Daily Encouragement: October 2007

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

"Go Light Your World!"

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Wednesday, October 31, 2007

This beautiful tree-lined drive leading to an old farmouse is just around the corner. The splattering fall colors of foliage seem so inviting for a stroll down the country lane!

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"Go Light Your World!"

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them" (Ephesians 5:8-11).

We had some interesting ministry experiences when we lived in New England. Brooksyne was teaching a group of children about this time of year in 1999 and a little girl who was visiting her class proudly declared that her aunt was a witch. My wife sought to deal with the situation with sensitivity since the "witch" was a family member. And yet she didn't want to miss an opportunity God provided for her to give proper instruction to this impressionable child. Appealing to the Holy Spirit to help her "speak the truth in love" she disclosed the Biblical teaching on this subject. Interestingly, the little girl was insistent that her aunt was a "good" witch.

Such are the fruits of the Biblical illiteracy and moral confusion that abounds in our land with children and adults. I find it astounding how the celebration of Halloween has grown in my lifetime and by some accounts is second only to Christmas for retail sales. Some yards have eerie displays rivaling in magnitude to those at Christmas time.

Jon Eisenberg is a friend of mine who serves in campus ministry here in South Central Pennsylvania with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. We were sharing together about the various ways God is using campus ministries to reach young people. However, he shared something that really struck me and reminded me of the spread of darkness. He claimed that the fastest growing campus religion presence was the Wiccans.*

Regarding this matter the Bible is very clear: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead" (Deuteronomy 18:10,11). There are no "good" witches. Evil and good are not compatible companions but rather contrasting foes. We cannot dabble in darkness and still live in the light.

The radiant light of God's Holy Word exposes and dispels darkness. When God's servants live as children of light, darkness is dissipated. All of us, in one way or another, are exposed to deeds of darkness or people who have chosen to walk in darkness. We are called to let our light shine and, by God's grace and through His might, we want to shine brightly to expose and then dispel the darkness!

The daily text says we were once darkness but are now light in the Lord and thus we are to live as children of light. We are to have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. At this time when crusaders of darkness are especially applauded, let us hear the resounding call God has placed upon our lives to "live as children of light!"

There is a candle in every soul
Some brightly burning, some dark and cold
There is a Spirit who brings a fire
Ignites a candle and makes His home

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily Prayer: Jesus, You are the Light of the world. And because You reside in our hearts we are a reflection of Your holy light. The world we live in is dark and growing even darker as Satan's sinister and deceitful schemes are being played out. Help us not to look away when darkness is spreading lest the darkness overshadow us in time. Instead would You empower us through the light of Your Holy Spirit to shine in a wicked and decadent society. We come against the darkness by speaking against wickedness in all forms. And, Lord, help us to be consistent not only in what we speak but the manner in which we live. May the fruit of light be evident in all we do. In Your name, Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Hope Winchoba with Ester

I always liked John's shed in the background with his buoy collection.
One of my great memories was quahogging with John in the bay.
(Quahog is a type of clam!)

Last night we called Hope Winchoba, a long-time member of the church we served in New England. Hope is eighty-eight now but still lives in the little home she and her late husband John built years ago on West Island, out in the Atlantic off the coast. John went to be with the Lord in 1999 shortly before we left that area. They were a dear couple; steady, solid, supportive even to a younger minister who likely did things a bit or at times a lot different than they were accustomed to. We enjoyed driving down for pastoral visits and I will never forget the last time I saw John as he prepared for his departure. Faithful to the end.

As a little girl Hope was in the very first service the church had in 1928. Amazingly she still remembers the service, what she wore and several of the people who were there. She is a direct descendent of two family lines from the Mayflower voyage in 1620.

Last year I shared an encouragement about an experience John and Hope had while on vacation years ago in England.

Today's suggested music:
"Go Light Your World"
(Video) Moving song and graphics. Appears to be a mission team to a Latin American country
(Video) A great job by some college students. Choral sounds great!
"Light Your World"
(Video) I thought of Hope as I watched this video.

* Wiccan is a neopagan, earth-centered religion associated with witchcraft.

George is an employee in one of our chaplain service companies. Yesterday they had an employee luncheon and requested funny hats. I was startled when I looked up and saw George with this makeshift hat!
(Look closely to see a huge clamp over his hat. Perhaps he needed the vice to keep his head together.)

Today I posted some more bloopers to our humor blog. I found these last night while cleaning out some files in my office. Brooksyne sure laughed as she typed them! They really may be the funniest yet. It's sure easy to see how they could happen. Read them here.

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Stephen and Brooksyne

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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.

"A Little Foolishness" I invite daily encouragement readers to visit our new blog which is a collection of humorous and satirical stories drawn mostly from our years of ministry, as well as my sometimes fertile imagination. We also welcome submissions from readers.

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Tuesday, October 30, 2007

"Eternity"

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Tuesday, October 30, 2007

(Photo by Doris High)

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"Eternity"

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end" (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Many of you will recall an old children's song that's on my heart today.

I am a C (pronouncing capital letters)
I am a C-H
I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N
And I have C-H-R-I-S-T
In my H-E-A-R-T
and I will L-I-V-E E-T-E-R-N-A-L-L-Y!
(Of course you speed it up each time you sing a round!)

In my lifetime I have been to many thousands of church services and other meetings.. I specifically recall only a few of them but realize all exposure to truth has been extremely beneficial as it has helped to shape my attitude and understanding of who God is.

When I was a young Christian in high school I recall attending a church service and singing "Amazing Grace." When the song leader got to the final verse which states, "When we've been there ten thousand years" he stopped the musicians and instructed the church to replace the number "thousand" with "million." So we sang the song "When we've been there ten million years." I've also suggested we do this at times in churches I have pastored and it intrigues me that regardless of whatever number replaces "thousand" it's still true! That's the nature of eternity.

The daily verse states that "He (God) has set eternity in the hearts of men." Frankly I am not sure what all this means but man certainly does have a sense of history past. We also have a sense of eternity future. As believers we sense that this temporal life is but a short moment within the span of our eternal existence.

Perhaps my first sense of teaching on eternity was in this children's song when we sang "I will L-I-V-E E-T-E-R-N-A-L-L-Y." I recall as a little boy sitting out under the stars, looking up and considering eternity. Very early this morning I was out for a walk and looked up to those very same stars on a very clear and cold night sky.

Today we may have many issues that trouble us. There seems to be so much uncertainty and division in the world. We continue to live under the specter of terror. Consider God's love for you and recognize that we just "cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Indeed His blessings are unfathomable!

When we've been there ten million years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first begun!

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily Prayer: Jesus, You are Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. Your existence spans eternity for You always have been and always will be. At Your appointed hour and because of Your generous act of redemption, our bodies will no longer be clothed in flesh, but will take on immortality that exists for all eternity future. Our days will be unending, our sorrows cease to exist, and our joy will know no bounds. We hold onto this present promise as we await its future fulfillment. Amen.

Today's suggested music:
Amazing Grace:
Chris Tomlin (along with "My Chains are Gone") (Audio) (Video)
Bagpipes (Video)
"Everlasting God" (Audio)

Now if you want, you can sing along with this one!

Note about music used on Daily Encouragement: Unless noted these are merely files found on the web using search engines. These files are not on the Daily Encouragement Net website. We seek music that we feel reinforces the message. Many of the links tend to be to more contemporary music since quality audio files of hymns and older music tends to be sparse. However we do enjoy both types of music. Many church websites are now placing audio files of music sung in their church. We are also increasingly using video files since many are placing music up along with a visual background. These audio and video files will work on most computers but may require a high speed internet connection. The main resource we use is the AV search engine which allows searches limited to audio files. We also have quite a collection of sites that have quality audio files.

Today's photo is from our friend Doris High's extensive website photo collection. Check out her incredible use of photos to communicate a message.

Send an email message to Stephen and Brooksyne

Administration Information

Stephen and Brooksyne

"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!"

Personal Ministry Update
We share our hearts with you as we go forth in this online ministry.

Daily Encouragement Net
495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552
Contact us

"Living securely today anchored
in God's solid foundation"

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Monday, October 29, 2007

"We're All Winners!"

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Monday, October 29, 2007

Victory Celebration

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"We're All Winners!"

"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" (1 Corinthians 15:57). "In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37).

Did your team win last night? (I realize I am writing for only a segment of readers, most who live here in the US and follow baseball.) The final game in a world series demonstrates "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat." Having lived in New England for 7½ years Brooksyne, Ester and I were rooting for Boston. Ester was so excited about "our" team going to the World Series she decorated our family room in Red Sox colors and invited friends over to watch the game. The winning score turned out to be in our favor, but we have also felt the agonizing emotions that result from a defeat similar to what the players and fans must presently be feeling in Colorado.

As we prepare these encouragement messages each weekday morning we want them to touch and "connect" with readers all around the world. Sometimes that's quite a challenge! I hesitate to use illustrations that may not be familiar or of any interest to a number of readers, but today allow me to express my interest in sports, both as a participant in my younger days and now primarily as a spectator. I particularly appeal to the sport of baseball, but what I write would apply to most any sport and certainly applies to this great spiritual contest of which we are all participants.

One of the great sports scenes I've enjoyed since my childhood is when a winning team gathers on the field to celebrate after winning a championship game. Of course it's all the more meaningful if it's "my" team but I can even get into the emotion when it's not. Today's photo (which I didn't take of course) shows the joyous celebration after the Red Sox victory very early this morning.

I'm glad the Bible declares that those of us who serve Christ are all winners. Your role in service for God may be quite visible or you may work quietly behind the scenes as you utilize your gifts for God. No matter what position you serve in the body of Christ you will face the inevitable moments of discouragement and disappointment. Hold onto this extremely important truth Paul writes about in Romans 8 that "we are more than conquerors through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Whether we are a sports fan or not, those of us who are in Christ have a future celebration that makes any earthly celebration miniscule in comparison. Imagine with me the scene of our future reunion in heaven; when we see the Lord, our loved ones, and believers from every region of the globe and from every generation. No longer will language or age differences be a barrier to our communicating with one another from other lands or historical settings. I expect that to be quite an emotional time!

I just can't envision catching the first sight of my mom, who went to be with the Lord two years ago, and merely greeting her with a detached, "Well, it's nice to see you again, Mom." No, I think my mom and I will have quite a time of ecstatic rejoicing. It might be a little like the celebration on a field following an athletic victory. But among the major differences is that our spiritual victory is not just for one season but for all eternity and our defeat over sin is much more significant than a sporting contest.

The two daily verses compliment each other. Both have a similar underlying Greek word that is very familiar to those who enjoy sports. That word is "nikos." The popular sports shoe company, Nike, is based on this word.

In the first daily text the word is simply translated "victory." In the second verse it's a part of the wonderful Greek compound word "hupernikomen" which means "to be more than a conqueror, to gain a surpassing victory." Many of you who know us personally may recall that I taught Ester to use this word to describe herself in the overcomings she has experienced as a heart patient. Even as a small girl I would invite her to come to the front of the church and ask, "Ester, what are you?" Without hesitation she would say in a rather grown up way, "I'm a hupernikomen!" Of course no one in the congregation had any idea what she said until I would then ask, "What does that mean?" She would respond, with a big smile, "I'm an overcomer!"

I'm sure glad to be on God's team today. Yes, there are setbacks and apparent losses in this great spiritual contest. Some of you reading this today are in the midst of such a situation. You may be discouraged, overwhelmed, or you may even feel defeated.

But God's Word says, "He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" and "in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." Let this truth bless you today as you consider our ultimate lasting victory!

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily Prayer: Jesus, none of the celebrations we've attended compare with the overwhelming joy we'll feel at the ultimate victory party in heaven. We'll rejoice with the saints from all generations telling of the marvelous saving and sustaining power of Christ. We look forward to sharing stories about the times we faced trouble, hardship, persecution or danger and the special way that You ministered to us through those difficulties. We'll celebrate the overwhelming victory You gave us over all the difficult circumstances of our lives. We're not there yet, so help us to keep on keeping on, until that glorious day! It is in Your matchless name, Jesus, that we pray, Amen.

Saturday night a friend invited us to a dinner with his Sunday School class at an Amish farm. It was a wonderful experience with a great meal and fellowship with many whom we had never met before, several who read this message daily. Interestingly we sat by two other couples who were married in 1976 as we were. The Amish home of Abner and Mary Stoltsfuz can seat up to 60 for a dinner. How many of you can do that in your house!

We liked this scene with the dairy barn in the background.

