A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
 A daily, Bible-based message of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Click here to support our ministry.The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archive edition Monday, May 6, 2013  We have lots of new bird life in our neighborhood. Our next door neighbor merely lifted her camera up to snap this view of these hungry baby robins. "All Nature Sings" "And God said, 'Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky'" (Genesis 1:20). "The birds of the air … sing among the branches" (Psalm 104:12). "How many are your works, O Lord in wisdom You made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures" (Psalm 104:24). This is my Father's world, and to my listening ears All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres. This is my Father's world: I rest me in the thought Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas; His hand the wonders wrought. After a chilly April we are now getting warm, summer-like weather the last several days. We enjoy leaving our windows open at night and inviting the melodious birds to become our early morning alarm clock. We gradually awaken to the loud, cheerful songs of the birds who congregate in our backyard and in the tree line behind our property. We not only hear the combined sound of many birds, but with focus we can clearly hear individual birds as well. Birds were created on the fifth day of creation with God's glorious ex nihilo command, "Let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky". The term "ex nihilo" is a Latin phrase meaning "out of nothing." The ancient Nicene Creed states, "We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible." Scripture teaches that there was nothing but God, and that God by means of His incalculable wisdom and infinite power alone brought the universe (all matter, energy, time, and space) into existence from nothing. There was no preexistent physical reality; therefore nothing should not be understood as an actual something. Our second daily text makes an observation that virtually all of our readers can experience, the beautiful sounds of the birds of the air which "sing among the branches." Psalm 104 is a majestic expression of praise, beginning with the exclamation, "Praise the Lord, O my soul!" Throughout the Psalm the Father's greatness is displayed in nature. Let's consider one amazing aspect of our Father's greatness exhibited in nature in considering birds and their vocal system. A robin only weighs about 3 ounces. Of course some of the birds I see are larger and others are smaller such as the tiny hummingbird. I (Stephen) weigh about 1,000 times what a typical small bird such as a Robin weighs. (I suppose if you care to do math you can determine my weight!) As noted above I can clearly hear an individual bird from that tree line 200 feet away. If my math is correct that is the equivalent of a human having the vocal ability of being heard from some 160,000 feet away or about 30 miles! Although we live out in the country we have over 1,000,000 people that live within 30 miles. I have a louder than normal voice so I suppose people would hear me for some 45 miles! Can you imagine how annoying life would be if we all had the same vocal capability as a bird! We observe and proclaim with the Psalmist, "How many are your works, O Lord in wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures" (104:24). We make a renewed commitment this day using the words of the Psalmist, "I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to Him, as I rejoice in the LORD" (Psalm 104:3,34). Will you join us? Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, in Psalm 5 the Psalmist directs His prayer to You: "O Lord, in the morning will I direct my prayers to You and I will look to You with expectation." Though You neither slumber nor sleep and certainly have no need for an alarm clock, we know it brings delight to Your ears to hear Your children vocalizing their praises first thing upon awakening to a new day. Your steadfast love never ceases and Your mercies are unending. We declare our praises to You, Faithful Father as You lead us in paths of righteousness. For You bless the godly, O Lord, and surround them with Your shield of love and protection. Amen.Several weeks ago we shared another illustration about waking up to bird sounds, in that case a Robin, who persistently tapped on our front window. That robin continues to tap (though infrequently now) and has made a real mess of our front porch! Stephen's note: About ten days ago I wrenched my back trying to start a roto-tiller. Over the next week I could sure empathize with folks who have chronic back problems. Thankfully over the last several days I have improved and am almost back to normal. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources Brooksyne's note: Friday evening Ester and I served as part of the team for crowd management at the concert for Johnny Diez, Aaron Shust, and Mark Schultz (L to R), thereby attending the concert free. It's rather nice because you often get to meet the artists as well. I had a very nice conversation with Aaron (center) and expressed my appreciation for his ministry heart. He shared with the attendees a very moving testimony about his youngest son (14 months, I believe) who was born with down syndrome and has numerous physical challenges. Though he's had several operations already he recently received a miraculous healing for his hearing. Born profoundly deaf in one ear, extremely deaf in the other he was tested numerous times and results always flat lined showing no hearing. Aaron's wife took him to a prayer service in NYC over a weekend and he was prayed over. On the following Monday he was scheduled for a cochlear implant but was tested prior to the surgery. Results showed that he now tested for a "perfect diagnosis" as pronounced by the doctor. Aaron joyfully shared the picture of those results on a screen and it was remarkable. Ester has high frequency hearing loss, as a result of an IV medication she was given over a six week period, during a heart infection so we're quite familiar with those charts. We all rejoiced as Aaron shared this story.  "My Hope Is In You" Video Aaron Shust Along with "My Savior Love, My Savior Lives" and "Bless the Lord, O My Soul" Aaron has written this faith strengthening song. After hearing his story it is evident he lives what he writes. "He Was Walking Her Home" Video Mark Schultz (With Lyrics) A wonderful ballad of lifelong love. This is the true story of two friends Mark met after he moved to Nashville to pursue a musical career. He told us that the man in the song (older and forgetful) told him over and over the story of meeting his (then) girlfriend's father and asking if he could take her on a date. He gave permission but told him never to leave her side. He kept up his friendship with the couple and was inspired to write this ballad after visiting them in the nursing home where the wife went to be with the Lord. It is a very moving song! Mark is best known for "Love Letters From War" and "Remember Me" "This Is My Father's World" Video Fernando Ortega "All Creatures Of Our God And King" Video David Crowder "All Creatures Of Our God And King" Video Beautiful instrumental with animal photos. Also used as background song in today's podcast. |
 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 5/5/13: $7,189.00 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 |
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