Monday, March 31, 2008

"Omnicompassionate"

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A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.

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Monday, March 31, 2008

Rozie's Purple Crocus
Rozie's Purple Crocus

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"Omnicompassionate"

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22,23). "The Lord is full of compassion and mercy" (James 5:11).

I sure enjoy preaching the Word of God so it was of special blessing when I accepted an invitation to preach
yesterday in a church in southern Lancaster County. Lately there's been a lot of news about “appropriate” content in sermons (something that the secular press rarely pays much attention to, but it is election year, after all.) I am confident that in hundreds of thousands of local churches all around the world the Bible was faithfully preached and it is my absolute intention to be numbered among them!

When I resigned from my last church in early 2001 to become a chaplain I found many other sources of ministry fulfillment and effectiveness, but I sure miss preaching the Word of God on a regular basis. Yesterday I shared a message on the faithfulness of God sub-titled "Hope In The Midst Of Despair" and today's first verse was the central theme in the message.

Several years ago Jim Gambini, who was our pastor at the time made a point in a sermon that really blessed me. With no further explanation he declared “God is omnicompassionate.” Now I have never, in all my years of theological study, heard that word. My computer software underscores this word with a red line alert indicating that I’ve misspelled the word or there is no such word. In speaking to Pastor Jim and his wife in the greeting line, following the church service, he smiled when I told him that Brooksyne and I took note of his new term. He was intentionally seeking to express a truth, even though he could not recall ever seeing or hearing the word before.

The prefix "omni" means "all." It is used in several of what theologians call the attributes or characteristics of God, such as omniscience (all-knowing), omnipresence (all-present) and omnipotence (all-powerful). He is all-compassionate as well, thus Pastor Jim’s new vocabulary word, “omnicompassionate”! The second daily text declares that "the Lord is full of compassion and mercy."

Due to another wonderful attribute of God known as His immutability (that is, “He never changes”) this verse reveals that He is always "full of compassion and mercy." Since He is immutable His fullness is constant with a never-ending supply of compassion. In a time of chaotic despair Jeremiah's hope was restored by recalling that our Lord’s "compassions never fail."

God's fullness of compassion and His extravagant mercy is never depleted nor does it ever need replenished. Although He's been demonstrating His compassion and mercy from the very beginning, God is always "full of compassion and mercy." There is no less compassion available for our need today than there was for anyone else who has ever lived and there never will be. So you don't need to lie awake tonight worrying about God’s compassion running out!

How blessed I am by this perpetual call to mercy from Hebrews: "Let us then approach the Throne of Grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." His mercy is absolutely abundant and thoroughly adequate. He is indeed omnicompassionate!


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from You. As recipients of Your tender compassions and tremendous comfort help us to be like cisterns pouring out the mercies we receive from You into the lives of those who desperately need it. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

See II Corinthians 1:3




Here's the message on the Faithfulness of God I preached yesterday along with photos pdf



Jim & Rozie
Yesterday, following the service, we joined Jim and Rozie Kreider for a delicious meal around their table. Their home is in Amish country and surrounded by beautiful rolling hills. Their daughter, Valerie, also joined us contributing to the warm fellowship we enjoyed among our new friends.

Andrew & Jessie



Andrew Hostetler is the worship team leader in the church and is pictured here with his wife Jessica. He shared a song in the service he had written along with Valerie Kreider based on Psalm 33. (Valarie is pictured above.)






Psalm 33
audio mp3


Verse
Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous ones
It is fitting for the upright to praise Him
Praise the Lord with the harp and lyre, make music to Him
It is fitting for the upright to praise Him
Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully, and shout for joy.
Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully, and shout! for! joy!!

Bridge
For the Word of the Lord is righteous and true;
He is faithful in all He does…

Chorus
He puts the seas into jars
He puts the seas into jars
The creator of the universe
Cares about each one of us
He puts the seas into jars

Words and Music by
Valerie Kreider and Andrew Hostetler



Amish open buggie
Southern Lancaster County is home to a large Amish population. As we made our way home yesterday afternoon we fell in line with many open buggies. It was a crisp, beautiful spring day and we saw many young people going to youth meetings in their "convertible" buggies.

Mystery photo


Here's a photo I took yesterday in the course of my visits.

Can anyone tell me what it is or venture a guess? Most of you will be very surprised! (I'll share the answer later this week.)








Today's Suggested Music
and
Supplemental Resources

Great Is Thy Faithfulness" Audio This is Brooksyne's audio devotional based on this hymn. Here are other hymn story devotionals she has written.

"Great Is Thy Faithfulness"
Audio with the hymn story from the Lifespring hymstories podcast. Here is the podcast main page

An interview with Robert J. Morgan, who happens to be one of Brooksyne's favorite authors.

Info about multi-media files used on daily encouragement.

Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne.
Administration Information

2008 Valentine's Sweetheart banquet


Stephen and Brooksyne Weber
"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!"

Personal Ministry Update
Revised 02/20/08





DonateEach 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? Thanks! See here for details. (2008 YTD financial offerings through 3/30/2008 $3,305.00)

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 placed 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 this message on!





Our other blogs:
"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.


Musical playlists
Classic hymns mix Christian eclectic mix

Christianbook.comDaily 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
Chaplaincy logo

"Living securely today anchored
in God's solid foundation"


http://www.dailyencouragement.net/

Friday, March 28, 2008

"Building A Godly Heritage"

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A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.

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Friday, March 28, 2008

Jackson Hole Wyoming (photo by Howard J. Blichfeldt)
Jackson Hole Wyoming
(photo by Howard J. Blichfeldt)


ListenListen to us share this message on your audio player.

"Building A Godly Heritage"

"For you have heard my vows, O God; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name" (Psalm 61:5). "That I might live for God" (Galatians 2:19).

Richard and Ruth LehmanIn a meeting yesterday Brooksyne and I met Kendall, a young man whose vibrant walk with the Lord was immediately evident. He is a school teacher who shared the Easter message in his church last Sunday. Our conversation was engaging and thoughtful. He told us, "You knew my grandpa. In fact you referred to a tribute I made at his memorial service last year in your Daily Encouragement message."

I met Kendall’s grandparents, Ruth and Richard Lehman, about five years ago at a prayer meeting and have corresponded with them mostly through our daily encouragement email since that time. Brooksyne and I attended Richard's memorial service in October of last year and we stay in contact with his grandmother through email. After Kendall refreshed our memory we did indeed remember his touching words of tribute concerning his grandfather. It was obvious that Richard had passed his spiritual legacy on to his grandchildren.

One brick at a timeIn my premarital counseling when I share faith and perspective with young couples preparing for marriage I make a vitally important point. We establish the foundations for leaving a godly heritage early in life and this heritage incrementally builds all through life, one brick at a time. It’s not as though we just wake up one morning and decide to leave a legacy!

Many years ago I was at the funeral of a young person who had died in an accident. The room was full of many young people still stunned with the suddenness of his death. It was a grim reminder of the unpredictability of life dispelling the illusion of their invincibility. An older minister made an interesting point regarding his generation's heritage. "We've given you so much to live with, but we haven't given you very much to live for." *

Flat screen hd TVThere's a lot of truth to that statement isn't there? My, do we have a lot to live with, particularly here in America. We take our incredible national prosperity for granted and some take it even to an attitude of entitlement. But the very nature of seeking to find fulfillment in anything but God's plan is that it's never really satisfying over time. Something new and promising is always around the corner like a bigger, newer model TV, a faster computer or a more feature-laden cell phone.

What are we passing on to our children and all those we influence in the generations following us? I purposefully chose the last part of a Bible verse to highlight a simple statement made by the apostle Paul, "That I might live for God." Paul surely had very little, particularly by our standards, to live with, but so much to live for. He went on to write, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

Let us consider today our spiritual heritage. The Psalmist proclaimed, "You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name." Fundamentally this heritage is the truths we transmit and the life we live that gets passed on to those in our own generation and generations to follow. Those who fear His Name are transmitting the truth of this heritage while they live and even after they pass on. If Ruth could have been in the Easter service where Kendall preached last Sunday most likely there’d be points he would make, inflections in his voice, and Scriptural truths that he shared that would make her say to herself, “He’s just like his grandfather.”

Ask yourself today: What am I living for and more importantly who am I living it for?


