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&
Brooksyne Weber
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Friday,
July 7, 2023
"Our
Daily Bread"
Message
summary:
It's
harvest time!
Today let us
thank the Lord
for both our
physical and
spiritual
provisions
that come from
Jesus, the
Bread of Life.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"Give
us this day
our daily
bread"
(Matthew
6:11). "I am
the Bread of
life" (John
6:48).
Across our region farmers are harvesting wheat which quite predictably takes place at the same time each year in early July. Yesterday as we drove through Lancaster and Lebanon counties we saw farmers harvesting and we saw those setting up for the harvest. Much preparation goes into the harvest including farm equipment, laborers, farm tools, food prep for the workers, and of course maintenance.
Across our region farmers are harvesting wheat which quite predictably takes place at the same time each year in early July. Yesterday as we drove through Lancaster and Lebanon counties we saw farmers harvesting and we saw those setting up for the harvest. Much preparation goes into the harvest including farm equipment, laborers, farm tools, food prep for the workers, and of course maintenance.
Last
night I
visited with
my neighbor
Leon, who is a
farm equipment
service tech
providing a
vital yet
probably
rarely
considered
service we all
rely upon.
(When is the
last time you
thanked God
for the
skilled
tradesmen who
repairs
tractors and
combines?)
The
combines come
through and
harvest the
grain which
may be used to
make flour for
bread or for
animal feed,
although Leon
informed me
that most of
the wheat in
our area will
go into making
flour. Then
they come
through the
fields and
bale the straw
which is used
for animal
bedding and in
our region
many mushroom
houses.
Yesterday
I passed a
large 18
wheeler with a
load of these
bales. Leon
informed me
that they are
having a good
harvest (a
real blessing
for which we
thank God
since we had a
very long dry
spell and the
crops were
quite stunted
in growth. We
feared for the
farmers, but
God has sent
us an
abundance of
rain lately
over the past
ten days.)
I
have watched
the
hardworking
farmers and
encourage you
to give thanks
today for your
daily
provision. In
our home we
often give
specific
thanks for the
various
laborers who
have a role,
like Leon, in
getting the
food on our
table ending
with showing
appreciation
for "those who
prepared it"
(usually
Brooksyne!).
But it seems a growing number of people are oblivious toward the essential role of farming and agriculture expressed in this mindless sentiment, "I don't see why we need farmers anymore since we can just get all the food we need at the store or a restaurant". We live near farms and see how hard farmers work. It's also a dangerous job. So let's not take our daily bread for granted.
But it seems a growing number of people are oblivious toward the essential role of farming and agriculture expressed in this mindless sentiment, "I don't see why we need farmers anymore since we can just get all the food we need at the store or a restaurant". We live near farms and see how hard farmers work. It's also a dangerous job. So let's not take our daily bread for granted.
We
have
appreciated
the little
devotional
booklet
published for
many years by
RBC Ministries
called "Our
Daily Bread".
(I recall my
Mom reading
from the "Our
Daily Bread"
devotional
booklet when I
was a child.)
Its
simple title
conveys this
same sense of
provision that
comes from the
spiritual
nourishment we
receive from
the Bible and
its daily
application in
our lives.
Today
we want to
consider two
Bible verses
dealing with
bread; both
are the words
of our Lord
Jesus Christ:
"Give
us this day
our daily
bread."
Most all of
you will
recognize this
to be a verse
from the
Lord's prayer.
Bread is
representative
of God's
provision. In
this context
it primarily
means physical
provision. In
expressing
this petition
to God we are
expressing our
dependence on
Him to meet
our daily
needs. Bible
teacher J.C.
Ryle
elaborates,
"We are here
taught to
acknowledge
our entire
dependence on
God for the
supply of our
daily
necessities.
As Israel
required daily
manna so we
require daily
bread. We
confess that
we are poor,
weak creatures
in need and
beseech our
Maker to take
care of us. We
ask for bread
as the
simplest of
our wants, and
in that word
we include all
that our
bodies
require."
"I
am the Bread
of Life."
This teaching
follows the
feeding of the
five thousand.
In this
passage Jesus
also refers to
the feeding of
manna in the
wilderness.
This is the
first of the
seven "I am"
(ego eimi)
statements of
our Lord.
Jesus is
asserting that
His teaching
and the
benefits of
His provision
are the real
foundation of
spiritual life
which the
manna in the
wilderness
symbolized.
In verse 27 He states, "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." Of course Jesus was not giving a put-down to those who labor in the fields, but He was teaching His listeners that food which only feeds the body is not enough. We need heaven-sent food which has an eternal, spiritual nurturing component that feeds the soul. Earth-grown food cannot provide that need.
Today let us thank the Lord for both our physical and spiritual provisions that come from Jesus, the Bread of Life.
"Give
us this day
our daily
bread."
Most all of
you will
recognize this
to be a verse
from the
Lord's prayer.
Bread is
representative
of God's
provision. In
this context
it primarily
means physical
provision. In
expressing
this petition
to God we are
expressing our
dependence on
Him to meet
our daily
needs. Bible
teacher J.C.
Ryle
elaborates,
"We are here
taught to
acknowledge
our entire
dependence on
God for the
supply of our
daily
necessities.
As Israel
required daily
manna so we
require daily
bread. We
confess that
we are poor,
weak creatures
in need and
beseech our
Maker to take
care of us. We
ask for bread
as the
simplest of
our wants, and
in that word
we include all
that our
bodies
require.""I
am the Bread
of Life."
This teaching
follows the
feeding of the
five thousand.
In this
passage Jesus
also refers to
the feeding of
manna in the
wilderness.
This is the
first of the
seven "I am"
(ego eimi)
statements of
our Lord.
Jesus is
asserting that
His teaching
and the
benefits of
His provision
are the real
foundation of
spiritual life
which the
manna in the
wilderness
symbolized.In verse 27 He states, "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." Of course Jesus was not giving a put-down to those who labor in the fields, but He was teaching His listeners that food which only feeds the body is not enough. We need heaven-sent food which has an eternal, spiritual nurturing component that feeds the soul. Earth-grown food cannot provide that need.
Today let us thank the Lord for both our physical and spiritual provisions that come from Jesus, the Bread of Life.
Daily
prayer: Father,
in the same
way that we
grow hungry
before
mealtime, stir
up a hunger
within us for
the spiritual
food You
provide
through the
living Word of
God. Jesus,
the Bread of
Life, provides
physically and
spiritually
for our daily
needs.
Following a
hearty meal we
often linger
around the
dinner table
considering
the tastiness
of our meal.
When we "taste
and see that
the Lord is
good" we want
to linger in
Your presence,
consider Your
goodness, and
offer praise
to You for all
that You are
and all that
You provide
for us. Bread
of Heaven,
feed us until
we are truly
satisfied and
filled with
all the good
things that
come from You.
In Jesus' name
we pray. Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Bread
Of Life"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Citipointe
Worship
"Bread
Of Life"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
2nd Chapter Of
Acts
Last
night I spoke
to Bob, a
local dairy
farmer and
member of our
ABF class. He
shared that he
does not plant
wheat but lots
of corn.
However he
uses a small
amount (about
a pound) of
wheat straw
in the feed
for the cows.
Each cow eats
120 pounds of
total feed
each day! They
also drink 30
gallons of
water daily,
more in the
summer with
hot weather.
But he pointed
out that each
cow produces
90 pounds of
milk daily
average (about
11 gallons).
Brooksyne
considers her
experience of
growing up on
a farm
(farmette,
they would
call it here
in Lancaster
County.)
Bessie was
their family
cow who got
milked morning
and evening;
each milking
session
producing a
gallon of
milk. Her dad
and brother
did the
milking, the
girls
(Brooksyne)
strained the
milk and
stored it in
the fridge
until the
cream rose to
the top. Then
the cream was
used to make
homemade
butter or
buttermilk.
(Raising one
cow to feed
the family is
quite a
different
experience
than having a
herd of cows
for mass
production.)
We
were blessed
to receive
this comment
yesterday:
Terimakasih
semua tulisan
sudah kami
baca dengan
baik. Dan luar
biasa. kami
{ferry dan
olvi},
melayani suku
yang
terabaikan di
pulau lombok
NTB, Indonesia
yakni suku
sasak, kami
mohon dukungan
doa agar suku
ini bisa
menerima kasih
Yesus.
Thank God for
Google
translate!
Harvest
in our
neighborhood
This
morning as we
returned from
chaplain
visits the
farm workers
were finishing
picking up the
straw bales in
a field off
Colebrook Road
near our home.
Amish hay wagons north of Intercourse, PA
(Note: We didn't eat the unprocessed ear of wheat; butter and home-made jam is much more appetizing!)
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WEBER -
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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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