Daily Encouragement

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Photo of pup on quilt (Photo by Doris High)

Anyone want to take this puppy home?
Photo by Doris High

Listen to this message on your audio player.

We suggest prior to reading today's message you listen to this song (or if you are a real multi-tasker listen as you read!) Note: Some of you can do this, others would be unable to do so. It probably requires a highspeed internet connection.

"Still Upholding"

"Upholding all things by His powerful Word" (Hebrews 1:3).

It sure is cold outside. As I examine the dull gray skies they appear to be setting up some clouds that will drop some moisture before the day is over (actually I heard the weather forecast indicating this to be the case.) I just took our dog Roxie outside and got a bucket of coal. She does her business quickly and then is quite ready to go back in the house. A clear sign that it's quite frigid, even for furry animals!

God made a standing promise to Noah after the flood: "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease" (Genesis 8:22).

Each of the described events and seasons in the verse is easily observable. Here in our rural area we have a perennial "seedtime and harvest." Brooksyne is already poring over the seed catalogs selecting the vegetables and flowers she'll be planting during the "seedtime" only months away. My farmer friend, Galen Martin, recently attended a conference in Ohio concerning advanced tilling methods. He's confident that in several months he'll be working the soil again.

We all experience "cold and heat" in varying extremes depending on where we live. And of course no one would contest that we still have "summer and winter, day and night." As long as the earth endures, these will never cease. It's still enduring and each of these easily observable characteristics have not ceased! God continues to uphold all things by His powerful Word.

But an aspect of God's upholding care is seen when I consider how much colder it could get in the winter and of course how much hotter it could get in the summer. In fact I have read that if the earth were just a small fraction closer or farther from the sun we would have extremes that would make life as we know it intolerable. The same is true for the earth's design in its rotation on its axis and its revolution around the sun.

God has designed and sustains the earth in an extremely predictable pattern. There are design limits in God's continuing care over the earth. We may grumble about the cold or the hot, but I've never met anyone that is terribly worried that the earth will move just a fraction farther from or closer to the sun causing us to suddenly plunge to 100 degrees below zero or boil at 212 degrees!

Hebrews 1:3 says that Christ is "upholding all things by His powerful Word." Today I am confident that He will continue to uphold and keep the earth as long as He ordains its existence.

He will also continue to uphold you and me. After all, "all things" covers it all!

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, as You created order in the universe You also created order and harmony in my life. Sometimes it seems as though chaos triumphs over order, but then I take some quiet time with You in Your Word and find that You still my heart and calm my troubled spirit. You do uphold me by Your powerful promises reavealed in Your Word and through the presence of Your Holy Spirit that dwells within. Thank You for Your great faithfulness that I witness and experience each new day! Amen.

Brooksyne's Note: God's faithfulness is often seen through the actions or words of other people we encounter each day. This morning I went to the hairdresser for an 8:30 haircut. I had a need that weighed heavily on my heart even though I took it to the Lord less than an hour before in my prayer time. God spoke through my hairdresser the very thing I needed to hear, though I hadn't shared my need with her. She told me of a parallel experience in her life and how God had turned that situation around for His glory. It gave me a new perspective and encouraged me especially as she poured out from her heart to the point of her stopping to wiping away a few tears. The warmth of her message and the loving hug she shared before I left lifted my spirits and my heavy heart. May God bless all of our readers today as You allow the Lord to speak through you in your place of service today.

In yesterday's message we shared about keeping a loose grip on the things of this earth. We always enjoy feedback to our messages and want to share several we received:

A reader from New Zealand wrote an interesting perspective: "My father has suffered from Parkinson's disease for the past eighteen years, and as the disease has progressed he is now fully dependent on 24 hour care. I consider myself blessed rather than bitter to be part of this journey - through it I have a found the heart of compassion, and no longer fear his death, for I know that one day he will be free of his disabled body suit. Thank you for reminding me that death is as natural as living, and that the best is yet to come – praise the Lord!!" (Brooksyne especially liked the interesting descriptive phrase of the father's perishable body, "disabled body suit".)

