A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.
Home About Us Archives Free email subscription
Listen to these
messages
Text only for
printing
<Previous
Message
Next
Message
Although
we regularly drive through the rich farmlands of Lancaster County we
never grow weary of the scenery we view! Yesterday we passed this large
farm near Intercourse, PA. This view does not really capture the scene
as well as this larger version, let alone what we really saw. I enjoy making observations
such as the clothes hung out to dry on the long line near the
farmhouse, the drying shocks of corn and the fruit trees in the
foreground and the cell tower behind the barn, which probably provides
a nice source of supplemental income to the farm! But my favorite part
of the photo is the windmill.
We pass many Amish one room schoolhouses and saw this object lying in the road.
Does anyone recognize what it is? See below for answer. Hint: Amish
schools have a playground and it usually includes a baseball field.
See here for a description of an Amish wedding we attended several years ago. (The actual description is in a footnote.)
Today's mystery photo is a makeshift baseball which was made by covering a round wad of cloth with duct tape! Now, how's that for resourcefulness! It would sure be softer on the hands that aren't protected by a mitt as well.
Please Note: We did not post a new daily encouragement message yesterday (Thursday, November 18, 2010) due to an early morning meeting followed by a busy schedule of making chaplain visits throughout the entire day.
Yesterday's USA Today article titled "We're Just Not That Into Marriage." This study indicates that 39% feel marriage is becoming obsolete.
Normally we place links to suggested music that relates to the message but we were unable to recall any songs related to honoring marriage apart from wedding songs. Perhaps some of our readers may have some suggestions?
"Thankful For The
Thorns": A family reading and exercise that is a
wonderful way to give a thoughtful focus around your Thanksgiving Table (printable webpage) The
Thanksgiving celebration includes family coming together along with the
turkey and trimmings. Often there's a lot of food with little
meaningful
conversation. Why not add some stimulating discussion about the ways
God has worked in your life over the past year! Some of
you are not in charge and are only visitors at your Thanksgiving
gathering, but if it is possible share together
around
the table the theme of "Thankful for the Thorns" or the questionnaire
we've provided in this link "A
Thanksgiving
family exercise" (pdf). We have used this questionnaire as a
stimulus for discussion among family members in the past in our home. We encourage
you to share results around the table at Thanksgiving before or after
the meal.
A Thanksgiving prayer: (written by Joe Sherer, a pastor friend of ours and shared as the benediction at our community Thanksgiving Eve service several years ago.) Webpage For those who enjoy written prayers this would be a beautiful prayer to read together at the Thanksgiving table.
A Thanksgiving Scripture reading: A selection of Old and New Testament readings dealing with thankfulness appropriate for church, family and personal readings. (pdf) (Suitable for printing out and copying.)
The Pilgrims Come to the New World: Webpage
A Day of Rest in Plimouth Colony: This is a summary of a chapter in the lives of the pilgrims that Brooksyne uses to teach about their Sunday worship. (pdf) Note: Although we spell it Plymouth today the old spelling was Plimouth.
"Hymns
of Hope" Brooksyne
has compiled eleven hymns that deal with
the
recurring theme of loss and ongoing trial and titled it "Hymns of Hope"
based on Romans 12:12, "Be
joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer." Amber
Martin plays the hymns on the keyboard and Lauren Gingrich accompanies
her on six of the hymns with the viola. Tracks 12-22 play each hymn
softly in the background while Brooksyne shares a personal devotional
thought, the biographical setting of the hymn text, and an intercessory
prayer. We recorded this in the very modest and limited computerized
recording studio of Daily Encouragement so that we could make this
ministry project available to all who are in need of such encouragement. Thus we realize the audio
quality is not what most are accustomed to. You can go to this
site
to listen to the songs. You can download one song at a time if you find
this to be of special blessing or know someone whose spirit
might be lifted by listening to these meditative hymns.
"ThanksLiving" Bob Southard, a friend of ours shares a weekly online sermon. Here's a pdf version of his thanksgiving sermon.
