The online
Bible teaching
ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Wednesday,
February 14, 2024
Jesse
leading sheep
to the barn on
the Old
Windmill Farm
during
yesterday's
snow storm.
Daily prayer:
Father, we
thank You for
the wonderful
gift of love
that we
experience in
a romantic
relationship
that often
grows into a
marital bond
between a man
and woman. It
is a holy
union in which
we, as devout
believers,
make You the
Cornerstone of
our marriage
and family.
May we be a
support to
each other as
we provide a
loving and
protective
shelter from
the inevitable
disappointments
of life. May
the fruit of
the Spirit be
evident in our
daily walk
both at home
and in public
places. Keep
us wholly
faithful to
one another,
rejecting
every lustful
temptation the
devil sends
our way. May
we prove our
love to each
other with
mutual
respect,
understanding,
forgiveness,
kindness,
forbearance,
and unity. In
the precious
name of Jesus
we pray.
Amen.
Note: We have shared the illustration about the couple at Burger King before, but we have many new readers and also suppose regular readers may very well benefit in reading it again. If you remember it, good for you! It's one of the best examples of enduring love we have ever personally witnessed.
We had several interesting comments about our message on Trophimus yesterday: We spoke of Paul's candid honesty in regard to outcomes (leaving Trophimus, a friend and co-worker, sick) and the way some modern preachers stretch the truth, specifically fudging attendance figures.
"Enduring
Love"
A
Valentine's
Day message
Message
summary: Enduring
love is at the
very heart of
Paul's message
in what is
known as the
Love Chapter:
"Love never
fails".
Endurance is a
word defined
as "the act,
quality, or
power of
withstanding
hardship or
stress."
That's the
depth of
tested love
the world
needs to see
in marriages.
As God's
children we
are called to
practice it
and be living
examples for
those who need
our love, and
for those who
look on, most
especially our
children. We
should not
only be
attracted to
each other,
but remain
committed to
each other as
well. Consider
this when you
express love
and affection
this coming
Valentine's
Day and every
day!
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"Through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13). "Husbands, love your wives" (Ephesians 5:25). "Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives" (1 Peter 3:7). "Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:8).
"Through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13). "Husbands, love your wives" (Ephesians 5:25). "Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives" (1 Peter 3:7). "Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:8).
Today
is Valentine's
Day. Let us
consider a
story of
enduring love.
We
live out in
the country
and like most
we
periodically
lose
electrical
power. Since
just about
everything in
our home
relies on
electricity we
find ourselves
quite
inconvenienced
to say the
least; no
water since we
have a well
and pump
(requiring
electricity),
no heat (even
our coal stove
requires
electricity to
run the
primary air
blower and
self-feeder)
and of course
no lights.
Thankfully our
power is very
reliable and
even when we
periodically
lose power it
usually comes
back on within
an hour or
two.
Many years ago we had a cold spell and winter storm which caused our power to go out. After nearly six chilling hours of no electricity Brooksyne, Ester and I, along with my mom, who was living with us at the time, decided to take a drive and be on the look-out for some warmth and working bathrooms. So we all piled in the van and drove over to a Burger King in Rheems about four miles away. It was great to get out of the cold. We ordered our meals and sat down at a table to dine together.
Usually when we go to a fast food restaurant we use the drive through window service or quickly eat and leave (after all, it is "fast" food). Not this time, however, since we were in no hurry to give up our warm location to return to our cold home! We took plenty of time to eat and visit together. We probably bordered on loitering.
As our meal dragged on and on we began to observe a frail elderly couple who were not sitting across from one another as most couples do but rather sitting side by side. Our view of them was obscured by the thick green plants in the privacy partition two rows over. We thought it rather sweet, kind of like a teenage couple on a date. They were also taking their sweet time to finish their meal.
Being curious, I suggested to Brooksyne that she get more condiments, and go the long way around to get a clear view of this couple from their front side. She came back with a full report.
