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&
Brooksyne Weber
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Monday,
February 13, 2023
"Be
A Plodder"
Message
summary: Don't
be deterred by
the
difficulties
of life, but
plod on, one
step at a
time.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"So
let us know,
let us press
on to know the
LORD" (Hosea
6:3a). "I
press on
toward the
goal to win
the prize for
which God has
called me
heavenward in
Christ Jesus"
(Philippians
3:14).
I
played tight
end in
football in
Junior High
School in
Belton
Missouri, a
small town
south of
Kansas City in
the late 60's.
At that time
I suppose I
aspired to
someday being
in the NFL and
perhaps even
playing for
the Kansas
City Chiefs
but that never
happened, as
you already
know. My
most notable
play was a
touchdown that
got called
back! (Lest
there be any
confusion, in
spite of the
striking
similarity the
photo to the
right is not
really me!)
I
played tight
end in
football in
Junior High
School in
Belton
Missouri, a
small town
south of
Kansas City in
the late 60's.
At that time
I suppose I
aspired to
someday being
in the NFL and
perhaps even
playing for
the Kansas
City Chiefs
but that never
happened, as
you already
know. My
most notable
play was a
touchdown that
got called
back! (Lest
there be any
confusion, in
spite of the
striking
similarity the
photo to the
right is not
really me!)In
high school I
ran track and
cross country,
already
realizing I
was not
destined to be
a great
football
player. But I
did quite well
in my running
competition.
Many
high school
players aspire
to playing in
the NFL but
only some .02%
ever make it.*
At this point
in my life I
am doing a lot
more looking
back than
aspiring, in
regard to
things like
playing
football. But
I still want
to have an
outlook of
aspiration for
that which
matters most,
knowing the
Lord! I'm
a plodder.
Today
let us
consider the
value of a
plodder. In
regard to
walking,
plodding means
one who moves
heavily or
trudges
laboriously
but, in a more
expanded
meaning, it is
to "work or
act
perseveringly".The older you get in life the more your appreciation grows for plodders. We've met many, such as the late Jim Scanlon who wrote, "I have always been a 'plodder', not interested in making the headlines, just following my Shepherd." Or our Texan friend, David Penley, who in spite of some severe health setbacks in life, plods on. He wrote, "The importance of simple, persistent, every day faith is so vital."
Warren Wiersbe wrote in a book, "In Praise of Plodders", "Plodders are those who labor with determination and drive--whether pastor, teacher, choir director, or counselor." I would add any follower of Christ!
Aesop
wrote,
"Plodding wins
the race."
Plodding,
in a sense, is
analogous to
the term
"press on" in
our daily
texts. God
faithfully,
incrementally
dispenses His
grace while
conforming us
to His image
along life's
way. Many of
us have been
on this
journey for
decades but
initially knew
little of the
ensuing battle
the enemy
would launch
to recapture
our soul, and
yet we plod on
mile by mile,
year by year,
knowing that
God's
strength,
power and
abiding Holy
Spirit will
take us
forward to our
heavenward
goal.In comparing our journey to running a race the apostle Paul reminds us to keep our eyes on the prize, lest the arduous and wearying race cause us to stumble and cry out, "It's hopeless!" Our journey of faith may at times seem daunting. The indefinite aspect of the "future" reward may weary us and can easily fade from view. But we encourage you to just keep plodding on one step at a time, keeping your eyes on the prize. Don't let the drop-outs sidetrack you from finishing the race God has set before us.
Friend, don't be deterred by the difficulties of life, but plod on, one step at a time. Your future reward lies just ahead.
Be
encouraged
today, (Hebrews
3:13)
Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, when
we begin our
journey with
You, we're not
privy to all
that lies
ahead. We're
told in
Scripture that
if we walk
with Christ
old things
have passed
away, and all
things have
become new.
That's because
we now align
our thoughts
and actions
according to
Scripture; we
begin to see
through the
eyes of
Christ; and we
press on to
the high
calling of God
in Christ
Jesus so that
we will
receive our
future eternal
reward laid up
for us already
in heaven.
Keep us
steadily
plodding and
trusting while
also being
fruitful as we
press on in
the faith.
Through Christ
Jesus we pray.
Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental
Resources
"There
is Hope"
Video
CityAlight
Our
choir and
orchestra at
Calvary Church
sang a
powerful
anthem, "Not
To Us" in
yesterday's
worship
service.
Here's the set
of three
songs: Video
As
a blogger this
is an
interesting
article by Tim
Challies, "A
Call for
Plodding
Bloggers"
*
See this
article, The
Odds Of
Playing
Professional
Football: A
Look At The
Numbers
Benjamin
Nathan Cardozo
(May 24, 1870
– July 9,
1938) was an
American
lawyer and
jurist who
served as an
Associate
Justice of the
Supreme Court
of the United
States. He
wrote, "In
truth, I am
nothing but a
plodding
mediocrity —
please
observe, a
plodding
mediocrity —
for a mere
mediocrity
does not go
very far, but
a plodding one
gets quite a
distance.
There is joy
in that
success, and a
distinction
can come from
courage,
fidelity and
industry."
Wiersbe
writes,
"The
word 'plod'
comes from a
Middle English
word that
means 'a
puddle.' A
'plodder' is
someone who is
willing to get
his feet wet
and wade
through water
and mud to get
to his
destination.
He or she
keeps going!
History shows
us that it is
the plodders
who finally
make it. 'By
perseverance,'
said Spurgeon,
'the snail
reached the
ark.' In this
age of fast
food, digests
and quick
fixes,
plodding is
not held in
high esteem;
but it is
still the
plodders who
are getting
things done, a
day at a time,
a step at a
time. William
Carey sums it
up well, 'I
can plod. I
can persevere
in any
definite
pursuit. To
this I owe
everything'.”
Finally
today:
Being
raised in the
Kansas City
area I was
pleased with
the outcome of
the game last
night but also
commiserate
with many
local friends
who would have
preferred a
different
outcome. But
Ester was a
very
enthusiastic
Kansas City
supporter
though she
really has
little
connection
apart from
early
childhood
memories of my
dad who was
from there.
However she
decorated for
both sides
while heartily
rooting for
just one side!
(In case
you're
wondering the
doors bearing
the names of
the opposing
teams are not
men and women
bathrooms.
It's a storage
closet in our
family room
that opens on
both ends.
That's where
Brooksyne
stores her
extra kitchen
needs, lots of
napkins and
all her home
canned goods,
mostly jams,
at this
point.)
This is
actually a
photo of the
real me over
50 years ago
when I was a
just a bit
trimmer and
better fit.
Being a member
of the 2 mile
relay team I
am ready to
receive the
baton.
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radioPermissions: 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."
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