A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement. Having trouble reading this message?
Read mobile edition online
 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 Follow Daily Encouragement on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn     See here for more info. <Previous Message · Archive edition Thursday, October 16, 2014 Listen to this message on your audio player."Treasuring God's Word" "Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You" (Psalm 119:11).  In the course of our ministry at Longwood Manor we enjoy visiting with 90+ year old Warren who gets around using a walker with a tray mounted in front to carry his items, among which are Christian literature and his Bible. Then I picture my visits with Quintin, now retired, who was the president of a large corporation based here in Lancaster County. He had a Bible prominently placed on his desk as an expression of his faith. I can also envision a young man who carries a New Testament in his front shirt pocket in the same place many carry a pack of cigarettes.This last weekend we had a visit from Sherry Hoffman, who served for several years as the secretary in a church I pastored in northern Pennsylvania. We gave her the parting gift of a Bible before we left in 1993 which she still has. She has a practice of saving notes, devotional booklets and other supplementary scriptural writings in her Bible and it is now 4 or 5 times thicker than the original. I am amazed that the binding holds up! Sherry certainly treasures her Bible! Holy Bible, Book divine, Precious treasure, thou art mine; Mine to tell me whence I came; Mine to teach me what I am. Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible and is focused on the value and power of God's Word. In fact each of the 176 verses has some reference to the Word using various synonyms such as commands, precepts, laws, decrees, promises, and so forth.  Today let us examine just the first phrase in Psalm 119:11. "Your Word I have treasured in my heart." The spiritual discipline of treasuring God's Word is an element greatly lacking among so many today. The Word is the sacred Scriptures and although we use our minds to read and absorb, we need to treasure it deep within our hearts. When we face temptation or discouragement; when we experience loss or need direction; when we want Biblical role models we can call to mind pertinent Scriptures, many which we have stored up in our hearts.  1) Treasuring God's Word begins with regular reading of the sacred text. Of preeminent importance is the text itself. This is a lifelong practice, for God's Word is an inexhaustible treasure of spiritual wisdom. Paul indicated this when he wrote to Timothy, "How from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures" (2 Timothy 3:15). In the very next chapter in his final written words Paul asks Timothy "to bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments" (2 Timothy 4:13). D. Edmond Hiebert writes, "Even as an old man facing certain death, the apostle has not lost his interest for study and mental pursuits. It presents a standing challenge to the minister to be an indefatigable student, especially of the Word of God."Mine to chide me when I rove; Mine to show a Savior’s love; Mine thou art to guide and guard; Mine to punish or reward. 2) Treasuring God's Word surely includes the study of the sacred text. There are many wonderful supplemental resources that are helpful and a blessing as we study the Bible such as devotional booklets, study guides, notes in study Bibles and so forth. The serious Bible student must be very careful to use these tools only as a supplement, never a replacement. Each morning as Brooksyne and I pray over these daily encouragement messages we pray that the various components would be a blessing; our stories, exposition, photos, personal reflections and music links. But we realize the most important element is the Scripture text itself. Above all else read the Scripture. I also caution you about glossing over the familiar ones! Reviewing that which is familiar can bring fresh insight or reinforce that which you already know to be true. It may even stir up praise as You've seen how God has implemented its teaching into your life. Peter writes, "So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body... And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things" (I Peter 1:12-15).  3) Treasuring God's Word includes meditating on it after the example of David, who wrote in Psalm 1 concerning the blessed man, "But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night." In my understanding meditation is taking a single verse or small portion of Scripture and thoughtfully pondering and considering it, turning it around over and over in the mind. Jim Gambini, my former pastor, used the phrase "masticating", which is the technical term meaning "to chew" much like dairy cows and other ruminating animals chew their cud. Contented dairy cows can chew their cud eight hours a day totaling 30,000 chews daily. Now, if we could turn God's Word over and over in our minds throughout the day I believe we'd have a lot more victory. Joy would replace our complaining and it would certainly spill out to those around us!Mine to comfort in distress; Suffering in this wilderness; Mine to show, by living faith, Man can triumph over death. 4) Treasuring God's Word should include memorization. That's hard for many and frankly for me it has gotten harder as I grow older. We may have different giftings in this regard but I challenge each reader to at least memorize the Scripture that is your life's verse. Early in my pastoral ministry I memorized many Scripture verses which are deeply hidden in my heart to this day. My life verse and the final challenge in today's message is, "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58). 5) Finally treasuring God's Word is evidenced by a diligent, lifelong pursuit of application and obedience. At the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount Christ taught of those who hear His words and "acts on them" (NASV), "does them" (ESV), "puts them into practice" (NIV) would be like a man who built his house on the rock. (Matthew 7:24). Mine to tell of joys to come, And the rebel sinner’s doom; O thou holy Book divine, Precious treasure, thou art mine. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You. Direct me in the path of Your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to Your Word. Let me live that I may praise You and may Your laws sustain me. My heart is set on keeping Your decrees to the very end. Amen.(Prayer based on verses from Psalm 119) Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Ancient Words" Video Michael W. Smith "Speak, O Lord" Video Keith & Kristyn Getty "How Firm A Foundation" Video Chelsea Moon with the Franz Brothers We were unable to locate a singing version of today's hymn "Holy Bible, Book Divine", which we quoted throughout the message. Yesterday's photo of a Scripture verse in a store was 1 Peter 2:9 Finally today:  Our friend Mike Martin shared this photo of him beside 91 year old Jesse Dourte at the small gathering I (Brooksyne) hosted on Sunday for Stephen. Jesse was outfitted like a Kansan since he pastored there many years ago. Brooksyne invited anyone who wished to come in western wear so Jesse decided this might be the only time he'd wear his western gear again. I think he looks purdy good and it took me back to my Oklahoma roots to see him dressed in western wear just like my dad and brother did for so many years. 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. 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.2014 YTD offerings to Daily Encouragement Net: $9,638.00 SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION  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. Your answers are anonymous and I we are unable to respond. If you want to send a personal message use the 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 |
Daily Encouragement is issued Monday-Friday. To make sure you continue to receive these e-mails in your Inbox (so they're not sent to a junk folder), please add scweber@dailyencouragement.net to your address book or safe sender list. You are receiving these recurring messages as a subscriber to Daily Encouragement Net because you signed up on our website or otherwise requested it unless someone forwarded the message to you. If you desire to unsubscribe use the link below. However, please do not use this link unless your address is the subscribed address below as you will otherwise unsubscribe the person who forwarded it to you!
| You are currently subscribed to dailyencouragement as: stephencweber.dailyencouragement@blogger.com Add scweber@dailyencouragement.net to your email address book to ensure delivery. |
Forward to a Friend | Manage Subscription | Subscribe | Unsubscribe | Snooze |
