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Butter Sculpture display at Pennsylvania Farm Show
Made with 1,000 pounds of butter!
Pretty amazing to consider that the boy hanging on the playset is made of butter!
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"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow" (1 Corinthians 3:6).
Yesterday
I went to the Pennsylvania Farm Show. In the course of walking through
a huge exhibit area I came to a display booth for "The Fellowship Of
Christian Farmers". Realizing that giving a public witness for Christ
can be discouraging I engaged in a brief conversation with the two men
staffing the booth. I thanked them for their labors for the Lord and
their efforts in sharing the gospel at the Farm Show.
In the course of our conversation one of them pointed out that as Christians we are all farmers in the sense we are all to be sowing seed. Now that's an interesting perspective and is true even of the city folk reading our message today. We are all (if we are obedient) sowing seed, watering, providing nourishment and reaping.
There are quite a number of Scriptures that use the agricultural analogy in regard to the spiritual life and ministry. Jesus told His disciples to "look on the fields, that they are white for harvest" (John 4:35). In several of His parables He used agriculture as an illustration; I suppose most notably in the parable of the sower. The teaching epistles also use these types of illustrations.
In our daily text Paul is describing the establishment of the church in Corinth. As the founding Pastor he had planted the seed in this church. Apollos had followed him in ministry and had watered the seed. Paul made it clear that both had an equally vital role. But God made the seed grow.
The principle is the same in individual lives. In some we sow seeds, in others we feed, water and nourish the germinating seed. Our goal is an abundant harvest. But ultimately God makes the seed grow.
Keep farming out there! It may be years (or even into eternity) before you hear from that germinating seed or that soul for which you faithfully watered and provided nourishment, but we have a commission and a promise. Let us stay faithful!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer:
Father, we want to be faithful in sowing seed so that we will reap an
abundant harvest of souls snatched from the eternal fires of
hell. We desire to show mercy to unbelievers, all the
while, hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Help us to
be salt, light, and hope in this darkened world, we pray. Amen.
I recall a story told by Jake Shenk, a faithful old-time missionary who has
served in Africa since 1958. He serves in a land marked by civil strife
and abject poverty, ruled by a brutal dictator. Whenever he shares his ministry his frame of reference
helps me to be mindful of the deplorable conditions of so many of our
brethren. l
He told the following story from a perspective I feel we all need to hear more often. This is particularly true for those of us who live in lands of relative peace and great prosperity.
There was a church leader who had a simple farm near others. Each year her crops flourished and others, wanting to know her secret, asked, "What kind of manure are you using?" In seeking to give the glory to God for the blessing (but in a way unseemly to us) she replied, "God is my manure!"
This interesting note from a friend in Texas in response to yesterday's message on "Spiritual Dialysis": I just wanted to say thanks for today’s message on “Spiritual Dialysis.” I appreciate your ministry and look forward to your teaching every day. The Lord always speaks to me through it. But today’s message especially struck a cord in me. I had a kidney transplant almost eight years ago and was on dialysis before that. I have always thanked God for all of this, but your message today allowed God to teach me yet something more through this experience. You are so right about how much dialysis and confession relate to each other. A transplant is more like placing our faith in Christ. We have a new kidney that now allows us to be closer to God’s original intent. When my wife first saw me after my transplant she said I looked like a new person. It brings to mind 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” I know every analogy breaks down at some points, but thank you for helping to view my dialysis and transplant with more spiritual eyes. It has given me still more to praise our Lord for and to share with others who are going through these things as well.
* "Field Of Souls" Video Verne Phifer
"Bringing In The Sheaves" Video Chuck Wagon Gang Note: Sheaves are the large bundles in which cereal plants are bound after reaping. Earlier hymn writers often drew from both the Scriptures and their own experiences in conveying truth. Take notice of these excellent lyrics in light of our message today. A joyful recollection is when we haul our Amish friends around and the children sing this song!
The Pennsylvania Farm Show is a huge indoor agricultural show with many interesting exhibits large and small. It's similar to a summer state fair but here in Pennsylvania they hold it in the winter. Yesterday on the way home we drove through a snow storm and have a beautiful snow cover this morning.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Made with 1,000 pounds of butter!
Pretty amazing to consider that the boy hanging on the playset is made of butter!
Listen to this
message on
your
audio player."We're All Farmers!"
"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow" (1 Corinthians 3:6).
In the course of our conversation one of them pointed out that as Christians we are all farmers in the sense we are all to be sowing seed. Now that's an interesting perspective and is true even of the city folk reading our message today. We are all (if we are obedient) sowing seed, watering, providing nourishment and reaping.
There are quite a number of Scriptures that use the agricultural analogy in regard to the spiritual life and ministry. Jesus told His disciples to "look on the fields, that they are white for harvest" (John 4:35). In several of His parables He used agriculture as an illustration; I suppose most notably in the parable of the sower. The teaching epistles also use these types of illustrations.
In our daily text Paul is describing the establishment of the church in Corinth. As the founding Pastor he had planted the seed in this church. Apollos had followed him in ministry and had watered the seed. Paul made it clear that both had an equally vital role. But God made the seed grow.
The principle is the same in individual lives. In some we sow seeds, in others we feed, water and nourish the germinating seed. Our goal is an abundant harvest. But ultimately God makes the seed grow.
We work the field of souls
Together you and I
Some fields are blooming now
Other fields are dry
We are not the same
But differences aside
We will work the field of souls
Together you and I
One is off to foreign soil
To work a distant land
Another anchors close to home
To hold a neighbor's hand
Who has served the Father most
And who has labored best
That life devoted to our God
That devotion will be blessed
One shouts the gospel in the streets
For everyone to hear
He's bold to everyone he meets
The Word is loud and clear
Another cries alone and prays
In silence on her knees
Before the throne day after day
Where human eyes don't see *
Together you and I
Some fields are blooming now
Other fields are dry
We are not the same
But differences aside
We will work the field of souls
Together you and I
One is off to foreign soil
To work a distant land
Another anchors close to home
To hold a neighbor's hand
Who has served the Father most
And who has labored best
That life devoted to our God
That devotion will be blessed
One shouts the gospel in the streets
For everyone to hear
He's bold to everyone he meets
The Word is loud and clear
Another cries alone and prays
In silence on her knees
Before the throne day after day
Where human eyes don't see *
Keep farming out there! It may be years (or even into eternity) before you hear from that germinating seed or that soul for which you faithfully watered and provided nourishment, but we have a commission and a promise. Let us stay faithful!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer:
Father, we want to be faithful in sowing seed so that we will reap an
abundant harvest of souls snatched from the eternal fires of
hell. We desire to show mercy to unbelievers, all the
while, hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Help us to
be salt, light, and hope in this darkened world, we pray. Amen.I recall a story told by Jake Shenk, a faithful old-time missionary who has
served in Africa since 1958. He serves in a land marked by civil strife
and abject poverty, ruled by a brutal dictator. Whenever he shares his ministry his frame of reference
helps me to be mindful of the deplorable conditions of so many of our
brethren. lHe told the following story from a perspective I feel we all need to hear more often. This is particularly true for those of us who live in lands of relative peace and great prosperity.
There was a church leader who had a simple farm near others. Each year her crops flourished and others, wanting to know her secret, asked, "What kind of manure are you using?" In seeking to give the glory to God for the blessing (but in a way unseemly to us) she replied, "God is my manure!"
This interesting note from a friend in Texas in response to yesterday's message on "Spiritual Dialysis": I just wanted to say thanks for today’s message on “Spiritual Dialysis.” I appreciate your ministry and look forward to your teaching every day. The Lord always speaks to me through it. But today’s message especially struck a cord in me. I had a kidney transplant almost eight years ago and was on dialysis before that. I have always thanked God for all of this, but your message today allowed God to teach me yet something more through this experience. You are so right about how much dialysis and confession relate to each other. A transplant is more like placing our faith in Christ. We have a new kidney that now allows us to be closer to God’s original intent. When my wife first saw me after my transplant she said I looked like a new person. It brings to mind 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” I know every analogy breaks down at some points, but thank you for helping to view my dialysis and transplant with more spiritual eyes. It has given me still more to praise our Lord for and to share with others who are going through these things as well.
Some Photos From The 2011 Pennsylvania Farm Show
A colorful canning display
At this display we enjoyed a variety of freshly cut up apple slices.
Lots of tractors, old and new!
This giant old steam tractor was surrounded by produce bounty.
The children sure enjoyed all the sights, sounds and smells of the farm show. Since they are raised on a dairy farm and are around cows all the time that's sure no big deal but they thought this painted cow was pretty neat!
A colorful canning display
At this display we enjoyed a variety of freshly cut up apple slices.
Lots of tractors, old and new!
This giant old steam tractor was surrounded by produce bounty.
The children sure enjoyed all the sights, sounds and smells of the farm show. Since they are raised on a dairy farm and are around cows all the time that's sure no big deal but they thought this painted cow was pretty neat!
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
Click on the link to open and play.
(In some cases you may also need to click again to start the song.)
Click on the link to open and play.
(In some cases you may also need to click again to start the song.)
* "Field Of Souls" Video Verne Phifer
"Bringing In The Sheaves" Video Chuck Wagon Gang Note: Sheaves are the large bundles in which cereal plants are bound after reaping. Earlier hymn writers often drew from both the Scriptures and their own experiences in conveying truth. Take notice of these excellent lyrics in light of our message today. A joyful recollection is when we haul our Amish friends around and the children sing this song!
Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Refrain:
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves,
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves,
Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,
Fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze;
By and by the harvest, and the labor ended,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,
Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;
When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Refrain:
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves,
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves,
Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,
Fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze;
By and by the harvest, and the labor ended,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,
Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;
When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
The Pennsylvania Farm Show is a huge indoor agricultural show with many interesting exhibits large and small. It's similar to a summer state fair but here in Pennsylvania they hold it in the winter. Yesterday on the way home we drove through a snow storm and have a beautiful snow cover this morning.
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Text only version for printing: To make a text only version for printing (without photos or any of the supplemental materials)
1) Open the basic text editor that comes with all computers (known as wordpad, textpad, etc.) You can also use a program like Word and select paste text only.
2) Select and copy the text from the portion of the message you want to print.
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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,
New King James
Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. 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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Copyright 2011
Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
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