A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Friday, December
14, 2018
Note: This week we have considered how words can be a blessing and at times a great source of discomfort. Our final message in this series is one of my favorite words!
Today
it's hard to find a
place "Where seldom is
heard a discouraging
word". That's a
wholesome idealistic
expression but in our
experience such a place
is really not true to
life. In reality it
seems about everywhere
you go you will be
subjected to
"discouraging words".
Early yesterday morning
when we headed out for
our first chaplain visit
Brooksyne started to
read the news aloud. It
began with the typical
craziness of our age and
I said "Oh no, don't
read that now".
Daily
prayer:
Father, it has been
said that there is no
better exercise than
to reach down and pick
someone up. Of course
we do that literally
when we reach down to
pick up a young child,
but You also want us
to practice this
figuratively in the
way we reach out to
all people, especially
the down and out,
those feeling
discouraged, abandoned
or hopeless, and those
dealing with chronic
pain, loneliness,
poverty or rejection.
There are many reasons
one might be
discouraged but there
are also many ways we
can pick them up by
expressing personal
interest in them,
lending a hand where
needed, writing a note
of encouragement,
helping contribute
toward a financial
burden and above all
praying that the one
who is discouraged
will find
encouragement in You.
We pray this in the
name of Jesus who
overcame the world.
Amen.
One of
the telling signs of an Amish farmhouse is the
colorful clothesline!
(Click on photo for larger image)
(Click on photo for larger image)
Note: This week we have considered how words can be a blessing and at times a great source of discomfort. Our final message in this series is one of my favorite words!
"The
Encouraging Word"
Message
summary: Today as you
travel through life,
like Paul, make it your
practice to speak many
words of encouragement
to the people you
encounter. For some
these words will have a
reinforcing effect, for
others a healing effect.
Everyone needs
encouragement!
Listen to our
message on your audio
player.
"He (Paul)
traveled through that
area, speaking many
words of encouragement
to the people" (Acts
20:2). "And have you
completely forgotten
this word of
encouragement that
addresses you as a
father addresses his
son?" (Hebrews 12:5).
Yesterday we
were both visiting with
Clarence, who is set to
have a very special
Christmas. This will be
his first Christmas with
his family since his
release from prison
early this year after
spending 22 years in
confinement. After
several weeks at a
half-way house he
started what is a
critically important
component of avoiding
recidivism; taking life
responsibly by having a
steady job.* He now
works as a machine
operator at Smucker
Laser. Eric, another
ex-con who also works
there, helped him get
the job last Spring and
Clarence is doing very
well.
One thing
everyone needs in one
way or another is
encouragement which can
take place in many
forms. We were
commending Clarence
regarding his steady
progress as a free man
and rejoicing in the
celebration he would
enjoy at Christmas with
his family when Marlin
Smucker, one of the
company owners, walked
back to see him. He gave
Clarence a new company
hat and we all visited
for a few minutes when I
took the photo below.
Marlin has a management
style of walking through
the shop and encouraging
his employees, something
we feel is a great
example to all who lead
companies.
Most of you
probably know the state
song of Kansas is "Home
On The Range" written by
Dr. Brewster M. Higley,
who had moved from
Indiana to Smith County,
Kansas in 1871, under
the Homestead Act.
(Well, actually probably
very few of you know
this!) Brooksyne says it
was one of her favorite
songs she learned in her
music class growing up
in Oklahoma.
Oh, give me a
home where the Buffalo
roam
Where the Deer and the Antelope play;
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
And the sky is not cloudy all day.
Where the Deer and the Antelope play;
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
And the sky is not cloudy all day.
Today
it's hard to find a
place "Where seldom is
heard a discouraging
word". That's a
wholesome idealistic
expression but in our
experience such a place
is really not true to
life. In reality it
seems about everywhere
you go you will be
subjected to
"discouraging words".
Early yesterday morning
when we headed out for
our first chaplain visit
Brooksyne started to
read the news aloud. It
began with the typical
craziness of our age and
I said "Oh no, don't
read that now".One thing we
can all use is
encouraging words. In
our view the greatest
encouragement we can
offer others is to point
them to God and
challenge them to
consider their life from
an eternal perspective.
Acts 20 may not be what
we call a teaching part
of the Bible as much as
that which we find in
the epistles. Rather it
records history, in this
case Paul's travels. His
message is summed up in
the words, "speaking
many words of
encouragement to the
people". We have
some of those words of
encouragement in his
letters but we are sure
there are many more
encouraging words that
were spoken and never
recorded in writing.
Today as you
travel through life,
like Paul, make it your
practice to speak many
words of encouragement
to the people you
encounter. For some
these words will have a
reinforcing effect, for
others a healing effect.
Everyone needs
encouraging words!
Be
encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, it has been
said that there is no
better exercise than
to reach down and pick
someone up. Of course
we do that literally
when we reach down to
pick up a young child,
but You also want us
to practice this
figuratively in the
way we reach out to
all people, especially
the down and out,
those feeling
discouraged, abandoned
or hopeless, and those
dealing with chronic
pain, loneliness,
poverty or rejection.
There are many reasons
one might be
discouraged but there
are also many ways we
can pick them up by
expressing personal
interest in them,
lending a hand where
needed, writing a note
of encouragement,
helping contribute
toward a financial
burden and above all
praying that the one
who is discouraged
will find
encouragement in You.
We pray this in the
name of Jesus who
overcame the world.
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
Stephen & Brooksyne
Some
photos from our journey yesterday
Yesterday,
following our breakfast at the Red
Caboose, we had this beautiful view
of the Lancaster countryside as we
stepped outside.
(Click
on photo for larger image)
Another
view of the Amish farmhouse we passed
early yesterday morning near Bird In
Hand PA. The sight of the wood smoke
coming out of the workshop caught our
attention (in the middle of the
clothesline)! We can almost smell it
through the photo.
(Click on photo for
larger image)
Before
Marlin Smucker came over to visit with
us Brooksyne took a photo of Clarence
and me which gives quite a bit more
light to his face than the photo with
the company hat. Please keep Clarence
in your prayers.
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
* The other components
are family and local church
support and a spiritual
transformation and foundation in
Christ.
"Home
On The Range" Video
Tom Roush
"Forever Home"
Video
Brian Free & Assurance This
song is dedicated to our friend
John Keefer, whose twin brother
Rahn passed away last Sunday
morning. May it be a source of
comfort and encouragement.
Finally today:
Turkeys on the Old
Windmill Farm
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