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, May 21, 2010  Yesterday we came up behind these Mennonite children riding in the back of a horse-drawn pick-up truck. Many of us recall the thrill of riding in the back of a pick-up truck when we were children but for these kids it's just the way they got home from school. (Actually I still enjoy riding in the back of a pick-up!)  Listen to this message on your audio player."Jars Of Clay" "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us" (2 Corinthians 4:7).  The planting season in our area is fully underway and Brooksyne is sowing seeds, potting flowers, transplanting plants and doing all the things busy gardeners do in the late spring, including the dreaded job of weeding, as she has already done this morning. As I take a look out the window of our office I see pots of all sizes and colors; made of plastic, metal, porcelain, wood and clay. The vast majority of her pots are plastic but she still uses clay pots. They have certain advantages over plastic pots and also have the authentic appearance of clay in this era when the artificial often replaces the authentic. Clay pots of course are mostly composed of clay minerals taken directly from the ground itself.Today's verse uses a powerful image in describing our physical bodies: "We have this treasure in jars of clay." The treasure spoken of in this context is the knowledge of Christ and of the ministry of the gospel of life. Incredibly, God stores this divine treasure in "jars of clay" (the KJV says, "earthen vessels.") What an interesting description of the outer man formed from the dust of the ground. The image is that of frailty and temporality. God often allows the vessel to be chipped and broken, that the excellency of the treasure contained, and of the power which that treasure has, may be all His. Later in the chapter Paul expresses assurance that "though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:16). I sure am blessed by the phrase, "to show this all-surpassing power" in the daily text. Consider God's steady, dependable and ever adequate power. It never wanes and is not in short supply. It is always adequate and sufficient for any critical situation we may face. This power "is from God and not from us." Let us rejoice in God's marvelous provision of all-surpassing power stored up and released in our lives today. Peter writes, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness" (2 Peter 1:3). Even though there may be shortages and interruptions of electrical power and other sources of this world's power, we can be assured that God's power is all-surpassing and far exceeds that of all earthbound power. What a joy and peace today to rest in His all-powerful love and care! Remember this important truth today, Fellow Believer, in regard to whatever you are dealing with. God is at work in the lives of His people all around the world to advance His glory for "the grace that is reaching more and more people is causing thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God" (2 Corinthians 4:15). May He work His power in each of our lives today, in these "jars of clay"! Be encouraged today, Stephen C. Weber Daily prayer: Father, it is an irrefutable spiritual truth that the human spirit is renewed and empowered day by day because Christ has chosen to store His treasure within us, His earthen jars of clay. It is because this treasure is stored within us that we do not lose hope or give up our faith when adversity strikes. Instead we show that this all-surpassing gift is from You and not of our own making. We are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us, empowers us, and sustains us! Praise be to God! Amen.  Yesterday we stopped by the Village Farm Market east of Ephrata Pennsylvania and of course Brooksyne managed to find a couple of flowers to add to her spring plantings! They also have delicious baked goods as samples which I enjoyed. We took a photo at this very spot last fall.  Purple Petunias 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.) 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 Video We are participating in a project to compile the world's first video online Bible, which is a series of video clips from Christians all over the world. In seeking for a song today that relates to the Scripture text this came up with the verse being read by Joni Earekson Tada! You'll enjoy seeing her expression as she reads and will be touched by knowing that she truly knows the full meaning of this passage through her frail health challenges. You also can participate in this project. See here. "His Divine Power" Video 2 Peter 1:3 set to music and sang acapella by Acapella. "A Tale Of Two Pots" Video Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne. |
  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 5/20/10 $5,318.00 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. 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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