I was visiting with a friend who drives a propane truck, which I also did way back in my college years in the Springfield Missouri area. I snapped this photo of our cat "Coon" peering out of a hole in the cover of a propane tank!

Today's suggested music:
"Victory In Jesus" (Audio) Nice local church medley!
"Ancient Words" (Video) Actually I am not sure how this song necessarily relates to today's message but we sang it yesterday in church and it really ministered to me.
"Ancient Words" (Audio) A local church version.

Yesterday prior to Sunday School our pastor asked Brooksyne to say a prayer for church leadership. I watched through Sunday School and early in the service as she wrote out the prayer on the back of a bulletin. I was blessed as she shared it following the pastor's sermon and feel you may be as well. Some may be able to use it as a model for a similar prayer in your church.

Prayer for Church Leadership

Father, I lift up to You these servant leaders who serve our congregation. They have impacted our lives in great measure by their instruction, example, and testimony.

You have called these servant leaders to come alongside our pastor and support him in prayer and service as they also serve our family of believers, much like You spoke to Aaron and Hur to hold up Moses' arms during Israel's battle with the Amalekites.

Paul writes, "Now it is written that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." Micah writes about the requirements You make of each one of us "to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God."

We pray that You would encourage, affirm, and strengthen our leaders who give freely of their time, resources, and gifts for the building up of the Body of Christ and specifically our congregation.

Help us to do our part in praying for them and implementing our gifts to help strengthen the body. May we be quick to pray and slow to criticize so that we remain united with the major purpose of the expanding the Gospel.

For those who have been inflicted by the wounds of others grant them resilience as they bury themselves in Your Holy Word that gives healing, godly instruction, and spiritual strengthening.

Help our leaders to remain strong in times of temptation and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this evil age.

As they seek You above all, help them to model Christian commitment and godly virtue in their homes, the church, and their circle of influence.

Amen.

Send an email message to Stephen and Brooksyne

Administration Information

Stephen and Brooksyne

"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!"

Personal Ministry Update
We share our hearts with you as we go forth in this online ministry.

Daily Encouragement Net
495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552
Contact us

"Living securely today anchored
in God's solid foundation"

www.dailyencouragement.net

Friday, October 26, 2007

"Fear Not"

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Friday, October 26, 2007

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"Fear Not"

After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward" (Genesis 15:1). "Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death" (Revelation 1:17,18).

One of the great sources of fulfillment as a father is when our child comes and says, "I'm afraid Daddy." It's fulfilling because we can take our child in our arms and provide assurance, safety, and comfort for most things in their young lives. But there are some issues we really can't do much about. Since Ester has had many hospitalizations, medical procedures, and surgeries I recall numerous occasions of her dealing with fear, particularly when she was getting an IV. Though Brooksyne has always been with Ester in every medical procedure over the past 18 years I wasn't always able to be by her side. If I wasn't there she would scream out for everyone in the room and outside as well, "I want my Daddy!" After that plea went unanswered then she cried out "He-----lp me Je-----sus!!" That always brought out some surprised looks from the medical personnel.

Certainly there are many situations that induce fear. Fierce storms, financial issues and terrorist threats number among many other troubles that instill fear. Scores of families in California have experienced some degree of pyrophobia or perhaps arsonphobia.

There is a positive aspect of fear as well. We are told in Scripture to "Fear God", although this is different than all other kinds of fear.

Someone began collecting phobia words many years ago as a hobby and now has a listing of over 500 phobias since 1995! I am sure everyone will find something on the list they struggle with. I happen to deal with hypsiphobia.

The longest phobia listed and a word I rarely use in my sermons is "hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia". I fear I would pronounce it wrong (which amazingly is not yet identified as a phobia so I will suggest a new phobia, "pronunciationophobia.") In my line of work I sure hope I don't deal with too many people who have "homilophobia."

Fear itself is first expressed in the Bible shortly after the transgression in the garden when Adam said to God, "I was afraid" (Genesis 3:10). The remainder of the Bible is full of many expressions of human fear for a wide variety of reasons. It's still that way today and they seem to keep coming up with new causes for fear!

I find great assurance in the tiny phrase found often in Scripture translated "Fear not" (or generally "Do not be afraid" in the NIV). This phrase is found sixty-two times from Genesis to Revelation. In today's Scripture texts we have both the first and last occurrences in the Bible.

