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  Follow Daily Encouragement on Facebook and Twitter    The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive edition Tuesday, June 7, 2011  Our neighbors have this row of beautiful roses growing alongside a white picket fence on each side of their property. "Accepted!" "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God" (Romans 15:7).  In the course of our company chaplain work we see a lot of pallets. I was visiting a company with "pickers" darting about on skid loaders throughout a huge warehouse as they were moving pallets.  One of the pickers had a large orange sticker plastered on her green jumpsuit that seemed to shout, "REJECTED". (The rejected sticker was intended to be placed on boxes that had been rejected.) Apparently a co-worker had placed it on her jumpsuit as a joke and I don't think she even realized it was there!But it got me thinking. How many people feel rejected by others? How many have experienced rejection by significant people in their lives? Though they don't wear a visual sticker declaring "REJECTED", it's visible in their expressions and their communication often accompanied by a downward cast. Certainly a lot of people have experienced rejection repeatedly, including some of you reading this today. Read this word carefully and receive encouragement from an illustration and powerful Scripture phrase.  During our ministry years in New England we had a lady with Down Syndrome in our church who has since gone to be with the Lord. She was a genuine blessing, although there were some funny and at times embarrassing memories I easily recall. Sandy had a deep love for the Lord and was always excited about being in church. The photo to the right shows Sandy with Ester about 1998.Her niece and husband, who lovingly cared for her for many years after her mother was no longer able to do so, told us this about Sandy. Every Sunday morning she'd rise at the crack of dawn, get dressed in her Sunday best, Bible in hand. The longer she had to wait the more she grew frustrated that she was going to be late for church! (Several hours before it was time to go!) I want to share with you one of those special moments in church I hope I'll always remember. I was preaching one Sunday and made a point with an extra degree of energy and enthusiasm which prompted Sandy to turn around from the second row that she always occupied, and look toward the congregation as she smiled and blurted out very loudly, "I lub my Patur". ("Lub" is how Sandy said "love" and Patur" is how she said "Pastor".) Now I know many preachers get an "Amen" or "hallelujah", but I just may be the only preacher in America that got a very vocal, "I lub my Patur!"  Our church loved Sandy as well. She felt secure and loved. She experienced what I consider one of the important functions of the local church; she was accepted. * She was accepted for the unique gifts that she brought to the church body. * She was accepted as a reminder that all life is precious. * She was accepted for the very perspective on life that she brought. Consider the phrase in the daily Scripture verse, "just as Christ accepted you." The word "accept" is a compound of two Greek words meaning, "to take to oneself." It's an unambiguous command based upon Christ's accepting us and brings praise to God. Some people are easy to accept, others much harder. Who do you need to accept today? What a glorious truth it is to be accepted by Christ and become part of His family. Whether or not we have known the acceptance and support of a loving family and faithful friends, when we come to God in faith and repentance we are accepted. He has said, "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away" (John 6:37). We are all welcome into God's family…and this by His marvelous grace! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, You have shown us through the example of Jesus that we are to accept others in the same way that Christ accepted us. Show us ways that we can effectively reach out to others, especially those who feel rejected by family or society as a whole. Help us to show them genuine love and to initiate a friendship in the same way that You reached out to others and befriended them. As we do this in obedience to your command and as we are led by Christ's example Scripture indicates that we bring praise to You which is our heart's desire. Amen.(Romans 15:7-9) Other memories of Sandy: 1) I recall visiting her in the hospital when she had an appendectomy (as I recall) She was surrounded by family and friends and surely the queen of that hospital room milking the attention for all it was worth! 2) Sandy was flat footed and more or less stomped as she walked/trotted, which made for an interesting sight as she entered down the aisle to her place in church. One Sunday some guests had unknowingly taken her seat. When she arrived she stood right in front of them, arms folded across, and a scowl that was not exactly a warm greeting to brand new guests. An usher had to step in and make peace in the situation. (I don't believe the couple returned after that Sunday though surely they understood the unusual circumstances.) 3) Sandy couldn't read but she always liked to recite the Scriptures with the congregation. She would repeat what the congregation had just read, which was a little tricky for congregational readings, but we appreciated Sandy's heart. 4) Sandy had a great appreciation for her pastors. Almost without fail she would ask me about Pastor Larrimore, who preceded me in ministry in that church prior to his retirement. She didn't have favorites; she just loved us both. Brooksyne's memory of Sandy: Sandy was the only "other woman" in our ministry who sought the pastor's attention repeatedly. Between Sunday School and church she'd regularly appear at the window in the closed door of his office and knock on it smiling and waving, "Patur" . She would only stop after he got up from his desk to personally greet her. But the scariest time I remember was when she had been dropped off to attend a women's meeting at the church. She was left in our care and after awhile we realized she was missing. We scoured every classroom, bathroom (men and women's), parking lot, storage rooms, etc. and when she could not be found we grew very nervous. After a bit, it dawned on me that she might have been searching for Stephen so I headed to the parsonage next door, and sure enough, there she was outside the door wanting to get in to see her pastor. He had not heard her knocking so she must have been there quite some time. She was not so happy when the search party insisted she return to meet with the women. Sandy was very dear and such a pleasure to know during our years in New England. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Amazing Love" Video Newsboys I'm forgiven, because You were forsaken. I'm accepted, You were condemned. I'm alive and well. Your Spirit is within me Because You died and rose again. Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne |
 "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 12/31/10)  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. 2011 financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net as of 6/6/11: $3,975.00 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. Daily Encouragement on Facebook and Twitter: The daily message and prayer on Facebook. The daily message and prayer on Twitter.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 2011 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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