The
on line Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily
Encouragement Net is encouraging
followers of Jesus Christ with hope and encouragement from the Bible!
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Welcome
to Daily
Encouragement Net!
Stephen
and
Brooksyne Weber Our
photo taken at the Bridge of Flowers in Sherburne Falls MA Fall 2011
"We
want to encourage
you daily in your walk with Christ!"
Each
weekday this
website is updated with an encouraging new message
prepared by Stephen and Brooksyne. Will you please
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daily encouragement ministry that is impacting thousands all over the
world?
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Daily Encouragement Net as of 1/26/12: $1,145.00 We
want to express thanks to all who support our ministry!
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Daily Encouragement Net Bible
Knowledge Test: A Bible
Knowledge test we prepared using a survey program that can be take on line
(or printed out). Go to this page
to take the test. (It will take awhile for most!) After you
have taken the test the answer key is here. Enjoy!
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Daily
Encouragement on Facebook and Twitter: Daily Encouragement on Facebook. Daily Encouragement on Twitter. Daily Prayer blog:
A selection of prayers written
by Brooksyne used in these
messages. Listen
to "Music for the Heart" (Streaming
HD
radio from our local Christian station)
Hymn
Story Net: Stories and
backgrounds behind the great
hymns. Scripture Memory Songs: A
selection of Scripture verses we
recorded in our home with
some friends. The words are
set to familiar music
as an aid to memorization in a discipleship training class. Music:
Songs recorded in my home studio.
Perspectives:
Articles on various contemporary issues.
"A
Little Foolishness" I
invite daily encouragement readers to visit our
blog which is a collection of humorous and satirical
stories
drawn
mostly from our years of ministry, as well as my sometimes fertile
imagination. We also welcome submissions from readers. Humor:
Have a laugh based on real experiences we have had as well as stories
submitted
by readers.
These
are a
selection of books that Brooksyne and I have read that have impacted
our walk with the
Lord and we especially recommend to others!
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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 honor God through my
faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for
eternity."
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Encouragement Net
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Encouragement Net
495
Kraybill
Church Road
Mount
Joy, PA
17552 USA Contact
Us
"For God
has chosen
the weak things in the world,
the
foolish,
the nothings.
That no flesh will glory
in His presence."
1
Corinthians 1:27-29
This
device counts unique visitors by nation and
state. I
installed the international version in mid April 2010 and the state
version later. They thus register unique
visitors to this page since then.
A
happy face barn also makes my heart cheerful! This
barn is
near Reinholds in
northeastern Lancaster County, PA. (Note: This photo is not
doctored by photoshop. This barn really does
have this smile face painted on it!)
"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you
were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will
reward everyone for whatever good he does" (Ephesians 6:7,8). "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as
working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive
an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are
serving" (Colossians 3:23,24).
Yesterday
a celebration luncheon was held for
Everett Dewald, who has the very rare distinction of having worked for
the same company in the same location in Bird in Hand, PA for sixty
years! The company held a
surprise luncheon for all the employees to honor Everett's 60 years of
service. He began working at Vallorbs in January 1952 when he was
17, since it was just up the street from his house, and he continues to
show up for work every weekday morning at the age of 76!
Everett
is a cheerful
man whose pleasant and positive personality is appreciated throughout
the
company. For many years he has been singing "Happy Birthday" over the
PA system to the employee who's celebrating his or her birthday
(no way you can keep that fact quiet where Everett is present). One
supervisor commented, "I don't think Everett ever gets up on the wrong
side of the bed." I asked his wife, Linda, "Is he always so
joyful at home?" Without hesitation she responded, "Yes, that's how he
wakes up first thing in the morning."
Everett
makes small metal parts in a job that would not be fulfilling to many
folks and is certainly not glamorous. It's rather loud and the odor from
the lubrication for the parts fills the factory, nothing like the
Yankee Candle aromatic scent that Brooksyne likes to burn in our house.
However Everett is involved in noble work that provides a benefit to
society. The parts he makes goes into equipment and machinery that
benefits us all.
Though other rewards will be received with our future inheritance in heaven, the solid work
ethic that Everett demonstrates brings reward for the diligent worker here and now. This would include commendation from
supervisors, possible promotions and pay raises within the company, providing a positive
role-model for co-workers and family members, being a productive worker which increases profits within
a company, fulfillment at the end of the day, a steady paycheck (in
addition to many more that you might add to our list.) For Christians our work is a place to let our light shine. (Matthew 5:14-16)
The Scriptural teaching in the
second and third daily text is a call to diligence. This is actually a teaching
of the Apostle Paul to Christian slaves but this principle can easily
be applied to secular work. Consider the phrases "Serve
wholeheartedly" and "Work at it with all your heart."
In our work
responsibilities we should indeed serve wholeheartedly. Christians
should be diligent, and in fact, as a part of their testimony, be among
the most exemplary workers any company has! What kind of employee are
you? I encourage you to consider the end use of the product you are
making or service you are providing and the blessing it may be to so many
people.
"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not
men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever
good he does."
We should
apply these same principles in our work ethic toward our employers. In
whatever we do, our work should be "as to the Lord." Our underlying
motivation is the future inheritance we will receive "from the Lord". And what is that inheritance? It's our home in heaven that can "never
perish, spoil or fade."
When we work with this attitude Scripture
teaches us that in some remarkable way that "It is the Lord Christ we are
serving,"
even more so than our employer. Perhaps that's because plenty of
character building goes on in our lives as we serve others in the
workplace.
May the joy of the Lord accompany you in your work today. Be sure not to keep it to yourself; spread it to others around you!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
Prayer:
Father, when we're tempted to be halfhearted in our vocational work or
find ourselves bored by monotonous repetition help us to find creative
means that will make us even more productive and content in our work
assignments. May our conduct and attitude reflect values set
forth in Scripture. Make us a blessing so that we bring joy to
our co-workers, supervisors, and to the workplace in general. During
times of personality conflict or when disagreements arise bring to our
memory the Scripture that reminds us our primary motivation for being a
good worker is that we are serving You when we are diligent in our
work. Not only in our service do we want to do our best but
we also ask You to keep our attitudes in check and our words uplifting
in the work place. Help us to be quick to see another co-worker's
need and respond accordingly. May we be slow to judge and finding
fault with others. Prompt us to be faithful in prayer for our
employers, supervisors, co-workers, and the business in which we
serve. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"How Can I Find Satisfaction In My Work?" A study booklet
you can either order or read online as a pdf. Find out what the
Bible has to say about work and your attitude toward it. With wisdom
from the Word, Kurt De Haan shares four principles to help you better
understand God’s blueprint for your work life. You’ll
discover how you can experience a sense of fulfillment when you follow
the “job description” God designed just for you.
"Working With Joy"Video West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir (It was hard to find a song to go along with today's message!)
"Crown Him With Many Crowns"Video
When our labors on earth are over! Congregational singing with an
unidentified female lead singer. Sacred music at its best.
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