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  Follow Daily Encouragement on Facebook and Twitter    The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive edition Monday, May 23, 2011  Our friends Gene and Doris Wenger told me their swan couple, Buford and Beauty, had baby swans. Saturday I drove by for a look and was able to get surprisingly close. Baby swans are known as cygnets (something I just learned this morning). Notice the large nest in the background. "Farther Along" "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority" (Acts 1:7). ` When we see Jesus coming in glory, When He comes from His home in the sky. Then we shall meet Him in that bright mansion, We'll understand it all by and by.  Any given time we prepare these messages we are mindful of those enduring heartache. It may be in our own family, neighborhood, our church body, or our work associations. Most certainly, as we read the news, we become aware of heartache being experienced by people in so many places all over the world. This morning we read of the tornado in Joplin, Missouri, where Brooksyne and I spent the first night of our honeymoon on our way to the Branson area and Table Rock Lake. We have friends in that area and two years ago had lunch with a Daily Encouragement reader from Joplin on our way to Oklahoma. My folks lived there for awhile and my older brother Pat was born there. When death has come and taken our loved ones, It leaves our home so lonely and drear. Then do we wonder why others prosper, Living so wicked year after year. "It is not for you to know". That's a response children don't like to hear when they're wondering about a matter, pestering their parents for answers. But we don't like that response either, as adults. We want to know; we want answers to the five W questions; who, what, when, why and where. And we especially want the answers to "What if?" to those situations that affect us personally or those we care about! In the previous verse the disciples asked, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" They were still anticipating the establishment of a material, political kingdom and I doubt that they expected Christ's ascension into heaven that would follow only moments later. I wonder if they were disappointed when He ascended? There were surely many more questions for which they sought answers. Christ's answer to their question, His final words prior to His ascension back to heaven, was that it was not for them to know the times or dates the Father had set by His own authority, but that the Spirit would empower them to be His witnesses (v. 8). Do you think the disciples were satisfied with that answer? Did some grumbling take place among them, "That's not what we asked about. Did He not hear us? Why doesn't He tell us more? What if?" Tempted and tried we're oft made to wonder, Why it should be thus all the day long. While there are others living about us, Never molested though in the wrong. The disciples had a specific question but I also believe there is a general principle here in regard to God's dealings in our lives. We also have questions, but like the disciples, we don't get all the answers we want. Sometimes we get essentially the same message, "It is not for you to know." That's hard, particularly in the midst of a trial. Faithful till death said our loving Master, A few more days to labor and wait. Toils of the road will then seem as nothing, As we sweep through the beautiful gate.  We can find assurance in the last phrase of the daily text, which contains a powerful spiritual principle regarding any great question of life: "The Father has set by His own authority." Remember, God is in control, and He has a set purpose for all that He's doing and for when He chooses to do it. What peace to know that our times are in His hands! (Psalm 31:15). Farther along we'll know all about it. Farther along we'll understand why. Cheer up my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, You have called us to a journey of faith where we learn to trust You for all that we have need of, for the present and the future - in our relationships, our health, our earthly provisions and our spiritual needs. Like the songwriter, Louisa Stead, wrote; "I'm so glad I learned to trust You, precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; For I know that You are with me; Will be with me to the end. Jesus, Jesus How I trust You, How I've proved You o'er and o'er; Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus, O for grace to trust You more." Help us to find the sweetness of wholeheartedly trusting in You, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.Update On Ester: Ester remains in the hospital today. Her INR, thanks to frozen plasma along with Vitamin K on Friday, and much prayer throughout her ordeal, dropped from the huge number of greater than 16.23 to 5. It was a greater drop than doctors would have anticipated so they kept her another night. Sunday's number took her up again to 10.1. The mystery continues but thankfully her INR is 8.1 this morning so it's in the right direction (3 bags of plasma given yesterday). Doctors have not done their rounds today so we await word on the next course of action. Thank you for your continued prayers and interest. Today's text would also fit well for yet another failed attempt this weekend at projecting the end of the world/return of the Lord, the most recent of such attempts through the church age and surely not the last. However this one got a lot more publicity. Of course such attempts bring an excuse for mocking. Here's an interesting article on the matter from one of my favorite writers.  Here's a photo I took of "Beauty" several years ago.  We continue to serve a small rural congregation about 20 miles from Lancaster and yesterday we had two former pastors in attendance. To the right are Jesse and Wilma Dourte, who served the church in the late-sixties through mid-seventies and to the left is Jim and Eva Ketner, who served from the mid-seventies through mid-eighties. I find great joy in fellowshipping with faithful servants of God who stay the course years after their pastoral service is completed.  In the course of getting around our agricutural area we often see some interesting farm machinery. This is a self-propelled sprayer. The spray arms are folded in for transport but this is what the machine looks like in the field when in use.  Last night I saw some activity in a bush near our barn with Mr. & Mrs. Cardinal flying in and out. I went to carefully explore and sure enough it was a cardinal nest with two remaining crowded baby cardinals. When I checked later only one was left. This morning the nest is empty. Here's a photo from several years ago when I managed to find another cardinal nest a lot younger along with an unhatched egg. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Farther Along" Video The Grascals Now this is really country bluegrass! "Farther Along" Video Gaither Homecoming Farther along we'll know all about it. Farther along we'll understand why. Cheer up my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by. Tempted and tried we're oft made to wonder, Why it should be thus all the day long. While there are others living about us, Never molested though in the wrong. When death has come and taken our loved ones, It leaves our home so lonely and drear. Then do we wonder why others prosper, Living so wicked year after year. Faithful till death said our loving Master, A few more days to labor and wait. Toils of the road will then seem as nothing, As we sweep through the beautiful gate. When we see Jesus coming in glory, When He comes from His home in the sky. Then we shall meet Him in that bright mansion, We'll understand it all by and by. "God Is In Control" Video Kristian & Shannon Walker "Wrap Me In Your Arms" Video Kristian & Shannon Walker Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne |
 "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 12/31/10)  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. 2011 financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net as of 5/22/11: $3,755.00 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 by us 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 Friday's message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. Daily Encouragement on Facebook and Twitter: The daily message and prayer on Facebook. The daily message and prayer on Twitter.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 2011 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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