A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
 A daily, Bible-based message of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Click here to donate online.The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archive edition Wednesday, October 17, 2012  Display of old tractor seats on the wood ceiling at Basketville in Putney Vermont. We can imagine that bouncing up and down on these hard seats makes a padded saddle look a little more comfy!  Listen to this message on your audio player.Note: Due to travel and our desire to get home a podcast is not prepared today. "Honoring Marriage" "Marriage should be honored by all" (Hebrews 13:4). For many of us a specific date will prompt a memory. In my case (Stephen) it is my parent's wedding anniversary today. Theirs was one of the millions of marriages established near or at the end of World War 2. Although both have died I recognize this date as their 68th wedding anniversary. I continue to honor their marriage, even in their absence. Yesterday we stopped near Springfield, Massachusetts for dinner at an "On The Border" Mexican Restaurant. As we were leaving I saw a sight very common in Lancaster County but quite unusual for New England. A young plain couple were entering the restaurant, their dress and appearance similar to the old-order Mennonites in our area. Curiosity got the best of me so I did a little investigative work and drove by where they had parked their car and noted a "Just Married" on their back window and an Indiana license plate. I deduced that they were on their honeymoon in New England! I honor the sanctity of their very recent marital vows. In this series we often refer to the daily Scripture portion. In a time of moral relativism and confusion regular reminders of Biblical truth are so needed! (See Philippians 3:1) "Marriage should be honored by all." This simple, straightforward command is so needed today. This command is referring not only to a specific marriage but to the institution of marriage as well. 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 when we speak of it and the way we live it out with our spouse. Marriage dedication page from my grandparent's Bible. This Bible was given to my grandparents by the minister who conducted their wedding ceremony on December 28, 1904. They celebrated 66 fruitful years of marriage before my grandpa died in 1971. My grandma died a short time thereafter. Today although they are long gone, I honor their marriage and realize the positive impact their lives had on so many not just in their own generation, but also on the generations that followed right up to the present time. We headed back toward home from Vermont yesterday and will share several photos of stops we made along the way. We prepare this message from northern New Jersey.  We like old-fashioned country stores where the wooden floors are uneven and creak as customers walk through, the beams are exposed and old-fashioned lanterns are hung throughout the store. Vermont Country Store in Rockingham is such a place and lures tourists in with their bountiful supply of samples, from cheese to spreads, fudge, cookies, candies....just the place Stephen and I should stay away from. This photo shows only about 1/4 of the counter filled with sweet bulk candies of every imaginable flavor. The store could be named "Sweet Temptations".  This photo may initially appear upside down due to all the baskets hanging from the ceiling. We stopped at Basketville in Putney, VT as recommended by a manager of the hotel where we stayed. We never before saw such an assortment of baskets that filled two large floor levels.  Of course being in the area we stopped by Yankee Candle in South Deerfield, MA!  The store's reputation for being an attraction just for women changed when they developed manly scents like Mountain Lodge, 2X4 and other fragrances that smell like men's cologne, etc. An entire room is devoted to fishing, hunting, sports and the likes. BTW the 2X4 candle really smells like a fresh cut 2x4! Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "God Of The Ages" Video "God Of The Ages" Video Vermont Country Store Basketville Yankee Candle Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne. |
 Stephen and Brooksyne Weber (Click on photo to enlarge) "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 4/12)  Are our daily encouragement messages a blessing to you? Each weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. We ask you to consider an offering to Daily Encouragement Net so that we can continue to prepare and provide this daily resource which is accessed by believers and seekers all over the world. Daily Encouragement Net relies solely on the generosity and financial support of its readers and podcast listeners. See here for more information on supporting this ministry. Gifts are tax deductible. Click here to donate online. 2012 financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net as of 10/15/12: $13,646.00. We express thanks to all who support our ministry! 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. These messages are 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! Our other blogs: "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!) (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. 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 2012 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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