✝ Daily Encouragement (3/15/23) "A Chasing After The Wind"
Published: Wed, 03/15/23
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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Wednesday, March 15, 2023
This redbud we passed in Mount Joy yesterday is blooming. We hope the winds that came up later in the day didn't blow the blooms off nor the
heavy winds that continue throughout today!
"A Chasing After The
Wind"
Message
summary:
Today let us beware of chasing after the wind. Let’s make it our renewed and persistent goal to chase (seek) after the Lord above
all!
Listen
to our message on your audio
player.
“Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:11).
Today we have blistering cold winds coming from the west. Since our home faces a large open farm field there’s nothing to break the wind and we get the full brunt of the cold, blustery air. But we’ll take that, along with the periodic applications of manure in the fields, in exchange for the many pleasures we experience living out in the country! ![]() Consider our all-knowing Master who watches His children chasing after the many winds of life trying to find fulfillment and happiness with money, trying to impress others with our material possessions, educational titles, political posturing, and so forth. In describing this futility the writer of Ecclesiastes (Solomon) uses the colorful phrase, “chasing after the wind”. In a descriptive language that all people of all generations can grasp, he describes the meaninglessness of so many life pursuits. We all know how utterly futile it is to go chasing after the wind. It can also be useless to chase something that is being blown by the wind.
Yesterday we were visiting an Amish school program and our friend, Jesse, along with others went chasing after their hats, bonnets, and other items
that the wind had picked up and blown into oblivion it seemed. Their effort was futile. Perhaps the items will show up in someone's field over the next few days!
Nothing solid or tangible; no lasting pleasure or joy; no inner satisfaction results from the ongoing chasing after the wind. Many major life
pursuits perish and die in the enjoyment of them. Instead of yielding absolute and ongoing delight they only proved to be short-lived pleasures, over soon and leaving a thirst for something else. This mindset drove Solomon onto other fruitless chases; “All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure” (Ecclesiastes 2:10a).
Solomon is surely among the most interesting people in Scripture. Although known for his great wisdom and many accomplishments, he failed in some foundational personal decisions. The Book of Ecclesiastes has elements that indicate his despair at life’s pursuits. He was successful by virtually any worldly standard, yet he begins the book by stating, “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”
"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For
God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14).
Today let us beware of chasing after the wind. Let’s make it our renewed and persistent goal to chase (seek) after the Lord above
all!
Be encouraged today, (
Hebrews
3:13)
Stephen and Brooksyne
Weber
![]()
For reflection on prayer see Philippians
3:7-14
The Scriptures contain a wonderful promise concerning the prime pursuit we should all engage in life. God speaks to us and declares,
“You
will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). Jesus gives us a simple key regarding what we are to pursue in life, but it seems we need to be constantly reminded, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew
6:33).
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Oh, But God"
Click to listen on
YouTube Davy
Flowers
I was buried beneath my rebellion
Lost without hope of redemption Blind to my need for a Savior Oh But God
Further
study:
"What is the meaning of “chasing the wind” in
Ecclesiastes?" (from gotquestions.org teaching site)
Yesterday morning we visited with Mel in Palmyra, who has a fresh testimony of giving his life to Christ. He is seeking after the Lord and we are pleased to share spiritual encouragement with him. His shirt expresses his faith and many will recognize the song. We
presented it in our song list on Monday and here it is again dedicated to Mel. Video
Later in the afternoon we visited with Hector who works as a laser machinist. Hector has recently placed his faith in Christ. We'll follow up on his story in a future
message.
Mid-afternoon we went to a student's program (28 children, grades 1-8) at an Amish School, invited by the family. What effort these children put into memorizing hymns (all verses), recitations, drama, all with good moral lessons indicative of the type of education
they are receiving. What a contrast to so many public schools and the utter evil that is being promoted.
The desks were removed from the one room schoolhouse and stacked in front to make room for benches to seat the family and friends who were invited. Hats and bonnets went flying in the high winds and it may be days before some are
recovered!
Here is a fuller description from a program we attended at the same school 8 years
ago:
![]() We were among several other "English" (the term Amish use in referring to non-Amish) who attended a children's Christmas program at an one room schoolhouse that has nearly 30 children, grades 1-8. This was our third time to attend the Children's school program and it is certainly not your "normal" school or church event, but more a reflection of the past when children were required to memorize poems, passages, skits, plays, and songs. I, Brooksyne, still recall our Christmas concerts in my Elementary School where we memorized all the verses of "O Come All Ye Faithful", "Joy to the World", "We Three Kings" and other such sacred carols. The Amish children's program was 90 minutes with 9 poems, seven lengthy songs and medleys, and seven plays, besides some other punchline type narratives. All spoken in English, but with their Pennsylvania Dutch accent, there is much we miss if the children speak quickly. According to Amish customs taking photos of the children's faces would not be protocol, but we thought we'd share some of the vibrant singing so we recorded some audio using the video function on our phones. The first part of the video is singing by the children, discreetly recorded by Ester along with some exterior photos Stephen took as we approached and entered the school. Thankfully hats are removed which helps the many guests with viewing the short children on the platform. We were crowded in like sardines sitting on benches, even squeezed into the children's small desks - for the really slender, even two were seated at one desk (obviously that didn't include the three of us). What a delightful event that few are privileged to enjoy. We love our dear Amish friends. Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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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. 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." © Copyright 2023 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
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Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
717-823-0592
Daily Encouragement Net
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495 Kraybill Church Rd
Mount Joy PA 17552
USA
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Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
717-823-0592
Daily Encouragement Net
https://www.dailyencouragement.net
Mail service provider is aweber.com
495 Kraybill Church Rd
Mount Joy PA 17552
USA
Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options