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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 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."
© Copyright 2013 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
<Previous Message Next Message>
Monday, August 12, 2013
Lancaster County farm scene
(Photo by Frank G. Heron)
Click here for larger image
"God's Invisible Qualities"
Listen to this message on your audio player
"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse" (Romans 1:20). “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8,9).
Yesterday
afternoon we took a long walk over to Donegal Springs located just
below Cameron
Estate Inn, which is about a four mile round trip. Walking alongside
the creek we
passed a section of newly posted single strand electric fence. The dogs
insisted on walking dangerously close to the strand, in spite of
Brooksyne trying to pull them in the other direction.
Choosing to disregard our warnings, Mollie, the young and excitable
border collie, lunged forward and brushed the wire with her head. ZAP!!
She yelped painfully, backed off and looked up as if to ask, "WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS THAT?". Well, how do you explain electricity to a dog? On the way back Mollie walked on the opposite side of the road until we passed the wire. We couldn't coax her to get anywhere near the wire so we were convinced that she had a new respect for the electric wire fence, no explanation needed. Though the wire looked harmless, from a distance even invisible, the power-packed jolt it sent out quickly changed her initial impression.
I recall a conversation I once had with an electrical engineer about fifteen years ago. I told him my observation concerning many electrical engineers I've met who are Christians and asked him his opinion on why this is so. His answer was very interesting. He shared how in his field of study there's a focus on a power that is present but its source can't be physically seen. Thus faith in an invisible God and His undeniable power is not so difficult for an electrical engineer to grasp!
The Apostle Paul speaks of God's "eternal power" as one of God's "invisible qualities". Paul uses a very interesting Greek word for "eternal" in this passage. The word aidios means "everduring" (forward and backward). This power is constant; there's been no diminishment whatsoever from eternity past and there will be no diminishment in eternity future.
According to the daily text and certainly in my observation God's invisible qualities are "clearly seen, being understood from what has been made." I pray that the Lord will open every reader's eyes to clearly see the glory of God; to believe and serve Him today.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, everything
in all Your creation cries out that You are eternally sovereign,
all-powerful, and faithful in Your works. We are blessed beyond measure
by Your handiwork, and Your invisible power that sustains us and
empowers us to walk in victory day after day. Your power is constant
and there is no diminishment over time. On Your appointed day when we
enter the portals of heaven, we will see so much more of Your
creative power that is hidden from view on this side of eternity. Keep
us faithful and respectful of Your almighty power that reigns in heaven
and on earth. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
In the message I mentioned meeting quite a number of electrical engineers through my years of ministry who are Christians, These include our long-time friend Mike Matangelo who now lives in North Carolina. He and his wife Kathy were in the very first service when we established a church in Saint Marys, PA in 1977. Nigel Lee, another electrical engineer who lives in the Boston area along with his wife Laifong, were the very first recipients of this devotional in 1996.
Ron Hoover, also an electrical engineer, is a friend in our area who is very supportive of our corporate chaplaincy ministry. He and his wife Bonnie both have a dynamic faith in Christ, with a knack for finding ways to witness in the midst of life's circumstances. Ron tells a story illustrating this. He was in a meeting discussing a quality control issue with several others. There was some frustration in the room and one of the exasperated engineers said, "Jesus Christ couldn't keep this tolerance." Ron said, "Oh...I didn't know that Jesus Christ worked down at our lab." Of course this quieted things down a bit and then Ron solemnly said, "As a matter of fact Jesus Christ could keep this tolerance" and went on to testify of his faith in Christ to the group!
A Very Special Bike Ride
On Saturday we gathered with a group of friends in support of our friend, Stephen and his family. He works for JK Mechanical, one of the companies we serve as chaplains, and is also our HVAC service tech. He and his wife Buffy have nine children or as Stephen humorously tells "three and 1/2 dozen" (think about that). Five of the children are adopted with various types of special needs. Their daughter Katrina has Cystic Fibrosis and has been very ill for quite some time. In fact she was discharged from the hospital just prior this event where a group of bikers came up from Maryland to take her for a ride. What a joy for all of us to see the smile that put on her face!
Stephen hugs her and carefully sets her in the bike.
A Pleasant Afternoon Walk 8/11/13
As we began our walk we were stalked by our neighbor's rooster, startling us and the dogs as he chased us down the farm trail. We hear his cock-a-doodle-doo throughout the day, but this is the first time we met this feisty rooster.
Rarely do we see other walkers on "our" trail but some neighbors who live at the end of the trail were also out for a Sunday stroll. These folks belong to a group known as
"The Old Order River Brethren"
The Donegal Springs pool
(The Cameron Estate Inn is just beyond this pool to the left)
The dogs wanted to visit with the ducks. I held Mollie back but Roxie jumped right after this photo was taken and found out it wasn't the shallow water she expected. She swam back immediately but couldn't pull herself back out without out help. I guess both of our dogs had fairly traumatic events on our Sunday afternoon stroll.
The Cameron Inn has quite a history.
See here.
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"God's Been Good" Video Legacy Five As Brooksyne prepared to leave this morning to volunteer at our local thrift store she heard this song on WDAC, our local Christian station and asked if I could find it online.
"Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise" Video Steve Green
"Immortal Invisible God Only Wise" Video Chris McClarney
"Immortal, Invisible" Video Laura Story
"Acapella - Everything we need" Video
At the bike ride for Katrina I met Frank G. Heron, a man from their church who was taking photographs. We ended up talking and he has some very interesting insights. He has a massive photo blog and gave me permission to periodically share his photos on this site.
