A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Home · About Us ·  · Podcast · Free emailSee here for more info. <Previous Message · Archives ·  Archive/print editionThursday, June 19, 2008  A flower basket prepared by Brooksyne.  Listen to us share this message on your audio player."What God Says Is Good" "He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8). What a joy to meditate on God's Word and receive a divine perspective early in the morning as we prepare for the day at hand. One of the great blessings we have is that God has shown us all through Scripture what He reckons as good and how He wants us to live. Micah was a prophet who served our Lord during the time of the conquest of the Northern Kingdom by the Assyrians. Like prophets before him, and those who followed he told the people truths they did not want to hear. He courageously denounced the pagan religious practices of his own people. They worshipped other gods in direct violation of the first commandment. However they did not necessarily quit believing in and worshipping the one true God; instead they divided their allegiance between Almighty God and the pagan gods. Their accepted form of worship was bringing their sacrifices and offerings to the temple. They had compartmentalized religion and failed to acknowledge the relationship between "religious practice" and the activity of daily life. Micah, in our daily verse, powerfully reminds them (and us) that God's interest is not merely the act of worship in the Temple (or the church for us). For most this would include our attendance, our praise, our ministry, our offerings and so forth. These certainly have an important place in our worship practice but, God is also supremely concerned with the proper attitude of our hearts which brings about faithful obedience. Each of the three specific calls to obedience in the daily text are abundantly taught and demonstrated elsewhere in Scripture. I have found that this is a powerful verse to commit to memory and I use it as a guide in my prayer life. In fact early in my Christian life I sang this song set to music, which was a great aid in memorizing this portion of Scripture. The Holy Spirit can bring that wonderful, yet at times very uncomfortable, sense of conviction through His Word. Today, won't you examine your life in light of this timeless verse. Are you acting justly? Do you love mercy? Are you walking humbly with your God? Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, help us not to ignore or reject Your messengers who are faithful to the Holy Word. Though the warnings they convey through Scripture may bring about needed conviction help us to take the necessary steps to correct our doctrine, attitude, or lifestyle so that we please You in all we do. May we be people who act justly, overflow with mercy, and humbly choose to follow You. Amen. Brooksyne's Note: Stephen pulled the featured flower arrangement from last summer's collection. I am unable to cut and arrange my flowers this season due to my immobility since I broke my ankle last month, and I sure miss doing so. I am very grateful for the many perennials that are blooming right now. Though I can't arrange the flowers I still enjoy their beauty as they bring beautiful color in our landscape. A number of dear friends have weeded my flower beds and even did some planting for me. God is graciously supplying my needs and teaching me many things at this time. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources We were unable to find an online version of the Scripture chorus based on todays' Scripture text (Micah 6:8) but Brooksyne does sing it in today's podcast! "Step By Step" Audio Info about multi-media files used on daily encouragement. Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne. |
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 6/18/2008 $9,567.00)  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. 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.  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  "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" |
