 A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Messages · Archives ·  Archive/print editionWednesday, July 15, 2009   Listen to us share this message on your audio player"The Mighty Ocean" "The seas have lifted up, O LORD, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea-- the LORD on high is mighty" (Psalm 93:3,4). As a family we, like the majority of people, thoroughly enjoy the mighty ocean. We just returned from a two day shore trip with our Amish friends. As expected the four children, ages 5 to 1, thoroughly enjoyed seeing and wading in the ocean. On the way five year old Moses excitedly asked when he spotted a small body of water, "Is that the ocean?" But when he and his younger sister saw the real thing the "Wow!" factor was evident in their approving expression. Two year old Eli James took a look at the vast ocean by turning his head as far as he could from shore to shore, took a deep breath, and then flashed a big smile with his lips that lit up his eyes as well. Each time Eli's parents would take him out of the water he'd cry out, "I want to go back in the pond." Even Naomi Grace at 13 months of age loved the ocean waves. Yesterday morning the men and boys along with Ester went fishing. Brooksyne took Anna Ruth and the girls to the shore. The baby cried the entire 15 minute trip and could not be consoled even with Mommy's lullabies. After their arrival on the shore they placed her in her stroller as close as they safely could to the waves. She immediately quieted as she was mesmerized by the waves splashing on the shore for a good 45 minutes before they left that site. Brooksyne, sitting beside her the entire time, observed her immediate response to the sound of the unending ocean waves. It made her think about the many recordings over the years that have been produced for those seeking a natural calming background for tranquility and relaxation. No matter the age most never grow weary of seeing the ocean. It's no big surprise that the ocean has inspired quite a number of Scripture verses as well as hymns all throughout the ages. The daily Psalm extols the might of God. "The seas have lifted up, O LORD, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea-- the LORD on high is mighty." The sea referred to by the Psalmist was likely the Mediterranean Sea. Israel is small geographically and Jerusalem is not far from the Mediterranean Sea. He had observed the might of the sea and I too am reminded of the awesomeness of God’s power when I look out over the vast ocean! I watched the great breakers crash into the shore and heard the force of the pounding waves over and over and over. Truly the waves are a great analogy of God’s constant and mighty power but the Lord on high is even mightier! However, in the great hymn "The Love of God", it's the inexhaustible love of God that the hymn writer is extolling using the ocean as an analogy. This is surely one of the most creative use of words in all hymnology. Let the words of its text bless you today as you personally apply God's enduring love to your heart. Could we with ink the ocean fill And were the skies of parchment made, Were ev'ry stalk on earth a quill And ev'ry man a scribe by trade. To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry; Nor could the scroll contain the whole Though stretched from sky to sky. O Love of God, how rich, how pure How measureless and strong It shall forevermore endure The saints and angels song. * Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, any words we speak or pictures we draw cannot fully describe your infinite love. Your boundless love reaches beyond the heavens and yet it penetrates our individual hearts. It is only in experiencing a personal relationship with you that we begin to sense the inexhaustible and pure love that comes only from You. Even as the waves of the ocean are powerful and wash over the rocks may Your abundant love fill our lives to overflowing so that Christ’s love is seen through us. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen. * "The Love Of God" Lehman, Frederick M. © Public Domain  Schmidt Family: On the way down to the shore Monday I received a call from our friend, Jim Schmidt, who had read in Monday's Daily Encouragement that we were coming his way. He offered us beach tags and called another mutual friend, Ed Berkey, my former DS in New England for additional tags. Ed offered his comfortable beach chairs as well so we had it made! When we stopped by Jim's house to pick up their tags, they invited us to come back to their place for dinner that same evening. He and Dorothy are a tremendous source of enthusiasm and encouragement. Both have had much overcoming over the years and Jim most recently with his knee surgery. On our way home, Anna Ruth, who couldn't get enough of the ocean, asked, "You know what the highlight of this trip was for me?" Of course we expected it to be the ocean, but instead she said, "The highlight of my trip was getting to know Jim and Dorothy!" Boardwalk: Following our meal Monday night we went to the Ocean City boardwalk which was packed with people on a lovely evening. We walked along several block but the kids were a bit overwhelmed and of course tired from the long day (they were up at 4:00 that morning). Observation: We observed quite a number staring at the uncommon dress of the Lapp family and this gave us a perspective of what they may feel as others look on (although they are so secure in their ways it doesn't appear to bother them one bit.) Ester said she overheard some young people saying to the effect, "Look at those weird people." Imagine that - coming from a culture now accustomed to seeing all manner of dress (or lack of it), peculiar styles, fully tattoed people and multiple body piercings!  Here's the family at the Cape May County Zoo we went to yesterday afternoon before returning home. The kids were sure tired (as were the adults) but we all had a great time. On the way home the children were singing as is the custom in their home. One song I would not expect as a children's song but was apparently prompted by the journey was Sadie Ruth and little Eli James singing "I Feel Like Travelling On."  The Cape May County Zoo rivalled some of the big city zoos we have visited. It has lots of animals and an interesting layout that essentially takes you on a single course to tour the entire zoo. This was the first trip to a Zoo for the children and they were fascinated, although the barnyard animals didn't mean that much to them since they see those animals everyday at home!  I would like to sleep as well as the orange flamingoes who can shut themselves out to all the visitors who repeatedly beckon them to "Wake up! Wake up!" 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.) "The Love Of God" Video MercyMe A more traditional version by the Isaacs "I Feel Like Traveling On" Video Sung by the Chuck Wagon Gang. After the children began singing this song, one we hadn't heard since growing up in the church, we all began to sing along. A timely message about our short pilgrimage here on earth as we travel on toward our eternal home in heaven. Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne |
 "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 7/14/09: $6,020.00)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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