"The Blessings of Integrity"

A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Home · About Us · · Podcast · Free email See here for more info. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive/print edition Friday, April 25, 2008 Our neighbor's male peacock, Jay Jay Showing off his vibrant colors during mating season. Listen to us share this message on your audio player. "The Blessings of Integrity" "At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent" (Daniel 6:4). Several weeks ago I was talking to Don, a friend of mine who runs a small plumbing business. Like many businesses his has had some struggles lately and he is seeking new business opportunities. He told me a story of going to a very wealthy home that had an expensive water heating system that the owner had noticed was rusting around the top. The owner called Don and was prepared to replace the system, which would have been a three thousand dollar job. But Don noted that the problem was a valve above the system that had been leaking and all that he needed to do was replace the valve to stop the leak and otherwise the water heating system was fine. He replaced the valve and the owner paid a fraction of the cost of a new system. As we were talking Don shared how "easy" it would have been to persuade the owner they needed a new system and in the process make a lot more money on the job. In fact he felt many of his competitors would have done just that. I want to write a word of encouragement today to those seeking to maintain integrity in their personal life and in their workplace. The daily verse speaks of the integrity of Daniel in his service in the secular world. Read the rest of the chapter and you will see that this very demonstration of character landed him in the lion's den. Similarly our commitment to character may be the actual cause of a trial or, as in the case of Don, making far less money on a job than we would have otherwise. It may be easier and more profitable in the short run to just go along with the downward flow. Many years earlier Daniel had developed this admirable character in his resolve to be faithful to God's commands (Daniel 1:8). In the long run and particularly having an eternal, God-centered perspective in view, we will be blessed as we maintain our character and integrity. We may see the fruit of our blessing on this side, or we may not. But we will certainly see them on the inside and on the other side. Let us resolve, in regard to the business of life, that we will act with integrity. Accept this promise today: "The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good man rewarded for his" (Proverbs 14:14). Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily Prayer: Father, I consider the extremely difficult choice Job made not to sin by charging You with wrongdoing. I consider Joseph who withstood tremendous temptation by resisting the seduction of Potiphar’s wife. And I consider Daniel who refused to stop the custom of praying to his Father in heaven though he knew it would land him in the lions’ den. These three, among scores of other godly brothers and sisters throughout the centuries, chose to do the right thing knowing that doing so would cause them great suffering, terrible injustice, or martyrdom. The ultimate example is Jesus, Your Son, who died in our stead though He was wholly innocent of sin. Help me not to look for that which is easy, quick, or that which will avoid consequence. I choose to deal with the consequence of obedience to You; whether or not it works out for my good in the short term. May my greatest concern be for that which works for my good internally and eternally. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen. Joe Sherer is a local pastor friend of ours. Several years ago he shared a very specific integrity checklist that he had prepared. He gives a lot of food for thought! Yesterday afternoon, and well into the night, they harvested the hay across the road from us. Then for several more hours we heard the loud hum of some type of machine that I assume was putting it into the silos even though they are over a mile away. This brought a recollection of my youth when I would work for local farmers in southern Missouri during hay time. At that time the baler would make small square bales and then we would pitch (buck) them up on a trailer or wagon and then load them into the barn. Several times I did this into the early morning and came home to my new bride tired to the bone. I don't suppose I could do that anymore! As we were on our walk last night Jason, our neighbor's son, met us on the trail riding on an old Ferguson tractor. We are blessed by the work ethic instilled in these young people. Daily Encouragement Net Reader Survey Please take a few minutes to help us improve this ministry by taking an online survey. Your response is completely anonymous. To take the survey click here. (Thanks to all of you who already took a few minutes to fill this survey out this week. I will compile the results and share them next week.) Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Give Us Clean Hands" Video "Man After Your Own Heart" Audio Kristian Walker and his wife Shannon are a couple located right here in central Pennsylvania with a music ministry. "Father" Video The Oslo Gospel Choir. I recently discovered this choir and sure appreciate their vibrant songs. I am also always blessed to see God at work in His people all over the world including Scandinavia. Please note: Observant readers who regularly use these music links may have noticed that I have been using more videos lately. Many place up songs on Youtube or Godtube along with PowerPoint type photos or video. Usually the sound is as good as an audio link. It is actually easier to find songs related to the message using the search engine on these sites than it was using previous methods. I have also been embedding these videos on a separate page on my site. Info about multi-media files used on daily encouragement. Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne.

