Daily Encouragement (Archive Edition)

The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

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Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Yesterday we pulled into the parking lot at Audrey's and saw a tractor parked right in front, a rather colorful and unusual sight at a business! Audrey's husband, Ken, is seated on the tractor.

"Upon Every Remembrance"

Message summary: It's edifying to consider that a Christian friend might lift a prayer to heaven each time they think of us. That's also a good stimulus for us as others come to mind, to give thanks to God upon every remembrance of that individual.

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"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you" (Philippians 1:3).

Yesterday we called several aged friends to encourage them while we were traveling in our car. There are many challenges to aging and these last two years have been especially difficult with many being isolated from family and friends.

One of the people we called was Ed Berkey, who was my District Superintendent the first several years we served a church in New England in the nineties.

Ed is now in his mid-nineties and he and his wife Gladys will celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary this September. But Gladys is experiencing an ongoing painful affliction which has weighed heavily on both of them.

We talked together for a few minutes before arriving at a Crackerbarrel parking lot in Hamburg, PA. Brooksyne stepped out to meet up with my brother and his wife who were joining us for breakfast. After she left I prayed with Ed over the phone and he concluded our conversation with a thoughtful quote from Scripture directed to me, "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you".

That may the first time I ever heard that Scripture used in a living, personal application directed to me and I found his words to be very encouraging. It's edifying to consider that a Christian friend might lift a prayer to heaven each time they think of us. That's also a good stimulus for us as others come to mind, to give thanks to God upon every remembrance of that individual.

Bible teacher Warren Wiersbe, now with the Lord, observes three encouraging expressions of Paul's genuine interest for the believers in Philippi in the first chapter of Philippians:

I have you in my mind (Phil 1:3-6),
I have you in my heart (Phil 1:7-8),
I have you in my prayers (Phil 1:9-11).

Paul established the church in Philippi during his second missionary journey around 50 AD. He was only there a short time, but during that visit he endured a beating, persecution and imprisonment before leaving. You'd think he would wipe the dust from his feet, let out a deep sigh of relief and purposely forget about that dreaded town! There is no record of a return visit and of course they didn't have fast mail, phones, texts, email or even Zoom to maintain and further develop a relationship. Yet he wrote this very personal letter to them from a Roman prison about 60 AD, or roughly 10 years later.

The Ryrie Study Bible makes a suggestion to help set this time contextually in our minds. Try to think of someone you met ten years ago and have not had significant contact since. Paul's keen remembrance of the saints at Philippi in this short letter reveals that he had invested his life in the souls of these people and his fond remembrance of them never left his prayerful soul! Perhaps there is a lesson in this for all of us.

Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, we know that each person's life touches other lives, that none of us lives to ourselves and none of us dies to ourselves (Romans 14:7). Some individuals help us strive to be better people and some make us want to avoid being around them. May we, like the Apostle Paul, in his second missionary journey to Philippi, take away the good we see and pray for that which is lacking in ourselves, in others, and in our dire circumstances. Though Paul was thrown in prison he did not leave Philippi licking his wounds but rather rejoicing in those whose lives were changed such as Lydia and the Philippian jailer. May we also find joy, even in undesirable circumstances, so that we can spur others on to love and good works through Christ who enables us to do so. Amen.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"My Prayer For You" Video Alisa Turner First time we ever heard this sing and what a touching message!

For anyone who’s prayed a thousand prayers
And still can’t find the answer anywhere
Fighting off the lie that no one cares

For anyone who’s out there losing hope
Feeling you’re forsaken and alone
Clinging to the last strands of your rope

Chorus:
May God give you eyes to see He’s still greater
Courage to rise and believe He’s able
May God be your peace in the fire you’re walking through
This is my prayer now
This is my prayer for you

Verse:
For all of those with tired and weary souls
But still have faith to ask for miracles
Choosing to believe He’s in control

Bridge:
May your eyes be ever on the Lord, your helper
May you find your refuge in the Lord, your shelter
May you find Him closer than a brother all your days
All of your days

"I Speak Jesus" Video Here Be Lions

"Somebody's Praying For Me" Video Don Moen

My brother Pat and his wife Laverne joined us for a late breakfast yesterday at the Crackerbarrel in Hamburg, PA. Laverne recently wrote an article for a magazine called "The Gift Of Change". Here's an excerpt:

"God may ask us to do things that are out of our box. The box looks good - feels good, safe, comfy....but is is God's best?!"...."Your weak areas are often the ones God wants to use...that way when things happen for good, God gets all the glory! As Christians we are called to live beyond our normal That requires change. Change is challenging."

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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.

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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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