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 Thursday, January 7, 2010  Photo by Howard J. Blichfeldt For a larger desktop size click here.  Listen to us share this message on your audio player. "So Is My Word" "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my Word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it" (Isaiah 55:10,11).  We've had some beautiful snowfalls already this season here in or region. Yesterday our pleasurable drive took us through neighboring Lebanon County along aptly named Mount Pleasant Road where snow lightly covered the fields. Many enjoy the wintery snow although it causes inevitable closings, delays, inconveniences and safety issues. We need a lot of moisture and I understand that 10 inches of snow is equivalent to only 1 inch of rain. Farmers like a lot of snow cover on their fields, as it tends to slowly saturate the soil as it melts. That results in a good harvest. That's what the first part of the daily Scripture teaches: "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater..." Scripture makes few references to snow since it was not very common in that region of the world. In today's Scripture portion the prophet Isaiah uses rain and snow to illustrate a wonderful spiritual truth that has encouraged devoted readers through the ages. In a great passage, using a powerful spiritual parallel, the prophet Isaiah makes an analogy. He is speaking prophetically for God. God's Word has been going out from His mouth from the very beginning; His initial instruction to Adam and Eve, His redemptive call to them after the Fall, "Where are you", down through the ages, through His prophets and through His written Word. Today His Word is still going out in so many different ways. He wants to use each of us today to spread His message of love and forgiveness. One of the earliest spiritual concepts I learned was the power of God's Word. One of the first verses I memorized was the daily text and especially the part that says, "so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Note a great promise in the passage. "It will not return to me empty." The specific way in which God's Word works is not always visible to us. At times the impact of God's Word is immediate and visible. That's wonderful isn't it? But at other times the impact is not visible or may not be apparently immediate. It may seem fruitless and that can be a source of discouragement. However, when faithfully delivered, it will always have its impact. It most certainly will "accomplish what God desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it." Our responsibility is to faithfully proclaim God's Word and leave the results to God. I want to encourage rescue mission workers, chaplains, crisis pregnancy counselors, pastors, teachers and many, many others who in many different ways, faithfully proclaim God's Word. That should include all who claim to follow Christ. Keep it up. Don't give up. We just won't have the whole picture of our impact on this side. Remember this wonderful promise today in whatever way you minister in sharing God's Word! Stay faithful! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily Prayer: Father, as we consider the fertile fields and lush vegetation that are a result of Your faithfully sending moisture to the earth, we're also reminded of the power of Your Word that does not return void. The Word also accomplishes great things as it breathes life and hope into those who apply its salvation message to their lives. It turns our losses into gains, our weakness into strength, our fear into courage and our wanderings into purpose-filled direction. Thank You for Your Holy Word that has completely changed my life. Amen. Stephen's note: My earliest spiritual training was through Campus Crusade for Christ, a long-standing ministry that is still actively impacting the world for Christ. A group met at my high school in Independence, Missouri (Truman High School) and we had other activities off campus as well. I still remember meeting each morning in the wood shop to pray before beginning the day. The teacher was a Christian and opened up his classroom for any who chose to come. We would then seek to share truths from the "Four Spiritual Laws" as we witnessed for Christ to our fellow students. I've stayed in contact with a friend from that group and rejoice that nearly 40 years later Ken is still serving the Lord. He's now a veteran teacher himself, and still actively witnessing for Christ. What a blessing to talk to him several years ago when I was in the Kansas City area. 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.) "Somewhere It's Snowing" Video A song Brooksyne recalled as we prepared today's message. "Somewhere It's Snowing" Video A beautiful story in song and video. This will touch your heart if you have a wayward child. It illustrates genuine Christianity. "Isaiah 55:10,11" Video This is merely today's Scripture text with background music. "Give Me Jesus" Video Fernando Ortega Today's photo of the Sturgeon Point Lighthouse on Lake Huron was taken by our friend, Howard J. Blichfeldt and is used with his permission. His website is here. Howard desires to honor the Lord through his photography. Here's information about the lighthouse. 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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