 A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Messages · Archives ·  Archive/print editionMonday, September 28, 2009  Wheat harvest  Listen to us share this message on your audio player.It's harvest time here in our area and all around us we see, hear, and at times even smell evidence of the harvest. This week we would like to share series on the Ultimate Harvest series based on Matthew 9:35-38. "The Ultimate Motivation" "When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them" (Matthew 9:36). I recently read a touching story about a policeman from Providence, Rhode Island who went beyond the call of duty as he expressed compassion toward a family in need. Stefanie Taylor's car was making a strange noise as she pulled into her driveway in Upper South Providence on a Sunday morning early this year. Suddenly it burst into flames and firefighters were called to put out the fire. A Providence patrolman by the name of James Carr asked Taylor if there was anything he could do to help. Just the day before Stefanie had been diagnosed with a brain tumor which turned out to be the reason for her recurring blinding headaches. The neurosurgeon scheduled her for surgery but in the meantime Stefanie returned home to her three children. She asked the congregation at Gospel Tabernacle Outreach Ministries, two miles from her home, to pray for her. Ms. Taylor responded to the officer's question, "My family would love a ride to church." The self-described "God-fearing man" asked her what time the service began. He returned an hour later and squeezed the family into his cruiser. As they walked up the steps of the brick church they could hear the singing, "Everything's Going to be All Right." Officer Carr responded to some road emergencies while the family was in church but made it back on time to give them a ride home. Taylor was still marveling at his kindness the next day as she said, "He took the initiative and said, 'I'm going to do this for you.'" It's heartening to read about a police officer with this kind of compassion. What motivates you in regard to your interest in evangelism and ministry? There are two clearly Biblical motivations: 1) Obedience to the Great Commission to spread the gospel message. 2) Genuine compassion for people reflecting the example of Christ. Of course some serve primarily out of a dutiful obedience, but our greatest source of motivation should be compassion. Let’s consider the compassion that Christ demonstrates so powerfully in the daily Scripture text. The Greek word for compassion is "splagchnizomai" which means "to have the bowels yearn for" i.e. (fig.) feel sympathy, to pity. (We get spleen from the first part of this word.) This is how Christ saw the crowds with a deep sense of burden for their need. He didn't just look upon them at a distance and feel sorry for them. Instead He felt their needs deep within His Spirit which moved Him to respond in compassion to their troubles. People desperately need to know that someone genuinely cares about them. Some receive personal loving care from their family and home church, but scores of people are now disconnected from these God-ordained primary sources of love and care. Broken homes abound. Just consider those around you. How many have been impacted by a broken home or a pervasive illness? Do we see people as Jesus did; through eyes of compassion? God has strategically placed us where we are and exposed us to opportunities where we can be His hands extended reaching out to the oppressed. Do you see those in need as Christ sees them? Let us genuinely express compassion in whatever capacity God has enabled us to do so! It will likely require sacrifice, but it is in sacrificial giving that we find the personal satisfaction that comes from the application of the Scripture, "It is better to give than to receive." Be encouraged today Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, it is through Your eyes of compassion that we see people who have genuine need. Help us not to look at a distance and wait for others to respond, but be willing to do our part as we ask You to help us meet the need. Even as You have given to us the abundant life, help us to be abundant in giving of ourselves to others in their need. We pray for this in the name of Jesus. Amen.  This weekend we had our friends Galen and Nancy Martin over for dinner. Galen is a full-time farmer, now in partnership with his son Darrel. He told me they are having a great harvest thus far. Galen was a good sport in that he ate a Green Curry Thai meal that Brooksyne prepared - not your usual fare for a Lancaster County farmer. Mark Griffin is a friend who works in human resources. He works in one of the companies we serve as chaplains and joined us for breakfast Saturday morning. We discussed our chaplain service to the local company and had discussion about the expansion of chaplaincy care in another location in the Midwest.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.) "Field Of Souls" Video "People Need The Lord" Video "Rescue The Perishing" Audio A great song with the Fanny Crosby lyrics but different tune than we sang growing up. Fanny Crosby tells others of how she came to write this wonderful missionary song: "I remember writing that hymn in the year 1869. Like many of my hymns, it was written following a personal experience at the New York City Bowery Mission [a homeless shelter with many derelicts at the time]….I was addressing a large company of working men one hot summer evening, when the thought kept forcing itself on my mind that some mother’s boy must be rescued that night or he might be eternally lost. So I made a pressing plea that if there was a boy present who had wandered from his mother’s home and teaching, he should come to me at the end of the service. A young man of 18 came forward – 'Did you mean me, Miss Crosby? I promised my mother to meet her in heaven, but as I am now living, that will be impossible.' We prayed for him and suddenly he arose with a new light in his eyes and spoke these words, 'Now I am ready to meet my mother in heaven, for I have found God.'” V. 1 - Rescue the perishing; care for the dying. Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave. Weep o'er the erring one; lift up the fallen. Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save. V. 3 - "Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter, Feelings lie buried that grace can restore. Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness, Cords that are broken will vibrate once more. Refrain: Rescue the perishing; care for the dying. Jesus is merciful; Jesus will save. "The Harvest" I was unable to find an online version of this powerful video to view but if you can get a hold of it, it will surely touch your heart.  The Harvest, Multiple Language DVD EditionBy Randolf Productions Inc The season to gather in the crops has arrived, but in the midst of crisis, only a young boy's prayer can save The Harvest. Based on a true story, this powerful modern-day parable will inspire you to commit your energy and talents to reach the world for Christ---one person at a time. Approx. 17 minutes. 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 9/27/09: $8,190.00)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. You can also subscribe to Daily Encouragement feed 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. All of these songs are also available for download on the site.  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 |
Daily Encouragement is issued Monday-Friday. To make sure you continue to receive these e-mails in your Inbox (so they're not sent to a junk folder), please add scweber@dailyencouragement.net to your address book or safe sender list. You are receiving these recurring messages as a subscriber to Daily Encouragement Net because you signed up on our website or otherwise requested it unless someone forwarded the message to you. If you desire to unsubscribe use the link below. However, please do not use this link unless your address is the subscribed address below as you will otherwise unsubscribe the person who forwarded it to you!
| You are currently subscribed to dailyencouragement as: stephencweber.dailyencouragement@blogger.com Add scweber@dailyencouragement.net to your email address book to ensure delivery Forward to a Friend | Manage Subscription | Subscribe | Unsubscribe |  |
