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&
Brooksyne Weber
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Friday, September
8, 2023
The
Tibbett's
Point
Lighthouse on
Lake Ontario
Click on photo to enlarge
"Keep
The Lower Lights Burning"
Message
summary:
Today the
Almighty God
of the
universe has
called us to
let our light
shine. Let’s
do our part to
see that the
“lower lights”
burn brightly.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
Brightly
beams our
Father’s
mercy,
From His lighthouse evermore,
But to us He gives the keeping
Of the lights along the shore.
From His lighthouse evermore,
But to us He gives the keeping
Of the lights along the shore.
Today we want to share one more nautically themed message prompted by our trip over Labor Day weekend to the Thousand Islands region along the Saint Lawrence River.
Lighthouses
are one of our
favorite
sights to see
and explore
when we’re
near the ocean
or other large
bodies of
water such as
the Great
Lakes. So,
after
returning from
a boat tour of
the Thousand
Islands, we
headed out to
a the point
where Lake
Ontario
empties into
the Saint
Lawrence River
to view the
Tibbett's
Point
lighthouse
constructed in
1854 (100
years before I
was born) and
still actively
guiding ships
into the river
channel.Today
let’s take a
look at an old
hymn that
makes the
analogy of
divine mercy
as “bright
beams” from
our Father’s
lighthouse
which shines
evermore.
The most famous nautical navigation light is of course the lighthouse but there are other nautical navigation lights. Today we want to consider the lower lights.
The most famous nautical navigation light is of course the lighthouse but there are other nautical navigation lights. Today we want to consider the lower lights.
Phillip
P. Bliss,
born in
Pennsylvania,
was a
nineteenth
century song
writer
associated
with D.L.
Moody. He
often received
the
inspiration
for a hymn,
while
listening to a
message during
a church
service. Once
an idea struck
his alert
mind, he
worked rapidly
usually
completing
both the text
and the music
in one
sitting.One day, while traveling with Dwight L. Moody as the musician for an evangelistic campaign, Bliss was impressed by an illustration used by Mr. Moody for a message. Moody often told this moving true story of a violent storm on Lake Erie:
On a dark,
stormy
evening, when
the waves
rolled like
mountains and
not a star was
to be seen, a
boat, rocking
and plunging,
neared the
Cleveland
harbor.
“Are you sure this is Cleveland?” asked the Captain, seeing only light from the lighthouse. “Quite sure,” replied the pilot.
“Where are the lower lights?” “Gone out, sir!”
“Can you make the harbor?” “We must, or perish, sir.”
With a strong hand and a brave heart, the old pilot turned the wheel, but alas, in the darkness he missed the channel, and, with a crash upon the rock, the boat was slivered and many a life lost in a watery grave.
“Brethren,” concluded Mr. Moody, “the Master will take care of the great lighthouse. Let us keep the lower lights burning.”
“Are you sure this is Cleveland?” asked the Captain, seeing only light from the lighthouse. “Quite sure,” replied the pilot.
“Where are the lower lights?” “Gone out, sir!”
“Can you make the harbor?” “We must, or perish, sir.”
With a strong hand and a brave heart, the old pilot turned the wheel, but alas, in the darkness he missed the channel, and, with a crash upon the rock, the boat was slivered and many a life lost in a watery grave.
“Brethren,” concluded Mr. Moody, “the Master will take care of the great lighthouse. Let us keep the lower lights burning.”
Based
on this story
Bliss wrote
the hymn, "Let
The Lower
Lights be
Burning".
Nautically
speaking, the
“lower lights”
are lights
apart from the
lighthouse
that illumine
the water
line. They’re
surface
navigational
aids as well
as the various
lights from
windows,
street lamps,
and businesses
that enable
vessels to
come into the
harbor at
night, through
a narrow
channel of the
harbor’s
mouth.
Spiritually speaking the “lower lights” are lights from individual followers of Christ who allow the light of Christ to shine in their lives by their attitudes, words and deeds. When we, as believers, allow the life-changing message of Christ to wane in our lives or behave in a manner that does not glorify Him our flame flickers. If it goes completely unchecked our light can burn out. As God’s children, we don’t want to bring disgrace or further the darkness but rather honor the One "who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light".
Today the Almighty God of the universe has called us to let our light shine. Let’s do our part to see that the “lower lights” burn brightly providing a lighted path for “some poor, struggling, fainting seaman, [that] we may rescue, we may save”!
Spiritually speaking the “lower lights” are lights from individual followers of Christ who allow the light of Christ to shine in their lives by their attitudes, words and deeds. When we, as believers, allow the life-changing message of Christ to wane in our lives or behave in a manner that does not glorify Him our flame flickers. If it goes completely unchecked our light can burn out. As God’s children, we don’t want to bring disgrace or further the darkness but rather honor the One "who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light".
Today the Almighty God of the universe has called us to let our light shine. Let’s do our part to see that the “lower lights” burn brightly providing a lighted path for “some poor, struggling, fainting seaman, [that] we may rescue, we may save”!
Let
the lower
lights be
burning!
Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor struggling, fainting seaman
You may rescue, you may save.
Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor struggling, fainting seaman
You may rescue, you may save.
Be
encouraged
today,
(Hebrews
3:13)
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father
God, we are a
chosen
generation, a
people set
apart to show
forth the
praises of
Christ who has
called us out
of darkness
into Your
marvelous
light. Since
You have
illumined our
darkness we
will not
conceal it,
but rather
shine forth
wherever we
are; in the
marketplace,
in our homes,
in the
business
place, in the
neighborhood,
in the voting
booth, in
church and
wherever we
have
opportunity to
bring forth
light in this
world of
darkness. We
can make a
difference and
want to do so.
We want to
witness
faithfully of
the light of
salvation
through Jesus
Christ our
Lord in whose
name we pray.
Amen.
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"Let
the Lower
Lights Be
Burning"
Watch
video on
YouTube
On
our boat tour
we passed the
Rock Island
Lighthouse
along the
Saint Lawrence
River
Click on photo
to enlarge
On
the way back
we got off the
interstate for
awhile south
of Syracuse to
visit a nature
preserve and
then ride the
back roads. We
passed this
barn with a
message. Do
you recognize
the hymn?
Burrville
Falls near
Watertown, New
York. Ester
took this
photo before
we headed to
Hannah and
Antonio's
wedding
reception.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
Finally
today:
Yesterday
we visited
several
companies in
Lebanon County
and joined
some friends
for breakfast
at the
Railroad Diner
in Richland,
PA. Afterwards
we stopped at
Hornings
Market in
Myerstown, a
discount
grocery store.
They had a
good price on
coffee but, to
their credit,
practiced
truth in
advertising!
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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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