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Brooksyne Weber
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Thursday, October
6, 2022
Oark, Arkansas
"The
Assurance
Of God's Providence"
Message
summary: God is always
active in His children, working out even the most
difficult situations for our good. What blessed
assurance when "we know that in all things God works for
the good of those who love Him, who have been called
according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). That's the
assurance of God's providence!
"Come
now, let's kill him and throw him into one of these
cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him"
(Genesis 37:20). "You intended to harm me, but God
intended it for good to accomplish what is now being
done, the saving of many lives" (Genesis 50:20). "We
know that in all things God works for the good of
those who love Him, who have been called according to
His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
A friend of mine had an interesting experience. He was eating lunch in a restaurant with another friend and candidly shared with him his attempts to get another job. Unbeknownst to my friend, after he had been seated, the son of the company owner he worked for had sat down directly behind him!
Although my friend was sharing discreetly he nevertheless was overheard by the owner's son who reported the employee's conversation back to the owner (his dad). Needless to say my friend was unemployed a bit quicker than he had intended. Although he was hoping to move on from his current job he didn't expect to do so that quickly! I heard from him later that he soon got another job and was then able to chuckle about this "act of providence".
A friend of mine had an interesting experience. He was eating lunch in a restaurant with another friend and candidly shared with him his attempts to get another job. Unbeknownst to my friend, after he had been seated, the son of the company owner he worked for had sat down directly behind him!
Although my friend was sharing discreetly he nevertheless was overheard by the owner's son who reported the employee's conversation back to the owner (his dad). Needless to say my friend was unemployed a bit quicker than he had intended. Although he was hoping to move on from his current job he didn't expect to do so that quickly! I heard from him later that he soon got another job and was then able to chuckle about this "act of providence".
Last month
David, a reader from Arizona, sent me a book by John
Piper simply titled "Providence". At over 700 pages it
will be quite a slog to read the entire book but I find
blessing from the description on
the cover.
"From
Genesis to Revelation the providence of God directs the
course of redemptive history. Providence is 'God's
purposeful sovereignty'. Its extent reaches down to the
flight of electrons, up to the movements of galaxies,
and into the heart of man. Its nature is wise and just
and good. And its goal is the Christ-exalting
glorification of God through the gladness of a redeemed
people in a new world.
Consider
how God uses events in our lives and the actions of
others that may, at the time, seem to make no sense at
all. It could be a mistake on our part or the malicious
attempts of others to do us harm, but God is always at
work for the ultimate good of His children. However,
we may very well see nothing at all "good" about it in
the short term. Some of you are in the midst of
that "short term" as you read this.
R.C. Sproul, in his book "The Invisible Hand", points out that "the doctrine of concurrence refers to historical events in which the work of Providence has been acted out through human agencies. That means at the same time human agents are acting, God is acting in and through them." This is true in our own lives as well. He's still the same God at work in our lives!
R.C. Sproul, in his book "The Invisible Hand", points out that "the doctrine of concurrence refers to historical events in which the work of Providence has been acted out through human agencies. That means at the same time human agents are acting, God is acting in and through them." This is true in our own lives as well. He's still the same God at work in our lives!
When we
are hurt our faith and character are tested by how we
respond. We must settle this question. Is God really in
charge or not? Of course He's in charge, absolutely, all
the time, even when we make a mistake or others seek to
hurt us.
Joseph is a perfect example of providence at work. He certainly experienced the emotional pain of rejection and mistreatment, and he had a long, long wait to see God's plan come about. Just consider having brothers who would scheme together and say to their younger brother, "Come now, let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him" (Genesis 37:20).
Joseph is a perfect example of providence at work. He certainly experienced the emotional pain of rejection and mistreatment, and he had a long, long wait to see God's plan come about. Just consider having brothers who would scheme together and say to their younger brother, "Come now, let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him" (Genesis 37:20).
Yet Joseph
stayed faithful and when things finally came to a head
he could assure his fearful brothers, "You intended to harm me,
but God intended it for good to accomplish what is
now being done, the saving of many lives" (Genesis
50:20). He realized that although his
brothers had intended him harm (which they certainly
did) God has a wonderful way of over-riding the intents
of others to fulfill His overall purpose.
Some of you reading this are stinging with hurt and the root of bitterness is growing. You must get a grip. We are in the middle of the story and that's where our faith is especially critical. Like Joseph others may certainly intend to hurt us. The difficult circumstances of life also seem to bring us harm.
However, our God is always active in His children, working out even the most difficult situations for our good. What blessed assurance when "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). That's the assurance of God's providence!
Some of you reading this are stinging with hurt and the root of bitterness is growing. You must get a grip. We are in the middle of the story and that's where our faith is especially critical. Like Joseph others may certainly intend to hurt us. The difficult circumstances of life also seem to bring us harm.
However, our God is always active in His children, working out even the most difficult situations for our good. What blessed assurance when "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). That's the assurance of God's providence!
Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
I am so very
thankful that You inspired Moses to
record the events that took place in
Joseph's life. Many times I've read
his story and it brought personal
awareness that You had an overall plan
for me even when I was quite perplexed
about my own situation. Joseph reminds
me that obedience to You may come with
a mighty big price tag, even unfair
consequences. The very sin Joseph was
intent in avoiding, he was accused of
by one who was lying. I'm so thankful
that he did not grow bitter and turn
his back on You, but rather He
permitted You to develop his
leadership skills even while in
prison. And those leadership skills
would serve him well years later
during Israel's famine. I wonder how
many hardened hearts were changed by
simply spending time with him in his
prison duties. Remind me that when I'm
in the midst of unfair circumstances I
can also impact others and I'm also in
training for the higher goal of Your
sovereign plan for my life that may be
played out years in the future.
Help me to find ways to be thankful
rather than bitter. In the name of
Jesus I pray. Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Trust His Heart" Video
Newsong Brooksyne's note:
I remember when I first heard this
song in 1992 as I was praying at my
kitchen table. God had revealed
to Stephen and me that He wanted us to
move on in our ministry, but He had
not shown us when or where the place
was to be. As I listened intently to
these words I was reminded that our
future was in His hands and in the
midst of our uncertainty we could
"trust His heart." It was a very
memorable spiritual experience and I
pray that this truth will minister to
your needs as well.
God is too wise to be
mistaken.
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don't understand,
When you don't see His plan,
When you can't trace His hand,
Trust His heart.
All things work for our good,
Though sometimes we can't see how they could.
Struggles that break our hearts in two
Sometimes blind us to the truth,
Our Father knows what's best for us;
His ways are not our own.
So when your pathway grows dim,
And you just can't see Him, remember, you're never alone,
He sees the master plan.
He holds the future in His hands.
So don't live as those who have no hope;
All our hope is found in Him.
We see the present clearly,
But He sees the first and the last.
And like a tapestry, He's weaving you and me
To someday be just like Him.
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don't understand,
When you don't see His plan,
When you can't trace His hand,
Trust His heart.
All things work for our good,
Though sometimes we can't see how they could.
Struggles that break our hearts in two
Sometimes blind us to the truth,
Our Father knows what's best for us;
His ways are not our own.
So when your pathway grows dim,
And you just can't see Him, remember, you're never alone,
He sees the master plan.
He holds the future in His hands.
So don't live as those who have no hope;
All our hope is found in Him.
We see the present clearly,
But He sees the first and the last.
And like a tapestry, He's weaving you and me
To someday be just like Him.
"Same God" Video
Kristy Montgomery & Woodlands
Worship We have been singing
this song in our church and it has
sure ministered to us the last several
months that indeed God is still the
same God!
David Penley, a friend who
taught for many years at Southwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort
Worth Texas, pointed out the photo we posted
yesterday was from their campus.
Franisz, an observant reader
from Indonesia noted regarding the
photo, "It's Indonesia at the center,
and Lord Jesus Christ loves Indonesia
(a nation with thousand of islands, as
well as the largest Muslim population
country), too, amen."
Today we share some photos and notes from Brooksyne's trip to Oklahoma and Arkansas to see family. She returned late yesterday afternoon.
This
old barn reminds us both of our
childhood visits to our grandparents:
Brooksyne's in mountainous Arkansas
and Stephen's in rural southwest
Missouri. It just seems like there
were (and are) a lot of midwestern and
southern barns with rusty roofs!
My grandparents, who owned
200 acres in Batson (Mountain Top,
AR) lived on a dirt road about
three miles from their mailbox. During
our visits from OK Grandpa Sherrell
would saddle up his horses so my
siblings and I could ride the horses
to pick up their mail. Many times
there were blackberries along the way
so we pulled over the horses and ate
blackberries to our heart's content. I
took a photo last week of the twenty
mailboxes that replace Grandpa's one
mailbox. The population of the
mountain has grown, many of them my
own kin folk. If you can make out the
posted sign it tells the service times
at Sherrellville Church, the church my
grandpa was building when he suffered
a massive heart attack and died at 82
years of age. His funeral was the
first service to be held in that
church which is now over 40 years old.
Jody and
I sitting on a big rock at the 40 acre
property my parents inherited upon my
grandpa's death. Jody inherited the
property from my folks and has a cabin
there where I stayed with Ester and my
sister, Elaine, for several days, (he
resides in Tulsa). I enjoyed petting the
donkey, mule and horses that graze in
Jody's pasture land and even cleaned the
secretions from their eyes each morning.
After having Sadie, our shih tzu dog,
for three years, I am in the habit of
cleaning the secretion from her eyes
just about everyday, so why not the
horses in place of her. There has been
no rain for many weeks on the mountain
so the dust is plentiful and probably an
irritant to the animals' eyes.
Oark Cafe is the
oldest continuous operation store in
Arkansas, established in 1890. It has
the original floors, walls and ceiling.
In my childhood, before Daddy drove us
twenty miles on dirt roads up the
mountain to see my grandparents, he
always stopped by the Oark Store so we
could buy orange pop and peanuts. It is
now a cafe with a few groceries for
campers and a fun place to meet with
family members.
Here we are with family
members who are now in their
retirement years. Where did time go!
Three of my cousins pastored churches
in the area and others farmed.
Me and my siblings with our
96 year old Aunt Violet, my dad's
oldest sibling - only three still
living. What a delight to see her and
my Uncle Carroll, though we visit over
the phone several times a year.
Aunt Violet brought me two
quarts of sorghum molasses
which our family ate most every
breakfast morning while I was
growing up. Molasses I often buy but
I can't find sorghum here in the
northeast and it does taste a bit
different than molasses. After
telling her over the phone about how
much I miss it she brought me two
quarts. Imagine wrapping two quarts
of sorghum in a suitcase and fearing
the worst when the workers throw my
bags on the conveyer belt at the
airport. But it was worth taking a
chance and the bags with the jars
arrived safely without breakage or
leakage. Whew! It sure was tasty
this morning on our biscuits at
breakfast.
Ester with one of her
favorite uncles, Jody. He is the
"baby" of my family.
While
visiting my Uncle Carroll he proudly
showed us the memorial he has on his
shelf of Grandpa's "famous" and well
worn hat. I can hardly remember seeing
him without it on his head. The plaque
touched my heart as I read it and knew
it to be true. He truly is my greatest
inspiration for following Jesus:
George
Elbert Sherrell
Was a
loving husband, father, grandfather and
friend.
His love
for Christ showed in everything he did.
He was a
prayer warrior who built Sherrellville
Church
for all
to serve and praise the Lord.
He loved
to walk the mountains and valleys of his
beloved
home in Batson, AR.
Hard work
was a way of life and you could see it
in His
calloused hands and sun weathered face.
He was
married to Fay Harmon Sherrell and their
children were
Violet,
Elberta, Brooklyn, Ramona, Bonnie and
Carroll their baby.
Elbert
was born September 5, 1899
and went
to be with the Lord on March 10, 1981.
He is
forever loved and remembered.
John 3:16 
When I got to Tulsa my
brother, Jody, got my dad's old '96
Ford pick up and running so I could
drive it over the days I visited
family in the Tulsa area. It sure
brought back some great memories as my
dad was so proud of his "new" truck at
the time before his death in 2000.
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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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