Daily Encouragement (1/24/22) "Trust and Confidence"
Published: Mon, 01/24/22
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A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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Monday, January 24, 2022
 The Knox Covered Bridge is in the Valley Forge National Historical Park Click on photo to enlarge
"Trust and Confidence"
Message summary: What a tremendous blessing it is to place our trust in the living God. Yesterday our service opened with the classic hymn, "My Faith Has Found a Resting Place". We made that declaration with blended voices as we sang the familiar words and tune (familiar to the older ones and probably unknown to the younger ones)! The claims of Christ are tested daily and have been by millions throughout the ages. Indeed, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him". Listen to this message on your audio player. “But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him” (Jeremiah 17:7).  Years ago we went to a family reunion at a ski resort in Colorado. After the reunion we drove through Colorado to visit some other family members and stopped at several notable tourist sites throughout the state. Today we consider a memory of the Royal Gorge Bridge, built in 1929, which for many years was the highest bridge in the world with a deck height of 955 feet, measured from the deck to the Arkansas River surface below. (That's over 3
football fields!)
I parked our rental van on the west side of the canyon. We slowly approached the bridge on foot and with a knot in my stomach proceeded to walk across. My fear is not really heights but being near or looking out over any edge. Well, as you already know, I made it across safely and we visited the various attractions on the east side.
We rode the world’s steepest incline railway down into the canyon and back up, and crossed the gorge in the world’s longest aerial tram suspended by what appeared to be a thin wire. My confidence was rising! By the time I walked back across the bridge to the van I could look over the edge. But I still had my biggest challenge; driving the van across the bridge. I could either do that or backtrack about fifty miles.
I put my trust in a lot of brilliant engineering, quality materials, competent construction, diligent maintenance, conscientious inspections, and ultimately in God. My confidence grew as I saw other vehicles crossing safely and analytically considered how many thousands of vehicles had crossed that bridge safely since it was built. I mustered my courage and slowly drove across but must say how relieved and grateful I was to be back on solid ground on the other side! Since late 2016, the highest bridge is China's Beipanjiang Bridge Duge with a deck height of 1,854 feet. If I ever get over that way I can test my bridge crossing faith once again. Wherever we live and whatever years the Lord gives to us we have plenty of opportunities to place our trust and confidence in God for that which tests our faith.
Our daily text was written by Jeremiah in the historical context of the Southern Kingdom’s final years. God’s judgment was imminent and Jeremiah was one of the faithful prophets proclaiming this unpopular truth of God's pending judgment. People preferred the type of false prophets Jeremiah describes, "They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no
peace" (Jeremiah 6:14). Isn't that true of our day as well?
But the terrible message of judgment also had within it a tremendous message of hope: "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him".
When we look around and consider all that enriches our lives we may fail to consider our trust in the Lord as a blessing. People outside the faith might count their possessions, health, and perhaps other people as blessings in their lives. Those of us who follow Christ would certainly consider these to be blessings as well, but the tremendous dimension of our salvation in Christ should be at the top of our list and every blessing associated with that. Of course that would make the list infinitely long! In fact God has “blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him (I Corinthians 2:9). What a tremendous blessing it is to place our trust and confidence in the living God. Yesterday our service opened with a classic hymn, "My Faith Has Found a Resting Place". We made that declaration with blended voices as we sang the familiar words and tune (familiar to the older and probably unknown to many of the younger)! The claims of Christ are tested daily and have been by millions throughout the ages. Indeed we declare,
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him".
Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13) Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, the greatest blessing in trusting You is the confidence we walk in as we look to You for
everything that we have need of. Jeremiah draws the contrast of those who depend on humans for strength and have stopped trusting in You. They don't know about the good things that You can give because they are unwilling to surrender their all to You. But we who have walked across the bridge of salvation chose to place our trust in You. We have found You to be faithful. In place of cringing fear we walk in confident faith because it is not in ourselves that we trust but in the Living God who
is trustworthy in all areas of our lives. But still we ask for grace to trust You even more. Amen.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
 Saturday evening Stephen had the privilege of officiating the wedding of Harry Hess and Ruth Brandt. When I volunteer at the Mount Joy Gift and Thrift Store I often see Ruth busily arranging donor items in such attractive displays and she has many other duties as well. Ruth and Harry have been widowed for several years and Harry's sister, also a volunteer cashier, introduced the two of them and it must have been love at first sight.
What a delightful evening to participate in their marriage service and the reception that followed. We visited with many of their family and friends who are also our friends, but we didn't know it before the wedding.
 Brooksyne's note: Our church has three worship services and on our appointed Sunday the choir and orchestra sings in all three services. Yesterday we arrived at 6:45 AM for check-in and by 7 am choir and orchestra are on the platform running through all our songs. This particular Stephen and Ester decided to come along with me for all the services. (Arriving at that early hour reminds me of the old days when Stephen was a pastor and we
arrived every Sunday bright and early and were the last ones to leave!) Yesterday, during one of the breaks between services, Stephen got acquainted with Bill who is the most senior choir member. I got acquainted with Bill about four years ago, shortly after joining the choir. You wouldn't know by looking but Bill, in just a few weeks, will turn 97 years old. With excellent posture he stands at least 6' and only in the past two years has started walking with a cane. Twice widowed
Bill has lived at Brethren Village for decades and has a spirit of exuberant joy that is contagious. What a blessing he is to our congregation, to the choir, and to the kingdom of God.
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