A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
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 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.  Wednesday, December 18, 2013  Stone barn along the Tulpehocken Creek in Berks County PA. Click here to enlarge.  Listen to this message on your audio player. "It's Not Complicated!" "For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God" (1 Corinthians 1:26-30). "But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3). Monday evening we gathered with my brother Pat and his wife Laverne to share a meal near Reading PA. They brought along their three year old granddaughter, Grace. As we waited for our meal Grace informed everyone that she wanted to sing a song and proceeded to sing a short children's song expressing her faith in Christ. She spelled the name J-E-S-U-S to the jingle tune of B-I-N-G-O, and finished with "And Jesus was His name-o"! The server came to take her order but Grace wasn't done and unashamedly continued till the little song was complete. What a delight little children bring to life! The last two days we have used the unconventional method of drawing illustrations from a popular tv commercial series. If it's a football game Brooksyne will surely find more enjoyment in a commercial like this than the game itself!   Moving onto more critical, eternal matters let us consider the wonder of the Christmas story and overall Gospel message. It's not complicated and even a little child can understand the core truths. However even the most brilliant and learned minds can only scratch the surface of the wisdom and knowledge of God. "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!" (Romans 11:33). Elsewhere Paul writes of "Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:2,3). But today let us consider the simplicity of the Gospel. Today's first text was also written by the apostle Paul. He urges his readers, initially the Corinthian church, to "consider your calling". We often consider the calling in regard to specific vocational ministry such as being called of God to be a missionary. But in this context he is referring to the calling we all have. The glorious calling to believe in and follow Christ. "Not many of you were wise according to worldly standards" The key phrase is "wise according to worldly standards" Actually so many who are wise according to worldly standards reject the truth of Christ! Consider the bastions of academia where supposedly the brightest excel. So often they are also havens of unbelief and skepticism.  The world has always ridiculed the core truths of the Christian faith; the Creation account, the virgin birth, the miracles of Christ, His atoning death on the Cross, His glorious resurrection, His ascension and promised second coming. This ridicule is increasing as predicted in the Bible, "Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking" (2 Peter 2:3). In our second daily text Paul writes of the "simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ" that characterized the Corinthian believers. Let us give thanks for the simple truth of the Gospel of Christ and renew our resolve to live our lives to please the Lord! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, thank you today for the simplicity of the Gospel, that it's not complicated. We profess our faith in the message of the Gospel as taught in the Scriptures. Thank you that you loved the world so much that You sent Your only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. In a world where so much is complicated we thank you for this wonderful truth and confess our faith in Jesus Christ in whose name we pray. Amen.Barns Of Berks County On Monday we drove through Berks County to see the Koziars Christmas Village which we shared about yesterday. Berks County is adjacent to and northeast of Lancaster County. It has a city, Reading, but also beautiful rural areas and picturesque barns.  This barn across the Tulpehocken Creek has an unusual barn yellow color! Click here to enlarge.  Huge wreath on stone barn. The vertical slits are known as "balistratus" and are for ventilation, although when I first moved from this area someone told me the settlers used them to fire their rifles if they were being attacked! Click here to enlarge.  This stately white barn is decorated for the season! Click here to enlarge. We want to thank all who have financially supported our ministry this past year. We typically see a spike in giving at the end of the year for which we are most thankful. We realize there are many fine ministries and causes requesting support at this time but if the Lord would lead you we surely need and appreciate the financial support from our readers and listeners. Our ministry is comprised of half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies (of course, this varies week by week). Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many years is that each phase would provide half of our ministry expenses and income. If you would like to make a donation see here for more information or donate directly online here. Thank you!Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Strange Way To Save The World" Video Mark Harris An intriguing Christmas song. "Fullness Of Grace" Video Keith & Kristyn Getty "Father, How Sweet" Video Sovereign Grace Music "We Are The Reason" Video Avalon "Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger Ground)" Video Chris Tomlin "It's Not Complicated - Cutest Grape" Video This is a 30 second video of the tv commercial we referred to above. It will brighten your day! Resources for Christmas Celebrations (We will leave these resources posted below our daily messages through Christmas) Each year we share several online resources that we have used over the years and that may be a blessing to families and churches during this Christmas season. As we find additional material that we believe will be a blessing we will add it to this list as well. "In Remembrance of Me" pdf This is a passion-filled Scripture reading for two adults. Brooksyne and I have used this reading with great receptivity during Christmas Eve services many years. We suggest, if possible, a musical background as the message is read. It is also a great lead-in to a Communion service. It should be thoroughly practiced and read with great feeling. "When Christ Was Born" pdf This is an adaptation to the tune of "How Great Thou Art". It's a great song to sing as a congregation since most are familiar with and love the tune. Responsive Christmas Scripture readings for church or family: John 1:1-18 pdf "O Come Let Us Adore Him" pdf My First Christmas In Heaven This is a blessed reminder for all who lost a loved one this year. This is the poem that Brooksyne read and wrote about in this message. Christmas Knowledge Test We have also posted two Christmas carol quizzes here (scroll down). |
 Stephen and Brooksyne Weber(Click on photo to enlarge) Stephen and Brooksyne Weber (Click on photo to enlarge) About Us "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 10/21/13)  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 12/17/13: $24,195.00 If this email was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here.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 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: These messages are only sent from us to people who request it; please accept our apologies if it reached you in error. You can unsubscribe from this list at any time. 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   Endorsed chaplain "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" www.dailyencouragement.net |
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