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Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Friday,
April 5, 2024
The
Little Brown
Church In The
Vale, Nashua
Iowa
Photo
by Steve
Ephraim
"See! The winter is past". We may get a few more cold days but you can sure sense the many signs of spring all around us.
“The cooing of doves is heard in our land”. How perfect that Solomon would refer to a mourning dove (some versions read, “turtle dove”) rather than a remote bird that we can no longer see or identify. Mourning doves are very common small doves that can be spotted all around the world so our international readers will also be familiar with this beautiful bird. Their soft, drawn-out calls sound like laments and can actually be a little frightening if unfamiliar with their song.
When I (Brooksyne) was young I mistook the cooing of a mourning dove for a crying baby. Songbirds are one of the most pleasant sounds that fill the spring air. We awaken to their songs as they begin singing about 5:00 AM where we live. They have to rise early since their days are filled with finding mates and constructing their homes from nesting materials. So we usually rise with them as we’re reminded that we have many duties that fill our day as well.
I’m thankful for the four seasons where His wonders are displayed in a variety of ways, each unique to that particular season. I will admit to enjoying the spring season when I plant seeds and watch for their germination much more than the fall season where the blooming is over, the vegetables are spent, and I have to pull up plants and store their buds or winter-over plants for the cold months. It’s a little like the anticipation of a long-planned vacation vs. the drudgery of unpacking and washing the dirty clothes after it’s all over!
Yet “there is a time for everything”, as Solomon writes, in Ecclesiastes 3:1 "and a season for every activity under heaven". So let’s be blessed by this Spring season and give thanks to God who doeth all things well in His time, in His way, and in His season!
Daily prayer:
Father, we are
in awe of Your
gifts to us.
The domain of
Your universe
is vast and
far beyond
that which we
can see over a
lifetime, but
our lives are
greatly
enriched and
blessed as You
fill it with
individual
gifts of
beauty we can
touch, see,
smell, hear,
and taste. For
the wonder of
each hour of
the day and of
the night,
hill and vale
and tree and
flower, sun
and moon and
stars of
light. We
raise to You
our hearts
which are
filled with
unending
praise. Amen.
In the heart of the Iowa countryside, nestled among fields of corn and rolling hills, stands the quaint Little Brown Church. Its weathered exterior bears witness to over a century and a half of history, a silent sentinel of faith in an ever-changing world.
Inside, the hallowed halls echo with the whispers of prayers and the solemn strains of hymns sung by generations past. On this memorable Easter afternoon, the pews are bathed in soft light streaming through the gothic windows, casting sunbeams onto the worn wooden pews.
At the altar, a solitary figure dominates the room, transfixed by the weathered Bible resting majestically atop the ancient book stand. For years, he had heard the words of Isaiah 53 spoken from pulpits and recited in Sunday School classrooms. But today, as he stands before the open pages of the ancient text, something stirs within him, something profound and indescribable.
Isaiah 53, a chapter steeped in prophecy, foretells the suffering and sacrificial role of a Messiah yet to come. Each verse, like a brushstroke on the canvas of history, paints a vivid picture of redemption and atonement, of pain and triumph.
As the man reads, the words seem to leap from the page, as if imbued with a life of their own. He sees the suffering servant, despised and rejected by men, yet bearing the weight of humanity's sins with silent grace.
"He was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities..."
The words resonate in the quiet sanctuary, echoing off the walls like a sacred incantation. In that moment, the man feels a stirring in his soul, a deep-seated conviction that this story, this ancient prophecy, holds the key to something greater than he can comprehend.
For him, this is more than just a recitation of scripture; it is a revelation, a divine encounter with the very heart of God. In the silence of that sacred space, he feels the presence of something holy, something transcendent, reaching out to touch him in the depths of his being.
As he stands there, surrounded by the echoes of generations past, he knows that he will never be the same. This encounter with Isaiah 53 has changed him, transformed him in ways he cannot yet fully grasp.
For in the words of that ancient prophet, he has found not just a story, but a truth—a truth that speaks to the deepest longings of the human heart, a truth that offers hope in the midst of despair, redemption in the face of sin.
And so, as he emerges from the sanctuary into the warm glow of the afternoon sun, he carries with him not just a book, but a revelation—a revelation that will shape the course of his life for years to come.
"The
Winter Is
Past!"
Message
summary:
“There is a
time for
everything”,
as Solomon
writes, in
Ecclesiastes
3:1 "and a
season for
every activity
under heaven".
So let’s be
blessed and
give thanks to
God for this
spring season
who doeth all
things well in
His time, in
His way, and
in His season!
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land” (Song of Solomon 2:11,12).
As I (Stephen) have gotten older I've taken a greater interest in flowers and birds – they seem to go hand in hand, as seen in our text from Solomon. I recall how perplexed I was when my big, burly working class dad started enjoying flowers in his old age and now, as Yogi Berra says, "it's like Déjŕ vu all over again".
"See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land” (Song of Solomon 2:11,12).
As I (Stephen) have gotten older I've taken a greater interest in flowers and birds – they seem to go hand in hand, as seen in our text from Solomon. I recall how perplexed I was when my big, burly working class dad started enjoying flowers in his old age and now, as Yogi Berra says, "it's like Déjŕ vu all over again".
But
most of
today's
message was
written more
from
Brooksyne's
perspective so
for the most
part she is
the "I".
I
have enjoyed
planting and
tending to
flowers ever
since we got
married in
1976. When we
moved to our
present
location in
2002 our yard
had a nice
layout for
flower and
vegetable
gardens. Only
about fifteen
years before
our house was
built the plot
of ground was
fertile
Lancaster
County farm
land so the
rich soil has
contributed to
making
gardening a
delightful
success.
I grew up in rural Oklahoma where temperatures and humidity* soared and my gardening chores as a youngster in a family of seven did not leave me with pleasant memories. Tending the garden seemed to occupy the entire summer as we sometimes planted an entire acre to feed our family. At that time I never thought I’d find myself voluntarily digging dirt, watering plants, fighting off disease and harmful insects, weeding, and getting excited about walking through plant nurseries.
I grew up in rural Oklahoma where temperatures and humidity* soared and my gardening chores as a youngster in a family of seven did not leave me with pleasant memories. Tending the garden seemed to occupy the entire summer as we sometimes planted an entire acre to feed our family. At that time I never thought I’d find myself voluntarily digging dirt, watering plants, fighting off disease and harmful insects, weeding, and getting excited about walking through plant nurseries.
My
present
delightful
ritual is
early each
morning
examining the
plants I have
planted from
seed growing
in our sunny
dining room
which will be
transplanted
outside when
the temps are
warmer.
The
ladies from a
church we
served in an
interim
pastoral role
many years ago
presented me with
a garden
plaque that
said, “A
Garden Always
Gives Back
More Than It
Receives” and
that for the
most part is
definitely
true!
We
have had
several days
of rain. I
suppose the
old ditty
comes to mind,
"April showers
bring May
flowers".
However we
already have
the early
spring flowers
blooming.
In
the daily text
Solomon is
giving us a
picture of the
spring season
when the
winter is
past. It’s as
though he’s
flipping a
page on the
calendar that
turns the
previous month
of a bleak
winter
landscape into
the new month
that bursts
forth with
signs of
spring. Let’s
look at the
warming signs
one phrase at
a time:
"See! The winter is past". We may get a few more cold days but you can sure sense the many signs of spring all around us.
"The
rains are over
and gone".
In our region
of the world
we don't have
specific rainy
seasons like
much of the
world does. It
rains as God
ordains all
through the
year. But we
are sure ready
for the heavy
rains we have
had this week
to be over and
for sunny warm
weather!
“The
flowers appear
on the earth".
All gardeners
and those who
enjoy the
beauty and
color of
flowers get
excited when
the crocus or
daffodils and
other spring
bulbs break
through the
last remnants
of snow.
After months
of seeing the
rather dull
gray of winter
the visual
beauty of a
colorful
flower
bursting up
through the
ground lifts
one’s spirit
and reminds us
that there is
much more
beauty to come
– the buds on
the trees, the
grass turning
green, bunny
rabbits
populating the
landscape, the
shedding of
winter coats,
etc.
Yes, spring is romantic and always full of life – Easter, celebrated each spring, is a marvelous reminder of new life, the resurrected life of our Lord Jesus Christ. John Wesley writes, "The communications of God’s grace, the gifts, and graces, and comforts of the Holy Spirit, are vouchsafed unto, and appear in believers, as buds and blossoms do in the spring".
“The season of singing has come”. How can we not burst forth into song or whistle a tune as we begin to spend more time outdoors enjoying the beauty of God’s creation!
Yes, spring is romantic and always full of life – Easter, celebrated each spring, is a marvelous reminder of new life, the resurrected life of our Lord Jesus Christ. John Wesley writes, "The communications of God’s grace, the gifts, and graces, and comforts of the Holy Spirit, are vouchsafed unto, and appear in believers, as buds and blossoms do in the spring".
“The season of singing has come”. How can we not burst forth into song or whistle a tune as we begin to spend more time outdoors enjoying the beauty of God’s creation!
For
the beauty of
the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies.
Christ, our Lord, to you we raise
this, our hymn of grateful praise.
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies.
Christ, our Lord, to you we raise
this, our hymn of grateful praise.
“The cooing of doves is heard in our land”. How perfect that Solomon would refer to a mourning dove (some versions read, “turtle dove”) rather than a remote bird that we can no longer see or identify. Mourning doves are very common small doves that can be spotted all around the world so our international readers will also be familiar with this beautiful bird. Their soft, drawn-out calls sound like laments and can actually be a little frightening if unfamiliar with their song.
When I (Brooksyne) was young I mistook the cooing of a mourning dove for a crying baby. Songbirds are one of the most pleasant sounds that fill the spring air. We awaken to their songs as they begin singing about 5:00 AM where we live. They have to rise early since their days are filled with finding mates and constructing their homes from nesting materials. So we usually rise with them as we’re reminded that we have many duties that fill our day as well.
I’m thankful for the four seasons where His wonders are displayed in a variety of ways, each unique to that particular season. I will admit to enjoying the spring season when I plant seeds and watch for their germination much more than the fall season where the blooming is over, the vegetables are spent, and I have to pull up plants and store their buds or winter-over plants for the cold months. It’s a little like the anticipation of a long-planned vacation vs. the drudgery of unpacking and washing the dirty clothes after it’s all over!
Yet “there is a time for everything”, as Solomon writes, in Ecclesiastes 3:1 "and a season for every activity under heaven". So let’s be blessed by this Spring season and give thanks to God who doeth all things well in His time, in His way, and in His season!
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, we are
in awe of Your
gifts to us.
The domain of
Your universe
is vast and
far beyond
that which we
can see over a
lifetime, but
our lives are
greatly
enriched and
blessed as You
fill it with
individual
gifts of
beauty we can
touch, see,
smell, hear,
and taste. For
the wonder of
each hour of
the day and of
the night,
hill and vale
and tree and
flower, sun
and moon and
stars of
light. We
raise to You
our hearts
which are
filled with
unending
praise. Amen.*
This brings to
mind another
Yogi Berra
quote, "It
ain't the
heat, it's the
humility". He
was famous for
his witty yogisms.
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"For
The Beauty Of
The Earth"
Watch
on YouTube
Reawaken Hymns
Regarding
bird feeding
and watching
we have
feeding
stations
outside our
new bedroom
addition,
kitchen window
and front
window so we
have lots of
views!
An
apt word seen
on a sign at
Audreys.
Once
spring arrives
that pretty
well describes
Brooksyne.
This
is what one
section of
flowers will
look like as
the season
progresses.
Hydrangeas are
among
Brooksyne's
favorite
flowers and
Stephen really
likes the
colorful
coleus as seen
in the middle.
Steve
Ephraim, an
Iowan reader,
sent me
several photos
and a
reflection he
had written
about "The
Little Brown
Church in the
Vale" after a
visit there
this last
Sunday on
Easter. It's
only about 45
minutes from
his home. The
quaint little
church is the
basis of the
familiar song:
"The Church In
The WildWood"
Watch
on YouTube
The Carter
Family
An
Encounter with
Isaiah 53 in
the Little
Brown Church
By Steve Ephraim
March 31, 2024
By Steve Ephraim
March 31, 2024
In the heart of the Iowa countryside, nestled among fields of corn and rolling hills, stands the quaint Little Brown Church. Its weathered exterior bears witness to over a century and a half of history, a silent sentinel of faith in an ever-changing world.
Inside, the hallowed halls echo with the whispers of prayers and the solemn strains of hymns sung by generations past. On this memorable Easter afternoon, the pews are bathed in soft light streaming through the gothic windows, casting sunbeams onto the worn wooden pews.
At the altar, a solitary figure dominates the room, transfixed by the weathered Bible resting majestically atop the ancient book stand. For years, he had heard the words of Isaiah 53 spoken from pulpits and recited in Sunday School classrooms. But today, as he stands before the open pages of the ancient text, something stirs within him, something profound and indescribable.
Isaiah 53, a chapter steeped in prophecy, foretells the suffering and sacrificial role of a Messiah yet to come. Each verse, like a brushstroke on the canvas of history, paints a vivid picture of redemption and atonement, of pain and triumph.
As the man reads, the words seem to leap from the page, as if imbued with a life of their own. He sees the suffering servant, despised and rejected by men, yet bearing the weight of humanity's sins with silent grace.
"He was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities..."
The words resonate in the quiet sanctuary, echoing off the walls like a sacred incantation. In that moment, the man feels a stirring in his soul, a deep-seated conviction that this story, this ancient prophecy, holds the key to something greater than he can comprehend.
For him, this is more than just a recitation of scripture; it is a revelation, a divine encounter with the very heart of God. In the silence of that sacred space, he feels the presence of something holy, something transcendent, reaching out to touch him in the depths of his being.
As he stands there, surrounded by the echoes of generations past, he knows that he will never be the same. This encounter with Isaiah 53 has changed him, transformed him in ways he cannot yet fully grasp.
For in the words of that ancient prophet, he has found not just a story, but a truth—a truth that speaks to the deepest longings of the human heart, a truth that offers hope in the midst of despair, redemption in the face of sin.
And so, as he emerges from the sanctuary into the warm glow of the afternoon sun, he carries with him not just a book, but a revelation—a revelation that will shape the course of his life for years to come.
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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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