Resources used in Brooksyne's research on the Pilgrims:
Saints & Strangers By Vision Video
Three Young Pilgrims By Cheryl Harness / Simon & Schuster
Friday, November 19, 2010
Buggies parked at an Amish wedding.
For a larger photo with Scripture text click here.
Listen to this
message on
your
audio player.
"Marriage should be honored by all" (Hebrews 13:4).
In our mid-week Bible study at church this week we discussed the daily text in our verse by verse study of Hebrews. Yesterday the USA Today Newspaper had a front page article that stood in stark contrast to this Scriptural teaching titled, "We're Just Not That Into Marriage".
It was a survey that dealt with the declining interest in marriage and consequential drop in marriage statistics. The article surely reveals the increasing immoral state of our country and we felt the Spirit's prompting to call for an honoring of marriage using two illustrations, one very old and one as recent as yesterday:
In
preparation for her historical presentation of "The Mayflower Voyage"
we referred to several days ago Brooksyne decided to use my mother's
Bible. Though she left it to me five years earlier when she died I had
not thoroughly examined it for some time. As I skimmed through her very
worn black leather Bible I turned to the Family History pages and began
to read the dedication page. I learned that this Bible was given to my
grandparents by the minister who conducted their wedding ceremony on
December 28, 1904. They celebrated 66 fruitful years of marriage
before my grandpa died in 1971. My grandma died a short time
thereafter. Today although they are long gone I honor that marriage and
realize the positive impact their lives had on so many not just in
their own generation, but also on the generations to follow right up to
the present time.
Yesterday in the course of our travels for our chaplaincy ministry we passed a sight that always gets our attention (see photo above). Along 340 east of Bird In Hand PA we saw a very lengthy row of Amish buggies neatly lined up along a long lane leading back to a farm.
We immediately recognized the significance of this setting, having lived in this area for nearly ten years now. They were gathered for an Amish wedding.
It is the custom among the Amish (at least in this area) to conduct weddings in the month of November on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The typical Amish wedding may very well have 500 or more people in attendance. The ceremony itself starts at 8:00AM and lasts till around 11:30! They then have a huge meal, afternoon fellowship, a hymn sing and another meal. They visit with one another (mostly boys & men together, girls & women together) till about 9:00 PM! All this is in the home or barn, generally at the bride's parents' residence. We attended an Amish wedding three years ago and it was unlike any other wedding celebration we've attended. (See below for a link to a first hand description.)
In this series we often refer to the daily Scripture portion. This simple, straightforward command is so needed today: "Marriage should be honored by all." This command is not referring only to a specific marriage but also to the institution of marriage itself. Today the institution of marriage (holy matrimony) is under severe attack through radical and ungodly efforts seeking to undermine and redefine it, contrary to its divine design and how it has been understood by the human race since creation.
Marriage is the oldest human institution, established by God Himself when He created Eve from Adam. It was specifically ordained (ordered) by God, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh" (Genesis 2:24).
Marriage is an ongoing expression of God's wisdom for humankind when He stated to Adam, "It is not good for man to be alone." He created a complimentary "helper suitable for him."
The Lord Jesus during His earthly ministry powerfully reinforces this view, "Haven't you read," He replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?'" (Matthew 19:4,5). In another Scripture He pronounced, "Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate" (Mark 10:9).
Today, no matter your present circumstance or past experience, let us heed these simple words from the Book of Hebrews, "Marriage should be honored by all." Let us give honor now and for all time!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, one of the greatest mysteries in the human experience is how You blend two individuals and make them become as one when they join as husband and wife. The "me" becomes "us" in our shared interests and goals in life. Things are no longer "mine" but "ours." Our times of celebration as well as times of sadness and loss become shared experiences. We honor marriage, recognizing the sacrifices and blessings that come to those who are joined in holy matrimony. We also recognize that our archenemy, Satan, is intent on destroying the very foundation of marriage that You established from the beginning. We uphold the institution of marriage as defined in Scripture and honor it in the way we speak of it and the way we live it out with our spouse. Amen.
