Daily Encouragement (03/15/10) "Spiritual Downsizing"

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The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Home · About Us ·· Podcast · Free email <Previous Message  ·  Archives  ·  Archive edition  Monday, March 15, 2010 Snow Geese flock at Middle Creek Listen to this message on your audio player. "Spiritual Downsizing" "Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the Word planted in you, which can save you" (James 1:21). Yesterday a friend shared about the physical weariness she was feeling from the past months of downsizing. Now in their mid-eighties she and her husband have moved from a large farm house they've lived in for many years to a smaller house.  Of course such a move results in the necessity of downsizing furniture, possessions, keepsakes, etc. Many of us know how easy it is to accumulate "stuff" over our lifetime. I recall some of the interesting things my mom held onto that were finally sold in an auction when she came to live with us.  It was physically and emotionally exhausting for her. Some people take the accumulation of "stuff" to a dangerous extreme which is known as hoarding. In such cases their living place may be barely usable due to the amount of stuff they keep. In fact there is a TV program that deals with this problem. The amount of possessions can practically suffocate them, forcing them to make tunnel like passages between the piles of junk so they can walk from one end of the room to the other.  In reading about this chaotic lifestyle I feel like a neat nick (which he is not – Brooksyne's added note)! Today's Scripture text has a phrase essential to any type of downsizing, "get rid of."  I sometimes have a hard time getting rid of things. In some cases they have a sentimental value, in other instances I reason that it may be useful someday or perhaps someone else could make use of it.  I suppose it's the remnant of being raised by depression era parents and that's certainly not a negative.  I think there are some virtues to this form of thriftiness lacking in our present world which is all to quick to dispose of anything. But today's verse is not really about material things. In regard to spiritual matters having more is usually better than having less.  As I am preparing this message I hear Brooksyne downstairs memorizing aloud a Scripture verse from 2 Peter 1:5-9 that has the phrase "add to"; speaking of eight virtuous qualities the believer is to possess in increasing measure. But is there a case for "downsizing" in the spiritual realm? Indeed there is. As followers of Christ, and as a result of our call to live "the righteous life that God desires", (verse 20) we are to "get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent."  This is a vivid word picture. James is in effect saying, "Take off your filthy attitudes and actions (moral defilement) just as you would soiled, smelly garments!" The picture is that of a snake that sloughs off its dead skin! Pastor Steven Coles writes, "We all bring baggage from our old way of life over into the Christian life. Usually, we’re blind to much of it. We don’t realize that we’re displeasing God by our thoughts, words, or actions. As we begin to read God’s word, it convicts us of areas that we didn’t even know were sin. When this happens, the receptive heart cleans out the crud of sin and puts on the clean clothes of new life in Christ. If you don’t do this, the crud will prevent you from growing as a Christian." Just as I've written about the process of physically downsizing there is also a process in which the Holy Spirit works in our lives: First, the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins, "And when He comes, He will convict the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment" (John 16:8).  Our consciences are pricked leading many of us to repent of our sins. Secondly the Holy Spirit guides us "into all truth" (John 16:13), revealing those areas in our lives where we need to "get rid of" ungodly thinking, attitudes, and behaviors that dishonor God. Thirdly, the Holy Spirit wants every believer to "humbly accept the Word planted in you, which can save you."  When we get rid of the detrimental stuff in our life we make room for that which is helpful and beneficial to our spiritual growth. Today let us make a renewed resolve to separate ourself from the world, THEN saturate ourself with the Word! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer:  Father, as we humbly receive the Word  planted in us through Your Spirit we put off the old self. Help us to get rid of anything that stimulates our old way of thinking.  Help us to reject that which is detrimental to our spiritual growth and to embrace that which saves us from the evil that is prevalent in our world.  In Jesus name we pray.  Amen. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources Click on the link (usually a Youtube video) to open and play. (In some cases you may also need to click again to start the song.) "Everything We Need"  Video  This is a portion of the II Peter passage that Brooksyne is memorizing set to music. "Jesus Is All I Need"  Video  In the course of finding music that may fit our message I never know what I will come across! I was looking for a chorus (perhaps hymn) I recall from many years ago that states, "He's all I need, He's all I need, Jesus is all I need." I couldn't find an online version of this chorus but found this song with excellent lyrics and graphics. "More Than Enough"  Video  Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir "Ancient Words"  Video  Michael W. Smith "I Am Resolved"  Video  This is an old hymn with a high call for the follower who desires to please the Lord. Here's an article on hoarding.  There's also a TV show on this topic. I took today's photo of the snow geese at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in northern Lancaster County. The snow geese stop here on their migration north and a friend told me yesterday the flock peaked this last weekend. Here's a photo collection from Middle Creek by a serious photographer. Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne

"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update 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. 2010 YTD financial offerings as of 3/14/10 $2,240.00 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! Our other blogs: "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 2010 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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