Daily Encouragement

“Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn” (John 21:11).

It seems anyone who likes to fish enjoys telling about their fishing adventures. Last week Brooksyne and I were enjoying lunch with our friend, Rick Steudler, and he shared about his recent fishing expedition.  He pulled out the above photo and told us about the size of his amazing catch (6#10oz, 24.5″.)  He was conveniently carrying the fish photo in his front shirt pocket.  He excitedly recounted his trout fishing experience in northern Pennsylvania the first day of fishing season.

In fishing stories we’re very specific about how big they were, how many fish we caught, and details about the catch.  And, by all means, we must get a photo of ourselves holding the largest fish! If we have email we can then send it to our friends like my friend, Bill Mosebarger, in northern PA does. We men especially like to tell our stories and share photos from our prizewinning catch of fish.  Wives pull out photos of their children and grandchildren while men pull out photos of their fish, turkey or deer.

The fish story recorded in today’s text took place sometime during the forty day period after Christ was resurrected and before His ascension back to heaven.  It is one of twelve specific post-resurrection appearances by the risen Lord recorded in the Scriptures.  Seven of the disciples led by the experienced fisherman, Peter, had gone fishing overnight and caught nothing. I know many will state, “I just enjoy going fishing whether I catch anything or not” but I believe most fishermen really want to catch fish, the bigger the better!

The next morning Jesus saw them from the shore and shouted out some good fishing advice.  They wisely followed his instructions which resulted in so many fish they were unable to haul the net in. They went on to join Jesus for the first recorded men’s breakfast.  They enjoyed a good meal together as Jesus shared some powerful teaching with them.

But I always enjoy a detail in this story that’s part of any real fish story. Peter had jumped into the water and trudged in to meet the Lord. Then he went back to the boat to assist the other disciples in getting the catch in. John, who wrote this account, was one of the disciples on the boat and shares this authenticating detail: “It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.”

We have a description of the catch (full of large fish), specific number (153) and an interesting detail (even with so many the net was not torn).  I am glad, in the providence of God, that this story is in the Bible. It’s a great picture of the way God meets all of our needs.

Physically, the disciples were nurtured by the fish and bread Jesus prepared over the fire of burning coals.  Socially, they enjoyed the fellowship of one another as they talked about their miraculous catch over a warm breakfast. Financially, Jesus filled the net so full of large fish that the disciples could not even haul it in; it had to be towed by boat.  (Their wives would likely be treated to a “meal out” that evening.)  Spiritually, the disciples learned that obedience to the Lord’s instruction brought about great reward. It also laid groundwork for the important truths Jesus taught following their breakfast.

Not everyone reading our message today goes to a stream, river, lake or the ocean to catch fish.  But we are all called to be fishers of men.  Let’s cast out our faith in the sea of life and pray for a good catch of men and women, boys and girls who will decidedly follow the Lord Jesus Christ.  Now that’s a great story to share with others around the dinner table!

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily Prayer:  Jesus, we’re reminded of Your watchful eye as we go about our daily routine.  As the fishermen needed a catch of fish You met their need, over and above what they could have anticipated.  Help us to listen to Your wise instruction, walk faithfully in Your righteous paths, and trust You to meet everyone of our needs;  physically, spiritually, socially, and financially.  We thank You in advance for interceding to the Father on our behalf and supplying all our needs.  Amen.

Yesterday in a field along our walk we saw these large machines cutting the hay and raking it into windrows in one step. Here’s a closeup photo of the machine from the John Deere site. Two were working the field at the same time. They were extremely fast and manuevered the tractors like a zero-turn lawn mower. I greeted the drivers after they were done and asked them some questions and commented “It sure looks like your were having a good time!”

“O LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you.  Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress” (Isaiah 33:2).

Today let us meditate on the richness of this Scripture verse, which is actually a prayer, and let us find renewed strength in our walk with Christ.  I particularly ponder the exclamation phrase which begins the prayer, “O Lord”, which is found about 385 times in the Scriptures.  Today this phrase or its cousin, “O my God”, is often used thoughtlessly or even as a swear word. 

However tracking its use all throughout Scriptures I find it has a sense of deep and earnest petition or praise.  It is never used in trite situations such as we hear it often spoken today.  It is first used in Scripture as an earnest prayer by Abraham’s servant when seeking a wife for Isaac.  “O LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham” (Genesis 24:12).

It is last used in the book of Revelation in a chorus sung at the throne of God. “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed” (Revelation 15:3,4).

“Be gracious to us.”  The petition in this prayer is so simple and we have abundant promises of its fulfillment all through the Bible. Our Lord is always gracious toward us even though the critical problem at hand may overshadow our view of God’s gracious ways toward His children.  It’s always His nature to be loving and gracious.

“We long for you.” That’s such a key and yet I surely admit I don’t always long for the Lord as I should. There are so many distractions!  We need to be in a state of longing for God.  As Brooksyne and I prayed during our walk this morning even the surrounding beauty of God’s creation called for my attention and soon my mind was wandering off in another direction. 

Jim Gambini, my former pastor, writes: “The great danger the Christian faces is two-fold: because life on the planet is so ‘uncertain’ one temptation is to trust God to make us more secure through the accumulation of things or power/authority. The other temptation, if we have already accumulated plenty of this world’s goods, is to rest in what we have.”

“Be our strength every morning.” That is our ongoing need. Yesterday’s strength is inadequate for the challenges of this day. 

“Our salvation in time of distress.”  God is always our very present help in the time of any trouble or distress. Today, be encouraged by these truths as you join me in crying out “O Lord.”

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily Prayer:  To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in You I trust, O my God.  Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.  O Lord my God, I called to You for help and You healed me.  Though weeping may endure for a night, I’m grateful that rejoicing will come with a new day.  O Lord my God, I will give You thanks forever.  Amen.  
(Prayer adapted from selected verses in Psalm 25 & Psalm 30)

 
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us”  (Hebrews 12:1).

Start of Boston Marathon in Hopkinton Massachusetts

Today is one day I would really rather be somewhere else. If I had my rathers I would sure be in the Boston area for the 112th running of the Boston Marathon. Twenty thousand runners will begin the race in Hopkinton, Massachusetts on this beautiful Monday morning. And approximately 500,000 spectators will line the 26.2 mile course all along the route and the finish line will be packed in downtown Boston.  I know that personally since Brooksyne, Ester and I have been there!  Although we didn’t know a single runner we could still honor them as they completed the race and really get the sense that each one was a winner, even those stumbling in hours later. 

Each of us is running in a race as well; life’s marathon. I am so thankful that there’s not just one winner in the race we are running.  Everyone who finishes is a winner.  As we run life’s race we are surrounded by scores of fellow runners who witness our endurance and persistence.  These are the ones who’ve gone before us and completed the race.

Heartbreak Hill in the the Boston Marathon

They are not like the vast majority who will view the Marathon today though they never ran in one.  Instead our witnesses could say, “Been there, done that!”  Joshua pronounces, “My family and I chose to serve the Lord!”  Daniel speaks up, “As a young man I purposed in my heart to live God’s way!”  Paul joyfully declares, “I counted all loss and I finished the race!”  Stephen, in perpetual rejoicing, sees the Lord on His Throne. And our Lord Jesus, who also ran this race victoriously proclaims, “I did all that my Father asked of me.”
 
Witnesses include completers throughout the history of the church; some well-known, so many, many others known only by their generational peers.  I gain spiritual inspiration by realizing my parents are among these witnesses, as is my first pastor as a born-again Christian, James Howard. I gain inspiration as I consider a growing group of brothers and sisters I’ve known personally who have crossed the finish line. Jim Lutton, a close friend of ours, who was called home early is among them. (If they have humor in heaven he’s right in the middle stirring it up.) In my spirit I can almost hear them all crying out, “Come on Stephen, you can make it, stay faithful, it’s incredible up here!”

 
We are also surrounded by scores of fellow runners still in the race. Look around you today! What a great blessing they are. Count me in as one of these runners. We’re not in competition; we are in this together and we need each other.  Let’s encourage one another as we run this spiritual marathon together.  Let’s keep running, believers!  Let us indeed run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
 

Be encouraged today,
 

Stephen C. Weber

Daily Prayer:  Father, we recognize that our endurance and persistence are attitudes derived from a faith-filled life with You. Our endurance is realized by continuing this race though others may drop out making us feel like we run alone.  Our persistence is marked by our determination to finish the race though struggles weigh us down and doubts cloud our vision of the finish line.  Thank You for marking the race out for us by showing us the great examples of those who cheer us on as we participate in this Christian race.  They finished their race on earth through their enduring faith, though they experienced opposition from sinful men.  We endure hardships and struggles as discipline from You, our loving Father, that we may share in Your holiness.  We look forward to the harvest of righteousness and peace that comes as a result of our persistence in this spiritual marathon.  Strengthen our feeble arms and weak knees as we repent of the sin that entangles us.  We lay aside everything that drags us down or tempts us to give up.  We persist in the name of Jesus Christ for the heavenly finish line, amen.

“But what are they among so many?” (John 6:9).

Many years ago I read an inspiring mission story that I have never forgotten and hope I never do. I wish I had my pastor’s clipping and filing disciplines as I sure would like to read the entire article again!

It was about a man who had a very severe disability that greatly limited his ability to function. Yet he had a love for the Lord and a giving heart toward missions. He was determined to do what he could to support the worldwide cause of Christ.

At his request he was positioned under a walnut tree where he sat on the ground. One by one he laboriously picked up walnuts that would then be sold and the proceeds given to missions.

Most every reader in this encouragement series has heard of Fanny Crosby. She died in 1915 but her songs have endured and are still sung in churches all around the world. When we lived in New England we often drove through Bridgeport, Connecticut on I-95 where Fanny Crosby’s body was laid to rest.  This simple inscription is written on her tombstone: “She hath done what she could.”

Fanny Crosby was blind from infancy.  But she allowed God to use her gift of words put to music and has impacted many generations for Christ. No trace of bitterness is evident in her song texts and I don’t believe they existed.  She didn’t live out her life wallowing in regrets or torment herself with the defeatist mind game, “What if?”  She indeed did what she could.

Do you recognize the daily Scripture portion? I purposefully selected a short phrase from the verse apart from the context.  The disciples were confronted with a great need of how to feed the multitude.”  Philip did some quick math and determined the immensity of the food deficit. I appreciate people that can do quick mental math calculation.

Andrew found a little lad with five small barley loaves and two small fish and brought him to the Lord.  As Andrew looked at the apparent inadequacy of the food resource he realistically observed: “But what are they among so many?”  I may not be quick at math like Philip but I realize that I am a lot like Andrew in my analytical approach to problems.

Jesus didn’t answer Andrew’s question but merely instructed: “Have the people sit down.” Then He commenced with the marvelous, miraculous feeding of the five thousand.  What little food supply the lad provided was more than enough since God was in it.

God purposes to use each of us for His cause regardless of our apparent limitations.  So what is the lasting answer to the question, “but what are they among so many?” It is always “absolutely adequate” when God is in it!  Stay faithful to your call and mission today.

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily Prayer: Almighty God, help us not to look at the immensity of the task before us, but help us to look at the immensity of our all-powerful God.  With humankind many things are impossible but with You, our Father, nothing is impossible.  We want to trust You for supernatural workings in our lives and in the duties before us. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.  

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38,39).  “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day” (2 Timothy 1:12).

Athanasius, an early bishop of Alexandria, stoutly opposed the teachings of Arius, who declared that Christ was not the eternal Son of God, but merely a subordinate being. Hounded through five exiles, he was finally summoned before emperor Theodosius, who demanded he cease his opposition to Arius. The emperor reproved him and asked, “Do you not realize that all the world is against you?” Athanasius quickly answered, “Then I am against all the world.”

Today our world desperately needs followers of Christ like Athanasius who, with deep conviction, stand boldly for the Lord and His Word regardless of what is popular or what the world may say is right.  You’ve likely seen the slogan, “What’s popular isn’t always right, and what’s right isn’t always popular.” 

The words in the daily text “I am convinced” are a great source of strength and assurance for the believer. Living in a state of being convinced is an essential part of living the God-ordained life of spiritual abundance. If we are really convinced of God’s love and care we are blessed indeed! This conviction is an internal, personal appropriation of a constant, unchanging spiritual reality. You see, the reality is that God loves and cares for His own, whether we are convinced of it or not. The Amplified Version conveys a strong sense of the meaning when it translates: “I am persuaded beyond doubt.”
 
In this section of the epistle to the Romans the apostle Paul is expressing his supreme confidence in God’s master plan for his own life and for His Kingdom. He asks a very important question, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” (Romans 8:35). He responds to his own question with this glorious verse of assurance: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).
 
We are dealing with issues that would never have crossed our minds several years ago. These issues have tremendous impact on the personal, nationwide, and worldwide levels. Error is not creeping but charging into the church in such ways that our forefathers would never have imagined.  New sources of fear abound. Uncertainty permeates. We shake our heads in wonder as to what this world is coming to?  Today we sure need the same sense of being convinced that Paul experienced, don’t we?

Bill and Gloria Gaither, authors of over 700 inspirational songs, experienced fear and uncertainty surrounding the birth of their son Benjamin in 1970, which eventually became the seedling for the much loved classic, “Because He Lives.”  Today we have posted below a powerful video version of this song.

World conditions and personal trials can rob us of peace but let us instead seek the Peacespeaker.  He speaks not only to the winds and waves of the sea but He also calms our turbulent hearts today with that same directive message, “Peace, be still!”  Let’s entrust to Jesus those burdens upon our hearts this day and gain the perspective that the Father wants for His children.   I am absolutely convinced that life is worth the living just because He lives!

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Lord, I know that doubt and uncertainty impose fear while faith and assurance develops a calm, trusting spirit.  I do not look to the world for strength or encouragement but I look to Your Word where I am convinced that You will protect and guard that which You have entrusted to me until the day when Christ will come to judge all people and take us to live in heaven.  By the empowerment of Your indwelling Holy Spirit help me to boldly stand when the world and even those close to me assaults my faith. It is in Your strength and through Your power that I remain faithful though tested by fire.  May the purifying of my faith, worth more than gold, bring praise, glory and honor to Jesus my Lord and Saviour.  Amen.

“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him”  (Hebrews 9:27,28).

A friendly public service announcement from the staff at Daily Encouragement Net: Today in America taxes are due. Fellow Pennsylvanian Benjamin Franklin noted: “In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.”  Well, Franklin certainly paid taxes during his lifetime and when he died on April 17, 1790 he personally proved and experienced the other certainty.  Here we are, over 200 years later, and there’s no change in Franklin’s two certainties. Today Americans are reminded of and likely dealing with the certainty of taxes! For my entire life April 15 has represented the tax due date.

What if we all had a prominently displayed death due date printed on our forehead?  I imagine women would wear bangs all the time and hats would be a given for men everywhere. It’s interesting to think of how conversations would go. You meet someone and you try to politely avoid looking at their death due date but curiosity overrules and you find yourself discreetly noting their due date (they’re doing the same with you.) You see it and, as you feign interest in your conversation, you’re actually doing some mental calculating, determining how much longer they have.

Well, of course we were not born with this date notably engraved on our bodies. Aren’t you grateful for that!  The date has not been revealed to us, but we most certainly have one and we can be certain that God knows it.  Our death due date is expressed in Scripture in the straightforward phrase: “Man is destined to die once.”  Other versions use the word appointed or ordained.  It’s in the present tense indicating a fact which is continually true.

Nearly forty years ago I very specifically recall my dad receiving the news that his dad, my grandpa, had passed away.  We had a black, wall-mounted phone in our kitchen at that time and I vividly recall watching him lean against the wall. In brokenness he quietly wept as he received the news.  Ten years ago it was my turn to deal with my dad’s death.  I know, generationally, I will be the next to pass on but I have no idea when my due date is.  Simply stated, death is the God-ordained transition from this present life to the next.*  We are all born destined to die.

Another certainty is expressed by the Apostle Paul, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Timothy 6:7). But most people really don’t live their lives as if this were true!

The main question is this: Are we ready to die?  Are we prepared for the judgment?  This is a certainty that Benjamin Franklin didn’t note. God has given us a will to decide and there is absolutely no decision we make in our lifetime that is greater than this one.  As important as it is that we select the right marriage partner, our life’s vocation, or other major life decisions, these pale in comparison to our decision regarding our eternal destiny. 

The decision is to personally believe in Christ, receive Him as our Lord and Savior and daily live our lives for Him. This leads to another wonderful certainty: “I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24). I hope you have all made this decision to personally believe this essential truth.

But if somehow you have come across this brief message and haven’t done so, or you are uncertain of your salvation through faith in Christ, let me strongly urge you to examine your heart today. Remember, we all have a death due date!  God’s instruction from His Holy Word properly prepares us for the most important date of our human existence.  Make sure you’re ready!!

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily Prayer:  Jesus, it will take my entire life on earth and all of eternity to express my love and devotion to You.  In Your great love and compassion You saw my need for redemption and paid the ultimate sacrifice by dying on the Cross in my place.   You paid in full the sin debt You did not owe so that I could receive complete forgiveness which I did not deserve.  What indescribable peace this brings to my life on this earthly pilgrimage.  Although I do not know my death due date I have an assurance of eternal life when You have destined to call me home, not because of what I’ve done or who I am, but because You gave Your all for me!  I receive that incredible gift from You today!  Amen.

“And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us” (Romans 5:2b-5).

I am in close contact with a friend who has been undergoing a very fiery trial over the last several weeks. It has been a wracking experience for him as he has endured severe blows.   Yet he is demonstrating a remarkable faith, persevering spirit, and godly character in the midst of his suffering.  This was evident in a fervent prayer of intercession I heard him share among believers recently.

I am sure many of you have heard of a lecture titled, “The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch, which is very popular on the internet now. Randy is a professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh PA and is a very engaging and colorful speaker. What has made the lecture so popular is that Pausch gave it while dealing with a very severe form of pancreatic cancer and he has been told he has only months to live.  Although he does not express faith in Christ his outlook is very upbeat. How much more should we, as believers, have a hope-filled outlook that originates from the genuine eternal hope given to us by God!

In the lecture Pausch essentially shares his childhood dreams and the many ways in which his life has been fulfilling.  I find great spiritual application in his following observation:  “Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.” 

That sure got me to thinking. Throughout life we accumulate a great deal of experience since we all share the common testimony of not always getting what we want or even perhaps what we feel God surely wanted for us!  At times this means we undergo trials and, as our life progresses, we will have a growing collection of trials. 

We’ve all been disappointed by situations that just didn’t work out as we had planned. Most likely each of us has had several profound disappointments in life and many lesser ones.  But the “experience” we endure along the way is invaluable and part of God’s plan to shape our spirit and produce Christ-like character.

A phrase from a song written in the seventies continues to feed my spirit. It happens to be one of the songs  that Brooksyne sang in our early marriage (contemporary at the time.) “When grief has left you low, it causes tears to flow, when things have not turned out the way that you had planned. But God won’t forget you, His promises are true. Tears are a language God understands.”
 
I don’t always understand the Biblical truth expressed in the daily verse. Specifically I have trouble rejoicing in suffering. What about you? But the equation is a progression of godly traits and is interrelated: “Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” The last two characteristics result from the first two. I want godly character and I want eternal hope but, according to this Scripture, they are the end result of suffering and perseverance.
 
I doubt that it is in the nature of any believer to sincerely rejoice because of suffering, but rather we rejoice because we are confident that our loving God is in control.  The eventual outcome in our lives will be for our good, as we yield our will to the will of the Father. A maturing spiritual outlook realizes that this time of suffering is a part of God’s plan in forming the character of Christ within us. 

In faith, cling to a phrase from the last portion of our encouragement Scripture.   Read it slowly, memorize it, repeat it often, and appropriate it to your need today: “Hope does not disappoint us.” The ultimate hope we have in Christ will not disappoint! One thousand years into eternity no one is going to regret having placed their hope in Christ. May God give each of us the awareness today that our times of suffering do indeed work for our good, providing us with deep assurance that “hope does not disappoint.”

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer:  Heavenly Father, we live in Your grace that enables us to seek You more diligently as You produce in us a persevering spirit in the midst of adversity.  Instead of driving us to hopeless despair, our suffering produces perseverance and perseverance produces proven character whereas proven character brings about a mature hope that turns our disappointments into rejoicing. You have poured out your love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit and brought assurance to our spirit. The image of Christ is seen in our lives through the character traits You grow in us as we die to ourselves and live for You.  Keep us faithful and hopeful during the painful process.  In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.