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online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
&
Brooksyne Weber
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encouragement and exhortation.
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Friday, September
1, 2023
This church sign in Lebanon County packs a powerful message.
"How
Long, O Lord?"
Personal
note:
Today we are
heading to
upstate to New
York for a
gathering with
friends and
wedding
reception on
Saturday. We
will also tour
the Thousand
Islands area
on the Saint
Lawrence River
and Boldt
Castle. We are
returning
Monday and
will not post
a message till
next Tuesday
(Lord
willing).
Message
summary:
We want an
answer to the
“how long”
question, but
so very often
we don’t get
it.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
“My
soul is in
anguish. How
long, O LORD,
how long?”
(Psalm 6:3).
“How long must
your servant
wait?” (Psalm
119:84). “My
grace is
sufficient for
you, for My
power is made
perfect in
weakness” (2
Corinthians
12:9).
Today we consider many of our brothers and sisters who are in a waiting period. This morning I spoke to a business owner who is going through a very challenging time in his business and I shared our daily texts with him followed by prayer. Like so many there are various agonizing "wait" aspects in his life.
Today we consider many of our brothers and sisters who are in a waiting period. This morning I spoke to a business owner who is going through a very challenging time in his business and I shared our daily texts with him followed by prayer. Like so many there are various agonizing "wait" aspects in his life.
As
we scan back
over our
ministry in
churches we
have served
over a period
of nearly 30
years right up
to our present
role in
chaplaincy we
call to mind
several who
taught us a
great deal
about waiting.
Some have been
enduring a
long, arduous
wait year
after year
after year and
yet still have
no clue as to
how God is
going to work
out the
matter.
They practice
the second
point of
yesterday's
message, "patient
in affliction"
(Romans
12:12).
Remember
about 20 years
ago in many
Christian
circles the
leader would
proclaim, "God
is good all
the time!" and
the audience
(congregation)
would respond,
"And all the
time God is
good!"
It's an
important
proclamation
that we often
repeated on
Sundays for
quite a while
and we still
hear it from
time to
time!
Even as I type
an involuntary
smile appears
on my face
even as it did
when we
declared that
truth. Though
we don't hear
it as much
these days
it's still
true.
Some twenty-two times (depending on version) the Psalmist pleaded with the Lord, “How long?” But in each instance he never received a specific answer. That’s the way many issues in life are. We have an assurance, a promise from God, that it will ultimately work out, but we just don’t know when.
Today many of us are crying out, "How long, O Lord" for various reasons. We see before our very eyes the creation groaning as in the pains of childbirth (see Romans 8:22). Wars, hatred, deceptions, frailty; all are reminders of the fallen world we live in. The "how long?" of life's issues deal not only with conflict all throughout the world but also the specific issues that are personal to us.
Let us consider also the bigger picture in the cosmic battle between the forces of good and evil; between the one true Triune God and the ancient enemy who continues to oppose Him. We're especially reminded that we are on winning side with this verse, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).
But for now the "wait" remains. On the personal level it may be a vexing job situation or a frustrated search for work. It may be a chronic illness or the lingering pain from the loss of a loved one. For others there’s what seems like endless family strife. We want an answer to the “how long” question, but so very often we don’t get it.
Paul made his “How long” experience very public. He was troubled by a “thorn in the flesh” and had cried out to God for healing and deliverance repeatedly. His specific prayer was not answered as Paul had hoped, but God did speak to him. That answer has brought hope and strength to millions over the years while they’ve waited. I pray that it will also encourage fellow waiters today. "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness".
Some twenty-two times (depending on version) the Psalmist pleaded with the Lord, “How long?” But in each instance he never received a specific answer. That’s the way many issues in life are. We have an assurance, a promise from God, that it will ultimately work out, but we just don’t know when.
Today many of us are crying out, "How long, O Lord" for various reasons. We see before our very eyes the creation groaning as in the pains of childbirth (see Romans 8:22). Wars, hatred, deceptions, frailty; all are reminders of the fallen world we live in. The "how long?" of life's issues deal not only with conflict all throughout the world but also the specific issues that are personal to us.
Let us consider also the bigger picture in the cosmic battle between the forces of good and evil; between the one true Triune God and the ancient enemy who continues to oppose Him. We're especially reminded that we are on winning side with this verse, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).
But for now the "wait" remains. On the personal level it may be a vexing job situation or a frustrated search for work. It may be a chronic illness or the lingering pain from the loss of a loved one. For others there’s what seems like endless family strife. We want an answer to the “how long” question, but so very often we don’t get it.
Paul made his “How long” experience very public. He was troubled by a “thorn in the flesh” and had cried out to God for healing and deliverance repeatedly. His specific prayer was not answered as Paul had hoped, but God did speak to him. That answer has brought hope and strength to millions over the years while they’ve waited. I pray that it will also encourage fellow waiters today. "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness".
Be
encouraged
today,
(Hebrews
3:13)
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, we
find direction
and sufficient
grace as we
follow Psalm
27:14:
"Wait on the
Lord; be of
good courage
and He shall
strengthen
your heart: wait,
I say on the
Lord". The
Psalmist tells
us twice in
the same
sentence to
wait on You.
We’re not to
doubt, be
despondent or
give up in
despair, but
instead we are
to go forward
in faith,
trusting You
completely,
since "no
eye has seen,
and no ear has
heard what the
Lord has in
store for
those who wait
for Him".
Help us to
endure the
wait and enjoy
our faith walk
with You.
Amen.
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"Wait
On The Lord"
Watch
video on
YouTube
The
Martins
Brooksyne's
note: "Wait
on the Lord"
by the Martins
is a very
special song
based word for
word on Psalm
27:14
(KJV). Ten
years ago I
came to know a
man named Mike
who had major
medical needs.
Shortly after
reaching out
to him with a
Bible and some
personal
caring notes
he either came
to faith or
renewed his
faith, I'm not
certain which,
but I remember
how comforting
Psalm 23 was
to him in his
last weeks. On
April 12, 2013
I got a call
that he was in
the ER and
Ester wanted
to come along.
She had
recently
learned the
song Psalm
27:14 and felt
that it would
be a blessing
to him. When I
visited with
Mike I told
him about the
verse and that
Ester felt
that it was a
song meant for
him. She
played the
recording or
we sang it (I
can't remember
which).
Within
a few minutes
of quoting
Psalm 23 and
our singing
the song to
Mike the ER
transferred
him to the
Hospice
located in
Mount Joy. I
gathered in
the hospice
room with
Mike's family
and the one
dearest to
him, Sharon,
who works at
JK Mechanical,
one of the
companies we
serve as
chaplains
which is how I
came to know
Mike. We knew
his time was
close so we
sang hymns
such as
"Amazing
Grace" and
"How Great
Thou Art" as
we prayerfully
supported Mike
in his last
hours as he
peacefully
went to be
with the Lord.
He had a great
deal of pain
and suffering
in his last
years on earth
but his "wait"
was finally
over.
"I
Will Wait For
You"
Watch
video on
YouTube
Shane
& Shane
"Wait On You" Watch video on YouTube Real Life Worship
Yesterday
afternoon I
visited Nick
Nichols, our
friend who
broke his hip
getting off
his bike
earlier this
week. He was
in good
spirits but of
course dealing
with pain in
his recovery.
He enters into
the latest of
many "wait"
periods one
endures in the
course of a
long life. May
he receive the
assurance of,
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
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want to thank
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realize there
are many fine
ministries and
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WEBER -
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IN SPECIALIZED
CHAPLAINCY)
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Weber". We
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can also set
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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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