Daily Encouragement (8/31/20) "Blessed Is The Man"
Published: Mon, 08/31/20
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A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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Late yesterday afternoon I took a 17 round trip bike ride along the Susquehanna River on the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail. The Shocks Mill railroad bridge is always photogenic and I can never resist pulling out my camera to capture this magnificent bridge that has been utilized for 115 years.
Click on photo to enlarge
"Blessed Is The Man"
Message summary: Are you trusting in the Lord today?
 Listen to this message on your audio player.“O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in You” (Psalm 84:12). "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him" (James 1:12). "For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end" (Hebrews 3:14).
We recall a visit with 92 year old Raymond who was homebound for several years. His body was weak, his eyesight dim, and his hearing dull, but his mind was still sharp. After singing a couple of hymns we reminisced awhile before sharing Scripture and preparing to depart. But before leaving we wanted to pray for Raymond and asked him, "What specific things would you like us to pray about?" He looked up and said in his weak, shaky voice, "Pray that I will stay faithful to God to the end." We can all say Amen to that request! Several years later I conducted Raymond's funeral service and was able to attest that he had indeed stayed faithful to the end.
In today’s message I would like to consider the qualities that make a man blessed. There are twenty references in the Scriptures that use the phrase “Blessed is the man”, found in both the Old and New Testaments. Perhaps the most familiar is from Psalm 1:1 that states, "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the mocker". Psalm 84 was written by "the sons of Korah" who were the musicians in the temple at the time of David. It has been referred to as "The Pearl of Psalms" and "the most sweet of the Psalms of peace". Verse one begins, “How Lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty” and each verse continues as a powerful expression of faith in God. Many of us have sung the well-known song, “Better is One Day in Your Courts” which is based on this Psalm. Our first daily text is the concluding verse in this Psalm, "O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in You". Charles Spurgeon comments on this verse, "Here is the key of the Psalm. The worship is that of faith, and the blessedness is peculiar to believers. Believers must know the Lord by the life of real faith, or they can have no true rejoicing in the Lord’s worship, His house, His Son, or His ways". Let us ask ourselves today, "Do we trust God for everything in life?" What about the specific present issues we are each dealing with? What about the deep concerns we have for the direction our country is going? As trusting people can we accept this truth from the verse that precedes our daily text: "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly" (84:11). Louisa Stead wrote in 1882 (the year of my grandfather’s birth): I’m so glad I’ve learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend And I know that Thou art with me Wilt be with me to the end.
Indeed, "O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in You". Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, You are a sun and shield; a light for those who walk in darkness and a shield to protect us from the enemy’s arsenal. You will not withhold anything that will help us serve You better. The longer we walk this spiritual journey we become more trusting because we’ve
seen Your mighty hand and outstretched arm leading us all along the way. You deliver us from our own peril and provide us with everything we need for this life and the next. Help us to remain faithful to the very end and to fully trust in You, O Lord Almighty. Amen.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Better Is One Day" Video Maranatha Music
"Psalm 84" Video C3 Church
"Build My Life" Video Calvary Church worship team (from yesterday's service)
 Sunset over the Susquehanna River from the Conoy Creek bridge
The Northwest Lancaster County River Trail is located here (google map)
Click on photo to enlarge
 As the sun set behind me the moon was rising over the Susquehanna River.
Click on photo to enlarge
 Watermelons at the "Corn Wagon" near Millersville, PA. Located here (google map). This farm sells produce right from the field to the wagon. In the background people are picking through the remaining corn for day's picking.
Finally today:
 It's nice to spread cheer however possible!
This was on the back of our check at a local restaurant.  Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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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." © Copyright 2020 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
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