It turns out they were seated close together because they were sharing a single meal. The husband was pinching off bird-sized portions of a hamburger and hand-feeding it to his wife. He broke the french fries into tiny pieces and gave her very small sips of the beverage through a straw. Apparently she had suffered a stroke and, though they were very small bites, it still took her a long time to chew each bite and swallow the food. He lovingly and patiently waited for her to chew and digest each bite before feeding her the next one.
We were both deeply touched by such a loving scene. Thoughts of Valentine's Day bring about mental images of young romance that Jared's, Hallmark, Russell Stover, and local florists market heavily especially on Valentine's Day.
Consider the media's portrayal of love with a gorgeous Hollywood couple having a lavish wedding surrounded by paparazzi. Far too often the same Hollywood couple become headlines again when they're soon embroiled in a divorce battle.
However, we believe the full picture of genuine, mature, and enduring servant type love is evident in the old couple at Burger King. Love's passion will fizzle. Youth and vitality turns into a distant memory captured only in photos or deep in one's heart. But true love will remain all the days of our lives when we take seriously the marital vows, "for better, for worse; in sickness and in health, till death do us part". Maybe we should add "in our days of youth and in our golden years".
Just consider some examples of couples whom we follow in the Bible record from their youth until their dying day. Their devotion was just as evident at the beginning of their romance as it was the day of the spouse's death. Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel, Boaz and Ruth, are among the examples of committed couples whose love was an example of not only romance, but commitment, devotion, and endurance in the trials they walked through together.
This enduring love is at the very heart of Paul's message in what is known as the Love Chapter: "Love never fails". Endurance is a word defined as "the act, quality, or power of withstanding hardship or stress". That's the depth of tested love the world needs to see. As God's children we are called to practice it and be living examples for those who look on, most especially our children. We should not only be attracted to each other, but remain committed to each other as well. Consider this when you express your love this Valentine's Day and every day!
Many years ago we had a cold spell and winter storm which caused our power to go out. After nearly six chilling hours of no electricity Brooksyne, Ester and I, along with my mom, who was living with us at the time, decided to take a drive and be on the look-out for some warmth and working bathrooms. So we all piled in the van and drove over to a Burger King in Rheems about four miles away. It was great to get out of the cold. We ordered our meals and sat down at a table to dine together.
Usually when we go to a fast food restaurant we use the drive through window service or quickly eat and leave (after all, it is "fast" food). Not this time, however, since we were in no hurry to give up our warm location to return to our cold home! We took plenty of time to eat and visit together. We probably bordered on loitering.
As our meal dragged on and on we began to observe a frail elderly couple who were not sitting across from one another as most couples do but rather sitting side by side. Our view of them was obscured by the thick green plants in the privacy partition two rows over. We thought it rather sweet, kind of like a teenage couple on a date. They were also taking their sweet time to finish their meal.
Being curious, I suggested to Brooksyne that she get more condiments, and go the long way around to get a clear view of this couple from their front side. She came back with a full report.
It turns out they were seated close together because they were sharing a single meal. The husband was pinching off bird-sized portions of a hamburger and hand-feeding it to his wife. He broke the french fries into tiny pieces and gave her very small sips of the beverage through a straw. Apparently she had suffered a stroke and, though they were very small bites, it still took her a long time to chew each bite and swallow the food. He lovingly and patiently waited for her to chew and digest each bite before feeding her the next one.
We were both deeply touched by such a loving scene. Thoughts of Valentine's Day bring about mental images of young romance that Jared's, Hallmark, Russell Stover, and local florists market heavily especially on Valentine's Day.
Consider the media's portrayal of love with a gorgeous Hollywood couple having a lavish wedding surrounded by paparazzi. Far too often the same Hollywood couple become headlines again when they're soon embroiled in a divorce battle.
However, we believe the full picture of genuine, mature, and enduring servant type love is evident in the old couple at Burger King. Love's passion will fizzle. Youth and vitality turns into a distant memory captured only in photos or deep in one's heart. But true love will remain all the days of our lives when we take seriously the marital vows, "for better, for worse; in sickness and in health, till death do us part". Maybe we should add "in our days of youth and in our golden years".
