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Daily Encouragement Net
"Encourage one another daily" (Hebrews 3:13).
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Thursday, March 17, 2005

"Exposing Darkness"

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible" (Ephesians 5:8-14).

Yesterday I visited a truck chapel in Maryland that is part of a ministry called "Transport for Christ". These chapels are staffed by chaplains and volunteers who have a burden to reach the truck drivers. It was at a huge truckstop along I-95. I went with Bunny O'hare, the director of chaplains for the ministry.

As we walked out among the hundreds of parked trucks looking for opportunities to interface with drivers I asked Bunny if prostitution was a big issue. So often truckstops are infamous for this with lonely truckers and desperate women.

He immediately told me it hasn't been since the chapel was placed on the site. Although I knew the answer I asked him why, which is a great way to get various perspectives and insights. We discussed the power of light to expose and dispel darkness. As God's servants walk through the area praying and living as children of light darkness is dissipated.

That's a great spiritual reality for all of is to consider today in whatever area of darkness we may find ourselves in. All of us, in one way or another, have some darkness around us. We are called to let our light shine and by God's grace and power I want mine to shine brightly and expose and dispel the darkness! Please join me.


Be encouraged today,


Stephen C. Weber

It's a joy to share this ministry and I am amazed at the encounters that result from it. In yesterday's encouragement I mentioned that I would be making the trip in the footnotes and a reader from Maryland, whom I had never met, emailed just before I left offering to meet me at the truckstop and have lunch together. Turns out he only worked a few miles away! We had a great time of fellowship.

On the way we stopped by to visit a chaplain friend at a large snack food company. Some may find the method of unloading a truckload of potatoes interesting. My chaplain friend, who had been a truckdriver, especially wanted this photo!
http://www.dailyencouragement.net/images/potatoes.jpg

Here is a photo of me standing beside the chapel next to the truckstop. These trucker chapels have church services and Bible studies. They have a counseling area and plenty of literature to distribute. They also have a godly atmosphere.
http://www.dailyencouragement.net/images/chapel.jpg

Finally one of the great joys is traveling through Amish country. On the way we passed a farm where a group of Amish men were rebuilding a roof on a barn. I hollered up and asked them if it would be OK to snap a photo and one shouted back "Go ahead." It's great to see the teamwork among the Amish and Bunny and I just enjoyed listening to them talk to one another as they diligently worked.
http://www.dailyencouragement.net/images/barnraising.jpg

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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.
 
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

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