A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
 A daily, Bible-based message of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Click here to support our ministry.The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archive edition Tuesday, April 9, 2013  Interior of a Lancaster PA Covered Bridge (Photo by Nick Nichols)  Listen to this message on your audio player."Shine Brightly!" "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever" (Daniel 12:3). As we move further into the Spring season the days are getting longer, something we longed for over the dreary winter months. Another blessing we especially enjoy is awakening to bright sunlight as we did early this morning. We look beyond our back yard to farm fields being prepped for spring planting and out our office window to a large green field. The sun is brilliantly shining this virtually cloudless morning and temps are forecast to be in the high seventies. We are ready for that!  Yesterday we both had an eye exam. One of the tests involved a very bright light that the doctor uses to see the back of the eye. He warns you, prior to the test, that the light will be very bright and may even cause some pain. Bright light can do that both physically and spiritually. Today let us consider a text that has a Proverb-like quality from Daniel who was among the captives taken when Jerusalem was conquered. Early on, his resolute decision to live according to His Jewish upbringing was expressed by the phrase, "He purposed in his heart" (1:8). He is best known for his victorious deliverance in the lion's den and his steadfast resolve to live for God during the Babylonian exile. The latter part of the book (chapters 7-12), written during Daniel's senior years, is a series of remarkable prophecies that looked far into the future, way beyond that which is visible to the naked eye, and could only be interpreted by a prophet with keen spiritual foresight. The daily verse is one of those little gems found among these prophesies. It is a description of "Those who are wise." This is the wisdom not of the world but that which comes from a close, abiding walk with God and through the study of His Word. "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom" (Psalm 90:12). The wise will "shine like the brightness of the heavens". Consider the accumulative light of hundreds of millions of true believers living out their lives for Jesus Christ, who said, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). The apostle Paul might also have been alluding to this verse when he wrote, "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life" (Philippians 2:14-16a).  Let us go back to the illustration we shared concerning the bright light in the eye exam and the doctor's warning that "This may hurt a bit." Can you imagine my foolishness if I were to say to the doctor, "Well, I won't just won't do it if it's gonna hurt." Or imagine the captain of a wandering ship navigating his crew safely into a foggy harbor, and then complaining about the piercing light that beamed from the lighthouse over the dark waters.As the world grows darker and darker the everlasting light of God's Word, implanted in His people, shines forth eternal truth which increases the pain and discomfort of those who've acclimated themselves to their dark surroundings. Nevertheless we don't evolve*, compromise, or dim our light, but we must proclaim the pure message God wants us to declare to those in our surroundings. We must also remain resolute in our purpose to "lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever." Won't you shine a beaming light toward those engulfed in darkness! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, You sent Jesus to be the Light of the world, and He now sends us out as redeemed messengers in the places where we live. Some of those places are very dark and we're afraid to share the message of light and truth because we feel inadequate, unworthy, and unprepared to convey such a wondrous message. But in holding back we fail to introduce others to You whose searchlight from the Holy Spirit guides us into all truths, delivers us from the evil one, and sets our feet upon a rock to stay. We know that it is not by our might or power that we are able to shine like stars in the universe, but it is through Your Spirit that we can lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. Amen.* "Evolved" The term used by many politicians for abandoning God's standards. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Let The Lower Lights Be Burning" Video Haven Quartet Video J. Ashley Milne In this song we are represented as the "lower lights". It was written by Philip P. Bliss. Hymn history is here. "Shine On Us" Video Philips, Craig and Dean "Here I am To Worship" Video Chris Tomlin "Light of the world You stepped down into darkness" "This Little Light Of Mine" Video Addison Road Newer version with additional verses. "This Little Light of Mine" Video Dalton Mountain Gang (Blue grass style) "This Little Light of Mine" Video Cedarmont Kids (The way most of us probably learned the song!) |
 Stephen and Brooksyne Weber (Click on photo to enlarge) "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 12/31/12)  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.2013 YTD financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net as of 4/8/13: $5,145.00. 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 to our email list. These messages are never sent by us unsolicited. It was sent to you because you either signed up to receive it OR it was forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or as an email subscription through Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.)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. Other versions are also occasionally used. © Copyright 2013 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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