| A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Message · Archives ·  Archive/print edition Listen to us share this message on your audio player."I Know the King!" "You are my King and my God" (Psalm 44:4). Gene and Doris Wenger are a couple whose faces and names are very familiar throughout Lancaster County though they're most often found working behind the scenes in a hot kitchen. They're especially known in these parts for getting behind good causes – often giving of their labor and supplies to help support the charitable cause. For many years they've run a meat shop in a nearby town that is most famous for its ham loaf. It's a Lancaster County delicacy that was introduced to us shortly after moving to this area seven years ago. The shape and texture of hamloaf is much like meat loaf but it's made up of ground up ham and Gene's secret seasonings. In our parts it's simply referred to or labeled as "Gene Wenger's famous ham loaf." About twenty five years ago Gene was designated the "Pennsylvania Pork King" and that designation figures prominently on his packaging, such as the seal shown above on the brand new packaging for his ham loaf patties. When I see him I like to tease him good naturedly and say, "I'm glad that I know a king." Well, that's a great declaration not many can make – "I know a King." Many refer to Elvis Presley as "the king" and there are a few who actually know one of the earthly monarchs. But all of us may personally know the King of kings! We may, like the Psalmist, declare to Him in song and through prayer: "You are my King." Our King is altogether unlike the earthly kings. We, like the early church, declare: "There is another king, One called Jesus" (Acts 17:7). Our King reigns eternally over the entire universe. As the great hymn states: "Let every kindred, every tribe on this terrestrial ball, to Him all majesty ascribe and crown Him Lord of all." Our King is omnipotent (all-powerful). What a contrast to any earthly potentate. All other power is limited. A proud King Herod in Acts 12 failed to renounce the praise directed toward him following his public address to the people. They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." He was immediately struck down, eaten by worms and died! Our King desires to have a personal relationship with each of His subjects. Not all of you reading this will be able to personally know our friend Gene Wenger, although many in the western Lancaster County area already do. And most all of us would not be allowed to approach or address an earthly king, but our King extends His invitation to all of His creation through the Holy Scriptures, "Come unto me." Today let us rejoice that the Lord our God is King! Rejoice, the Lord is King! Your Lord and King adore! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing, and triumph evermore. Lift up your heart, lift up your voice! Rejoice, again I say, rejoice! His kingdom cannot fail, He rules o'er earth and heav'n; The keys of death and hell are to our Jesus giv'n. Lift up your heart, lift up your voice! Rejoice, again I say, rejoice! * Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily Prayer: Being the child of an earthly king brings earthly privilege and human pride while being a child of the Heavenly King gives me a life of spiritual privilege and fills me with great humility. Thank You, Jesus, that through Your great redemptive love, I am considered a child of the King of kings. Though now I live as an exile from heaven, at the Father's appointed hour, I will enjoy all the privileges afforded a child of the Heavenly King. But until that great transition takes place I thank You that I can approach Your welcoming throne of grace with confidence and find grace needed for every request I bring while traveling here on earth. I'm so glad You are my God and my King! * Text by Charles Wesley; based on Philippians 4:4 Music by John Darwall  Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Rejoice, The Lord Is King!" Video A powerful live service version (some distortion). Many will appreciate the singer's vibrancy. "Heart Of Worship" Audio Video This song came to mind due to the line "King of Endless Worth." The audio version is especially nice in my view. "He's My King" A powerful brief (3:40) video sermon segment by S.M. Lockridge. I first heard this many years ago at a minister's conference and it continues to move me each time I hear it. "O Praise Him (All This For A King)" Video This is a very interesting song and is (in my view) best left to this artist in a concert setting. The lalalalalala just doesn't fit in most congregational settings! The musician has a very expressive style. Today I would have included some classic hymns like "O Worship The King" and "Crown Him With Many Crowns" but was unable to find any online versions. |
| Administration Information  "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 through 5/31/2008 $9,057.00)  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!  Daily Encouragement Net Reader SurveyWe want to thank all of you who have taken a few minutes to fill in our online survey. Here's a brief summary of the results including some comments and tips regarding technical problems several mentioned having. If you haven't taken the survey yet and would like to do so click here. I will continue to monitor the results. "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 |
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