 A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Message · Archives ·  Archive/print editionThursday, May 28, 2009  We often pass this barn along E-town Road here in Lancaster County. We have been told that this is actually a painting of the horse that lives on the farm!  Listen to us share this message on your audio player."The Victory" "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57). Larry is a friend of mine from Bible College. He turned to Christ as a young adult having already earned a degree in accounting and then he worked for Westinghouse. As a young convert his faith was vibrant both in Christian and non-Christian settings. Thus he was given an interesting name at work before he left to begin his preparations for ministry. His fellow workers nicknamed him Vic, not because his name was Victor (which it wasn't) but because he constantly sang the hymn, "Victory in Jesus." Larry was with Brooksyne and me one day during a time of deep discouragement after we had moved to Pennsylvania in 1977 to plant a church. His very presence was a source of encouragement. My heart strings are really pulled when I hear someone express, "I'm really discouraged." I know how spiritually crippling discouragement can be. It seems in all of our lives there are certain critical issues that can easily prompt discouragement. Keeping the right focus can be a real challenge. Thus what I am sharing today is not merely academic. I am so glad the Word is written not only to inspire, instruct, and strengthen but also to encourage! The daily verse is a powerful truth that we do well to hide deep in our hearts. The apostle Paul is completing a great portion asserting the foundation of the resurrection. He has powerfully made his point and as he finished he pulls it all together with an exclamation of praise, "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." This verse is so powerful in itself but an additional thought from a commentary especially blesses me. The word for "gives" is in the present tense and this is used to emphasize the certainty of the victory. It wasn't just for that point in time, but it is a present ongoing victory that we have right here and now, tomorrow, the next day and so forth. Certainly we will have apparent setbacks and disappointments in life. But the promise is that "He gives us the victory." Today let this truth flood your soul. It will fill you with spiritual fervor and encourage your heart. I regularly search for worship music as Brooksyne and I prepare these encouragements attempting to supplement our message with a supporting thought in a particular song(s). Today we consider a song with a recurring line that reminds me and all who need uplifting of where our focus must be. "Forever You will be the Lamb upon the throne! I'll gladly bend my knee and worship You alone." Indeed the Lamb is on the throne and I choose to worship Him! We live in victory when our eyes are off of self and fixed on the Lamb! Today's Scripture is followed by a portion that I have often described as my "life verse". "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." I very specifically recall the time I was being examined for my ordination which was 30 years ago this month. Only 24 years old at the time, I was sitting at a massive conference table with the elders who had served in ministry for many years. This was the final step in my approval for ordination. These tried and proven elders asked various questions concerning my call to ministry, Bible knowledge, doctrinal understanding and so forth. It was very stressful and wearying. As the meeting came to a close I recall one of the elders, Edward Menaldino, a very distinguished Italian minister who pastored a large church on Philadelphia's south side, standing up, pausing, and making direct eye contact with me. He then solemnly and slowly quoted this Scripture portion from memory with the Spirit's anointing. Perhaps that's why this passage has stood out over the years as it has been my constant guide through our many years of Christian service. Only God would know that the church we were planting at the time would have many ups and downs, difficulties would abound. I would need the Spirit's prompting to never shrink back, but "always give myself fully to the work of the Lord knowing that my labor in the Lord is not in vain." As I kept my hand to the plow the blessings did unfold as God firmly established His work in that spiritually needy community. That's a word for you as well, dear friend. No matter what God has called you to do, give yourself fully to it, and know that your work is not in vain. He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. You may not see the fruit of that victory at the present, but trust God that He will reveal it to you in due time. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, we give thanks to You that we can walk in victory because of Your Son Jesus Christ. Once we were held captive by sin and its enslavement, but we have been set free through the redemptive work of Jesus and His glorious resurrection. Each day brings new challenges, but we overcome them through the blood of the Lamb. Help us to stand firm in our faith and immovable in Your truths, as we daily serve You. We are encouraged to know that nothing we do for You is in vain though we may not see immediate results. Keep us obedient and trusting. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Note: Ed Menaldino is now 84 and is still in service for Christ. Yesterday I found his number and called him. I reminisced about the ordination testing and how his quotation of Scripture was such an encouragement to me at the time. He told me several times how heartened he was by my phone call. He has been married over 60 years now and his wife is having severe health problems. I was able to reciprocate his encouragement to me years earlier by praying with him yesterday over the phone for his wife's frail health. It also occurs to me that I am now the very same age (54) that he would have been when he gave the Scriptural charge. He seemed way up in years at the time (that's certainly the age perspective of a 24 year old.)  Pansies These beautiful spring flowers sure bring a cheery smile to our face!  "New for prom season rental in Lancaster!" In Tuesday's message I posted a photo of an Amish horse and buggy. This prompted Ron, a friend who lives in the area, to send me this "photo" and caption. I have not seen the Amish limo yet but have seen many of these. Any idea what they are? Here's another sight you won't often see and also this one. 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 5/27/09: $4,830.00)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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