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Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Tuesday,
January 2, 2024
"Steadfast"
(Part
1)
Message
summary: This
week we
introduce my
theme verse
for 2024 and
will carefully
consider the
word steadfast
and urge each
reader to make
it your
aspiration to
be steadfast!
"Therefore,
my beloved
brothers, be
steadfast,
immovable,
always
abounding in
the work of
the Lord,
knowing that
in the Lord
your labor is
not in vain"
(1 Corinthians
15:58).
Each year I choose a verse to focus on for the new year. This past year it was Lamentations 3:21-23, "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness". I have used this verse in my teachings, my email sig line and in direct encouragement to others over the past year. Of course I will continue to do so!
When I consider an annual verse Earl Martin always comes to mind. Earl, an elderly farmer and preacher, stood up in the rural church we attended in early January 2003 and enthusiastically shared his theme verse for the coming year, "The joy of the Lord is my strength" from Nehemiah 8:9. This verse brings a great spiritual perspective to all ages, including seniors, as was the case for Earl. Little did we know that Sunday morning that Earl would go to be with the Lord that summer and this verse was a backdrop for the theme of his funeral which added special personal meaning. We will never forget his grandchildren singing, "Blessed Assurance" at that service.
This year, 2024, my theme verse is today's daily text. It's a verse that has been special to me for 45 years, introduced to me in a most memorable way.
Each year I choose a verse to focus on for the new year. This past year it was Lamentations 3:21-23, "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness". I have used this verse in my teachings, my email sig line and in direct encouragement to others over the past year. Of course I will continue to do so!
When I consider an annual verse Earl Martin always comes to mind. Earl, an elderly farmer and preacher, stood up in the rural church we attended in early January 2003 and enthusiastically shared his theme verse for the coming year, "The joy of the Lord is my strength" from Nehemiah 8:9. This verse brings a great spiritual perspective to all ages, including seniors, as was the case for Earl. Little did we know that Sunday morning that Earl would go to be with the Lord that summer and this verse was a backdrop for the theme of his funeral which added special personal meaning. We will never forget his grandchildren singing, "Blessed Assurance" at that service.
This year, 2024, my theme verse is today's daily text. It's a verse that has been special to me for 45 years, introduced to me in a most memorable way.
In
1979 I went
through the
ordination
process, which
included
testing,
background
checks,
references and
finally a
meeting with
the board of
elders (Gr:
presbyters).
Only 24 years
of age, I was
sitting at a
massive
conference
table in Camp
Hill, PA with
the elders who
had served in
ministry for
many years.*ą
This was the
final step in
my approval
for
ordination.
The elders
asked various
questions
concerning my
call to
ministry,
Bible
knowledge,
doctrinal
understanding
and so forth.
It was very
stressful and
wearying. I
suppose some
of them may
have relished
causing the
stress!
But as the meeting came to a close one of the elders, Edward Menaldino, a very distinguished Italian minister who pastored Calvary Temple, a large church on Philadelphia’s south side, slowly stood up, paused, and deliberately made direct eye contact with me. He then solemnly and slowly quoted this Scripture portion from memory with the Spirit’s anointing. It was probably from the KJV. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord".
But as the meeting came to a close one of the elders, Edward Menaldino, a very distinguished Italian minister who pastored Calvary Temple, a large church on Philadelphia’s south side, slowly stood up, paused, and deliberately made direct eye contact with me. He then solemnly and slowly quoted this Scripture portion from memory with the Spirit’s anointing. It was probably from the KJV. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord".
Perhaps
that’s why
this passage
has stood out
over the years
as it has been
my constant
promise
through our
years of
Christian
service. Only
God would know
that the
church we were
planting at
the time would
have many ups
and downs,
difficulties
would abound.
Of course
that's just
part of life
and ministry.
It's true for
all of us.
I
would need the
Spirit’s
prompting to
never shrink
back, but to "always
give myself
fully to the
work of the
Lord knowing
that my labor
in the Lord is
not in vain".
But
today and all
of this week I
just focus on
one word from
the text,
"steadfast"
Here's a
description.*˛
This
week we will
carefully
consider this
word and each
make it our
aspiration to
be steadfast!
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, we
desire to be
steadfast,
immovable
always
abounding in
Your work.
There are
always things
to be done,
someone to
see, goals to
be met, places
to be, and on
and on the
list goes.
Then we hit a
bump in the
road and it
seems like all
comes crashing
down around us
and there is
nothing we can
do – we’re
stuck. Yet
Your Word
tells us that
we are to
remain
steadfast. So
even in the
bumps of life
we can remain
steadfast in
our Christian
witness,
prayerful in
all matters,
faithful in
our example to
others, and in
trusting You
to guide us
over the bumps
so that we are
once again on
a level plain.
Keep us steady
we pray, in
the name of
Jesus. Amen.*ą
The elders
seemed old at
that time.
Most of them
were actually
younger than I
am now!
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"Stay
Strong"
Watch
on YouTube
Danny Gokey
This song
really goes
with the
message today
and our theme
verse for
2024. Here are
the lyrics:
I've
been waiting
for
breakthrough
I've been praying for change
I know You'll work it out for good, but how long will it take?
I've been asking for healing
And I'm not gonna lie
I'm ready for the miracle, God let it be this time
But if I never see the promise
On this side of the grave
My hope might be shaken
But my faith will never break
Because I know the day is coming
When You'll right all of the wrong
So I'll praise You in the waiting
And my faith will stay strong
Yeah, ooh
God, you taught me trust you
You showed me how to believe
You're the author and the finisher of what You start in me
So I'm not gonna doubt it
I'm gonna hold on to peace
'Cause If I have You and nothing else, I still have everything
'Cause if I never see the promise
On this side of the grave
My hope might be shaken
But my faith will never break
Because I know the day is coming
When You'll right all of the wrong
So I'll praise You in the waiting
And my faith will stay strong
I'll count it joy when I am tested
'Cause you bring beauty from my pain
It's never wasted
But if I never see the promise
On this side of the grave
My hope might be shaken
But my faith will never break
Because I know the day is coming
When You'll right all of the wrong
So I'll praise You in the waiting
And my faith will stay strong
Because I know the day is coming
When You'll right all of the wrong
So I'll praise You in the waiting
And my faith will stay strong, will stay strong
I've been praying for change
I know You'll work it out for good, but how long will it take?
I've been asking for healing
And I'm not gonna lie
I'm ready for the miracle, God let it be this time
But if I never see the promise
On this side of the grave
My hope might be shaken
But my faith will never break
Because I know the day is coming
When You'll right all of the wrong
So I'll praise You in the waiting
And my faith will stay strong
Yeah, ooh
God, you taught me trust you
You showed me how to believe
You're the author and the finisher of what You start in me
So I'm not gonna doubt it
I'm gonna hold on to peace
'Cause If I have You and nothing else, I still have everything
'Cause if I never see the promise
On this side of the grave
My hope might be shaken
But my faith will never break
Because I know the day is coming
When You'll right all of the wrong
So I'll praise You in the waiting
And my faith will stay strong
I'll count it joy when I am tested
'Cause you bring beauty from my pain
It's never wasted
But if I never see the promise
On this side of the grave
My hope might be shaken
But my faith will never break
Because I know the day is coming
When You'll right all of the wrong
So I'll praise You in the waiting
And my faith will stay strong
Because I know the day is coming
When You'll right all of the wrong
So I'll praise You in the waiting
And my faith will stay strong, will stay strong
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Weber -
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Stephen & Brooksyne
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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 and a variety of other versions.
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