A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Monday,
December 13,
2021
A photo of the Living Nativity scene from the Christmas Spectacular show at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City. We took this photo about ten years ago when the show included the Christmas story along with Scripture readings and traditional Christmas hymns. Hopefully that is still the case! "When The Soul Is
Pierced"
Message
summary: Today's message is
for those who are experiencing soul
piercings.
Listen
to this message on your audio player.
“My soul
magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my
Savior" (Luke 1:46,47). "And a sword will pierce your
own soul too" (Luke 2:35).
This
weekend has again reminded us of the groanings of creation
(Romans 8:22). Deadly tornadoes have pierced the souls of
so many here in the US making national news, particularly
the tornado that stretched over 230 miles leaving death
and destruction all along the way. But the groanings of
creation are worldwide. Yesterday I spoke with Dennis, a
long-time missionary to Nigeria, who bears a heavy burden
for the turmoil in that country with practically daily
attacks on Christians by Muslim terrorists.
Some
soul-piercing events make the news but most happen with
little notice apart from those personally affected. But
these are no less heart-breaking for the people and
families who experience them. We witness this in the
lives of those we minister to and in scores of other
heartaches taking place right now that won't make the
news:
Musing over
this message for the last several days I had on my heart a
consideration of how faith works when life just doesn't
work out as we had desired or planned. Many years ago I
read a book by Philip Yancey with the rather provocative
title "Disappointment With God" in which he poses three
questions that Christians wonder but seldom ask aloud:
Years later
(the book was published in 1988) Yancey explains the
title, "At the time, the publisher questioned the title,
so different from the cheery titles that predominate the
Christian market. But I wanted to speak to people who were
truly disappointed." Who among us
has not had disappointment in life?
An online
article from gotquestions.org (see below) explains that
the word disappointment means "a feeling of
dissatisfaction when one’s hopes, desires, and
expectations fail to come to pass".
It's
interesting how the Lord speaks to us and how our present
circumstances can impact our receptivity or lack thereof.
Yesterday Pastor Beau Eckert preached about Mary and the
wonderful assurance she received from God about her unique
situation. She expresses it in song, often referred to as
Mary's Magnificat meaning "Praise", taken from the first
word of the Latin translation magnificat anima mea
Domium, literally, "My soul praises the Lord" (Luke
1:46-55). “My
soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God
my Savior". Mary's song focuses on God's
great works, including His tendency to turn everything
upside down.
Pastor Beau
ended with a consideration of the future soul piercing
that Mary would endure. Simeon's prophecy candidly
informed Mary that "a sword
will pierce your own soul too" (Luke 2:35). Of
course this is a prophetic message specifically for Mary
since she would experience intense soul-piercing as she
witnessed her Son Jesus being crucified.
But Pastor also expanded this prophetic reality to all who
experience a pierced soul, so in one way or another that's
all of us.
Here's a
quote from the closing of his message that moved both of
us as we listened from our pew on Sunday (video cued to
this portion below).
"How is it
possible that Mary's soul could be pierced and in the very
same moment be rejoicing and magnifying the Lord? That is
the reality of what it looks like to be a follower of
Jesus Christ in this fallen and broken world, that those
two things can be true at the same time. This world will
pierce our souls. Jesus promised that it would happen.
Don't allow the piercing of your soul to cause you to turn
away from Him. Be settled in your faith, make sure that it
is personal, make sure that it is God-centered. So that
then when your soul is pierced you can fall back on the
character and nature of who God is no matter what we might
be facing. From that perspective Mary's faith should be
emulated by us all. And may that be true of us no matter
what we are facing this Christmas season."
Today we
consider readers who may have a pierced soul even as they
read this. But we've all
experienced these soul piercings. As we reflect upon God's
greatest gift to all of us let us remember, "In all
these things we are more than conquerors through Him who
loved us" (Romans 8:37).
Be encouraged
today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, it's easy to imagine Mary's
piercing pain, as prophesied by Simeon the prophet,
when years later she witnessed the cruelty hurled at
her Son, including His suffering and death as
detailed in the Gospels. It must have been agonizing
when Jesus was declared "guilty" by His accusers
since she knew of His innocence. Having a veiled
sense of Your divine plan for the salvation of
mankind as prophesied by Simeon, this surely helped
her to accept Your overall plan for her life that
included intense emotional pain. Like Mary, there
are many soul piercings that we also will endure on
our journey here below. Jesus forewarned us, "In
this world you will have tribulation" but He
also reminded us that we can have peace and joy in
the midst of such heartbreaking adversity when we
look to Him who overcame the world. We can turn
every trial into triumph when we place our faith and
confidence in the One who stills the tempest and
calms the sea. Amen.
Special
Year-end
Financial
Appeal
We
want to thank
all who have
financially
supported our
ministry this
past year (and
some for many
years!). We
realize there
are many fine
ministries and
causes
requesting
support at
this time but
if you would
like to make a
donation to
our ministry
see here for
more
information. Like
many
ministries, we
typically see
a spike in
giving at the
end of the
year for which
we are most
thankful.
Our ministry labor is comprised of approximately half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies from 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. To donate directly online click here. This will open to a page that designates the offering to: STEPHEN & BROOKSYNE WEBER - 700001-237376 SERVING IN SPECIALIZED CHAPLAINCY
Please Note: If
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This will open
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We
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supporters, and for those who may not need
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Stephen & Brooksyne Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"Christ
be Magnified" Video Calvary
Church children What a joy to see the children
gathered and hear them singing out, especially
on the word, "Oh!". The words in this
beautiful song require adult understanding so
practices surely included not only excellence
in singing, but also understanding the words
they were singing.
Here's
a video cued to Pastor's
conclusion of the message printed above and
the beautiful song, "My Soul Rejoices" sung by
Johanna Spangenberg who co-wrote the song with
two other worship leaders from our church.
"Is it wrong to feel
disappointment with God?" A brief
perspective from gotquestions.org
Blessings
Of Hope, a local food bank ministry in
Lancaster sent out two truckloads of food
supplies within hours. More are on their way
to aid victims in the wake of the tornado
devastation. Our support
in prayer and giving to a Christian aid
ministry like this is an important way we
can help those devastated by this deadly
storm.
"It
Is Well with My Soul" Video Guy
Penrod, David Phelps Perhaps we could
consider the familiar hymn, "It Is Well With
My Soul", as Spafford's Magnificat. It was
an expression of praise and acceptance of
Horatio Spafford's heartbreaking
circumstances in 1873 during a time of major
challenge and loss. He lost his extensive
real estate business in 1871 during the
Chicago fire, he also mourned the death of
his four year old son due to scarlet fever
in 1871, and the most famous loss was that
of his four daughters who drowned at sea two
years later. After learning of their deaths
he booked passage to join his wife who
survived the shipwreck in Europe. On a
cold December night the captain called him
aside and showed him the location where the
Ville du Havre ship went down resulting in
222 fatalities including that of his
daughters. Upon returning to his cabin
Spafford found it difficult to sleep but he
settled the grievous matter deep in his soul
as he said to himself, "It is well; the will
of God be done."
On
Friday we joined employees and their
spouses at the JK Mechanical Christmas
banquet where each year we enjoy a
delicious buffet. We have been serving as
their chaplains over eleven years now and
have had the privilege of reading the
Christmas story from Luke and opening in
prayer every Christmas.
Friday
morning we bought some brussels sprouts,
cauliflower and broccoli brought in fresh from
the field in New Danville. The tractor had
just dropped off this wagon of cauliflower
picked moments earlier. But winter's on the
way so the stand closed Saturday for the
season.
Resources for Christmas Celebrations
(We
will leave these resources posted below
our daily messages through Christmas)
Each
year we share several online resources
that we have used over the years.
Perhaps they may be a blessing to you,
your family or church during this
Christmas season.
"In Remembrance of Me" pdf This is a passion-filled Scripture reading for two adults. Brooksyne and I have used this reading with great receptivity during Christmas Eve services over the years. We suggest, if possible, a musical background as the message is read. It is also a great lead-in to a Communion service. It should be thoroughly practiced and read with great feeling. Here's a great Communion Hymn for Christmas (Video) "When Christ Was Born" pdf This is an adaptation to the tune of "How Great Thou Art". It's a great song to sing as a congregation since most are familiar with and love the tune. Responsive Christmas Scripture readings for church or family: John 1:1-18 pdf "O Come Let Us Adore Him" pdf My First Christmas In Heaven This is a blessed reminder for all who lost a loved one this year. Christmas Knowledge Test We have also posted two Christmas carol quizzes here (scroll down). Finally
today:
These
two don't fight like cats and
dogs!
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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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