Daily Encouragement (07/02/08) "Big Givers"

A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Home · About Us · · Podcast · Free email See here for more info. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive/print edition Wednesday, July 2, 2008 Raystown Lake in central Pennsylvania Listen to us share this message on your audio player. "Big Givers" "As He looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 'I tell you the truth,' He said, 'this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on'" (Luke 21:1-4). Our daily text records the only specific giver that Jesus commended in Scripture. The big givers had come through the line. I imagine they crinkled their bills or clattered their coins for maximum effect. I can see them looking toward Jesus as they dropped in their offering expecting a thumbs up or approving nod. Man's way is to commend the big givers. But Jesus said nothing until the poor widow came through. He went right to the heart of the matter in stating that, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others." What does He mean? Had He failed grade school math? Of course not. He explains Himself, but it simply runs counter to our type of reasoning. Most would beg to differ with Erich Fromm who wrote, "Not he who has much is rich, but he who gives much." In man's reasoning "more" means the size of the check, not the degree of the sacrifice. God doesn't primarily look at the size of the offering but at the heart of the giver. Man tends to commend the famous athlete, the celebrity who builds a playground, or the wealthy businessman who gives a large gift to the project. But I believe the Kingdom of God is primarily being advanced by scores of people who are much like the widow. They probably won't get a building named after them or make the cover of a magazine. But I believe they're the ones Jesus still commends. The main commendation we should all long for is to hear the words of our Master, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, help us to obey Your principles in the distribution of our income. May we give quietly and sacrificially with a generous spirit. Help us to use our resources soberly and distribute cheerfully from that which You have entrusted to us. We seek Your commendation and not the recognition of others in advancing the kingdom of God. Amen. Last night we made some new friends. Tom Michaels Zahradnik is the general manager of the Sound Of Life Radio Network, a group of radio stations based in New York, along the Hudson River Valley reaching the heart of the Northeast. Tom is pursuing endorsement as a chaplain and I was asked by Alvin Worthley, my national chaplain supervisor, to interview him. Tom and his wife, Cathleen, drove down to Lancaster County and joined us for a time of fellowship in our home. They both have a real heart for ministry and we shared an enjoyable time of fellowship, Scripture reading, and prayer together. The Sound Of Life Radio Network is also available in internet streaming audio wherever you live. Just click on the "Listen Now" link. Here's a photo of the entire Neizmik family taken this last weekend. All three girls grew up in the church and are now married. They honored their parents in such a nice way as they invited family and friends from all over. It was a time of celebration and reunion. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources (Click on the link to play in your audio player) "Little Is Much" Video We both really enjoy the lyrics to this song, especially the second verse. Larry Ford is a tremendous tenor. He can still hit those high notes that most of us never could. "Turn Up The Music" Video This song doesn't necessarily relate to today's message but we heard it recently at a wedding and again on Tom's station (via streaming audio) yesterday and thought we would share it with you. It's by "Point Of Grace", one of Brooksyne's favorite groups, and has an interesting perspective on living life to the fullest. Info about multi-media files used on daily encouragement. Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne.

Stephen and Brooksyne Weber - May 6, 2008 "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 6/30/2008 $10,824.00) 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 Survey We 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" www.dailyencouragement.net