“Ministry Marriage”
May 8, 2013
May 8, 1976
Listen to this message on your audio player.
many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife
making the sorrowing glad.
Sunday I visited with Clarence and Alverta, who will soon celebrate their 71st wedding anniversary, A colorful couple and especially vibrant is Alverta, they end up refreshing me as I seek to bless them with chaplain care. See below for a photo of Clarence reading the Bible.
Today is a special day in our home. Thirty-seven years ago Brooksyne and I were married in her home church in Sapulpa, Oklahoma and we began our journey together as the Weber family. For this we are very thankful. We had both committed our lives to Jesus Christ years earlier and have served the Lord together in our 37 years of marriage.
We’ve had our victories. We’ve had our disappointments. And we still have them. We were unable to have our own biological children and we’ve had several of the inevitable heartaches associated with ministry. Raising our daughter, Ester, though a tremendous blessing to us, has presented numerous challenges as well.
Like any issue of life we have a choice whether to focus on the positive or negative. We choose to focus on the positive and God’s many, many blessings. God has blessed us with a very fulfilling marriage along with a fruitful ministry. Today we have chaplain ministry and expect to encounter those navigating their way through this broken world. The old song “Make Me A Blessing” is a lifelong outlook.
Tell of His pow’r to forgive;
Others will trust Him if only you prove
true ev’ry moment you live.
We’ve always admired the joint ministry of Aquila and Priscilla and have preached messages together based upon their lives. They are referenced seven times in Scripture in five separate contexts of ministry. Their names are always mentioned together and every reference to them is positive.
Most of you can probably think of ministry couples who have impacted your life for Christ. Brooksyne and I thank God for the ministry couples who have enriched both our marriage and ministry. Some people come to mind as a couple rather than individual, and when we speak of them we tend to refer to them both rather than as individuals.
Take a moment to thank God and pray for these couples today. As you have opportunity let them know of the blessing they have been to you! Sometimes the very people who inspire us along the way lose their spiritual focus or become wearied by life’s struggles and need a fresh touch from the Lord. Is Christ asking you to be His messenger of encouragement today?
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen and Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father, what a joy it is to walk along life’s pathway with a loving companion who is present during times of celebration as well as times of disappointment. It seems that You make him strong when I am weak, and when he is weak You make me strong. You blend our strengths and weaknesses to make us an effective spiritual team and a genuinely committed family. Thank You for your countless blessings that far outnumber the difficulties and heartaches of our lives.
Father, I pray that you would encourage our readers who are presently going through marital strife. Remind them that they will experience future blessing as they endure and work through their present difficulties. When we cut short the permanency intended in a marital relationship we miss so much of the blessing that comes years later after many of the earlier struggles are but a memory. Thank you for the spouse of my youth who remains my constant companion as we grow old together. What a marvelous blessing! We thank You as we come to You in prayer through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Brooksyne’s note (I shared this note about eight years ago): As Stephen and I shared together in our encouragement today I am very sensitive to the people we visit and the emails we receive from regular readers regarding marital difficulties. Some of you write about the deep wounds you feel as a result of your spouse’s unfaithfulness in marriage. I want to share with you personally an example from my own childhood that perhaps will serve as a reminder of the importance of long-term marriage commitment.
My parents struggled a lot in their marriage – they were very different in personality and both had quick tempers which led to lots of serious arguments over the years. It was very unsettling for me and my four siblings. We rode out the fiery storms and their very short-term separations over the years. While I was a junior in Bible College (200 miles from home) they showed up one day unannounced to let me know they were planning to divorce. It was certainly a horrible and upsetting announcement since my wedding with Stephen was scheduled only a month later.
Instead of divorcing, somehow they chose to stay together but sadly they continued to deal with marital strife over the next 20 years. Of course none of us could know what the future would hold for both of them as Mom first dealt with cancer and then Dad, a year later, would find that he, too, had cancer. Only a couple years previous to their dealing with cancer they both recommitted their lives to Christ. Though it was terribly difficult to see them suffer with such poor health it was a blessing to see them tenderly care for one another during life’s greatest storm they would weather together. Dad went first in 2000 and Mom’s death followed the next year. They came to realize just how much they really did love each other.
When the five siblings gathered around both parents toward the end of their lives on earth I remember thinking about “What if?” What if they’d chosen to go their separate ways and hadn’t had each other during their most difficult days? What if they’d chosen other mates? I considered how complicated the setting would be for “others” who were not our flesh and blood to be making crucial decisions at such an intimate family time. I know many of you reading this are a blended family so you know personally of what I write.
Many things in life happen that are completely out of our hands, but when it is up to us, let us consider the long-term effects of our decisions and realize “God’s way is the best way!” He wants to give us a hope and a future that will bring untold blessing! For some of you God is turning the wreckage of your home into a place where trust is being reinstated. Wherever you are in your journey keep your foundation firmly established in God’s Word and His sufficient grace will be constant supply.
Stephen’s note: Monday we purchased a new computer for our ministry; a Windows 8 edition so we are having some adjusting to the new system, including issues with the regular high quality microphone we use for the podcast. We are temporarily using a lower quality mic till we can get another one.
Today we expect an overnight visit from our longtime friends from North Carolina; Mike and Kathy Matangelo along with their daughter Tina. Tomorrow following our chaplaincy visitation we will head to the Delaware shore for several days.
Due to our busyness we do not expect to get a message off tomorrow (Thursday) but will attempt to prepare one Friday.
Clarence is reading his Bible on a special magnifier. Thank God for those who don’t give up when facing major obstacles such as their failing eyesight. What diligence, patience, and dedication Clarence conveys as he reads the Word.
Several of these touching songs came to my attention and they may just be a blessing to you. Several are ballad style and have a tender message.
“Hug Him Once For Me” Video A heart-touching song written by a mother who lost an infant son.
“Somebody Died For Me” Video Triumphant Quartet What a powerful song!!!
“The Broken Ones” Video Lauren Talley
“Broken World” Video The Talleys
To receive the “Daily Encouragement” each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe to our email list. You can also subscribe to the WordPress rss feed or through a WordPress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.)
Are our daily encouragement messages a blessing to you? We ask you to consider making a donation 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.
“Enduring Pain for the Present”
May 7, 2013
Rose-breasted grosbeak (see note below message)
Photo by Doris High
Listen to this message on your audio player.Note: Due to a microphone problem we are unable to podcast today.
“For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). “See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction…” (Isaiah 48:10). “…For a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith…may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (I Peter 6,7).
Stephen reminded me this morning that it was five years ago today that I broke my ankle with the help of my loyal canine companion, Roxie, as she darted in front of me during my evening walk. Very remorseful and concerned about me she stayed at my bedside during my entire recuperation before and after surgery.
It was a huge learning curve for me as I had never been hindered from standing or walking over my lifespan. Driving was out as well! Some of you have been there or are presently and will identify with similar challenges.
I look back over that experience and pray that in some way I glorified God. It was a time of spiritual growth for me. I still recall very special times of worship as I lay in bed recovering, often watching “The Homecoming Friends” on DVD as they sang many Christian songs I learned as a child, others as a young believer, and still others in recent years, most of them focused on heaven. “I was caught up in the spirit” as I envisioned the beauty of heaven unmarred by sin.
The words, “I’m kind of homesick for a country to which I’ve never been before” from the song Sweet Beulah Land was a perfect description of what I felt. From my four month healing and recovery I learned that any pain or suffering on this side is but a blink in the time span of eternity. Or as Paul writes, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).
I’m thoroughly enjoying the book, “If God Is Good” by Randy Alcorn and he writes: “The life to come flows out of this one; hence the believer’s present sufferings comprise only a tiny part of our total life experience, which will continue forever.” We can be victorious daily if we keep that perspective during times of trouble and sorrow on this side.
Otherwise we might feel cheated in this life and question God or worse yet, blame Him for our difficulties. Once again I want to quote Alcorn:
“When we feel upset with God and tempted to blame Him, we should look at the outstretched arms of Jesus and focus on His wounds, not ours. When we lock our eyes on our cancer, arthritis, fibromyalgia, diabetes, disability, [or any other life challenge] self-pity and bitterness can creep in. When we spend our days rehearsing the tragic death of a loved one, we will interpret all life through the darkness of our suffering. How much better when we focus upon Jesus!”
It’s very comforting to know that if we “consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, we will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:2-3). Once again, in the midst of our suffering, we must focus on Jesus’ life and His overcomings to enable us to experience our own overcomings.
We face opposition in one way or another everyday of our lives. Faithful readers of Daily Encouragement will quickly recognize that we often hit on the theme of suffering, pain or loss since we’re exposed to this regularly through our ministry. In fact I stopped writing this message to take a phone call from a woman who let me know about her sister, an employee from one of the companies where we serve as chaplains, is in the hospital in serious condition. I will be making contact with her today.
Stay faithful. God’s promises are faithful and true. Certainly you may suffer grief in all kinds of trials as others who have gone before you and done so. May you also declare with the Psalmist, that weeping may come for a season, but joy will come in the morning!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, just as there are seasons throughout the calendar year there are seasons throughout our lives; many of them invigorating and celebratory, others wearying and dreaded. Yet it is both joyous times and dreaded occasions that shape us into Your image so that we bear the likeness of Your Son, Jesus Christ who endured great hardship. We are to fix our eyes on Him, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross despising its shame knowing that without full obedience He could not offer full redemption for our sins. Help us not to become weary in carrying out the tasks required of us or the physical challenges common to these perishable bodies. May we not interpret all of life in the “darkness of our suffering” but in the brightness of Your resurrected Son. In the “furnace of affliction” may we be found faithful in Your refining process. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Further note from Brooksyne: I find the Scripture text, “Weeping may endure for a night” interesting in light of Rev. 21:25 where John, describing heaven, writes “for there will be no night there.” I consider those of you who may find there are particular problems in your life where weeping has lasted far more than a single night or a temporary time period, but rather weeping seems to be lasting a lifetime. You’re still waiting for the night to pass and morning to arrive when joy takes the place of weeping. Perhaps we need to put a lot more thought, prayer, and Scripture memorization into the spiritual disciplines that fix our hope on our eternal future where we are assured that “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Rev. 21:1-4). And there will be no more night because the glory of God gives it light (Rev. 21:23.) We remain steadfast in prayer for those critical issues we deal with. But our hope will never be diminished when we look with anticipation for the New Jerusalem that promises to bring the unending sunlight of God’s eternal joy.
Note from Reader from Wisconsin: Doug and I were sitting out on the patio a couple of days ago in beautiful weather… and heard a bird call I didn’t remember hearing before. It was SO loud, Doug said we should just look up in the woods for a bird that was 4-5 feet tall!! I finally spotted it and it was a rose-breasted grosbeak. Do you get those where you live? I love the baby bird photo in your Daily Encouragement today.
Stephen’s note: Yesterday we purchased a new computer for our ministry; a Windows 8 edition so we are having some adjusting to the new system, including issues with the microphone we use for the podcast.
“Blessed Be The Name of The Lord” Video Matt Redman
“Sweet Beulah Land” Video Jason Crabb
To receive the “Daily Encouragement” each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe to our email list. You can also subscribe to the WordPress rss feed or through a WordPress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.)
Are our daily encouragement messages a blessing to you? We ask you to consider making a donation 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.
“All Nature Sings”
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.
Listen to this message on your audio player.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.
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.
To receive the “Daily Encouragement” each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe to our email list. You can also subscribe to the WordPress rss feed or through a WordPress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.)
Are our daily encouragement messages a blessing to you? We ask you to consider making a donation 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.
“Faithful In The Midst Of Testing”
May 3, 2013
Early morning sunrise view of our backyard through our bedroom window.
Listen to this message on your audio player.
“After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah” (2 Chronicles 32:1). “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer (Romans 12:12). “He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).
We had a very special Easter five Sundays back on March 31st with our Russian friends, Yelena and Peter. They both sing in their church choir and Yelena directs the orchestra made up mostly of young people. Though the sermons and songs were interpreted for us, the musical instruments spoke in a universal language needing no interpretation. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with our friends and the sound preaching from the pulpit on Resurrection Sunday. (We hare a link to the message we wrote at that time below)
Following the service we enjoyed the brunch Yelena had prepared in their new home. Over the meal, among other things, we talked about how different it would be when the twins arrive (Yelena was five months along in her pregnancy.) It was a joy-filled time.
None of us could foresee that within days they would learn that the twins were going through some difficulty. Yelena and Peter’s large network of Christian friends went to prayer on their behalf and we continued to pray for Yelena as she underwent surgery in Philadelphia in an attempt to correct the problem. The surgery was successful and we all rejoiced, but late that evening Yelena gave premature birth to twin girls. Their appearance was very short lived and they soon went to be with the Lord.
On April 15th I (Brooksyne) stood with Peter and Yelena’s grieving friends at the graveside funeral service for their babies, Lina and Angelina. My heart was broken as were those who stood with them in loving support as they endured inexplicable grief for the all too brief time they had with their girls. (We share their heartrending story with their permission.)
What a blessing to be in communication with Yelena and to hear of their overcoming faith in the midst of such deep sorrow and monumental loss. I’ve been reading a book by Randy Alcorn, “If God Is Good” which deals with evil and suffering that both believers and non-believers face. He intersperses his teaching with true stories of people like you and me who’ve dealt with intense suffering, chronic pain or massive loss. As I read these stories they bring to mind people I know personally such as Yelena and Peter.
When we look to the Scriptures we find many examples of those faithfully living for Jesus, even carrying out His work, who face “many dangers, toils, and snares” as they go about their daily work. One such example is Hezekiah who became king when the nation was in great apostasy, having fallen away from God’s teachings. His evil father, Ahaz, “had promoted wickedness in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the LORD” (2 Chronicles 28:19). Yet in spite of his father’s evil influence Hezekiah chose to follow in the ways of the Lord.
2 Chronicles 29-31 records the major reforms made during Hezekiah’s time of leadership, ending with this statement: “This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD His God. In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered” (2 Chronicles 31:20,21). That’s a neat summary but the text doesn’t stop there.
The statement in our daily verse immediately follows this and illustrates a powerful spiritual principle: “After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah.”
The principle is this: A time of greater testing often follows obedience and blessing. The remainder of chapter 32 records Hezekiah’s response to this invasion.
We prefer to live our lives with a clear, sensible cause and effect relationship regarding the challenges we face. But it doesn’t always work that way, does it? Hezekiah was faithfully serving God at the time of the enemy’s attack.
Today many of you are dealing with difficult situations in your life. You’ve sought to honor God and faithfully serve Him and you too may wonder, “Why this, when I’ve been faithful to Your leading?”
Many of these questions will not be fully or satisfactorily answered till we get to the other side but here’s a Scripture easily memorized that can bring peace to one’s soul, ”He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3). He is with us in the midst of our struggle and provides soothing medicine for our wounded hearts through His Holy Scriptures. Rejoice in God’s faithfulness and steadfast love in the midst of a painful situation!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father, You guide us through the many dangers, toils, and snares that we face while journeying here below. In these major challenges we desire to give You glory in what we say, what we do and in the way we process our emotions as we prayerfully respond to the challenges set before us. We want to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer as we overcome life’s struggles. We find healing for our soul when we rely on You, our tender and loving Father, who heals our broken heart and binds up our wounds. You are ever faithful and ever interceding for us, your children. And we thank You for it in the name of Jesus. Amen.
More On Ahaz’ wickedness: “Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and also made idols for worshiping the Baals. He burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his children in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree” (2 Chronicles 28:1-4).
This entire chapter describes Ahaz. A very interesting verse states, “In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the Lord” 2 Chronicles 28:22).
Yesterday we passed a lot of Amish open buggy traffic on a beautiful spring day. We stopped by Lancaster Bible College for the National Day of Prayer event here in Lancaster County. On the way we were blessed to see a large group of employees gathered in a circle praying in front of a cabinet making company and then passed a group from the Christian Motorcyclists Association who were gathered in a parking lot for prayer. Our pastor sent us an email this morning and reported that he had the opportunity to join a group reading through the Bible on the steps of the nation’s capitol. What a beautiful thing to see and hear of prayer going up for our nation all around the country!
Today’s Suggested Musicand SupplementalResources
This week we have shared music on prayer adding to the list day by day with recently added songs at the top.
(Four new songs today very related to our message)
“Tears Are A Language” Video Amy Lambert Video (with lyrics) Booth Brothers This was one of the first songs Brooksyne sang as “a special” back in our young days in ministry in the seventies. It has a powerful message especially the line, “When grief has left you low, it causes tears to flow. When things have not turned out the way that you had planned.”
“Faithful God” Video Shannon Wexelberg This is a 28 minute worship experience with Shannon ministering in song regarding life’s struggles that threaten to shatter our hopes and dreams. The moving song, “Faithful God”, is in the latter part of the presentation. This video moved me to tears and touched my spirit as I listened and read the reviews.
Shannon’s blog post “Don’t Forget Your Pain” reveals that Shannon doesn’t just sing or write songs about life’s struggles but she experiences them just like us. Her blog is very revealing and it will minister to your heart or someone else the Lord may lay on your heart.
Here is the message we shared about visiting Peter and Yelena’s church on Easter Sunday along with photos.
Yelena & Peter’s daughter’s graveside service The congregation sang several songs during the graveside service and at least two of them had to do with children going to heaven. I was so touched by the message as Yelena’s brother interpreted those of us who knew only English. He graciously translated the words and Yelena sent them to me along with a link so that you can hear it sung in their native language.
“He Will Carry Me” Video Mark Schultz Tonight Brooksyne and Ester will serve with the staff at a Mark Schultz concert at Lancaster Bible College.
Children’s song in Russian audio
Around the throne, before the Creator
Is a very big choir of children
With faces glowing of happiness,
They sing to the King of Kings
refrain:
Over yonder, over yonder
With faces glowing of happiness
Over yonder, over yonder
They sing to the King of Kings
Who gathered all these children here
Who brought them into Heaven
Who united all the baby voices
Into a wonderful song?
Lord Jesus suffered for us all,
He dearly loves the children
And He gave them the right to be in Heaven
Among the holy angels
They loved the Lord
In their days on earth
And so their love could be stronger
He took them from the earth.
More prayer songs previously posted this week:
“Turn the Tide – A Prayer for America” Video Abigail Miller (Outstanding!)
“Heal Our Land” Video Wayne Watson
“Heal Our Land” Video Planetshakers
“How Long Has It Been?” Video Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
“Waiting Here For You“ Video Passion Worship Music
“Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing“ Video Fernando Ortega
“Hear Our Prayer” Video Don Moen
“Hear Our Prayers” Video The Glorious Unseen
“You Said” Video Hillsong
“I Must Tell Jesus” Video The Grace Thrillers
National Day Of Prayer website
To receive the “Daily Encouragement” each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe to our email list. You can also subscribe to the WordPress rss feed or through a WordPress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.)
Are our daily encouragement messages a blessing to you? We ask you to consider making a donation 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.
“The Hope Of The Nations”
May 2, 2013
Listen to this message on your audio player.“In His name the nations will put their hope” (Matthew 12:21).Today is a national day of prayer here in America. Our daily text is the theme verse this year and indeed we pray that our nation’s hope will be in God and that this will be true of all nations.
Christians all over the country are praying for our nation. We are out very early this morning for chaplain visitation after which we will be attending the National Day of Prayer activities here in Lancaster County at Lancaster Bible College.
Here in America Christians often say “God bless America” as a means of petitioning God for His blessings on our land. A bumper sticker we regularly see here in Lancaster County states, “God bless the whole world – no exceptions”. We suppose the intent is to not limit a petition for God’s blessing to just America but that is certainly not my intention when we say it. Wherever you may live we encourage you to pray “God bless my country”. Even though you may not be having an official day of prayer, today’s message will apply to all and the prayers offered will be pertinent regardless of where you live.
Rather than share a regular message we will share two prayers and encourage you to join us.
The first is a brief prayer written by Brooksyne:
Father, it is in Your name that we, as a nation, put our hope. In Your name we cast down all that pertains to evil as we also raise up a standard that goes before us in our battle against the powers of darkness. We lift our hearts to You, gracious Father, seeking forgiveness and favor. As You view our troubled, sin-ridden nation we ask once again for mercy, for a visitation of Your Holy Spirit to overshadow, convict and heal our land. Revive us again in devotion to You. Do not give us over to our sins, as we deserve, but give us, instead, over to passionate prayer and a heart of repentance and an obedient spirit that moves Your heart. “May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You.” In the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ we pray”. Amen
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, is this year’s Honorary Chairman. Here is the prayer he has written for our country:
Father, we come to You to pray for our nation, the United States of America.
How You have blessed us through the years, Lord! We rightly sing, “America, America, God shed His grace on thee.” Yet we see trouble in our culture today. We see the breakdown of the family, crippling addictions, and random acts of horrific violence.
Lord, we need Your help in America. In recent days, we have done our best to remove Your Word and Your counsel from our courtrooms, classrooms and culture. It seems, as President Lincoln once said, that we have “forgotten God.” But Lord, You have not forgotten us! You can bless and help and revive our country again.
Scripture tells us that “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). Lord, in Your mercy, we ask that You would exalt our country again. We have had a number of great awakenings in America. We have experienced times of refreshing, and revivals that changed not only the spiritual but also the moral landscape. As the psalmist said, “Will You not revive us again, so that Your people may rejoice in You?” (Psalm 85:6)
That is our prayer for America today, Lord. Send a mighty spiritual awakening that will turn the hearts of men and women, boys and girls back to you. You have told us if we will humble ourselves and pray, and seek Your face and turn from our wicked ways, that You will forgive our sins and heal our land. (2 Chronicles7:14)
Forgive us today, Lord, and heal this troubled land that we love so much.
We ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
We expect to post a regular message tomorrow.
Today’s Suggested Musicand SupplementalResources
Yesterday and through the remainder of the week we will share music on prayer adding to the list day by day with recently added songs at the top.
“Turn the Tide – A Prayer for America” Video Abigail Miller (Outstanding!)
“Heal Our Land” Video Wayne Watson
“Heal Our Land” Video Planetshakers
“How Long Has It Been?” Video Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
“Waiting Here For You“ Video Passion Worship Music
“Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing“ Video Fernando Ortega
“Hear Our Prayer” Video Don Moen
“Hear Our Prayers” Video The Glorious Unseen
“You Said” Video Hillsong
“I Must Tell Jesus” Video The Grace Thrillers
National Day Of Prayer website
To receive the “Daily Encouragement” each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe to our email list. You can also subscribe to the WordPress rss feed or through a WordPress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.)
Are our daily encouragement messages a blessing to you? We ask you to consider making a donation 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.
“Sowing In Prayer”
May 1, 2013
Listen to this message on your audio player.The National Day of Prayer is held the first Thursday in May each year here in the United States. Tomorrow, May 2, we will have prayer gatherings all throughout our land. Daily Encouragement is sent to believers in many different countries all around the world and is written for the spiritual edification of all true believers regardless of where they live. I am not aware if other countries have an official national day of prayer, but I hope that they do. I genuinely believe this is a very important event in our country. This is the 62nd annual National Day of Prayer.
Organized efforts for prayer are held in large and small communities throughout the U.S. Here in Lancaster County we have a very well organized and focused prayer task force. The event begins this evening with a Youth Edition prayer meeting in a city park. All through the day tomorrow there will be prayer activities on the campus of Lancaster Bible College culminating with a “Celebration of Prayer” evening service with Greg Laurie as special speaker.
Tomorrow we plan the be out early for our chaplain ministry and then stop by the LBC campus in the early afternoon to participate. Tomorrow’s encouragement will essentially be a prayer.
Is it worth it? I’m sure I am not the only one who turns that question over in my mind at times. After all, the moral and spiritual decline continues in our nation and around the world. Truthfully it seems to be increasing by the day.
I believe the daily verse, although not exclusively related to prayer, addresses this question: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
In prayer, as in other acts of obedience to God, we are “doing good” as we are anytime we obey God’s Word. But we can become weary when the answers don’t come as we would desire. Some versions use the phrase here “lose heart” rather than “weary”.
When we pray earnestly to the God of heaven, through His Son Jesus Christ, in faith and humility we are “doing good” and “sowing to please the Spirit.” Prayer does not always result in an immediate harvest but we have a wonderful promise that “we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” This harvest or reaping will take place in the “proper time”, that is; the appointed season ordained by God.
“We” are the people of God. The harvest in this context is ultimately spiritual and eternal. In reality the moral decline may very well continue and judgment will most certainly come, both in this life and in the life to come. The people of God in past generations experienced the effects of judgment as a result of the sins of the nation. Consider the godly remnant who lived at the time of the fall of Jerusalem during the time of Jeremiah. They too were severely impacted by God’s judgment but also preserved by His merciful hand. Out of that remnant came the faithful like Daniel and others who carried on the message of God.
So let us encourage you today, wherever you live, to continue to call out to the one true God. Whatever your circumstances, however serious your situation, regardless of how long you’ve waited: keep believing and obeying. Keep praying, for we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we are grateful for Your abundant mercy extended to us because You are a loving, forgiving God. You have called on us, Your children, to be a people of prayer and devotion. We pray for our land to repent of neglect and defiance of Your commands. We come against the powers of darkness that seek to extinguish the light of Your salvation that brings help and hope to weary souls in this life and secures their eternal place in heaven. Help us not to grow weary in our intercession, for we want to be faithful in prayer so that, at a future date, we will witness the harvest of souls. We pray for Your will to be accomplished in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Note: The godless also have a special national day. Of the 365 days from which they can choose from, they also choose tomorrow for what they call “A National Day Of Reason”! The National Day of Reason is a secular celebration for humanists, atheists, and other secularists and freethinkers in response to the National Day of Prayer, a legal holiday in the United States. The day is celebrated on the first Thursday in May of every year, to coincide with the National Day of Prayer, which many atheist and secular groups view to be unconstitutional. The National Day of Reason was created by the American Humanist Association and the Washington Area Secular Humanists in 2003.
Of course the basic premise in the name “Day of Reason” is that they contend those of us who have faith and pray to God are not using reason! Psalm 14:1 Romans 1:22
As I consider attacks on the faith and the faithful by the world these two songs are so encouraging to me.
“I Believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary” Video Gaither Vocal Band
“Reason Enough” Video Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
Today’s Suggested Musicand SupplementalResources
Today and through the remainder of the week we will share music on prayer adding to the list day by day with recently added songs at the top.
“Waiting Here For You“ Video Passion Worship Music
“Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing“ Video Fernando Ortega
“Hear Our Prayer” Video Don Moen
“Hear Our Prayers” Video The Glorious Unseen
“You Said” Video Hillsong
“I Must Tell Jesus” Video The Grace Thrillers
National Day Of Prayer website
To receive the “Daily Encouragement” each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe to our email list. You can also subscribe to the WordPress rss feed or through a WordPress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.)
Are our daily encouragement messages a blessing to you? We ask you to consider making a donation 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.
“For Such A Worm As I”
April 30, 2013
Flowers and flowering trees are in abundance as I take early morning walks with our two dogs. Walking in our neighborhood so pleasurable.
Listen to this message on your audio player.And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?
Yesterday we had a nice rain and in the afternoon I noticed the robins were feasting on worms crawling up and down our driveway. Now the sight of slimy worms doesn’t stir up my appetite, but to a robin it’s surely like a juicy steak is to us. That brought to mind the phrase in today’s opening hymn that many of us have often sung, “Would He devote that sacred head for such a worm as I?”
Last Friday we shared a message concerning our Bible College years in the mid-seventies. Today I will share another illustration from that period. Those were wonderful years that we occasionally revisit from our memorable experiences during that time.
In order to help with paying tuition there were various jobs around the campus for students to assist with paying school bills. For a time I drove the garbage truck, one of numerous interesting jobs I’ve had through the years. Not pleasant at the time but I now see it as part of God’s school of real life instruction (AKA “the school of hard knocks”). To this day I have a real appreciation for garbage collection personnel who work hard performing a service necessary to all and yet often under-appreciated. I wonder if there is a garbage collector appreciation day?
The truck I drove was equipped with a front loading lift which attached to the dumpster and then heaved the dumpster over the cab emptying the contents into the back of the truck. Theoretically the driver could stay in the cab and never see or touch anything.
But sometimes you still needed to get out. I specifically recall emptying the dumpsters behind the cafeteria. As I can still vividly recall, especially during hotter weather, the dumpsters would have a lot of crawling maggots; tiny white worms that fed on the decaying food. It was a very unpleasant sight to say the least!
At that time I was pondering God’s love for the fallen race and considered what it would be like to send my precious child to live among the “maggots”. Well, like most illustrations, this one has some deficiencies but it sure has caused me to marvel in God’s far-reaching love. Some may find this particular illustration distasteful or offensive. But actually the Scripture uses this same imagery in our daily texts.
Bildad, one of Job’s friends, asks a question that is theologically sound in light of the rest of Scripture that teaches about our innermost need for God due to our sin nature: “How then can a mortal be righteous before God? How can one born of woman be pure? If even the moon is not bright and the stars are not pure in his eyes, how much less a mortal, who is but a maggot—a human being, who is only a worm!”
Isaac Watts likely had this verse in mind along with our second text when he wrote the personalized phrase, “such a worm as I”. In using this image he was illustrating a theological concept known as total depravity. This doctrine runs so contrary to the self-esteem emphasis of our generation but we do well to recognize the awful extent of sin and our only hope exists in God’s redemption through Christ.
Paul, in what many see as a description regarding his state without Christ, declares, “What a wretched man I am!” (Surely he’d be required to attend a class for positive self-imagery today.) But immediately following this he asks and answers his own question, “Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24b,25)
Matthew Henry commenting on Psalm 22, which is considered a Messianic Psalm writes, “What little reason has man to be proud, and what great reason to be humble! So weak and impotent, and so easily crushed, and therefore a very unequal match for Almighty God. Shall man be such a fool as to contend with his Maker, who can tread him to pieces more easily than we can a worm? … Let us therefore wonder at God’s condescension in taking such worms as we are into covenant and communion with Himself, especially at the condescension of the Son of God, in emptying Himself so far as to say, ‘I am a worm, and no man’.”
Although Isaac Watts ends the first stanza of his hymn with this question, “Would He devote that sacred head for such a worm as I?” the hymn goes on to declare that we have victory due to Christ’s reconciliation. In a refrain written nearly 200 years later, by Ralph E. Hudson in 1885, we exultantly sing the chorus:
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, though Bildad’s counsel was misapplied to Job’s situation, we do well to apply it to our lives, considering that we are but a worm in comparison to Your greatness. You give grace to the humble and oppose the proud. We acknowledge that we are nothing, of no greater value than an earthworm or worse yet, a maggot, in comparison with Your glorious Son, Jesus Christ, who left the throne of heaven and emptied Himself of majestic glory to make His place among us. We are eternally indebted to Your magnificent love that provided a way through Jesus to loosen sin’s shackles and for us to be reshaped into Your likeness. It is in Jesus’ name that we pray. Amen.
Today’s first text is a response from Bildad, one of Job’s “friends”. I recall a conversation many years ago with a friend, Tim Casey, who was a school librarian and a very thoughtful Bible student/teacher. We were musing about just how much counsel we should take from Job’s three friends since overall God repudiates their outlook. The truth in today’s text is amply testified to in the balance of Scripture.
C.S. Lewis expresses the view, “Whenever we find that our religious life is making us feel that we are good-above all, that we are better than someone else-I think we may be sure that we are being acted on, not by God, but by the devil. The real test of being in the presence of God is that you either forget about yourself altogether or see yourself as a small, dirty object.” (Mere Christianity 1952, P.124)
Today’s Suggested Musicand SupplementalResources
“At the Cross (Alas, And Did My Savior Bleed)“ Video Red Mountain Church (A nice simple, Acapella arrangement)
“At the Cross (Alas, And Did My Savior Bleed)“ Video George Younce with Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (Gospel style)
“At the Cross (Alas, And Did My Savior Bleed)“ Video Acapella
“At the Cross” Video Brian Doerksen A different song with same title.
To receive the “Daily Encouragement” each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe to our email list. You can also subscribe to the WordPress rss feed or through a WordPress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.)
Are our daily encouragement messages a blessing to you? We ask you to consider making a donation 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.
