 A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Message · Archives ·  Archive/print editionMonday, May 25, 2009  Old water pump & chair Both of these bring back memories of my childhood. This was the kind of chair so many had sitting on their front porch.  Listen to us share this message on your audio player."Let Us Remember" "Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you" (Deuteronomy 32:7). "Remember your leaders, who spoke the Word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith" (Hebrews 13:7). Today is Memorial Day here in America, a day initially set aside to remember the fallen from America's Civil War and which has come to also be a time we remember all who have fallen in war. It is also a time when many of us especially remember our loved ones who have gone on before us. Yesterday we walked through the cemetery down the road from our house and noticed that many of the graves were adorned with flowers, an expression of love and remembrance by a remaining family member or friend. However today we would like to heed a very specific Scriptural call to remembrance that will apply to believers all over the world. Some 3,400 years ago Moses prepared to pass the mantle of leadership on to his successor Joshua. In his final sermon he called the people to "remember the days of old; consider the generations long past." I believe this to be a command for all people of all generations, not just the initial listeners. It's interesting to me how many times the Bible reminds us to consider our roots. History was very important in the life of the people. Great New Testament sermons like Peter's (Acts 2) and Stephen's (Acts 7) are rooted in history, the record of God's providential work in space and time. Today we believe one of the great strategies of Satan is a blurring and de-emphasis of history, whether it be the deceptions of the historical revisionists or the extremely poor grasp of history evident among so many. If Satan can get us to lose perspective of the past a trap is set for the lie of living only for the "Now." Forget the past and we place little value on the future, supremely our eternal future. The writer of Hebrews reminded his readers and all of us to "remember your leaders, who spoke the Word of God to you." Consider those who have shared God's Word with you throughout your life. For many it will be a godly parent or close relative. It may be a pastor, Sunday School teacher or other church leader. For some it will be a camp counselor or another individual you met along life's journey who has impacted your life for Christ. Yesterday in our church service I asked the congregation if they would like to verbally pay tribute to one who had made an impact on their life. Peter, who is a few years older than I recalled an earnest teacher in his Junior High class. She often stressed "the fundamental fundamentals and basical basics." Peter shared how the students snickered at the teacher's improper English and oft repeated phrase but in retrospect over the years he realizes how her earnest emphasis on truth made a difference in his life, by her words and her conduct. Sometime today, perhaps now, take a moment to remember these people and offer a prayer of thanks for them. Some may be with our Lord, while others are still serving Him on this earth. If they're still living why don't you send them a brief note of thanks and encouragement? Over the last several years God has led me to do this and I've been so blessed by blessing others and seeing the rich affect of encouragement it brings to their lives. We are also called to "consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith." I am so thankful for those whose lives I have personally observed as I witnessed the transforming change Christ makes. The leaders whom our text refers to were real people who were known personally by those they served. The word for imitate is a Greek word from which we get "mimic". Today, let us indeed remember the days of old and consider the value of generations long past! Let us remember our leaders, who spoke the Word of God to us and consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Ancient of Days, You have given us Your Holy Word as a spiritually historical foundation to build our lives upon. Through the centuries Your greatness is demonstrated through ordinary people just like us and through Your awesome acts that reveal Your incomparable power and divine attributes. History in the past and history in the making is subordinate to Your sovereign work in the lives of Your people. We lovingly submit ourselves into Your merciful hands. Amen. God of past ages, Lord of this morning, Lord of the future, Help us, we pray: Teach us to trust You, Love and obey You, Crown You each moment Lord of today. (Margaret Clarkson - sung to tune of "Morning Has Broken") Yesterday I encouraged the people to consider the following aspects of our heritage as we remember: (These points will apply to all readers)
Additional study on today's topic: Here are some online resources from Probe Ministries for any who might want more information about historical revisionism and post-modern influence, especially on the church. Why care about history? In defense of history The Emerging Church Historical Revisionism  The Truth War: Fighting for Certainty in an Age of Deception By John MacArthur / Thomas Nelson Yesterday afternoon we visited with Lloyd, a man in our church who collects antique tractors. We found this one, a Cletrac from 1930 quite interesting! Lloyd informs us that it still runs! Seth hopped on board to check it out!  We passed these miniature horses playing together. They were the smallest horses we have ever seen! Several were smaller than a typical dog. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources Click on the link to open and play. In some cases you may also need to click again to start the song. |
 "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update Revised 05/08/09  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 5/24/09: $4,580.00)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 either signed up to receive it OR a friend forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the rss feed.Subscribe to Daily Encouragement Updates by Email Cancel: We respect and value your time and privacy. If these messages no longer meet 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. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.) Weekly Version: The weekly version is intended 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. 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! "A Little Foolishness" - Humor/satire blog (a great outlet for non-serious writing but at times with a subtle message!) Last updated with the story of Mildred Swanson, who joyfully discovers her "spiritual gift" is sending forwarded emails! (Note: This material is satire!) "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!) "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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