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, July 6, 2010  Lantana This drought tolerant flower is among Brooksyne's top favorite flowers potted in a section of corrugated tin roof fashioned into a planter we purchased at a roadside stand. We continue to have very hot, dry weather (temps are supposed to reach 100 today). We are praying for rain.  Listen to this message on your audio player."The Blessing Of Cooperation"  An amazing sight to behold is a barnraising. This community effort is especially evident in the "Old Order Communities" common in our area such as the Amish and Mennonite. It is a model of organization, cooperation, and community spirit. Last week my neighbor, Mervin, whose historic barn was destroyed in the Memorial Day storm, held one last week and we will share some photos below but please read our message first! All ages but the very youngest contribute to a barnraising. While the men and older boys work the younger children watch and enjoy each other's company. The women and older girls prepare and serve a hardy country meal so that plenty of energy-giving food is available to the laborers. It's not just a time of physical labor but also a time honored practice of "each looking not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:4). A key to the success of a barnraising is cooperation. Cooperation is an act or instance of working or acting together for a common purpose or benefit; joint action. All over the barn crews worked on specified parts of the whole. The attitude of "I'll just do it my way" working independently of others would destroy the spirit of cooperation. It would also diminish the overall effectiveness of teamwork in addition to having a negative end result in the finished product. As I carefully observed the process I did not see anyone working independently. The cooperation in a barnraising is a tremendous illustration of the Body of Christ at work in cooperation. A common representation of the Church is the image of the Body. Today's text draws a powerful analogy from the human body and speaks of how "From Him [Christ] the whole body [Church], joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." But in this message let me merely focus on the final phrase, "as each part does its work" (NIV). Other versions translate this phrase similarly, "According to the proper working of each individual part" (NASV) and "When each part is working properly" (ESV). This phrase highlights the essential contribution of each member to the life and development of the body as a whole. The Body of Christ truly works as the church "grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Let us do our part today in advancing the cause of Christ in the various ways we serve and realize this is best done in a generous spirit of cooperation and communication. We encourage you today to faithfully and cooperatively serve in whatever manner God has led you; in your local church, neighborhood, community, in your family or in any other area of service, working as for the Lord Jesus Christ since we are instructed to "Work willingly at whatever we do, as though we were working for the Lord rather than for people" (Colossians 3:23). Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, I pray for a spirit of cooperation and eagerness to contribute to the needs of the whole body, so that Your Church is built not just with sweat, bricks, and mortar but with love, care, and cooperative teamwork. Then we will go forth in unity and purpose as we do our part in building each other up encouraging others to use their God-given talents and acquired skills, all the while striving for unity in the faith. In our service we desire to please You even as we serve and strengthen one another. In the name of Jesus we commit ourselves to faithful service. Amen. Let me illustrate using an older illustration many of you have probably seen. I have updated it though using "keyboard" instead of "typewriter"! Evxn though my kxyboard is an old modxl, it works quitx wxll xxcxpt for onx of the kxys. I havx many timxs wishxd that all thx kxys workxd pxrfxctly. It is trux that thxrx arx forty-onx kxys that function wxll xnough, but just onx kxy not working makxs thx diffxrxncx. Somxtimxs it sxxms to mx that thx church is somxthing likx my kxyboard -- not all thx kxy pxoplx arx working propxrly. As onx of thxm, you may say to yoursxlf, "Wxll, I am only onx pxrson, I don't makx or brxak thx church." But it doxs makx a big diffxrxncx, bxcausx a church, to bx xffxctivx, nxxds thx activx participation of xvxry pxrson. So, thx nxxt timx you think your xfforts arx not nxxdxd vxry much, rxmxmbxr my kxyboard and say to yoursxlf, "I am a kxy pxrson in thx congrxgation and I am nxxdxd vxry much." This is what happxns to thx wholx church, and multiply this by many timxs -- thx wholx thing just doxs not makx sxnsx! "Bxlovxd don't bx likx a brokxn kxy." BTW: My keyboard is an old model designed for Windows 95 but I am used to it and keep hooking it up when I get a new computer. Also all the kxys still work! Barnraising Photos On Memorial Day our neighbor's barn, which was constructed nearly 200 years ago in 1815 blew over in the heavy rain and winds. At that time we shared some photos of the storm and the barn. On Thursday, July 1, they held a barnraising for the new barn.  Prior to the day of the barnraising they had only the foundation and main support posts and headers installed. Around 6:00 AM a crane set the roof trusses. I took this photo in the midmorning around 9:30. The barn is 60 x100 feet.  Installing the roof. This particular type of Mennonite group obviously uses modern equipment! Around 30 men came for the workday.  I could see the work progress over the cornfield from my porch.  I went over again just before lunch and they had the entire roof on and most of the siding!  An easy way down off the roof for lunch!  When I took this photo the ladies were inside the farmhouse preparing the meal and had all the chairs set up ready to feed the hungry work crew. I had to leave right after lunch before I could see more progress but by mid afternoon they completed the work! 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 Servant Song" Video Maranatha Singers "Make me Your Servant" Video Maranatha Singers "We Are One In The Spirit" Video Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne. |
  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 7/5/10 $6,593.00 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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