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online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
&
Brooksyne Weber
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Monday,
July 3, 2023
The
Strasburg
Railroad Steam
Locomotive 475
provided power
for our train
ride.
Note:
Due to the
holiday we
don’t expect
to post a
message
tomorrow (July
4th).
"Forgetting
God"
Message
summary: Wherever
you live let
us always be
aware of the
grave danger
of forgetting
God.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe His commands, His laws and His decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery" (Deuteronomy 8:11-14). "When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their forefathers, and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship them, rejecting me and breaking my covenant" (Deuteronomy 31:20). "When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me" (Hosea 13:6).
Aware that we have readers from all over the world we are thus sensitive when we write these encouragements regarding any emphasis upon our own country. We want to convey a Biblical outlook of having a heavenly citizenship, which all true believers share regardless of where they live, "Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:20).
Nevertheless Brooksyne and I are American citizens and tomorrow we recognize a very special holiday here in America that we call Independence Day since we have been a sovereign nation for 247 years. However, today's message will apply virtually everywhere it may be read.
There are a number of interesting parallels between God's dealings with ancient Israel and the current state of affairs in America and in many other nations around the world for that matter, those nations founded upon Judaeo/Christian teachings.
"Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe His commands, His laws and His decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery" (Deuteronomy 8:11-14). "When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their forefathers, and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship them, rejecting me and breaking my covenant" (Deuteronomy 31:20). "When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me" (Hosea 13:6).
Aware that we have readers from all over the world we are thus sensitive when we write these encouragements regarding any emphasis upon our own country. We want to convey a Biblical outlook of having a heavenly citizenship, which all true believers share regardless of where they live, "Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:20).
Nevertheless Brooksyne and I are American citizens and tomorrow we recognize a very special holiday here in America that we call Independence Day since we have been a sovereign nation for 247 years. However, today's message will apply virtually everywhere it may be read.
There are a number of interesting parallels between God's dealings with ancient Israel and the current state of affairs in America and in many other nations around the world for that matter, those nations founded upon Judaeo/Christian teachings.
In
Moses' final
sermon to the
generation
poised to move
into the
Promised Land
he speaks for
God and
actually
predicts their
eventual
apostasy
(falling
away).
But let us consider the phrase in the daily text, "Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God". This kind of forgetting is expressed by "failing to observe His commands, His laws and His decrees that I am giving you this day".
In seeking to keep a perspective as a world-minded Christian (not to be confused with worldly-minded!), I seek to identify with my brothers and sisters all around the world along with their various challenges. But regardless of where we live we all are in danger in varying degrees of forgetting the Lord.
Moses warned them, "When you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery" (Deuteronomy 8:12-14).
Desperate attempts by the historical revisionists notwithstanding, those with any sense of discernment will recognize that many godly and Biblical influences are at the heart of America's founding and through much of her history. Volumes of original works substantiate this. An example is the McGuffy readers that were used extensively in public education through the 1800's. They are loaded with Scriptures and Christian truth. Yet you certainly wouldn't find these types of books in public education today. They have been replaced by books in many instances that promote perversions. Thankfully, those McGuffy readers (original and revised for modern English) are still being used by some homeschooling families.
Virtually each day we see new evidence of the increasing degree of apostasy. One Bible believing pastor in our area said, "I fear we've lost the culture war". But by God's grace I will continue to live as a child of the Light and seek to continue being influential for Christ and eternity. However I sense a real need to underscore in my life that which should always be the case; "This world is not my home".
We have indeed been blessed, but as a nation we have also turned away from the one true God and are worshiping many other gods. Immorality of every type floods our land. We just concluded an entire month celebrating sexual perversions. Those of us holding to faith in God cry out as the Psalmist did, "When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3).
The answer to that question is in the verses that follow in Psalm 11. Today, wherever we live and whatever conditions we live under, let us stay faithful to the one true God and remember: "Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:20).
Wherever we live we must always be aware of the grave danger of forgetting God, and thereby must keep in place those prompts and reminders that keep us on the right track.
But let us consider the phrase in the daily text, "Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God". This kind of forgetting is expressed by "failing to observe His commands, His laws and His decrees that I am giving you this day".
In seeking to keep a perspective as a world-minded Christian (not to be confused with worldly-minded!), I seek to identify with my brothers and sisters all around the world along with their various challenges. But regardless of where we live we all are in danger in varying degrees of forgetting the Lord.
Moses warned them, "When you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery" (Deuteronomy 8:12-14).
Desperate attempts by the historical revisionists notwithstanding, those with any sense of discernment will recognize that many godly and Biblical influences are at the heart of America's founding and through much of her history. Volumes of original works substantiate this. An example is the McGuffy readers that were used extensively in public education through the 1800's. They are loaded with Scriptures and Christian truth. Yet you certainly wouldn't find these types of books in public education today. They have been replaced by books in many instances that promote perversions. Thankfully, those McGuffy readers (original and revised for modern English) are still being used by some homeschooling families.
Virtually each day we see new evidence of the increasing degree of apostasy. One Bible believing pastor in our area said, "I fear we've lost the culture war". But by God's grace I will continue to live as a child of the Light and seek to continue being influential for Christ and eternity. However I sense a real need to underscore in my life that which should always be the case; "This world is not my home".
We have indeed been blessed, but as a nation we have also turned away from the one true God and are worshiping many other gods. Immorality of every type floods our land. We just concluded an entire month celebrating sexual perversions. Those of us holding to faith in God cry out as the Psalmist did, "When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3).
The answer to that question is in the verses that follow in Psalm 11. Today, wherever we live and whatever conditions we live under, let us stay faithful to the one true God and remember: "Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:20).
Wherever we live we must always be aware of the grave danger of forgetting God, and thereby must keep in place those prompts and reminders that keep us on the right track.
Be
encouraged
today, (Hebrews
3:13)
Daily
prayer: Father
of all
nations, we're
grateful that,
as believers,
our primary
citizenship
is in heaven
and we share
this glorious
citizenship
with our
brothers and
sisters all
over the
world. We want
to always
remember You
whether in the
midst of our
prosperity and
trust You in
the midst of
need while
always
following
after Your
commandments.
We pray for a
massive
worldwide
revival where
people will
humble
themselves,
seek Your
face, pray and
turn from
their wicked
ways so that
we will hear
from Heaven
and You will
heal our sin
sick land.
Until that
hour we will
remain
faithful and
unwavering in
our commitment
to follow Your
Word while we
eagerly await
our Savior,
the Lord Jesus
Christ, in
whose name we
pray. Amen.We hope all of our American readers have a wonderful holiday and take some time to reflect on our freedoms.
We expect beautiful but steamy hot weather today and through the week. This afternoon we are going to a Reading Phillies baseball game (Minor League Philadelphia Phillies) with friends and then tomorrow my brother Pat and his wife Laverne will join us for a cookout.
* Daniel Webster, who was a senator from Massachusetts in the early 1800's, wrote:
"If
religious
books are not
widely
circulated
among the
masses in this
country, I do
not know what
is going to
become of us
as a nation.
If truth be
not diffused,
then error
will be. If
God and His
Word are not
known and
received, the
devil and his
works will
gain the
ascendancy. If
the
evangelical
volume does
not reach
every hamlet,
the pages of a
corrupt and
licentious
literature
will. If the
power of the
gospel is not
felt
throughout the
length and
breadth of
this land,
anarchy and
misrule,
degradation
and misery,
corruption and
darkness will
reign without
mitigation or
end."
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Help
Is On The Way"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Doyle Lawson,
Quicksilver
(Our friend
Tommy
Carpenter
suggested this
song after
reading
Friday's
message "The
Call To
Persevere".
"In God We Trust" Click to listen on YouTube Jimmy Fortune We dedicate this song to our good friend, Tina, who especially appreciates this singer!
Friday
morning we
took a ride on
the Strasburg
Railroad. It
was the first
ride we took
since boarding
with Stephen's
mother in 2005
shortly before
she passed
away. Ester
found this
photo on her
phone and
handed it to
us as a
remembrance of
that special
memory.
A
restored coach
car on the
Strasburg
railroad.
We
also stopped
by the Old
Windmill farm
where we
snapped this
photo of Ester
with a Pomsky
pup.
On
a bike ride
along the old
Lancaster
Junction rail
trail I came
upon a flock
of sheep and
wonder if this
is a holstein
sheep?
On
this ride I
had quite an
experience
with Falcon
(our male
maltipoo).
I've been
trying to get
him
comfortable
riding on my
bike and have
a crate
mounted to my
bike rack for
him to ride
in. We were
riding on the
trail when I
came up beside
the sheep and
turned around
to show him.
Alas, he was
not in the
crate! I
rushed back on
the trail,
crossing
Colebrook
Road, and
after about a
mile there he
was standing
in the middle
of the trail
with a
confused look.
He had
apparently
jumped out of
the crate and
I didn't even
notice.
So I had to
devise a cover
for the crate
which seems to
be working
well! He now
loves to ride.
I say
"bikeride" and
he jumps up
excitedly and
is ready to
board the
bike.
Friday
we shared a
photo of a
bird nest a
robin built on
one of our
porch lights.
I checked
Saturday and
saw one blue
egg in the
nest. However
the
robin has not
been around
since and
yesterday
afternoon I
saw a dead
robin
which had been
hit by a car
in front of
our house.
Sadly I
suspect it was
her. We have
several other
nests with
eggs and baby
birds around
our property.
Such is the
reality of
life and
death in the
human and
animal world.David
Penley, a
Texan friend
shared:
Several years
ago we had a
bird build a
nest in a
wreath Sabra
hangs on our
front door
every spring
that we come
in and out of.
We thought for
sure that mama
bird would
move on once
she realized
what she had
done. But she
didn't. We
were careful
with the door,
which was
especially
hard for our
then two young
children. Soon
there were
eggs and then
baby birds
that
eventually
flew away. We
got to watch
the entire
thing. We and
our children
learned the
truth of God's
Word when
Jesus said in
Matthew 6:26:
"'Look at the
birds of the
air; they do
not sow or
reap or store
away in barns,
and yet your
heavenly
Father feeds
them. Are you
not much more
valuable than
they?'"
Blessings.
David
(Stephen's
note: This is
a great way to
turn a
potential mess
into a
blessing and
share God's
Word! I am
sure his
children (now
grown)
remember.)
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want to thank
all who
financially
support our
ministry. We
realize there
are many fine
ministries and
causes
requesting
support at
this time but
if you would
like
information
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donation to
our ministry
see here.
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.
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BROOKSYNE
WEBER -
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CHAPLAINCY)
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Weber". We
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international
supporters,
and for those
who may not
need an
official
receipt. You
can also set
up for
recurring
donations.
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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iHeart
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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