Another reader wrote, "I really thank God for you people for the encouraging verses you have been sending to the daily encouragement readers. May God bless you in a mighty way. I live in Kenya, Africa. Since last year 2007 after elections we have been having chaos because of the election results. Me and my fellow Christians do believe that God is for us Kenyans and He is fighting for us. My prayer request is that you please pray for us because many lives have been lost and many people have been displaced and are camping as refugees in different churches and schools. Most of the children in rural areas have not resumed school because of all this skirmishes. Most of the people are scared because they have never seen what is happening to our beloved country Kenya. May God always bless you because you bless others."

Stephen Escedy, a longtime friend who was a part of the church I pastored in upstate Pennsylvania, was an alcoholic prior to his commitment to Christ and has overcome a lot of heartache. He wrote, "I am hanging on a rope and at times slide down it a little but at the end of the rope Jesus has placed a strong knot."

Here's another photo from our trip to the Smoky Mountains last week. Ester enjoyed climbing on the rocks and the challenge of not getting wet. I really enjoyed photographing the rock-filled rapid streams coming off the mountains.

Today's Suggested Music

"Great Is Thy Faithfulness" (Audio) This is the song I suggested at the top.

"Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus" (Audio)

New

I found an interesting source for online music. Both of today's featured songs come from this source (Sonific) as well as the following two playlists:
Classic hymns mix A collection of ten of my favorite hymns.
Christian eclectic mix A longer collection of contemporary songs (as many as I could place on the playlist!) Some I had heard before, most were new to me. Several are by artists I am familiar with, but most I had never heard of.

(Note: The above files are a test. Although I checked them out and they worked well for me I don't know how they will work on all machines. They will open to small music player with play and volume controls.)

Today's photo by our friend Doris High is from her "Quilt Auction" photo collection. See this site for a sense of a Lancaster County quilt auction!

Administration Information

Stephen, Brooksyne and Ester Weber

"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!"

Personal Ministry Update
Revised 11/28/07

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 encouragement ministry? Thanks! See here for details. (2008 YTD financial offerings 1/16/2008 $595.00)

Join: To receive these free "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. You can also subscribe to the rss feed.

Cancel: To remove your address from this mailing list merely use the link automatically placed by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each message.

Weekly Version: The weekly version is designed for those who do not check their email regularly. It is merely the Friday message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.)

Please feel free to pass this message on!

Our other blogs:
"A Daily Prayer" - The daily prayer from each daily encouragement message.
"A Little Foolishness" - A collection of humorous and satirical stories drawn mostly from our years of ministry, as well as my sometimes fertile imagination.
"Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the church.

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. Used by permission; and the King James Version.

Daily Encouragement Net
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552
Contact us

"Living securely today anchored
in God's solid foundation"

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

"The Loose Grip"

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Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Photo of cloud with Scripture verse (Photo by Doris High)

Listen to this message on your audio player.

"The Loose Grip"

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

In football a tight grip is vitally important to an eventual victory and the same is true regarding our hold on the spiritual things in life. But there is also a very important application to maintaining a loose grip in life! Let me explain.

Several years ago I went to a meeting where Larry Burkett was the main speaker. Larry had a longstanding, fruitful ministry concerning a Biblical view of financial stewardship that many of us benefited from. He was very ill at the meeting and speaking was a major effort for him in his physically compromised condition. He shared the interesting perspective of having a terminal illness and how it had changed his life. Eight years earlier he had been diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer that is virtually incurable. He shared that of the 73 people who had been diagnosed with the cancer, and were in a medical study with him, 72 had already died. Larry passed on about 6 months after this meeting in July of 2003.

We are all terminal as far as our physical bodies are concerned. Most of us are indefinitely terminal; that is, we have no idea of when we will die and generally assume that our death is far off; that we will live to a ripe old age. But a diagnosis of a terminal disease places a definite finality on our physical existence. This is what Larry meant when he shared how his disease had changed his life, living with this perspective each day.

Of course in reality this is the perspective we should always live with. Not in a morbid, negative sense but it should motivate us to keep a loose grip on the perishable and a tight hold on the imperishable. As we feed on the Word faithfully our spiritual appetite will be growing and our affections for heaven will be increasing as we anticipate our face to face meeting with Jesus when we finally behold Him in His full glory. Just keeping a vision of that glorious moment in our hearts will deeply impact our attitude in all that we process on this day. Paul writes, "Our citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:20).

In the daily text the Apostle Paul shares of the perspective we should be living with. I would sure like to give an exposition of these three verses phrase by phrase but then this devotional would be really long! Essentially he's describing a loose grip by contrasting the seen (physical) which is temporary with the unseen (spiritual) which is eternal.

I am particularly intrigued by the phrase "so we fix our eyes." This translates a Greek word that is in the present active meaning "to fix one's gaze upon, to concentrate one's attention upon." That is sure the outlook in which we want to live our lives and when we do so we experience the inner peace that is our inheritance in Christ. But when we focus on the things pertaining only to this life our inner peace quickly diminishes. Frankly we would be driven to deep despair if we were placing much hope in seeing this world's problems solved politically!

There's a wonderful description of this outlook in the Faith Chapter in Hebrews, initially written to encourage persecuted believers, that is so illustrative of this "loose grip" outlook that we want to conclude with.

"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them" (Hebrews 11:13-16).

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Today's Prayer: Father, with great anticipation I am looking for a city with an eternally strong foundation, a home in the heavens not made by human hands. Help me to live as an alien here on earth since the benefits of my citizenship in heaven is of far greater worth than the benefits of my citizenship here in this country below. Keep me tightly holding onto Your promise of the heaven yet to come so that I will loosely grip the temporal that is only for the here and now. I cling to this great promise repeated throughout the Bible so that it gives me a proper perspective in the way I am to live as a stranger here on earth. Amen.

Yesterday I shared a photo of a mountain stream I took in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park along with a Scripture verse. I had prepared a larger photo suitable for use as a desktop background but had it coded wrong in the link so it opened to a dead page. Here it is again!

Today's Suggested Music

"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" (Audio) I used this song Monday but it fits so well with today's message as well. This is a beautiful version.

"Open The Eyes Of My Heart" (Audio)

"We Shall Behold Him" (Video)

Here's a perspective of having a tight grip!

"Hold tight to everything that is good." (Romans 12:9)

Administration Information

Stephen, Brooksyne and Ester Weber

"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!"

Personal Ministry Update
Revised 11/28/07

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 encouragement ministry? Thanks! See here for details. (2008 YTD financial offerings 1/16/2008 $575.00)

Join: To receive these free "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. You can also subscribe to the rss feed.

Cancel: To remove your address from this mailing list merely use the link automatically placed by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each message.

Weekly Version: The weekly version is designed for those who do not check their email regularly. It is merely the Friday message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.)

Please feel free to pass this message on!

Daily Encouragement Net
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552
Contact us

"Living securely today anchored
in God's solid foundation"

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

"The Grace Outlook"

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Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Stream in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Click here for a desktop sized image.

Listen to this message on your audio player.

Note: During the final prep for this message I received word from a friend named Bill that a mutual friend, Dave, just received word that he has been diagnosed with a serious form of cancer. I dedicate today's message to him. God's grace is sufficient.

"The Grace Outlook"

"Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring" (2 Thessalonians 1:4).

In a prayer service Sunday evening I prayed with a man I did not personally know. He was sitting behind me and when we were encouraged to gather with others for prayer Brooksyne went in one direction and joined some ladies sitting in front of us. and I turned around and prayed with Nick. In the course of our prayer and brief fellowship that followed he shared with me that just four months earlier his wife died after a lengthy 5 year illness with a progressively debilitating neurological disease, during which time he cared for her. It was obvious that he was still in the grieving process but he expressed such faith in the goodness of the Lord and shared how his church had rallied around him during his most difficult trial. (I always like to hear good things about the Lord and the local church!)

He shared with me how God's grace had sustained him through the lengthy illness and now in this period of grief following her death. I shared with him how we can't store up or anticipate when we will need grace, but God just seems to dispense according to our need.

Today I want to consider a spiritual principle known as the "grace outlook." Each day I can look at the problems and challenges I face in life and make that my major focus, as many do and I certainly have (and still periodically do). Or I can focus on God's blessings expressed in my life through His abundant grace. That's a choice we make daily.

Paul, writing to the young Thessalonian church, expressed that "among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring." In typical New Testament usage persecutions and trials would have been referring to the serious consequences they were experiencing as they took a stand for Christ, not the relatively minor annoyances of life that are all too commonplace in times of peace and prosperity. Of course many of our brothers and sisters are experiencing this NT level of persecution and some readers are experiencing tremendous trials as well. Yesterday I received a note concerning a friend named Tony who passed away after a difficult battle with cancer and am presently processing the loss as are his co-workers, many of whom I am acquainted with.

But I feel the principle truth of the grace outlook can apply regardless of the duration or severity of the trials we incur throughout life. Paul ends the first chapter of II Thessalonians with a prayer in which he asks the Father to fulfill His good purpose in their lives as they are prompted by faith to do His will. "We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ" (1:12).

In having a "grace outlook" we seek to constantly view life as a gift from God and see His hand at work in every circumstance every day. That's why wherever we live, whatever we are going through, we can truly declare, "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." I challenge you to do that today!

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Today's Prayer: Father, we rejoice in this day because You made it and You also made us. We are Your handiwork and we desire to please You and be considered worthy of our calling. May You fulfill Your good purpose in our lives and make us useful to Your Kingdom this day. Amen.

Brooksyne's Note: As we practice a "grace outlook" in the midst of testing sometimes the theme of "holding on" is simply another expression for "I'm enduring." Often I ask people, "How are you doing?" and they respond with "Mmm, I'm holding on." My sincere comeback is usually, "Just don't let go!" I somehow envision a person holding onto a rod extended from one side of a deep canyon to the other. The thought of that person letting go is devastating so that's why I often use a comeback when I hear the oft repeated expression, "I'm holding on." This morning I read the lyrics of a song I've never heard sung that may be of encouragement to some of our readers today. Perhaps you even know the song. The text is by Ruth Tracy and it will bless you as you read it slowly and thoughtfully.

I've found the secret of success,
'Tis holding on, 'tis holding on;
The way to every blessedness,
'Tis holding on, 'tis holding on.
Our warfare may be hard and fierce,
Oft Satan's arrows wound and pierce,
But still we get more smiles than tears
By holding on, by holding on.

If full salvation you would gain,
Keep holding on, keep holding on;
To conquer sins that bring you pain,
Keep holding on, keep holding on.
God loves to give the better part,
Not unto those who only start,
But those who seek with all their heart,
And then in faith keep holding on.

Family photo along a Smoky Mountain trail

Last week we enjoyed our visit to the Great Smoky Mountains and took this photo during one of our many walks. I had to balance the camera on a rock on the ground to use the self timer!

During our trip to North Carolina and Tennessee last week we visited Mike and Kathy Matangelo and their daughter Tina who live in the Hickory NC area. We attended their church and then had dinner at their place on the way from my sister's home in Greensboro to Gatlinburg. Mike and Kathy were among our very first friends when we moved from Missouri to Pennsylvania in 1977 to plant a church in Saint Marys. In fact they attended the very first service! They continue to serve the Lord and are both active in a prison ministry mentoring young inmates. One of these days I may write a separate article about an experience Mike had but want to briefly share it here. Mike is an electrical engineer and had a successful career in the corporate world. In the last several years he wanted to have more flexibility and time to serve in ministry so he resigned his job and trained to be a real estate agent. When he resigned from his job he told his boss of his intention in ministry and specifically his work with young incarcerated men. His boss told him, "Why would you waste your time with those people." Isn't that the attitude so many have? Thank God for those that go forth with the redemptive message of Jesus Christ to the lost!

Today's Suggested Music

"Amazing Grace" (Video) This video version is from the movie "Amazing Grace" and features scenes from the movie as well as Chris Tomlin playing a piano covered with leaves. (Worth watching in itself!

"Grace Alone" (Audio) A favorite song of our church in New England.

"Grace Flows Down" (Audio)

"God of Grace" (Audio) (Video)

Administration Information

Stephen, Brooksyne and Ester Weber

"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!"

Personal Ministry Update
Revised 11/28/07

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 encouragement ministry? Thanks! See here for details. (2008 YTD financial offerings 1/15/2008 $575.00)

Join: To receive these free "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. You can also subscribe to the rss feed.

Cancel: To remove your address from this mailing list merely use the link automatically placed by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each message.

Weekly Version: The weekly version is designed for those who do not check their email regularly. It is merely the Friday message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.)

Please feel free to pass this message on!

Daily Encouragement Net
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552
Contact us

"Living securely today anchored
in God's solid foundation"

Monday, January 14, 2008

"Extinguished Pastors"

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Monday, January 14, 2008

The Seaman's Bethel Chapel in New Bedford Massachusetts

Listen to this message on your audio player.

"Extinguished Pastors"

"'Is not my word like fire?' declares the LORD" (Jeremiah 23:29).

Last night we attended a community prayer service with numerous congregations joining together. The host pastor warmly welcomed everyone who was visiting. He then gestured toward the various pastors who were sitting together in the second pew and said, "I would now like to introduce these extinguished pastors." After hearing his own misspoken words, along with a room full of polite laughter, he quickly corrected himself and then properly referred to them as "distinguished pastors."

Most pastors I know are on fire and spur others on in the faith, but sadly there are pastors who do extinguish the fire of God's Word and quench His Spirit. The unintentional faux pas brought back the memory of a visit we made many years ago when we lived in New England.

The Seaman's Bethel is in the seaport city of New Bedford, Massachusetts across from the Whaling Museum. Since the early 1800's this Christian Chapel has been active for the many fishermen and sailors who are based in New Bedford. In fact this very chapel is mentioned in Herman Melville's classic Moby Dick where it reads, "In the same New Bedford there stands a Whaleman's Chapel, and few are the moody fishermen, shortly bound for the Indian Ocean or Pacific, who fail to make a Sunday visit to the spot."

When I visited the chapel I found one interesting feature to be the huge pulpit, which is shaped like the bow of a ship. When visiting historic churches I often stand behind the pulpit to get a feel for what it would be like to preach in that setting. So I stood behind the bow-shaped pulpit and looked out over the benches, imagining what it would be like to share God's Word with the whaling men one hundred years ago. In Moby Dick there is a scene where a fire-and-brimstone sermon is preached from this very same pulpit.

But I found something else most interesting behind the pulpit, where only the minister can see it; a fire extinguisher! Now I'm quite sure it has a very utilitarian purpose and when you think about it, it's really a pretty good idea. If a fire should break out we'd certainly expect the preacher to be alert and quickly notice it. This may not always be the case with some in the congregation (depending on how wide awake, or not, they are!)

I just hope no one would ever use an extinguisher to extinguish the genuine fire of God's Word. But do we? I'm afraid it happens, but I certainly hope it wouldn't be the preacher! Paul had likely seen this happen in his evangelistic ministry so he warned his readers to "quench not the Spirit" (1 Thessalonians 5:19). The NIV translates this verse, "Do not put out the Spirit's fire."

Perhaps there's another reason to keep a spiritual fire extinguisher behind the pulpit. The apostle Paul wrote in regard to the armor of God: "…Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one" (Ephesians 6:16). Indeed, a spiritual fire extinguisher comes in pretty handy!

We may face some fiery arrows today but we are not powerless when we use the extinguisher that God has provided. Lift up the mighty shield of faith as a powerful defense against the attacks of the enemy from within and without! The shield of faith cannot be pierced by Satan's fiery darts no matter the venom or speed with which he hurls them. Let us be filled with the Spirit of God so that we extinguish the enemy's fire while setting ablaze the fire of God's Word.

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Today's Prayer: Father, we are grateful for the fire of Your Spirit that ignites us to be strong in our faith, wise in our understanding, and obedient in our service to You. May we be eager to listen to Your Spirit's promptings as we fulfill our duties this day. Amen.

Seaman's Bethel

Today's Suggested Music

"Give Me Jesus" (Audio)

"Take My Life And Let It Be" (Audio)

"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" (Audio) This is one of the prettiest arrangements I've ever heard of this song. The first half is instrumental with outstanding violin.

"Surrender" (Audio)

Administration Information

Stephen, Brooksyne and Ester Weber

"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!"

Personal Ministry Update
Revised 11/28/07

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 encouragement ministry? Thanks! See here for details. (2008 YTD financial offerings 1/14/2008 $575.00)

Join: To receive these free "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. You can also subscribe to the rss feed.

Cancel: To remove your address from this mailing list merely use the link automatically placed by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each message.

Weekly Version: The weekly version is designed for those who do not check their email regularly. It is merely the Friday message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.)

Please feel free to pass this message on!

Daily Encouragement Net
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552
Contact us

"Living securely today anchored
in God's solid foundation"

Friday, January 11, 2008

"Deeded to God Almighty"

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A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.

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Friday, January 11, 2008

Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Click on photo to enlarge to desktop size.

