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Brooksyne Weber
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Monday, April
17, 2023
"A
Fishing Story"
(Part 1)
Message
summary:
Every
day, let us
determine that
we will
wholeheartedly
serve the Lord
on both the
WOW days and
the ordinary
days!
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"I'm going out to fish" (John 21:3).
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
For
many the first
day of trout
season has
great
significance.
This year it
was April 1st
and our
neighbor Doug
was determined
to go in spite
of some
inevitable
challenges of
aging. He is
near 80 and
has not missed
the first day
of trout
season since
he was 15.
That's 65
straight
years, never
missing! We've
met a lot of
devoted
fishermen over
the years, who
do it for
recreation and
relaxation.
But today
let's consider
a different
kind of
fishing trip
where the
fishermen
caught fish
for a living.
This trip took
place after
the first
Easter.
Many
people attend
church
services to
express their
devout faith
in the
resurrected
Christ on
Easter Sunday.
Others go as a
reminder of
their
childhood or
to please
family
members. What
would happen
if all the
people that
showed up for
church on
Easter Sunday
really became
committed
believers,
active in
their church,
and shining
lights in
their
community. We
expect that
the world
would be
considerably
different!
Of course it's great to see the church full, but where are these same Easter "followers" on Monday and the days that follow? Perhaps they were moved by the message and the powerful musical reminders that Christ is alive. But where's their heart the next day(s), after we celebrate the reality of the resurrection and worship the ever-living Lord Jesus Christ?
The first miraculous account of Resurrection Sunday changed everything. Still very fresh and energizing, it's possible that Peter and John or other disciples retold this account over and over as they stood by the city well greeting the townspeople who had gathered to draw water. What an incredible power-packed "WOW" day it had been, especially when contrasting it with what appeared to be a powerless, spiritual defeat only three days earlier.
But John 21 records an interesting event that took place after Christ had appeared to his disciples twice. It happened sometime between the week following the resurrection and Christ's ascension 40 days later. Peter and six of the disciples were together and it was just an ordinary day. Perhaps there was a restlessness in Peter as he says, "I'm going out to fish".
The other disciples said, "We'll go with you". I wonder what these men were experiencing in their hearts. Were they dealing with the reality of living their lives on an ordinary day after such a WOW day? They fished all night but didn't catch anything. (That sure must have been very discouraging.) But Jesus met them the next morning and everything changed. (More about that in tomorrow's message.)
The church has had several universal "WOW" days; such as the day of the Resurrection, the day of the Ascension and the day of Pentecost. The next universal "Wow" day will be when Jesus returns. Since Resurrection Day some 726,350 days have gone by with men and women living and dying for this resurrected Christ.
We all have our personal "WOW" days as well. Spiritually it includes events like our conversion to Christ. It also includes days like our wedding, a graduation or birth of a child.
Of course it's great to see the church full, but where are these same Easter "followers" on Monday and the days that follow? Perhaps they were moved by the message and the powerful musical reminders that Christ is alive. But where's their heart the next day(s), after we celebrate the reality of the resurrection and worship the ever-living Lord Jesus Christ?
The first miraculous account of Resurrection Sunday changed everything. Still very fresh and energizing, it's possible that Peter and John or other disciples retold this account over and over as they stood by the city well greeting the townspeople who had gathered to draw water. What an incredible power-packed "WOW" day it had been, especially when contrasting it with what appeared to be a powerless, spiritual defeat only three days earlier.
But John 21 records an interesting event that took place after Christ had appeared to his disciples twice. It happened sometime between the week following the resurrection and Christ's ascension 40 days later. Peter and six of the disciples were together and it was just an ordinary day. Perhaps there was a restlessness in Peter as he says, "I'm going out to fish".
The other disciples said, "We'll go with you". I wonder what these men were experiencing in their hearts. Were they dealing with the reality of living their lives on an ordinary day after such a WOW day? They fished all night but didn't catch anything. (That sure must have been very discouraging.) But Jesus met them the next morning and everything changed. (More about that in tomorrow's message.)
The church has had several universal "WOW" days; such as the day of the Resurrection, the day of the Ascension and the day of Pentecost. The next universal "Wow" day will be when Jesus returns. Since Resurrection Day some 726,350 days have gone by with men and women living and dying for this resurrected Christ.
We all have our personal "WOW" days as well. Spiritually it includes events like our conversion to Christ. It also includes days like our wedding, a graduation or birth of a child.
