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(Click refresh or reload for current message) Tuesday, May 9,
2023
![]() Andreas
Canyon Palm Oasis
Last
week we took
several hikes
in the desert,
including this
one along the
Andreas Canyon
Palm Oasis on
an Indian
Reservation
near Palm
Springs.
Here's
a short video
on the YouTube
channel
"California
Through My
Lens".
"My
Joy And My Crown"
Personal
note: We
arrived home
last night
just after
3:00am. The
grass, looking
more like
green pasture
right now,
needs mowed
after all the
rainfall in
our area last
week, and we
have lots of
catch-up work
but it is sure
good to be
home! Though
it was the
middle of the
night at the
time of our
arrival our
pets were over
the top happy
for our return
home. It took
a good half
hour to settle
them. And
finally, after
a few short
hours of
sleep, they're
still so
excited that
we've just
returned home.
We spent our
wedding
anniversary
traveling much
of the day and
all evening,
so we
celebrated not
only our 47
years as
husband and
wife, but also
our safe
journey in
both flight
and in our
vehicle
driving back
from Baltimore
where we
landed. Thank
you to all who
graciously
sent a happy
anniversary
greeting.
Message
summary:
Christian
ministry
should
influence
people for
Christ on our
journey here
below and for
all eternity.
It will surely
have its
disappointments
when people
reject us or
turn away from
the faith. But
the greatest
reward comes
from those who
are walking in
the truth!
"Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and my crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends" (Philippians 4:1). "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth" (3 John 1:4). A
brief voice
mail message
we received
while away is
a real
blessing and
stimulus for
today's
message. Brian
was just a
little boy
when he
started
attending the
church we
served in
northern
Pennsylvania
in the late
seventies,
along with his
parents and
siblings
(including
foster
children), all
through his
childhood till
he went to
college. I
attended his
wedding in
California in
the late
nineties and
am heartened
that he has
stayed
faithful to
Christ and is
active in
several forms
of ministry.
He
called to tell
me that he had
remembered an
illustration
from a sermon
I preached
when he was a
child and had
shared it with
his current
pastor who
intended to
use it in a
message. Well,
that's pretty
neat when
anyone
remembers
something you
said 40 years
ago,
especially a
child!
Brian's call prompted me to consider today our spiritual heritage and our spiritual legacy:
Ray
Palmer, wrote
the hymn "My
Faith Looks Up
To Thee" in
1830. At the
time he wrote
concerning the
hymn, "There
was not the
slightest
thought of
writing for
another eye,
least of all
writing a hymn
for Christian
worship". And
yet nearly 200
years later
his hymn
continues to
stir many. Can
you imagine
that what you
are doing
today can have
an impact 200
years from now
and indeed
through
eternity! Paul refers to the Philippian believers as, "my joy and my crown". These were the direct descendants of his ministry. But through his writings over the centuries imagine the scores of "spiritual grandchildren" he considers to be his joy and crown. I think we are among them. Consider some people you've discipled that continue steadfast in their walk with Christ. The Lord gives us fruit for our labors and there is no more precious fruit than souls for the kingdom. They are our joy and crown. Our word of encouragement today is for all of you involved in any form of ministry. Christian ministry should influence people for Christ on our journey here below and for all eternity. It will surely have its disappointments when people reject our message or turn away from the faith. But the greatest reward comes from those who are walking in the truth! Like John we can say, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth" (3 John 1:4). ![]() Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
While
visiting the
Palm Springs
area we drove
on the Palms
to Pines
highway, a
recommendation
from Rick, a
friend of ours
who had been
out to the
area for
business. The
highway is so
named because
it goes from
the desert
floor with
Palm trees to
a high
elevation with
Pine trees.
Click to enlarge On
the way to
Palm Springs
from San Diego
we stopped by
the Temecula
Olive Garden.
Click to enlarge We
visited the Shields
Date Farm
which included
a Bible-themed
walk through
the date
trees. The
garden path
winds through
our 17 acre
date farm. It
depicts 14
scenes and
includes 23
statues that
chronologized
Christ’s life
starting with
his birth and
ending with
his ascension.
It was very
inspiring!
Click to enlarge We
will share
more photos of
our visit to
California in
the next
several days.
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want to thank
all who
financially
support our
ministry this
past year (and
some for many
years!). We
realize there
are many fine
ministries and
causes
requesting
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this time but
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like
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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. ![]() ![]() Thank
you,
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Daily
Encouragement on:
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