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 The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. Home · About Us ·  · Podcast · Free email<Previous Message · Archives · Archive edition Monday, July 4, 2011  Yesterday we encountered some Amish buggy traffic on our rural journey to church.  Listen to this message on your audio player."The Righteousness That Exalts A Nation" "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people" (Proverbs 14:34). "They are a nation without sense, there is no discernment in them" (Deuteronomy 32:28). Today is Independence Day here in America with many celebrating today and throughout the extended weekend. We realize many of our readers live outside of the USA but you can also apply today's brief challenge to the nation in which you live. In one way or another there's nowhere on earth this message would not apply! Proverbs 14:34 describes two contrasting outlooks concerning the state of a nation in God's reckoning: 1) "Righteousness exalts a nation." Righteousness in this case refers to people seeking to live according to God's holy standards as expressed in His Word. As people seek to live this way a nation is exalted or elevated; it is upright. By "nation" we may think of a present day political subdivision but the sense here is a people group. 2) "But sin is a disgrace to any people." Sin stains, separates, and brings shame and disgrace to the transgressor. Consider the disgrace of rampant sin in our country today; sexual immorality, violence, idolatry, dishonesty, greed and so many other evidences of rebellion against God. It seems day by day that this disgrace increases and the pace has certainly accelerated here in the USA in recent years, and is even more visible in recent months. What a weakened, pathetic spiritual condition our land is in. We desperately need a heaven-sent revival! Deuteronomy 32:28 is written from the context of a nation under God's judgment summed up with this description, "without sense, no discernment". Today we write to the people of God scattered throughout the world and encourage you to pray and live out a godly life against the grain of culture. In this great spiritual darkness Jesus continues to call You, His followers, to "let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). Let us, as Christ's true disciples, be people of conviction who will stand up for righteousness. May we be counted among those who exercise spiritual discernment. By doing so our righteousness will exalt this nation and help to bring about spiritual change in the lives of those in our nation! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, we want to live above the fray of this world as a people of righteousness set apart for Your purpose. We forsake the things of this world that bring disgrace to Your holy name and live for the purpose of bringing glory, honor and praise to You, our Father. We pray for our nation, for the turning away from our sins and turning toward the abundant life we find in Christ our Lord. You've called us to repentance and to share the good news of salvation to all who are lost. Help us to seek a fresh calling upon our lives to be obedient in this commission from Scripture. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.Here's a simplified outline of the message I preached yesterday also from today's text: 1) The righteousness that exalts a nation is expressed in a reverence for God. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He chose for His inheritance" (Psalm 33:12). 2) The righteousness that exalts a nation is expressed in a respect for the Holy Scriptures. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105). 3) The righteousness that exalts a nation is expressed in obedience to both the commands and prohibitions of God. “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse- the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known” Deuteronomy 11:26-28. 4) The righteousness that exalts a nation is expressed in recognition of God’s ordained order for society.
Friends Along The Way We made a short trip this last Thursday-Saturday. On Friday Brooksyne and Ester took a bus trip into New York City and while they were gone I spent some time visiting with Bob Weaver, a friend in Pottsville, PA. I also hiked along the Appalachian Trail and on Hawk Mountain, and drove through beautiful rural Berks County. During the trip and the remainder of the weekend we met several friends and family!  On Thursday afternoon we had lunch at "The Farmer's Wife" restaurant in Ono, PA with Jack and Millie Provard, whom we have known for many years. Jack pastored in a neighboring town when we served in upstate Pennsylvania about 20 years ago and we also worked together as chaplains about 8 years ago here in south-central Pennsylvania. They have been a wonderful source of encouragement to us through the years. They remain active in service for the Lord working with Teen Challenge and often serving in interim pastorates. Yes there really is an Ono, Pa (named for a Bible town) and a "Farmer's Wife Restaurant"   On the way back home we stopped at a store near Reading, PA and just happened to see some friends we've met the last couple of years. I had a brief visit with Irvin and Louise Martin and received and hopefully dispensed some providential encouragement! Irvin is a retired pastor and was stocking up on his favorite cereal. Speaking of providential meeting we were in an old order Mennonite store near Bethel PA when Ester ran into our neighbor's daughter who had married last year and moved to that area. This particular type of Mennonite would not have wanted a photo taken but we had a nice visit with her!  Yesterday afternoon we attended an anniversary celebration for Jerel and Fran Book. They have both had some significant overcoming in life. What a blessing to see their two sons and their many friends and family honor them.  Late yesterday afternoon our friends Mike and JoAnna Gardner stopped by to visit us along with their two children. They had also been at the anniversary celebration and were participating in a newlywed game when Ester took this photo! Turns out they were the winners (most recently married as well.) We will share more about our trip and some photos over the next couple of days! Tomorrow we will write about a visit to Eaton Farms, a large commercial farm near Reading PA. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources |
 "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 7/3/11: $6,485.00 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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