A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Tuesday, December
4, 2018
I took this photo
of Chaplain Dave Hertle at a
mobile truck chapel in Omaha
Nebraska ten years ago. He is
holding the heavy chain shaped
in a cross with the
links welded together. The
links are welded together. The story is here.
Dave is a chaplain with Transport For
Christ, a ministry that
has chapels with chaplains at
truck stops.
"The
cross we carry is never as heavy as the chains from
which we were freed."
"No
Cross, No Shield, The Big Problem"
Message
summary: The
world may indeed believe
"no cross, no shield, no
problem".
Listen to our
message on your audio
player.
"For the
message of the cross
is foolishness to
those who are
perishing, but to us
who are being saved it
is the power of God"
(1 Corinthians 1:18).
"You have also given
me the shield of your
salvation" (2 Samuel
22:36).
Here in Pennsylvania, as in many states, for many years we had a major health insurance provider known as Blue Cross/Blue Shield. In fact it was our health insurance for most of the time when we lived in Pennsylvania from 1977 to 1993. In 2001 Blue Cross/Blue Shield experienced some financial difficulties and split off to become two separate companies, which is the case to this day in our state. We have Highmark Blue Shield (which happens to be our present health insurance provider) and Capital Blue Cross and now they compete against each other! For 2019 I am leaning to using Capital Blue Cross.
Back in
2001 when they were
having problems a rival
company used an
interesting slogan to
advertise for new
customers. One large
highway billboard ad
declared, "NO CROSS, NO
SHIELD, NO PROBLEM".
Here in Pennsylvania, as in many states, for many years we had a major health insurance provider known as Blue Cross/Blue Shield. In fact it was our health insurance for most of the time when we lived in Pennsylvania from 1977 to 1993. In 2001 Blue Cross/Blue Shield experienced some financial difficulties and split off to become two separate companies, which is the case to this day in our state. We have Highmark Blue Shield (which happens to be our present health insurance provider) and Capital Blue Cross and now they compete against each other! For 2019 I am leaning to using Capital Blue Cross.
Well that sure
got me thinking. That
seems to me to be the
attitude of many to a
vitally more important
cross and shield.
The cross is the historic Christian symbol, reminding us of what really happened on an old wooden cross nearly 2,000 years ago, when Jesus Christ died as a substitute for our sins. But to many at that time, to many throughout the ages, and to a multitude of people today it's a message of foolishness. They scoff at the notion. But for those of us who are being saved it is indeed the power of God! "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18)
The shield, although not as common as the symbol of the cross, is nevertheless used in Scripture to describe our salvation. David wrote in one of his songs to the Lord, "You have also given me the shield of your salvation". It's interesting to me that the root Hebrew word used in this passage for salvation is "yesha'", which is also the root word for the Name of Jesus.
The world may indeed believe "no cross, no shield, no problem". But from the perspective of "the redeemed" man's failure to glory in the cross and to appropriate the shield of salvation is a very big problem. Today join me in thanking God for what took place on the cross and for the shield of our salvation.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father,
we are grateful for
Jesus who provided the
answer for the sin
problem for all time.
Without the cross
there would be no
redemption; no
forgiveness for our
sins; no hope for this
life or the next; no
sin-free eternity for
the redeemed. That
which was man's
greatest problem had
no earthly fix, but
You sent Jesus to be
born in a hallowed
manger to be the
solution to our
desperate condition.
To those who have
accepted Jesus as
their Savior it is a
joyous walk. The
weight of sin is
lifted and the shield
of salvation empowers
us, for Jesus is our
Master. But to those
who reject Jesus the
weight of sin
continues to dominate
their lives and
enslave them to the
schemes of Satan who
is their master. We
lift high the banner
of the cross of Jesus
as we walk in His
resurrected power, and
it is also in His name
that we pray. Amen.
