Daily Encouragement Net - A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
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 The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive edition Friday, March 19, 2010  Brooksyne holding baby sparrow in our front yard  Listen to this message on your audio player. "Much More Valuable!" "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matthew 6:26). We've had several days of warm weather as we await spring's official arrival this Saturday at 1:32 PM (Mount Joy time). I was doing some cleanup work outside when I heard the distant sound of geese flying overhead. I looked up and saw thousands flying north way up high in the sky – so high they looked like small black dots. I called out for Brooksyne to come outside and together we witnessed a steady stream. When one large cluster left our visibility another would arrive – you could hear distant honking. I must say they didn't look as organized as their stereotype flying arrangement but they were sticking together. That's a commendable attribute!  There is an amazing wonder of God's creation at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in northern Lancaster County, about 45 minutes from our home. Each year some 150,000 snow geese stop by the area during their migration north and they all converge on the mountain lake at dusk. It's a remarkable sight that we've visited several times. One writer describes it, "From far away it could be a patch of water lilies gone wild, gobs of bobbing, floating whiteness atop a glistening 400-acre lake. Then you get closer and see the tiny specks of black on the edge of what are surely wings, being untucked by what is most definitely a pinkish bill. Then you hear the raspy, discordant honking, louder than an army of 18-wheelers, commanding your eyes to an upward blizzard of birds eclipsing the sky."Brooksyne is working with a musical ensemble in our church preparing special music for Palm Sunday and Easter. The Triumphal Entry of Christ, His sacrificial death and His glorious resurrection will be the recurring theme of choral music sung at this time of year in churches all around the world. The melodic arrangements of the resurrection songs will be jubilant, even explosive as we celebrate Christ triumphing over death. Have you ever thought about the bird choir that sings about spring? No director, musical instruments, sheet music or amplification needed. The songbirds are now filling the trees and power lines. Their merry songs are filling the air. How about the male/female choir of musical honking as migrating flocks fly overhead! The male's call is a low a-honk, the female's a higher a-hink. A pair may alternate their honks so closely that it sounds like a single bird: a-hink-a-honk-a-hink-a-honk. Other sounds include aggressive barks and hisses. Young make wavering whistles. Imagine these noises to be a little like the blended human voices in a congregational gathering – young, old, male, female singing praises to God. And for good measure, since the woodpecker is Stephen's favorite bird for noise making, we'll add it for the rhythmic drummer. As much as we value God's creatures consider that we are of much greater value to God than these birds. Jesus said so! "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matthew 6:26). The One who has so marvelously provided for the birds of the air is certainly more interested in those made after His own image. We are indeed "more valuable!" As Civilla Martin wrote, "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me!" God's care for us is amply demonstrated in His care of creation. Yet we are so prone to worry and fret. Some of us are dealing with difficult trials and the darts of doubt, dismay, and discouragement are being hurled our way. David C. McCasland wrote "The way to forget our worries is to concentrate on the goodness and loving care of God, not on the problems that plague us. Then we can say with the Psalmist, "In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul" (Psalm 94:19). Regardless of where we live today we can go outside and get a lesson from nature. Let us take time to look at the birds of the air; observe their habits! Today I encourage you to experience the wonderful peace of God as you rest in His ever-steadfast care. Be confident of His loving and abundant provision for every need you have. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, just as You care for the birds of the air and provide for their nourishment You also provide for our bare essentials in addition to our many wants. We pray for those in the midst of worry and fear; for those living in uncertainty regarding Your faithful provisions. May they look to You whose resources never deplete and whose love never ceases. Your care is evident in nature and especially in those created in Your image. In faith we will trust You to provide for our every need. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. The more you think about God's goodness, the less you'll think about your worries. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources Click on the link (usually a Youtube video) to open and play. (In some cases you may also need to click again to start the song.) "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" Video "Does Jesus Care?" Video |
  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.2010 YTD financial offerings as of 3/18/10 $2,303.00 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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