Just consider some examples of couples whom we follow in the Bible record from their youth until their dying day. Their devotion was just as evident at the beginning of their romance as it was the day of the spouse's death. Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel, Boaz and Ruth, are among the examples of committed couples whose love was an example of not only romance, but commitment, devotion, and endurance in the trials they walked through together.
This enduring love is at the very heart of Paul's message in what is known as the Love Chapter: "Love never fails". Endurance is a word defined as "the act, quality, or power of withstanding hardship or stress". That's the depth of tested love the world needs to see. As God's children we are called to practice it and be living examples for those who look on, most especially our children. We should not only be attracted to each other, but remain committed to each other as well. Consider this when you express your love this Valentine's Day and every day!
Be
encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, we
thank You for
the wonderful
gift of love
that we
experience in
a romantic
relationship
that often
grows into a
marital bond
between a man
and woman. It
is a holy
union in which
we, as devout
believers,
make You the
Cornerstone of
our marriage
and family.
May we be a
support to
each other as
we provide a
loving and
protective
shelter from
the inevitable
disappointments
of life. May
the fruit of
the Spirit be
evident in our
daily walk
both at home
and in public
places. Keep
us wholly
faithful to
one another,
rejecting
every lustful
temptation the
devil sends
our way. May
we prove our
love to each
other with
mutual
respect,
understanding,
forgiveness,
kindness,
forbearance,
and unity. In
the precious
name of Jesus
we pray.
Amen.Note: We have shared the illustration about the couple at Burger King before, but we have many new readers and also suppose regular readers may very well benefit in reading it again. If you remember it, good for you! It's one of the best examples of enduring love we have ever personally witnessed.
Tomorrow
we will share
a message of
enduring love
regarding a
young couple
going through
a very painful
trial yet
demonstrating
such mature
faith.
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"You
Can't Tear Us
Apart"
Watch
on YouTube
Acoustic Truth
We had several interesting comments about our message on Trophimus yesterday: We spoke of Paul's candid honesty in regard to outcomes (leaving Trophimus, a friend and co-worker, sick) and the way some modern preachers stretch the truth, specifically fudging attendance figures.
Ethan,
a chaplain
friend at a
local
retirement
center, shared
about a
minister who
justified his
inflated
attendance
claims, with
"I just want
to magnify the
Lord". Ethan
correctly
noted, "I
guess the
opposite was
true".
Ed Berkey, my former superintendent when I served as a pastor in New England shared regarding healings, "IF YOU DON'T MAKE ROOM FOR THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME GREAT DISAPPOINTMENTS". That has been what I call an "Anchor Truth".
Ed Berkey, my former superintendent when I served as a pastor in New England shared regarding healings, "IF YOU DON'T MAKE ROOM FOR THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME GREAT DISAPPOINTMENTS". That has been what I call an "Anchor Truth".
David
and Sabra,
Texan friends,
shared that
they had a
house fire
this last
Saturday and
lost just
about
everything but
testified,
"God is good
and we know He
will help us
all along the
way as He
already has".
It's one thing
to have this
type of
assurance
before a trial
but what
assurance to
have it
through the
trial. We
consider a
song of
faithful
resolve shared
yesterday, "Yes
I Will"
Watch
on YouTube
Nick,
a local
friend, shared
about a loved
one who is
going to
hospice.
"While it's
just a matter
of time before
Karen is in
the arms of
our Lord and
Savior, Jesus
Christ, her
homegoing will
be difficult
for us this
side of
eternity".
Today
Tommy, an
employee at
Kleen-Rite,
where we serve
as chaplains
will give each
woman a single
red carnation
which he does
every
Valentine's
Day. His late
father, Tom,
who worked for
Kleen-Rite for
35 years,
started the
tradition many
years ago
before his
unexpected
death five
years ago.
It's a
blessing for
each of the
women who look
forward each
year to his
gesture of
kindness. When
we walk
through on
Friday we'll
see plenty of
those
carnations
sitting on the
desks and
workstations.
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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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Encouragement
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Weber
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Church Road
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Joy, PA 17552
To
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(This will
open to a page
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Stephen and
Brooksyne
Weber -
700001-237376
serving in
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chaplaincy
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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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