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 Tuesday, February 28, 2012  The copper flashing on this church steeple in Mount Joy PA really shines since they've cleaned the copper! (Notice at the top where the green patina or technically, copper sulfate oxidation, has not been removed.) I took this photo on a somewhat overcast day. On a bright day the shining copper actually appears to be lit up!  Listen to this message on your audio player"Rebuilding The Ancient Ruins" "Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the age-old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell" (Isaiah 58:12).  About a mile and ½ from our home behind the Cameron Inn Estate is an old farm with this unusual sight for Lancaster County. An old stone barn wall remains, standing for many years after the barn burned down or was otherwise demolished. (We first noticed this sight shortly after we moved to our home in 2002).Our region was settled in the 1700's so these barn ruins are nothing compared to the "ancient ruins" of the Middle East, yet the stone wall still brings to mind the daily verse which can be understood as the promise of rebuilding a torn-down Jerusalem. However, in a spiritual analogy, it can also be understood as those who follow the Lord and keep His precepts. They will be the devout followers who rebuild the ancient ruins and raise up the age-old foundations of Biblical truth. I believe this refers to getting back to the old, correct ways. Newer doesn't always means better. I am blessed by a verse in Jeremiah 6:16 that states, "This is what the LORD says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it'". One commentator notes, "Those who serve God with sincere hearts and actions also accomplish things for God's kingdom. They rebuild and raise up, and are 'called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell'. You can't build anything for God's Kingdom on the foundation of a superficial walk with God."  How there needs to be a rebuilding and raising up of age-old foundations today! Alan Redpath, a British preacher who lived from 1907-1989 wrote, "We live in a broken world. In every direction there are breaches which are wide and deep. There are broken hearts and broken homes, and that which once was sacred is but a waste place. Whereas once there was a carefully guarded fence around the sanctity of family life, sex life, and the right to personal privacy, now there is just a waste place. The wall of protection is in ruins, and (for many) life has lost all its meaning." He surely wrote this a generation ago, yet his words are far more greatly evidenced today than at the time of his writing!A recent poll from the Culture and Media Institute shows that 74% of Americans believe our nation is in moral decline but only 36% believe we should live by God's principles of right and wrong. (This astounding statement will be the basis for a teaching message later this week.)  Isaiah 62:6 states, "I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest." God is always looking for people to take up His cause of righteousness. The Biblical prophet, Ezekiel, lived for God at the time of the fall of Jerusalem and the first period of the exile in Babylon about 2,600 years ago. His writings reveal the horrendous state of Jerusalem during its final days; they were desecrating the Sabbath, shedding innocent lives, sexually immoral, unjust, corrupt in leadership, and worshiping idols to name just a few of their serious offenses. Fast forward to our generation and consider how much our society parallels Jerusalem just before its fall. Modern man is desecrating the Sabbath, shedding innocent lives, sexually immoral, unjust, corrupt in leadership, and worshiping idols to name just a few of the present day serious offenses. May God grant us strength to be the faithful remnant in our age who remain true to His ways, so that we witness a restoration of the age old foundations as prescribed in the Bible! Be encouraged today and stay faithful, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily Prayer: Father, it is through devout godly people that You repair, restore and rebuild lives as they raise up the unchanging, ever relevant ancient words of Scripture. It takes faithful watchmen who serve with great vigilance, untiring in their ancient message of salvation to a world that is continuously desecrating that which was once sacred. Father, help us to be watchmen for our families, co-workers, and friends as we carefully measure the principles of this world by the principles established in Scripture. Grant us courage to speak out when the foundations are being shaken just as the watchmen were not silent night or day. We do not stand in the gap alone but You, our Father, are with us and we stand in Your strength! Amen.Chili recipe: Thanks for the nice congratulations from our readers regarding our winning the community chili contest this last weekend. In response to the requests we have provided the chili recipe and notes on this page. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "This Little Child" Video Scott Wesley Brown This song is some 25 years old but seems prophetic in light of how conditions have worsened. I belong to an organization called "Watchman on the Wall" which is championing pastors to transform America. I encourage my pastoral peers to look into this. They have a powerful conference each May in Washington, DC which I will be attending. What is a Watchman Pastor? Answer. We get the name from Isaiah 62:6: "I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest." We believe that a Watchman Pastor is called to do the following:
For the cartographically curious the stone barn wall shown in the message is here. Google map You have to walk the grounds behind the Cameron Inn to see it. Finally today: We received another comment from last Friday's message regarding disruptions in church from a friend: Your story reminded me of when Megan was a little girl and her "Woody" doll called out in church, "there's a snake in my boot". Of course if you care to listen to Woody say it, here it is on YouTube! |
 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 2/27/12: $2,035.00 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. 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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