but I'm
glad he was mindful of our situation.
Finally
today:
Our preacher friend Tommy Carpenter commented on Friday's message, "Guardrails For The Heart" by recalling a message he had preached based on Deuteronomy 22:8, "When you build a new house, make a parapet around your roof so that you may not bring the guilt of bloodshed on your house if someone falls from the roof". A parapet is a protective railing around the roof since in those days the roof could be a living space (see Acts 10:9). The literal principle we can attain from this verse is to make sure our property is safe.
But Tommy's sermon developed a spiritual theme regarding protections for the family.
Our preacher friend Tommy Carpenter commented on Friday's message, "Guardrails For The Heart" by recalling a message he had preached based on Deuteronomy 22:8, "When you build a new house, make a parapet around your roof so that you may not bring the guilt of bloodshed on your house if someone falls from the roof". A parapet is a protective railing around the roof since in those days the roof could be a living space (see Acts 10:9). The literal principle we can attain from this verse is to make sure our property is safe.
But Tommy's sermon developed a spiritual theme regarding protections for the family.
1. Have family devotions daily
either morning or evening. Make it a
priority. Include reading the Bible,
praying together, and affirming our
faith in GOD.
2. Have at least one meal a day together around a dining table teaching manners and good conversation.
3. Emphasize personal daily devotions at a set time each day.
4. Attend church services regularly and sit together as a family.
5. Teach the principle of tithing when the children are young.
6. Share your faith with a testimony of GOD’S grace in your life with others.
7. Love one another! A father and mother showing affection to each other, then to each child will help the children to develop healthy attitudes!
2. Have at least one meal a day together around a dining table teaching manners and good conversation.
3. Emphasize personal daily devotions at a set time each day.
4. Attend church services regularly and sit together as a family.
5. Teach the principle of tithing when the children are young.
6. Share your faith with a testimony of GOD’S grace in your life with others.
7. Love one another! A father and mother showing affection to each other, then to each child will help the children to develop healthy attitudes!
Here's
a photo of the path we showed in our
lead photo before they took the trees
down. The trees were removed because
the property was sold and the new
owner wanted to increase the tillable
ground and value. Not only did he lose
the space where the trees were growing
but the shade and competition for
nutrients diminished the yield on each
side. We are thankful we still have
the walking path and actually it's
kind of neat to walk through a corn
canyon!
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a message to Stephen
& Brooksyne
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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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