✝ Daily Encouragement (7/24/23) "Always Speaking"
Published: Mon, 07/24/23
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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Monday, July 24, 2023
What a bright and cheery sight to see Sunday morning at sunrise! The dinner
plate hibiscus flowers have opened their large pedals to greet the warm sun.
(Click on photo to enlarge.)
"Always
Speaking"
Note:
This morning we are heading out to Nebraska to attend a family
reunion. In fact since this message is scheduled we should be there by the time most of you read it. We will be gathering with my cousins (Stephen's) on my Mom's side as we have annually since 1975 after my grandparents died. Due to travel and expected busyness and weariness we do not expect to post daily messages each day this
week.
Message
summary:
Today God continues to speak and summon. “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts!”
(Hebrews 4:7). He knows your name and just what you are going through. There are no limitations with God.
Today let us hear His voice and not harden our hearts!”
Listen
to our message on your audio player.
“The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. 'Our God comes; He does not keep silence'” (Psalm 50:1,3). “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies Me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” (Psalm 50:23). “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 4:7). Living out in the country we are blessed with a very visible sunrise and sunset. However a good sunrise/sunset photo is not just of the sun but the long shadows also make for interesting photography. Brooksyne took today's lead photo of our hibiscus at sunrise yesterday, which was an absolutely ideal summer day.
Today’s first text is a solemn introduction to the fiftieth Psalm. It
speaks of the Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaking and summoning the earth,
“The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the
earth".
This summons goes forth,
"from the rising of the sun to its setting". That’s every place that the human race inhabits. This speech and summons is present tense. He is
speaking and summoning. This very day He is at work speaking to all who will listen and heed His
voice.
“Our God comes; He does not keep silence”. God does not keep silence!
However Psalm 50 is probably not on anyone’s short list for favorite
Psalms. It deals with a topic many prefer not to give a lot of attention to. The NASV has this heading: “God the Judge of the Righteous and the Wicked.” The ESV heads it as, “God Himself Is Judge”. Some of the expressions may seem harsh to our ears but as God’s people we must heed all of God’s Word, not just those sections in which we prefer or necessarily find encouragement.
Today let us consider several portions from the Psalm: 1)
“The heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is
judge!” (v.6). The righteousness (holiness) of God is one of His foundational attributes. But so is His justice. We need to ever keep before us that “God Himself is judge”. I grew up in a church that regularly recited the Apostles Creed which forthrightly states that “He shall come to judge the quick (living) and the dead". A spiritually healthy outlook in life includes a perspective of future judgment. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy (and through
Scripture to all of us): “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead” (2 Timothy 4:1).
2) “But to the wicked God says: ‘What right have you to recite My statutes or take My covenant on your lips? For you hate discipline, and you cast My words behind you’” (vv 16,17). Today especially consider the phrase, “You cast My words behind you". Just observe the condition of the human race as overall the words of God are cast away or used in mockery. 3) “Now consider this, you who forget God” (v. 22). Oh, how we need to communicate this to our world about not forgetting God and His commands. This was a caution to believers but also consider the state of those who willingly forget God, giving Him no heed at all. 4) “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies Me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” This is a contrast to the first three points and is something we are positively called to do; offer thanksgiving and order our way rightly in obedience to God. Brooksyne and I, in our first year of marriage, memorized this verse since it was set to music from the KJV, “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.” Today He continues to speak and summon, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts!” (Hebrews 4:7). He knows your name and just what you are going through. There are no limitations with God. Today let us hear His voice and not harden our hearts!”
Speak, O Lord, as we come to
You
To receive the food of Your Holy Word. Take Your truth, plant it deep in us; Shape and fashion us in Your likeness, That the light of Christ might be seen today In our acts of love and our deeds of faith. Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us All Your purposes for Your glory.
Be encouraged today, (
Hebrews
3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne
Weber
![]() Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Praise You Anywhere"
Click to watch on YouTube
Brandon Lake We first heard this song at a Brooke Ligertwood concert early this
year.
"Shh, Be Still" Click to watch on YouTube Ernie Haase & Signature Sound Shh be
still
God is in this place Ahhh can’t you feel His loving sweet embrace Ooh come be Amazed again by grace Shhh be still God is in this place
Saturday we had a big car show on Main Street in Mount Joy. I like this photo in part for the huge grain bins in the
background!
(Click on photo to enlarge.)
It's amazing the variety of vehicles people find to
restore!
Ken is a retired machinist I met shortly after moving to Lancaster County in 2001. Although he hasn't worked at the company where we met for some 17 years we have remained friends through Daily Encouragement. He was pleased to show me
his Mercury he had fully
restored.
Fred is a friend from a church we attended for many years. Last week I shared about a man that had started his work career in a factory location and hoped to finish at the same location although working for a completely different company.
Fred is a farm equipment mechanic who has worked for the very same company (Messicks) for 50
years!
While in town I checked out our newly opened Copper Cup coffee shop
which is in a repurposed bank building. This was the lobby and notice the vault in the background. They also serve
tomato pie! Have you ever had
that?
The Copper Cup has a dining table in the bank vault and plans to have it available soon for sitting at. Yesterday morning I talked to Gordy, our lead teacher in our ABF class, and suggested this would be a good place for a memorable
teacher's
meeting!
Finally
today:
Friday morning we stopped by the Old Windmill Farm
just as it was opening for business. Jesse and Anna Ruth transitioned from a dairy farm to agritourism some 7 years ago and the
Lord has really blessed their operation with people from all over the world visiting the farm. One aspect I wouldn't have considered in working with them in setting this up is how many guests return again and again. I think in part it's just the peace on a farm. In this photo I am sitting on a rocking chair on their porch as Brooksyne and Anna Ruth and the younger children visit. Jesse and several of the older children were in the barn doing chores. You can see to the right the farm tour
guests are
arriving.
(Click on photo to enlarge.) 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."
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Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
717-823-0592
Daily Encouragement Net
https://www.dailyencouragement.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