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 Monday, February 20, 2012  Click here for larger photo and to see how straight the line is!  Listen to this message on your audio player"Hand To The Plow" "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62). "Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).  Saturday afternoon Brooksyne, Ester and I took a 3 mile walk along the Lancaster Junction trail, a former railroad grade turned to walking trail, here in Lancaster County. After getting along the trail a ways and leaving the loud noise of a busy 4 lane highway (RT 283) we enjoyed a peaceful walk through the countryside. It was a beautiful and relatively warm day for February. The dogs sure enjoyed getting out. We can let Roxie off leash as she obeys and stays near. Mollie on the other hand must be kept on a leash or no telling where she would run off to! (Ester was behind us when I took the photo on left.)Along the way I noticed an Amish farmer plowing his field. On the way back I stopped to visit him as he approached the road where he was going to turn the team around. I greeted him with a big smile and then proceeded to quote our daily verse: "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (I knew he was more likely to be familiar with the KJV). He smiled in recognition and said, "That's right." We visited a few minutes, having some mutual friends, and I commended him for his hard work and straight furrows. I was especially impressed that by a simple verbal command he could get the team to "back up". Jesus often used agricultural allusions and illustrations to connect with his listeners. In many cases we must have some agricultural knowledge to understand them. It takes a great deal of strength, concentration and perseverance to plow a field, especially using a team of horses. In plowing a field a farmer keeps the rows straight by focusing on an object in front of him, off in the distance (such as a tree).* If the farmer started to plow the furrow, but kept looking behind to see how far he'd advanced, he would never be able to make straight rows. Jesus used the above illustration to emphasize the nature of genuine discipleship; counting the cost of following Him. In our Christian life, we keep our eyes on Jesus in front of us, and never take our eyes off Him. Most importantly, we don't look back! Many of you who know me personally have often heard me say farewell with one of two phrases; "Stay faithful" or "Keep your hand to the plow." I've done this for many, many years. "Staying faithful!" What a quality. It's not dramatic. It's not sensational. But think with me for a few moments. Consider those who, over the long haul, have been a genuine and enduring blessing to you. Right at the top of the list of their good qualities is that of faithfulness, isn't it? I'll take faithfulness over flashiness any time. God said regarding Moses, "He is faithful in all my house." What a gratifying affirmation to receive from God Himself! In Matthew's gospel Jesus gives us a glimpse of what we'll hear when we finish the race. It sure won't be "Great job, O thou flashy one." No, it will be according to the Bible, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" (Matthew 25:23). And in the book of Revelation we have a recognition of His "called, chosen and faithful followers" (17:14). Indeed let us "stay faithful" and keep our hand to the plow today, not looking back but instead, "looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith." Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily Prayer: Father, it is the desire of every earnest believer to remain faithful to You. The world often uses the expression, "Be true to yourself" intending that people stand up for what they believe in, but those of the world, by and large, stand for causes and beliefs that often conflict with the holy Word of God. We are also subject to error and our emotions cannot be trusted, so with absolute resolve we choose to be true to You, rather than self. Once we put our hands to the plow we choose to cultivate Christian values and Biblical principles. We fix our gaze on Jesus so that we don't lose our way. We join with others of the Christian faith who hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, even as we spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Amen.* Farmers still use this method but many are also using GPS and in some cases the tractor essentially drives itself! See this pdf or this video A pleasant Saturday afternoon walk along the Lancaster Junction rail trail  The trail runs along Chiques Creek. I enjoy viewing white birch trees.  A rare stand of Bamboo was refreshing given the stark colors of the winter season.  Slightly off the trail (which is in the background) is this old McCormick-Deering threshing machine.  Another photo of the Amish team approaching in the distance. It was a large field and the work progressed very slowly. For a custom google map of our walk along the Lancaster Junction trail along with placemarks with photos see here. For local readers this is a nice walk! Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "When All Is Said And Done" Video Geoff Moore Last Friday's message was about having a good testimony and we shared links to three songs with a similar title as this and all with great messages but this is actually the one we were looking for! It fits well with today's message and we encourage you to listen to it. "I Am Resolved" Video A local church with good old time singing! "I'd Rather Have Jesus" Video Dallas Holm |
 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 2/19/12: $1,945.00 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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