Lancaster County farm scene
(Photo by Frank G. Heron)
Click here for larger image
"God's Invisible Qualities"
Listen to this message on your audio player"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse" (Romans 1:20). “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8,9).
Yesterday
afternoon we took a long walk over to Donegal Springs located just
below Cameron
Estate Inn, which is about a four mile round trip. Walking alongside
the creek we
passed a section of newly posted single strand electric fence. The dogs
insisted on walking dangerously close to the strand, in spite of
Brooksyne trying to pull them in the other direction.
Choosing to disregard our warnings, Mollie, the young and excitable
border collie, lunged forward and brushed the wire with her head. ZAP!!
She yelped painfully, backed off and looked up as if to ask, "WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS THAT?". Well, how do you explain electricity to a dog? On the way back Mollie walked on the opposite side of the road until we passed the wire. We couldn't coax her to get anywhere near the wire so we were convinced that she had a new respect for the electric wire fence, no explanation needed. Though the wire looked harmless, from a distance even invisible, the power-packed jolt it sent out quickly changed her initial impression.
I recall a conversation I once had with an electrical engineer about fifteen years ago. I told him my observation concerning many electrical engineers I've met who are Christians and asked him his opinion on why this is so. His answer was very interesting. He shared how in his field of study there's a focus on a power that is present but its source can't be physically seen. Thus faith in an invisible God and His undeniable power is not so difficult for an electrical engineer to grasp!
The Apostle Paul speaks of God's "eternal power" as one of God's "invisible qualities". Paul uses a very interesting Greek word for "eternal" in this passage. The word aidios means "everduring" (forward and backward). This power is constant; there's been no diminishment whatsoever from eternity past and there will be no diminishment in eternity future.
According to the daily text and certainly in my observation God's invisible qualities are "clearly seen, being understood from what has been made." I pray that the Lord will open every reader's eyes to clearly see the glory of God; to believe and serve Him today.
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great Name we praise.
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great Name we praise.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, everything
in all Your creation cries out that You are eternally sovereign,
all-powerful, and faithful in Your works. We are blessed beyond measure
by Your handiwork, and Your invisible power that sustains us and
empowers us to walk in victory day after day. Your power is constant
and there is no diminishment over time. On Your appointed day when we
enter the portals of heaven, we will see so much more of Your
creative power that is hidden from view on this side of eternity. Keep
us faithful and respectful of Your almighty power that reigns in heaven
and on earth. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.In the message I mentioned meeting quite a number of electrical engineers through my years of ministry who are Christians, These include our long-time friend Mike Matangelo who now lives in North Carolina. He and his wife Kathy were in the very first service when we established a church in Saint Marys, PA in 1977. Nigel Lee, another electrical engineer who lives in the Boston area along with his wife Laifong, were the very first recipients of this devotional in 1996.
Ron Hoover, also an electrical engineer, is a friend in our area who is very supportive of our corporate chaplaincy ministry. He and his wife Bonnie both have a dynamic faith in Christ, with a knack for finding ways to witness in the midst of life's circumstances. Ron tells a story illustrating this. He was in a meeting discussing a quality control issue with several others. There was some frustration in the room and one of the exasperated engineers said, "Jesus Christ couldn't keep this tolerance." Ron said, "Oh...I didn't know that Jesus Christ worked down at our lab." Of course this quieted things down a bit and then Ron solemnly said, "As a matter of fact Jesus Christ could keep this tolerance" and went on to testify of his faith in Christ to the group!
A Very Special Bike Ride
On Saturday we gathered with a group of friends in support of our friend, Stephen and his family. He works for JK Mechanical, one of the companies we serve as chaplains, and is also our HVAC service tech. He and his wife Buffy have nine children or as Stephen humorously tells "three and 1/2 dozen" (think about that). Five of the children are adopted with various types of special needs. Their daughter Katrina has Cystic Fibrosis and has been very ill for quite some time. In fact she was discharged from the hospital just prior this event where a group of bikers came up from Maryland to take her for a ride. What a joy for all of us to see the smile that put on her face!
Stephen hugs her and carefully sets her in the bike.
A Pleasant Afternoon Walk 8/11/13
As we began our walk we were stalked by our neighbor's rooster, startling us and the dogs as he chased us down the farm trail. We hear his cock-a-doodle-doo throughout the day, but this is the first time we met this feisty rooster.
Rarely do we see other walkers on "our" trail but some neighbors who live at the end of the trail were also out for a Sunday stroll. These folks belong to a group known as
"The Old Order River Brethren"
The Donegal Springs pool
(The Cameron Estate Inn is just beyond this pool to the left)
The dogs wanted to visit with the ducks. I held Mollie back but Roxie jumped right after this photo was taken and found out it wasn't the shallow water she expected. She swam back immediately but couldn't pull herself back out without out help. I guess both of our dogs had fairly traumatic events on our Sunday afternoon stroll.
The Cameron Inn has quite a history.
See here.
"God's Been Good" Video Legacy Five As Brooksyne prepared to leave this morning to volunteer at our local thrift store she heard this song on WDAC, our local Christian station and asked if I could find it online.
"Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise" Video Steve Green
"Immortal Invisible God Only Wise" Video Chris McClarney
"Immortal, Invisible" Video Laura Story
"Acapella - Everything we need" Video
At the bike ride for Katrina I met Frank G. Heron, a man from their church who was taking photographs. We ended up talking and he has some very interesting insights. He has a massive photo blog and gave me permission to periodically share his photos on this site.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 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."
© Copyright 2013 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA