Daily Encouragement Net - A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
 The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive edition Tuesday, June 29, 2010   Listen to this message on your audio player."Keeping Up With The Weeds" "Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?" He replied, "An enemy did this" (Matthew 13:27b, 28a). We have really had the hot weather here in Lancaster County and it's been rather dry as well. Nevertheless I am able to report that the weeds are growing extremely well in our garden and in various landscaped portions of our yard. We have a couple of small garden plots in our back yard where we have planted tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, corn, lima beans and many herbs. Popping up through the soil all around the intended plants are scores of weeds that appear to be thriving. Our daily verse has often intrigued me. Jesus is telling a series of "Kingdom" parables in Matthew 13, the most familiar of which is the Parable of the Sower. The statement found in the daily verse is from the second parable which begins in verse 24. This parable speaks of a landowner who sowed good seed in his field, but while he slept his enemy came in and sowed weeds. Later when the weeds appeared beside the intended crop his servants, knowing that he had sown good seed, asked him what most gardeners often ask themselves, "Where then did the weeds come from?" Isn't that also the very question we often have in our own lives and in the work of God? The answer in the parable as stated by the landowner expresses a vital truth: "An enemy did this." Later, in explaining the parable Christ plainly says, "The enemy that sowed them is the devil" (v. 39). Indeed, this enemy continues his dastardly work individually and all throughout the world. Martin Luther wrote, "But still our ancient foe, doth seek to work us woe." We must follow some good advice I recall my parents saying every summer after planting our garden, "You've got to keep up with the weeds!" Whether we get down on our knees and uproot them one at a time, use a hoe or cultivator, or spray for them which we saw last night on our walk as we passed our Amish neighbor's farm. Now let me make it clear; I don't attribute the weeds in our little vegetable garden to a literal enemy, but they're sure a reminder of the truth of this parable. Today, may God help each of us as we continue to overcome the work of our archenemy in keeping up with the weeds and let us also remember, "Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, the pesty weeds in the garden are pervasive, persistent, and problematic to the gardener until pulled out by the root. Weeds are like sin in our lives and in order for us to be productive and thriving in our Christian walk we must uproot the growing sins that seek to choke out the Word of God in our lives. Alert us to the weeds in their infancy stage lest they overtake the precious implanted truths of Your Holy Scripture and we begin to live for the worthless weed instead of the precious Bread of Life. Keep us diligent, zealous, and hopeful as we nurture our daily lives with the spiritual tools of forgiveness, patience, forbearance, enduring love and so many other productive attitudes as written in the Scriptures. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. PS: A special note to those discouraged by the persistent and never ending weeds. Don't let your discouragement paralyze you. If some weeds have gotten out of hand call out to God for help, become diligent in the Word and get some support from other believers and begin to weed. A wonderful Bible promise I have committed to memory speaks to this: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9). Brooksyne grows a lot of basil each year since we enjoy it in our salads and she makes a lot of basil pesto as well. In our photos today you can easily see the row of basil where she has already weeded and mulched and contrast it with the section overgrown with weeds.  Basil plants without weeding and mulching (as if we really needed to point it out).  Basil plants after weeding and mulch.  We pass this store often but decided to stop and take a look.  The interior of the Old Village Hardware We, along with many others, sure enjoy it when the first locally grown sweet corn is ready each season! These stands (in this case a small wagon) are all over the place. |
  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 6/28/10 $6,568.00 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 through feedburner.Cancel: We respect and value your time and privacy. If you no longer desire to receive these messages you can remove your address from the list by merely using 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 or who may desire less frequent mailings. 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. Reader Survey: Please take a few minutes to assist us in improving our ministry effectiveness by filling out this online reader survey. To take the survey click here. 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 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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