Buggies parked at an Amish wedding.
For a larger photo with Scripture text click here.
Listen to this
message on
your
audio player."Honored by All for All Time"
"Marriage should be honored by all" (Hebrews 13:4).
In our mid-week Bible study at church this week we discussed the daily text in our verse by verse study of Hebrews. Yesterday the USA Today Newspaper had a front page article that stood in stark contrast to this Scriptural teaching titled, "We're Just Not That Into Marriage".
It was a survey that dealt with the declining interest in marriage and consequential drop in marriage statistics. The article surely reveals the increasing immoral state of our country and we felt the Spirit's prompting to call for an honoring of marriage using two illustrations, one very old and one as recent as yesterday:
Yesterday in the course of our travels for our chaplaincy ministry we passed a sight that always gets our attention (see photo above). Along 340 east of Bird In Hand PA we saw a very lengthy row of Amish buggies neatly lined up along a long lane leading back to a farm.
We immediately recognized the significance of this setting, having lived in this area for nearly ten years now. They were gathered for an Amish wedding.
It is the custom among the Amish (at least in this area) to conduct weddings in the month of November on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The typical Amish wedding may very well have 500 or more people in attendance. The ceremony itself starts at 8:00AM and lasts till around 11:30! They then have a huge meal, afternoon fellowship, a hymn sing and another meal. They visit with one another (mostly boys & men together, girls & women together) till about 9:00 PM! All this is in the home or barn, generally at the bride's parents' residence. We attended an Amish wedding three years ago and it was unlike any other wedding celebration we've attended. (See below for a link to a first hand description.)
In this series we often refer to the daily Scripture portion. This simple, straightforward command is so needed today: "Marriage should be honored by all." This command is not referring only to a specific marriage but also to the institution of marriage itself. Today the institution of marriage (holy matrimony) is under severe attack through radical and ungodly efforts seeking to undermine and redefine it, contrary to its divine design and how it has been understood by the human race since creation.
Marriage is the oldest human institution, established by God Himself when He created Eve from Adam. It was specifically ordained (ordered) by God, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh" (Genesis 2:24).
Marriage is an ongoing expression of God's wisdom for humankind when He stated to Adam, "It is not good for man to be alone." He created a complimentary "helper suitable for him."
The Lord Jesus during His earthly ministry powerfully reinforces this view, "Haven't you read," He replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?'" (Matthew 19:4,5). In another Scripture He pronounced, "Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate" (Mark 10:9).
Today, no matter your present circumstance or past experience, let us heed these simple words from the Book of Hebrews, "Marriage should be honored by all." Let us give honor now and for all time!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, one of the greatest mysteries in the human experience is how You blend two individuals and make them become as one when they join as husband and wife. The "me" becomes "us" in our shared interests and goals in life. Things are no longer "mine" but "ours." Our times of celebration as well as times of sadness and loss become shared experiences. We honor marriage, recognizing the sacrifices and blessings that come to those who are joined in holy matrimony. We also recognize that our archenemy, Satan, is intent on destroying the very foundation of marriage that You established from the beginning. We uphold the institution of marriage as defined in Scripture and honor it in the way we speak of it and the way we live it out with our spouse. Amen.
In
southern Lancaster County south of Willow Street we passed this white
horse which came out to greet us right along the road separated only by
a thin strand of electric fence. I think he wondered what we were doing
taking a picture!
We pass many Amish one room schoolhouses and saw this object lying in the road.
Does anyone recognize what it is? See below for answer. Hint: Amish
schools have a playground and it usually includes a baseball field.We passed this big hollowed out tree ring in southern Lebanon County on a very windy afternoon this week.
I asked Brooksyne to step inside so viewers could get a sense of the large dimensions of this once healthy tree. It makes you wonder how big this tree must have been when it was living!
I asked Brooksyne to step inside so viewers could get a sense of the large dimensions of this once healthy tree. It makes you wonder how big this tree must have been when it was living!
See here for a description of an Amish wedding we attended several years ago. (The actual description is in a footnote.)
Today's mystery photo is a makeshift baseball which was made by covering a round wad of cloth with duct tape! Now, how's that for resourcefulness! It would sure be softer on the hands that aren't protected by a mitt as well.
Please Note: We did not post a new daily encouragement message yesterday (Thursday, November 18, 2010) due to an early morning meeting followed by a busy schedule of making chaplain visits throughout the entire day.
Yesterday's USA Today article titled "We're Just Not That Into Marriage." This study indicates that 39% feel marriage is becoming obsolete.
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.)
Normally we place links to suggested music that relates to the message but we were unable to recall any songs related to honoring marriage apart from wedding songs. Perhaps some of our readers may have some suggestions?
Special Thanksgiving Resources
We want to offer these ideas to families and church leaders
to enrich the spiritual impact of the Thanksgiving holiday.
(We will post these resources through Thanksgiving.)
We want to offer these ideas to families and church leaders
to enrich the spiritual impact of the Thanksgiving holiday.
(We will post these resources through Thanksgiving.)
"Thankful For The
Thorns": A family reading and exercise that is a
wonderful way to give a thoughtful focus around your Thanksgiving Table (printable webpage) The
Thanksgiving celebration includes family coming together along with the
turkey and trimmings. Often there's a lot of food with little
meaningful
conversation. Why not add some stimulating discussion about the ways
God has worked in your life over the past year! Some of
you are not in charge and are only visitors at your Thanksgiving
gathering, but if it is possible share together
around
the table the theme of "Thankful for the Thorns" or the questionnaire
we've provided in this link "A
Thanksgiving
family exercise" (pdf). We have used this questionnaire as a
stimulus for discussion among family members in the past in our home. We encourage
you to share results around the table at Thanksgiving before or after
the meal.A Thanksgiving prayer: (written by Joe Sherer, a pastor friend of ours and shared as the benediction at our community Thanksgiving Eve service several years ago.) Webpage For those who enjoy written prayers this would be a beautiful prayer to read together at the Thanksgiving table.
A Thanksgiving Scripture reading: A selection of Old and New Testament readings dealing with thankfulness appropriate for church, family and personal readings. (pdf) (Suitable for printing out and copying.)
The Pilgrims Come to the New World: Webpage
A Day of Rest in Plimouth Colony: This is a summary of a chapter in the lives of the pilgrims that Brooksyne uses to teach about their Sunday worship. (pdf) Note: Although we spell it Plymouth today the old spelling was Plimouth.
"Hymns
of Hope" Brooksyne
has compiled eleven hymns that deal with
the
recurring theme of loss and ongoing trial and titled it "Hymns of Hope"
based on Romans 12:12, "Be
joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer." Amber
Martin plays the hymns on the keyboard and Lauren Gingrich accompanies
her on six of the hymns with the viola. Tracks 12-22 play each hymn
softly in the background while Brooksyne shares a personal devotional
thought, the biographical setting of the hymn text, and an intercessory
prayer. We recorded this in the very modest and limited computerized
recording studio of Daily Encouragement so that we could make this
ministry project available to all who are in need of such encouragement. Thus we realize the audio
quality is not what most are accustomed to. You can go to this
site
to listen to the songs. You can download one song at a time if you find
this to be of special blessing or know someone whose spirit
might be lifted by listening to these meditative hymns."ThanksLiving" Bob Southard, a friend of ours shares a weekly online sermon. Here's a pdf version of his thanksgiving sermon.
Resources used in Brooksyne's research on the Pilgrims:
Saints & Strangers By Vision Video
Three Young Pilgrims By Cheryl Harness / Simon & Schuster
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!
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 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."
Daily
Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com
©
Copyright 2010
Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
Home
www.dailyencouragement.net
Contact us
New feature:
I am
not much for publishing website statistics but sure enjoy geography.
When I saw this widget that counts visitors by nation and
state I thought it would be interesting to some of our readers. I
installed the international widget 4/16/10 and the state widget
4/19/10 (thus the disparity in US state totals). This widget only counts visits to the main page and daily
archive."Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation"