 A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Message · Archives ·  Archive/print editionTuesday February 17, 2009  Longenecker farm in Lancaster County Pennsylvania  Listen to us share this message on your audio player."Ordinary People" "Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers" (2 Timothy 4:21). Last week we shared a message about God's "whole family in heaven and on earth." Today I consider my dad, who went to be with the Lord in 1998 and now resides in heaven. Today we remember what would have been his 90th birthday. He's part of that "whole family."  My dad, Eugene Clark Weber, was pretty ordinary and very, very few reading this ever heard of him. Like most, he never did anything really remarkable for God and when historians write of the twentieth century I'm certain they won't include his name. But his name is in the most important Book of all books, the Book of Life! (see Philippians 4:3)He stayed faithful to his wife for over 53 years, loved his four kids, and worked hard to provide for his family. He was very proficient in mechanical things like plumbing, heating, air-conditioning and about anything else that needed fixed. He voluntarily used these skills in many churches throughout the Kansas City area. While in his late sixties he installed the entire heating system for the church we pastored in northern Pennsylvania, as we excitedly moved from a storefront rental of seven years into our own new building. My dad had a simple faith and love for God. He didn't pray very dramatically but I sure miss hearing the earnestness when he prayed. His greatest gift to me was his model of faithfulness and integrity in the regular grind of life. I doubt if very many have ever memorized the daily Scripture verse or really paid much attention to it. But notice the names: "Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers". Do you know what distinguishes them? 2 Timothy is considered to be Paul's final letter and these are the final names he mentions among all of those he associated with throughout his long ministry. It happens that each of them are mentioned only in this passage and apart from this mention we know absolutely nothing about them. But apparently they were with Paul in his final days and personally knew Timothy. They must have had some type of impact upon Paul for him to mention their names. You know what? I appreciate these people. I expect to meet them when I get to heaven. I have no idea what their contribution was to God's Kingdom. But they were probably like my dad, or your dad, or you and me. Ordinary people seeking to live our lives on this side of eternity with faith and obedience. And God's still working today using scores of very ordinary people like you and me! Just ordinary people, God uses ordinary people. He chooses people just like me and you, Who are willing to do as He commands. God uses people that will give Him all. No matter how small your all may seem to you. Because little becomes much, As you place it in the Master's hand." * Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily Prayer: Father, it is not the accolades of the world for which we live, but it is the affirmation of Your Word that serves as our trusted guide in all we seek to be and to do. We want to be faithful in the everyday obligations and opportunities that await us. Use us to glorify Your name and for the furtherance of the gospel of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen. * "Ordinary People" Hall, Danniebell © 1977 Birdwing Music (a div. of EMI Christian Music Publishing) / BMG Songs, Inc. (Mech) (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)  Today is also the date of Brooksyne's father Brooklyn's death in 2000. Here he is sharing a lollipop with Ester. His adoring look toward Ester in this photo reveals the close relationship she enjoyed with him in the short ten years she knew him.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources |
 "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 2/16/09: $1,565.00) 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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