Today I encourage you to listen carefully for the voice of our heavenly Father. He speaks gently to your heart reminding you to put your confidence in Him. Some of you are really struggling with fear as you read this. It's crippling you spiritually, emotionally, and perhaps even physically. When I take the time to stop and really consider my emotions I realize that I experience fear and anxiety most when I'm not trusting in what God has said or what He has shown me through His character traits.

God continues to speak, "Fear not". He truly cares for those who belong to Him.

Fear not my child I'm with you always,
I feel every pain and every tear I see.
Fear not my child I'm with you always,
I know how to care for what belongs to Me. *

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily Prayer: Father I will not fear for You have redeemed me and called me by name. You know when I pass through the waters and You have promised to be with me; when I cross through the rivers they will not sweep over me. When I walk through the fire I will not be burned for You walk with me. Though trials may engulf me with paralyzing fear, I can conquer the enemy of fear just as Jesus conquered the power of death. May the resurrected power of Jesus subside my fears and doubts and increase my faith in the Holy One of Israel. Amen.

Here's the phobia list I referred to in today's message. Interestingly this list does not include Islamophobia nor does it include Christianophobia or Christophobia, although articles on each of these can readily be found on the internet. In reality though I believe the word phobia has morphed in these and actually other instances to mean "disagreement with" or "hatred of." Christianophobia blog (although this blog does not appear to have current articles.)

If you are curious as to several of the phobias I mention today merely copy and paste them into a search box or use the above mentioned phobia list!

Hypsiphobia is the fear of height although more precisely I have a fear of edges with a drop off. Actually I am not afraid of the height itself, being in a tall building for instance. But if I, a loved one or anybody is on an edge I really get a squirmy feeling.

As of 10/26/07 the word "pronunciationophobia" is not in Google's index nor can I find any reference to a fear of pronunciation or pronouncing words. Brooksyne and I agree that this is a fear that many would have although we really don't need to list another phobia!

Today's music:
* "Fear Not My Child" by Carman. You can listen to a good part of this song on his website.
"When I Am Afraid" (Audio)
"No Need To Fear" (Audio)
"Whom Shall I Fear" (Audio)

I am working on a sermon that this picture illustrates.
I took it in a restaurant in eastern Lancaster County.

Today's lead photo "Fear Not" is actually the front of a greeting card!

Send an email message to Stephen and Brooksyne

Administration Information

Stephen and Brooksyne

"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!"

Personal Ministry Update
We share our hearts with you as we go forth in this online ministry.

"A Little Foolishness" I invite daily encouragement readers to visit our new blog which is a collection of humorous and satirical stories drawn mostly from our years of ministry, as well as my sometimes fertile imagination. We also welcome submissions from readers.

Daily Encouragement Net
495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552
Contact us

"Living securely today anchored
in God's solid foundation"

www.dailyencouragement.net

Thursday, October 25, 2007

"There's Still Room"

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Thursday, October 25, 2007

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"There's Still Room"

"Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. These are true words of God." (Revelation 19:9) "'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room'" (Luke 14:22).

The most remarkable eating place here in Lancaster County and actually perhaps anywhere I've ever eaten is the Shady Maple. It's an all you can eat buffet so I approach cautiously and rarely. I would have an even bigger pouch if I went there as often as I like! The food is great but the most outstanding feature is the tremendous variety of about everything edible. It's by far the biggest restaurant I've patronized with the main dining area seating 1,200 people and the banquet facilities another 1,000. As much as I look forward to a visit to the Shady Maple, it pales in comparison to the anticipation I feel as I contemplate the great banquet Jesus is preparing for believers in heaven.

Heaven is going to be an extraordinarily remarkable place. Among our blessings will be the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, an absolutely incredible banquet that will surely be unlike any on this earth. When I try to figure out how all this will happen I quickly realize that while I live in this tent of a body I "see through a glass darkly." Or as the old hymn says, "the half has never yet been told."

Perhaps Jesus had this marriage supper in mind when He told the Parable of the Great Banquet in Luke 14:15-24. The overall message of the parable is about the excuses and outright rejection of many in regard to entering God's Kingdom. That's still true today! The Master instructs His servants to go out and extend invitations to a great banquet. Many who were invited made excuses as to why they couldn't come.

The banquet invitation was then extended further, "Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame." The servants returned to their master with the report found in the daily text, "what you ordered has been done, but there is still room."

Yes indeed, there's still room. And today the Master's servants continue to extend the invitation to a great banquet. Scores of devoted missionaries, evangelists and pastors are proclaiming "There's still room." Dedicated lay people are taking this message to their world today, "There's still room." Through this internet ministry Brooksyne and I want to declare, "There's still room!"

And of course many people continue to make excuses. What a great truth is found in verse 23 where we read of God's desire "that my house will be full."

Let me ask you today. Have you accepted the invitation or are you still making excuses? If you have accepted the invitation, are you joining the servants in faithfully proclaiming, "There's still room!"

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Jesus, the theme of the great banquet parable calls to mind another parable where You challenge the conventional way of thinking as You forthrightly tell Your listeners, "the first shall be last and the last shall be first." We see a lot of people who've been invited to the banquet table to eat of the Bread of Life. Some have tasted and seen that the Lord is good while others continue to crave the pleasures of this world instead. You are the Bread of Heaven that nurtures our spiritual hunger and the Living Water that quenches our eternal thirst! Our lives will never be the same as they were before we drew from Your well of salvation. Since Your well is bottomless and Your supply unending we invite all to inherit eternal life, for there is still room because You are not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Amen.

Note from Brooksyne: One of the ways we can reach others to let them know "there's still room" is by sharing our testimony. Since that can be very difficult to verbalize when one is nervous or limited for time it's great to have it available in print. When people meet me as a "seasoned" believer it can be difficult for them to picture my life before I made a decision to follow Christ. I wrote a brief testimony about my salvation experience about four years ago and often share it in my chaplaincy role, in letters, and in other settings so that I can reveal the miraculous redemptive work God has done in my life at an early age. If you haven't already, may I challenge you to write your testimony and distribute it to those you seek to influence for Jesus. When Christ calls me home I can think of no other way to influence people for Jesus than to have my testimony read at my funeral. Should you consider doing this spiritual exercise here's an easy outline I devised that may be of help to you as well:
1) My life before Christ
2) The way I came to Christ
3) The changes in my life after I received Christ
(It's important not to be too wordy or people will not spend the time reading it. Major on the majors and minor on the minors.)

Here's an online version of my testimony.

Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24)

Jim and Wendy have been our friends since we moved down from New England in early 2001 and he is the former pastor of the church we attend. This last Saturday their son Jonathan married Norma and we attended the wedding and reception. Jim is a good man with an earnest walk. Wendy is a wonderful compliment to him and one of the kindest persons we've ever met. Both have been very loving to Ester and attentive to her. Since Wendy is often mistaken for Brooksyne's sister Ester calls her Aunt Wendy and certainly loves her as though she were blood related.

This wedding was a lot different than any I've ever been to:

Jonathan is a very colorful young man and he had all the men in the wedding party dress in kilts (you can't tell from the photo but Jim is wearing one.) That's interesting since Jim is Italian!
The flower girl pulled the ring bearer, a little guy about eight months old, in a wagon! That was sure cute.
But the highlight, hopefully captured on video for America's Funniest Videos: When the bride and groom were ready to walk back down the aisle after getting married the minister had mistakenly stepped on her train. Since she had some slack she walked a bit before being snapped back. He then lifted his foot and she lunged forward! Her new husband caught her. He already proved his worth as a husband minutes after saying "I do."

The Shady Maple is a huge restaurant well known in these parts.

Today's music:
As we considered music for today's message an old gospel song came to mind, "There's Room At The Cross For You", but I was unable to find an audio online. But here are some great songs.
"Come Just As You Are" (Audio)
"Come To Jesus" (Video) A beautiful song set to some wonderful photos.
Another version (Same song with different background images) The young people who put these together really do a great job (I assume they are young people!)

As I prepared today's message and viewed these videos I have several specific people on my heart today that I hope and pray will view them and indeed come to Jesus.

Anytime these messages are prepared some readers are going through a trial of some type. This morning we are remembering in prayer our readers in southern California.

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Stephen and Brooksyne

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Daily Encouragement

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

"Go Light Your World!"

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

"Eternity"

Monday, October 29, 2007

"We're All Winners!"

Friday, October 26, 2007

"Fear Not"

Thursday, October 25, 2007

"There's Still Room"

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