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily Prayer: Father, we desire to pass on a godly heritage to our children and our children’s children. In doing so we must set our hearts on things above far more than earthly things below. We want to let Your Holy Word flourish in our lives as we teach, encourage, and admonish one another with all spiritual wisdom. May all we do and say be for Your glory and in honor of Christ in whose name we pray. Amen.



* "We've given you so much to live with, but we haven't given you very much to live for." While acknowledging the overall value of this statement and the importance of passing on a godly heritage, each individual and each generation ultimately stands on the basis of his or her own faith and obedience to God. I could see some using this sentiment as an excuse and blaming the previous generation for their problems. There are also those who've had the benefit of a godly heritage but choose to walk away from God and righteous living. And there are those who've have had little benefit of a Christian background who turn to God and make a serious commitment to live for Him, thus establishing the foundation for a godly heritage. He is an eternal Redeemer!




Here is the Daily Encouragement message we wrote last October following Kendall's grandfather's Memorial Service.



Father/Son Moment
Amish father and son
Yesterday we stopped by and visited with our Amish friends Jesse and Anna Ruth in their dairy barn as they were finishing their late afternoon milking. Long-time readers know that Jesse and Anna Ruth were our neighbors here in Mount Joy for several years before moving back the home farm in Strasbug, PA last year. Milking time is a full family affair with both Jesse and Anna Ruth working hard and the children helping out as they are able. Yesterday I even helped out a bit!

Some readers who know of my interest in photography may wonder why they never see photos of Jesse and Anna. The Amish (most anyway) are opposed to having their photos taken in a way that might be recognized and of course I honor that. With their permission I have taken photos of their children but they have asked that I not share these photos on the internet. At the birth of their third child last year they specifically asked me to come over and take a photo of their new baby with his older brother and sister and since they are expecting their fourth child in a couple of months I imagine I will have another photo shoot of the kids!

I do have permission to use the above photo of Jesse and their oldest son, Moses, during a break time when Jesse ran a masonry business. At this time Moses was beginning to talk prolifically and asking a lot of questions. His Dad patiently answered him and began early on to pass on the heritage.



Today's Suggested Music and
Supplemental Resources

"Take My Life And Let It Be" Audio

"Find Us Faithful" Audio
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful,
May the fire of our devotion light their way.
May the footprints that we leave, lead them to believe,
And the lives we live inspire them to obey.
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful.


"This Is My Desire" Audio

"Lord You Have My Heart" Audio

Today's top photo is by Howard J. Blichfeldt and is used with his permission. His website is here and here is the original page for this photo. Howard has given me permission to place a Scripture verse, hymn portion or part of a quote on his work (as I did today). These work great as desktop background photos to reinforce your faith and encourage others. To make this (or any photo) a desktop background merely right click and select "set as background"

Info about multi-media files used on daily encouragement.

Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne.
Administration Information

2008 Valentine's Sweetheart banquet


Stephen and Brooksyne Weber
"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!"

Personal Ministry Update
Revised 02/20/08





DonateEach 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? Thanks! See here for details. (2008 YTD financial offerings through 3/27/2008 $3,305.00)

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 placed 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 this message on!





Our other blogs:
"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.


Musical playlists
Classic hymns mix Christian eclectic mix

Christianbook.comDaily 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
Chaplaincy logo

"Living securely today anchored
in God's solid foundation"


http://www.dailyencouragement.net/

Thursday, March 27, 2008

"The Compassionate Touch"

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<Previous Message · Print Easy read/print edition

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Jonquil
Jonquils blooming by our shed.
Daily we see new signs of Spring

ListenListen to us share this message on your audio player.

"The Compassionate Touch"

"Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him" (Mark 4:41).

Brooksyne has a volunteer ministry in two local nursing homes and an assisted living center. She plays the piano and leads residents in Hymn Sings. When time permits she visits the residents one by one coming to know many of them by name.

Some of the less acceptable people of society, though not necessarily elderly, also reside in these institutions. Due to their limited mental capacity or severe physical deformities they've been delegated to these settings for necessary care. Many of them have a desperate need for a loving human touch that stands in great contrast to mere medical procedures or hygiene assistance supplied by staff personnel.

"A leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, "If You are willing, You can make me clean" (Mark 4:40). In the Bible times leprosy was a disease that had severe social consequences. Throughout the Bible you can read about this and thus the leper's extreme reticence in approaching the Lord. He was accustomed to being shunned; an outcast from his peers, even his own family.

"Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him." What Christ did in stretching out His hand and touching the leper was very significant. This man was so unaccustomed to human touch that this act of kindness by Jesus must have been extremely meaningful.

Try to imagine what it would be like to live devoid of the touch of other people, such as leprous people are consigned to. I am so blessed with a happy marriage (32 years this May) and so many other sources of compassionate human touch I enjoy. In our home we regularly enjoy a family hug, where we essentially gather in a huddle and all hug at once. I know many of you have similar blessings which can easily be taken for granted.

But there are many others who live in loneliness and crave human touch. Some of you reading this message know from personal experience just what I'm talking about. Let me illustrate by sharing the following true story:

Several years ago a childless widow lived alone. She made dinner every night for one and had conversation with none. Most of her closest friends had died, people rarely stopped by, and her phone never rang. She experienced a loneliness that grew day by day. She longed to fellowship with her brothers and sisters, to hear their conversation, and to feel their touch. Her fragile health forced her to be quarantined in her loneliness for a number of weeks.

One Sunday morning she mustered all the strength she could to dress and get ready for church. Her anticipation grew as she thought about how good it would be to meet with others again. She pictured herself receiving a handshake, maybe a hug from her sisters in Christ. She needed to feel the warmth of someone's flesh besides her own.

She attended the service but returned to her home even more desperate and lonely. You see, the people didn't even notice as they filed past her. No word of greeting, not one handshake was extended to this lonely widow. No warm conversation took place such as "It's so good to see you again, we've missed you. How are you feeling?"

Today people all around you need the compassionate touch. For many it's just one more component to wholeness. But others are sorely lacking and desperately need someone to reach out and touch them, to give them a few minutes of their time. Let us, as the body of Christ, be
representatives of His Hand extended!


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily Prayer: Lord, lay some soul upon my heart and love that soul through me. If encouragement is needed, then encourage through me. If a warm touch is needed, then touch through me. If a prayer is needed, then pray through me Lord Jesus. Help me to see those whom others might overlook. I want to represent You, Jesus, and have a heart of compassion toward others. Amen.



Brooksyne's note: I read the true story about the lonely widow many years ago. It has served as a continual reminder not to overlook the quiet individual who may easily fade into the background of more prominent church personalities or the friends I meet up with week after week. Before the service begins I make it a point to shake the hands of widows, widowers, and people with ongoing health challenges. In the back of my mind I ask, "Who needs the human touch of a handshake or perhaps a hug today?"

Brooksyne with Sara
Brooksyne with her new friend, Sara
Here's a story illustrating today's theme that Brooksyne experienced recently. Sara is a widow who suffers from a severe form of scoliosis which adversely affects her heart and lungs. Learn more about how God met her physical and emotional need by clicking the story link.


Stephen's note: As a pastor I served in churches where we often hugged each other in addition to firm handshakes and other appropriate physical expressions of care. In my public school years I recall teachers who would express their personal interest in similar ways. (I also recall getting a well-deserved spanking at Cambridge Elementary School in Belton Missouri that I managed to live through and my parents did not threaten a lawsuit. In fact I am sure I got in double trouble when I got home!)



Roxie in Donegal Creek
Yesterday we shared a story about Roxie in the creek. Here's a photo.



Today's Suggested Music and
Supplemental Resources

"If We Are The Body" Video

"We Are The People Of God"
Audio

"Be Love In Me" Audio

"Jesus Loves Me" Audio

Info about multi-media files used on daily encouragement.

Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne.
Administration Information

2008 Valentine's Sweetheart banquet


Stephen and Brooksyne Weber
"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!"

Personal Ministry Update
Revised 02/20/08





DonateEach 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? Thanks! See here for details. (2008 YTD financial offerings through 3/25/2008 $3,280.00)

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 placed 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 this message on!





Our other blogs:
"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.


Musical playlists
Classic hymns mix Christian eclectic mix

Christianbook.comDaily 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
Chaplaincy logo

"Living securely today anchored
in God's solid foundation"


http://www.dailyencouragement.net/

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

"God's Great Love"

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A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.

<Previous Message · Print Easy read/print edition

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Donegal Creek
Donegal Creek (Click on photo to enlarge)

ListenListen to us share this message on your audio player.

