Daily Encouragement (2/19/21) "Following God's Truth"
Published: Fri, 02/19/21
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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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Friday, February 19, 2021  Another snowy morning!
"Following God's Truth"
Message summary: Are we following God’s truth?
 Listen to this message on your audio player."He has done what He said He would do against us and our leaders, and has brought much trouble upon us. For under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. All this trouble has come upon us just as it is written in the Law of Moses. Yet we have not looked for the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sin and following Your truth. So the Lord brought trouble upon us. For the Lord our God is right and good in all He does, but we have not obeyed His voice" (Daniel 9:11-14).  We both enjoy seeing towering windmills in country landscapes. They are a pleasant sight reminding us of a bygone era. Some windmills are now decorative such as ours, but many others are still functional such as the one pictured
to the left, which pumps water to a storage tank on an Amish farm.The most common windmill and tower is the classic 8 foot wheel on a 27 foot tower, a clone of the Aermotor windmill made from 1933. The American windmill, or wind engine, was invented by Daniel Halladay in 1854 and was used mostly for lifting water from wells. Larger versions were also used for tasks such as sawing wood, chopping hay, shelling and grinding grain. A working windmill is designed to shift direction with the wind and this is effective in efficiently utilizing the wind’s power. Although prevailing winds may come from one direction they also shift and the design of the windmill adjusts for these shifts. This design is beneficial for the windmill but devastating for those who are “blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming” (Ephesians 4:14). We have a small 6’ tall decorative windmill along the walkway to our front porch (seen in the above photo I took this snowy morning). It still spins but I have locked the turning mechanism so it faces west from where the prevailing winds come. It occurs to me that likewise we need to fix our lives so that we never turn away but always face God's truth! In our first daily text Daniel is writing concerning the exiled Jews, who are Scripturally known as “the remnant” (see Isaiah 10:21). The first part of the ninth chapter of Daniel is one of the great prayers of the Bible and the daily verse comes from this prayer. The Jews had been exiled to Babylon as a result of years of failing to live by God’s Law. Moses had warned of this and now Daniel acknowledges, "All this trouble has come upon us". Daniel summarized the foundational reason leading to this trouble as "Yet we have not looked for the favor of the Lord" and goes on to specify two evidences of their failure to do this: 1) by turning from our sin and 2) following Your truth.” But today we want to consider the single phrase, "following Your truth". Just consider how fundamentally and commonly this failure to follow God’s truth is expressed today. Evidence of people’s rejection of God’s truth is all around us. I once read a sign with this truism, “Truth is hate to those who hate the truth.” Indeed many today hate the truth and associate the truth with hate. And they express that hatred toward ambassadors of truth. The God of the universe is fundamentally characterized by truth. Jesus said, “I am… the truth” (John 14:6). He said, “Your Word is truth” (John 17:17). He spoke of the Holy Spirit as “the Spirit of truth” (John 14:17). Isaiah uses the descriptive title, “God of truth” (65:16). The Psalmist asserts, “All your words are true” (Psalm 119:160). And the writer of Hebrews informs us that “It is impossible for God to lie” (6:18). What great assurance this brings God’s people as they build their spiritual foundation on God’s Holy Word! The ancient people of God did not follow God’s truth and neither do the majority of people living today. One of the most descriptive verses in the Bible regarding the human condition is found in the Epistle to the Romans, “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie” (1:25). Talk about moral bankruptcy! The apostle Paul gives a sobering indictment in 2 Thessalonians 2:10, “They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved". What about us today? Are we following God’s truth? My prayer today is expressed by the Psalmist, “Send forth Your light and Your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to the place where You dwell” (Psalm 43:3). Thou art the bread of life, O Lord, to me,
Thy holy Word the truth that saveth me; Give me to eat and live with Thee above; Teach me to love Thy truth, for Thou art love. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father Your truths do not fluctuate nor are they subject
to reinterpretation by the “expert” philosophers of our day. Your truths are explained through the inspiration of Your Holy Word and understanding given to us by Your Holy Spirit. May our ears be open and our eyes focused to see that Your truth is the same yesterday, today and forever, and to receive Your daily blessing we must walk in Your ways and follow Your truths. Amen.The second chapter of 2 Thessalonians states, “For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” Is this “powerful delusion” coming soon or is it already here? Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise" Video Jaron and Katherine Kamin
"Break Thou the Bread of Life" Video (Instrumental) In the Mountains "Break Thou the Bread of Life" Video Vocalist not specified Finally today:
GOD'S LOVE AND THE WEATHER VANE
One day, C.H. Spurgeon was walking through the English countryside with a friend. As they strolled along, the evangelist noticed a barn with a weather vane on its roof. At the top of the vane were
these words: GOD IS LOVE. Spurgeon remarked to his companion that he thought this was a rather inappropriate place for such a message. "Weather vanes are changeable," he said, "but God’s love is constant."
"I don’t agree with you about those words, Charles," replied his friend. "You misunderstood the meaning. That sign is indicating a truth: Regardless of which way the wind blows, God is love." Finally today (2):
 Old Windmill Farm as viewed from a drone We often mention our friendship with the Lapp family who operate the Old Windmill Farm here in Lancaster County PA. They have been approached by "Country" magazine requesting to have a
feature on the farm! A friend made this promotional video for him including some drone video!
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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 2021 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
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