A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
 A daily, Bible-based message of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Click here to donate online.The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archive edition Friday, October 5, 2012  A shout-out to Gesenia, a faithful reader who wanted an updated photo of our quilt/plant rack after we hung the decorative fall flag. (The cardinal is Brooksyne's favorite bird.)  Listen to this message on your audio player."The Blessing Of The Ancient Landmarks" "Set up signposts, make landmarks; set your heart toward the highway, the way in which you went" (Jeremiah 31:21). "Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set" (Proverbs 22:28). Back in the 90's we pastored in Taunton, Massachusetts and lived in a parsonage that was only about 15 feet from a major highway, Route 44 which goes from Plymouth, MA to Providence, RI. The heavy traffic and steady stream of strangers who walked in front of our house posed danger to Ester. The church generously built a fenced deck on the side of the parsonage which gave Ester some "safe territory" for play. I also drew an invisible line from the parsonage driveway to the church entrance where she was allowed to walk without our being present. Ester still refers to the boundary lines and does so with fond memories. The safety zone gave her a sense of security and I believe she remembers it as a visible reminder of our genuine love and concern for her well-being.  It's interesting to pause a moment and consider the many boundaries we had as children and the many we still have as adults. It's not uncommon to use a stone to mark the boundary between properties. These landmarks (generally stones in the Biblical period) testify to a great Biblical principle first articulated by Moses in the law in Deuteronomy 19:14.* This law is a practical expression of the eighth commandment which states, "Thou shalt not steal."Proverbs 22:28 alludes to this verse but I believe this text has a powerful spiritual application as well. "Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set." In the entire area of faith and morality God has established what we may call "ancient landmarks" in His Word. These ancient landmarks are primarily found in the Law, but are repeated and elaborated on throughout the entire Bible.  Our spiritual ancestors through the history of the Church have set a pattern for living by seeking to express these ancient landmarks. These landmarks may be our fundamental doctrines, our Biblical pattern for living and standards of holiness or deeply held spiritual convictions.In ancient Israel landmarks were sacred because all property was a gift from the Lord. A timeless application is that life is a gift from the Lord and He has set forth His landmarks for our good. These landmarks are sacred. But people have always meddled with these ancient landmarks. They're tampered with today, moved and even removed in ways that our forefathers would never have imagined. Many are being seduced and deceived by radical, revisionist, blasphemous attempts to reinvent Jesus, reinterpret the Bible and redefine marriage. Would anybody have believed when I was born in 1954 that within the next 50 years homosexual "marriage" would actually be a source of serious debate? Man has always been tampering with landmarks, moving them one way or another to suit his whims, sometimes removing them altogether. The cultural and intellectual elite purport to know best and so many of the undiscerning masses follow. "Get rid of that ancient landmark", many shout, "we don't need it anymore".  I appreciate this note from a study Bible. "The 'landmark' may be a spiritual standard, established by our spiritual forefathers, God-honoring and God-blessed. There is a tendency for each new generation to try to modernize the ways of their fathers and, in view of the universal law of decay, this is more often a mistake."I thank God for the ancient landmarks expressed in His Word. Psalm 119 is best known as the longest chapter in the Bible, but it's also a chapter that constantly reinforces the Psalmist's love for God's spiritual landmarks with verses such as, "Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long" (v. 97). May the Lord give us a love for His Word and His landmarks along with a resolve to abide by them even when others seek to move or completely remove them. In fact I expect humankind to keep moving and removing them until the inevitable judgment. But as for me, I'll leave them alone. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, there is no limit to all that You have provided for us such as material blessings, physical health, the love of family and unending promises that You have already fulfilled or that are yet to be fulfilled. But You have also set visible and well-defined boundaries that are for our own good. Temptations to either toe the boundary line or cross over into enemy territory will always be there, but You give us the power to resist and discernment to recognize the alluring deceit of the evil one. Help our eyes and hearts to remain focused on Your innumerable blessings and provisions as we stand against the god of this age who seeks to destroy us. May we not move the landmark of the faithful to join with the ranks of the faithless. In Your name, Jesus, we pray. Amen. * "Do not move your neighbor's boundary stone set up by your predecessors in the inheritance you receive in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess." (Deuteronomy 19:14) Moving the boundary stone is perhaps the basest form of property theft and actually merits a curse in Deuteronomy 27:17. Brooksyne's Note: In 2001 we moved to a rental farm house in the country here in Mount Joy, PA and it was quite an adjustment for Ester. She had done her growing up in Taunton and for about seven years had grown comfortable with the safe boundary lines. It took several months for her to finally get over asking for permission to walk outside our home into our big, safe yard. Though she was 12 and we lived in the country she still thought danger lurked on the outside. After several days of rain it was nice to have a pleasant afternoon yesterday with bright sunshine. We would like to share some photos of the exterior of the front of our home decorated for the Autumn season.  Our side entrance and Daily Encouragement Office to the left. (I see Mollie's red rings on the bench; she leaves her toys all over the place just like a child.)  Our long driveway can be a real challenge to those who aren't so good at driving in reverse (especially at night).  Our autumn gardening cart. If you're observant, just beyond the flowers, you'll see a blue ring in Mollie's mouth that she's returning to Stephen so he can throw it yet another time. She never tires!  We really enjoy the colorful variety of coleus and sweet potato vine in front of our office. Hopefully we'll preserve some for next season by rooting and planting indoors over the winter.  The walkway up to our front door is narrowed by the Autumn sedum which is a favorite flower for butterflies, bees and all sorts of flying critters.  Our utility barn merely has a fall wreath.  The lamp posts along our driveway provide good decorating spots. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Monuments" Video Legacy Five One of Brooksyne's favorite songs that speaks of the monuments we must leave for our children to find the way home. "Don't move the landmarks set up for your children so they can find the way home." "Heroes Of The Faith" Video Legacy Five Listen to this song and consider someone in your life who left a legacy of faith. Are you leaving a legacy of faith? "Legacy" Video Nicole Nordeman "When It's All Been Said And Done" Video Robin Mark, singer and writer. The words continue to repeat in my mind as it says so much about living one's life to the glory of God, staying above the fray of this world. Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne. |
 Stephen and Brooksyne Weber (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 an offering 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. Click here to donate online. 2012 financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net as of 10/4/12: $12,791.00. 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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