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, April 24, 2012  This interesting Sycamore tree is on an Amish farm on Greider Road several miles from our home. Wouldn't this be a nice long seat for a family photo with lots of kids! "Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the Name of the LORD, the Everlasting God" (Genesis 21:33). We often drive by some towering stately trees along Route 422 in Lebanon County east of Palmyra PA, near Hershey. These trees, uniform in height and diameter, serenade passersby from both sides of the long lane and will actually lead you right up to the original farmsite. It's a beautiful drive for those of us who take this route and yet very likely the farmer who planted these trees many years ago is deceased. Certainly I am no forester but I would guess these trees could easily be 75 years old or more. Yesterday we examined the origin of trees on the third day of creation when God created fully mature trees that bore fruit with the seed in it.  The overwhelming majority of trees are planted in nature as seeds fall from mature trees. Our Donegal Creek trail takes us along an abandoned township road lined with trees on each side. They weren't intentionally planted but grew unmolested at the side of the tilled fields. Of course, trees in the forest start this way as well. "The trees of the Lord are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that He planted" (Psalm 104:16).On the other hand, we also purposefully plant trees where we want them, usually from a seedling or small tree. Brooksyne generally plants annuals and perennials that grow quickly so that we enjoy their beauty right away. Three days ago we planted a young Threadleaf Japanese Maple in our front lawn. Usually when we plant a tree I dig the hole and Brooksyne does the supervising! When I think I've finally shoveled the last scoop of dirt she usually orders, "Keep digging."  The maple we planted is only about 4' tall, rather small compared to the blooming dogwood to the right, but if all goes well it will grow steadily and we'll enjoy it for many years. The bright red lobed leaves complement our other colorful dogwoods and green lawn. Trees can be planted simply for our enjoyment or we might plant them in relation to an event or in remembrance of someone special. "Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the Name of the LORD, the everlasting God." This followed the birth of Isaac and the treaty at Beersheba. Frankly I am not sure nor am I able to find in a commentary with certainty the relationship of planting the tree and his calling on the name of the Lord. However there is one thought I pull from this text. Trees are the oldest living things on earth. When we plant a tree, regardless of our age at the time of planting, many of them will outlive us. But for the very first time in Scripture Abraham makes a declaration about God that is abundantly revealed all through the rest of the Bible; "There he called upon the Name of the LORD, the Everlasting God." One commentary refers to the tamarisk tree as a "Memorial Tree". Perhaps anytime Abraham came back to this tree it was reminder to him of this significant time when he called on "the Name of the Lord, the everlasting God." Perhaps the tree planting became "holy ground" where Abraham prayed regularly and grew in his relationship with God even as the tamarisk tree grew in size and strength. Hopefully we have such places in our own lives. In many cases it's not a tree but a wooden altar where we do business with God. Several weeks ago during the final service in the country church we had been pastoring folks were given an opportunity to express what the church meant to them and memories they stored from the past. A man pointed to the altar where he had given his heart to Christ at 17 years of age in 1974. Interestingly this was at a time when Pastor Earl Martin had preached and challenged the congregation to follow Christ. Some 27 years later Earl, who is now with the Lord, invited us to his church when we first moved to Lancaster County in February 2001. I can still visualize that cold winter evening when he greeted us with a shoofly pie baked by his wife, Helen, and a handwritten prayer complete with Scriptures as we were still unpacking our worldly goods and settling into our rental farmhouse. Of course God continues to be the everlasting God and He is waiting for all who will to call on the Name of the Lord. Let us do so today! "But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him." Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, we call on You, our Lord and God who existed before the foundations of the world were established. From everlasting to everlasting You reign supreme in the heavens above and in our hearts below. You are the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last who loves us with an everlasting love. We want to be a faithful people who call on Your Name regularly and exalt You above the heavens as we glorify You here on earth. In the name of Jesus we praise You. Amen.Brooksyne's Note: I read recently that in ancient Israel, a tree was planted when a child was born—a cedar for a boy, a cypress for a girl. As the children grew up, they cared for their own trees. When they were married, the bridegroom and bride stood under a canopy made of branches cut from the trees that had been planted in their honor years before. Thus, the Jewish tradition formed a strong bond between birth and marriage, and helped to develop a love for trees and a sensitivity to the wonders of nature. * I don't have a photo of the trees mentioned in the first paragraph but they be seen here in a Google satellite photo!  Today's Sycamore tree is at the farm where Elam and Naomi Stoltzfus operate the Creekside Greenhouse. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Everlasting God" Video New Life Worship (written by Glenn Packiam.) "Everlasting God" Video Chris Tomlin "From The East Unto The West" Video The Odes of Solomon "Eternity" Video Brian Doerksen "Creation Calls" Video Brian Doerksen Beautiful song set to outstanding photos and videos. |
 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 4/23/12: $4,110.00 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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