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Brooksyne
Weber
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Thursday,
February 22, 2024
"When
through the
woods and
forest glades
I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees"
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees"
(A
look back at
Brooksyne
walking along
a nature trail
during a visit
to the
George Washington Carver National Monument in Southwest Missouri.)
George Washington Carver National Monument in Southwest Missouri.)
"How
Great Thou
Art!"
Message
summary:
Hide this
truth deep in
your heart. We
may struggle
at times, but
God's eternal
Word declares
that what
really matters
has already
been taken
care of. "We are
more than
conquerors!"
Is Jesus
Christ your
Savior and
Lord today?
Ultimately
this is the
only thing
that matters
in winning the
one thing in
life that
really does
matter.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
“Great
are the works
of the Lord;
they are
studied by all
who delight in
them.” “The
fear of the
Lord is the
beginning of
wisdom; a good
understanding
have all those
who do His
commandments;
His praise
endures
forever”
(Psalm
111:2,10).
O
Lord my God,
when I in
awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed:
Consider all the worlds thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed:
A
favorite
historical
character most
of us learned
about in
Elementary
School is
George
Washington
Carver. I
suppose in
part because
my grandfather
also had the
same first and
middle names,
both named
after our
first
president! One
of my most
memorable
childhood
trips was to
the National
Monument where
he is honored
in
Southwestern
Missouri.
Brooksyne,
Ester and I
have also
stopped by
several times
over the
years.Carver
was born into
slavery,
orphaned as an
infant, and
traded for a
broken-down
racehorse. He
had all kinds
of excuses to
fail and be
bitter.
Yet
he grew up
with a faith
and love for
God and an
appreciation
of nature that
would sustain
him throughout
his entire
life. He
wisely wrote:
“How far you
go in life
depends on
your being
tender with
the young,
compassionate
with the aged,
sympathetic
with the
striving, and
tolerant of
the weak and
the strong.
Because
someday in
life you will
have been all
of these.”
His
forte was the
peanut.
Testifying
before the
Senate
Agriculture
Committee, he
said that he
got his
knowledge of
peanuts from
the Bible.
Asked what the
Bible said
about peanuts
he replied,
"The Bible
does not teach
anything
regarding the
peanut. But it
told me about
God, and God
told me about
the peanut".
We
can all
observe God’s
creation,
otherwise
referred to as
nature. You
can see the
works of the
Lord all
around you
regardless of
where you
live, although
I must admit
living in the
country it
seems the
observance of
His works is
even more
abundant and
evident.
Psalm 48:1 declares, "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised". Absolutely, God is great in His divine nature, but in our passage today we focus on the greatness of His works. The Psalmist proclaims, "Great are the works of the Lord". It’s truly amazing what the Lord has done in creation from the micro to the macro.
"They (His works) are studied by all who delight in them". George Washington Carver wrote, “I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station through which God speaks to us every hour if we will only tune in.” As a devout Christian, Carver considered his laboratory, "God’s Little Workshop".
Part of delighting in God is studying His works which should lead us to delighting in them. Another version uses this phrase “they are pondered”. We are called Scripturally to study these marvelous gifts from God. Study means to reflectively examine and investigate.
What a great Creator God we serve! One of the theological “proofs” for the existence of God is known as the teleological, which asserts that the very design shows a Designer behind it. I see God’s handiwork and design everywhere I look.
But there’s a part of this Scripture portion that I find especially insightful: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments”. Worded another way; Fearing the Lord and obeying His commandments result in gaining wisdom and good understanding. Or to word this concept negatively; choosing not to fear the Lord or obey His commands leads to foolishness.
Of course we see in our age a massive departure from fearing the Lord and keeping His commands. The verse comes to mind “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:20-22).
We make this declaration today through another Psalm of David, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork” (Psalm 19:1).
“How Great Thou Art” continues in the third verse with an extolling of God’s work in the redemption of His people.
Indeed, “His praise endures forever". Amen!
Psalm 48:1 declares, "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised". Absolutely, God is great in His divine nature, but in our passage today we focus on the greatness of His works. The Psalmist proclaims, "Great are the works of the Lord". It’s truly amazing what the Lord has done in creation from the micro to the macro.
"They (His works) are studied by all who delight in them". George Washington Carver wrote, “I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station through which God speaks to us every hour if we will only tune in.” As a devout Christian, Carver considered his laboratory, "God’s Little Workshop".
Part of delighting in God is studying His works which should lead us to delighting in them. Another version uses this phrase “they are pondered”. We are called Scripturally to study these marvelous gifts from God. Study means to reflectively examine and investigate.
When
through the
woods and
forest glades
I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:
What a great Creator God we serve! One of the theological “proofs” for the existence of God is known as the teleological, which asserts that the very design shows a Designer behind it. I see God’s handiwork and design everywhere I look.
But there’s a part of this Scripture portion that I find especially insightful: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments”. Worded another way; Fearing the Lord and obeying His commandments result in gaining wisdom and good understanding. Or to word this concept negatively; choosing not to fear the Lord or obey His commands leads to foolishness.
Of course we see in our age a massive departure from fearing the Lord and keeping His commands. The verse comes to mind “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:20-22).
We make this declaration today through another Psalm of David, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork” (Psalm 19:1).
“How Great Thou Art” continues in the third verse with an extolling of God’s work in the redemption of His people.
And
when I think
that God, His
Son not
sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died, to take away my sin.
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died, to take away my sin.
Indeed, “His praise endures forever". Amen!
