Daily Encouragement Net - A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
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Trouble reading this message? Read online or see archives
 The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive edition Tuesday, January 5, 2010  Martin farmpond in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Our friend Nancy Martin took this photo of their farm pond after a beautiful snowfall. Click here to see a larger desktop-sized photo. We are getting a spate of very cold weather in our area and presently have snow on the ground.  Listen to us share this message on your audio player. "Loyal Yokefellow" "Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life" (Philippians 4:3). Today I would like to consider the subject of loyalty which conveys a warm emotion just reflecting on its meaning. Loyal friends in the midst of particularly difficult circumstances are streaming through my memory presently. In my observation this is a character quality that is greatly diminishing in our fickle age. With our disposable society, the family and all levels of society are seeing a breakdown in loyalty. As we begin another year I am thankful first of all for the loyalty of God, although we usually don't use this term as an attribute of God, but rather His faithfulness. But I am also thankful for the loyalty expressed by the people in my life and I myself want to be known for my loyalty. I, along with many of you, have been stung by disloyalty; whether it is from a close friend, a co-worker, a church member or family member. We can feel David's sorrow and feelings of loss when he wrote, "Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me" (Psalm 41:9). Jesus and the apostle Paul both knew the lingering sting of disloyalty. In our daily text Paul writes of a "loyal yokefellow", whose identity is not specifically known. Paul apparently knew he would be one of the primary recipients of the letter to the Philippians and would know that he was being addressed. He was asked to mediate a dispute between two women who are very much identified by proper name for all in the church age to read about! "I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord." The descriptive title Paul uses tells us so much about this man. The adjective, "loyal" can also be translated "true, legitimate or genuine". Yokefellow may be a proper name "Syzygus", but it also has the meaning of being joined or co-yoked together. What a beautiful term for a close, long-lasting friendship! What a dependable friend this "loyal yokefellow" must have been to Paul! He could be counted upon. He was reliable. When push comes to shove these are the kind of people we all like to have around and I'm sure thankful that I know many folks like that. Brooksyne is my best friend, but there are so many others for which I am thankful. What kind of friend are you? What kind of friend will you be in 2010? I want to be a loyal yokefellow! People vary in their opinions and way of seeing things so there will always be potential conflict, but being disagreeable and respectfully disagreeing brings about different results in a solid relationship. If we're disagreeable we refuse to see anyone's views but our own. When we respectfully disagree we treat the situation with sensitivity and try to see through the other person's eyes or experience. It certainly doesn't mean that we'll agree in the end, but a close relationship is not usually ended as a result of a difference of opinion. I am sure you all have some very close loyal friends and what a great blessing they are. I pause for a moment as I type and consider so many that I have. In fact many of them are recipients of this daily encouragement perspective, including one going back to first grade. I have loyal friends from my college years and from each location my ministry has taken me. This long and growing trail of loyal friends is one of the blessings of getting older! May the Lord bless each reader today with loyal friends and help each of us to be loyal to one another and of course to Him! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Jesus, You have shown us the greatest example of loyalty when Peter denied You at the critical hour prior to Your crucifixion. It is so encouraging to know that Peter was forgiven, reinstated, and entrusted to be a great messenger of the Gospel. Enable us, through following Your example and by the power of Your Spirit, to be forgiving, loyal, and dependable in the midst of difficult circumstances. Help us to do unto others as we would have them do to us. Brooksyne's Note: As I edited our message today and came to the prayer time Peter immediately came to mind. I can't think of a more powerful example of extreme disloyalty (Peter) followed by extreme forgiveness (Jesus). The verse that stands out to me in addition to so many regarding Peter's denial and reinstatement is Luke 22:61, "The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter." This was immediately after Peter's third insistent denial of knowing Jesus. I wonder what emotions transpired in that penetrating look that Jesus gave Peter. I think about people who have betrayed me over the years (the list is small for which I am grateful.) But I will honestly tell you if I see them out in public before they see me I certainly don't look straight at them. In fact I will reroute my shopping to avoid eye contact. The sense of betrayal can easily overwhelm me in that setting and the old wounds reopen. I can also gladly report that God has enabled me in other circumstances to initiate the conversation to begin the healing process. I'm always reminded in these situations of the importance of parting in good standing when conflict forces separate paths. May Jesus help us to forgive and He will bring the healing over time. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources Click on the link to open and play. (In some cases you may also need to click again to start the song.) "They Will Know We Are Christians" Video This was a song we sang when we were young Christians in the seventies along with outstanding contextual images. This is a version by "Jars Of Clay". "We Will Stand" Video A well-written song dealing with a call to unity. This version is by a group called "Avalon". Yesterday we shared a photo we took on the way home from our church service Sunday of some sheep licking the road surface. Several alert readers pointed out they were probably licking the leftover salt particles on the road (spread on the icy patches)! Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne |
 "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update Revised 10/21/09  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 daily encouragement ministry? Donations are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by my chaplaincy endorsing ministry. Thanks! See here for details. (2009 YTD financial offerings through 12/31/09: $17,302.00. Note: 2009 offering total will be incomplete till final posting and verification from my chaplaincy account.)SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION  Were you forwarded this edition of Daily Encouragement Net? If you desire you can receive your own free! To receive these "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. This newsletter is never sent unsolicited. It was sent to you because you either signed up to receive it OR a friend forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the rss feed. or as an email subscription update through feedburner. You can also subscribe to Daily Encouragement feed updates by email.Cancel: We respect and value your time and privacy. If these messages no longer meet your needs (providing encouragement) you can remove your address by merely use 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. 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. Please feel free to pass these messages on! "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!) Last updated with the story of Mildred Swanson, who joyfully discovers her "spiritual gift" is sending forwarded emails! (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.  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, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version. © Copyright 2010 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us  Endorsed chaplain "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" www.dailyencouragement.net |
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