The cross is the historic Christian symbol, reminding us of what really happened on an old wooden cross nearly 2,000 years ago, when Jesus Christ died as a substitute for our sins. But to many at that time, to many throughout the ages, and to a multitude of people today it's a message of foolishness. They scoff at the notion. But for those of us who are being saved it is indeed the power of God! "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18)
The shield, although not as common as the symbol of the cross, is nevertheless used in Scripture to describe our salvation. David wrote in one of his songs to the Lord, "You have also given me the shield of your salvation". It's interesting to me that the root Hebrew word used in this passage for salvation is "yesha'", which is also the root word for the Name of Jesus.
The world may indeed believe "no cross, no shield, no problem". But from the perspective of "the redeemed" man's failure to glory in the cross and to appropriate the shield of salvation is a very big problem. Today join me in thanking God for what took place on the cross and for the shield of our salvation.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father,
we are grateful for
Jesus who provided the
answer for the sin
problem for all time.
Without the cross
there would be no
redemption; no
forgiveness for our
sins; no hope for this
life or the next; no
sin-free eternity for
the redeemed. That
which was man's
greatest problem had
no earthly fix, but
You sent Jesus to be
born in a hallowed
manger to be the
solution to our
desperate condition.
To those who have
accepted Jesus as
their Savior it is a
joyous walk. The
weight of sin is
lifted and the shield
of salvation empowers
us, for Jesus is our
Master. But to those
who reject Jesus the
weight of sin
continues to dominate
their lives and
enslave them to the
schemes of Satan who
is their master. We
lift high the banner
of the cross of Jesus
as we walk in His
resurrected power, and
it is also in His name
that we pray. Amen.Special
Year-end Financial Appeal
We want to thank all who
have financially supported our
ministry this past year (and some for
many years!). We realize there are many
fine ministries and causes requesting
support at this time but if the Lord
would lead you we surely need and
appreciate the financial support from
our readers and listeners. Like
many ministries, we typically see a
spike in giving at the end of the year
for which we are most thankful.
Our ministry labor is comprised of approximately half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies for which we receive compensation. Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many years is that each would provide half of our ministry expenses and income.
If you would consider making a donation to our ministry see here for more information.
To donate directly online here. This will open to a page that designates the offering to: WEBER,STEPHEN CHAP, Specialized Chaplaincy Ministry ID: 700001-237376
Please Note:
We also provide this easy option due
to the convenience, for
international supporters, and for
those who may not be concerned
regarding receiving an official tax
deductible receipt.
Click here
to send an offering using PayPal.
This will open to a page that states
"Brooksyne Weber"
Thank you
Our ministry labor is comprised of approximately half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies for which we receive compensation. Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many years is that each would provide half of our ministry expenses and income.
If you would consider making a donation to our ministry see here for more information.
To donate directly online here. This will open to a page that designates the offering to: WEBER,STEPHEN CHAP, Specialized Chaplaincy Ministry ID: 700001-237376
Please Note:
We also provide this easy option due
to the convenience, for
international supporters, and for
those who may not be concerned
regarding receiving an official tax
deductible receipt.
Click here
to send an offering using PayPal.
This will open to a page that states
"Brooksyne Weber"Thank you
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
Alert readers!
- Yesterday I mentioned not feeling well but missed a word and stated "frankly I have been feeling well". Well, Mel, a long-time friend picked this up! I am feeling better today but still a bit nauseous and stayed home. Brooksyne is making our customary Tuesday chaplain visits solo. I told her I wasn't back to 100% and she informed me I am never at 100%!
- A photo was shown that we thought were hay bales but Donald observed they were actually baled corn stalks. I don't know Donald but I wonder if he is a farmer!
"The
Christmas Cross"
Video
DeWayne Climer An
interesting song and message.
"Chain
Breaker" Video
Zach Williams This is a
very moving song and video. In
our chaplain work discussions
regarding various addictions are
such a common topic that effect
many. I heard a man last week
tell me his son's wife died of
an overdose on heroin/fentanyl.
Her last post on social media
before she died was "I am as
high as kite".
Finally today:
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