"God's Great Love"

"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:11,12).

RoxieWe are getting some beautiful spring days and are especially enjoying our daily walk along the country lane. Last summer our dog, Roxie, overcame her fear of water and now enjoys walking through the shallow water in Donegal Creek. Yesterday as we walked along she jumped right into the creek and climbed out on the other side toward a wooded area. She loves to check out the scents of small animals and often chases a rabbit, squirrel, or a bird but never catches them. I think it's the chase more than the prey that she enjoys most!

Normally she crosses back over before we get to a fence but this time she ran along the other side of the fence line before crossing under, which was a bad decision since it turned out to be an activated electric fence! As she ran under it she let out a screeching yelp and darted on ahead of us not having the slightest idea what happened and choosing not to look back. The remainder of the walk she slouched low with her tail between her legs. We tried to reassure her but it took her quite awhile to get over it.

We understood what happened to her but of course she didn't. It's that way with us at times isn't it? We get shocked by a situation in life and we have no idea what hit us nor do we understand why we were the enemy's target. You've probably heard or used the following expressions, "I don't know what hit me" or "Where did that come from?" I can recall experiences like this in my own life and I've observed them in others as well. I have a friend who's going through one of these shocking experiences right now.

We can't predict or avoid these jolting experiences so that's why we need to have a deep abiding assurance of God's great love.

The daily verse is one of the greatest expressions in Scripture extolling God's love for us and His greatest redemptive work on our behalf. Consider the two figures of speech the Psalmist uses in the text.

First he speaks of the greatness of God's love, "for those who fear Him" as being "as high as the heavens are above the earth." How high is that? In the Scriptures the expression "heavens" normally describes the universe as distinct from the earth. But how big is the universe? It seems this distance just keeps increasing with better telescopes and more research!

The study of astronomy interests me, although most astronomers ignore God's revelation in the Scriptures. Astronomer Dr. Robert Kirshner of Harvard University asserts: "The truth is out there, and we will find it." The Psalmist, in describing the infinite nature of God's love and mercy, expresses the greatest truth. And sadly astronomers, looking in the wrong place, will never find this Truth!

Secondly, he speaks of the extent of God's forgiveness: "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." How far is that? If he were to have written "north from the south" we could have measured the distance between the poles. But how far is the east from the west? It is not something we can measure! In His immeasurably great mercy that's how far He has removed our transgressions from us.

The Psalmist provided God's greatest solution to life's greatest problem in this single verse. He covers both the vertical and horizontal reaching of God's goodness to humankind. The boundless capacity of God's love fills the vertical space from the heavens to the earth. His limitless capacity for forgiveness stretches horizontally beyond the measurable scope of humankind. Do we not serve a great God who is moved to action by our innermost needs!

May you be filled with the fullness of God as He reveals Himself to You through His unlimited love and ongoing forgiveness.


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily Prayer: Omnipotent Father, Your immeasurable love and unending forgiveness are characteristics that only a God like You can dispense. The gifts of the Spirit that we seek to implement in our lives such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are like prisms diffusing the brilliant light of Your holiness that shines forth through Your Holy Spirit in our lives. As recipients of Your unending goodness may we be dispensers of Your multiple blessings to those You bring into our lives. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.



Today's Suggested Music and
Supplemental Resources

"As Far As The East" Audio from Integrity Music's Scripture Memory Songs. About fifteen years ago I memorized a lot of Scripture verses using these songs as a memory aid.

"East To West" Video Casting Crowns

"My Savior's Love"
Audio
I have loved this old hymn since I was a young Christian.

"Your Love O Lord" Audio

"The Love Of God" Audio

"Only A God Like You" Audio

Here's a video of Roxie we made last year jumping through the wheat field!

Info about multi-media files used on daily encouragement.

Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne.
Administration Information

2008 Valentine's Sweetheart banquet


Stephen and Brooksyne Weber
"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!"

Personal Ministry Update
Revised 02/20/08





DonateEach 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? Thanks! See here for details. (2008 YTD financial offerings through 3/25/2008 $3,280.00)

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Our other blogs:
"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.


Musical playlists
Classic hymns mix Christian eclectic mix

Christianbook.comDaily 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
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