A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
Having trouble reading this message? Read mobile edition online
A daily, Bible-based message of hope, encouragement and exhortation.
The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. Click here to support our ministry. <Previous Message · Archive edition
Friday, March 22, 2013
 In Lancaster County we have a lot of barns. They are usually white or red but I saw this photo of a gray barn on our friend Nick Nichols collection. We like that because it's the same color as our utility barn!  Listen to this message on your audio player.
"The Right Path"
"The heart is deceitful above all things" (Jeremiah 17:9). "Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path" (Proverbs 23:19).  Today we are in northern New York where we are visiting our long-time friends Jeff and Lois Worrall and their children. Jeff was in our church in northern Pennsylvania before we each moved from that area in the early nineties. He is a forester and today we hope to participate in the Lewis County Maple sap harvest. Of course this sap is used to make genuine maple syrup!This weekend we also hope to take a nice walk along a path in the foothills of the Adirondack mountains or perhaps along the shores of Lake Ontario or the Saint Lawrence Seaway. We understand they still have snow on the ground up that way so we were reminded to bring boots and winter woolens! We generally have mild winters here in Lancaster County and don't have the winter clothing we used when we lived in northern Pennsylvania.  As the weather warms up we will be making our local walks along our favorite walking path that begins on a tractor trail right across from our home. We enjoy having a variety of walking trails.There are many paths in life that beckon us. But spiritually there is only one path that leads to spiritual and eternal life; the path of righteousness. There are many other paths that ultimately lead to death, however pleasant they may temporarily be along the way. An example of sin's deceitfulness is the way it takes hold of our lives when we're guided by our feelings rather than the absolute truths of God's Word. The writer of Proverbs 14:12 put it this way: "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." The Lord Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). "Listen, my son, and be wise." The writer of Proverbs is referring to listening to God's truth, that which will make us truly wise. This wisdom speaks not only of head knowledge but also heart knowledge or godly understanding. This wisdom is not a result of any degree of innate intelligence or formal education as the world reckons it. In fact there may be no correlation between these characteristics and attaining godly wisdom. As Romans 1:22 states, "Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools." "Keep your heart on the right path." For all of us who earnestly seek to follow Christ this is a simple seven word phrase to keep before us each day. There are so many distractions and disturbances that seek to get us off the right path. We need to listen intently and obey the Voice of Truth. We can hear this voice through the Holy Scriptures which are able to make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus (see 2 Timothy 3:15). I will conclude the message with one more Scripture verse that supports today's emphasis, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life" (Proverbs 4:23).
"But the Voice of Truth tells me a different story.
The Voice of Truth says 'Do not be afraid'. And the Voice of Truth says 'This is for My glory'. Out of all the voices calling out to me. I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth." Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, even as a spring lake bubbles forth with fresh, clear water may my heart be like a wellspring bubbling forth with light and life. May the choices I make today reflect the Voice of Truth that points me in the way of life everlasting. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.Among the verses we considered using today is this one: "The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day" (Proverbs 4:18). Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "The Voice Of Truth" Video Casting Crowns "Show Me Your Ways" Video "This Is My Desire" Video Michael W Smith  Mike is a friend from one of our companies who uses a whiteboard at his work station to share a spiritual perspective. Every couple of weeks he puts up a new message! |
 Stephen and Brooksyne Weber (Click on photo to enlarge) "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 12/31/12)  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.2013 YTD financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net as of 3/21/13: $4,195.00. 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 to our email list. These messages are never sent by us unsolicited. It was sent to you because you either signed up to receive it OR it was forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or as an email subscription through Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.)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. Other versions are also occasionally used.
© Copyright 2013 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 | |
