The online
Bible teaching
ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Tuesday,
January 16, 2024
Today we are joining much of the country with a blast of cold weather and a snow storm with several inches thus far this morning, certainly nothing like Buffalo NY!
The
photo above is
the Conestoga
River in
Lancaster
County, PA
Taken by our friend Mike Book
(Click on photo to enlarge)
Taken by our friend Mike Book
(Click on photo to enlarge)
"The
Blessing of
Trust"
Message
summary: Let’s
choose not to
walk in “fear
and distress”
as Jacob
initially did
but in faith
and dependency
upon Almighty
God as we seek
to trust in
the LORD with
all our heart,
and lean not
on our own
understanding;
in all our
ways
acknowledge
Him, confident
that He shall
direct our
paths.”
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5,6).
Do you naturally trust in the Lord for all your needs or do you have to go through a time of testing to get to a place of complete trust? I have often identified with Jacob who had to go through a time of testing to get to a place where he fully trusted the Lord to direct his paths. Let's consider his story today.
He wrongly stole his twin brother’s birthright and fled to Haran to save his life. Esau, in a rage, had threatened to kill him for his wrongdoing. Twenty years later God told Jacob: “Go back to the land of your fathers and I will be with you” (Genesis 31:3). In obedience Jacob began the arduous journey to his homeland with a stockpile of livestock, menservants, maid servants, worldly goods, two wives, twelve sons and one daughter.
Obeying God is one thing (and very important); but trusting Him is another matter. The Bible describes Jacob being filled with “great fear and distress” in response to hearing that his brother was coming to meet him, along with four hundred of his men (Genesis 32:7). Have any of you ever experienced fear and distress? (Probably most at one time or another!)
Jacob
began to
strategize and
rearrange his
entourage of
animals,
servants, and
family members
in fear that
an attack was
being planned.
In his
great fear and
distress Jacob
leaned upon
his own
understanding
instead of
trusting in
God.
But
God knew all
along that
Esau’s heart
had softened
and he would
welcome his
brother’s
arrival. “But
Esau ran to
meet Jacob and
embraced him;
he threw his
arms around
his neck and
kissed him.
And they wept”
(Genesis
33:4).
God was working behind the scenes and beyond Jacob’s vision. That’s why he spoke to Jacob about moving back to his homeland. Satan plotted in Jacob’s mind, but God planned in reality a great family reunion to take place. God has always been in the business of reconciliation, most especially revealed in the death of Christ who reconciled us to God.
After Jacob and Esau reconciled, after Jacob wrestled with God, after he doubted God’s protection, after he maneuvered his original plan, Jacob and all his entourage finally arrived within sight of his homeland of Canaan. There Jacob built an altar and called it El Elohe Israel meaning "Mighty is the God of Israel". Finally he trusted God to bring to pass that which He had laid upon his heart.
“Trust
in the LORD
with all your
heart, and
lean not on
your own
understanding;
in all your
ways
acknowledge
Him, and He
shall direct
your paths.”
This wonderful
Proverb has
three commands
followed by
the wonderful
promise, "He
shall direct
your paths".
Our
responsibility
is to trust.
We can be
absolutely
assured that
God will keep
His
promise!
For me it’s not at all hard to understand the meaning of these three clauses, but consistently applying them is another matter! Let’s choose not to walk in “fear and distress” as Jacob initially did, but in faith and dependency upon Almighty God as we seek to trust in the LORD with all our heart, and lean not on our own understanding; in all our ways acknowledge Him, confident that He shall direct our paths.”
God was working behind the scenes and beyond Jacob’s vision. That’s why he spoke to Jacob about moving back to his homeland. Satan plotted in Jacob’s mind, but God planned in reality a great family reunion to take place. God has always been in the business of reconciliation, most especially revealed in the death of Christ who reconciled us to God.
After Jacob and Esau reconciled, after Jacob wrestled with God, after he doubted God’s protection, after he maneuvered his original plan, Jacob and all his entourage finally arrived within sight of his homeland of Canaan. There Jacob built an altar and called it El Elohe Israel meaning "Mighty is the God of Israel". Finally he trusted God to bring to pass that which He had laid upon his heart.
“Trust
in the LORD
with all your
heart, and
lean not on
your own
understanding;
in all your
ways
acknowledge
Him, and He
shall direct
your paths.”
This wonderful
Proverb has
three commands
followed by
the wonderful
promise, "He
shall direct
your paths".
Our
responsibility
is to trust.
We can be
absolutely
assured that
God will keep
His
promise!
We
are all called
to:
1) Trust in the Lord with all my heart.
2) Lean not on my own understanding.
3) Acknowledge Him in all my ways.
1) Trust in the Lord with all my heart.
2) Lean not on my own understanding.
3) Acknowledge Him in all my ways.
For me it’s not at all hard to understand the meaning of these three clauses, but consistently applying them is another matter! Let’s choose not to walk in “fear and distress” as Jacob initially did, but in faith and dependency upon Almighty God as we seek to trust in the LORD with all our heart, and lean not on our own understanding; in all our ways acknowledge Him, confident that He shall direct our paths.”
Jesus,
Jesus, how I
trust Him
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus
O for grace to trust Him more
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus
O for grace to trust Him more
Be
encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Jesus, when I
lean on my own
understanding
I fall prey to
the human
nature and
limit the work
of the
supernatural.
But when I
trust You with
all my heart I
leave no room
for second
guessing.
Today I want
to acknowledge
Your presence
in every area
of my
life…family,
work,
relationships,
my alone
times. You
will bring to
pass the
divine plans
You have for
me as You
direct me in
all my ways
when I walk in
Your ways.
Amen."Every
Step"
Watch
on YouTube
CityAlight
"Promises"
Watch
on YouTube
Aaron
Moses
Here's
the view out
our front
window early
this morning.
This is the
most snow
cover we've
had this
season. We
have postponed
our chaplain
visits to
Lebanon County
until
tomorrow.
Tomorrow is
forecast sunny
but even
colder temps!
Here's
the view out
our new window
in our
upstairs
bedroom. This
window needed
to be
relocated due
to the peak of
the roof to
our new
addition which
can be seen in
the
foreground.
The view is
not as
spacious or
beautiful as
the two
windows we had
to close off,
but it was
necessary for
our new
addition. We
are hoping to
have the two
rooms
inspected
today by the
township
building
inspector so
we can move
into our first
floor
bedroom/bath.
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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.
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Stephen
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Weber
495
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Church Road
Mount
Joy, PA 17552
To
donate
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online click
here.
(This will
open to a page
that
designates the
offering to:
Stephen and
Brooksyne
Weber -
700001-237376
serving in
specialized
chaplaincy
(Daily
Encouragement
is our
endorsed
special
chaplaincy
ministry).Thank
you,
Stephen & Brooksyne
Stephen & Brooksyne
2024
offerings YTD:
$400.00
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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.
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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