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&
Brooksyne Weber
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Thursday, May
25, 2023
Yesterday
we enjoyed
this scenic
overlook along
the
Appalachian
Trail in Berks
County, PA
before we sat
down on the
rocks and ate
our lunch
before heading
to the next
company in
Palmyra where
we serve as
chaplains.
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
"Grace
Will Lead Us Home"
Message
summary: The
Appalachian
Trail hike
is similar to
our Christian
journey; we
have a
starting point
and the goal
of a finish
line. Along
the way we
will face many
dangers, toils
and snares, but
grace will
lead us home.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"Strengthening
the disciples
and
encouraging
them to remain
true to the
faith, 'We
must go
through many
hardships to
enter the
kingdom of
God'" (Acts
14:22).
Yesterday
we hiked on a
portion of the
Appalachian
Trail near
Bethel,
Pennsylvania
not far from
the location
where we made
our first
chaplain visit
yesterday.
Well, actually
"hike" is an
overstatement.
We
actually only
walked from
the parking
area along PA
Rt. 501
several
hundred very
rocky yards (among
serious
Appalachian
Trail hikers
the
Pennsylvania
portion has
the nickname
Rocksylvania)
to the
overlook as
seen in our
lead photo
where we ate
lunch
together.
That's about
enough of that
type of hiking
for us,
especially
since we still
had chaplain
and hospital
visits to
make.
We
had also been
warned about
rattlesnakes
on the rock
overlook so it
didn't help
any for
Brooksyne to
be startled by
a snake at the
very beginning
of the trail.
But it wasn't
a rattlesnake
which she
noted as she
took a careful
look at the
shape of the
snake's head!
(Stephen's
note: It
also didn't
have a rattle
at the end.)
As
we were eating
our lunch a
thru hiker
passed by and
we had a brief
conversation.
He told us he
had started at
the southern
terminus of
the trail in
Springer
Mountain,
Georgia on
March 30th and
is headed to
Mount Katahdin
in Maine, the
northern
terminus.
He
was
at the 1,190
mile mark of
the 2,200 mile
trail so he's
over halfway
to his goal.
He sleeps
along the
trail at night
either on the
ground or in
shelters.
Every 3 or 4
days he needs
to find a
store near the
trail for
provisions.
He
has a definite
goal in mind
(reaching
Mount Katahdin
and completing
the entire
trail) and
based upon our
conversation
yesterday he
will make it.
It sure
appears from
the photo he
is in very
good physical
condition.
The
Appalachian
Trail
(also known as
the “A.T.”)
has more than
3 million
people visit
every year.
Most, like us,
walk only a
short portion.
But we do like
to inform
people we walk
the entire
width.
Over
3,000 people
attempt to
“thru-hike”
the entire
footpath in a
single year.
The most
arduous is
what the man
in our photo
is doing, all
at once. The
dropout rate
is some 80%.
Others do it
all but in
sections
taking breaks
between.
The
Appalachian
Trail hike is
similar to our
Christian
journey, we
have a
starting point
and the goal
of a finish
line. Along
the way we
will face many
dangers, toils
and snares, but
grace will
lead us home.
Today's
Scripture
portion is a
tiny
condensation
of the message
that Paul and
Barnabas were
giving to the
young
believers in
Asia Minor
during their
first
missionary
journey. In
seeking to
strengthen the
disciples and
encourage them
to remain true
to the faith
their message
is summed up
in this
twelve-word
phrase. "We
must go
through many
hardships to
enter the
kingdom of
God". That
sure isn't a
message we
want to hear,
is it? I doubt
if many choose
this verse as
their life
verse or have
even memorized
it. But it was
true then and
its message
still holds
true for us
today.
Some of you are facing tremendous obstacles with tightly shut doors. You just don't know how, when, or even if it will work out. We had such a conversation yesterday with an individual in that very situation and we are praying for him and his wife as they seek God's leading.
Hold
on my friend,
keep your
faith, and
stay true to
the Lord. You
will have a
glorious
testimony in
God's due time.
Grace will
lead us home!
Daily
prayer: Father,
I want Your
way to be my
way, as I
journey here
below. For
there is no
other highway
that a child
of God should
go. Though the
road be steep
and rough, if
You lead me
it's enough,
for I want
Your way to be
my way
everyday. Your
grace has
brought me
safe thus far,
and Your grace
will lead me
to my eternal
home, Praise
the Lord!
Amen. Prayer
adapted from
hymns, "I Want
God's Way" and
"Amazing
Grace"
Pressing
on!
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Firm
Foundation (He
Won’t)"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Cody Carnes
I’ve
still got joy
in chaos
I’ve got peace that makes no sense
I won’t be going under
I’m not held by my own strength
‘Cause I’ve built my life on Jesus
He’s never let me down
He’s faithful in every season
So why would He fail now
I’ve got peace that makes no sense
I won’t be going under
I’m not held by my own strength
‘Cause I’ve built my life on Jesus
He’s never let me down
He’s faithful in every season
So why would He fail now
He
won’t, He
won’t
He won’t fail
He won’t fail
He won’t fail
He won’t fail
Finally
today:
I
took a selfie
of Stephen and
me as we sat
down to have
our lunch.
Only then did
I realize,
upon getting
out of the
car, he had
unknowingly
slipped on my
sunglasses
accessorized
with
rhinestones.
We had quite a
laugh as we
wondered what
the hiker
thought of his
sunglasses as
he talked to
him along the
trail!
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WEBER -
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CHAPLAINCY)
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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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