Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Daily Encouragement (01/12/11) "We're All Farmers!"

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The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.

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Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Pennsylvania Farm Show 2011 butter sculpure display
Butter Sculpture display at Pennsylvania Farm Show
Made with 1,000 pounds of butter!
Pretty amazing to consider that the boy hanging on the playset is made of butter!


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"We're All Farmers!"

"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow" (1 Corinthians 3:6).

2011 Pennsylvania Farm Show FCF banner
Yesterday I went to the Pennsylvania Farm Show. In the course of walking through a huge exhibit area I came to a display booth for "The Fellowship Of Christian Farmers". Realizing that giving a public witness for Christ can be discouraging I engaged in a brief conversation with the two men staffing the booth. I thanked them for their labors for the Lord and their efforts in sharing the gospel at the Farm Show.

In the course of our conversation one of them pointed out that as Christians we are all farmers in the sense we are all to be sowing seed. Now t
hat's an interesting perspective and is true even of the city folk reading our message today. We are all (if we are obedient) sowing seed, watering, providing nourishment and reaping.

There are quite a number of Scriptures that use the agricultural analogy in regard to the spiritual life and ministry.  Jesus told His disciples to "look on the fields, that they are white for harvest" (John 4:35). In several of His parables He used agriculture as an illustration; I suppose most notably in the parable of the sower.  The teaching epistles also use these types of illustrations.

In our daily text Paul is describing the establishment of the church in Corinth. As the founding Pastor he had planted the seed in this church. Apollos had followed him in ministry and had watered the seed.  Paul made it clear that both had an equally vital role. But God made the seed grow. 

The principle is the same in individual lives.  In some we sow seeds, in others we feed, water and nourish the germinating seed. Our goal is an abundant harvest.  But ultimately God makes the seed grow.

We work the field of souls
Together you and I
Some fields are blooming now
Other fields are dry
We are not the same
But differences aside
We will work the field of souls
Together you and I

One is off to foreign soil
To work a distant land
Another anchors close to home
To hold a neighbor's hand
Who has served the Father most
And who has labored best
That life devoted to our God
That devotion will be blessed

One shouts the gospel in the streets
For everyone to hear
He's bold to everyone he meets
The Word is loud and clear
Another cries alone and prays
In silence on her knees
Before the throne day after day
Where human eyes don't see *

Keep farming out there! It may be years (or even into eternity) before you hear from that germinating seed or that soul for which you faithfully watered and provided nourishment, but we have a commission and a promise.  Let us stay faithful!


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Praying manDaily Prayer: Father, we want to be faithful in sowing seed so that we will reap an abundant harvest of souls snatched from the eternal fires of hell.   We desire to show mercy to unbelievers, all the while, hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Help us to be salt, light, and hope in this darkened world, we pray.  Amen.




Jake and Nancy ShenkI recall a story told by Jake Shenk, a faithful old-time missionary who has served in Africa since 1958. He serves in a land marked by civil strife and abject poverty, ruled by a brutal dictator. Whenever he shares his ministry his frame of reference helps me to be mindful of the deplorable conditions of so many of our brethren. l

He told the following story from a perspective I feel we all need to hear more often.  This is particularly true for those of us who live in lands of relative peace and great prosperity.

There was a church leader who had a simple farm near others. Each year her crops flourished and others, wanting to know her secret, asked, "What kind of manure are you using?" In seeking to give the glory to God  for the blessing
(but in a way unseemly to us) she replied, "God is my manure!"



This interesting note from a friend in Texas in response to yesterday's message on "Spiritual Dialysis": I just wanted to say thanks for today’s message on “Spiritual Dialysis.” I appreciate your ministry and look forward to your teaching every day. The Lord always speaks to me through it. But today’s message especially struck a cord in me. I had a kidney transplant almost eight years ago and was on dialysis before that. I have always thanked God for all of this, but your message today allowed God to teach me yet something more through this experience. You are so right about how much dialysis and confession relate to each other. A transplant is more like placing our faith in Christ. We have a new kidney that now allows us to be closer to God’s original intent. When my wife first saw me after my transplant she said I looked like a new person. It brings to mind 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” I know every analogy breaks down at some points, but thank you for helping to view my dialysis and transplant with more spiritual eyes. It has given me still more to praise our Lord for and to share with others who are going through these things as well.



Some Photos From The 2011 Pennsylvania Farm Show

2011 Pennsylvania Farm Show canning display
A colorful canning display

2011 Pennsylvania Farm Show apple display
At this display we enjoyed a variety of freshly cut up apple slices.

2011 Pennsylvania Farm Show tractors
Lots of tractors, old and new!

2011 Pennsylvania Farm Show steam tractor
This giant old steam tractor was surrounded by produce bounty.

2011 Pennsylvania Farm Show children with painted cow
The children sure enjoyed all the sights, sounds and smells of the farm show. Since they are raised on a dairy farm and are around cows all the time that's sure no big deal but they thought this painted cow was pretty neat!



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  Verne Phifer

"Bringing In The Sheaves"  Video  Chuck Wagon Gang  
Note: Sheaves are the large bundles in which cereal plants are bound after reaping. Earlier hymn writers often drew from both the Scriptures and their own experiences in conveying truth. Take notice of these excellent lyrics in light of our message today.  A joyful recollection is when we haul our Amish friends around and the children sing this song!

Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain:
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves,
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves,

Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,
Fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze;
By and by the harvest, and the labor ended,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,
Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;
When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

The Pennsylvania Farm Show is a huge indoor agricultural show with many interesting exhibits large and small.  It's similar to a summer state fair but here in Pennsylvania they hold it in the winter. Yesterday on the way home we drove through a snow storm and have a beautiful snow cover this morning.

Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne.
Our photo taken at the Old Mill Inn in Pigeon Forge TN (11/10)
"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!"

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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.

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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."

Four Spiritual Laws

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 2011 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved

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