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, May 29, 2012  "While the dew is still on the roses."  Listen to this message on your audio player."Holy Spirit Enabled Boldness" "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness" (Acts 4:29). "And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the Word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31). This last Sunday was "Pentecost Sunday" when we commemorate the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples on the Day of Pentecost. Peter, who just 53 days earlier, had cowered in fear and denied the Lord, now stood up and boldly proclaimed the living Lord, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified" (Acts 2:36). Brooksyne has taught children since she committed her life to Christ in Junior High School. That's over 40 years and she's stored up many funny memories. Once she was teaching on Elijah and she described Elijah as a bold man. Making sure that she was not talking over their heads, she asked her preschoolers, "Who can tell me what the word, 'bold' means?" Little three-year old Mandy quickly raised her hand and with a self-assured smile she quickly answered, "It means he didn't have no hair." Actually it was Elisha who at one time was mocked for being bald (2 Kings 2:23). But both he and Elijah demonstrated a boldness in living out their life for God, as have millions down through the ages.  I consider a friend named Peter in the Boston area. He's a big man, having played college football and working as a "bouncer" in a Boston bar in his BC days. He lived hard in the worldly ways until he was 25 and he met Christ. At his conversion he changed dramatically and now bears a strong, bold witness for Christ. I can still hear his deep booming voice as he speaks of his faith and dedication to Christ and His cause, "I'm no moderate". He lived all out for the world and now he lives all out for Jesus Christ.The daily text is from a portion of Scripture when the disciples first faced persecution following the Day of Pentecost. Their petition was not, as we might expect, for a removal of the threat or opposition or an appeal for an easy life. Jesus had made it very clear they would face opposition and they seemed to have accepted this. The heart of their prayer was, "Enable Your servants to speak Your word with great boldness". That prayer was answered as the Spirit-empowered disciples went forth and "began to speak the Word of God with boldness". The next chapter records continued and increasing persecution and ends with this summary. "Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ". Then the focus turns to Stephen, who even as he faced his stoning, boldly proclaimed Christ. And the list goes on through the remainder of the New Testament and throughout the church age; men and women boldly declaring their faith in Christ. That continues today giving you and me a part in it! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, in this depraved generation, darkness is sweeping across the land. At one time morality and virtuous behavior was applauded, but we now live in a time where good is called evil and evil is called good. Those who uphold Biblical truths are seen as archaic, old-fashioned, unenlightened. May we not be confused by where the line crosses Your perfect will for our lives. We know in our hearts that teachings or lifestyles that defy Your holy Word is evil, not good. Enable us to "speak Your Word with great boldness" like Peter on the Day of Pentecost. May we not be intimidated or allow ourselves to be bullied into a position that contradicts that which is revealed in Your Holy Word. We rely on the power of Your Holy Spirit to live out our lives in a way that honors You. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Last Friday when I returned from our trip to Washington we had some friends over for a fellowship meal. I heard an outstanding story I will share in tomorrow's message.  Justin and Ashley are a young couple we are mentoring who seek to honor God in their dating relationship.  We regularly visit with Clarence and Alverda in our role as chaplains at a Personal Care home. This month they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary! I asked them if they did anything special and Alverda told me they didn't need to since just being together was special! Indeed it is, since few can boast of such a milestone. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Come, Holy Spirit" Video Brian Duncan "Holy Spirit Come and Fill this Place" Video CeCe Winans "Sanctuary" Video Randy Rothwell |
 Stephen and Brooksyne Weber Our 36th anniversary photo (Click on photo to enlarge) "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 4/12)  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 supporting 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 5/28/12: $6,245.00. 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. These messages are 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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