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(Click refresh or reload for current message) Wednesday,
December 21, 2022
![]() "Wise
Men Still Seek
Him"
Technical
note: For
about a week
we have been
having
sporadic
problems with
the website.
It was showing
an error
message. This
also affected
the photos on
the email
version. I
called several
times and got
it resolved (I
thought) but
it kept
happening and
it was down
again early
yesterday
morning about
5:00AM when I
got up. After
a long hold
for tech
support I
never got help
before I had
to leave for a
chaplaincy
visit with the
site down. I
finally got
through and at
last it was
fixed
yesterday
afternoon (I
hope) and
apparently was
some type of
firewall
issue.
Hopefully an
enhanced
security
package will
solve this
problem. I am
my own IT
department and
that's
certainly not
a field I was
trained in,
just self
taught and
tenacious. By
the time it
was resolved
it was so late
in the
afternoon and
I was weary so
we did not
post a message
yesterday.
Message
summary: During
this season as
we reflect on
the Christmas
story let us
determine
that, like the
wise men, we
too will
worship the
King.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"Now when
Jesus was born
in Bethlehem
of Judea in
the days of
Herod the
king, behold,
there came
wise men from
the east to
Jerusalem
saying 'Where
is the One who
has been born
king of the
Jews? We saw
His star in
the east and
have come to
worship Him'”
(Matthew
2:1,2).
"And being
warned in a
dream not to
return to
Herod, they
departed to
their own
country by
another way"
(Matthew
2:12).
Most
of us probably
have some
travel
stories.
Creating
memories that
turn into
stories we
share with
others is what
makes travel
memorable and
fun. We still
laugh when we
consider the
server at the
Crescent Hotel
in Eureka
Springs,
Arkansas, who
after our meal
asked us, "Are
you ready for
Deodorant?"
She was just
as surprised
as we were
when she heard
the words that
rolled off her
tongue.
The
hotel was
extremely busy
and the
kitchen had
run out of
many food
items which we
ordered. She
was quite
weary and
mistakenly
said
"deodorant"
rather than
dessert. Since
that time some
25 years ago
we
still
occasionally
tease each
other after
we've eaten
our main dish
in a
restaurant,
"Are you ready
for
deodorant?" we
ask and then
we all have a
good laugh.
![]() The
return trip to
our home in
Springfield is
very memorable
since the
transmission
went out on
our little
blue Datsun
truck. That
truck was
rather
worn-out and
had been used
in building
the Alaskan
pipeline. We
had no reverse
and only hi
gear. When we
stopped for
gas we had to
roll forward
and clunk
along in the
high gear
(standard
transmission)
till we got
some speed.
Somehow
we made it
home, but it
sure made the
trip long
(nearly 24
hours as
opposed to the
usual 17 hours
or so) since
we drove about
40 MPH! (The
photo above
shows us
beside the
truck with our
parsonage in
the background
just outside
of Springfield
along with our
dog, Enoch,
and cat, Coon,
who made the
move with us
to St. Marys
three months
later where we
established a
congregation.
We have lived
in the
Northeast ever
since.)
Can
you recall
some of your
own colorful
travel
stories?
What about adventuresome travel stories in the Bible? Consider:
Today
let us
consider the
long trip made
by the wise
men from the
east. Can you
imagine the
stories they
had to tell
family and
friends upon
their return!
![]() In fact throughout the world to this day there are small remnants of Jewish people in virtually every country, including the most inhospitable parts of the Middle East. Actually these Jews, as well as Christians, have lived in areas now dominated by Islam long before the Islam religion was even founded. Up
until
relatively
recent years
they had lived
comparatively
peaceful lives
before the
increasing
dominance of
hate-filled
strains of
Islam that now
dominate the
news. The
existence of
these small
pockets of
exiled (and
later
dispersed)
Jews
throughout the
world who keep
their identity
and faith is a
wonderful sign
of God's
promise.
