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 Friday, August 24, 2012  Yesterday we stopped by a rural produce stand. As Brooksyne purchased some produce we were entertained by this rooster, including several cock-a-doodle-doos.  Listen to this message on your audio player."Farther Along" "It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness" (Hebrews 12:7-11).   The daily Scripture portion presents a vital perspective on trials. The last portion is a simple truth all of us, even a young child, can attest to: "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful." The context draws a parallel between the discipline of a loving earthly father and that of our loving heavenly Father. Among the clear Biblical mandates for a father is the discipline of his children. Our heavenly Father also disciplines His children and we know at times His discipline (not to be confused with punishment) may certainly not be pleasant and may indeed be painful. A tremendous truth that we do well to settle deep in our hearts is that "God disciplines us for our good." One of Pastor's points dealt with God's sovereignty in our trials and the aspect which we know deep in our hearts to be true; that God is good and has our best interests in mind. There is a promised consequence to God's discipline in trials: "Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Especially note the two words "later on". "Later on" is unspecific as to the timing and this is what makes it so very hard. So many of us are waiting for that "later on" to take place in our life, not knowing when it will take place. But God's Word is sure and His promises are steadfast. "God disciplines us for our good." Some of you are in the very midst of a discipline that is by no means pleasant. In fact it may be very painful. Perhaps you've been let down and disappointed. You just can't figure out what God is up to in your life. You may even feel forsaken. And at this time you don't have any idea how your situation will ever work out. (I've experienced all the above). Consider those words "later on" and the wonderful promise of God that follows. Let it minister to your heart and fill you with hope and encouragement as you diligently wait for that most certain "later on" that will come to pass. Indeed, "Farther along we'll know more about it, farther along we'll understand why. Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, we live in a world where "waiting" seems almost inconceivable for everyday needs. Because of marvelous technological breakthroughs we get instant mail, same day deliveries, immediate test results, meals in two minutes, and the list goes on and on. But, Lord, You work in our lives day after day, year after year and season upon season. Father, You are developing fruit in our lives as we are in the waiting process. We've seen faithfulness, self-control, endurance, patience and other fruit grow in our spiritual walk as we endure the rod of discipline. May it bring about the peaceful fruit of righteousness that is a result of our sharing in Your holiness as we undergo discipline. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen."A Story of Eternal Perspective" is one of the most remarkable testimonies I have ever read concerning this topic of "Farther Along". This version is on Randy Alcorn's blog. 2012 corn processing at the Weber home Brooksyne just processed 7 & 1/2 dozen ears of corn for freezing and I asked her to share the process for any who may be interested but are unfamiliar with the process. We began with a large batch of freshly picked corn from a friend's farm. I had the rather inglorious, laborious, inauspicious job of shucking it outside in the hot sun! (Brooksyne's edit begins here: Beware, alert readers, that Stephen wrote the description of his labor, not me.)  Some of the ears of corn Stephen shucked  Next comes the scrubbing and removal of extra silks. Don't resent those messy silks since there is a kernel for every silk you remove. So, the more silk you have the more kernels you have!  The corn must be blanched (boiled in hot water) 5 minutes. (Five minutes for 2" diameter corn though canning books vary on amount of boiling time. All agree that boiling time starts after ears have been dropped in water and boiling restarts.  Corn is then dropped in ice water to stop the cooking process for the same amount of time as blanching process (5 minutes).  Then comes the removal of the kernels  Corn here, there and everywhere  Corn is then bagged. I found a neat bag holding gadget while traveling in Indiana that holds plastic bags open for filling. It adjusts for various sizes and is a great help when you need more than two hands - well worth the modest $3.00 I paid for a handy canning/freezing tool.  Da Da! 55 bags of corn (2 Cups in each sandwich bag. I then stuff 4 of the filled sandwich bags into 1 gallon freezer bags.) That's one vegetable serving per week over the next year for our small family. Corn is one vegetable that is superb in flavor when processed at home compared to canned corn or frozen corn in the grocery aisle. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resource "Farther Along" Video Acapella bluegrass style (very country!) Another version by Legacy Five Video Another version by the Heritage Singers! Video The lyrics to the song were written in 1911 by Rev. W.A. Fletcher, an itinerant preacher, while he was travelling to the Indian Territories by train. Fletcher was feeling depressed because his wife was expecting their first-born child in a few weeks and he wouldn't be present for the occasion. He felt that his priorities were with his ministry in the Indian Territories and wrote the lyrics to reflect his frame of mind at the time. Sitting next to him on the train was J. R. Baxter, a gospel music promoter who was quite taken with the lyrics that Fletcher was writing and offered him $2.00 for them. Mr. Baxter subsequently had them put to music and the song has been quite popular in the gospel music arena ever since. The song deals with a Christian's dismay at the apparent prosperity of the wicked, when contrasted with the suffering of the righteous. The repeated theme is that, in Heaven, the truth will be revealed. Tempted and tried, we're oft made to wonder Why it should be thus all the day long; While there are others living about us, Never molested, though in the wrong. Refrain: Farther along we'll know more about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by. Sometimes I wonder why I must suffer, Go in the rain, the cold, and the snow, When there are many living in comfort, Giving no heed to all I can do. Tempted and tried, how often we question Why we must suffer year after year, Being accused by those of our loved ones, E'en though we've walked in God's holy fear. Often when death has taken our loved ones, Leaving our home so lone and so drear, Then do we wonder why others prosper, Living so wicked year after year. "Faithful till death," saith our loving Master; Short is our time to labor and wait; Then will our toiling seem to be nothing, When we shall pass the heavenly gate. Soon we will see our dear, loving Savior, Hear the last trumpet sound through the sky; Then we will meet those gone on before us, Then we shall know and understand why. Finally today: Seen yesterday in an office we visited  Hmmmm, where might you fit in? Entering or leaving? Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne. |
 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 8/23/12: $10,811.00. 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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