But
the vast
majority of
our days are
ordinary in
which we make
a daily
decision to
follow and
obey Christ,
no matter the
present
circumstances
or how we
might feel
that day.
That's the
real key to a
steadfast,
fruitful,
victorious,
abundant and
lasting life
of service for
our Lord.
Every day, let us determine that we will wholeheartedly serve the Lord!
Every day, let us determine that we will wholeheartedly serve the Lord!
Will
you decide now
to follow
Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.
No turning back, no turning back.
Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Jesus, the
events that
took place in
Bethlehem's
manger, at
Calvary's
cross and in
the empty tomb
where Your
body laid for
three days
supersedes any
commemorative
event in
history. We
look to the
past where we
witness Your
sovereign
power at work
in the midst
of ordinary
people.
And now, as we
go about our
daily routine
of working,
caring for our
families, and
living
responsible
Christian
lives we are
filled with
anticipation
for the
greatest
promise yet to
be fulfilled.
This supreme
event will
take place
when You come
down from
heaven and,
with the
trumpet call
of God, You
first raise up
the faithful
ones who have
died.
Then those of
us who are
still alive
will be caught
up with them
in the clouds
to meet You in
the air. What
extra-ordinary
encouragement
this brings us
today on an
otherwise
ordinary day.
And yet there are many living in extra-ordinary times where their lives are laid on the line for simply trying to live an ordinary life choosing You as their Master and Savior. The enemies of the cross did not come to an end when You were slain, but the generations follow even to our day, determined to stamp out any who proclaim You as their Lord and Savior. We pray for the families and loved ones of the many innocent believers in recent months, weeks and days who have been martyred and others rejected and abused because they choose to devote themselves to the risen Christ. The Crown of Life they receive in heaven, for remaining faithful to the end, will make the atrocities of this life appear as an early flight to their eternal home. We devote ourselves to You, our risen Savior and Lord, during ordinary and extra-ordinary times. Amen.
And yet there are many living in extra-ordinary times where their lives are laid on the line for simply trying to live an ordinary life choosing You as their Master and Savior. The enemies of the cross did not come to an end when You were slain, but the generations follow even to our day, determined to stamp out any who proclaim You as their Lord and Savior. We pray for the families and loved ones of the many innocent believers in recent months, weeks and days who have been martyred and others rejected and abused because they choose to devote themselves to the risen Christ. The Crown of Life they receive in heaven, for remaining faithful to the end, will make the atrocities of this life appear as an early flight to their eternal home. We devote ourselves to You, our risen Savior and Lord, during ordinary and extra-ordinary times. Amen.
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental
Resources
I
(Brooksyne)
was so deeply
moved in my
spirit when we
sang this song
yesterday in
our church
service. I
paused my
singing voice
and checked my
inner spirit
when the words
came up, "I'll
follow You
anywhere,
wherever You
lead me,
whatever it
costs me, all
I want is
You". I pray
that if I am
put to the
test I really
am willing
to pay the
cost, no
matter the
price tag, as
those who are
willing to lay
down their
life rather
than deny
Christ. It's a
convicting
song and
speaks to the
heart. It's a
song of
devotion based
upon
conviction.
May I be so
convicted that
I will give
Jesus my all!
"Yet
Not I But
Through Christ
In Me"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Selah
We
had a bit of
rain this
weekend and
our view
really started
to green-up.
The tree in
the foreground
is a gift from
Don
Eaton,
a tree farmer
friend. It's
called a
Heart-breaker
Weeping
Redbud.
Flowers are
grouped in
clusters held
tightly
against the
stems and
branches, that
create
purplish pink
outlines of
the branching
structure
announcing
that spring
has arrived!
Donegal
Springs
is the source
of Donegal
Creek
Yesterday
one of our
worship
leaders was
Dan Rice (L),
who grew up in
St. Marys, PA
where we
planted a
church
(1977-1993).
His father,
Frank Rice,
pastored
another church
in St. Marys
as well.
After
his retirement
it turns out
we both ended
up attending
the same
church and he
was also a
Sunday School
teacher in
another Adult
Bible
Fellowship
(ABF) class
before his
death several
months ago.
When
we're outside
and the dogs
are still
inside we have
a captive
audience, just
waiting for
their
invitation to
join us.
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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.
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)
If
you desire you
can also
donate
directly
through PayPal
using this link.
This will open
to a page that
states
"Brooksyne
Weber". We
keep this
option
available due
to the
familiarity,
convenience,
for
international
supporters,
and for those
who may not
need an
official
receipt. You
can also set
up for
recurring
donations.
Thank
you,
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
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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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