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Thursday, April 16, 2015
Mural at Teen Haven youth center in Lancaster, PA
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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.
Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. I do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
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.
3) Paste into the text pad. (The photos won't show up but you will have a brief text description of the photo which you can delete or just ignore.)
4) Format if you desire (change font, increase or decrease size, etc.)
5) Print!
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 make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
© Copyright 2015 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
<Previous Message Next Message>
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Mural at Teen Haven youth center in Lancaster, PA
"Christ Is Still Changing Lives!"
Listen to this
message on
your
audio player.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
We
had a great day yesterday. We joined one of our companies in a
community service day. JK Mechanical, an HVAC company we serve as
chaplains, has about 100 employees and each year they take a day to
serve the community. Yesterday they worked at the Water Street Mission,
Teen Haven and at Thaddeus Stevens, a local trade school. Many of the
employees were able to use specific skills in installing and repairing
HVAC but others were involved in projects like painting and cleaning.
Brooksyne and I sought to walk through the project areas, help out some, and visit with the various employees as they
worked. At one point for me this involved climbing up a narrow hatch to a roof where
several were working!
A goal in our ministry is sharing some truth and light in whatever situation we are in with whomever we may encounter. Yesterday it may not have been our "official" ministry but we also enjoyed engaging with the various people who work at the Mission.
Teen Haven is an inner city ministry working with children and youth that uses a facility several blocks from the Water Street Mission. I walked over and visited with the JK employees who were working over there. My eye was immediately drawn to the mural painted on a concrete wall that serves as our lead photo today. It reminds me of a similar mural that is at our local youth center. I removed a projector screen that was partially blocking the mural to take a photo and asked for assistance in placing it back up. A young man smiled and, due to his lesser height, he grabbed a small ladder to assist me. He introduced himself as Jose Jimenez, the director of the Teen Haven.
I
enjoy hearing people's stories and he shared his with me. He had moved
down to Lancaster from Massachusetts with his family when he was eight and a short time later his father was incarcerated. He began attending Teen
Haven activities and recalled specific people who shared Christ's love
with him. However he, like so many, did not make a full commitment to
Christ through much of the next ten years.
But upon turning eighteen years old he made a full surrender to Christ and his life was dramatically changed. He went back to the youth center to inform and thank them for their influence. To his surprise they offered him a summer job and he's been there ever since.
I told him I would like to share his story and we walked outside for a photo posing him beside the "Changing Lives" sign. He looked up and said "Jesus Christ changes lives!" Amen to that!
We are glad we serve a God who is in the life-changing business! He's still changing lives today and Jose is one of them. Now he in turn, like those who reached out to him as a child, is reaching out to provide a haven of mercy, love and forgiveness to inner city youth. In spite of all the spiritual, emotional, and physical benefits that come from serving the Lord it can be very hard ministry with many setbacks and disappointments.
I
rejoice in the work of God seen in the
immediate transformation at the time of belief and the slow progressive
transformation over a lifetime of following Christ. I rejoice at change
demonstrated by longterm faithfulness. Jose goes to a church where one
of the pastors is Sonny Oliver (right), a friend from Bible College who
has a wonderful testimony we wrote about many years ago. (See below for
link to this message.)
The Apostle Paul wrote describing this wonderful change, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Paul experienced that change in his life and he rejoiced in the changed lives he had ministered to. John Newton, the former slave trader best known for writing "Amazing Grace", said before he died, "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things – that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior."
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father,
there is no sin too great
that Your mercy is not greater. We were born with a sin problem, but
You provided the solution for our sin sick souls through the wondrous
sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ. We could never be good enough,
rich enough, famous enough, or smart enough – nothing we offer is enough. Anything we
offer is sin-based because of our human condition and all that Christ
offers is sin-less because He is the divine Lamb without spot or blemish. Only Jesus,
the sinless Lamb of God, is enough to pay for our sins and begin the
wonderful work of transforming us into Your likeness. Thank You for
Your gift of eternal life through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
* "I Believe In A Hill Called Mount Calvary" Video GVB Next week we are looking forward to joining with a group of friends at the Gaither &Friends Homecoming Concert in Hershey! This has long been one of my favorite songs.
"I Believe" Video Dailey and Vincent
"Since Jesus Came Into My Heart" Video Homecoming Singers Anyone else recall singing this old gospel song!
Sonny Oliver's testimony
Water Street Our Purpose: To advance the kingdom of God through the gospel of Jesus Christ and do missionary, relief & rescue work of all kinds. Video
Teen Haven Teen Haven is a ministry of Water Street Mission, allowing our vision of changing lives to reach the next generation. This is where Jose works.
I, Brooksyne, was deeply touched as I saw this historic plaque next to the photo of the founders of Water Street Mission, Dr. & Mrs. Sieber, along with their first convert, Sarah Kuhns. (Unfortunately the dated photo did not take well.) I wonder how many hundreds of thousands of people have been converted over the past century at missions all over the world - those who are located in the heart of the cities reaching out to the many homeless who are without the basic elements for living and the basic reason for existence, that is, hope!
Listen to this
message on
your
audio player. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
I believe that the Christ Who was slain on the cross,
Has the power to change lives today.
For He changed me completely, a new life is mine.
That is why by the cross I will stay.
Has the power to change lives today.
For He changed me completely, a new life is mine.
That is why by the cross I will stay.
We
had a great day yesterday. We joined one of our companies in a
community service day. JK Mechanical, an HVAC company we serve as
chaplains, has about 100 employees and each year they take a day to
serve the community. Yesterday they worked at the Water Street Mission,
Teen Haven and at Thaddeus Stevens, a local trade school. Many of the
employees were able to use specific skills in installing and repairing
HVAC but others were involved in projects like painting and cleaning.
Brooksyne and I sought to walk through the project areas, help out some, and visit with the various employees as they
worked. At one point for me this involved climbing up a narrow hatch to a roof where
several were working!A goal in our ministry is sharing some truth and light in whatever situation we are in with whomever we may encounter. Yesterday it may not have been our "official" ministry but we also enjoyed engaging with the various people who work at the Mission.
Teen Haven is an inner city ministry working with children and youth that uses a facility several blocks from the Water Street Mission. I walked over and visited with the JK employees who were working over there. My eye was immediately drawn to the mural painted on a concrete wall that serves as our lead photo today. It reminds me of a similar mural that is at our local youth center. I removed a projector screen that was partially blocking the mural to take a photo and asked for assistance in placing it back up. A young man smiled and, due to his lesser height, he grabbed a small ladder to assist me. He introduced himself as Jose Jimenez, the director of the Teen Haven.
I
enjoy hearing people's stories and he shared his with me. He had moved
down to Lancaster from Massachusetts with his family when he was eight and a short time later his father was incarcerated. He began attending Teen
Haven activities and recalled specific people who shared Christ's love
with him. However he, like so many, did not make a full commitment to
Christ through much of the next ten years. But upon turning eighteen years old he made a full surrender to Christ and his life was dramatically changed. He went back to the youth center to inform and thank them for their influence. To his surprise they offered him a summer job and he's been there ever since.
I told him I would like to share his story and we walked outside for a photo posing him beside the "Changing Lives" sign. He looked up and said "Jesus Christ changes lives!" Amen to that!
We are glad we serve a God who is in the life-changing business! He's still changing lives today and Jose is one of them. Now he in turn, like those who reached out to him as a child, is reaching out to provide a haven of mercy, love and forgiveness to inner city youth. In spite of all the spiritual, emotional, and physical benefits that come from serving the Lord it can be very hard ministry with many setbacks and disappointments.
I
rejoice in the work of God seen in the
immediate transformation at the time of belief and the slow progressive
transformation over a lifetime of following Christ. I rejoice at change
demonstrated by longterm faithfulness. Jose goes to a church where one
of the pastors is Sonny Oliver (right), a friend from Bible College who
has a wonderful testimony we wrote about many years ago. (See below for
link to this message.)The Apostle Paul wrote describing this wonderful change, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Paul experienced that change in his life and he rejoiced in the changed lives he had ministered to. John Newton, the former slave trader best known for writing "Amazing Grace", said before he died, "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things – that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior."
I believe in a hill called Mount Calv'ry,
I'll believe whatever the cost.
And when time has surrendered and earth is no more,
I'll still cling to that old rugged cross. *
I'll believe whatever the cost.
And when time has surrendered and earth is no more,
I'll still cling to that old rugged cross. *
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father,
there is no sin too great
that Your mercy is not greater. We were born with a sin problem, but
You provided the solution for our sin sick souls through the wondrous
sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ. We could never be good enough,
rich enough, famous enough, or smart enough – nothing we offer is enough. Anything we
offer is sin-based because of our human condition and all that Christ
offers is sin-less because He is the divine Lamb without spot or blemish. Only Jesus,
the sinless Lamb of God, is enough to pay for our sins and begin the
wonderful work of transforming us into Your likeness. Thank You for
Your gift of eternal life through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
* "I Believe In A Hill Called Mount Calvary" Video GVB Next week we are looking forward to joining with a group of friends at the Gaither &Friends Homecoming Concert in Hershey! This has long been one of my favorite songs.
"I Believe" Video Dailey and Vincent
"Since Jesus Came Into My Heart" Video Homecoming Singers Anyone else recall singing this old gospel song!
Sonny Oliver's testimony
Water Street Our Purpose: To advance the kingdom of God through the gospel of Jesus Christ and do missionary, relief & rescue work of all kinds. Video
Teen Haven Teen Haven is a ministry of Water Street Mission, allowing our vision of changing lives to reach the next generation. This is where Jose works.
I, Brooksyne, was deeply touched as I saw this historic plaque next to the photo of the founders of Water Street Mission, Dr. & Mrs. Sieber, along with their first convert, Sarah Kuhns. (Unfortunately the dated photo did not take well.) I wonder how many hundreds of thousands of people have been converted over the past century at missions all over the world - those who are located in the heart of the cities reaching out to the many homeless who are without the basic elements for living and the basic reason for existence, that is, hope!
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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.Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. I do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
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.
3) Paste into the text pad. (The photos won't show up but you will have a brief text description of the photo which you can delete or just ignore.)
4) Format if you desire (change font, increase or decrease size, etc.)
5) Print!
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 make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
© Copyright 2015 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA