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  Listen to this message on your audio player"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:11-13). "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9,10).  There's an ad now running on television that catches our attention and gives us a chuckle. A group of business people are sitting around a conference table brainstorming ways in which the company can save money. After a few quirky suggestions that are rejected by the CEO someone suggests changing internet providers. The office manager states his hearty agreement with the idea, "We can get more for less!" The CEO looks at him and says, "You’re the office manager, how much less do we have?” to which he answers, "Oh, we are rolling in less, Sir." (* A link to a video of the ad is below in resource section.) Today some of you may feel like you are "rolling in less". It may be "less" in regard to a health matter, finances, or family harmony. Due to the nature of our ministry we encounter a lot of people who are "rolling in less". Yesterday in the course of our chaplain work we visited with several souls experiencing life's hardships. In one situation we were speaking to a woman when she suddenly broke down in tears due to a heavy burden she bears. Another man shared of the brokenness so common in our world today. Still another shared about a chronic health issue in his life. Then when we got home we received an email from a friend we had not heard from for awhile. He explained that he had contracted a disease that has killed many, as well as taking many people's arms and legs. He nearly died, but the Lord decided not to call him home yet. He shared how he has been left with trouble walking, very shaky hands, and the inability to speak well. (He is a preacher and seminary professor.) But what a testimony of overcoming faith he expressed, "Through it all, God has been good and spoken to me greatly. I don't know what the Lord has for me in the future, but I know it will be good, for He is good and faithful to His Word and His children." In the midst of a season of "less" this brother, like Paul, is experiencing "more" of God's increasing strength and sufficient grace. In the providence of God we have periodic times in life when we are, it seems "rolling in less". We are not referring here to emotional ups and downs (which is another topic altogether), but rather those seasons when our normal life routine is interrupted and circumstances, beyond our control, stall or slow down our pace of life. The two daily Scripture portions are both from the epistles of Paul. They are related in the sense that in both of them Paul recounts a season of "less" in his life. In the Philippian passage he writes of having been "brought low" and how he faced hunger and need along with plenty and abundance. In the Corinthian passage he is dealing with his "thorn in the flesh" which many believe was some type of chronic physical affliction. Both passages have a powerful outlook in the midst of one's time of "less". The assurance we can all have regardless of that which we are enduring is this: 1) God's strength is adequate, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" 2) God's grace is sufficient, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." A period of "rolling in less" may impact our physical capabilities or the material blessings we are accustomed to, but it can also accelerate our spiritual capabilities and blessings as we are fashioned into God's image. These can be defining moments in the lives of sincere believers. Today we want to encourage any of our readers who may be "rolling in less". God will use this experience in your life to grow you in ways that you would not expect, for nothing is impossible with God! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, we are thankful that You are present in the daily routine of our lives but also in the quiet, seemingly inactive periods when we are forced to slow down, think more, and do less. Your Spirit is at work in us as we invite You into the throne-rooms of our mind and into the recesses of our heart to shape us into Your likeness. You take negative circumstances and make them work for our good, when we acknowledge that "all things work together for good to those who love You and are called according to Your purpose." We pray that You will achieve Your intended purpose in our lives as we fully submit our circumstances to Your divine plan. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.We passed an old-order Mennonite Church in rural Lancaster County yesterday on a route we don't normally drive.  This is a branch of Mennonites very similar to the Amish in that they use horse and buggie. However, distinct from the Amish who meet in homes, this group meets in simple frame churches with the men and boys on one side and women and girls on the other. They even use separate entrances. Note the covered enclosures for the horses in the background. This is one type of old-order church we have never visited but we have an invitation to do so from our friend Elvin.  A water pump provides drinking water and there are outside toilet facilities "Your Grace Is Sufficient" Video Shane and Shane A beautiful simply arranged song based on today's second text. "Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus" Video Casting Crowns "Little Is Much When God Is In It" Video Ernie Haas and Signature Sound. * Internet services ad mentioned in opening illustration Video "Dying Out Loud" Last night I watched an outstanding sermon of challenge and encouragement by Dr. George Wood. He ended with a remarkable testimony concerning Stan Steward which moved me greatly to the point of tears and I was scarcely able to sleep last night. I expect to use this testimony as an illustration in tomorrow's message. You can watch the entire service online in an archived video Link to service The start of the testimony is at 2:23 Homeless Church in San Francisco Gives To Missions Video I saw a video last night about a homeless church in San Francisco and thought I would share this video for a perspective as well as a reminder about the many ways people are trying to impact the world for Christ. Last week we shared a photo of Brooksyne playing a public piano in downtown Lancaster. An older reader replied: "I also like to play the piano downtown. Sometimes I get to play the one at the bus station when I'm between bus trips. I like to play hymns, knowing some will be recognized. One day I had enough time to play about everything I had memorized from childhood on! False Prophets: A Texan friend sent me this link on seven marks of a false teacher in response to the message on false prophets. Our friends Cerwin and Doris High traveled to Calgary Canada last month to deliver a TFC chapel and she managed to take a few photos! (photoblog) |
 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 8/6/13: $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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