The
online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Home About Us Archives Free email subscription ![]() ![]() ![]() <Previous
Message
Next
Message
Monday, March 5, 2012 ![]() BB's Grocery Outlet in rural Schaefferstown, PA. ![]() "Working With Joy!" "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24). "So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 8:15). Friday afternoon we encountered a local cultural experience in shopping at BB's Grocery Outlet, an Amish "supermarket” in rural Schaefferstown, PA. It's a discount store with the interesting slogan, "Bents, Bumps and Bunch of Bargains". (I suppose the poor grammar adds to the folksiness). As most people know the Amish have some restrictions that seem peculiar to us regarding the use of certain types of modern technology. Based upon our friendship with a number of Amish these restrictions can be peculiar to them as well! ![]() Throughout the store we heard Amish ladies of all ages singing as they stocked the shelves and even one young lady sang as she checked out customers at the cash register! They seemed rather oblivious to the mostly non-Amish customers. Although I didn't recognize the words or tune of their songs, I understand they were singing hymns, many which reflect their joy and strong work ethic. Today most of us begin another work week. How's your attitude toward your work today? Mondays are dreaded by many with an outlook of the long workweek ahead. The TGIF (Thank Goodness It’s Friday) outlook seems to permeate our society. It reflects an attitude that the work week is finally over and now real living can begin (weekend party time). But God's Word says, "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it" which would apply to every day of the week! That is a constantly present tense reality. Each day is the day that the Lord has made and on each day we are called to rejoice and be glad. Solomon makes a point so needed today: "So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 8:15). Paul wrote, "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men" (Colossians 3:23). Notice the phrase in the second daily Scripture text that states, "Joy will accompany him in his work." What a great perspective to enjoy the work we do realizing that God has providentially placed us in our present job position. "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4). "Always" would surely include time spent at work. The Amish people stocking shelves were not doing the kind of work we normally associate with being fulfilling. Anyone who has worked in retail knows the frustration of putting items neatly on display only to have customers move things around or worse yet, change their minds about an item and dispose of it far from its original location. Yet their joy was contagious and I smile as I reflect upon the experience. Today, like wise Solomon, we commend you to the enjoyment of life and specifically that joy will accompany you in your work all the days of the life. This day do your work wholeheartedly and let the light of Christ shine through you! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber ![]() Any given day we prepare these messages we are aware of heartache in the world. Today we especially consider the devastating tornadoes in the Midwest and are praying for these folks. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Rejoice In The Lord Always" Video Not Amish! "Joy Unspeakable" Video Curt McKee Not the hymn I am familiar with but a nice sound and especially so since it reminds me of a pastor friend, Jim Gambini. Here's a sample of Amish children singing at a one room school. We have been to an Amish school for special programs and can testify that this is really what it sounds and looks like! Video Tomorrow we are taking the train into Philadelphia to attend the Philadelphia International Flower Show. We have an Amtak station in Mount Joy. For the curious and local bargain hunter BB's Grocery Outlet in Schaefferstown, PA is located in southern Lebanon County where we also passed the colorful Schaefferstown fire hall. Google Map We traveled this route on Friday to drive through the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in northern Lancaster County where thousands of snow geese stop each spring on their way north. Our friend Doris High has an outstanding photo collection. Friday, I posted this Greek verse and inquired concerning what it said (in English). Readers responding with Philippians 2:11 were correct! "and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." ![]() 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 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 2012 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA |