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Thursday, May 2, 2024

Purple Martin houses
Yesterday riding through the Lancaster county countryside I visited the Spooky Nook greenhouse. This is an Amish run business and they sure like purple martins, a bird I couldn't identify even if I did ever spot one!
Click on photo to enlarge

"Pray"

Message summary: Today is the National Day Of Prayer here in the USA.

Listen to our message on your audio player.

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness" (1 Timothy 2:1,2). "If my people, who are called by my Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).

NDP gathering Mount Joy, PA

Today is the National Day Of Prayer here in the USA. We gathered early this morning here in Mount Joy where local pastors led us in prayer. As we prepare our message a large group (we hope) will be gathering at our state capitol for prayer and then this evening we have a countywide event here in Lancaster County.

Our country and world is in desperate need of divine intervention! Our encouragement messages go out to believers in many different countries so we try to write for the spiritual edification of all true believers regardless of where they live. We are unaware of other countries that might have official national days of prayer as we have here in America. However we genuinely believe this is a very important day here in our country where God has providentially ordained that we should live out our lives here on this earth.

Wherever you reside you should pray for your country and every point we make today will apply regardless of your location. This instruction from Paul is always appropriate, "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness" (1 Timothy 2:1,2).

We have often considered the second daily verse and we both committed it to memory many years ago, probably while in Bible College. It will surely be quoted in many prayer services today. It is initially expressed as a condition and promise to Solomon during a time of great personal and national consecration as the temple was being dedicated approximately 3,000 years ago. I believe there is an element to this promise that is unique to Israel as a nation, who as a national people were called by God's Name.

The phrase "My people" in the daily verse in its initial application applied to these people and their specific land. Thus I feel there is interpretive error when we view our specific country (wherever we live) as God's land in the same sense as that spoken of in the initial promise. True believers foundationally hold heavenly citizenship (far superior to our national citizenship).

That said, I believe there is still great application in the condition and promise today. There is surely a sense that "My people" today refers to the people of God who live throughout the world.

God still requires these conditions of His people:

    * Humble themselves
    * Pray
    * Seek My face
    * Turn from their wicked ways

God promises these blessings for His people:

    * Then will I hear from heaven
    * And will forgive their sin
    * And will heal their land

As God's people we are indeed called to humble ourselves, to pray, to seek His face and to turn from our wicked ways. Wherever we may live let us who love God apply these conditions! The eternal, unchanging God is still speaking from heaven; forgiving sin, and extending His healing touch to all who look to Him. Regardless of what happens to America or the land where you live, His promise to the individual who earnestly seeks Him is always bright, good and full of hope.


Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Praying man Daily prayer: Father, we thank You for Your continued mercies to our land because You are a loving, forgiving God. You have called on us, Your children, to be a people of prayer, devotion, with denial of self. We pray for our people to repent of neglect and defiance of Your holy commands. In the name of Jesus we come against the powers of darkness that seek to engulf the light of Your salvation that brings help, hope, and forgiveness to sin sick souls and secures their eternal dwelling in heaven. Help us not to grow weary in our intercession, for we want to be faithful in prayer so that, at a future date, we will witness the harvest of souls. We pray for Your will to be accomplished in the name of Jesus. Amen.



Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"The Jesus Way"  Watch on YouTube   Phil Wickham  We sang this song of conviction in our gathering today.

Lancaster County country view
This morning I sat near our longtime farmer friend Galen and asked him to help me visualize how large 89 acres would be. He referred to a field on his farm visible from this vantage point which would be approximately 89 acres which would be to the right of this view. However this field was obstructed by trees but the green field in the background seemed very similar. This is in regard to a point I made last week that if all the world's land mass was the size of Lancaster County (944 sq miles) Israel would be .015% of that which would be 0.1416 sq mile or 89.6 acres.
Click on photo to enlarge

Lancaster Junction trail stand
On part of my ride yesterday I was on the Lancaster Junction rail trail. The farm in the background is owned by an Amish family and the enterprising children have built this small veggie stand near the trail. They had plants and fresh cut rhubarb. I thought the rock-lined walkway was a nice touch!

Robin on nest on fan
Last week I shared about a persistent robin who insisted on building a nest on top of the fan that is over our outside dining table. I think she knew we were church folks since she built another nest while we were out on Sunday. Now she's right at home!

Robin on nest on fan
So far she has laid one egg but we expect more and will regularly report over the next several weeks.

White bird eggs
Finally these white eggs are in a nest deep inside a small blue spruce beside our deck. I will watch to see what type of bird this is but do any of our readers know?





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