 The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive edition Friday, September 9, 2011  Photo by Howard Blichfeldt (click on photo to enlarge) "Remembering Where Home Really Is" "By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones" (Hebrews 11:22). "We are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8). About ten years ago the musical group MercyMe wrote a song that has ministered to many titled, "I Can Only Imagine". It gives us a picture of what we might see or experience as we cross over to heaven. Several years ago they wrote another song titled "Finally Home" with a recurring line that states "When I finally make it home." In the last few weeks I attended two funerals, Paul, a middle aged minister friend and Mary, an older lady who was a friend to my Mom. They both had faith in Christ and thus finally made it home. Today's rather obscure first verse speaks powerfully regarding the imminence of death and the vital truth of knowing where our real home is. As a youth Joseph was sold as a slave by his own jealous brothers. After some tough bumps and setbacks over a period of thirteen years, including a lengthy imprisonment, he rose to the position of Prime Minister in Egypt. He had power, wealth and prestige; a tremendous contrast to the years he spent in prison. Surely with these conditions Egypt, the dominant world empire at that time had become his home. Yet on his deathbed he had something else in mind. Long before the Egyptian bondage even began he was speaking of the Exodus. In Genesis 50:25 he extracted this promise from his brothers; "God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place." (From Egypt to the land of Canaan.) Another rather obscure verse in Exodus reveals that this promise was faithfully kept over 400 years later! "Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear an oath. He had said, 'God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place'" (Exodus 13:19). Can you imagine... this oath was faithfully repeated from generation to generation until its fulfillment 400 years later! Even though Joseph was a ruler in Egypt, he knew his home was elsewhere. He had last lived in Canaan as a lad of 17 but the teaching of his childhood had a remarkable, enduring impact on him. Although he had been the Prime Minister since he was 30 and died at 110, Egypt never really gripped his heart. He remembered where home was. Where is your home today? Who has your heart? Are you doing well in "Egypt"? If you are that's great, but be very careful. We must remember where home is, where our true allegiance lies, and remember where our "bones" belong. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber   More regarding all the rain: Yesterday Brooksyne tried to get out for some chaplain visitation but was unable to do so due to the flooding blocking us in from every direction. This video shows our main route to Lancaster through Mount Joy over Little Chickies Creek (usually a small stream). The video was taken on Wednesday but Brooksyne still couldn't get through yesterday. Our area is still being plastered with the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee, although yesterday it let up. Due to early morning chaplain visitation this daily encouragement posting will be released prior to seeing whether we have a sunny day on Friday. We sure hope so! Due to all the moisture I should be able to make hay in my lawn. Some of our readers from TX and OK requested that we send it their way...wish it worked that way. We sure have been praying for you folks. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "I Can Only Imagine" Video MercyMe "Finally Home" Video MercyMe "You Hold Me Now" Video This was the song used in the background during the video tribute for Paul, "Paul Grabill... His Life and Legacy". |
 "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 9/8/11: $9,491.00 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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