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, June 19, 2012  This postcard picture home is on Breneman Road in southern Lancaster County. We noticed a "For Sale" sign for anyone who may be interested!  Listen to this message on your audio player."Never Stop Growing" "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen" (2 Peter 3:18). Throughout this spring we have been making some maintenance and home improvements to our home. We've lived in our present home ten years now, the longest we have ever lived in one place and Brooksyne is in the process of updating the wall coverings. She (mostly) provides the labor but we have thus far been unable to find a way to make our own home-made paint!  So we spend a lot of time at Lowes (a large home improvement store). Both in the store and through ads we have become familiar with their present marketing slogan which states, "Never Stop Improving." If you go into a Lowes store you can't miss this slogan or the catchy jingle that goes with it. It's a neat strategy for persistent and repeat business. It's also a great slogan for us to apply spiritually. Most of us have seen books with titles like "Windows for Dummies". Someone sure has made a lot of money with this series and frankly I have several different copies. They usually have more than enough information for whatever it is I'm trying to learn about. I'm sure glad that some "Christian" marketer hasn't picked up on the theme with a book called "Discipleship for Dummies", although if there's money to be made it wouldn't surprise me! After all, we like any shortcuts we can take, and books like these sell fast.But growth in the transforming grace and infinite knowledge of Christ is a lifelong process. It begins the moment we believe and continues till we go to be with the Lord. It's not for dummies! Healthy living means growing. God's Word tells us that we should continue to grow in our faith. Peter completed his final epistle with a powerful challenge. "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." The word translated "grow" means to enlarge or increase. It's in the present, active, and imperative, which means this call to growth is ongoing, non-optional and we have a part in it. Today's verse records the final written words of the Apostle Peter. It was a challenge to his initial readers and now we apply it to our spiritual growth. This verse seems to have been modeled by the Lord Jesus Christ, "And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him" (Luke 2:40). "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:52). Today let us encourage you to continue to grow in your faith as you dutifully carry out the spiritual exercises that nurture your spirit; Bible reading and study, prayer, fellowship with the other Christians, Christian service, witnessing for Christ, standing up for Biblical truth, enduring hardship and overcoming trials, etc. And, painful as it is, we also grow through our mistakes – if we've learned the lesson that will keep us from repeating them. At times your spiritual growth is rapid, while at other times it's very slow and practically indiscernible. But growth, stability and faithfulness over the long term are what really matters. Let us stay faithful as we, step by step, walk in the footsteps of Jesus! Indeed, let us never stop growing! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, we want to grow in the grace and knowledge imparted to us through the teachings of Jesus and Your faithful servants who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. We know this involves much more than simply reading the Scriptures, but it includes meditating and memorizing principles and portions of the inspired text. It includes saying "no to ungodliness and worldly passions and living self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age." As our world continues the slide into decadence and self-indulgence, it means that we, with great intention, set our heart's desires on that which is pure and holy so that we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in whose name we pray. Amen.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah" Video Indelible Grace Guide me, 0 thou great Redeemer, Pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak, but thou art mighty, Hold me with thy powerful hand; Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more. |
 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 6/18/12: $7,260.00. 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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