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Welcome to
Daily
Encouragement Net!
Stephen
and
Brooksyne Weber
"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.
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(2008 YTD financial offerings
through 7/20/2008 $13,014.00) Personal
Ministry Update
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this daily encouragement. You may easily unsubscribe at any
time." Daily
prayers:
A selection of prayers written by Brooksyne used in these
messages. Listen
to WDAC "Music for the Heart"
Photos:
A listing of many of the photos used in the daily
messages. (Please note - Photos used in the daily
messages are
not necessarily kept in this directory long-term. Desktop
Scripture Images: Scenic images
with a Scripture verse ready
to use on your computer or print out.
Speaking
Ministry:
We enjoy sharing the message of encouragement in various churches and
conference settings. We have spoken in many different denominational
groups and bring an uplifting message of hope based on the Bible. When
possible we come together, as we enjoy serving together. Please
contact us Daily
Encouragement chaplains: Information about our
chaplain ministry.
Perspectives:
Articles on various contemporary issues.
"A
Little Foolishness" I
invite daily encouragement readers to visit our new
blog which will be 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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Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that
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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
Brooksyne
took the photo this morning of one of our many sunflowers, colorful
"leftovers" from the black oil sunflower seed we provide for the birds.
The perennials and bird plantings have provided plenty of color for us
this summer.
Listen to
us share this message on your
audio player.
Brooksyne wrote our message today:
"You Can Use Me"
"But
the Lord said to me, Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to
everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be
afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you, declares the
Lord" (Jeremiah 1:7).
In
the summer months our pastor invites members of the congregation to
submit topics they would like him to preach about. In response to one
submission he prepared a gripping message he titled, "When God Calls"
and shared it with the congregation yesterday morning. Pastor Bob's
text was from Jeremiah 1 where Jeremiah tells of God's call upon his
life; "Before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations" (1:5).
Pastor
described this calling from God as a "divine tap on the shoulder."
Following the sermon Jerel Book (a retired pastor), Stephen, and I each
shared our experience of being called of God to minister in a full time
vocational role. God used a number of people and circumstances to
influence my calling that were more like a "divine tapping on my heart"
over a number of years. I share them today with our Daily
Encouragement readers somewhat like an inspirational itemized list:
I
grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma where our family of seven went to church
three times a week, revival services, camp meetings or anytime the
church door was open. I had a godly grandfather, Elbert Sherrell, from
the mountains of northwest Arkansas who had a vibrant walk with Jesus.
He prayed an impassioned prayer for each of his children and
grandchildren by name every day.
I attended Youth Camp at the
young age of 14 and my life was never the same after that. I had a
divine encounter with Jesus that changed my life and from that point on
I absorbed myself in anything that would draw me closer to Him.
I
had the blessing of dedicated Sunday School teachers and an encouraging
Youth leader couple, Edith and Cordell Cochran. They were full blood
Indians who had a singing ministry and formed a youth choir. They
would pick my sister and me up from our home and we'd travel with them
to sing in revival services all over the state of Oklahoma, especially
the Indian churches.
As I mentioned early on my parents were
committed church goers but problems at home were not dealt with and
only worsened. By the time I was in high school Mom and Dad backslid
so I went to church on my own. My folks did not get their hearts
right with God until 24 years later, only a few years before God took
them home (they both had cancer in their 60's).
It was at
this time, as a teenager, that I went to church on my own and realized
that only God could help me through the difficulties of my home life.
God used the many hours I spent at the altar praying. Godly leaders
and Christian friends prayed with me as I sought healing for my family
and direction for my life.
His Scripture became alive to me.
The Bible became the most important book in my life. A very
influential Scripture that I had memorized in Sunday School spoke to me
often regarding my call: "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify Your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).
Christian
music was a major influence on my life; both hymns and contemporary
music. Bill Gaither's style of music was quite contemporary at the
time. (When I mentioned this point yesterday at church I heard a soft
chuckle among the youth.) During the early convalescence from my
broken ankle, Ken Pierce, a good friend, brought over seven Bill
Gaither homecoming DVDs for me to watch. As I listened to many of the
songs popular at the time of my calling I was spiritually refreshed. I
was reminded of how much God used Christian music to grow my faith and
lead me in ministry.
Being involved in Christian service was a
major factor in my calling. On Sunday afternoons I went to Sherwood
Manor Nursing Home along with our youth leaders to hold church services
for them. It was at one of these services where I preached my first
sermon. It was the 23rd Psalm (one of the few passages I was familiar
with, having memorized it in Sunday School.) Following the service I
would wheel the residents back to their rooms and sit and visit with
them. Though I was only a teen at the time I've continued to minister
in nursing homes most of my adult life.
I became very active in
my Christian witness at school and work. I saw people's lives change
as a result and this especially affected my call. I could see no
higher calling than to reach people for Jesus. There was a burning in
my heart similar to Cleopas and the other disciple of Christ on the
road to Emmaus when they said: "Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24:32).
That
burning did not go away and I trust it never will. It has been the
fire of the Holy Spirit that has kept me in active ministry for Jesus
since the time of my divine calling. I had so much to learn in
preparing for a lifetime of ministry so I chose to attend Bible College
where I would grow in my faith and mature in my minsterial calling.
God has been so good and faithful to me over the years. He has filled
me with a deep abiding joy that comes from an obedient response to His
calling in my life.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber (mostly Brooksyne today)
Daily Prayer:Father,
as You formed us in the womb, You set us apart to honor and glorify
You. It is a choice each of us must make to listen to Your voice and
respond to Your leading. Align our hearts with Your will for our lives
so that we will live productive godly lives that make a difference in
the world around us and in our own hearts. Amen.
Yesterday
we had a special visit from friends who reside in Peoria Illinois. The
Miller family has been a part of the Daily Encouragment list for many
years. They were travelling through the east and stopped to have dinner
with us on the way back home (their second visit in four years.) They are a very dedicated homeschooling family
committed to the Lord and Biblical values as pilgrims on the earth. They have five daughters (Katey is a professional photographer who travels all over the world and is not in the above photo.)
Several
in the Miller family are in a movie that will be released this October
extolling virtue. It's a short movie written, directed and filmed by a
17 year old homeschooling student. Here's the video trailer.
In Friday's message I mentioned that I had taken a bike ride early that morning with our dog Roxie (she runs along with me). As we rode
up our country lane I heard for the first time in the season an
unmistakable sound of midsummer. I inquired from readers as to what I heard and received numerous answers. I've always called them locusts but several answered katydids, cicadas and crickets (it's in that family for sure).
Here's a sound very similar (scroll down on this page to the very last sound "Cicada singing using tymbals").
I did receive some interesting answers to the question such as a
rattlesnake and the bleeting of the male elk. (I am not sure whether we
have any rattlesnakes in our area but I am quite certain we do not have any elk.)
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources (Click on the link to play in
your audio player)
"Use me"Video Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir with inspirational photos of people being used of God to help others in need.
"Take My Life And let It Be"Audio We concluded the service yesterday with this hymn of concecration.
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