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 Monday, January 18, 2010  Conestoga River in Lancaster County, PA Taken by our friend Mike Book (Click on photo to enlarge)  Listen to this message on your audio player. "Let Us Stay Faithful!" "But they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land" (1 Chronicles 5:25).  An interesting warning sign on the Golden Gate Bridge states the obvious, but is nevertheless unheeded by a few. I took this photo several years ago when I was visiting my brother Mike who lives in that area. As we walked onto the bridge we saw this sign on one of the huge towers. It states the consequences that result when a person violates the posted warning.The consequences would seem obvious to the typical passerby, but regardless, some 25 people jump to their deaths from this bridge every year. It takes approximately four seconds to drop, at a speed of 75 miles an hour, into the water 220 feet below. Only a tiny minority—some 2 percent—survive the jump. Contrary to what many jumpers imagine, it is not a graceful, trauma-free way to go: the impact with the water is violent, shattering bones and dismembering limbs. Wherever you are today you are surrounded by warnings and cautions. In fact we are so flooded with warnings that we may tend to ignore even reading them since they generally state the obvious. This morning I looked at my toothpaste and read warnings. Some warnings are needed; many others are imposed by the legal system as a precaution against a potential lawsuit. Some warnings ignore common sense (in part due to the fact that many lack it) and others might even be illogical, even humorous such as this one: "Warning: Do not climb inside this bag and zip it up. Doing so will cause injury and death." This was a label inside a protective plastic bag which measured 6 inches by 6 inches by 5 inches. But we must never grow hardened, indifferent or neglectful of the warnings in Scripture. Today's verse is certainly not the typical Scriptural promise of encouragement we normally use in this devotional series, but we can be thankful for God's warnings and should actually see them as evidence of His love. The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:6 regarding the spiritual failures of people in the past, "These things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did." God does not mince words! Today's verse is an historical record regarding the descendants of the half tribe of Manasseh. They had a reputation as being "brave warriors, famous men, and heads of their families" (v. 24). But spiritually they had failed miserably, "They were unfaithful to the God of their fathers and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land." We may on the surface consider this verse to be a mere record of the apostasy of an ancient people (this happened some 3,000 years ago). Surely such a crude and graphic expression of apostasy would not apply to our day would it? Well, let's open our eyes. The character of God has not changed. His holiness or hatred of sin has not diminished one iota. "For I am the LORD, I change not" (Malachi 3:6). Surely His assessment of the condition of modern man would be the same as that of today's verse, although the "gods of the people of the land" are modernized to reflect our time period. In our own biased estimation we may feel that we're more sophisticated than past peoples. Throughout the centuries people must choose between the gods of the age or the one eternal true God. Today, let us reverence the Lord our God and renounce the many false gods of our age. Let us determine to serve Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength! Be encouraged today, Stephen C. Weber Daily prayer: Father, we serve You with our heart loving You above everything and everyone. We serve You with our soul, as it lives for all eternity. We serve You with our mind acknowledging that You are the Dispenser of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. We serve You with our strength, knowing that when our strength weakens it is then that we truly find strength. We serve a supernatural God, so help us not to be drawn into the natural way of thinking or acting, but to walk in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen. 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.) "Serve The Lord" Video I have made my decision, I have staked my claim, I have drawn the line in the sand and I'll not be ashamed. With the world behind me and the cross before, By the grace of God I will serve the Lord. "Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing" Video "How He Loves" Video A list of actual warnings (used in the preparation of today's message) In Friday's message we shared about our visit to the Pennsylvania Farm Show. Here's a couple more interesting videos: "Sheep to Shawl" Video "Tractor Square Dancing" Video |
 "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 financial offerings $18,177.00. This is the final accounting. We want to thank all who have supported this aspect of our ministry during this last year. We had gifts from seventy separate sources. If you gave a gift you will (or in some cases already have) receive your "official" receipt from our chaplaincy department in Springfield, Missouri. 2010 YTD financial offerings as of 1/17/10 $125.00 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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