The online
Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Home Archives About Us Free email subscription ![]() ![]() Daily Encouragement on ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() <Previous Message Next Message> Thursday, March 1, 2018 ![]() Yesterday, the final day of February, we saw these tiny flowers making their appearance on an unseasonably warm day. Just enough to give us a bit of spring fever! "A Lesson From Pretzels" Message summary: Now, as much as any time in history we need to see God's Word and truths expressed and impressed upon those who follow us. ![]() "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates" (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). ![]() Until the 1930s, pretzels were still manufactured by hand. But in 1935, the Reading Pretzel Machinery Company introduced the first automated pretzel maker, which enabled bakers to put out some 245 pretzels per minute, compared with the 40 per minute an individual worker could make by hand. Today, Pennsylvania remains the American pretzel-making capital, as a full 80 percent of U.S.-made pretzels come from the Keystone State.* ![]() We still try to incentivize children in learning Bible verses and other spiritual disciplines. We also look for object lessons that can serve as a reminder of a spiritual truth much like the pretzel. Today's Scripture text is one of the most important to the Jewish people. It is known as the Shema and is an an affirmation of God’s singularity. Its daily recitation is regarded by traditionally observant Jews as a biblical commandment. Today we want to focus on a command to parents concerning God's commands, "Impress them on your children." ![]() The most culturally unusual to many of us would be the command to "Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads." But observant Jews still practice this by wearing a phylactery, small leather box containing Hebrew texts on vellum, worn by Jewish men at morning prayer as a reminder to keep the law. A thought to consider today: How are we impressing God's truths upon our children, grandchildren and all who we may influence? The ancient Jews used the phylactery, middle-aged monks used the pretzel. Now, as much as any time in history, we need to see God's Word and truths expressed and impressed upon those who follow us. Are you doing your part? Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber ![]() ![]() Shuey's pretzel making. Notice the long pole used to reach the back of the oven. Click on photo for larger view ![]() Shuey's pretzel making. The employee who invited us to view the workings of the Pretzel Store referred to "the old man sleeping". We were uncertain as to who he was and even wondered if he was a prop until he lifted his head during our visit. Click on photo for larger view ![]() Shuey's pretzel making. Click on photo for larger view Today's
Suggested Music and
Supplemental Resources
"What You Leave Behind" Video The Talley's
"What Children Believe" Video Gold City "Statement of Faith" Video The Booth Brothers, The Hoppers & Greater Vision "Preach The Word" Video Gold City * The Pretzel: A Twisted History ![]() 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.) 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. We 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 2018 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA |