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&
Brooksyne Weber
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Monday, May
15, 2023
We
took a country
route on the
way home from
church and
passed this
1800's stone
farmhouse
south of Mount
Joy along
Chiques Creek.
Not only is
the house an
attraction but
the setting is
interesting in
the way the
retaining wall
was built and
back-filled to
provide a
level spot for
the house.
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
"Fifth
Commandment Honor"
Message
summary: The
honor of our
parents serves
as a
foundational
base for all
human honor.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
“Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12). “Her children arise and call her blessed” (Proverbs 31:28).
“Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12). “Her children arise and call her blessed” (Proverbs 31:28).
Years ago our pastor, at the time, got everyone’s attention by introducing his sermon with this simple question, “Will everyone who is the son or daughter of a mother, please raise your hand?” Slowly but surely everyone rose their hand as they caught onto the question. I could ask the same question today of each reader, although I can’t see your hands. No matter how much our childhood backgrounds may differ, this is one truth we all have in common.
Yesterday
was Mother's
Day here in
the US and
perhaps other
countries as
well. This Day
and Father's
Day could also
be called
"Fifth
Commandment
Sunday" since
on both days
we are called
to honor our
parents. To
honor means to
regard with
great respect.
In
order for us
to express
honor toward
another it
must come from
feelings of
deep respect
and devotion.
It requires
appreciation
and esteem
that we should
have toward
the
individual(s).
The honor we
show our
parents is a
microcosm of
our spiritual
honor toward
God. Failing
to honor our
parents, as He
commands, is
certainly
dishonoring to
Him as is any
type of
disobedience.
On
the other hand
when we honor
our parents it
is a tangible
demonstration
of our honor
toward God.
Additionally,
our children
will likely
care for us in
our golden
years in the
same way we
have cared for
our parents.
Of the Ten Commandments the last six deal with our behavior toward one another. The first four deal with our behavior toward God. The first of these “horizontal” commandments is the only one of the six that is worded positively as a command rather than a prohibition. It is the only commandment that includes a promise. It’s fundamental to wholesome human relationships and in God’s design it is an essential building block in the practice of the remaining five commandments. If each generation would truly honor their parents, it would be a powerful deterrent to the breaking of the other commandments!
The breakdown in parental honor in our society is evident everywhere and I believe it will likely worsen as we continue to reap the results of violating God’s holy law regarding the sanctity of life and many other basic life truths. A fundamental aspect in the transmission of truth and order from one generation to another is the honor shown to the older from the younger and the blessing given to the younger from the older. So very often this is not the case. Parents who had no time for their children will increasingly find that their grown children have no time for them.
Are you honoring your parents today, in your conversation, in your actions, in the way your children observe your relationship toward them? Practice visible expressions of love and care toward your parents so that you will experience the blessing that God gives to those who express honor. One day you will not just be giving it but you will likely be the recipient of honor.
Of the Ten Commandments the last six deal with our behavior toward one another. The first four deal with our behavior toward God. The first of these “horizontal” commandments is the only one of the six that is worded positively as a command rather than a prohibition. It is the only commandment that includes a promise. It’s fundamental to wholesome human relationships and in God’s design it is an essential building block in the practice of the remaining five commandments. If each generation would truly honor their parents, it would be a powerful deterrent to the breaking of the other commandments!
The breakdown in parental honor in our society is evident everywhere and I believe it will likely worsen as we continue to reap the results of violating God’s holy law regarding the sanctity of life and many other basic life truths. A fundamental aspect in the transmission of truth and order from one generation to another is the honor shown to the older from the younger and the blessing given to the younger from the older. So very often this is not the case. Parents who had no time for their children will increasingly find that their grown children have no time for them.
Are you honoring your parents today, in your conversation, in your actions, in the way your children observe your relationship toward them? Practice visible expressions of love and care toward your parents so that you will experience the blessing that God gives to those who express honor. One day you will not just be giving it but you will likely be the recipient of honor.
God’s
command to
honor our
father and
mother, like
the command in
Hebrews 13:4
to honor
marriage, has
no
exclusionary
clause. I’m
confident that
He will give
you the
necessary
grace to
convey that
honor,
starting with
the very fact
that God
breathed life
into you as
your mother
brought you
into this
world.
If your parents are living be sure to express your love and appreciation to them, if you haven't already done so in recent days. That is something we both really miss doing but are so glad we did it regularly while they were alive. The honor of our parents serves as a foundational base for all human honor.
If your parents are living be sure to express your love and appreciation to them, if you haven't already done so in recent days. That is something we both really miss doing but are so glad we did it regularly while they were alive. The honor of our parents serves as a foundational base for all human honor.
Daily
prayer:
Father, we are
particularly
thankful today
for the gift
of motherhood;
for the women
who greatly
desire
motherhood but
are still
waiting and
questioning,
we pray that
you will cover
them with
peace; for the
moms expecting
a child that
are nervous
and anxious,
would you calm
their hearts;
for the single
moms who are
fulfilling
what seems
like an
impossible
job, give them
supernatural
strength; for
the moms in
the thick of
motherhood
today, give
them special
moments to
remember and
let time slow
down just a
bit; for
adoptive moms
we pray for
miraculous
bonding and
grace; for all
who are
raising
children who
are not from
their womb; a
stepmother, a
foster mother,
a grandmother
or a guardian,
bless these
women with
grace and
confidence in
their roles.
For some this
day is a
painful
reminder of
our children
who are only
here for a
short time; I
pray that you
would offer
those families
comfort and
peace today.
For the women
who serve as a
mentor or
spiritual
mother to
others we
thank You for
their
nurturing
hearts; for
all the moms
whose children
are now adults
bless them for
their decades
of selfless
and
sacrificial
love; for the
mothers who
have a distant
or strained
relationship
with their
child help
them to remain
steadfast and
hopeful; for
those who’ve
been wounded
by their
mother offer
them healing
and
restoration by
Your Spirit;
and for all
who miss their
mom today may
fond memories
from their
past bring joy
into their
present. God,
for all of
these women
and all of
their stories;
the peaks and
the valleys we
give You
thanks. May
their legacy
bring You
honor. In
Christ’s name
we pray. Amen.
Brooksyne's
Note: Our
women's
director, Liz
Rodriguez,
shared the
above prayer
yesterday in
our
congregation.
A friend of
hers wrote it
and it really
touched my
heart and thus
I share it
with you today
as well.
Great
truths Godly
parents
transmit to
their
children:
1.
Love for God
and need of
salvation.
2. Love for family and friends.
3. Love for the church.
4. Love and respect toward others.
5. Godly values based on the Scriptures.
6. Disciplined and responsible living.
2. Love for family and friends.
3. Love for the church.
4. Love and respect toward others.
5. Godly values based on the Scriptures.
6. Disciplined and responsible living.
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
In
honor of our
mothers
My (Stephen's) mom, Georgia Mae and MaMa (our grandmother), on Mother's Day 1960. I was 5 and my sister Genelle was nearly 3.
This
is one of the
last photos
taken in 2005
of my Mom
waiting on the
bench beside
our house for
the van to
take her to
her beloved
Senior Center.
Here's our wedding rehearsal dinner on May 7, 1976. Ruth Sherrell (L) would become my mother-in-law and Georgia Mae Weber(R) would become Brooksyne's mother-in-law.
Brooksyne's
reflections of
her mother's
giftedness:
The photo
above is my
family and
extended
family way
back in 1957
taken in
Oklahoma or
Arkansas. Mom
is holding me
with Daddy in
top center, my
Uncle Bill on
the right. I
am sucking my
left two
fingers which
became a very
hard habit to
break for
several years
(I promise I
don't do that
anymore). Mom
made all of
our clothing
growing up
including the
four matching
dresses
here -
we were poor
by every
standard, but
Mom had a way
of dressing us
up as an
excellent
seamstress
(self-learned).
We couldn't
afford new
furniture so
Mom took in
used furniture
and
reupholstered
making it look
like new. She
planted a
garden every
year (one year
a whole acre
which was way,
way too much
work for all
of us). We
canned all
summer long
all my years
growing up.
When we needed
more space for
our large
family she
built a room
on the back of
the garage. If
we needed
something Mom
found a way to
make it
happen, at a
fraction of
the cost, with
her expertise
she honed by
reading,
asking, and
experimenting
long before
google ever
existed. She
only had a 7th
grade
education.
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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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