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Thursday,
June 29, 2023
The
Amish gather
in homes for
their church
services and
then stay
for a meal and
afternoon
fellowship.
Sunday
afternoon we
passed these
plain men in
the Strasburg
area gathered
under a large
shade tree.
(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
"Open
My Eyes That I May See"
Message
summary: There's
so much we
don't see and
there's so
much we don't
understand;
some things
make no sense
to us at all.
Indeed the
tunnel may be
narrow, dark,
long, and
filled with
hazards as we
navigate our
way through
life. Yet with
the help of
the Holy
Spirit we can
declare "But I
see!"
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known" (1 Corinthians 13:12).
On
Sunday I
visited with
one of our pew
neighbors,
Harry Wertsch,
a retired
optometrist.
Have you
considered
what the
optometrist's
favorite hymn
might be?
Well, it just
might be "Open
My Eyes That I
May See"!
"For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known" (1 Corinthians 13:12).
I once was
lost but now
am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
Was blind, but now I see.
On
Sunday I
visited with
one of our pew
neighbors,
Harry Wertsch,
a retired
optometrist.
Have you
considered
what the
optometrist's
favorite hymn
might be?
Well, it just
might be "Open
My Eyes That I
May See"!After
learning about
his life
career I told
him there are
a lot of
themes in the
Bible dealing
with eyes and
sight.
- Consider
Elisha's
prayer for his
bewildered and
fearful
servant: "When
the servant of
the man of God
got up and
went out early
the next
morning, an
army with
horses and
chariots had
surrounded the
city. 'Oh, my
lord, what
shall we do?'
the servant
asked. 'Don't
be afraid,'
the prophet
answered.
'Those who are
with us are
more than
those who are
with
them.'
And Elisha
prayed, 'O
LORD, open his
eyes so he may
see.' Then
the LORD
opened the
servant's eyes,
and he looked
and saw the
hills full of
horses and
chariots of
fire all
around Elisha"
(2 Kings
6:15-17).
- Or
Christ (the
divine
optometrist)
healing blind
Bartimaeus
(Mark
10:46-52)
- Or
many Bible
students
believe Paul
had an eye
problem which
would explain
his unusual
greeting to
the Galatians
in Galatians
6:11.*
But
today let us
consider a
portion from
the "Love
Chapter" (1
Corinthians
13). "For
now we see
through a
glass darkly;
but then face
to face: now I
know in part;
but then shall
I know even as
also I am
known" (1
Corinthians
13:12)."For now we see through a glass darkly". Each of us has matters in life that could be described as seeing through a glass darkly. In these gloomy experiences we can choose to despair or place our faith in God, readily admitting that we only see through a glass darkly. That's why we walk by faith and not by sight. Our faith is founded solidly upon the unchanging, ever dependable Word of God that is our life's roadmap. Using an illustration more contemporary we rely on our GPS, when the road ahead is dark and foggy. Regardless of our blurry view of what lies ahead we should always be able to see and view the Word of God as our reliable and unfailing GPS!
"But then face to face". No more blurry or distant view!
"Now I know in part". That's so true. We know only a part, actually a very very small part. But we know! We are blessed and many of us have memorized portions of Scripture with the phrase, "I know" or "we know" such as Romans 8:28 or 2 Timothy 1:12.
This "in part" especially describes the state of our present knowledge of divine things, which is imperfect and incomplete. But the time will come when our vision will be unimpaired, the veil will be lifted and the obscure made crystal clear. "But then shall I know even as also I am known".
C.H. Spurgeon makes an interesting assertion that we couldn't handle any greater knowledge on this side of eternity.
"If
we knew more
of our own
sinfulness, we
might be
driven to
despair; if we
knew more of
God's glory,
we might die
of terror; if
we had more
understanding,
unless we had
equivalent
capacity to
employ it, we
might be
filled with
conceit and
tormented with
ambition. But
up there we
shall have our
minds and our
systems
strengthened
to receive
more, without
the damage
that would
come to us
here from
overleaping
the boundaries
of order,
supremely
appointed and
divinely
regulated."
There's so much we don't see and there's so much we don't understand; some things make no sense to us at all. Indeed the tunnel may be narrow, dark, long, and filled with hazards as we navigate our way through life. But one day we will see and fully know that which God has in store for us!
Open
my eyes that I
may see
glimpses of truth Thou hast for me.
Place in my hands the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for Thee,
ready, my God, Thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
glimpses of truth Thou hast for me.
Place in my hands the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for Thee,
ready, my God, Thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
Be
encouraged
today, (Hebrews
3:13)
Daily
prayer: Father,
Your Word
admonishes us
to "Contend
for the faith
that was once
for all
entrusted to
the saints."
There are many
obstacles that
will lead us
astray as we
contend for
the faith if
our eyes
become fixed
on the
obstacles.
Instead we
want to fix
our eyes on
Jesus, the
Author and
Perfecter of
our faith, who
set His eyes
on the throne
of God,
enabling Him
to endure the
cross, its
shame and
agony. Fix our
eyes on the
goal of heaven
where all will
finally be
made perfectly
clear when we
see Jesus face
to face. In
the meantime
sustain us by
Your mercy,
grow our
faith, and
help us to
take as many
as possible
with us to our
eternal home
in heaven. In
the name of
Jesus we pray.
Amen.Jude
3, Hebrews
12:2
*
For a study of
this see here.
Gettysburg
is only about
50 miles west
of us and we
periodically
visit the
famous
battlefield
from the Civil
War. For
several
generations
following the
battle it was
treated as a
very sacred
place but as
generations
are further
removed it has
developed a
recreational
vibe,
especially
since it's in
such a
beautiful area
of our
country.
However the
national
battlefield
still has over
one million
annual
visitors.
As we have walked through Gettysburg National Cemetery, the site where Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg address, we observe the many gravesites, many marked only by a number. But we especially took note of one that included a simple expression of faith on the tombstone of a chaplain who served in the war: "Now we see through a glass darkly - but we see!"
As we have walked through Gettysburg National Cemetery, the site where Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg address, we observe the many gravesites, many marked only by a number. But we especially took note of one that included a simple expression of faith on the tombstone of a chaplain who served in the war: "Now we see through a glass darkly - but we see!"
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Open
My Eyes That I
May See"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Fountainview
Academy
Brooksyne's
Note: I
have been
reading Robert
Morgan's "A
Song in my
Heart" (365
devotions from
our best loved
hymns) since
January 1st.
Each date
coordinates
with the
author's
birth, death
or the day a
hymn was
published,
etc. I read
the following
devotional
last week:
"On
June 21,
1897 Clara
Scott was
returning home
after a
funeral
service when a
strap broke on
her carriage.
The horse
bolted and the
buggy careened
down the
street with
accelerating
speed. Clara
was thrown
from the
carriage and
killed [at 55
years of age],
but she left
behind this
wonderful
hymn. It's an
interesting
lesson of the
mysterious
ways of the
Lord. None of
us knows what
may befall us
from hour to
hour. The Lord
alone knows
the length of
our days. As
long as He
keeps us on
earth, we need
to have open
eyes to study
His Word, open
ears to hear
His voice, and
open mouths to
share His
gospel. Let's
consider this
a hymn of
rededication
and aspiration
to serve the
Lord
faithfully
until He calls
us home."
"Open
The Eyes Of My
Heart"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Michael W.
Smith
Sunday
afternoon the
Amish youth
gather with
their youth
groups. Amish
teens can join
a group when
they turn 16
and it's
something they
really look
forward to. We
passed these
youth heading
to their group
with the Old
Windmill Farm
in the distant
background.
(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
We
ate dinner
last Sunday
afternoon at Casey
Jones
Restaurant
and it was
filled to
overflowing
capacity due
to Thomas the
Tank Engine
rolling down
the Strasburg
Railroad
track.
(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
Finally
today:
Here's
a
humorous list
of hymn titles
with double
meanings such
as the
Optometrist's
Hymn.........Open
My Eyes That I
Might See.
The Dentist's
Hymn.............Crown
Him With Many
Crowns
The Weatherman's Hymn..........There Shall Be Showers of Blessing
The Contractor's Hymn..........The Church's One Foundation
The Tailor's Hymn..............Holy, Holy, Holy
The Golfer's Hymn..............There is A Green Hill Far Away
The Politician's Hymn..........Standing on the Promises
The Optometrist's Hymn.........Open My Eyes That I Might See
The IRS Agent's Hymn...........I Surrender All
The Gossip's Hymn..............Pass It On
The Electrician's Hymn.........Send the Light
The Shopper's Hymn.............Sweet By and By
The Realtor's Hymn.........I've Got A Mansion Just Over the Hilltop
The Pilot's Hymn...............I'll Fly Away
The Paramedic's Hymn...........Revive Us Again
The Judge's Hymn...............Almost Persuaded
The Psychiatrist's Hymn........Just a Little Talk With Jesus
The Architect's Hymn...........How Firm A Foundation
The Credit Card Telemarketer's Hymn.....A Charge To Keep I Have
The Zookeeper's Hymn...........All Creatures of Our God & King
The Postal Worker's Hymn.......So Send I Yo
The Waiter's Hymn..............Fill My Cup, Lord
The Gardener's Hymn............Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
The Lifeguard's Hymn...........Rescue the Perishing
The Criminal's Hymn............Search Me, O God
The Baker's Hymn...............When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder
The Shoe Repairer's Hymn.......It Is Well With My Soul
The Travel Agent's Hymn........Anywhere With Jesus
The Geologist's Hymn...........Rock of Ages
The Hematologist's Hymn........Are You Washed in the Blood?
The Mens' Wear Clerk's Hymn....Blest Be the Tie
The Umpire's Hymn..............I Need No Other Argument
The Librarian's Hymn...........Whispering Hope
The Weatherman's Hymn..........There Shall Be Showers of Blessing
The Contractor's Hymn..........The Church's One Foundation
The Tailor's Hymn..............Holy, Holy, Holy
The Golfer's Hymn..............There is A Green Hill Far Away
The Politician's Hymn..........Standing on the Promises
The Optometrist's Hymn.........Open My Eyes That I Might See
The IRS Agent's Hymn...........I Surrender All
The Gossip's Hymn..............Pass It On
The Electrician's Hymn.........Send the Light
The Shopper's Hymn.............Sweet By and By
The Realtor's Hymn.........I've Got A Mansion Just Over the Hilltop
The Pilot's Hymn...............I'll Fly Away
The Paramedic's Hymn...........Revive Us Again
The Judge's Hymn...............Almost Persuaded
The Psychiatrist's Hymn........Just a Little Talk With Jesus
The Architect's Hymn...........How Firm A Foundation
The Credit Card Telemarketer's Hymn.....A Charge To Keep I Have
The Zookeeper's Hymn...........All Creatures of Our God & King
The Postal Worker's Hymn.......So Send I Yo
The Waiter's Hymn..............Fill My Cup, Lord
The Gardener's Hymn............Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
The Lifeguard's Hymn...........Rescue the Perishing
The Criminal's Hymn............Search Me, O God
The Baker's Hymn...............When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder
The Shoe Repairer's Hymn.......It Is Well With My Soul
The Travel Agent's Hymn........Anywhere With Jesus
The Geologist's Hymn...........Rock of Ages
The Hematologist's Hymn........Are You Washed in the Blood?
The Mens' Wear Clerk's Hymn....Blest Be the Tie
The Umpire's Hymn..............I Need No Other Argument
The Librarian's Hymn...........Whispering Hope
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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
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to: STEPHEN
&
BROOKSYNE
WEBER -
700001-237376 SERVING
IN SPECIALIZED
CHAPLAINCY)
If
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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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