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, April 26, 2012  This ivy covered silo is at the Vogt Farm Bed and Breakfast on Colebrook Road about a mile from our home. We wonder how many years this has been growing. If the vine keeps growing it will look like a tree!  Another view  Listen to this message on your audio player."The Master Pruner" "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful" (John 15:1,2). "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds" (James 1:2).  We dug it out and in doing so inadvertently completely bared the root system. We've since learned that, when possible, it's good to leave soil around roots when you transplant trees or bushes! After digging a deep hole in the desired location we replanted it adding some fertilizer to the soil and drenched it with a lot of water. About three days later the tree started dying with leaves turning brown and falling off. It was pathetic looking. I had resigned to losing the tree when Don, a friend who was visiting us from Texas, told me in his distinctive southern drawl, "You've got to prune that right back, lop it off half way up." Wow, that was hard to do and seemed counter-productive, but it was dying anyway so I took his advice. Within a few days we saw tiny new leaves forming and the tree began thriving in a very short time. We associate the word, "prune" with trees and bushes and rightly so. In our Scripture text Jesus chose a gardening theme when He described God as the Master Gardener, Himself as the vine and His followers as the branches of the vine. The Father cuts off branches that bear no fruit, which has been variously interpreted by Christians through the ages. Today I consider the latter part of the daily text, "every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." Are you bearing fruit today? All who follow Christ are called to bear fruit. In fact Jesus ended His teaching with this statement, "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples" (John 15:8). Pruning involves cutting off branches and we do this to encourage flower or fruit development, promote plant health, maintain a desired tree form, and improve plant appearance among other reasons. All fruit-bearing Christians are subject to this kind of pruning as well (notice "every branch"). The purpose of the pruning is that we might be "even more fruitful." "Every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit" (John 15:2). The nature of this "pruning" is seen by many to be the trials that are an inevitable part of our earthly existence. I can't speak for you, but I don't necessarily like the painful pruning experiences of life. If a tree could speak and saw the pruner with the shears or hedge clippers coming its way I wonder if it would say, "Oh boy, yippee, yippee, I am getting pruned today!!!" But our second daily text reveals that this should actually be our attitude! "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds." This is an attitude that does not come naturally to me. I'd really rather avoid the pruning times! Too often I'm willing to settle for the fruit I have and am unconcerned about being "more fruitful" which follows the pruning action. But I go back to that detail I pointed out earlier. Jesus said, "Every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." Today may God give us an assurance that the Master Pruner is showing evidence of His faithfulness and love toward us during the pruning process! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, You are the Master Pruner who is growing me into the likeness of Your Son, Jesus Christ. As I remain in the Vine You assure me that I will bear much fruit lasting far beyond one season. When I consider the fruit You want to grow in me I recognize that it is all based on character traits seen in the Son. Help me to respond in accordance to the pruning knife of the Word of God as it penetrates my soul, judging the thoughts and attitudes of my heart. Cut out that which hinders my growth and submerge me in that which will make me flourish making me fruitful for the Kingdom of God. Amen. Our journeys yesterday took us through Hershey, PA and the Hershey chocolate factory where we pass this "Hershey Cocoa" shrubbery. This shrubbery is so large that these letters are clearly visible on a google satellite map!  These old Mack farm trucks are waiting for another harvest. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Thank You Lord For The Trials That Come My Way" Video This was popular in our early adult years and has a great message. This was the first solo I ever heard Brooksyne sing when we ministered together at a state lung hospital (called the Missouri State Sanitarium at the time) in Mount Vernon Missouri while in Bible College. As college students we went here to practice preaching! "Blessings" Video Laura Story A newer song with a rich perspective on suffering. "In His Time" Video Maranatha Singers. Brings back memories of when we used to sing this in church. "Consider it Pure Joy" Video Acapella group singing James 1:2 Vogt Farm Bed and Breakfast |
 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 4/25/12: $4,475.00 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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