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ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Friday,
February 9, 2024
Pies
made for an
Amish church
gathering.
The
Amish gather
every other
week for a
church service
in a home
rotating from
house to house
throughout the
year. Every
service is
followed by a
meal shared
together with
the host
family making
pies. For the
gathering they
made total of
42 pies! Today
Anna Ruth sent
a pie over
with Jesse and
it sure was
good!
"A
Lesson From
Bricklaying"
Message
summary: Genuine
faith often
has a
cooperative
element that
is expressed
as we trust
God and
are obedient
to His
commands using
the resources
He has given
to us. Today
in your walk
of faith you
will likely
face
opposition of
some type,
perhaps even
within the
ranks of your
own family; we
urge you to
remain
steadfast and
ever prayerful
as you follow
the example of
Nehemiah, no
matter the
test you face!
Keep building,
one brick at a
time.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat" (Nehemiah 4:9).
Today
our friend
Jesse is
laying brick
on the side of
our new home
addition. As
best as
possible we
wanted it to
match our
existing
house. There
is an
inevitable
slight
difference in
color but it's
coming along
nicely. Along
with repairing
some fence
that was
removed for
the project
the exterior
appearance of
our home as
seen from the
road should
soon be
completed.
"But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat" (Nehemiah 4:9).
Today
our friend
Jesse is
laying brick
on the side of
our new home
addition. As
best as
possible we
wanted it to
match our
existing
house. There
is an
inevitable
slight
difference in
color but it's
coming along
nicely. Along
with repairing
some fence
that was
removed for
the project
the exterior
appearance of
our home as
seen from the
road should
soon be
completed.Brick
is an ancient
building
material. The
first
reference in
the Bible is
how it was
used in
building the
Tower of Babel
in Genesis
11:3.
Jesse
is a
stonemason, a
trade which
includes
bricklaying.
He showed us
an older house
where he was
laying brick
on the new
addition and
pointed out
that the
original
structure,
with the inner
layer portion,
providing the
structural
strength. (see
photo below)
Most
modern brick
homes,
including
ours, are
frame
constructed,
and then have
a single
course of
brick veneer
which serves
as the siding.
There are also
fake brick
veneers that
come as a
sheet but
Jesse told me
that genuine
brick is
always laid
one brick at a
time. However
there are now
brick-laying
machines or
robots! (See
below for
video.)
A Scriptural principle is that growing spiritually is similar to bricklaying. This can also be applied to marriage. Like building a brick home we build a strong, lifelong marriage one brick at a time. Over the years those single bricks become solid layers with the Lord Jesus Christ being the Chief Cornerstone.
Today's Scripture verse suggests a cooperative arrangement of faith and action that apply to many issues of life. In fact there's an application for each reader.
The setting for the book of Nehemiah takes place during the rebuilding of the long neglected walls of Jerusalem after the return from the Exile, "which had been broken down, and its gates which had been destroyed by fire" (Nehemiah 2:13b,14). These walls were vital for security reasons. They had been destroyed by the Babylonians some 150 years earlier and now they were being rebuilt. The text does not specify that brick was used but the principle in today's message is valid for our own age.
As with any major endeavor those with a heart to move forward in obeying God usually face opposition. As we seek to build our lives for Christ we will face opposition; are you facing any today? If so, you're in good company with many other believers who are engaged in conflict with the spiritual forces of evil.
The specific opposition in today's passage was led by a character by the name of Sanballat. This pesky fellow was persistent and creative in opposing the advancement of God's work! Perhaps he earned the unenviable title of "Mr. Discouragement". It seems that he gained many followers in his attempt to foil God's plan of rebuilding the ruined walls. Unfortunately some of his descendants remain to this day such as Danny Defeatist, Helen Hindrance, Oliver Obstacle, Patty Pessimist, Fanny Fatalist (you get the picture). We mingle with them regularly and we must be on guard or we will join their ranks.
In the immediate context of today's verse the opposition was threatening a physical attack, but there are many ways we will be opposed: if not in the physical, the spiritual. Paul reminds us that there is much unseen by the naked eye, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12,13).
Most
modern brick
homes,
including
ours, are
frame
constructed,
and then have
a single
course of
brick veneer
which serves
as the siding.
There are also
fake brick
veneers that
come as a
sheet but
Jesse told me
that genuine
brick is
always laid
one brick at a
time. However
there are now
brick-laying
machines or
robots! (See
below for
video.)A Scriptural principle is that growing spiritually is similar to bricklaying. This can also be applied to marriage. Like building a brick home we build a strong, lifelong marriage one brick at a time. Over the years those single bricks become solid layers with the Lord Jesus Christ being the Chief Cornerstone.
Today's Scripture verse suggests a cooperative arrangement of faith and action that apply to many issues of life. In fact there's an application for each reader.
The setting for the book of Nehemiah takes place during the rebuilding of the long neglected walls of Jerusalem after the return from the Exile, "which had been broken down, and its gates which had been destroyed by fire" (Nehemiah 2:13b,14). These walls were vital for security reasons. They had been destroyed by the Babylonians some 150 years earlier and now they were being rebuilt. The text does not specify that brick was used but the principle in today's message is valid for our own age.
As with any major endeavor those with a heart to move forward in obeying God usually face opposition. As we seek to build our lives for Christ we will face opposition; are you facing any today? If so, you're in good company with many other believers who are engaged in conflict with the spiritual forces of evil.
The specific opposition in today's passage was led by a character by the name of Sanballat. This pesky fellow was persistent and creative in opposing the advancement of God's work! Perhaps he earned the unenviable title of "Mr. Discouragement". It seems that he gained many followers in his attempt to foil God's plan of rebuilding the ruined walls. Unfortunately some of his descendants remain to this day such as Danny Defeatist, Helen Hindrance, Oliver Obstacle, Patty Pessimist, Fanny Fatalist (you get the picture). We mingle with them regularly and we must be on guard or we will join their ranks.
In the immediate context of today's verse the opposition was threatening a physical attack, but there are many ways we will be opposed: if not in the physical, the spiritual. Paul reminds us that there is much unseen by the naked eye, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12,13).
Trustworthy
and obedient
Nehemiah
writes about
his God-given
vision that
included
faith, prayer,
sacrifice,
hard work,
tenacity and
common sense.
"We prayed
to our God and
posted a
guard".
Nehemiah led
the people in
both spiritual
action
(prayer) and
practical
action
(posting a
guard).
We
place a high
value on
common sense
which there
seems to be a
great lack of
these days. As
followers of
Christ we
believe God
can help us
develop
Biblically
informed
common sense
measures in
our daily
lives when
confronting
the many
challenges we
deal with
regularly.
It's not
"unspiritual"
to use this
sense given to
us by God!
Our Christian walk, ministry, marriage, vocation, childrearing and many other vital issues of life are much like building a house one brick at a time. This building project will continue all through life until we are called home.
Genuine faith often has a cooperative element that is expressed as we trust God and are obedient using the resources that He has given us. Today in your walk of faith you will likely face opposition of some type, perhaps even within the ranks of your own family. We urge you to remain steadfast and ever prayerful as you follow the example of Nehemiah, no matter the test you face! Keep building, one brick at a time.
Our Christian walk, ministry, marriage, vocation, childrearing and many other vital issues of life are much like building a house one brick at a time. This building project will continue all through life until we are called home.
Genuine faith often has a cooperative element that is expressed as we trust God and are obedient using the resources that He has given us. Today in your walk of faith you will likely face opposition of some type, perhaps even within the ranks of your own family. We urge you to remain steadfast and ever prayerful as you follow the example of Nehemiah, no matter the test you face! Keep building, one brick at a time.
Be
encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, we
thank You that
You have
promised to be
our faithful
Shepherd
leading us in
the paths of
righteousness
for Your
name's sake.
We are guided,
not by our own
strength or
wisdom lest it
be inadequate
or faulty, but
in the
knowledge and
wisdom of our
all-knowing,
all-powerful
God. It is not
by might, nor
by power but
by Your Spirit
that we can
stand against
the tactics of
the enemy.
Like Nehemiah,
may our first
impulse be
that of prayer
and our second
impulse be
that of using
the sense you
have given us,
one experience
after the
other, brick
by brick as we
build a godly
foundation. In
the name of
Jesus we pray.
Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"The
Solid
Rock"
Watch
on YouTube
The Hymns
Project This
is the way I
like to hear a
hymn sung!
Special
announcement
(Day 2):
We
have often
written of our
friendship
with the Lapp
family, who
are Amish.
Today Jesse is
laying brick
on one side of
our new house
addition. He
is an
experienced
stonemason,
which was what
he did when I
first met him
over 20 years
ago.
The
Lapp family
currently
operate the Old
Windmill Farm
which, over
the last
several years,
has become a
very popular
tourist
attraction
here in
Lancaster
County, being
an authentic
working Amish
farm.
Jesse
has begun a
blog titled "Life
On The Old
Windmill Farm"
chronicling
life on the
farm.
His next post
will be a
description of
an Amish
church service
which was
hosted on the
farm this last
Sunday. We
have attended
an Amish
service and it
is quite a bit
different than
most of us are
accustomed to.
You
can read the
introductory
blog post here
or sign
up to receive
an email
every 2-3
weeks. We will
publish the
post on the
Amish church
service later
today.
Jesse
is making good
progress
laying brick
today and
expects to
have this wall
completed by
the end of the
day.
Jesse
wants to know
if any readers
know what this
tool is used
for.
Scroll down for answer.
Scroll down for answer.
A
view of the
three courses
of brick on an
old farmhouse.
The inner
layers of
brick were
structural,
similar to a
framed wall in
modern
construction.
The
tool is called
a skate and is
used for
forming the
"rake" style
mortar joints.
Meet
SAM, the
bricklaying
robot Video
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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.
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Weber
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To
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(This will
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Stephen and
Brooksyne
Weber -
700001-237376
serving in
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Encouragement
is our
endorsed
special
chaplaincy
ministry).Thank
you,
Stephen & Brooksyne
Stephen & Brooksyne
2024
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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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