Be
encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, Your
works surround
us and add
such depth and
beauty to our
daily
experiences in
life.
You not only
tend to our
daily needs
but through
Your great
works You
delight our
senses by that
which we see,
touch, hear,
and feel as we
applaud Your
handiwork.
Help us to
pause in our
busy schedules
to listen to
the rippling
brook, to
enjoy the
birds singing
as we awaken
in the
morning, to
smell the tree
blossoms,
observe the
mountain
grandeur and
recognize Your
creative
artistry in
the variety of
ornamentals
that we have
the privilege
of planting,
growing and
tending over
the warm
months each
year. Your
great works
are observed
in the
Scriptures and
admired in our
daily
lives.
How
wonderfully
extravagant
are Your works
that we enjoy
each day, for
it is truly
the heavens
declaring Your
glory and the
firmament
showing Your
handiwork. For
them we are
deeply
grateful.
Amen.Having shared most of the hymn in the body of our message today we really should share the last and most anticipatory event described in the last verse!
When
Christ shall
come with
shout of
acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
And there proclaim, “My God, how great thou art!”
Refrain
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
And there proclaim, “My God, how great thou art!”
Refrain
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"How
Great Thou Art
(Until That
Day)"
Watch
on YouTube
Matt Redman,
Chris Tomlin,
Hillary Scott,
TAYA &
Friends
Finally
today:
Here's more info about George Washington Carver. Scrolling down for a description of his Christian commitment we read:
Carver believed he could have faith both in God and science and integrated them into his life. He testified on many occasions that his faith in Jesus was the only mechanism by which he could effectively pursue and perform the art of science. Carver became a Christian when he was still a young boy, as he wrote in connection to his conversion in 1931:
He was not expected to live past his twenty-first birthday due to failing health. He lived well past the age of 21, and his belief deepened as a result. Throughout his career, he always found friendship with other Christians. He relied on them especially when criticized by the scientific community and media regarding his research methodology.
Carver viewed faith in Jesus Christ as a means of destroying both barriers of racial disharmony and social stratification. He was as concerned with his students' character development as he was with their intellectual development. He compiled a list of eight cardinal virtues for his students to strive toward:
Be clean both inside and out.
Neither look up to the rich nor down on the poor.
Lose, if need be, without squealing.
Win without bragging.
Always be considerate of women, children, and older people.
Be too brave to lie.
Be too generous to cheat.
Take your share of the world and let others take theirs.
Beginning in 1906 at Tuskegee, Carver led a Bible class on Sundays for several students at their request. He regularly portrayed stories by acting them out. He responded to critics with this: "When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world."
Here's more info about George Washington Carver. Scrolling down for a description of his Christian commitment we read:
Carver believed he could have faith both in God and science and integrated them into his life. He testified on many occasions that his faith in Jesus was the only mechanism by which he could effectively pursue and perform the art of science. Carver became a Christian when he was still a young boy, as he wrote in connection to his conversion in 1931:
I
was just a
mere boy when
converted,
hardly ten
years old.
There isn't
much of a
story to it.
God just came
into my heart
one afternoon
while I was
alone in the
'loft' of our
big barn while
I was shelling
corn to carry
to the mill to
be ground into
meal.
A dear little white boy, one of our neighbors, about my age came by one Saturday morning, and in talking and playing he told me he was going to Sunday school tomorrow morning. I was eager to know what a Sunday school was. He said they sang hymns and prayed. I asked him what prayer was and what they said. I do not remember what he said; only remember that as soon as he left I climbed up into the 'loft,' knelt down by the barrel of corn and prayed as best I could. I do not remember what I said. I only recall that I felt so good that I prayed several times before I quit.
My brother and myself were the only colored children in that neighborhood and of course, we could not go to church or Sunday school, or school of any kind.
That was my simple conversion, and I have tried to keep the faith.
— G. W.
Carver; Letter
to Isabelle
Coleman; July
24, 1931A dear little white boy, one of our neighbors, about my age came by one Saturday morning, and in talking and playing he told me he was going to Sunday school tomorrow morning. I was eager to know what a Sunday school was. He said they sang hymns and prayed. I asked him what prayer was and what they said. I do not remember what he said; only remember that as soon as he left I climbed up into the 'loft,' knelt down by the barrel of corn and prayed as best I could. I do not remember what I said. I only recall that I felt so good that I prayed several times before I quit.
My brother and myself were the only colored children in that neighborhood and of course, we could not go to church or Sunday school, or school of any kind.
That was my simple conversion, and I have tried to keep the faith.
He was not expected to live past his twenty-first birthday due to failing health. He lived well past the age of 21, and his belief deepened as a result. Throughout his career, he always found friendship with other Christians. He relied on them especially when criticized by the scientific community and media regarding his research methodology.
Carver viewed faith in Jesus Christ as a means of destroying both barriers of racial disharmony and social stratification. He was as concerned with his students' character development as he was with their intellectual development. He compiled a list of eight cardinal virtues for his students to strive toward:
Be clean both inside and out.
Neither look up to the rich nor down on the poor.
Lose, if need be, without squealing.
Win without bragging.
Always be considerate of women, children, and older people.
Be too brave to lie.
Be too generous to cheat.
Take your share of the world and let others take theirs.
Beginning in 1906 at Tuskegee, Carver led a Bible class on Sundays for several students at their request. He regularly portrayed stories by acting them out. He responded to critics with this: "When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world."
Photo
at the George
Washington
Carver
National
Monument
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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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