 A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Messages · Archives ·  Archive/print editionWednesday, July 1, 2009  Late yesterday afternoon we witnessed this brilliant cloud pattern in the sky as the sun hid behind it.  Listen to us share this message on your audio player."A Good Name" "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold" (Proverbs 22:1).  Last week we passed a sign in New Jersey that caught our attention. I don't think I've ever seen a road named for Delilah and would find it interesting to learn of its origin. I wonder if it was named after a real person. Did they have knowledge of the Bible character? (See Judges 16)Normally when we name a child after someone, especially a Bible name, we consider the character of the person who bears (or bore) the name. I've met a lot of men with names like John, Mark or Paul and women named Mary, Sarah and Rachel. But certain Biblical characters have few people or places named after them. They just aren't "good names". I've never met a woman named Delilah or Jezebel, or a man named Nabal or Ahab. "A good name is more desirable than great riches." When I was younger I assumed this meant having a name one liked. I've always liked my name since I am named after Stephen, a bold, uncompromising Bible character. My middle name is Clark and I like that because I think of the explorers Lewis and Clark. But frankly there are certain names I am sure glad my parents didn't choose to name me. I won't mention these names, since it might actually be someone's name and I certainly don't want to offend! But a "good name" in the text means a name that connotes a person of honorable character and good reputation. For instance when we refer to a business that is known for honesty and integrity, we often say, "It has a good name." Having a good name is truly more desirous than possessing great riches which only have short duration. A good name is developed over time, really a life time, and the true judgment of success will not be known until this life is over and we personally meet the Lord. The highest standard will be to hear our Lord say these words directly to us, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Consider your name. What do you suppose others think when they speak your name or hear it spoken in various group settings (home, church, work, neighborhood, etc.)? Does it reflect a person who has a good name based upon integrity, truthfulness and godly character, one who is not self-absorbed but is concerned for the interests of others? When you get right down to it, it's not what we've accomplished or how much we've accumulated that counts in the end. It's who we are as a person that will determine whether or not our name is spoken in a favorable way. Indeed, "to be esteemed is better than silver or gold." Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily Prayer: Jesus, Your name stands out above every name. When we speak Your name the demons flee, the sick are restored, the weak are strengthened, and those held captive to sin are freed. It is only in the name of Jesus that we find salvation, for there is no other name in heaven or on earth whereby we can be saved. We, as Christians, take on the derivative of Your Messianic name, when we receive You as our Savior. We want to honor You as we bear Your name before a cynical unbelieving world. May our actions and attitudes not bring blemish or present opportunity for the unconverted to mock and ridicule those who identify themselves as Christians. Instead may our lives be set apart for Your glory like Daniel, who purposed in his heart, not to defile his God. May we also have a good name like Daniel whose godless Babylonian administration could find no corruption in him because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Though the world may not agree with our stand for You may we be seen as people who are honorable and trustworthy. It is in the name of Christ that we pray. Amen. Note from Brooksyne: Speaking of names, mine has always distinguished me from all the rest (in school, church, work, etc.). People often inquire about the pronunciation and the origin as well. Brooksyne is pronounced Brook-seen'. I would be unable to count the number of times I've explained it and had to pronounce it since I was young enough to speak for myself. My father's name was Brooklyn and my folks were hoping for a baby boy, but surprise, I was a girl! Mom had to come up with some derivative and thus the name "Brooksyne" originated 53 years ago. In the past twenty-five years the name "Brooke" has become popularized and has made my name a bit less distinct. I would have welcomed that as a child, but I've come to appreciate the distinctness of an original name. But my heartfelt prayer is that my life will always reflect that of a person with "a good name" (not just because it's unusual, not because I'm perfect cause I certainly am not, but because I have lived a life set apart for Christ and tried to honor Him in all my ways.) Stephen's note: Today's message causes me to ponder concerning a pet peeve I have concerning naming; that is naming a building or institution after yourself (or allowing others to do so) while you're still alive. I recall in Bible College a church in Springfield where the pastor had named a new educational wing after himself, or at the very least allowed others to name it after him. In my lifetime several have named colleges they founded after themselves and in some cases later took a hard and notorious fall. I recall meeting a young man who had gone to one of these colleges and noted his embarrasment whenever someone asked him, "Where did you go to college?" Now after you have passed away and finished the race faithfully if someone else wants to name something after you that's a different story!  Yesterday afternoon our longtime friends Ken & Nila came over and joined us for supper, along with their son David. Ken brought over a truckload of straw for our garden and David helped him unload it. David is growing up quickly and learning to work and serve others just like his dad. He'll soon have his second birthday. Here's a photo I took on his literal birthday.   In today's message we referred to a road sign in New Jersey. We pass this road sign in Centre County as we travel through central Pennsylvania. We consider how it would be neat to live on Bible Road!Many of you will recall a childhood song and if you're like us you'll immediately recall the words: The B-I-B-L-E Yes that's the book for me. I stand upon the Word of God The B-I-B-L-E. Here's a second verse I found to the B-I-B-L-E song that I don't recall singing as a child. I like it! The B-I-B-L-E Yes that's the book for me I read and pray, trust and obey The B-I-B-L-E. The B-I-B-L-E, yes that's the book for me! (audio mp3) 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.) As I prepared today's message this book came to mind:  Bad Girls of the BibleBy Liz Curtis Higgs / Random House, Inc Women everywhere marvel at those "good girls" in Scripture---Sarah, Mary, Esther---but on most days, that's not who they see when they look in the mirror. Most women (if they're honest) see the selfishness of Sapphira or the deception of Delilah. They catch of glimpse of Jezebel's take-charge pride or Eve's disastrous disobedience. Like Bathsheba, Herodias, and the rest, today's modern woman is surrounded by temptations, exhausted by the demands of daily living, and burdened by her own desires. So what's a good girl to do? Learn from their lives, says Liz Curtis Higgs, and by God's grace, choose a better path. In Bad Girls of the Bible, Higgs offers a unique and clear-sighted approach to understanding those "other women" in Scripture, combining a contemporary retelling of their stories with a verse-by-verse study of their mistakes and what lessons women today can learn from them. Whether they were "Bad to the Bone," "Bad for a Season, but Not Forever" or only "Bad for a Moment," these infamous sisters show women how not to handle the challenges of life. With her trademark humor and encouragement, Higgs teaches you how to avoid their tragic mistakes and joyfully embrace grace. Includes reflection questions at the end of each chapter.
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 "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 6/29/09: $5,770.00)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. or as an email subscription update through feedburner. Subscribe to Daily Encouragement Updates by EmailCancel: 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  Endorsed chaplain "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" www.dailyencouragement.net |
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