✝ Daily Encouragement (11/15/23) "Better Than We Deserve!"

Published: Wed, 11/15/23

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

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Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Amish wedding on Trail Road, Lancaster County
Click on photo to enlarge

"Better Than We Deserve!"

Message summary: A lesson on satisfaction. "Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days". May we have an outlook that indeed our blessings are better than we deserve . That will lead to a heart of satisfaction.

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"Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people" (Genesis 25:8). "He will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied" (Deuteronomy 11:15). "They all ate and were satisfied" (Matthew 14:20). "Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days" (Psalm 90:14).

Here in America and perhaps in other western countries the typical social greeting is "How are you?" or "How're you doing today?"

Generally the socially correct response is "Fine, thank you" or "Fine, how are you?" Perhaps we have a moment when all is going very well and we simply respond "Great". One friend almost always responds with a big smile as he replies with an enthusiastic and emphatic, "Fantastic!!" And some say, "better than I deserve", injecting some theological perspective on grace and mercy.

In the course of our chaplaincy work we have become acquainted with a lot of immigrants. One company we no longer regularly serve has a lot of southeast Asians. I recall getting a lesson from Sooner, a Laotian-American friend who had been in the states for 30 years, immigrating here as a young adult. He died several years ago but we still periodically see his widow when we visit the company.

He acquired his interesting nickname when Fred, the owner of the company, couldn’t pronounce his Laotian name and just called him Sooner, which sounded similar. He spoke good English and was a supervisor in his department at a factory overseeing many women who do not speak English.

He taught me a new perspective about our cordial greetings. He asked me if I knew what the typical greeting similar to “How are you?” was in Laos and other parts of Asia. I didn’t and I suppose I never really thought much about it.

According to Sooner the earnestly asked question upon greeting one another would be "Did you eat?" Due to widespread poverty and lack of resources this is a very meaningful and thoughtful question in expressing concern for others.

Now if I greeted someone here in America using this phrase it would be seen as rather peculiar at the very least. Some would think I was nuts and some would be offended. We usually eat three times a day or more and can readily take our more than adequate resources for granted.

As we approach the Thanksgiving season we often use the common expression, "We have so much to be thankful for". It can be a cliché but we really do!

Today let us consider the blessing of satisfaction. You can have a lot and not be satisfied and there are those who have very little, virtually nothing, and are satisfied.

Notice a phrase in our first daily text concerning Abraham when he died, "an old man and satisfied with life" . So many in our world find dissatisfaction to be their mantra in life. They long for more of this world's goods or a different life. Brooksyne bought a plaque yesterday that speaks to such an attitude: "Gratitude turns what we already have into enough" . What a blessing it is when we come to our end on this earth and look over the life we have lived and have the same attitude as Abraham in being "satisfied with life". What a blessing to live and die, "satisfied with life"!

The second daily Scripture text is a promise Moses gave the people of God prior to his death in his final sermon. "He will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied". He was reinforcing the blessing they would receive when entering the Promised Land. (Again I read this in light of the horrific conflict continuing in the land of Israel. This promise was made around 1400 BC.)

The third daily text is from the feeding of the five thousand recorded in Matthew 14:19-21. Before Jesus fed the multitude, “He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds” (v. 20).

Matthew summarized the end result: "They all ate and were satisfied ". Thank God for the fullness of satisfaction in all of Christ’s provisions. Indeed, “All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.”

Finally today, an easily memorized prayer is our final text. "Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days". Let us have an outlook that indeed our blessings are better than we deserve. That will lead to a heart of satisfaction.

Hallelujah! I have found Him
Whom my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies my longings,
Through His blood I now am saved.

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, just as we received Your Son, Christ Jesus as Lord, we continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as we were taught, and overflowing in thankfulness. May our words, our actions, and our thoughts be full of praise as we consider all that we have and choose not to dwell on that which we have not. Above every other blessing is the gift of Your Son, Jesus, who came into the world to save us from our sins. And the greatest gift yet to come is the inheritance that awaits Your faithful saints when we cross the stormy Jordan banks to our peaceful dwelling in heaven. Our hearts are truly satisfied and filled with thankfulness to You. Amen.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Satisfied (Hallelujah I Have Found Him)" Watch on YouTube Gaither Vocal Band

"Psalm 90" Watch on YouTube Shane and Shane

When the sun comes up satisfy us
Before the day has passed us by
Before our hearts forget all your goodness
Satisfy us with your love

"I Will Sing Praise" Watch on YouTube Our choir is singing this on Sunday and Brooksyne has been singing it a lot around the house!

"All The Praise" Watch on Youtube Shadow Mountain Community Church

On the way to our chaplain visits in Lebanon County early yesterday morning (7:00AM) we passed a lot of buggies on the road and we knew what that meant. In November many Amish have weddings on Tuesdays and Thursdays and they are big affairs with hundreds in attendance. Years ago we attended one and the ceremony itself lasts several hours followed by a meal and an afternoon of fellowship. On the way home yesterday afternoon we passed the property where the wedding was held. In this photo we have four volleyball nets set up. Instead of poles they are using the buggies to attach the volleyball net to!
Click on photo to enlarge

Traveling across northern Lebanon County we passed this large, very spread out farm along Greble Road. Consider the business acumen needed to manage such an operation!
Click on photo to enlarge

Yesterday afternoon I found this little bird in our barn trying to escape out a closed window (I guess birds haven't evolved to the point they understand what glass is!) Before setting it free I let Gracie take a look.

It takes a sharp eye to catch this deeply discounted clearance deal at a local Lowes store. Palmyra, PA in case you want to drive up and snag it!

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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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