 A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Message · Archives ·  Archive/print editionMonday, February 9, 2009  Amish farm in eastern Lancaster County  Listen to us share this message on your audio player."Eternal Profit" "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:24-26). "For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it" (1 Timothy 6:7).  Saturday morning I went to a farm auction in our neighborhood where an entire 95 acre farm was being sold all at once (land, house, and buildings). Eli, an Amish friend, had bought the farm about 19 years ago intending to move his family to this part of the county but never did. For about three years Eli's son, Jesse and his wife, Anna Ruth, newly married, made their home on this property. They also gave birth to their first three children in this house so the sale was kind of like saying good-bye to a very good friend. The sale began promptly at noon and in a very short time the farm sold for $13,100 per acre. It was an interesting experience and the farm went to a family that will grow flowers so that should be interesting and especially pleased Brooksyne. Many of the large properties in Lancaster County sell to developers and that surely would have changed the landscape of our neighborhood. Eli did very well in the sale, making a substantial earthly profit, although I suppose he might wonder if he had waited longer he might have gotten even more! But it has been a very good earthly investment for him, increasing in value some three times what he paid for it back in 1990. As I drove the family back to their home in Strasburg I shared with Eli's daughter-in-law Anna Ruth that I knew there was a spiritual lesson in this. She then recalled today's Scripture and the need for a healthy Biblical outlook on monetary profit. We shared concerning the vast distinction between earthly profit and eternal profit. Our church has had an interesting practice. Each month we encourage the entire congregation to memorize a "verse of the month." We begin each service by standing and quoting the verse together. As the month progresses more and more can recite the verse with confidence and God's Word is "hidden" in the hearts of His people. (See Psalm 119:11.) Many years ago today's Scripture was the memory verse. It has especially impacted me due to a framed print that hung in my office for many years, a calligraphed version by a Canadian by the name of Walter Kember. * These solemn words of our Lord ought to be scrolled deeply onto the tablets of our hearts and established in our minds. "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Jesus very pointedly asks two rather simple questions. He doesn't answer them, for the answer is obvious. Indeed many are seeking to gain the world, and in the process give little or no attention to their soul. Many who are recognized as very successful by this world's standards ignore their soul to their own eternal damnation. We need to remember that we are but stewards in this life. We are called to manage the property and affairs of another. Our treasure, time and talents (work skills) and indeed our very life are gifts from God. We belong to Him. When it's all over on this side this much is for certain, "We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it." Let us never forget that! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily Prayer: Father, Your Word declares that this world is not our home, we're just passing through, on our way to heaven. Help us to keep this perspective daily as we set financial goals and the exchange of earthly goods. We get financially entangled and emotionally distraught over those transactions that tie our affections to this perishing world. Fix our hearts and minds upon that which satisfies the soul and stores our treasures in heaven. * I have seen prints of this Scripture and several others in churches all through the northeast. I recall an auto dealership in South Central PA that has one in each office. The Scripture verses have a stamped inscription on the back: "WALTER KEMBER Sarnia Canada "A sinner saved by grace" "Gathered in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ." Made in Canada DO NOT SELL". Walter Kember apparently saw it as his ministry to freely prepare and distribute them as a witness and blessing to others. Amish Farm Auction  The auction was held in a rennovated chicken house. I stood at the back and didn't have a very good view. The auctioneer is in the center of the photo facing the crowd.  I took this photo from a second floor balcony seconds before the auctioneer hollered "SOLD".  Today's Suggested Music |
 "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update Revised 01/20/09  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 daily encouragement ministry? Donations are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by my chaplaincy endorsing ministry. Thanks! See here for details. (2009 YTD financial offerings through 2/4/09: $1,050.00) SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION  Were you forwarded this edition of Daily Encouragement Net? If you desire you can receive your own free! To receive these "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. This newsletter is never sent unsolicited. It was sent to you because you signed up to receive it OR a friend forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the rss feed.Cancel: We respect and value your time and privacy. If these messages no longer meets your needs (providing encouragement) you can remove your address by merely use the link automatically inserted by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each email message. Weekly Version: The weekly version is designed for those who may 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" - A blog simply posting the daily prayer. We keep this up each day since it's merely the prayer from the Daily Encouragement Net message! "Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the faithful believer and church. (Actually this is my intent but I haven't done much with it!) "A Little Foolishness" - A humor/satire blog (a great outlet for non-serious writing but at times with a subtle message!) I haven't had time or "inspiration" for this for awhile but it has several stories that get regular page views. "Hymns of Hope" - Brooksyne along with two friends made a CD using classic hymns. Brooksyne tells the background story of the 11 hymns. We are distributing this CD without charge in our ministry. All of these songs are also available for download on the site. If any reader in this series would like a CD merely write us and request one.  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, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version. © Copyright 2009 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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