A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
Wednesday, June
12, 2019
Brooksyne
walked with our neighbor along Kraybill Church Road last
night and heard these two sisters laughing together as
they were pulling their own devised wagon train. In the
forefront is a large patch of rhubarb where Brooksyne
often picks from for her strawberry rhubarb jam as well
as rhubarb punch.
"The Blessing Of
Plenty"
Message
summary:
Today may the Lord
help us all to
experience the
blessing of plenty!
Listen to our
message on your
audio player.
"I am
not saying this
because I am in
need, for I have
learned to be
content whatever
the circumstances.
I know what it is
to be in need, and
I know what it is
to have plenty. I
have learned the
secret of being
content in any and
every situation,
whether well fed
or hungry, whether
living in plenty
or in want"
(Philippians
4:11,12).
Lou
Holtz is a legendary
football coach and
inspirational
speaker. He shared
with a group of
college graduates a
perspective that we
need to hear. He
told them about
growing up in a
small town in West
Virginia in what we
would consider great
poverty; a house
with just one
bedroom and 1/2 bath
for a family of
four. But he told
the graduates, "We
always had plenty.
When I asked my dad
for seconds he
always told me
'You've had
plenty'". He went on
to share how blessed
he was to have a mom
and dad who loved
him and gave him the
blessing of a good
upbringing.
But his dad's reminder that "You've had plenty" is our consideration in this message.
Several years ago we heard Todd Nettleton at a Voice of the Martyrs conference for persecuted Christians. He shared about visiting people in a refugee camp in northern Iraq who had fled from ISIS. The screen showed a photo of an Iraqi family that had converted from Islam to Christianity; a husband, wife and five very young children, including a baby. The photo was taken in front of a community tent where they slept along with many other refugees.
Todd saw how little the family had to eat, the lack of supplies for the children, and the very harsh conditions of their living quarters. His heart was heavy as he took it all in so he asked the father in earnest, "How can we help you? What would you like us to ask others to pray about?" The man thought for a moment, shook his head and said, "We have everything we need".
What an amazing outlook. Conditions we would find unbearable were deemed sufficient for this grateful dad. I wonder how comfortable the tent was, shared with so many. Did they each have a bed and separate bedrooms? How tasty were their meals? I wonder if they had cable access to their television or internet for their smart phones and computers, or whatever else we deem necessary for daily life and feel we just have to have. (Of course I say this in thoughtful jest.)
But the father told Todd, "We have everything we need." I really need to remember that the next time I complain either outwardly or inwardly about something petty (probably today).
This young Iraqi believer likely had little to no formal training in Bible and theology but he really understood. He was expressing and experiencing what the apostle Paul wrote, "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want" (Philippians 4:11,12).
Let us consider the phrase in our daily text, "I know what it is to have plenty". What do you think Paul meant by "plenty"? Did he know what it was to have a big house with several bathrooms, appliances and entertainment systems like we have? Did he know about supermarkets with abundant and varied foods? Did he travel in a suite on his ocean voyages? Of course not. Plenty to Paul and most in his age would seem like poverty to us! But Paul had learned one of life's most valuable lessons, "the secret of being content".
The Precept Austin commentary states: "Contentment is never the result of multiplying riches, increasing pleasures, or gaining fame. All these only incite discontent, for when one obtains them, he finds he still is not satisfied. Contentment does not depend upon things on the outside, but results from conditions on the inside!"
Today may the Lord help us all to experience the blessing of plenty!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Lou
Holtz is a legendary
football coach and
inspirational
speaker. He shared
with a group of
college graduates a
perspective that we
need to hear. He
told them about
growing up in a
small town in West
Virginia in what we
would consider great
poverty; a house
with just one
bedroom and 1/2 bath
for a family of
four. But he told
the graduates, "We
always had plenty.
When I asked my dad
for seconds he
always told me
'You've had
plenty'". He went on
to share how blessed
he was to have a mom
and dad who loved
him and gave him the
blessing of a good
upbringing.But his dad's reminder that "You've had plenty" is our consideration in this message.
Several years ago we heard Todd Nettleton at a Voice of the Martyrs conference for persecuted Christians. He shared about visiting people in a refugee camp in northern Iraq who had fled from ISIS. The screen showed a photo of an Iraqi family that had converted from Islam to Christianity; a husband, wife and five very young children, including a baby. The photo was taken in front of a community tent where they slept along with many other refugees.
Todd saw how little the family had to eat, the lack of supplies for the children, and the very harsh conditions of their living quarters. His heart was heavy as he took it all in so he asked the father in earnest, "How can we help you? What would you like us to ask others to pray about?" The man thought for a moment, shook his head and said, "We have everything we need".
What an amazing outlook. Conditions we would find unbearable were deemed sufficient for this grateful dad. I wonder how comfortable the tent was, shared with so many. Did they each have a bed and separate bedrooms? How tasty were their meals? I wonder if they had cable access to their television or internet for their smart phones and computers, or whatever else we deem necessary for daily life and feel we just have to have. (Of course I say this in thoughtful jest.)
But the father told Todd, "We have everything we need." I really need to remember that the next time I complain either outwardly or inwardly about something petty (probably today).
This young Iraqi believer likely had little to no formal training in Bible and theology but he really understood. He was expressing and experiencing what the apostle Paul wrote, "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want" (Philippians 4:11,12).
Let us consider the phrase in our daily text, "I know what it is to have plenty". What do you think Paul meant by "plenty"? Did he know what it was to have a big house with several bathrooms, appliances and entertainment systems like we have? Did he know about supermarkets with abundant and varied foods? Did he travel in a suite on his ocean voyages? Of course not. Plenty to Paul and most in his age would seem like poverty to us! But Paul had learned one of life's most valuable lessons, "the secret of being content".
The Precept Austin commentary states: "Contentment is never the result of multiplying riches, increasing pleasures, or gaining fame. All these only incite discontent, for when one obtains them, he finds he still is not satisfied. Contentment does not depend upon things on the outside, but results from conditions on the inside!"
Today may the Lord help us all to experience the blessing of plenty!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, help
us to look
beyond
material
provisions and
recognize that
the value of
spiritual
blessings far
exceed our
temporal needs
and pleasures.
We often live
in
anticipation
for that which
we don't
presently
have. Help us
instead to
appreciate and
tenderly care
for that which
You have
already
entrusted to
us, whether
it's the
people in our
lives or our
material
blessings. May
our faith in
You increase
as we build
and store up
our treasure
in heaven
rather than
chasing after
fool’s gold
here on earth.
And may our
resolve to
stand firm
intensify as
we see the day
of Your return
approaching.
Amen.
Last
night my young
neighbor drove
over in his
golf cart (a
popular mode
of
transportation
on our country
road these
days) and
asked me if I
wanted to ride
with him
around the
farm. Janden
is only 22 but
is a very
polite, mature
young man. We
have watched
him grow up
since he was
only about 5
when we moved
here. This is
a photo of his
Grandpa's farm
looking across
Donegal Creek.
If you enlarge
you'll see the
sheep grazing.
Click
to enlarge
The
front
wraparound
porch at his
grandpa's
house.
Click
to enlarge
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental Resources
"Godliness With
Contentment Is Great Gain"
Video
A song written and sung by
Mike Book based upon 1
Timothy 6:6 in the New
Testament of the Bible.
Finally today:
We had an
interesting question from
a reader yesterday: "You
post a photo from your
travels every morning at
the top of your daily
encouragement. I am
curious as to when you
find the time to do
anything but drive around
taking photos of the
wonders of creation?"
That's a good question! I answered,
"Sometimes it's leisure
travel but usually it's
just what we see going
from chaplain stop to
chaplain stop or to church
or other area places. This
is a very scenic area." We
all three enjoy
photography and with
cameras on our phones we
always have them with us
and enjoy taking and
sharing our photos with
others. Although we hope
you read our messages we
are aware some just look
at the photos!
Yesterday we
drove down to Baltimore to
pick up Ester at the BWI
Airport, who had been
visiting her Aunt Elaine
and as well as her
boyfriend, Jason, who
lives next door to Elaine
in New Braunfels, Texas.
We crossed the Susquehanna
River heading out and
Brooksyne snapped this
photo from the Rt. 30
bridge looking up the
river.
Heading back
home Ester took this photo
from the other side of the
bridge looking down the
river toward Chesapeake
Bay.
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
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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."
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Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA