Daily Encouragement

Monday, August 14, 2023

This volunteer sunflower is growing along the trail across from our house, likely the result of some seeds from our clippings after last fall's cleanup.

"When We Wonder Why"

(Part 2)

Note: Two weeks ago we shared a message titled "When We Wonder Why" based upon a brief teaching by our Lord when He alluded to a collapsed tower in Siloam that killed eighteen people (Luke 13:4,5). Surely, like all tragedies, the people wondered why this happened but Jesus' overriding message is that we must repent and be ready. In today's message, based on other Scriptures, we will seek to provide some perspective we but certainly we don't have all the answers as to "when we wonder why".

Message summary: There's always something happening in life that prompts the "why" questions whether in our own lives or in the world around us. Today we address the "why did this happen?" enigma.

Listen to our message on your audio player.

"In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37).

There's a song we enjoy hearing titled "Gonna Be Alright" by Ryan Ellis. It has a recurring phrase, "Everything's gonna be alright". It's a thoughtful song with a powerfully true message. Ultimately for the Christ-follower "everything's gonna be alright".

But in the midst of a trial or loss this is a very hard truth to appropriate. Although we have this assurance that "everything's gonna be alright" the "why did this happen?" questions can still plague us and test our faith. In the midst of our loss and suffering we may cry out "everything's not alright!" and we may be unable to see how "everything's gonna be alright".

Recently our friend, Nevin Dourte, passed away quite suddenly. He was the only son of our dear friends, Jesse and Wilma Dourte, who are now with the Lord and leaves a wife, children and grandchildren along with five sisters and extended family. A large tumor was found in Nevin's brain requiring emergency surgery but he never recovered. He was a man of strong faith and there were many who prayed for him, but the outcome (on this side) was not the outcome we had hoped and prayed for, surely leaving many "why" questions for those who prayed earnestly. But Nevin's obituary expresses his ultimate faith, "He left this broken world behind to run into the loving arms of Jesus, his Savior". Isn't that ultimately what the believer is living for!

There is always something new and alarming on the daily newscast. Presently we consider the immense amount of suffering, loss, and devastation in Hawaii as residents grieve the loss of their loved ones, family pets, homes, businesses and centuries-old cultural sites.

There's always something happening in life that prompts the "why" questions whether in our own lives or in the world around us.

Today I want to share some points I preached on yesterday to a church in the Harrisburg area regarding the "why did this happen?" enigma.

We confess that God is sovereign, He is in control, He can prevent, and thus He can allow. But why He allows suffering is a question the greatest theological minds have grappled with since the beginning of time.

Here are some perspectives (by no means exhaustive!):

1) The Bible we base our faith on has no shortage of “why” questions within the experiences that people had:

Why did God allow Abel to be killed by his brother?
Why were the male babies allowed to be killed by the Egyptians and later Herod?
Why were so many allowed to be cut down in persecution?

2) When sensing a perceived unfairness seek to get a worldwide and historical perspective. Many of our brothers and sisters throughout history and currently have never known anything but abject poverty, persecution and suffering.

3) Accept that we do have an indeterminate lifespan know only to God. "It is appointed to man to die" (Hebrews 9:27).

4) Seek to live with an eternal perspective expressed by the apostle Paul. "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

5) Grieving is healthy and normal but what a joy when we can grieve with hope! "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

6) To use the words of an old song that may seem trite: “We’ll understand it better by and by”. Indeed I am convinced there are many things we will not understand till we get to heaven and by faith I accept that.

We end today with the assurance of Paul who underwent much suffering and who would eventually give his life for the faith of Christ that he proclaimed, "In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37).

Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, we thank You for Jesus who is the Chief Overcomer and Supreme Conqueror in life and in death. In His prayer in the garden he earnestly prayed that if it be possible, "Let this cup pass from me" but after much intense prayer He yielded His will to that of His Father when He prayed, "Nevertheless, not my will but Thine be done." He gave His all that we might have it all: forgiveness, salvation, peace, a home in heaven, life for all eternity! Help us to remember Jesus' example when some of our prayers are not answered. You are still working for our good and at times for the good of others. Thank You for sending Jesus, for providing the necessary endurance He needed for His human person to endure the tortuous cross, and for sealing our pardon when You raised Him on the third day. We thank You for daily grace to endure the hardships of life and the bewildering disappointments that come our way in the course of life. You're there for us so we look to You for strength and endurance in those experiences of life. Amen.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Gonna Be Alright" Click to watch on YouTube Click to watch on YouTube Ryan Ellis

You hear my cry, my deepest pain
You listen patiently as long as it takes
You whisper truth over the lies
The words that bring me back to life
Everything's gonna be alright
Everything's gonna be alright
You hold me in Your arms
Until my storm is calm
Everything's gonna be alright, hmmm
Everything's gonna be alright

"Counting My Blessings" Click to watch on YouTube Seph Schlueter Zane, a reader from western PA, suggested a song to me that fits well with today's message:

God I’m still counting my blessings
All that You’ve done in my life
The more that I look in the details
The more of Your goodness I find
Father on this side of heaven
I know that I’ll run out of time
But I will keep counting my blessings
Knowing I can’t count that high

"Sovereign Over Us" Click to watch on YouTube Shane & Shane

Saturday we joined a group of friends from our ABF class for a bike ride on the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail ending up at The Jigger Shop Ice Cream Parlor in Mount Gretna which has been in operation since 1895.

(Click on photo to enlarge.)

Following the church service yesterday in Grantville (near Harrisburg), we joined Rod and Michelle lay leaders in the church, for a meal at Fabios, an Italian restaurant housed in an old barn. It was nice to visit with Rod and Michelle and sense their earnest faith.

Right after returning from our lunch in Grantville I (Brooksyne) drove across Lancaster and joined up with the Shepherd's Class (a Sunday School class at Calvary Church) that instructs adults with major learning disabilities. The group of 20 or more attended the final concert of "I'll Fly Away" that featured toe tapping arrangements, classic hymns, gospel, and blue grass music. These are professional level local artists who serve with Servant Stage (pay-what-you-will performances) and they are excellent. The place was packed! For locals who haven't yet seen Servant Stage Company perform there are many other opportunities. As one of the only Pay-What-You-Will theater production companies in the country, they serve our community by providing exceptional family friendly theatrical and musical experiences that inspire, educate, challenge, and entertain.

Brooksyne's note: I make peach pies every summer during peach season but I tried my first peach tart and we really enjoyed it! The preparation is quick, the crust is more crunchy and the flavor was outstanding! Of course it is topped with whipped topping or ice cream to get the very best flavor! I'll share the recipe for those who have more peaches than they know what to do with them!

Brown Sugar Peach Tart

Tart Dough:
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp Kosher salt
1/4 cup olive oil
¼ Vegetable oil
3 Tbsp. milk
½ tsp. vanilla

Filling:
¼ C. Brown Sugar
½ C. Sugar
3 T. Flour w/ ½ tsp. cinnamon
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter cold
4 peaches sliced thick

If you don't have a tart pan you can try a small baking sheet or a 10” pie dish. 400 degree oven.

Make the dough: In a small bowl combine flour, sugar and salt together. In a small bowl combine the oils, milk and vanilla extract. Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix with a fork. Do not over mix. Pour dough into tart pan and press down to cover bottom of tart pan and sides of pan. Crust: inspired by Amanda Hesser

Make filling: In a medium bowl combine sugars, flour and cold butter. You can use your fingers or a mixer on low speed to develop a crumbly topping, set aside. Slice peaches thick and start to place them on top of your tart dough. We like to layer them from the outside and work into the center. Pour crumble mix evenly on top. Bake for 35 minutes till peaches are bubbling. Remove from oven and make whipped cream. You can also use whipped topping or ice cream.

(Recipe from Sweet Monkey Facebook Reel). Thanks to Ester for helping me to get the recipe transcribed from a fast moving reel!

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