✝ Daily Encouragement (8/30/23) "In Everything"

Published: Wed, 08/30/23

A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.

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Wednesday, August 30, 2023

A view of the Susquehanna River from Marietta, PA with the Chiques Rock on the left and the Route 30 bridge in the distance .

Click on photo to enlarge

"In Everything"

Message summary: May God fill each reader with assurance and thankfulness in everything today even if!

Listen to our message on your audio player .

"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

For many years I have offered this candid pastoral counsel to those undergoing trials: "You don't pick your problems and you don't schedule them". This was born out of a personal trial in my own life from over 20 years ago when I had 4 surgeries in the span of a little over a year. Certainly that experience fortified my empathy ability.

For several months I have been on bike trail rides with our long-time friend, 84 year old Nick. He had read about our ebiking rides on Daily Encouragement and expressed interest although he hadn't ridden a bike since his youth. This spring we went over the Martin's Bike Shop together and he bought his very own ebike and has been enjoying rides immensely and looking forward to more.

Last night we were with some other friends on a ride along the Susquehanna River through Marietta to Columbia, PA and back. On the way back Nick and I pulled off to look at the scenic view of the river as seen in our lead photo. Nick had stopped and was getting off his bike and lost his balance and fell.

Long story short he was unable to get back up, an ambulance came and as it turns out he broke his hip. Ester and I were with him at Lancaster General last night till late and this morning he is in surgery. Brooksyne and Ester are both supporting his family in the waiting room as I type.

Last night Dan Blank, his pastor and I were encouraging him in the emergency room as waited the results and he was in good spirits. We shared the daily verse, "In everything give thanks" and the perspective developed below. Even in his pain he was expressing thankfulness and assurance in God's care.

The doctor came in to report that he had broken his hip and would need surgery. For a brief moment Nick's countenance visibly changed as absorbed the news and his discouragement was very visible. But very quickly, almost as if there had been an infusion of hope, he refocused on the discussion we had just had about thankfulness, "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

This verse is very familiar to many of our readers and many of you have memorized it. You should! Let's look at a single word in the text today. "In..." I note a consistency in all major translations in using this word and I feel it's very significant. In this text Paul does not use the word "for." He uses the word "in." I believe he's speaking of living a thankful life; being thankful "in" the midst of pleasant circumstances as well as "in" the midst of difficult circumstances.

The "everything" of life includes the good reports as well as the bad reports. The worldly outlook of thankfulness includes giving thanks only for the good. But God's Word says "in everything". After all, as Christians we have an assurance that "God is working all things out for good for those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).

In living a life of thankfulness those of us who seek to do the will of God are clearly obeying a Biblical mandate. On the way home last night a newer song came to mind and I consider Nick and the long and painful road to recovery he has ahead. It's called "Praise You Anywhere" (link below)

Faithful all my life
Blessings day and night
Countless reasons why
I'll praise You anywhere

May God fill each reader with this assurance and thankfulness today!

Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13 )

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, we confess that undesirable circumstances can prompt an attitude of grumbling instead of gratitude, unless we develop the spirit of gratitude which replaces grumbling. Knowledge of Your Word develops our sense of gratitude as we apply its truths and prayerfully adapt it to our way of looking at things. Help us to give thanks in everything, for this is Your will, through Christ Jesus our Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Praise You Anywhere" Watch video on YouTube Brandon Lake

Faithful all my life
Blessings day and night
Countless reasons why
I'll praise You anywhere

"Faithful" Watch video on YouTube Erik Nieder

Note: As I concluded the message I spoke to Brooksyne and Nick came through the surgery fine with a rod in his hip and expected to be up walking soon. His active life will help him in his recovery.

When we were in Columbia last night they had a number of boats dispatched for a river rescue (common on this section of the Susquehanna River with a strong current) Nick (blue shirt) was observing the scene with interest. Later some of the same crew were amongst those who came to Nick's aid after his fall a short time later.

I met Nick through Daily Encouragement although I have no idea when or how he came across our messages. This photo shows him enthusiastically showing off his new early generation i-phone many years ago. "Look at this, it even takes pictures!"

Here's Nick last month on the catwalk underneath the New River Bridge in West Virginia. His colorful socks depict his colorful personality!

Finally today:

A sign of the times at the entrance to the urban LGH ER last night.

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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.

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