Daily Encouragement sunrise logo
The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.


Donate to Daily Encouragement Net

Daily Encouragement on Daily Encouragement on FacebookFacebook Daily Encouragement on TwitterTwitter   Daily Encouragement on LinkedInWordpress   Daily Encouragement on LinkedInLinkedIn

Contact Us
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne

<Previous Message                            Next Message>

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Joshua 24:15

"Your Most Important Decision Day"

Message summary: We have our most important decision today. Do we decide to respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ resulting in a change of heart and change of direction to walk in His ways rather than the ways of the world? Or do we pursue the ever-changing philosophies and trends of our day?

Listen to our message on your audio player.

"Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve" (Joshua 24:15).

I voted sticker
As most of you are aware we had a mid-term election yesterday here in America. The three of us in our family voted and made a decision for the candidates that we believed best represented our values. We are thankful for the privilege to vote and the peaceful and efficient manner in which our polling place was operated. In spite of all the vitriol on the national level there was a representative from each major party providing information as we walked in and "amazingly" they were talking with one another and getting along!

We are sure glad another season of intense campaigning is over, at least for now. For the last several weeks we have been bombarded with campaign appeals, some tasteful and informative, others disgustingly deceptive. I received a text message over and over the last several weeks that stated "Hey Elizabeth! This is Shane with Keystone Progress. Can we count on your vote for ______ ?" (a socialist candidate). In spite of repeated pleas to be removed from whatever list I had been put on they just kept sending it to me. I am not Elizabeth, don't know Shane nor what "Keystone Progress" is all about (although I have a pretty good idea). I find such a campaign method quite irritating.

There's been a lot of talk about this election being the most important in our lifetime, which is something you hear in about every national election.

But an email I received yesterday prompted today's message. It stated "It's Decision Day For American Voters." The title of today's message, "Your Most Important Decision Day" may seem a day late but it's not. In a sense it's always decision day for the most important decision we will make in life.

Choose This DayJoshua challenged the Israelites to make a decision: "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve" (Joshua 24:15). The people had to decide whether to serve and obey the Lord God who had proven His trustworthiness or the gods of their time derived from the imaginations and philosophies of man. It is a decision we each make, one that will guide the eternal direction of our lives, but there's also a sense we make this decision daily. Just like the ancient Israelites we must decide whether to serve and obey the one true God who daily proves His trustworthiness or the gods of our time derived from the imaginations, philosophies, and even the politics of our day.

I consider Joshua's challenge practically every day and his bold proclamation of faith that he expressed when he proclaimed, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord".

We have our most important decision today. Do we decide to respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ resulting in a change of heart and change of direction to walk in His ways rather than the ways of the world? Or do we pursue the ever-changing philosophies and trends of our day? We really can't do both, since trying to do so will bring about compromise, frustration, hypocrisy, lack of effectiveness and the real possibility of falling away from the truth once for all entrusted to the saints.


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Praying manDaily prayer: Father, the philosophies, trends, and mind-set of the world stands in great contrast to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Your Word tells us that those who do not stand with You are against You. We can't walk on both sides of the fence so we are faced with a choice we must make; the same kind of choice Joshua gave to the Israelites 3,400 years ago. We must choose whether to follow after the gods of this world and forsake You or we must forsake the world and devote ourselves to You. Father, I choose to follow after You; You who reconciled me to Yourself through Jesus. You have proven Yourself trustworthy for Your promises are true. You provide the power and presence of Your Holy Spirit to lead and direct my every path. I choose You today, exclusively and eternally!  Amen.

Colorado scene 11/2/18 (Click to enlarge)
As I traveled with my sister, Elaine, over the mountains I found this view a bit different than most of the terrain near Rifle, Colorado. It looks a lot like an artist's painting rather than a photograph.
(Click to enlarge)

Home view 11/7/18 (Click to enlarge)
Our view from our front porch this morning.
(Click to enlarge)



Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"I Choose Christ"  Video  Karen Peck & New River

"Say Amen"  Video  Brian Free & Assurance

"Medley of songs about Heaven"  Video  Calvary Church Choir This is the medley of songs used by our church's choir two Sundays ago. Mistakenly, Stephen did not create the link correctly yesterday so that it would start right at the medley. Old-timers especially will enjoy these hymns as I did while singing these hand clapping time honored songs about heaven. Among my dad's favorite hymns were "When We All Get to Heaven" and "I'll Fly Away" so Ester especially enjoyed this medley, as did I. If you view the video and see the entire choir on the platform you'll see the altos seated on the left, the tenor/bass in the middle, and the sopranos on the right where I sing. Look especially for the very enthusiastic male singer in the yellow shirt!

Finally today:

Happy pets 11/6/18
It was nice to be welcomed by my family after visiting with my extended family in Colorado last week. Silly as it might sound to non-dog owners I really miss the dogs when I'm away. They pounced on me the moment I took to the recliner last night to watch the election results and Stephen caught it on camera.

Contact Us
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

dailyencouragement.net

Contact Us

"Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation"