A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Monday, November
19, 2018
"Therefore encourage one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:18). We believe that, although Paul was specifically referring to the previous teaching in the context, this principle applies any time we remind others of spiritual truths.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, it is good
to remind ourselves "to never doubt in
the darkness what You have told us in
the light." It is in the thick of things
that we often let the light of Your Word
grow dim and turn to human methods to
resolve our problems, growing more
frustrated all the while. The glory of
Your divine light cuts through the fog
that clouds our journey here below
helping us to enjoy peace and rest when
we fully trust You; for the darkness of
our situation does not stop Your
glorious light from getting through and
showing us the next step we take which
leads us closer and closer to our
eternal home. You are worthy of all
praise, glory, honor and thanksgiving!
Amen.
We offer these resources to families and church leaders to enrich the spiritual impact of the Thanksgiving holiday. We will post these resources through Thanksgiving Day here in the US (November 22).
"Thankful
For The Thorns": A
family reading and exercise that
is a wonderful way to give a
thoughtful focus around your
Thanksgiving Table. (Note: You
will need a good reader who
should be given the story ahead
of time to review so that it's
read with expression and
clarity.) For many of us the
Thanksgiving celebration
typically includes family coming
together for a huge meal and
hopefully a heartfelt prayer of
thankfulness. However it can
often be difficult to have a
spiritually oriented
conversation. Why not add some
stimulating discussion about the
ways God has worked in your life
over the past year! Here's an
idea for sharing together around
the table the theme of "Thankful
for the Thorns" (printable
webpage).
"A Thanksgiving family exercise" (pdf) We have used this questionnaire as a stimulus for discussion among family members in the past in our home. We encourage you to share results around the table at Thanksgiving before or after the meal.
A Thanksgiving prayer: Written by Joe Sherer, a pastor friend of ours and shared as the benediction at our community Thanksgiving Eve service many years ago. (blog post) For those who enjoy written prayers this would be a beautiful prayer to read together at the Thanksgiving table.
A Thanksgiving Scripture reading: A selection of Old and New Testament readings dealing with thankfulness appropriate for church, family and personal readings. (pdf) (Suitable for printing out and copying.)
A Suggestion for a Family Tradition from our long-time friend Bob Southard: After the turkey, the cranberries, the pie, we all get out our Bibles to read our favorite thanksgiving verse. From the youngest to the oldest we share God’s Word and tell why it is so special to us!
"It
Is Good To Be Reminded!"
Message
summary: It is a blessing to
experience both; being reminded and
being the reminder.
"So
I will always remind you of these
things" (2 Peter 1:12). "Therefore
encourage one another with these
words" (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
In
our church service yesterday our choir
sang "Is He Worthy", a very moving song
that uses an interesting format with a
soloist asking a question followed by a
response from the choir. (A link to a
video of this song is placed below)
Do
you feel the world is broken? (We do)
Do you feel the shadows deepen? (We do)
But do you know that all the dark won't stop the light from getting through? (We do)
Do you wish that you could see it all made new? (We do)
Do you feel the shadows deepen? (We do)
But do you know that all the dark won't stop the light from getting through? (We do)
Do you wish that you could see it all made new? (We do)
Is
all creation groaning? (It is)
Is a new creation coming? (It is)
Is the glory of the Lord to be the light within our midst? (It is)
Is it good that we remind ourselves of this? (It is)
Is a new creation coming? (It is)
Is the glory of the Lord to be the light within our midst? (It is)
Is it good that we remind ourselves of this? (It is)
As
I listened to the song I was especially
drawn to the phrase, "Is it good that we
remind ourselves of this? (It is)"
Our
lives are full of reminders. When Ester
was little we would remind her, "Now
don't forget to say 'thank you'". (I
have to admit sometimes we catch
ourselves still reminding her though
she's 29.) All through life we have
various aids to remind us of something
we need to do like a string around our
finger. (Remember Uncle Billy from "It's
A Wonderful Life"?) Now our smart phones
have reminders of our appointments and
"to do" items. I have one set to remind
me to change my air filter, which
Brooksyne finds very annoying since we
share calendars.
But
of foremost importance are spiritual
reminders of Biblical and eternal
truths. The apostle Peter wrote, "So
I will always remind you of these
things". Tasked with the role of
making disciples this includes a steady
barrage of reminders.
Spiritual
reminders are important because:
We forget;
We lose focus and perspective;
The things of this life can
dim our view;
Pain and trials can blind us.
It
is a blessing to experience both; being
reminded and being the reminder.
Our
second daily text concludes the teaching
about what happens to those who died as
Christians which was a source of concern
for the Thessalonian believers. Paul
assured them, "For the Lord Himself
will come down from heaven, with a
loud command, with the voice of the
archangel and with the trumpet call of
God, and the dead in Christ will rise
first. After that, we who are still
alive and are left will be caught up
together with them in the clouds to
meet the Lord in the air. And so we
will be with the Lord forever" (1
Thessalonians 4:16,17).
"Therefore encourage one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:18). We believe that, although Paul was specifically referring to the previous teaching in the context, this principle applies any time we remind others of spiritual truths.
So
today we want to be:
- God loves you and has a plan for your life.
- God works all things out for your ultimate good.
- God
reigns even if you don't presently see
it.
- The dark won't stop the light from getting through.
- God
is worthy!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, it is good
to remind ourselves "to never doubt in
the darkness what You have told us in
the light." It is in the thick of things
that we often let the light of Your Word
grow dim and turn to human methods to
resolve our problems, growing more
frustrated all the while. The glory of
Your divine light cuts through the fog
that clouds our journey here below
helping us to enjoy peace and rest when
we fully trust You; for the darkness of
our situation does not stop Your
glorious light from getting through and
showing us the next step we take which
leads us closer and closer to our
eternal home. You are worthy of all
praise, glory, honor and thanksgiving!
Amen.Remembering
Charlie Sensenig - Long time
reader Charlie Sensenig departed his
earthly journey yesterday at age 80
after 60 years of marriage to Hazel. We
met them at a Transport for Christ
retreat about ten years ago and heard
from Charlie often via daily
encouragements, as recently as a couple
weeks ago. We pray for his family during
this difficult time but rejoice in his
heavenly promotion.
Friday
evening we attended the first of our
numerous company banquets for the
season at the Country Fare Restaurant
in Myerstown PA. Here several
employees from Audrey's are
singing while Brooksyne provides
accompaniment.
This
Thursday and throughout the weekend
most of us here in the USA will be
gathering with family for
Thanksgiving. It's one of the busiest
travel periods of the year as people
come home from all over. What a
blessing this is. At Friday evening's
banquet we sat at the same table as
this couple who have been married 52
years. Their family gathering on
Thursday will be held at a school with
some 90 of their direct descendants
expected to come (including the
spouses of their children and
grandchildren). He told me they all
live within 15 miles except for one
granddaughter who lives about 150
miles away though she still lives in
Pennsylvania.
Yesterday
Stephen's older brother Pat and his
wife Laverne joined us for our church
service and then a meal afterwards.
Both of them remain active in ministry
in various ways although they are
officially "retired".
Each
November on the Friday before
Thanksgiving Lancaster County has an
interesting single day called "The
Extra Ordinary Give" which supports
local organizations. This is the
screenshot at the conclusion of the
event this last Friday. Pretty amazing
considering we are not in a large
metropolitan area (Lancaster County
has about 550,000 population) Click on
the image for more information. We are
especially heartened by how many of
the organizations are Christian
outreaches in various ways, including
seven of the top ten.
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"Is He Worthy?"
Video
Chris Tomlin This is the
song referred to in today's
message. Here's another version by
Andrew Peterson, who wrote the
song Video
Special
Thanksgiving Resources
We offer these resources to families and church leaders to enrich the spiritual impact of the Thanksgiving holiday. We will post these resources through Thanksgiving Day here in the US (November 22).
"Thankful
For The Thorns": A
family reading and exercise that
is a wonderful way to give a
thoughtful focus around your
Thanksgiving Table. (Note: You
will need a good reader who
should be given the story ahead
of time to review so that it's
read with expression and
clarity.) For many of us the
Thanksgiving celebration
typically includes family coming
together for a huge meal and
hopefully a heartfelt prayer of
thankfulness. However it can
often be difficult to have a
spiritually oriented
conversation. Why not add some
stimulating discussion about the
ways God has worked in your life
over the past year! Here's an
idea for sharing together around
the table the theme of "Thankful
for the Thorns" (printable
webpage)."A Thanksgiving family exercise" (pdf) We have used this questionnaire as a stimulus for discussion among family members in the past in our home. We encourage you to share results around the table at Thanksgiving before or after the meal.
A Thanksgiving prayer: Written by Joe Sherer, a pastor friend of ours and shared as the benediction at our community Thanksgiving Eve service many years ago. (blog post) For those who enjoy written prayers this would be a beautiful prayer to read together at the Thanksgiving table.
A Thanksgiving Scripture reading: A selection of Old and New Testament readings dealing with thankfulness appropriate for church, family and personal readings. (pdf) (Suitable for printing out and copying.)
A Suggestion for a Family Tradition from our long-time friend Bob Southard: After the turkey, the cranberries, the pie, we all get out our Bibles to read our favorite thanksgiving verse. From the youngest to the oldest we share God’s Word and tell why it is so special to us!
We appreciate
listening to and singing the
Thanksgiving hymns and songs.
"In
Everything Give Thanks"
Video
Charlotte Ritchie, Jeff
& Sheri Easter This
song will bring joy to your
heart!
"Now Thank We All Our God" Video Best Loved Hymns
"Come Ye Thankful People Come" Video Traditional version
Contemporary version but thankfully maintaining same tune and lyrics Video
"Thanksgiving Medley" (We Gather Together, For The Beauty Of The Earth, Come Ye Thankful People Come) Video Studio Musicians
"Give Thanks" Video Don Moen
"Thank You Lord" Video Community Choir at a Lancaster Day of Prayer event in 2008.
"Thanks" Video Marshall Hall and the Homecoming Singers
"I Want To Thank You" Video Karen Peck and New River This is a song expressing thankfulness to the many people who impact our lives in big and small ways. It also reminds us of the blessing of seemingly insignificant expressions of faith. From the Gaither Homecoming series.
"Thank You Lord For Your Blessings On Me" Video Gordon Mote & Jason Crabb
"I'm Forever Grateful" Video Willow Creek
"Worthy Is The Lamb, Crown Him, Crown Him With Many Crowns" Video Travis Cottrell
"Thank You, Lord" Video Dennis Jernigan
"10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)" Video Matt Redman
"Now Thank We All Our God" Video Best Loved Hymns
"Come Ye Thankful People Come" Video Traditional version
Contemporary version but thankfully maintaining same tune and lyrics Video
"Thanksgiving Medley" (We Gather Together, For The Beauty Of The Earth, Come Ye Thankful People Come) Video Studio Musicians
"Give Thanks" Video Don Moen
"Thank You Lord" Video Community Choir at a Lancaster Day of Prayer event in 2008.
"Thanks" Video Marshall Hall and the Homecoming Singers
"I Want To Thank You" Video Karen Peck and New River This is a song expressing thankfulness to the many people who impact our lives in big and small ways. It also reminds us of the blessing of seemingly insignificant expressions of faith. From the Gaither Homecoming series.
"Thank You Lord For Your Blessings On Me" Video Gordon Mote & Jason Crabb
"I'm Forever Grateful" Video Willow Creek
"Worthy Is The Lamb, Crown Him, Crown Him With Many Crowns" Video Travis Cottrell
"Thank You, Lord" Video Dennis Jernigan
"10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)" Video Matt Redman
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