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Brooksyne Weber
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Monday,
July 4, 2022
A pleasant view from our front porch. The corn is growing well in spite of the late planting and is at a glistening green stage. Watching the fireworks beyond the farm field last night we considered the fireflies were part of the show as they lit up many cornstalks in the large field. (Click on photo for larger view)
"Freedom"
Message
summary: Today,
are you free indeed?
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36).
Now
my debt is paid
It is paid in full
By the precious blood
That my Jesus spilled
Now the curse of sin has no hold on me
Whom the Son sets free, oh, is free indeed!
It is paid in full
By the precious blood
That my Jesus spilled
Now the curse of sin has no hold on me
Whom the Son sets free, oh, is free indeed!
Today is Independence Day here in the USA and many have a day off of work, celebrate, and gather with family and friends. Lots of picnics, cookouts, camping and pool parties are planned on this beautiful sunny day. Costco Magazine states that more than 150 million hot dogs will be eaten today, which is enough to stretch from Washington DC to Los Angeles five times! (But I would have to see that to believe it!)
We have
already watched two nights of fireworks
and probably will see another one
tonight. We take our lawn chairs out to
the end of our driveway where we have an
expansive view to the west for many
miles. On Saturday night we watched the
official display at Marietta, a small
town with a big celebration about five
miles away. But last night we saw some
unofficial displays off in the distance
that rivaled the official.
Today
we are headed over to the Old Windmill
Farm to assist our friends in making
fresh farm-made ice cream that guests to
the farm can purchase. We will be using
a small engine to power the unit so no
laborious hand cranking for us today!
(How many remember hand- cranking
homemade ice cream!) The farm had a big
day Saturday and Jesse estimated they
had over 300 farm tour guests and expect
another very busy day today, which is
slated to be mostly sunny with low
humidity.We
got a chuckle out of a story which
illustrates how children misunderstand
adult words and concepts:
Although regardless of where you live, today is July 4, the words "July 4th" or "the 4th of July" has special meaning here in the USA. It's Independence Day and should be a time we consider our history and express thanks for our freedoms. Many take these freedoms for granted and may not even notice or choose to ignore they are systematically being diminished. Sadly we read that there are many who are disregarding this 246th birthdate of our country.
Daily Encouragement readers live in a variety of countries and under varying degrees of political freedom or lack of it. Most live in countries with a relatively strong freedom, but others live in places with religious oppression and in some cases outright persecution. However it's doubtful that this material reaches those living in slavery, although millions live under such conditions.
But today, regardless of where we live or the conditions we live under we can all share one freedom in common based on our daily text: "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed".
This freedom, available to all, is infinitely greater than any political or religious freedoms we may or may not enjoy in this present life. One hundred or one thousand years into eternity no matter where we lived during our brief earthly sojourn will be of little regard, with the one exception of our decision to place our faith in Jesus Christ and accept His provision for our slavery to sin.
In John 8 Jesus confronted the Pharisees and religious leaders of His day who challenged His authority. The encounter specifically began when Jesus asserted, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). The Pharisees challenged Jesus and the validity of His testimony and of course that has been at the heart of resistance to God's redemption plan ever since.
Jesus taught that those who "hold" to His teaching are truly His disciples (v. 31). He said to them "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). This especially infuriated the proud Pharisees who responded, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" (v. 34).
But Jesus was speaking of a slavery that impacts the entire human race; whether rich or poor, powerful or weak, intellectual or unlearned, the politically free, oppressed or even enslaved. People from every background and every time period since the fall are slaves to sin! Yet this is the very slavery that Jesus came to free us from: "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36).
If you are a citizen of a free country don't take it for granted. Give thanks to God for this wonderful privilege and consider those who sacrificed for your freedoms. Pray for our brothers and sisters who do not live with these freedoms.
But above all give thanks to God that Jesus paid the supreme sacrifice so that we might be freed from the slavery of sin. That's something that we can all rejoice in no matter the political conditions of our country.
Today, are you free indeed?
The
Fourth of July was coming up, and
the nursery school teacher took the
opportunity to tell her class about
patriotism. "We live in a great
country," she said. "One of the
things we should be happy about is
that, in this country, we are all
free". One little boy came walking
up from the back of the room.
