A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
 A daily, Bible-based message of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archive edition Thursday, February 9, 2012  We've not had much snow this winter so we were pleased to receive a bit yesterday! Mollie sure enjoys playing in it. "The Value Of The Soul" "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26).  I have had this Scripture print practically since I began my ministry in the seventies. What a solemn reminder from our Lord! A 24-year-old British musician named Dante Knoxx tried to sell his soul for $38,000 on EBay several years ago but the sales site bars the sale of intangible items. The musician wanted the money to kick-start his career. Wired magazine reported that a 29-year-old university instructor succeeded in selling his immortal soul for $1,325. He said, "In America, you can metaphorically and literally sell your soul and be rewarded for it." No word on how the purchaser intended to collect! You may not be able to sell your soul but Jesus gave a solemn warning concerning losing or forfeiting it. The soul and the spirit are connected, but separable (Hebrews 4:12). The soul is the essence of humanity's being; it is who we are. The spirit is the aspect of humanity that connects with God. That's a very simple understanding; you can spend a lot of time studying this topic as I did in preparation for the message! Suffice it to say our soul has utmost value. Many years ago I memorized today's verse. These solemn words of our Lord ought to be etched deeply onto the tablets of our hearts and firmly established in our minds: "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Jesus very pointedly asks two rather simple but loaded questions:
Commentator Matthew Henry reflects: "As the happiness of heaven with Christ is enough to make up for the loss of life itself for Him, so the gain of all the world in sin, will not make up for the ruin of the soul by sin. And there is a day coming, when the cause of Christ will appear as glorious, as some now think it mean and contemptible. May we think of that season, and view every earthly object as we shall do at that great day." We are but stewards in this life called to manage the property and affairs of Another. Our treasure, time and talents (work skills) and indeed our very life are gifts from God. When it's all over on this side we will fully realize that, "We brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it." Let's choose to live each day with that sobering realization. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily Prayer: Father, Your Scriptures teach us that we're not home yet; we're just passing through. This world is all we've physically known so it is only through our spiritual transformation of salvation that we are able to transport our affections to our future home where we've never been. Fix our hearts and our minds upon that which is imperishable, that which satisfies the soul and lifts us above the allurement to this world along with the troubles it brings. There is nothing in this world that is of greater worth or has more lasting value than our salvation in Christ, and it is in His name that we pray. Amen.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Now I Belong To Jesus" Video Haven of Rest Quartet An old hymn with outstanding lyrics. "How Great Thou Art" Video Chris Rice "Then sings my soul!" "I Have Decided To Follow Jesus" Video Selah Including portion in KIKONGO (African) "I'd Rather Have Jesus" Video Crabb Family "Sometimes I Cry" Video Jason Crabb Interesting music: This morning we were visiting one of the companies we serve as chaplains that does laser cutting. They had some photos of some of their projects. One is work for a musician with quite an interesting approach using carillon mounted on a trailer. Video Cast In Bronze (website) |
 Weber family Christmas 2011 "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 12/11)  Are our daily encouragement messages a blessing to you? Each weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. We ask you to consider making a donation to Daily Encouragement Net so that we can continue to prepare and provide this daily resource which is accessed by believers and seekers all over the world. Daily Encouragement Net relies solely on the generosity and financial support of its readers and podcast listeners. See here for more information on supporting this ministry. Gifts are tax deductible.2012 financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net as of 2/8/12: $1,390.00 We express thanks to all who support our ministry! 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!) (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 2012 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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