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 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.  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. |
  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! "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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