Exasperated, he stood with his hands
on his hips and declared, "I'm not
free. I'm four."
Although regardless of where you live, today is July 4, the words "July 4th" or "the 4th of July" has special meaning here in the USA. It's Independence Day and should be a time we consider our history and express thanks for our freedoms. Many take these freedoms for granted and may not even notice or choose to ignore they are systematically being diminished. Sadly we read that there are many who are disregarding this 246th birthdate of our country.
Daily Encouragement readers live in a variety of countries and under varying degrees of political freedom or lack of it. Most live in countries with a relatively strong freedom, but others live in places with religious oppression and in some cases outright persecution. However it's doubtful that this material reaches those living in slavery, although millions live under such conditions.
But today, regardless of where we live or the conditions we live under we can all share one freedom in common based on our daily text: "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed".
This freedom, available to all, is infinitely greater than any political or religious freedoms we may or may not enjoy in this present life. One hundred or one thousand years into eternity no matter where we lived during our brief earthly sojourn will be of little regard, with the one exception of our decision to place our faith in Jesus Christ and accept His provision for our slavery to sin.
In John 8 Jesus confronted the Pharisees and religious leaders of His day who challenged His authority. The encounter specifically began when Jesus asserted, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). The Pharisees challenged Jesus and the validity of His testimony and of course that has been at the heart of resistance to God's redemption plan ever since.
Jesus taught that those who "hold" to His teaching are truly His disciples (v. 31). He said to them "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). This especially infuriated the proud Pharisees who responded, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" (v. 34).
But Jesus was speaking of a slavery that impacts the entire human race; whether rich or poor, powerful or weak, intellectual or unlearned, the politically free, oppressed or even enslaved. People from every background and every time period since the fall are slaves to sin! Yet this is the very slavery that Jesus came to free us from: "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36).
If you are a citizen of a free country don't take it for granted. Give thanks to God for this wonderful privilege and consider those who sacrificed for your freedoms. Pray for our brothers and sisters who do not live with these freedoms.
But above all give thanks to God that Jesus paid the supreme sacrifice so that we might be freed from the slavery of sin. That's something that we can all rejoice in no matter the political conditions of our country.
Today, are you free indeed?
Daily
prayer:
Father, how glorious
it is to enjoy the
many freedoms
provided to us in
our homeland of the
brave and the free.
We're also mindful
and grateful for our
freedom from sin,
thanks to the
sacrifice of Your
Son on our behalf.
Our lives, once
enslaved to sin, now
enjoy freedom from
that which once held
us captive to
Satan's bondage. We
live in victory
because You have set
us free and we are
now free indeed.
Thank You, Father,
for delivering us
from the dominion of
darkness and
transferring us into
the kingdom of Your
beloved Son in whom
we have redemption,
the forgiveness of
sin! Amen.Christ provides:
1)
Freedom from the
bondage of sin
(Romans 6:18)
2) Freedom from guilt and shame (Colossians 1:21-23)
3) Freedom from fear of death (Hebrews 2:15)
2) Freedom from guilt and shame (Colossians 1:21-23)
3) Freedom from fear of death (Hebrews 2:15)
Today's
Suggested Music
and Supplemental
Resources
"Yet
Not I But Through
Christ In Me" Video
CityAlight
"Every
Victory"
Video
The Belonging
Company
"In
You" Video
Iveth Luna
Dave
Ross, our worship
leader, led out in
our congregational
prayer yesterday
morning. It touched
our hearts as he
prayed for our
country and we
thought it might
touch your heart as
well so we share it
with you today:
Immortal,
Invisible
Prayer
Lord, You are the only immortal, wise, and most high God. We proclaim that truth first and foremost, recognizing our mortality in the here and now. But we rejoice that You are the giver of life. You have redeemed us and promise everlasting life through Your son Jesus. It is because of His work that we have new life!
We thank You Lord for the blessing of living in this nation. Even as we are thankful, we pray for our country. We pray for our leaders, recognizing that You are sovereign over all. You ask us to honor and respect those in governing authority. We are proud citizens of the United States of America, but more importantly we are ambassadors of the most high God, living a life that pursues You.
Your word tells us in Psalm 139 that You knit us together even in our mother’s womb. Jesus, give us the courage and compassion we need to live as faithful advocates for human life. Today we especially think about the lives of unborn children, not only in this country but all over the world. Give us the sufficient grace and courage we need to champion for their precious lives.
We thank You for the decision of the Supreme Court that gives authority back to the states in this area. We pray for the leaders of each state now, that they would enact laws that value life, even for those yet unborn.
Lord, You are the only immortal, wise, and most high God. We proclaim that truth first and foremost, recognizing our mortality in the here and now. But we rejoice that You are the giver of life. You have redeemed us and promise everlasting life through Your son Jesus. It is because of His work that we have new life!
We thank You Lord for the blessing of living in this nation. Even as we are thankful, we pray for our country. We pray for our leaders, recognizing that You are sovereign over all. You ask us to honor and respect those in governing authority. We are proud citizens of the United States of America, but more importantly we are ambassadors of the most high God, living a life that pursues You.
Your word tells us in Psalm 139 that You knit us together even in our mother’s womb. Jesus, give us the courage and compassion we need to live as faithful advocates for human life. Today we especially think about the lives of unborn children, not only in this country but all over the world. Give us the sufficient grace and courage we need to champion for their precious lives.
We thank You for the decision of the Supreme Court that gives authority back to the states in this area. We pray for the leaders of each state now, that they would enact laws that value life, even for those yet unborn.
And
Jesus, equip us to
love and care for
women and men whose
stories have been
marked by abortion.
May Your
all-sufficient
gospel bring healing
and compassion to
each and every one
of those stories.
Father,
we also thank You
for those who
provide a safe
family for children
who are in need, for
those who foster
children, and for
those who have and
are adopting.
Most of all Lord Jesus, we praise You for Your Gospel - the good news that You died for our sins and rose again to defeat sin and death. It is Your grace in our lives. This grace demands that we treat others with mercy even if we disagree. We should speak truth in love, not in disdain. We pray for our world that desperately needs You. We lift up the less fortunate, the broken hearted, the abused, and the marginalized among us. May we shine Your love and care for them.
May we be a shining light of what it means to follow You. To display that our hope is built on You and You alone Jesus. You are the only solid rock. All other ground is sinking sand. Thank You for that truth. It’s in Your name we ask and pray for these things. Amen.
Dave Ross
Pastor of Worship Ministries
Most of all Lord Jesus, we praise You for Your Gospel - the good news that You died for our sins and rose again to defeat sin and death. It is Your grace in our lives. This grace demands that we treat others with mercy even if we disagree. We should speak truth in love, not in disdain. We pray for our world that desperately needs You. We lift up the less fortunate, the broken hearted, the abused, and the marginalized among us. May we shine Your love and care for them.
May we be a shining light of what it means to follow You. To display that our hope is built on You and You alone Jesus. You are the only solid rock. All other ground is sinking sand. Thank You for that truth. It’s in Your name we ask and pray for these things. Amen.
Dave Ross
Pastor of Worship Ministries
Video
of this part of our
service with prayer
and music.
Last
Friday we shared a photo
of Thomas the Tank
engine on the
Strasburg Railroad.
Actually this is
just a shell they
place over the
regular locomotive!
Last
Friday we had a tour
of Kirby
Agri, a 3
generation family
company that
sells feed and
fertilizer
components. We were
reminded of the many
hardworking people
that help feed us,
our country and the
world. Rick Kirby is
a friend from our
Sunday School class
(in our church
called "Adult Bible
Fellowship") Most
interesting to us
was the pallet
loading robots. This
one is named Molly.
She is very fast and
precise.
Following
our visit at
Kirby-Agri we made
our chaplain visit
to Kleen-Rite in
Columbia. In the
photo is Kim Shoff
who finished up 27
years of dedicated
work in sales. Many
times Kim was on the
phone taking orders
during our weekly
visit so we simply
smiled and waved.
She is now
officially retired
and we wish her the
very best.
We
hope all of our
American readers
have a refreshing
4th of July holiday
with family and
friends!
Finally
today:
Friday we
shared a photo of a
peacock
on top of our car on
the Old Windmill
Farm and expressed
that on a farm we
never know what we
will encounter.
Jesse sent me this
photo of a curious
goat, who attempted
to get some milk and
got stuck in a
filled milk bucket!
I suppose you could
say that it is now
goat milk.
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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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