| A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Message · Archives ·  Archive/print editionWednesday, July 30, 2008  A sunset view from the Weber's home (Click here for a larger desktop-sized photo)  Listen to us share this message on your audio player."A Heart Of Wisdom" "So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12). "Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding" (Proverbs 2:2). Acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding" (Proverbs 4:7). We often speak or write about the outstanding sunset view we enjoy from our front yard. We have photos from various seasons although I find taking a sunset photo a real challenge. Our present view at sunset is a dense field of 10 foot high corn with a couple of stone barns and tall silos in the background. The sun sets as a huge ball of orange fire glows above the corn field. The sun's rays light the tassels that top the corn stalks making them look like glistening icicles in the distance. Brooksyne is still unable to take long walks along the trail so last night I walked with a friend as the sun was setting. It was a 90 degree day in Lancaster County and the sun was especially brilliant as it gradually disappeared from our view. Each sunset is a reminder that God is drawing yet another day to a close. We often get up in the morning as the sun is rising in the east. Sunrise and Sunset are like a pair of daily "bookends" reminding us that the passing of our lives happens one day at a time. We associate most of the Psalms with David but Moses wrote Psalm 90 and makes the petition found in our daily text: "So teach us to number our days." Indeed our days are numbered. Today (July 30, 2008) my numbered days since my birth are 19,648. All of us have an allotted number of days. These days are in God's hands. Certainly we have a responsibility in practicing safety and maintaining our health and can be very thankful for the role of modern medicine in prolonging life. But one day these allotted days will end for all of us. Last week our daughter Ester had an impacted wisdom tooth extracted which brought back memories for Brooksyne and me as we went through that dreaded experience many years earlier. Wisdom teeth generally appear between the ages of 17 and 25 at a time of life that has been called the "Age of Wisdom." Thus they are referred to as wisdom teeth. Our "extra" teeth don't pop out as proof that we have become people of wisdom just because we have grown to adulthood. But as adults we should all have the desire to be growing in genuine wisdom. According to the daily Scripture we are to number our days that we may present to God a heart of wisdom. We usually consider wisdom a faculty of the mind but today's text uses the term "heart of wisdom." We have been studying what this wisdom is as opposed to one's innate intellect or degree of education, and have determined that the "heart of wisdom" is an altogether different thing. A dictionary definition of wisdom is "the knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action." As we ponder this subject we personally describe wisdom as the ability to see the sequential consequences of actions and this is largely a benefit of the life experience that comes as we age. Another helpful understanding of the word is "seeing and responding to life’s situations from God’s frame of reference." That's why we should seek the counsel of those who are older or more spiritually mature than ourselves in areas where we might need wisdom and guidance. The "heart of wisdom" is living each day with the implementation of God's eternal principles as we accumulate and process information. Let us also incline our prayerful heart toward God and the Holy Scriptures so that He will guide us in the experiences of life with needed understanding that only He can provide. Let us do this today and everyday and truly present to God a heart of wisdom! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, we earnestly seek You for wisdom regarding the daily circumstances of our lives. Help us to incline our hearts toward You for understanding all that You have to teach us in the lessons of life. During the quiet sessions when Your voice seems silent help us to trust You knowing that You work all things out for our good, for Your glory, and in Your time reference. Amen.  We have an abundance of beautiful perennial flowers all around our house and now Brooksyne is much better able to tend them! (This is Malva from the Hollyhocks family) I have such a new perspective in the blessing of mobility. Before I broke my ankle I could only imagine being unable to walk. Over the years out of gratitude I would periodically thank God for my working faculties: my hearing, my voice, my mind, my fingers, and my mobility. But when I thank Him now it is from an experiential perspective, if there is such a term. Personal experience comes to mind right away, no imagination is needed. My compassion, endurance, understanding, and gratitude have grown through this difficult experience. I certainly desire complete healing but hope that I will never forget this most important life experience that has increased my understanding. It is truly a reflection of our Bible lesson we wrote about today. One helpful thought I'd like to pass onto readers from my wheelchair experience. Weeks ago I attended a large, crowded gathering where much of the visitation time involved people standing. It was as though I became "invisible". It is extremely difficult to maneuver the wheelchair in a tight crowd so you pretty much sit while the action goes on all around you. There were a number of people I would like to have seen but was unable to do so. From that troubling experience I hope that I will remember to intentionally seek out a person that is immobile since they may be unable to find me. It was one of the few times in my life where I felt a little like a "social outcast." Once again God had a new perspective for me to learn that day. With that frustrating experience I have a new understanding and heightened compassion for people in those circumstances. Thank you, readers, for your continued interest and prayers offered on my behalf. I have been deeply touched by your loving compassion. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources (Click on the link to play) "You Are God Alone" Audio A brief perspective on wisdom by John Piper Video Info about multi-media files used on daily encouragement. Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne. |
 Stephen and Brooksyne Weber - May 6, 2008 "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update Revised 04/15/08  Each weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. Would you please consider a financial offering to support us in this encouragement ministry? Donations are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by my chaplaincy endorsing ministry. Thanks! See here for details.(2008 YTD financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net through 7/27/2008: $13,424.00)  Join: To receive these free "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. You can also subscribe to the rss feed. Cancel: To remove your address from this mailing list merely use the link automatically inserted by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each message. Weekly Version: The weekly version is designed for those who do not check their email regularly. It is merely the Friday message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.) Please feel free to pass these messages on! "A Daily Prayer" - The daily prayer from each daily encouragement message. "A Little Foolishness" - A collection of humorous and satirical stories drawn mostly from our years of ministry, as well as my sometimes fertile imagination. "Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the church.  Daily Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com. Any orders placed to Christian Book Distributers using this link or any specific product link to a recommended resource in a daily encouragement message will help our Daily Encouragement ministry through a small commission on the sale. Thank you for using these links when purchasing online through CBD!Personal Mission Statement "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."  How to become a child of God 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. Used by permission; and the King James Version. © Copyright 2008 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us  "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" www.dailyencouragement.net |