Listen to this message on your audio player.

"Deeded to God Almighty"

"The earth is the LORD'S, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein" (Psalm 24:1).

During our visit to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park we visited a valley with stunning mountain views known as Cades Cove. When I first heard about this area I was curious as to why an inland area would be called a cove since I have always associated a cove with water. However in Smoky Mountain vernacular a cove is "a relatively flat valley between mountains or ridges."

Beginning in the early 1800's Cades Cove was settled and its population peaked with about 700 inhabitants in 1900. When the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established the lands were bought by the Park Service. Now all that remains as evidence of the settlement are about 70 historic buildings (cabins, churches, barns) that were left for tourists to visit. The buildings are stripped of all furnishings allowing visitors to go inside the structures as well. We spent several hours driving through the area, visiting the buildings, and enjoying the outstanding views.

When we first drove into Cades Cove I stopped for information and visited with a park ranger for awhile. (Brooksyne and Ester would say "a very long while!") We sure had an interesting conversation as he told me he was actually related to many of the Cove residents and personally knew several who lived there before being bought out by the park service in the 1930's.

He told me an interesting story about his great grandfather, John W. Oliver, who at one time owned 5,000 acres and resisted the government's efforts to buy his land. He was determined to stay so he stalled the eviction by deeding all his property to God Almighty. This caused quite a legal dilemma in the imminent domain process! The case eventually went to the Tennessee Supreme Court three times before he finally lost and with great reluctance moved his household goods and farm machinery from the Cove on a bleak December day in 1937.

That phrase "deeded to God Almighty" caught my attention. It certainly was an interesting strategy in stalling the eviction. The ranger and I didn't discuss his great grandpa's religious convictions so I don't know how pure his motives were in making such a bold assertion. But I do know that in a spiritual sense he was absolutely correct since ultimately all land is deeded to God Almighty!

Consider the stirring acclamation of David in our daily verse. The shepherd, who had spent so much time in natural settings, perhaps with scenes similar to Cades Cove in today's photo, proclaimed "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."

Today, I encourage you, wherever you live, to observe the beautiful creation of God. Take some extra time, using all five of your God-given senses, to observe the often overlooked blessings of God's creation. If you do, it will result in your giving praise to the God who created, blesses and rules the entire universe. Remember all the earth and universe is indeed ultimately deeded to God Almighty!

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily Prayer: The heavens declare Your glory, Father, and all the earth reflects Your praise! You stretch out the skies like a tent and You built Your dwelling above the clouds. You built the earth on its foundations with mountains that rise and valleys that descend. You set borders for the seas that they cannot cross and You make flowing springs pour into the ravines. You water the wild animals and provide nests for the wild birds who sing among the tree branches. The earth overflows with things You have made both for our pleasure and for our sustenance. All that we have belongs to You, Father, who gives all good things to Your creation. May we, Your children, be faithful stewards and grateful recipients as we regularly observe Your creative bounty. Amen.

(See Psalm 104 for further inspiration regarding God's creation)

Some more photos of our visit to Cades Cove
in Great Smoky Mountain National Park

John Oliver log cabin (This was built in the early 1820's by the great grandfather of the John W. Oliver mentioned in today's message.)

Brooksyne & Ester walking on the cabin trail. We took a lot of walks.

Deer and wild turkeys are abundant in the Cove, scarcely phased by human presence.

Personal Note: We enjoyed our trip and returned to Pennsylvania yesterday. We had hoped to find a wireless internet connection along the road yesterday to send out a message but instead had a very long service call on our van and ending up getting back about 10:00 last night. We enjoyed our visit with my sister Genelle and her husband Ceasar as well as our longtime friends Mike and Kathy Matangelo and their daughter Tina. We sure were blessed by the several days we had in the Great Smokies. But it's always great to be home!

Today's Suggested Music

"All The Earth Will Sing Your Praise" (Audio)

"As The Deer" (Audio)

"Creation Calls" (Audio)

Administration Information

Stephen, Brooksyne and Ester Weber

"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!"

Personal Ministry Update
Revised 11/28/07

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 encouragement ministry? Thanks! See here for details. (2008 YTD financial offerings 1/10/2008 $325.00)

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Daily Encouragement Net
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552
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"Living securely today anchored
in God's solid foundation"