![]() Many of us have heard or seen the phrase "Wise Men Still Seek Him". We passed the sign on the right in rural Lebanon County yesterday morning. The
genuinely
wise,
like these
wise men from
the east,
still seek
Him. They
always have
and always
will. This
wisdom is
altogether
different than
the wisdom of
the world. The
wise who seek
Him now are
mostly not
among the
elite and
highly
educated
according to
worldly
standards
(although some
are). Some of
the wisest
people in this
regard have
little of the
world's
education. And
bluntly
speaking, so
many of the
most highly
educated
according to
the world's
standards are
spiritually
ignorant and
unwise!
1) The
genuinely wise
seek Christ to
worship Him
just as the
original wise
men did.
Their purpose
in coming was
forthright: we
"have come
to worship
Him". In
worship we
declare our
allegiance as
we celebrate
His supremacy
and worth. In
worship we
recognize the
Great One and
our own
neediness
regardless of
our position
in life.
2) The genuinely wise seek Christ to build their lives on the solid foundation of His teaching and the remainder of the Bible. In one of our Lord's most well-known teachings, the "Sermon on the Mount", He concludes with an illustration contrasting two builders: Those who built their house (life) on the rock of hearing and obeying Christ's teaching He deemed wise. “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock." The others, whom He deems foolish, heard but did not obey. "And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand" (Matthew 7:26). The wise man seeks to learn what Jesus teaches and lives by that teaching. 3) The genuinely wise are very careful about how they live. The apostle Paul speaks to those who seek Christ for wisdom, calling us to "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise" (Ephesians 5:15). Today as we continue to reflect on the Christmas story let us determine, like the wise men in the original Christmas story, that we too will seek after the Christ. We worship Him through our acceptance that He is Savior and Lord and by our obedience in how we live, not as unwise but as wise. Be
encouraged
today, (Hebrews
3:13)
Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
![]() Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental
Resources
"We
Three Kings"
Video
Reawaken
Hymns
God
With Us (The
Magi)
Video
Todd Agnew
Comment
from reader
regarding
Monday's
message:
"Your story of
Longfellow,
and the story
of King Herod
supported
everything
I've been
feeling and
questioning -
a terrible
loss, a
horrible
slaughter, yet
there is
Christ, in the
middle of it
all. Not
"choosing" to
take away the
horror or the
unspeakable
evil, but
instead be
right there in
the midst of
it. I hear the
bells!"
![]() The
Moonstone
Manor,
originally
built in 1742,
in
Elizabethtown,
PA is where
many of the
scenes from
the movie "I
Heard The
Bells" that we
wrote about
Monday were
set. In the
movie this is
the home of
Longfellow
though his
actual home
was in Boston.
This photo was
taken in 2007
as we often
passed this
property on
the way home
from an
interim church
I pastored
near
Harrisburg.
Had no idea at
that time it
would be a
movie set!
In
this video
you will see
our friend
Jesse Lapp
being
interviewed by
an NBC Today
Show host at
his farm in
Ronks, Pa.
(make sure to
tap to unmute
if needed).
The part about
the farm is
several
minutes into
the video. It
was aired this
morning and we
thought you
might enjoy
seeing Jesse
since we often
talk about Old
Windmill Farm
and the Lapp
family who are
like family to
us. This
summer we had
a family
picnic on the
farm with
relatives from
all over the
country.
Special
Year-end
Financial
Appeal
We
want to thank
all who have
financially
supported our
ministry this
past year (and
some for many
years!). Like
most
ministries, we
typically see
a spike in
giving at the
end of the
year for which
we are most
thankful. We
realize there
are many fine
ministries and
causes
requesting
support at
this time but
if you would
like
information
about making a
donation to
our ministry
see here.
In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world. ![]() ![]() Thank
you,
Stephen & Brooksyne 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
and that 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 Christmas Knowledge Test We have also posted two Christmas carol quizzes here (scroll down). To
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![]() ![]() Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact. 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." © Copyright 2022 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA |