 The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive edition Friday, November 19, 2010  Buggies parked at an Amish wedding. For a larger photo with Scripture text click here.  Listen to this message on your audio player."Honored by All for All Time" "Marriage should be honored by all" (Hebrews 13:4). In our mid-week Bible study at church this week we discussed the daily text in our verse by verse study of Hebrews. Yesterday the USA Today Newspaper had a front page article that stood in stark contrast to this Scriptural teaching titled, "We're Just Not That Into Marriage". It was a survey that dealt with the declining interest in marriage and consequential drop in marriage statistics. The article surely reveals the increasing immoral state of our country and we felt the Spirit's prompting to call for an honoring of marriage using two illustrations, one very old and one as recent as yesterday:  Yesterday in the course of our travels for our chaplaincy ministry we passed a sight that always gets our attention (see photo above). Along 340 east of Bird In Hand PA we saw a very lengthy row of Amish buggies neatly lined up along a long lane leading back to a farm. We immediately recognized the significance of this setting, having lived in this area for nearly ten years now. They were gathered for an Amish wedding. It is the custom among the Amish (at least in this area) to conduct weddings in the month of November on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The typical Amish wedding may very well have 500 or more people in attendance. The ceremony itself starts at 8:00AM and lasts till around 11:30! They then have a huge meal, afternoon fellowship, a hymn sing and another meal. They visit with one another (mostly boys & men together, girls & women together) till about 9:00 PM! All this is in the home or barn, generally at the bride's parents' residence. We attended an Amish wedding three years ago and it was unlike any other wedding celebration we've attended. (See below for a link to a first hand description.) In this series we often refer to the daily Scripture portion. This simple, straightforward command is so needed today: "Marriage should be honored by all." This command is not referring only to a specific marriage but also to the institution of marriage itself. Today the institution of marriage (holy matrimony) is under severe attack through radical and ungodly efforts seeking to undermine and redefine it, contrary to its divine design and how it has been understood by the human race since creation. Marriage is the oldest human institution, established by God Himself when He created Eve from Adam. It was specifically ordained (ordered) by God, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). Marriage is an ongoing expression of God's wisdom for humankind when He stated to Adam, "It is not good for man to be alone." He created a complimentary "helper suitable for him." The Lord Jesus during His earthly ministry powerfully reinforces this view, "Haven't you read," He replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?'" (Matthew 19:4,5). In another Scripture He pronounced, "Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate" (Mark 10:9). Today, no matter your present circumstance or past experience, let us heed these simple words from the Book of Hebrews, "Marriage should be honored by all." Let us give honor now and for all time! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, one of the greatest mysteries in the human experience is how You blend two individuals and make them become as one when they join as husband and wife. The "me" becomes "us" in our shared interests and goals in life. Things are no longer "mine" but "ours." Our times of celebration as well as times of sadness and loss become shared experiences. We honor marriage, recognizing the sacrifices and blessings that come to those who are joined in holy matrimony. We also recognize that our archenemy, Satan, is intent on destroying the very foundation of marriage that You established from the beginning. We uphold the institution of marriage as defined in Scripture and honor it in the way we speak of it and the way we live it out with our spouse. Amen.  In southern Lancaster County south of Willow Street we passed this white horse which came out to greet us right along the road separated only by a thin strand of electric fence. I think he wondered what we were doing taking a picture!   We pass many Amish one room schoolhouses and saw this object lying in the road. Does anyone recognize what it is? See below for answer. Hint: Amish schools have a playground and it usually includes a baseball field. We passed this big hollowed out tree ring in southern Lebanon County on a very windy afternoon this week. I asked Brooksyne to step inside so viewers could get a sense of the large dimensions of this once healthy tree. It makes you wonder how big this tree must have been when it was living! See here for a description of an Amish wedding we attended several years ago. (The actual description is in a footnote.) Today's mystery photo is a makeshift baseball which was made by covering a round wad of cloth with duct tape! Now, how's that for resourcefulness! It would sure be softer on the hands that aren't protected by a mitt as well. Please Note: We did not post a new daily encouragement message yesterday (Thursday, November 18, 2010) due to an early morning meeting followed by a busy schedule of making chaplain visits throughout the entire day. Yesterday's USA Today article titled "We're Just Not That Into Marriage." This study indicates that 39% feel marriage is becoming obsolete. 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.) Normally we place links to suggested music that relates to the message but we were unable to recall any songs related to honoring marriage apart from wedding songs. Perhaps some of our readers may have some suggestions? Special Thanksgiving Resources We want to offer these ideas to families and church leaders to enrich the spiritual impact of the Thanksgiving holiday. (We will post these resources through Thanksgiving.)  "Thankful For The Thorns": A family reading and exercise that is a wonderful way to give a thoughtful focus around your Thanksgiving Table (printable webpage) The Thanksgiving celebration includes family coming together along with the turkey and trimmings. Often there's a lot of food with little meaningful conversation. Why not add some stimulating discussion about the ways God has worked in your life over the past year! Some of you are not in charge and are only visitors at your Thanksgiving gathering, but if it is possible share together around the table the theme of "Thankful for the Thorns" or the questionnaire we've provided in this link "A Thanksgiving family exercise" (pdf). We have used this questionnaire as a stimulus for discussion among family members in the past in our home. We encourage you to share results around the table at Thanksgiving before or after the meal.A Thanksgiving prayer: (written by Joe Sherer, a pastor friend of ours and shared as the benediction at our community Thanksgiving Eve service several years ago.) Webpage For those who enjoy written prayers this would be a beautiful prayer to read together at the Thanksgiving table. A Thanksgiving Scripture reading: A selection of Old and New Testament readings dealing with thankfulness appropriate for church, family and personal readings. (pdf) (Suitable for printing out and copying.) The Pilgrims Come to the New World: Webpage A Day of Rest in Plimouth Colony: This is a summary of a chapter in the lives of the pilgrims that Brooksyne uses to teach about their Sunday worship. (pdf) Note: Although we spell it Plymouth today the old spelling was Plimouth.  "Hymns of Hope" Brooksyne has compiled eleven hymns that deal with the recurring theme of loss and ongoing trial and titled it "Hymns of Hope" based on Romans 12:12, "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer." Amber Martin plays the hymns on the keyboard and Lauren Gingrich accompanies her on six of the hymns with the viola. Tracks 12-22 play each hymn softly in the background while Brooksyne shares a personal devotional thought, the biographical setting of the hymn text, and an intercessory prayer. We recorded this in the very modest and limited computerized recording studio of Daily Encouragement so that we could make this ministry project available to all who are in need of such encouragement. Thus we realize the audio quality is not what most are accustomed to. You can go to this site to listen to the songs. You can download one song at a time if you find this to be of special blessing or know someone whose spirit might be lifted by listening to these meditative hymns."ThanksLiving" Bob Southard, a friend of ours shares a weekly online sermon. Here's a pdf version of his thanksgiving sermon. Resources used in Brooksyne's research on the Pilgrims: Saints & Strangers By Vision Video Three Young Pilgrims By Cheryl Harness / Simon & Schuster |
 "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 10/21/10)  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 11/18/10 $12,969.00 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 by us 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 you no longer desire to receive these messages you can remove your address from the list by merely using 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 or who may desire less frequent mailings. It is Friday's 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 online reader survey. To take the 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 |
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 |  |
