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 A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Home About Us Archives Free email subscription  Listen to these messages  Text only for printing  See here for more info. <Previous Message · Archive edition Monday, March 17, 2014  Yesterday following our church service we stopped by some friends to see baby lambs, one set of triplets and one set of twins, born a few weeks ago. (Click on photo to enlarge) "The Good Shepherd" Listen to this message on your audio player."He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young" (Isaiah 40:11). "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." "I am the Good Shepherd...The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep" (John 10:9,11). Gentle Shepherd come and feed us for we need you to help us find our way Gentle Shepherd come and feed us for we need your strength from day to day  Yesterday morning Brooksyne taught Sunday School, grades 3 through 5 and expounded on one of Jesus' great "I Am" statements. He declared to His Jewish listeners, "I am the Good Shepherd" and proceeded to teach about the characteristics of a shepherd. She told the children a true story that took place 50 years ago about a "modern shepherd". We share it with you today:A lifesaving story unfolded on Washington's Mount Rainier when a dentist by the name of James Reddick wanted to teach his children, 12 year old Sharon and 11 year old David, the joys of mountain climbing. They set out to climb the mountain when suddenly a blinding white-out, hurricane-like storm emerged, battering them with wet sheets of snow. The father laboriously dug an oblong trench with his aluminum mess kit and tucked his children into sleeping bags away from the entrance covering the opening with a tarp. But the tarp kept blowing away so Reddick had to lie directly across the opening to hold the tarp edges down. Two days later searchers spotted the corner of a backpack protruding from a snow covered mount. They feverishly dug up the snow and inside the trench found Sharon and David alive. But their father's stiff body lay against one wall of the snow cave. He had "taken the cold spot" in one searcher's words, using his own back as the outer wall.  This dramatic story is representative of a modern shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep.The Bible frequently uses the metaphor of a shepherd and sheep to demonstrate people's relationship with God. In fact it begins as early as Genesis 49:24 and continues through the final book of Revelation 7:17. Of course the most beloved and comforting passage using this metaphor from the Old Testament is Psalm 23, "The Lord is My Shepherd". In the New Testament the most familiar passage is our Lord's words, "I am the Good Shepherd" (John 10:11).  In the Bible period a shepherd would build a temporary sheep pen by building a wall when staying overnight in distant pastureland. He'd leave an opening where the sheep could come and go and be safe. All that remained was the closing for the door, but there was no door. Somehow a door had to be provided in order for the sheep to dwell in security.A good shepherd, in caring for his flock, would simply lie down across the small opening. The shepherd became the door, and in this way the sheep remained inside and the wild beasts remained outside. Because the shepherd had become the door, there was nothing for the sheep to fear. Their protector and provider had guaranteed their protection from predators while also preventing them from wandering from the secure sheepfold and entering enemy territory.  Just like the shepherd willingly lays his life down for his sheep so also Jesus willingly laid down His life for us. He took on our adversary, the devil, who takes people captive for his own diabolical plans. But Jesus struck down the devil's scheme to enslave and devour us, and his plan for death and the grave. Because Jesus paid our sin debt and because He rose from the grave we have life triumphant here and now, and eternal glories forevermore.Jesus, our Good Shepherd, watches over us day in and day out. Let us be grateful, as sheep who follow their shepherd, fully dependent on Jesus and fully trusting His Word that He will accomplish that which He has promised concerning us. Like a father feeds his children Like a shepherd leads his flock The Lord will always guide us Show us where to walk And in times when we have plenty In times when we have not He is our Provider And His mercy never stops Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Great Shepherd of our souls, we look to You for guidance, wisdom, and protection. Just as a good shepherd would lay down his life to save his sheep You laid down Your life to save us from our sins. There is none in all the world who can save us for all eternity except You so we are fully indebted to You for giving Your all that we might experience abundant life here, now, and forevermore. Amen. Ester cuddling a lamb as well. I asked Jason about the writing on the barn but he didn't know what it said. Built in 1790, I could make that out, and I presume the writing above the date is German. Can any of our readers translate it for us? (Here's a larger view using our photo from above).  Last year we stopped by the same farm. Following our church service as we were visiting with friends in the foyer when Tirza (pictured) came up and excitedly informed us, "We have baby lambs!" I asked her if they were white and, misunderstanding me, she responded, "No, they don't bite".  "All of us, like sheep, have gone astray" (Isaiah 53:6)."The King of Love My Shepherd Is" We came upon these sheep who had clearly gone astray on Echo Valley Road here in Lancaster County PA on our way home from a church service several years ago. (They appear to be licking the freezing road surface, but they were likely licking salt that had been spread due to icy conditions. I'm surprised their tongue didn't get stuck!  A photo of baby lambs in Eastern Lancaster County.  Randi and Walter Waldvogel joined us for breakfast and fellowship on Saturday morning. They moved to Peach Bottom in southern Lancaster County nearly two years ago from Long Island, NY. The morning turned into early afternoon as we enjoyed our friendly visit and had many things in common. We welcome any of our daily encouragement readers to come for a visit when you're in our area. We've met so many wonderful people over the years and built lasting friendships through this wonderful medium. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Gentle Shepherd" Video Gaither Vocal Band "Savior Like A Shepherd Lead Us" Video Discover Singers "Like A Shepherd" Video Don Moen "He Leadeth Me" Video Marshall Hall "Saviour Like A Shepherd Lead Us (Blessed Jesus)" Video Leigh Nash Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne  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. 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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 2014 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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