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 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. Monday, December 2, 2013  Sheerlund Forest tree farm near Reading, PA (Photo by our friend Mike Martin) "Lessons From Manna"  Listen to this message on your audio player. "The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan" (Joshua 5:12). "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11).  The process includes slicing squash and pumpkins in half (Stephen's contribution), digging out the stringy pulp and seeds (Jesse's contribution), baking them until the pulp (meat) can easily be pierced, scooping the meat out (Wilma's contribution), pureeing meat in the food processor and then scooping into freezer bags (Brooksyne's). We made about 35 batches of 15 oz bags (same weight as canned pumpkin in stores)! It's a lot of work but inexpensive and handy all through the year. If you come for a visit to the Webers you're likely to get pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin cake, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin spaghetti (kidding) - you name it, it's coming up pumpkin! I wonder if that's how the children of Israel felt when all around them manna rained down from heaven! God miraculously provided the manna during the wanderings of the children of Israel in the wilderness for 40 years. At first it was seen as an incredible miracle; a rather fascinating, labor free way to receive daily bread and it "tasted like wafers made with honey" (Exodus 16:31). But over time it became a source of discontent and grumbling (Numbers 11:6). Isn't that the way we so often are concerning God's blessings? Many in the younger generation merely took the manna for granted as they had grown up with this miraculous provision since birth. They had acquired no taste for other varieties of food so they didn't necessarily realize what they were missing. They probably just thought that's how food was always provided. But when our daily text was written the people had crossed over to the Promised Land and were then instructed to eat from provisions of the land. The next morning, for the first time in forty years, the daily provision of manna no longer rained down from heaven. The provision of manna was miraculous, for a specific reason and particular season. The reason is they were unable to stay in one place and cultivate any land, the season was their 40 years of aimless wandering. But when they entered the Promised Land and settled down it was a time when God knew the people could return to the normal means of provision as "they ate of the produce of Canaan."  But the norm is that humans cooperate with God in working to prepare our food; from the hardworking farmer, the trucking industry, food processing plants, and our grocery stores. As I reflect upon my life I realize in one way or another I have worked in each of these fields. My first job was at a Kroger Supermarket in Independence, MO. While in college and early in our marriage I did both farm work and drove a truck. In the course of our chaplaincy work I have served at food processing plants like Turkey Hill Dairy, Herr's Snack Foods and Martin's Bakery. A common prayer is that God would bless the hands of those who prepare our food but also consider the preparation that begins way back on the farm and through each step of the process till it graces our table. Bless those hard working laborers as well in your prayers and thank them personally when you see them! Consider His care in your life today. Jesus taught us in the Lord's Prayer to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread." God is our Provider and desires our dependence on Him as an expression of faith. But in His ordained order He has designed our cooperation in working and demonstrating responsibility. In God's timing and in accordance with His specific plan for our lives He could send manna (miraculous provision). But unless provision is supplied in this manner He has ordained that we work to provide for ourselves and others in our charge. Surely the ceasing of what had become routine was just as mysterious to the people as the initial provision, but God was in control. He still is and He always will be! Be encouraged, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, we're reminded of Your absolute faithfulness as we reflect upon the Israelites journeying in the wilderness. Even when they were unfaithful and rebellious, in Your compassionate faithfulness, You provided for their daily needs. Your steadfast love never ceased and Your mercies never came to an end, for they were renewed everyday and are this day as well. All we have need of Your hand provides. Help us to do our part in receiving it with thanksgiving and being careful not to waste, but to share with those in genuine need. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. The account of God providing manna is found in Exodus 16. In reading over the passage this morning I also noticed something I suppose I have never considered. God provided precise portion control! ESTER'S HEALTH UPDATE: As mentioned in previous messages Ester is using oxygen at home since her release from the hospital on Nov. 25th. Her oxygen saturation is 80% as a general rule (even with one liter oxygen). We return to her cardiologist's clinic today for a follow-up, echocardiogram, and pacer testing. Also we'll discuss her future heart catheterization needed to improve her oxygen saturation. She's been in good spirits and has been a good example to us, as she has endured much pain through this entire process, and has rarely complained.  Jesse and Wilma along with some of the produce we processed. The butternut squash was grown by our Amish neighbors up the street.  The front of our church beautifully decorated for the Christmas season.  Brooksyne and Ester attended a David Phelps concert last night in Lancaster. An early Christmas present for Ester - she was so excited. Throughout her entire health ordeal she has played his music over and over and received strength and encouragement from the words he sings in addition to his outstanding tenor voice, truly a gift from God. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" Video David Phelps Ester and I heard this last night - it was beautiful and stirring at the same time. "End Of The Beginning" Video David Phelps This is the song that Ester plays continuously and never wearies of it. Unfortunately he didn't sing it last night though it too fits in well with the Christmas message. "No More Night" Video David Phelps (Stephen's favorite David Phelps song) Finally today:  This large neck pumpkin (rather distinct in the Lancaster County area) fits around my neck like a heavy yoke! Brooksyne prefers neck pumpkin to the round jack-o-lantern type because there is much more pulp, less juice and fewer pulp waste and seeds to contend with (though you may be one who likes to roast pumpkin seeds). This pumpkin weighed about 18#. |
 Stephen and Brooksyne Weber (Click on photo to enlarge) About Us "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 10/21/13)  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 12/01/13: $17,934.00 If this email was forwarded 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   Endorsed chaplain "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" www.dailyencouragement.net |
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