Daily Encouragement (05/31/10) "Remembered Forever"

Daily Encouragement Net - A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
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. Home · About Us ·· Podcast · Free email <Previous Message  ·  Archives  ·  Archive edition Monday, May 31, 2010 Outdoor pianist near Central Market, Lancaster PA Throughout downtown Lancaster 20 brightly painted upright pianos brighten the shopping landscape where people are welcome to sit down and play. After the man (pictured) had played awhile Brooksyne sat down and asked those gathered around to sing as she played "Jesus Loves Me" and they did so, including a man in the parking lot ticket booth!  He commented that he had endured a lot of banging since the piano's arrival and was appreciative of those who could actually play. Listen to this message on your audio player. Note to international readers: Today is a national holiday here in the USA called "Memorial Day". "Remembered Forever" "A righteous man will be remembered forever" (Psalm 112:6). Memorial Day was initially set aside to remember those who died at war but it has been extended as a time to remember all deceased loved ones. This day many will visit the graves of family members as an expression of lasting remembrance as they visibly show their honor and affection. Yet for many, perhaps most, there will be little remembrance, but merely another long weekend and the unofficial start of summer. Plenty of picnics, swimming, partying, drinking and driving! So many live their lives only for the present, giving little thought to the past or their future. We need to hear what the Apostle James says, "What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14). Nearly 2,000 years have passed since Jesus said, "I will build my church." Our life will only comprise a small fraction of that period of time (about 4% of it). That's pretty humbling isn't it? And if you go all the way back to creation it's an even smaller percentage. But Psalm 112 gives a broader and more lasting perspective of this fleeting life. It extols the blessings of the man who "fears the Lord and finds great delight in His commands" (verse 1). Oh, that our hearts would yearn for the lasting value that comes from implementing God's commands more than seeking after the temporal value of worldly goods or the glitz of fame, power or glamour. The Psalmist also wrote, "I love Your commands more than gold, more than pure gold…Your statutes are wonderful, therefore I will obey them" (Psalm 119:127,129). Our text today is, "A righteous man will be remembered forever." Read that again slowly. How do we become righteous? Certainly it is not attainable within ourselves, for we know all too well our natural inclination to sin. But following our salvation experience we choose to follow God's commands.  It is then that we see the effectiveness and fruitful outflow of His principles and guidance in our lives and it develops a righteous heart within us. It is Jesus' righteousness imputed in us that makes the difference. We no longer feel that we "have to" follow His commands but we "want to". Our heart's desires align our will with His and we seek to be like Jesus. The vast majority of human beings who lived in 1850 are long forgotten. But there are various reasons people are remembered long after their death such as: • Evil lives • Significant inventions • Literary works • National leadership But the highest form of remembrance that all of us can have is our devotion to God and our service for Him. Even though only a small portion of Christ's followers are remembered on this side, generations will follow their example and leave similar legacies of righteous living.   Today we challenge you to be remembered for: • The spiritual, Christ focused impact you are making presently. • The godly, eternal legacy you will leave behind. I want to be remembered today for what matters most. I want to follow Jesus Christ and seek to live as a righteous man according to His plan. "A righteous man will be remembered forever." This is a promise I want to live by! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, help me to store up this vital Scripture today; "a righteous man will be remembered forever." When I'm tempted to compromise my integrity in exchange for ungodly behavior may this Scripture ring alarm bells in my heart and mind. Let its truth persuade me to say "no" to ungodliness and worldly passions and instead to live a self-controlled and godly life in this present age. Your way is the best way and it is the lasting way.  Amen. Psalm 112 Friday afternoon John and Bonita Watts from Tulsa stopped by to see us. They are friends with Stephen's cousin, Anna Lee, and attend the same church.  Tulsa is a large city but as we began to get acquainted we learned that they both worked for a number of years at Bama Pie with Brooksyne's Aunt Ramona.  You may never have heard of Bama Pie but you've probably eaten their food:  biscuits and fruit pies at McDonalds or pizza crust at Pizza Hut - makes me hungry just to write about it! Yesterday we held a memorial service at Longwood Assisted Living where we both serve as chaplains.  We honored two World War 2 vets who were in the service.  Clarence (left) served in the infantry in the Pacific and Charles (right) was a P-51 pilot. Charles and I thus have a rather exclusive distinction; both of us have flown in P-51 Mustangs.  I did so when I was in High School over Tulsa, Oklahoma with my cousin Anna Lee's late husband Bob, who was a pilot who owned a P-51. Saturday morning several in our church served breakfast at the Water Street Rescue Mission in downtown Lancaster. This is the first time in my life I've ever done something like this that I recall.  Many, many years ago my Mom worked at the City Union Rescue Mission in Kansas City Missouri and I recall how often she shared what that experience meant to her.    Some creative person made this wall hanging which hangs in the dining hall using knots as a theme. Click here for a larger version with detail. After serving breakfast at Water Street we went to the Central Market, which is the oldest continuously operating public market in the country.  Here's another neat view of the alley in front of the market. The inside of the market is packed with Saturday morning shoppers. Fresh produce,meats,bakeries,florists,crafts, regional tourist gifts, etc. are sold from small individually run stands. Penn Square Lancaster, PA This photo was taken outside Central Market at the city center which has this statue right in the center of the road. See here on Google map. Here's an article about the outdoor pianos in Lancaster. 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.) "Find Us Faithful"  Video  Steve Green  We ended our service yesterday with this song and a call to stay faithful to the Lord. "Letters From War"  Video  Mark Schultz  Yesterday Ester suggested this touching song as she considered the Memorial Day theme. Central Market in Lancaster PA Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne.

"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update 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 5/27/10 $5,608.00 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 through feedburner. 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. Reader Survey: Please take a few minutes to assist us in improving our ministry effectiveness by filling out this onlne reader survey. Click here. Please feel free to pass these messages on! Our other blogs: "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

Daily Encouragement is issued Monday-Friday.  To make sure you continue to receive these e-mails in your Inbox (so they're not sent to a junk folder), please add scweber@dailyencouragement.net to your address book or safe sender list. You are receiving these recurring messages as a subscriber to Daily Encouragement Net because you signed up on our website or otherwise requested it unless someone forwarded the message to you. If you desire to unsubscribe use the link below.  However, please do not use this link unless your address is the subscribed address below as you will otherwise unsubscribe the person who forwarded it to you!

 

You are currently subscribed to dailyencouragement as: stephencweber.dailyencouragement@blogger.com Add scweber@dailyencouragement.net to your email address book to ensure delivery Forward to a Friend  |  Manage Subscription  |   Subscribe  |   Unsubscribe

Daily Encouragement (05/28/10) "Our Heavenly Mansion"

Daily Encouragement Net - A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
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. Home · About Us ·· Podcast · Free email <Previous Message  ·  Archives  ·  Archive edition Friday, May 28, 2010 Cliffwalk in Newport, Rhode Island (Click on photo to enlarge) This is a 3.5 mile walk alongside the ocean with the back view of Newport's famous gilded mansions on the other side.  (An earthly inspiration of what we might view in heaven.) Listen to this message on your audio player. "Our Heavenly Mansion" "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2). Newport, Rhode Island is one of our favorite New England spots.  This is a rather quaint island where the very rich of the gilded age built their "summer cottages" in the 1800's. These cottages are actually huge opulent mansions built along the ocean with breathtaking views, where the rich came from all around the country and overseas to socialize during the summer for about six to eight weeks. Brooksyne and I once toured the "Marble House" with a group of fellow ministers along with their wives. This "cottage" cost $11,000,000 in the late 1800's to build.  As we walked through the palatial interior several of us were humming an old gospel song titled, "I've got a mansion just over the hilltop in that bright land where we'll never grow old"! But those who wined, dined and danced in this opulent residence are long gone.  It's very unlikely that most gave close attention to their souls, but of course only God knows.  I hear the words of our Lord declaring "What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world but forfeits his soul."  Big mansion or little shanty, what will a man give in exchange for his soul? "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2).  This verse has inspired, comforted, and encouraged believers for centuries and is the source of many Gospel songs (30 in my "Song Select" software alone).  It's actually the only time the word "mansion" is used in the KJV, translated from the Greek word "mone". "Mone" is often translated as "abide", with its derivative being "abode". Now modern versions usually translate the word as "rooms" or "dwelling places" and they have been unfairly criticized by some for this.  I suppose we get in our minds our heavenly home will be like a large mansion on this earth and we don't want that dispelled. Hey, after all, if we didn't get a mansion on this side we like the vision of one awaiting us in our eternal abode! Well, as pointed out, the Greek conveys the sense of "abide".  The dominant feature of heaven will not be the extravagance of our homes but the extravagance of Jesus in all His glory. We will be living in the very presence of "Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father--to Him be glory and power forever and ever! Amen"  (Revelation 1:5,6). Remember this world is not our real home.  Our Lord is coming back and we will one day be living in a place that will make Newport or any other supposed "paradise" on this earth seem like a squatter's village! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer:  Father, I can hardly wait to see what Jesus  has been preparing for those who love Him, since His ascension into heaven over 2000 years ago.  Knowing that the heavens and the earth were created in one day, one cannot begin to imagine all that is being planned for our eternal dwelling over the past 2000 years.  Like the bridegroom preparing his house for the bride, we so look forward to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb where we will worship Jesus in all His glory. He, who is the faithful witness; He, who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood; He, who loved us enough to taste of death that we deserved; He will be our center of worship where we will praise and glorify Him forever and ever. Amen. Brooksyne's Note:  Alongside my daily Scripture reading this year I am reading through "Unto the Hills" which is a 365 day devotional by Billy Graham.  Today's reading is titled, "Is this the Day?"  I especially was touched by Billy Graham's sharing his thoughts about Christ's return: "Many times when I go to bed at night I think that before I awaken Christ may come.  Sometimes when I get up and look at the dawn I think that perhaps this is the day He will come.  The Bible teaches that the coming again of Jesus Christ will be sudden, unexpected and dramatic.  It will come as a surprise and take most people unawares."  "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night" (I Thessalonians 5:2).   I, too, look up in the sky on some days and ask, "Is this the day?"  I wish I were in the habit of doing so on a daily basis.  For then I would be less weighed down by the unending troubles here below and live in joyful anticipation of the pleasures that await me above. Stephen's study note: As we prepared today's message I began to muse on this phrase, "if it were not so, I would have told you."  It seems that God reveals and doesn't reveal according to our needs. That will be a whole different message sometime. Later this afternoon we expect some visitors we've never met from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They are Daily Encouragement readers and friends of Stephen's cousin, Anna Lee.  They are in the area on vacation and want to stop by and meet us. We appreciate such friendliness (and expect it of Oklahomans)! (Brooksyne added the last line as you would expect from a girl born and raised in the sooner state.) Today we want to share several photos we took yesterday demonstrating the resourcefulness and ingenuity of our Amish neighbors here in Lancaster County. Our local Lancaster Costco provides a special parking area for horses and buggies. This Amish pickup truck came prepared for the shopping trip with several ice coolers! We see a lot of Amish in Costco but many hire drivers for the trip. In eastern Lancaster especially there is a good business among the non-Amish hauling the Amish around for special trips both local and distant. In several weeks we will be taking our Amish friends (as a friend to friend favor) to an Amish settlement in New York state where they will visit with family.  Last year we took them on a shore trip so the kids could see the ocean for the first time. Their two year old, Eli James, kept wanting to get back in the "big pond", as he called the ocean!  We tell more about that trip along with some photos here. A local company we serve as chaplains has a raw material that comes in a long sturdy wooden box. This Amishman is salvaging the material, hauling it home on top of his modified pickup!  We got to talking as well. He is a local butcher, so perhaps he will use the wood for firewood. His son is helping him out, as is typical with the Amish. Barry, the shipping manager, watches from the dock. Perhaps the truck driver is reminding him to always secure your load! This young lady had a very pleasant and warm 90 degree day to go about her business. It appears she is hauling some paper bags that are set on the floorboard secured between her legs. She only needed a small pony for this load. 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.) "If You Could See Me Now"  Video  I used this song as the background in a pictorial tribute I prepared in honor of my mother who went to her eternal home in 2005. This is a very touching video using the same song, apparently prepared by a family when their infant son died. However for us it brings to mind a memory from nearly 25 years ago. Mike and Kathy Matangelo have been our friends for many years and were a formative part of our church in northern Pennsylvania. In fact they attended the very first service in 1977. They had such a love for children that was contagious and impacted many including us.  In the mid eigthies they adoped a little girl from Korea.  Karyn Joy had severe disabilities and passed on a few months later.  Her funeral service is surely among the most touching times in my entire ministry.   "I Can Only Imagine"  Video   MercyMe   "For Just A Glimpse Of You"  Video  Mark Lowry   Many of us associate Mark Lowry on the Gaither Homecoming series with his humor but this is a serious song. "I've Got A Mansion"  Video  Ernie Haase and Signature Sound "I've Got A Mansion"  Audio  I like this audio version! "Mansion Builder"  Video  2nd Chaper of Acts "Oh, What A Savior!"  Video  Ernie Haase and Signature Sound  While searching for related music today Brooksyne overheard me playing this song and has this reflection from her growing up days in Oklahoma: As I was working in the kitchen this morning the words and music to "O What a Savior" made their way up the stairs to my hearing and I was taken back to my teen years when I first heard this song.  Our youth leaders, Edith & Cordell Cochran, were full blood Indians who sang in revivals to the Indian churches in Eastern Oklahoma.  The youth of our church from Tulsa went along and sang with them as well.  When I heard "O What a Savior" sung in several of these churches during altar services it pierced my heart, especially the words; "His hands were nail-scarred, His side was riven, He gave His life's blood for you and me."  I took that very personally and it  intensifed my walk with Jesus as a young teen-ager.  It freshly touches me every time I hear it even to this day. Finally today: Yesterday we shared a message about a tree I planted in our front lawn. A reader wrote about the pleasure of seeing these small trees fully grown years later.  That brought to mind this photo: Several years ago Rick Steudler, a friend of ours, had us over to the home he grew up in and we visited with his mother, Jeanette Steudler. In this photo she is pictured in front of a very large oak tree that she planted as a tiny sapling some 65 years ago! Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne.

"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update 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 5/27/10 $5,608.00 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 through feedburner. 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. Reader Survey: Please take a few minutes to assist us in improving our ministry effectiveness by filling out this onlne reader survey. Click here. Please feel free to pass these messages on! Our other blogs: "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

Daily Encouragement is issued Monday-Friday.  To make sure you continue to receive these e-mails in your Inbox (so they're not sent to a junk folder), please add scweber@dailyencouragement.net to your address book or safe sender list. You are receiving these recurring messages as a subscriber to Daily Encouragement Net because you signed up on our website or otherwise requested it unless someone forwarded the message to you. If you desire to unsubscribe use the link below.  However, please do not use this link unless your address is the subscribed address below as you will otherwise unsubscribe the person who forwarded it to you!

 

You are currently subscribed to dailyencouragement as: stephencweber.dailyencouragement@blogger.com Add scweber@dailyencouragement.net to your email address book to ensure delivery Forward to a Friend  |  Manage Subscription  |   Subscribe  |   Unsubscribe

Daily Encouragement (05/27/10) "Lessons From A Transplanted Tree"

Daily Encouragement Net - A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
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. Home · About Us ·· Podcast · Free email <Previous Message  ·  Archives  ·  Archive edition Thursday, May 27, 2010 Our newly transplanted Crimson Red Japanese Maple Listen to this message on your audio player. "Lessons From A Transplanted Tree" "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26). Last week I visited a large wholesale nursery where the owner is interested in having a farm chaplain. I introduced the owner to a friend of mine whom I recommended and we discussed the role of chaplaincy together. It it such a blessing to see the caring heart this businessman has; to provide not only employment for his workers, but to care for their souls as well.  We thank God for caring Christian employers. Afterward we got in the owner's truck and he took us on a tour of the farm. Mostly they grow trees and perennial type plants on 200 acres and 240 greenhouses.  At the end of the tour we pulled up beside a long line of pallets with a variety of plants stacked on them. They were discards deemed unsuitable for sale and destined for the compost heap.  From that group of discards I spotted a Weeping Japanese Maple that didn't measure up to nursery standards but was acceptable to me, a novice gardener.   I carted the tree sideways into my Camry and later transplanted it in our front yard. For many years I have wanted one of these trees but they are quite expensive. I dug a deep hole and then refilled it partially with broken up soil and watered the hole before I carefully set the plant in and backfilled around it. Now I am tending it carefully, watering it several times a day, especially as it adjusts to its new location.  I find fulfillment in trying to save a beautiful plant that was otherwise destined for the compost pile. As of this morning, several days after the transplant, it looks good. I hope in the coming weeks and months I will have a good report to share of my transplanting success! Today I consider another type of discard and the need for a transplant.  God promised the ancient Israelites through the prophet Ezekiel, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."  That was about 2,550 years ago and remains God's redemptive work; that of a spiritual heart transplant.  I consider the words of Paul in Colossians 1:13&14: "For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."  No contrast is greater than God rescuing us from the darkness of sin and "transplanting" us into His Kingdom of light! Thousands will trust Christ today for salvation through the witness of so many all around the world.  Have you trusted Christ for salvation; for the new heart He has for you?  I know many of you have and you will rejoice with me as I thank God for what He did in my life nearly 40 years ago in the very midst of being a rebellious, grumpy teenager.  Thank God for what He did in your life when He gave you a new heart.  But if you haven't already made that commitment we invite you to do so.  Speak to Jesus right now through prayer and invite Him into your heart.  Then choose to follow Him and grow in your relationship with Him the rest of your days. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to walk on this earth and show us the way to You.   Through His death and resurrection we have forgiveness and hope of eternal life.  We confess our sins and ask You to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.  Show us through the Scriptures how to turn away from the ever-changing values and principles based on this world where the prince of darkness reigns.  Endear our hearts instead to building an eternal spiritual foundation while we look upward to that great City whose Maker and Builder is the Lord Jesus Christ.  Our minds cannot conceive what is in store for us but it will far surpass anything we might possibly hope for in this life.  Keep us faithful until that eventful transfer.  In Jesus' name, Amen. Stephen's note: We have a wonderful Christian radio station (WDAC) that we enjoy throughout the day.  It's a commercial station and relies on advertising for support.  Many of the advertisers seek to connect to the listeners, who are for the most part Christians, and if possible provide a spiritual angle to the ad as well.  One of our favorite ads in this regard is for Goods Disposal Service, a trash hauling company, which has this memorable jingle, "Let God recycle your heart and let Goods recycle your trash."  I smile and actually am edified every time I hear this ad.  Wherever you live and regardless of who handles your trash let God recycle your heart! Last night we had a visit from Rick Masciantonio, a long-time friend from our years of pastoring in New England during the nineties. Rick & Elizabeth and their three sons attended our church. Rick is now a pastor himself and is in this area for a pastor's conference. Last night he shared a message at our small group Bible Study from Isaiah 45:22. Rick is the most studious person I ever had the privilege of pastoring and it is a joy to see him staying faithful in his walk and service for the Lord! In fact Rick specifically recalls, like many who know me, my persistent reminder to "STAY FAITHFUL".  As John states concerning those whom he discipled, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth" (3 John 4). We have fond memories of the three Masciantonio boys frequently visiting us in our parsonage home next door to the church, most especially after Sunday evening services. Last night Sam, their youngest, was  with his dad and before he came Ester dug out this old photo of the two of them with some roses. Was this Ester's first date? (Brooksyne's note:  Not at all!  It was an arrangement given to me from Ester's elementary school after I presented the Pilgrim's story of their voyage on the Mayflower in 1998.) As old friends Sam and Ester enjoyed visiting each other last night.  Sam and his brothers especially loved Brooksyne's homemade bread on their visits so she made some whole wheat bread yesterday for our meal. In two weeks 20 year old Sam will be going into the Marines. Our friends in New England may especailly enjoy this old photo. Sam is shown with his two older brothers, Richard (holding the puppy) and Peter (back center). Richard is now studying to be a doctor in Pharmacy and Peter is an electrician. Also in the photo is Ashley (front center), who is now a medical doctor and her brother Eric who is in the Marines having already served a tour of duty in Afghanistan.  The Panda Bear cake Brooksyne made for Ester celebrating her second year of adoption (look closely at the American flags and the two candles.)  It's a long, complicated story but essentially Ester who has been with us since 3 months of age was not officially adopted from the country of Guatemala until she was 8 years old.  Until recent years Ester had three celebrations a year:  her birthday in March, her arrival to the U.S. in June, and her adoption in August!  Add Christmas to her list and she had lots of celebrations each of which she enjoyed and always invited friends to enjoy with her. Daily Encouragement Net Reader Survey: Thanks to all who took our reader survey yesterday. Due to the "free" nature of the survey we are only able to analyze the first 100 responses which has been surpassed. Some highlights: Although some 20% of you have knowledge of our online ministry because you have met us, most of you came to know of Daily Encouragement from a forwarded email or a web search. We are heartened by the wide geographical scope of our ministry. We are especially blessed to be reaching into countries that are considered closed to traditional missions. Most responders have a broadband internet connection (although 20% didn't know what they had).  Photos will load fast in a high speed connection and it is practically essential if you want to listen to music or watch online videos. Not surprisingly most responders indicate they receive the messages through the daily email and read the messages daily. This is because most responders were likely active readers & linked to the survey through yesterday's email! We are pleased that many of you share the messages, primarily by periodically forwarding on selected messages We read over many kind comments from responders who filled in the text box. Several had responses that we would like to reply to but the survey purposefully did not collect any contact information. Thank you! Note: I reset the count and welcome any to respond who have not done so already.  Click here. (It should take less than five minutes.) 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.) "Create In Me A Clean Heart, O God"  Video  Keith Green "Create In Me A Clean Heart"  Video  Scripture from the Integrity Scripture memory series sung in the Maranatha Country Praise collection. "Create In Me A Clean Heart"  Video  Donnie McClurkin "Purify My Heart"  Video  Brian Doerksen "Purify My Heart"  Video  Piano version Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne.

"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update 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 5/26/10 $5,608.00 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 through feedburner. 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. Reader Survey: Please take a few minutes to assist us in improving our ministry effectiveness by filling out this onlne reader survey. Click here. Please feel free to pass these messages on! Our other blogs: "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

Daily Encouragement is issued Monday-Friday.  To make sure you continue to receive these e-mails in your Inbox (so they're not sent to a junk folder), please add scweber@dailyencouragement.net to your address book or safe sender list. You are receiving these recurring messages as a subscriber to Daily Encouragement Net because you signed up on our website or otherwise requested it unless someone forwarded the message to you. If you desire to unsubscribe use the link below.  However, please do not use this link unless your address is the subscribed address below as you will otherwise unsubscribe the person who forwarded it to you!

 

You are currently subscribed to dailyencouragement as: stephencweber.dailyencouragement@blogger.com Add scweber@dailyencouragement.net to your email address book to ensure delivery Forward to a Friend  |  Manage Subscription  |   Subscribe  |   Unsubscribe