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, August 6, 2013  Hummingbird (Photo by Doris High) As I prepare today's message I have a hummingbird that looks just like this one feeding on the flowers in front of our office window! "Mutual Encouragement"  Listen to this message on your audio player"For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine" (Romans 1:11,12). And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24).    Hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, spiders and all sorts of other insects frequent our flower haven. Some we especially enjoy observing such as the hummingbirds and butterflies; others we find a bit creepy like the spiders, though we enjoy the amazing designs they weave into their webs. Brooksyne claims they make a zig zag design better than she can on her sewing machine. This morning we took the photo on the left of a very colorful spider that's been camping out for about five days among our Black Eyed Susans. Invisible through the camera lens, yet this large spider has practically built a fort with its intricate web weaving from one plant to the other.  Last week we pointed out how many plants and insects have a mutual symbiotic relationship. The plant provides nectar as food for the insect and the insect is a means of pollination for the plant. Thus they both benefit and so do we as humans. One creation website I enjoy calls this relationship "pollination partners".Today we consider a similar relationship we enjoy with each other as Christians, in the sense that we too have opportunity to mutually encourage and spur one another on in our walk with Christ and in the cause of the Gospel. Paul's epistle to the Romans is well known for its rich theological content followed by several chapters of practical theology on living out the Christian life. In the introductory verses Paul writes very practically, "For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you." He expresses here the joy of ministry that many of us have experienced; the blessing of imparting meaningful spiritual input into the lives of others. I see here a powerful reminder of the necessity of real face to face relationship. Although the Romans surely benefitted from Paul's written letter, just as we do thousands of years later, as part of the Holy Scriptures. However he longed to see them in person. Now, especially with modern technology, we have many ways of having a virtual relationship with others who live at a distance but I don't believe it replaces the blessing of actual one on one fellowship. "That is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine." As a result of imparting spiritual truths to the Roman Christians Paul stated they would be "mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine." We normally consider that we receive encouragement in the sense of being on the receiving side from a Bible teaching, musical group, drama team, etc. But anyone who has been on the dispensing side knows the encouragement we receive from seeing faith expressed in a heart receptive to the Truth and the blessing of helping someone along the way. I recall a song from many years ago by Ray Hildebrand that describes this mutual encouragement titled "We Really Do Need Each Other." The Lord has ordained our fellowship with one another for our mutual benefit. Today may you and those you impact experience mutual encouragement. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, kingdom principles that Jesus taught and modelled such as, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" is especially true when we give ourselves fully to the work of the Gospel, encouraging and spurring one another on toward growth in Christ and the good deeds that follow. When we share with others and invest in their lives, we find ourselves mutually blessed, encouraged and built up in the faith as Christ is at work in our hearts. It in His name that we pray. Amen. Due to cooler weather and above average rains our lawn and plants are healthy and vibrant especially for August!  My cousin's wife Georgia shared this photo of a hummingbird outside her window.  This photo was taken in Centre County PA by our friend Greg Schneider. Click here for larger version. "What Goes On in the Garden When You Aren't Watching" Video The type of photographic equipment used for such a presentation is amazing. "Make Me A Blessing" Video Congregational Singing "Make Me A Blessing" Video Mark Auza (a song I had never heard before today which includes thoughtful words). Our friend Doris High recently posted a remarkable collection of butterfly photos here. |
 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 8/5/13: $12,213.00 SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION  If a friend forwarded this to you, you can subscribe here.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 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: These messages are only sent from us to people who request it; please accept our apologies if it reached you in error. You can unsubscribe from this list at any time. 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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