 A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Messages · Archives ·  Archive/print editionMonday, August 10, 2009  A beautiful pond on the grounds of the Creation Museum  Listen to us share this message on your audio player"Clearly Seen" "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom" (Isaiah 40:28). "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse" (Romans 1:20). We continue our trip through the Midwest and are now in Missouri, my home state, on our way to Oklahoma where Brooksyne grew up, which we will reach tomorrow. Along the way we have tried to break up the trip with visits to well-known sites as well as visiting with friends and relatives. Today we will see several friends and Brooksyne's cousin in the Springfield area. Friday afternoon I visited a museum I have wanted to see for some time in northern Kentucky called the Creation Museum. It is sponsored by a ministry I have often benefitted from called "Answers In Genesis". This Spring I heard Ken Ham, the founder of this ministry, at a banquet in Lancaster County. The museum is a private entity but is similar to many publicly funded natural history museums I've toured. However it has the marked contrast of treating history from a Scriptural perspective rather than a natural, worldly perspective. Essentially descriptions include phrases such as "God created" rather than "evolved over billions of years" (as is the case in other natural history museums). Today's second verse begins with a foundational statement consistent throughout the Scripture, "For since the creation of the world." Indeed the very first words in sacred Scripture declare, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." I read a story many years ago by Max Lucado in which he shares a conversation he had with a Brazilian farmer. The farmer lived in a very remote location, far removed from modern influences. Upon introduction Max told the old farmer "I'm a missionary" and further explained that his work was to try to get people to believe in God. The farmer exclaimed what an easy job it must be to draw people to faith in God as he spread wide his open arms to the massive evidences for creation that surrounded him. The issues concerning origins are a source of major attack on the historic, Biblical Christian faith. Regrettably many feel they must concede in these areas in the face of seemingly apparent scientific evidence. The alternative views that are more "scientifically enlightening" compel many to look to man's errant finite knowledge rather than the God of the Universe who has unfathomable understanding and infinite creative power. I can think of nothing that exists on this earth that has infinite (never-ending) qualities, thus it requires faith on our part to grasp this aspect of God's character. But from Genesis to Revelation the Scriptures unwaveringly and unambiguously proclaim the work of the Creator. Just in case Isaiah's readers were misinformed, uninformed, or distrusting Isaiah indisputably introduces the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as, "The Creator of the ends of the earth." Today I, as one who is well-informed, respond by acknowledging the work of the Creator and say a solemn Amen to the apostle John when he wrote, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being" (Revelation 4:11). "The universe declares your majesty", a line from the popular song, God of Wonders, comes to mind as I consider our Scripture text. What a remarkable blessing to see God's handiwork in His creation which is also a declaration of His majesty as seen in His eternal power and divine nature. The Apostle Paul speaks of God's "eternal power" as one of God's "invisible qualities". Paul uses a very interesting Greek word for "eternal" in this passage. The word "aidios" means "everduring" (forward and backward). This power is constant; there's been no diminishment whatsoever from eternity past and there will be no diminishment in eternity future. God's invisible qualities are "clearly seen, being understood from what has been made." I pray that the Lord will open every reader's eyes today to clearly see the glory of God through His handiwork and His divine power. Indeed we declare, "God of wonders beyond our galaxy, You are holy. The universe declares Your majesty, You are holy, Lord of heaven and earth!" Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father God, You physically reign in a place invisible to my eyes while Your Spirit with its invisible qualities is at work deep within my heart. Though I cannot see You I recognize Your masterful handiwork. Though I cannot touch You I feel Your divine presence. Only a God like You is great enough to mastermind the universe, yet small enough to live within my heart. Father, You have made Your wonders to be remembered and appreciated. You are gracious and compassionate; Your presence is seen and felt everywhere. I acknowledge You as the Creator of the universe and the Light of my life, for You are my Lord and Master from eternity past to all eternity future. Amen. Special note: We are now in Missouri on our way to Oklahoma for two family reunions to be held there this week. We will be unable to prepare daily messages but hope to share one or two more this week. Here are some recollections of our trip the last several days:  Saturday afternoon we stopped in Louisville Kentucky to visit my Uncle Don and Aunt Mary. They moved to this area last year to be near their daughter Stella. We used to visit then in Higginsville MO. Uncle Don is my Dad's youngest brother and the only one still living. In fact he's my only living Uncle on either side of the family. We had a great Lasagna meal followed by an "Out of This World pie", true to its name! Uncle Don is very mechanically inclined and helped me with a battery problem we had just before we left on our trip.  He had just the right tools for my mechanical problem. I am always inspired (and personally challenged) by Uncle Don's neatness; a character trait I recalled from childhood visits to their home. To this day I still look forward to seeing his garage with his organized, tidy layout of useful tools. He was my Dad's favorite brother and was especially a blessing to my mom and dad in their final years.   As I recall this one was about 7 feet across.     A view from the base of the Arch. Remarkably, the arch is as wide as it is high, 630' x 630'. This brings back childhood memories when we would travel to Saint Louis from Kansas City in the sixties to watch the progress as the Arch was being built. My dad was very interested in this big project. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources Click on the link to open and play. (In some cases you may also need to click again to start the song.) "God of Wonders" Video Chris Tomlin The Creation Museum For those with a greater desire to study the wonders of creation from a Scriptural perspective I urge you to visit Answers in Genesis. Other visitors comment on Tud's roadside airplane collection. Some photos and information of the Arch being built. Another informative site. Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne |
 "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update Revised 05/08/09  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 daily encouragement ministry? Donations are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by my chaplaincy endorsing ministry. Thanks! See here for details. (2009 YTD financial offerings through 8/09/09: $7,015.00)SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION  Were you forwarded this edition of Daily Encouragement Net? If you desire you can receive your own free! To receive these "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. This newsletter is never sent unsolicited. It was sent to you because you either signed up to receive it OR a friend forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the rss feed. or as an email subscription update through feedburner. Subscribe to Daily Encouragement Updates by EmailCancel: We respect and value your time and privacy. If these messages no longer meet your needs (providing encouragement) you can remove your address by merely use the link automatically inserted by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each email message. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.) Weekly Version: The weekly version is intended for those who may 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. Please feel free to pass these messages on! "A Daily Prayer" - A blog simply posting the daily prayer. We keep this up each day since it's merely the prayer from the Daily Encouragement Net message! "A Little Foolishness" - Humor/satire blog (a great outlet for non-serious writing but at times with a subtle message!) Last updated with the story of Mildred Swanson, who joyfully discovers her "spiritual gift" is sending forwarded emails! (Note: This material is satire!) "Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the faithful believer and church. (Actually this is my intent but I haven't done much with it!) "Hymns of Hope" - Brooksyne along with two friends made a CD using classic hymns. Brooksyne tells the background story of the 11 hymns. We are distributing this CD without charge in our ministry. All of these songs are also available for download on the site. If any reader in this series would like a CD merely write us and request one.  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, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version. © Copyright 2009 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us  Endorsed chaplain "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" www.dailyencouragement.net |
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