Administration Information Stephen and Brooksyne Weber "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update Revised 04/15/08 Each weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. Would you please consider a financial offering to support us in this encouragement ministry? Donations are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by my chaplaincy endorsing ministry. Thanks! See here for details. (2008 YTD financial offerings through 4/24/2008 $5,210.00) Join: To receive these free "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. You can also subscribe to the rss feed. Cancel: To remove your address from this mailing list merely use the link automatically placed by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each message. Weekly Version: The weekly version is designed for those who do not check their email regularly. It is merely the Friday message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.) Please feel free to pass this message on! Our other blogs: "A Daily Prayer" - The daily prayer from each daily encouragement message. "A Little Foolishness" - A collection of humorous and satirical stories drawn mostly from our years of ministry, as well as my sometimes fertile imagination. "Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the church. Daily Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com Any orders placed to Christian Book Distributers using this link or any specific product link to a recommended resource in a daily encouragement message will help our Daily Encouragement ministry through a small commission on the sale. Thank you for using these links when purchasing online through CBD! 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. Used by permission; and the King James Version. © Copyright 2008 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation"

"Sowing Righteousness"

A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Home · About Us · · Podcast · Free email See here for more info. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive/print edition Thursday, April 24, 2008 Spring farm scene with Hosea 10:12 We view this farm at the end of our Kraybill Church Road (click to here to enlarge for desktop size) Listen to us share this message on your audio player. "Sowing Righteousness" "Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until He comes and showers righteousness on you" (Hosea 10:12). All across our area and throughout the northern hemisphere farmers are working the soil and preparing for seed-time. Yesterday my neighbor, Leon, was on a big John Deere tractor preparing his fields for planting. The equipment is sure different than they used in the Bible times or for that matter most of human history. The tools and technology may change but the basic fundamentals of planting remain the same. The daily verse from Hosea lists three verbs related to crop farming; sowing, reaping and breaking up. It's interesting to me that he doesn't list them in the order we would expect, that is break up, sow and reap. As I considered and studied this passage I believe there is a reason. "Sow for yourselves righteousness." In this case the interest is in personal or individual sowing which indicates a responsibility God has given to us regarding our own spiritual development and growth. Jesus reinforces this in His Sermon on the Mount when He states: "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). The latter part of our daily reminds us that "it is time to seek the LORD, until He comes and showers righteousness on you." It's always time to seek the Lord for "He rewards those who earnestly seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). "Reap the fruit of unfailing love." When farmers sow, regardless of how rewarding the sowing may be, they have a purpose and a goal in mind. They want to reap a bountiful harvest! I talked to my farming friend, Ken, this morning. He sowed corn yesterday and expressed that he enjoyed this aspect of planting mostly because, as he was sowing, he did so in confidence that he would reap an abundant harvest in September or October. As a result of sowing righteousness our spiritual harvest will be "the fruit of unfailing love." "Break up your unplowed ground." Our lives get kind of like hard soil. We need more than surface work; we need the Holy Spirit to do some heavy-duty renewing. Hosea uses the metaphor of "unplowed ground." Farmers know that a well-prepared field is essential to a good crop. Jesus taught in the Parable of the Sower about the seeds that fell on the hardened path. These seeds never had a chance to take root because the birds came and devoured them. Finally today I want to consider a reason Hosea may have placed these three elements of planting in the order he chose. In a sense we need to work the soil in an ongoing way so that we keep our hearts soft and receptive to God's truth. It's a cycle that continues all through life since there are many ungodly forces at work in the changing seasons of our lives that contribute to spiritual hardness. Today let’s allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives as we break up our unplowed ground, as we sow seeds of righteousness and as we enjoy the harvest of Your unfailing love! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Lord, I confess to You that my heart can easily become like unplowed ground. Destructive attitudes that I justify rather than repent of remain in my heart and cause me to be hardened toward You and others that I love. I invite the work of Your Holy Spirit to cleanse, renew and refresh me as I yield my heart to the searchlight of Your Word. As I seek You, Lord, You will come and shower Your righteousness and blessing upon my life as the fruit of Your unfailing love flows out to those around me. Amen. Today around 10:00 AM I was blessed (particularly in light of today's message) as they began to sow the corn across the road from us. The corn planter sows 12 rows at a time. Daily Encouragement Net Reader Survey Please take a few minutes to help us improve this ministry by taking an online survey. Your response is completely anonymous. To take the survey click here. (Thanks to all of you who already took a few minutes to fill this survey out the last several days. I will leave this survey request up through the week and compile the results and share them next week.) Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Field Of Souls" Video As I prepared today's message and consider the work of the farmer there's a great analogy in a song titled "Field of Souls" that I enjoy by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Today's version is by Verne Phifer. "My Tribute" Video This song is not necessarily related to today's message but I came across this group that I really enjoy, the Oslo Gospel Choir and this song was sung at our wedding in 1976. "The John Deere Tractor Song" Any time I use a farm illustration I like to share the link to the John Deere tractor song which I dedicate today to John Zimmerman, a friend and faithful reader who really, really likes it. Audio When Brooksyne heard me place this up again (she edits the message while I work the html) she said, "You're not going play that again are you?" I said "I sure am!" She said, "My dad must be smiling from heaven." Her dad, Brooklyn Sherrell, owned many tractors and I recall going to tractor auctions with him in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. "Jesus Parable Of The Harvest Field" Video Here's a very creative use of video to illustrate a parable of Jesus. Somebody put a lot of time into this! Please note: Observant readers who regularly use these music links may have noticed that I have been using more videos lately. Many place up songs on Youtube or Godtube along with photos or video. Usually the sound is as good as an audio link. It is actually easier to find related songs using the search engine on these sites than it was using previous methods. I have also been embedding these videos on a separate page on my site. Info about multi-media files used on daily encouragement. Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne.

