 A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Messages · Archives ·  Archive/print editionFriday, September 4, 2009  Brooksyne arranges these mini-baskets and was especially pleased with the vibrant fall-like colors in this one.  Listen to us share this message on your audio player"With God Nothing Is Impossible" "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible'" (Matthew 19:26). Brooksyne and I have served as business chaplains for over ten years alongside our other ministerial duties. In the course of our work/ministry we have come to know hundreds who have major obstacles lingering in their hearts and minds as they go about their daily work shift. Employees can't deal with their problems on the job, but nevertheless their problems follow them to work mentally and emotionally as they generally occupy their thoughts throughout the day. Yesterday Brooksyne took flower arrangements to the ladies at one of our companies. She enjoys doing this and is able to do so by purchasing vases and small baskets at the Christian Thrift Store where she volunteers. Over the past year she has been praying with one particular employee who has had some major difficulties. Hoping to encourage her yesterday, she arranged the flowers from her garden in the basket (featured above) and then added a Scripture label to the lid fastened onto the basket. "With God all things are possible." Let's take a look at the context of this verse and see the deeper meaning Jesus brings to this verse. A rich young ruler came to Jesus to find out how he could inherit eternal life. Perhaps through his royal line he had inherited riches from his parents and had no further material needs. But he was wise to recognize that his life filled with material abundance here on earth would soon pass and then what? What did he need to do to inherit eternal life? He faithfully obeyed the Ten Commandments, so what was it that he lacked? He decided to seek out the great Teacher and get His counsel. Jesus had a very specific command for him: "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." That was certainly not the answer the rich man sought. He appeared to reject Jesus' command and went away sad. I've often wondered if at some later point he chose to follow Christ but if so it is not recorded in Scripture. The disciples witnessed the dialogue between Jesus and the rich young man. They also witnessed the young man's rejection of Jesus' teaching and his sad departure. What a contrast this was to the twelve disciples who gave up everything that would interfere with Jesus' invitation to them, "Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Jesus seized the moment and turned the experience with the rich young man into a teaching moment. He used what seems to most an outlandish illustration, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Some have tried to make Jesus' illustration more palatable by explaining that there is a small gate for pedestrians, in or near the large city gate through which a camel might be able to go through, but only by kneeling and with great difficulty. But it is more generally thought to be a literal needle. What is impossible for human beings is possible with a supernatural God! The overall message we get from this story is that the young man trusted in and preferred his riches rather than God. He couldn't envision riches in heaven because his eyes were fixed on his riches on earth. If Jesus asked him to give up all he had He would have supplied him with the desire and will to do so had he followed through with the command. The great miracles that took place in the Bible are a result of people trusting in God; not past experience, human endeavor or earth's resources. We must fix our sight on the supernatural, not the ordinary. Riches on earth are ordinary; riches in heaven are extraordinary. It wasn't the money that the rich young ruler had that would reserve for him a place in heaven. Similarly it's not our own wealth, good deeds, great accomplishments, or our family name that will reserve for us a place in heaven. If we seek after that which is possible we seek after man's way. If we seek that which is impossible we seek after God's way. "With man this is impossible but with God all things are possible." Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, help us to "Ponder anew what the Almighty can do" as we trust You to do the impossible. Help us not to ponder our problems, but instead to pray for Your will to be done in our lives and those we pray for. Your assure us throughout the Scriptures both by teaching and example that "Nothing is impossible with God." We want to fully trust You to do the impossible. Amen. Today's Scripture passage is Matthew 19:16-30 Study note: The encounter that Jesus had was a specific teaching to a rich young man and Christ pinned the man down as to where his real hope was. In forming our theology we must use all the Scriptures. Paul had an interesting teaching in 1 Timothy 6:17-19 addressing those who are rich in this present world and gives this command: "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." Trusting God brings about extraordinary happenings in ordinary people:
One day a week in the course of our corporate chaplain work we travel through the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country in eastern Lancaster County, the home of many Amish and old-order Mennonites. We almost always come upon some interesting sights.  We came up behind these boys on a busy US highway (Rt 322) east of Ephrata, PA. Perhaps they were running an errand for their dad. The old order groups have a strong work ethic and teach their children responsibility at an early age. I work with several from these old orders in my chaplain work and find their friendship a blessing. They are also very informative explaining the slight differences in various sects. For instance in regard to dress some groups allow snaps on suspenders but others allow only buttons!  Each week we stop at several roadside produce stands during this season. Yesterday we bought some watermelon, peaches and eggplant. The fresh produce will be available through late October. One of the produce stands we stopped at was at this farm north of New Holland.  The stands vary from mere self serve boxes to open wagons to small permanent sheds. I enjoy these colorful wagons. (Click on photo to enlarge or use as desktop)  This old wagonwheel provides an interesting and colorful setting for these red Geraniums near Bird In Hand across from one of the companies we serve.  I realize this photo is not very clear. It was taken from a shipping dock in the back of a large factory. I was speaking to an employee and remarking about the beautiful fields he regularly sees right from where he works. Last week I saw two little Mennonite children riding their bikes through here and had hoped to see a similar scene when this man came along riding his bike and pulling a cart. I didn't have time to zoom in. The old-order Mennonites are often seen riding their bikes in this part of Lancaster County. In fact I've even seen them riding through the factory! 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 9/3/09: $7,510.00)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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