The on line
Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Home About Us Archives Free email subscription ![]() Follow Daily Encouragement on ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() <Previous Message Next Message> Friday, April 15, 2016
![]() "The lesser light to rule the night" (Genesis 1:16) Ester really enjoys photography. She was out with her tripod and camera the other night and captured this detailed image. "Our Death Due Date"
Message Summary: The main question in life is this: Are we ready to die? Are we prepared for the judgment? God has given us a will to decide and there is absolutely no decision we make in our lifetime that is greater than this one. As important as it is that we select the right marriage partner, our life's vocation, or other major life decisions, these pale in comparison to decisions regarding our eternal destiny. ![]() "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him" (Hebrews 9:27,28). ![]() Here we are, over 200 years later, and there's no change in Franklin's two certainties. Today Americans are certainly reminded of and likely dealing with the certainty of taxes! For my entire life April 15 has represented the tax due date, although this year it's April 18! (See here for why) ![]() Well, of course we were not born with this date notably engraved on our bodies. Aren't you grateful for that! The date has not been revealed to us, but we most certainly have one and we can be certain that God knows it. Our death due date is expressed in Scripture in the straightforward phrase: "Man is destined to die once." Other versions use the word appointed or ordained. It's in the present tense indicating a fact which is continually true. ![]() The main question is this: Are we ready to die? Are we prepared for the judgment? This is a certainty that Benjamin Franklin didn't note. God has given us a will to decide and there is absolutely no decision we make in our lifetime that is greater than this one. As important as it is that we select the right marriage partner, our life's vocation, or other major life decisions, these pale in comparison to decisions regarding our eternal destiny. The decision is to personally believe in Christ, receive Him as our Lord and Savior and daily live our lives for Him. This leads to another wonderful certainty: "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life" (John 5:24). We hope you have all made this decision. But if somehow you have come across this brief message and haven't done so, or you are uncertain of your salvation through faith in Christ, we strongly urge you to examine your heart today. Remember, we all have a death due date! God’s instruction from His Holy Word properly prepares us for the most important date of our human existence. Let’s be ready. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber ![]() On this very date April 15, 1775 "RESOLVED, That it be, and hereby is recommended to the good People of this Colony of all Denominations, that THURSDAY the Eleventh Day of May next be set apart as a Day of Public Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer...to confess the sins...to implore the Forgiveness of all our Transgression...and a blessing on the Husbandry, Manufactures, and other lawful Employments of this People; and especially that the union of the American Colonies in Defense of their Rights (for hitherto we desire to thank Almighty GOD) may be preserved and confirmed....And that AMERICA may soon behold a gracious Interposition of Heaven." By Order of the [Massachusetts] Provincial Congress, John Hancock, President Well done, good and faithful servant.
We received new this week that Florence Bogden
has gone home to be with the Lord. When we began our ministry in
Pennsylvania in 1977 Florence and her late
husband Stephen pastored in Clearfield, a neighboring community about 35 miles away. They
befriended us and were a
great source of encouragement as we planted a church. Several
years later they moved to Philadelphia and Stephen served as
the pastor
of the historic Highway Tabernacle near the Center City for many years
where they had an outstanding ministry serving the Lord faithfully and
impacting many lives for Christ. On a couple of occasions we took
groups of young people from our church in rural northern PA on mission
trips
to assist them and give the kids from a small town the taste of
ministry in a big city. Pastor Stephen and Florence especially had a
ministry befriending international students from area colleges and
hosting them in
their home. This photo was taken about six years ago when
Florence was in her mid-eighties.
We received many
warm letters from her over the years. We rejoice greatly in her
wonderful glorious promotion, for she suffered severely over the past
15 years or so with crippling arthritis. Now she is walking and leaping
and praising God on streets of gold!![]() Yesterday we stopped by the Village Farm Market and admired some new Scripture signs which they kindly took off the wall for us to photograph. ![]() A great scene in rural Lancaster County is the Amish children playing outside during recess. ![]() They were playing softball Some of our chaplaincy friends. ![]() Assemblers at Val-Co We enjoy the international aspect of our service. In this photo we have an American Indian, Puerto Rican, Russian, Lancaster County native and South African. ![]() Machine operators at Vallorbs In another plant we have a Kenyan, Bosnian, Vietnamese, Laotian and Dominican Republic Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "10,000 Reasons" Video Matt Redman This song has been immensely popular the last several years. Especially pertinent to today's message is a verse that states. And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come Still my soul will sing Your praise unending Ten thousand years and then forevermore "Going Home" Video Bill Gaither and Tanya Goodman Sykes "What a Day That Will Be" Video Note: The model who volunteered the forehead for our death due date photo chooses to remain anonymous. Yesterday's photo of the animal in the tree was actually a black cat, although you may have thought it was a black bear or Puma! 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.) ![]() ![]() 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. 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 2016 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA |