The
online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
&
Brooksyne Weber
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encouragement and exhortation.
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Wednesday, May
17, 2023
Our
friend Doris
High captures
one of our
favorite rural
scenes: a
buggy passing
a red barn.
"A
Shaky Start, A Strong
Finish"
Message
summary: Although
we may have a
shaky start
and can't go
back and make
a good start,
through the
grace of God
we can start
right now and
have a strong
finish!
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Yesterday
I visited
Jamie in the
course of our
chaplain work.
I commented on
his hair which
led to a
conversation.
He told me his
mother did his
hair on
Mother's Day
which took her
three hours
(now that's
motherly
devotion).Jamie
had a shaky
start in life
being born in
the breach
position which
his mother was
told could
lead to
development
issues and
mental
impairment.
But he has
done well
physically and
mentally and
was pleased to
tell me he was
free from
alcohol and
drug use. I
encouraged him
to follow
Christ and
have a strong
finish. (Jamie
gave me
permission to
share his
story and we
prayerfully
hope it will
encourage
others as
well.)
I
told him I had
just seen a
video about a
very shaky
start of a
player just
drafted into
the NFL.
Derick Hall
was born 4
months
premature with
a multitude of
health
problems,
given only a
1% chance of
survival. (See
link to the
remarkable
video below.)
So
many have a
shaky start in
a variety of
ways. Each
week we greet
Suzanne in
church. We
enjoy seeing
her vibrant
smile and
hearing about
her
faith-filled
outlook.
Suzanne also
had a very
shaky start
nearly 50
years ago as a
Vietnamese
orphan born at
the end of the
Vietnam War.
She came to
the US in
April 1975 to
be adopted by
an American
family as part
of a huge
humanitarian
airlift called
"Operation
Babylift".
After
learning of
her origins I
recalled
seeing the
above photo
years ago and
thinking,
"What in the
world is this
all about?"
Well, now I
know. The
babies were
placed in
cardboard
boxes and
airlifted out
of Saigon.
Suzanne, at 5
months, was
included among
the babies and
she might even
be one of the
babies in this
above photo.
Suzanne
was adopted 48
years ago,
raised in a
Christian home
and accepted
Christ at an
early age. Her
birth parents
very possibly
died during
the uprising
in Vietnam. We
often see her
glowing smile
among the
church people.
She was among
the first who
introduced
herself to us
six years ago
by saying, "My
name is
Suzanne. I was
brought here
as a baby and
I've been here
ever since. I
love going to
church!" The
photo to the
left was taken
about that
time. Suzanne
stands at
about 4'8",
thus we often
lean down when
talking with
her.We
all have
different
starts in
life. There
are those who
had a good
start and even
some born with
the proverbial
"silver
spoon".
Brooksyne and
I were both
wanted and
born into
loving
families.
That's an
easily taken
for granted
blessing.
But we know it's not the story for many. Millions of babies are murdered while still in the womb, which many now celebrate in our increasingly decadent age. Some are born in poverty and/or face abuse. Others have significant physical and mental impairments.
Being in people work we observe and hear so many sad stories of heartbreaking childhoods. I spoke to a man who boasted that he had ten kids by five different women as if this were some type of noble accomplishment. All I could think of was the kind of upbringing these children will endure. Increasingly we observe these dysfunctional types of people as a result of generational decadence with so many not even being aware of God's standards for marriage and sexuality.
Brooksyne wrote this in a radio message, "Ungodly temporal pleasure can also bring lasting regrets with grave consequences, not just for the primary actors but the innocent lives harmed who are as a result. Romans 14:7 says, 'No one lives unto himself alone'".
Doug is a friend of ours we visited for many years prior to his retirement from a company we served for over a decade. He has an interesting quote in each of his emails:
But we know it's not the story for many. Millions of babies are murdered while still in the womb, which many now celebrate in our increasingly decadent age. Some are born in poverty and/or face abuse. Others have significant physical and mental impairments.
Being in people work we observe and hear so many sad stories of heartbreaking childhoods. I spoke to a man who boasted that he had ten kids by five different women as if this were some type of noble accomplishment. All I could think of was the kind of upbringing these children will endure. Increasingly we observe these dysfunctional types of people as a result of generational decadence with so many not even being aware of God's standards for marriage and sexuality.
Brooksyne wrote this in a radio message, "Ungodly temporal pleasure can also bring lasting regrets with grave consequences, not just for the primary actors but the innocent lives harmed who are as a result. Romans 14:7 says, 'No one lives unto himself alone'".
Doug is a friend of ours we visited for many years prior to his retirement from a company we served for over a decade. He has an interesting quote in each of his emails:
"Though
no one can go
back and make
a brand new
start, anyone
can start from
now and make a
brand new
ending."
That is an expression of 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
Working in the brokenness of our world we hear stories like the man with ten children mentioned above who didn't express interest in spiritual things or indicate that he was looking for a new start. But we rejoice to see others such as Jamie who expresses a desire to finish well.
Today, like Jamie or Suzanne, many of you reading this had a shaky start in life and have overcome many obstacles and some will spend the rest of your life overcoming. Jesus is the supreme example of One who overcame the world even to the very end of His life on earth.
Tragically, the majority live in defiance and disobedience to God's commands and are experiencing the consequences. How wonderful and life-changing it is for those who respond to the good news of the redemption story of Jesus Christ who came to seek and save the lost. Although we may have a shaky start and can't go back and make a good start, through the grace of God we can start right now and have a strong finish!
Daily
prayer: Father,
though we
might have an
upbringing
much different
than that of
our neighbor,
spouse, or
co-worker, we
all have the
same
opportunity to
be a new
creation in
Christ. Not
one of us, no
matter how
happy or sad
our past, how
difficult or
carefree our
upbringing,
each of us has
the need to
come to Christ
and be
forgiven our
sins. Though
our sins are
as scarlet
they become
white as snow
when we are
cleansed by
the blood of
the Lamb. We
can't go back
and change the
past but we
can entrust
You with our
present and
eternal
future. Thank
You for Jesus
who became the
supreme
example to us
as an
Overcomer, who
taught us to
overcome the
sin of this
world and its
destructive
effects in our
life! Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Chain Breaker" Click to watch on YouTube Zach Williams Powerful song, we all need the chainbreaker!
"Something Beautiful" Click to watch on YouTube Gaither Vocal Band
Article on "Operation Babylift"
This Day in History: April 14th- Operation Baby Lift
The Children of an Lac full movie as YouTube video (Note: this was made in 1980 and is rather poor quality)
Savior of Saigon Video (A nice summary) 3 minutes
Several
years ago we
visited with
Suzanne and
her mother in
the grocery
store. Suzanne
deals with her
learning
disability
with much
grace, often
laughing at
herself and
with others
about subject
matters that
can be
confusing to
her. She also
deals with
physical
disabilities:
visual
impairment and
balance issues
so she uses a
walker to get
around.
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WEBER -
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CHAPLAINCY)
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Weber". We
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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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