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 The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive edition Monday, August 15, 2011  This past Saturday we had an Antique Tractor Expo hosted by Dave Becker on his farm about 4 miles from our home. I passed the site Friday in the course of my travels and decided to attend the expo on Saturday. (See below for more photos.)  Listen to this message on your audio player."Living Carefully" "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:15,16). I just read an article by Albert Mohler asserting that we are in the midst of a "Moral Revolution" in which he observes that long held standards of morality are being thrown by the wayside. He writes, "There is no escaping the fact that we are living in the midst of a moral revolution. And yet, it is not the world around us that is being tested, so much as the believing church. We are about to find out just how much we believe the Gospel we so eagerly preach." Things are becoming increasingly topsy-turvey with the continued slide into decadence and denial of God's ways. The prophet Isaiah's words from 2,700 years ago are so amazingly timeless and powerful. "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter" (Isaiah 5:20). The Apostle Paul wrote, "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight" (1 Corinthians 3:19). Consider the timely message of these verses in light of the evil behavior that pervades our world today. Those who engage in wicked behavior have been exalted as role models and trend setters while those who continue to hold to God's holy standards are now being referred to as the "evil ones" for standing in the way of progress. Yesterday I preached from Ephesians 5:15-20 and challenged our church to use the opportunities God places before us. The daily verse expresses an outstanding expression of truth. I have memorized it and encourage you to do so as well. What a somber expression of reality, as vitally needed today as when the Apostle Paul wrote it nearly 2,000 years ago. We need to be very careful how we live. Our enemy, the devil, goes about like a prowling lion seeking whom he may devour. Many have lowered their guard but we must resist him, standing firm in our faith. We need to "live--not as unwise but as wise." We need "the wisdom that comes from heaven" (James 3:17) and this wisdom is increasingly contrary to the wisdom of the world. Remember the old saying, "What's popular may not always be right and what's right may not always be popular." Jesus never let the desire for acceptance or popularity among his hearers dictate the truths he would disclose or errors He would refute. "The days are evil." In seeking the true wisdom that comes from heaven I want my eyes to be open to the evil, not blinded by it. As God's people seeking to live out our faith in these evil days we need to make the most of every opportunity, which the KJV translates as "redeeming the time." Opportunities abound for the Spirit led, earnest follower of Christ. Today how can you and I make the most of every opportunity to express our faith in Christ? As we are open to the daily opportunities God provides for us, seeking to make the most of them, we are living as those who are wise and fortifying ourselves against the evils of our day. I suggest three commonly held opportunities we have today: 1) The opportunity to walk with God. 2) The opportunity to witness for Christ. 3) The opportunity to worship in the Spirit. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, we can be devoured by the evil that surrounds us if we don't walk in the light of Your truth. We want to walk in the true wisdom that comes from heaven, not in the flawed wisdom that comes from the world. Help us to make the most of every opportunity to stand up for divine truth in our speech and in our actions. We want to be the light that shines forth revealing the creeping darkness of our land so that we can show others the way to eternal life. In the name of Your dear Son, Jesus, we pray. Amen. Dave Becker, a local farmer with a tremendous interest in old time farming, has an annual expo on his farm attracting what seemed like thousands from all over the area. I first met Dave shortly after moving to Lancaster County and rode with him the first time I ever rode in a combine.       The train "cars" are made from 55 gallon barrels!  Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Take My Life And Let It Be" Video Christ For The Nations Choir "Take Time To Be Holy" Video Collingsworth Family "This Little Child" Video Scott Wesley Brown This song is some 25 years old now but seems prophetic in light of how conditions have changed. Here's the article by Albert Mohler referred to in today's message. 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 8/14/11: $7,976.00 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! 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 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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