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 editionMonday, August 18, 2008  Owl We visited a wildlife animal park in Nebraska and I was intrigued with this very still owl who was unphased by our photo session.  Listen to us share this message on your audio player.Monday, August 18, 2008 "Christ Preeminent" "And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent" (Colossians 1:18). As we travel back across the midwest toward home we are prompted by memories of our life's journey. Thirty-five years ago this month Brooksyne and I began our formal training for Christian ministry at a small Bible college in southern Missouri. We started dating in January of 1974 and after our junior year we married. In August of 1977 we moved to the northeast where we have served in ministry for the past 31 years. For many years we traveled across the midwest to see our families. God has greatly blessed us as we've served the Lord together. We've had abundant blessings and joys as well as various trials and disappointments. Life has not always worked out the way we had hoped or planned for. We've learned that you need to roll with the God-ordained punches of life. But we can sure declare that God's been faithful. Foundationally we have sought in our marriage and ministry to keep Christ preeminent. Christ Preeminent. What a glorious truth! This phrase from Colossians is translated differently in various translations. The NIV states, "In everything He might have the supremacy." In the NASV it reads, "He Himself will come to have first place in everything." The Greek word (proteuon) means "to be first, to have the first place, to hold the chief place." He is reigning as the preeminent Being in the universe. He always has been and always will be. I examine my life today and I encourage you to do the same. Is Christ preeminent in your life? Is He the reigning King of your heart's allegiance? May Christ's reign and preeminence be evident in each of our lives today! This song comes to mind as I conclude today's message. I am sure many of you have heard and sung it. Over all the earth You reign on high Every mountain stream every sunset sky But my one request, Lord my only aim Is that You reign in me again Lord reign in me, reign in Your power Over all my dreams, in my darkest hour You are the Lord of all I am So won't You reign in me again Over every thought, over every word May my life reflect the beauty of my Lord 'Cause You mean more to me than any earthly thing So won't You reign in me again. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Jesus, would You be at the center of my thoughts, my attitudes, and in my conversations today. Would You keep me spiritually sensitive to opportunities for Christian witness. As You reign in my life You are my Master and I choose to be obedient to You, my Lord. Grant me the strength to trust You in the dark trials I may face this day as I release my worries and fears to You. Help me to remember that I walk by faith and not by sight. I desire to follow You, my King of kings and Lord of lords. In Jesus' Name, Amen. Here are some photos from our Steincross reunion and trip.  First cousins 2008 (click to enlarge) This is fourteen of the sixteen cousins in attendance this year. Only one still lives in Missouri. The rest are spread from coast to coast and border to border, but we all stay in contact.  MaMa and PaPa I believe this photo is from their 60th anniversary Our MaMa and PaPa lived from the early 1880's till the early 1970's They lived in a period of time from the first human flight to the first man on the moon. They now have over 130 descendents.  Dub and Joy Steincross My cousin Dub is a retired pastor. Joy continues to play piano professionally. They are still very active and play tennis together quite competitively!  Steve McKelvey played college football in Nebraska as starting quarterback and played baseball as well. In the family softball game Ester got whacked with Steve's hard hit liner and she lives to gleefully tell about it!  Robin is collecting the leftover game sheets and Brooksyne is recalling past reunions where Mom would always gather extra copies so she could take them to her senior center. She thought everyone would enjoy playing the games as she did.  White Bison Saturday afternoon we visited a drive-through wild animal safari park and sure saw some interesting animals like this white Bison crossing right in front of our van.  Windmill in Danish community in Iowa we passed through yesterday. This was dissambled in Denmark and reassembled on this site.  We passed this interesting display in front of a farm implement manufacturer in Iowa. Personal note: Today (Monday AM) we are at a hotel in East Moline Illinois working our way back to Pennsylvania, hoping to see several friends along the way. Here is our trip route. We plan to stay near Toledo Ohio tonight and then, Lord willing, we'll be home late Tuesday evening! We do not plan to prepare a message tommorrow (Tuesday) since we want to get an early start as it will be the longest single day of our entire trip. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources (Click on the link to play) 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. Thank you for your consideration! See here for details. (2008 YTD financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net through 8/17/2008: $13,784.00) 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 inserted 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 these messages on! "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" |
