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, June 28, 2012  Covered Bridge on the Longenecker Farm A replica of the Risser's Mill Bridge, Mount Joy  Listen to this message on your audio player."Covered Bridge Kisses" "So she became his wife, and he loved her" (Genesis 24:67b). "Husbands love your wives" (Ephesians 5:25). One of the great delights of driving through Lancaster County is viewing the covered bridges. When we moved to this area in early 2001 from New England we lived in a rental farmhouse with a view of the Risser's Mill Covered Bridge right from our front porch. We often passed through the bridge since it was the shortest route to Lancaster. Once we had to wait for another car to pass before going through the old one lane covered bridge. I expected the car to make its way right through so I could be on my way, but instead it stopped right in the middle of the bridge for just a moment. After the car resumed and came through to my side of the bridge a portly, sixtyish looking man stopped his car, rolled down his window and said with a big smile, "Sorry for the delay, but you just gotta stop and kiss your Valentine when you're in a covered bridge".  After that reminder you can be sure I kissed Brooksyne as we proceeded through the bridge that day and continue to do so to this day whenever we go through a covered bridge. In fact covered bridges are known as "kissing bridges" as courting couples were prone to stop and steal a kiss before exiting the bridge.The first daily text is the first occasion in the Bible where we are specifically told of a husband's love for his wife Rebekah, "So she became his wife, and he loved her." Genesis 24 is a lengthy account of Isaac's arranged marriage, facilitated by Abraham's chief servant. Theirs is love at first sight and is demonstrated when he prays for her on the occasion of her barrenness (Genesis 25:21). Later, after their twins were born we find the two in a passionate embrace (Genesis 26:8). Still later we find the old couple agonizing over decisions their children had made (Genesis 26:35, 27:46). Sound like your marriage? Yet his love for her endured. Many years ago I heard Josh McDowell speak at a marriage conference in Boston. He encouraged us to authenticate our faith by modeling lasting relationships, particularly in our marriages. A great witness for Christ is marriages and families that function well and endure. I encourage you all to again commit yourselves to this goal. The apostle Paul said, "Husbands, love your wives" and the world is watching for demonstrations of this love in the home. I still marvel at marital love and hope I always will. Of course the institution of marriage is under severe attack in our time on many fronts. How vital to again ponder a simple command of Scripture, "Husbands, love your wives." The underlying Greek word for love is that wonderful word "AGAPE", which is in the present active, calling for continual, habitual action. Let us again remember God's call to marital love. Gary Chapman shares these five essential characteristics of a healthy marriage in his book "The Five Love Languages." Please apply! 1) Affirming Words 2) Quality Time 3) Thoughtful Gifts 4) Cooperative Service 5) Physical Intimacy Now with thirty-six years of marital experience Brooksyne and I will add two more. Tease each other and have fun and if you ever find yourself driving through a covered bridge, brake the car so you can share a kiss! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, You teach us that we are to love one another unreservedly. The love You give us for others goes beyond our own natural inclinations. It is a love that motivates us to give without expecting anything in return. More often than not we fall short of extending this kind of love to our spouse and other loved ones. Only with Your continued help can we set aside our own expectations and learn to love the way You intend by always protecting, always trusting, always hoping, and always persevering with those You've brought into our lives. Amen.  This week we are featuring photos from Bill and Peggy Longenecker's farm here in Lancaster County. The covered bridge in today's photo was made from wood salvaged from the Risser's Mill covered bridge (shown on left) which was burned by arsonists in July 2002 after we had moved from the rented farmhouse to our present home so this replica is of special sentiment to us. Our story in Lancaster County begins with difficulty in finding housing when we were preparing to move here in February 2001. We had come down prior to moving and really wanted to live out in the country but could only locate apartment type housing for our temporary living quarters. The night before we were to return to Massachusetts we saw a small ad in the paper for a rental farmhouse and we called right away. I kiddingly asked the owner, Ernie Sweigart, if it was near a covered bridge and he said, "As a matter of fact you can see a covered bridge from the porch!" And we enjoyed that special privilege for just over a year. Here is a description of the replica bridge Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resource "Love Will Be Our Home" Video Susan Ashton "The Marriage Prayer" Video John Waller "Flesh Of My Flesh" Video Leon Patillo This was a popular wedding song when we got married in 1976  We want to encourage readers wherever they may live to participate in a special prayer time this coming Lord's day in falling to our knees and praying for our nation and world. For more information see this website. |
 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 6/27/12: $7,736.00. 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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