Administration Information Stephen and Brooksyne Weber "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update Revised 04/15/08 Each weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. Would you please consider a financial offering to support us in this encouragement ministry? Donations are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by my chaplaincy endorsing ministry. Thanks! See here for details. (2008 YTD financial offerings through 4/20/2008 $5,210.00) Join: To receive these free "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. You can also subscribe to the rss feed. Cancel: To remove your address from this mailing list merely use the link automatically placed by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each message. Weekly Version: The weekly version is designed for those who do not check their email regularly. It is merely the Friday message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.) Please feel free to pass this message on! Our other blogs: "A Daily Prayer" - The daily prayer from each daily encouragement message. "A Little Foolishness" - A collection of humorous and satirical stories drawn mostly from our years of ministry, as well as my sometimes fertile imagination. "Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the church. Daily Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com Any orders placed to Christian Book Distributers using this link or any specific product link to a recommended resource in a daily encouragement message will help our Daily Encouragement ministry through a small commission on the sale. Thank you for using these links when purchasing online through CBD! 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. Used by permission; and the King James Version. © Copyright 2008 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation"

"Fish Story"

A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Home · About Us · · Podcast · Free email See here for more info. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive/print edition Wednesday, April 23, 2008 Rick Steudler, with a Palomino Trout, caught in Pine Creek PA Listen to us share this message on your audio player. "Fish Story" "Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn" (John 21:11). It seems anyone who likes to fish enjoys telling about their fishing adventures. Last week Brooksyne and I were enjoying lunch with our friend, Rick Steudler, and he shared about his recent fishing expedition. He pulled out the above photo and told us about the size of his amazing catch (6#10oz, 24.5".) He was conveniently carrying the fish photo in his front shirt pocket. He excitedly recounted his trout fishing experience in northern Pennsylvania the first day of fishing season. In fishing stories we're very specific about how big they were, how many fish we caught, and details about the catch. And, by all means, we must get a photo of ourselves holding the largest fish! If we have email we can then send it to our friends like my friend, Bill Mosebarger, in northern PA does. We men especially like to tell our stories and share photos from our prizewinning catch of fish. Wives pull out photos of their children and grandchildren while men pull out photos of their fish, turkey or deer. The fish story recorded in today's text took place sometime during the forty day period after Christ was resurrected and before His ascension back to heaven. It is one of twelve specific post-resurrection appearances by the risen Lord recorded in the Scriptures. Seven of the disciples led by the experienced fisherman, Peter, had gone fishing overnight and caught nothing. I know many will state, “I just enjoy going fishing whether I catch anything or not” but I believe most fishermen really want to catch fish, the bigger the better! The next morning Jesus saw them from the shore and shouted out some good fishing advice. They wisely followed his instructions which resulted in so many fish they were unable to haul the net in. They went on to join Jesus for the first recorded men's breakfast. They enjoyed a good meal together as Jesus shared some powerful teaching with them. But I always enjoy a detail in this story that's part of any real fish story. Peter had jumped into the water and trudged in to meet the Lord. Then he went back to the boat to assist the other disciples in getting the catch in. John, who wrote this account, was one of the disciples on the boat and shares this authenticating detail: "It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn." We have a description of the catch (full of large fish), specific number (153) and an interesting detail (even with so many the net was not torn). I am glad, in the providence of God, that this story is in the Bible. It's a great picture of the way God meets all of our needs. Physically, the disciples were nurtured by the fish and bread Jesus prepared over the fire of burning coals. Socially, they enjoyed the fellowship of one another as they talked about their miraculous catch over a warm breakfast. Financially, Jesus filled the net so full of large fish that the disciples could not even haul it in; it had to be towed by boat. (Their wives would likely be treated to a “meal out” that evening.) Spiritually, the disciples learned that obedience to the Lord’s instruction brought about great reward. It also laid groundwork for the important truths Jesus taught following their breakfast. Not everyone reading our message today goes to a stream, river, lake or the ocean to catch fish. But we are all called to be fishers of men. Let’s cast out our faith in the sea of life and pray for a good catch of men and women, boys and girls who will decidedly follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Now that’s a great story to share with others around the dinner table! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily Prayer: Jesus, we’re reminded of Your watchful eye as we go about our daily routine. As the fishermen needed a catch of fish You met their need, over and above what they could have anticipated. Help us to listen to Your wise instruction, walk faithfully in Your righteous paths, and trust You to meet everyone of our needs; physically, spiritually, socially, and financially. We thank You in advance for interceding to the Father on our behalf and supplying all our needs. Amen. Today's fish story is found in John 21:1-14 It is interesting that the cross was not adopted as a symbol of Christianity until long after the death of Jesus. In the early church age the symbol previously most used was the fish. Christians used the sign of the fish as a secret sign for a long time before the cross came into general usage. When two travelers would meet on a path, one would take his staff and draw an arc in the dirt, if the other responded with an opposite arc drawn through the previous one, then they both knew where each other's faith stood. My fish picture is not as dramatic as Rick's. This is a striped bass I caught last year on Chesapeake Bay. Yesterday in a field along our walk we saw these large machines cutting the hay and raking it into windrows in one step. Here's a closeup photo of the machine from the John Deere site. Two were working the field at the same time. They were extremely fast and manuevered the tractors like a zero-turn lawn mower. I greeted the drivers after they were done and asked them some questions and commented "It sure looks like your were having a good time!" Daily Encouragement Net Reader Survey Please take a few minutes to help us improve this ministry by taking an online survey. Your response is completely anonymous. To take the survey click here. (Thanks to all of you who already took a few minutes to fill this survey out the last several days. I will leave the survey up through the week and compile the results and share next week.) Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources Finding songs specifically related to today's theme is a bit difficult but here are several interesting videos. "Fishers Of Men" Video A neat acapella bluegrass song with outstanding vocals and great pictures. Turn your volume up if you can and sing along! "Come And Dine" Video (second song) This song brings back memories of my early years in pastoring when I met with a group of other pastors monthly and we had lunch following our meeting. Our leader, Pastor David Selleck, always had us sing this song as we prepared to eat! "Sing To The King" Video Finally for our reader's praise and worship edification today here's a sing we sang in our church this last Sunday that Brooksyne and I really enjoy. Info about multi-media files used on daily encouragement. Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne.

Administration Information Stephen and Brooksyne Weber "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update Revised 04/15/08 Each weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. Would you please consider a financial offering to support us in this encouragement ministry? Donations are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by my chaplaincy endorsing ministry. Thanks! See here for details. (2008 YTD financial offerings through 4/20/2008 $5,210.00) Join: To receive these free "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. You can also subscribe to the rss feed. Cancel: To remove your address from this mailing list merely use the link automatically placed by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each message. Weekly Version: The weekly version is designed for those who do not check their email regularly. It is merely the Friday message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.) Please feel free to pass this message on! Our other blogs: "A Daily Prayer" - The daily prayer from each daily encouragement message. "A Little Foolishness" - A collection of humorous and satirical stories drawn mostly from our years of ministry, as well as my sometimes fertile imagination. "Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the church. Daily Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com Any orders placed to Christian Book Distributers using this link or any specific product link to a recommended resource in a daily encouragement message will help our Daily Encouragement ministry through a small commission on the sale. Thank you for using these links when purchasing online through CBD! 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. Used by permission; and the King James Version. © Copyright 2008 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation"