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Bible teaching
ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Monday,
October 23, 2023
Sea
gulls on Cape
Cod.
"A
Study Of
Ornithological
Anxiety"
"Therefore
I tell you, do
not worry
about your
life, what you
will eat or
drink; or
about your
body, what you
will wear. Is
not life more
important than
food, and the
body more
important than
clothes? 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? Who of
you by
worrying can
add a single
hour to his
life?
(Matthew
6:25-27).
Have
you ever
wondered if
birds worry?
Researchers
from the
Cornell Lab of
Ornithology
(study of
birds)
conducted a
study to see
whether
chickadees
spend more
time worrying
about lack of
food or
whether they
might be eaten
by a predator.
You might say
it was a study
of
ornithological
anxiety. They
determined it
was food.
The
Missourian
"show me" in
me however
wonders how
they really
determine
whether a bird
worries or
not! We've
wondered this
about our pets
as well. Do
they worry
that we will
forget to feed
them or leave
them outside
during a potty
break?
Jesus
answers the
question
illustrating
our need to
trust and
depend upon
our heavenly
Father's care
in these
words, "yet
your heavenly
Father feeds
them".
The
Greek word for
worry is
μεριμνᾶτε
(merimnate)
which means to
be “fidgety,
anxious, or
distracted”.
Merimnate
comes from the
root word
morizo – which
means “to
divide or
separate.” You
can find it in
17 verses of
the New
Testament,
usually
translated “to
care, to be
anxious, to be
concerned.”
It has the sense of turning something over and over again in our mind which is exactly what I tend to do when I worry!
It has the sense of turning something over and over again in our mind which is exactly what I tend to do when I worry!
Worry
has been
defined as “a
small trickle
of fear that
meanders
through the
mind until it
cuts a channel
into which all
other thoughts
are drained”
(Our Daily
Bread).
Worry
is a condition
that is
present when
trust is
lacking and we
become
overwhelmed
with a sense
of our present
and future
needs. We
really suspect
the animal
kingdom
essentially
lives with no
cognizance of
the future
thus no worry.
But
it's our very
awareness of
the future
that causes us
to worry,
which really
expresses a
lack of trust
in our
heavenly
Father. Jesus,
in the same
context of our
daily text,
said "O
you of little
faith"
(Matthew
6:30).
What meticulous care God exercises to provide for the birds. But consider how much greater value we are to God than the birds of the air. Jesus told us so! The One who has so marvelously provided for the birds is certainly more interested in those made in His own image. Hope rises up within the believer as he contemplates the words of the hymn, "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me!"
God's love for us is abundantly demonstrated in the way He cares and provides for His creation. Our prayer is that you will experience the wonderful peace of God today as you rest in the divine care of our loving Father. Worry can be such a detriment in our walk of faith and will rob us of the supernatural peace that is God's blessing for His children.
What meticulous care God exercises to provide for the birds. But consider how much greater value we are to God than the birds of the air. Jesus told us so! The One who has so marvelously provided for the birds is certainly more interested in those made in His own image. Hope rises up within the believer as he contemplates the words of the hymn, "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me!"
God's love for us is abundantly demonstrated in the way He cares and provides for His creation. Our prayer is that you will experience the wonderful peace of God today as you rest in the divine care of our loving Father. Worry can be such a detriment in our walk of faith and will rob us of the supernatural peace that is God's blessing for His children.
It
will
strengthen our
Christian
witness as
others see us
trusting in
God instead of
fearing the
unknown.
Perhaps today
you will want
to personalize
this truth by
properly
proclaiming, "I
will not be
afraid, for I
am worth more
than many
sparrows".
And we sure
are!
Be
encouraged
today,
(Hebrews
3:13)
Daily prayer:
Father, I want
to look to the
words of Jesus
when He warns
us of the
perils that
come with
worrying. It
is common
knowledge that
worry will
damage our
health and can
even lead to
an early
death. It can
consume our
thoughts and
taint our
outlook in
everything we
do. It can
hinder our
productivity
and affect the
way we relate
to others.
Help us to
remember that
worrying does
not contribute
to the
solution but
only creates
other
troubles.
The answer to
our problems
is to place
our hope and
trust in You
by seeking
first Your
kingdom and
Your
righteousness.
In the process
of seeking You
above all else
You bring
perspective,
direction,
trust and
supernatural
peace into the
most troubling
circumstances.
Only You can
make a roadway
in the
wilderness and
only You can
open a door
that has been
closed.
Nothing is
impossible
with You,
Father.
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, I want
to look to the
words of Jesus
when He warns
us of the
perils that
come with
worrying. It
is common
knowledge that
worry will
damage our
health and can
even lead to
an early
death. It can
consume our
thoughts and
taint our
outlook in
everything we
do. It can
hinder our
productivity
and affect the
way we relate
to others.
Help us to
remember that
worrying does
not contribute
to the
solution but
only creates
other
troubles.
The answer to
our problems
is to place
our hope and
trust in You
by seeking
first Your
kingdom and
Your
righteousness.
In the process
of seeking You
above all else
You bring
perspective,
direction,
trust and
supernatural
peace into the
most troubling
circumstances.
Only You can
make a roadway
in the
wilderness and
only You can
open a door
that has been
closed.
Nothing is
impossible
with You,
Father.
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"His
Eye Is On The
Sparrow"
Watch
on YouTube
by Keith and
Kristyn Getty
"All
Your Anxiety"
Watch
on YouTube
Liberty
Quartet
What
Do You Do When
You Worry All
The Time?
Jay
Adams (pdf)
(I believe
this is the
same material
in the
booklet, "What
To Do About
Worry" I
recall from my
Bible school
days.
Similar
material on a
video
Said
the Robin to
the Sparrow:
“I should really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so.”
Said the Sparrow to the Robin:
“Friend, I think that it must be
That they have no Heavenly Father
Such as cares for you and me.”
(Elizabeth Cheney, Streams in the Desert).
“I should really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so.”
Said the Sparrow to the Robin:
“Friend, I think that it must be
That they have no Heavenly Father
Such as cares for you and me.”
(Elizabeth Cheney, Streams in the Desert).
Brooksyne's
Note: We
want to thank
you for your
notes of
concern
and
prayerful
interest in
Ester's
health. She
spent Thursday
through early
Sunday
afternoon at
our newest
hospital in
Lancaster, a
branch of
Hershey
Medical
Center. Some
of the pain
she
experienced
was never
fully resolved
yet she feels
better today
than when she
arrived at the
ER days ago.
An unexpected
complication
(but way too
common for
Ester) is that
her INR rose
to greater
than 8.5
indicating
that her blood
was way too
thin. It took
doses of
Vitamin K over
two days to
get her back
to acceptable
range which
happened
yesterday
clearing the
way for Ester
to come home.
Yesterday
afternoon she
comfortably
rested as she
and Stephen
watched the
Kansas City
Chiefs defeat
Los Angeles.
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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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