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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 2014 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
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Monday, August 25, 2014
Last night we had a Galilean service around Galen Martin's farm pond. It was a beautiful and cool evening for late August.
Listen
to us read this
message on
your
audio player.
"That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach. And He spoke many things to them in parables" (Matthew 13:1-3).
Last night our church held a Galilean Service. We gathered on the lawn surrounding the farm pond, sang several songs, shared testimonies and prayed before I was invited to climb on board the boat from which I was going to preach! It was a beautiful evening and a distinct experience from that of preaching behind the pulpit. Truth is, I had never heard of a Galilean service prior to moving to this area and have learned since that it is not unique to our church. Prior to stepping down into the boat Pastor advised me, "Stay in the Word and stay in the boat."
Throughout our ministry of nearly forty years now we've have had a number of experiences in farm ponds. Brooksyne recalls her youthful years in Oklahoma when she, along with her teen peers, were immersed in a muddy farm pond. The very first baptism I performed as a Bible College student/pastor was in a muddy pond in southern Missouri. I came out sloshing my feet as I forcefully fought sinking in the deep mud each step I took. The farm pigs generously shared their watering hole with us that summer afternoon.
Studying the life of Christ a lot happened near and on the Sea of Galilee.*
Jesus provides an example of flexibility in ministry in order to most effectively reach people. I am not sure how comfortable it was sitting in a boat while preaching to people along the shore but it likely had both a visual and acoustical advantage.
Perhaps this setting could help us to be more resourceful and creative in reaching out to others as we speak God's truth in our needy world?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, we thank You for Jesus and His compassionate approach in
reaching people of all ages, all backgrounds and various ethnicities.
The parables and messages He shared as the crowds gathered are
life-transforming as they enlighten the hearts and minds of those who
have ears to hear the truths He spoke. Likewise we too can share the
life transforming message of the gospel to people in all walks of life
and every derivation of sin. None is beyond the all-powerful reach of
the Savior who died that we might live victoriously here and eternally
in the hereafter. It is in His name that we pray. Amen.
* In all cases the body of water was not specifically identified as the Sea of Galilee and other names are also used for the same body of water.
Grandpa Martin holding two of his grandchildren.
Ester took this distant view.
After the service the congregation lingered and Brooksyne passed by this old-fashioned swingset as Prentice called out, "Swing me!" She happily obliged and Prentice eagerly showed her his tricks on the swing and his intelligence. He boasted, "I can count to 120 and proceeded to do so as she pushed him on the swing over and over again.
Saturday afternoon Walter and Randi Waldvogel stopped by for lunch along with their friend Susan Gill. Waldvogels relocated to Lancaster County a couple years ago but Susan still lives in the Long Island area. She's a long time reader of Daily Encouragement so it was especially nice to meet her face to face.
Saturday, Aug. 23, was the day we commemorate Ester's adoption that was finalized only 17 years ago (long complicated story), though she was with us from three months of age. I wore my Guatemalan attire in celebration and baked this juicy peach pie to share with our friends.
Later Saturday afternoon Mark and Carolyn Pulliam stopped by, played a game of horseshoes and visited with us on our deck.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Farther Along" Video Dailey and Vincent (Note: takes about 12 minutes for the music to start!)
"Micah 6:8" Video Maranatha Singers We were blessed when Marsha, who was in a church we served over twenty years ago, wrote and reminded us how we used to sing this song in church and she still remembered!
"Mount Pleasant Galilean Service 2014 message" Video For any who may care to see me preach from a boat! The summer setting is beautiful. (Our friend Mike Martin made the recording.) Here's the fuller video with folky intro and beautiful scenery.
Last night we had a Galilean service around Galen Martin's farm pond. It was a beautiful and cool evening for late August.
"Message From A Boat"
Listen
to us read this
message on
your
audio player."That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach. And He spoke many things to them in parables" (Matthew 13:1-3).
Last night our church held a Galilean Service. We gathered on the lawn surrounding the farm pond, sang several songs, shared testimonies and prayed before I was invited to climb on board the boat from which I was going to preach! It was a beautiful evening and a distinct experience from that of preaching behind the pulpit. Truth is, I had never heard of a Galilean service prior to moving to this area and have learned since that it is not unique to our church. Prior to stepping down into the boat Pastor advised me, "Stay in the Word and stay in the boat."
Throughout our ministry of nearly forty years now we've have had a number of experiences in farm ponds. Brooksyne recalls her youthful years in Oklahoma when she, along with her teen peers, were immersed in a muddy farm pond. The very first baptism I performed as a Bible College student/pastor was in a muddy pond in southern Missouri. I came out sloshing my feet as I forcefully fought sinking in the deep mud each step I took. The farm pigs generously shared their watering hole with us that summer afternoon.
Studying the life of Christ a lot happened near and on the Sea of Galilee.*
- On at least one occasion Christ taught on a boat which is likely the origination of the Galilean service idea. (Today's text)
- Jesus called His first disciples: (Matthew 4:18-22).
- Jesus walked on the water as well as Peter. (Matthew 14:22-33)
- Jesus rebuked the storm (Matthew 8:23-27)
- Jesus commuted using the sea of Galilee (Mark 5:21)
- Jesus gave some fishing advice (Luke 5:1-11)
- Jesus' final teaching in the Gospel of John was by the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-14)
Jesus provides an example of flexibility in ministry in order to most effectively reach people. I am not sure how comfortable it was sitting in a boat while preaching to people along the shore but it likely had both a visual and acoustical advantage.
Perhaps this setting could help us to be more resourceful and creative in reaching out to others as we speak God's truth in our needy world?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, we thank You for Jesus and His compassionate approach in
reaching people of all ages, all backgrounds and various ethnicities.
The parables and messages He shared as the crowds gathered are
life-transforming as they enlighten the hearts and minds of those who
have ears to hear the truths He spoke. Likewise we too can share the
life transforming message of the gospel to people in all walks of life
and every derivation of sin. None is beyond the all-powerful reach of
the Savior who died that we might live victoriously here and eternally
in the hereafter. It is in His name that we pray. Amen.* In all cases the body of water was not specifically identified as the Sea of Galilee and other names are also used for the same body of water.
Grandpa Martin holding two of his grandchildren.
Ester took this distant view.
After the service the congregation lingered and Brooksyne passed by this old-fashioned swingset as Prentice called out, "Swing me!" She happily obliged and Prentice eagerly showed her his tricks on the swing and his intelligence. He boasted, "I can count to 120 and proceeded to do so as she pushed him on the swing over and over again.
Saturday afternoon Walter and Randi Waldvogel stopped by for lunch along with their friend Susan Gill. Waldvogels relocated to Lancaster County a couple years ago but Susan still lives in the Long Island area. She's a long time reader of Daily Encouragement so it was especially nice to meet her face to face.
Saturday, Aug. 23, was the day we commemorate Ester's adoption that was finalized only 17 years ago (long complicated story), though she was with us from three months of age. I wore my Guatemalan attire in celebration and baked this juicy peach pie to share with our friends.
Later Saturday afternoon Mark and Carolyn Pulliam stopped by, played a game of horseshoes and visited with us on our deck.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Farther Along" Video Dailey and Vincent (Note: takes about 12 minutes for the music to start!)
"Micah 6:8" Video Maranatha Singers We were blessed when Marsha, who was in a church we served over twenty years ago, wrote and reminded us how we used to sing this song in church and she still remembered!
"Mount Pleasant Galilean Service 2014 message" Video For any who may care to see me preach from a boat! The summer setting is beautiful. (Our friend Mike Martin made the recording.) Here's the fuller video with folky intro and beautiful scenery.
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 2014 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA