The
online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
&
Brooksyne Weber
A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Mobile users:
Visit Daily Encouragement on your mobile browser, hit "Add to
home screen" or "Add page shortcut." This creates an instant
Daily Encouragement App!
Search Daily Encouragement
A new message is
updated most weekdays usually by Noon Eastern Time (USA).
(Click refresh or reload for current message)
(Click refresh or reload for current message)
Friday,
January
28,
2022
"All of us, like sheep, have gone astray" (Isaiah 53:6).
These sheep had gone astray on Echo Valley Road here in Lancaster County PA.
(They appear to be licking the freezing road surface, likely licking salt that had been spread due to icy conditions. I'm surprised their tongue didn't get stuck!)
"Rain
and Snow"
Message
summary: We are often the vessels that God uses to
communicate His truth. A foundational part of our impact on
others should be the Word of God and God promises His Word
will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for
which He sent it. Remember today as you live your life for
Christ and faithfully share His Word that even brief
encounters make a difference!
Listen to this message on your audio player.
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10,11).
This morning we are having a light snow storm although more is forecast for later in the day. We still a light layer of snow remaining on the ground which is a blessing not only for its appearance but also for its God-ordained function. As I type today's daily encouragement the snowflakes are coming down and leaving a fresh coat of snow.
Farmers appreciate the special characteristics of snow cover which is valuable for two reasons. The snow soaks in better when it slowly warms up, saturating the fields rather than just running off. The snow also provides insulating characteristics, protecting the vulnerable cover crops that grow through the winter. Snow is a poor man’s fertilizer since it contains several nutrients essential for plant growth such as nitrogen. Whatever attitude you might have about snow, good or bad, consider the blessing snow is to farmers!
The Holy Scripture acknowledges this in our daily text which in turn illustrates the power of God’s Word: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater...” Here we have an absolutely scientifically observable truth. Without the moisture provided by rain and snow we would have disastrous consequences to life. Just consider the effects of a prolonged drought.
As God works in the physical realm to provide for our physical needs, He also works in the spiritual realm to provide for our spiritual needs. "So is My word that goes out from My mouth."
We may rightly consider this to mean those dramatic times in history when God has spoken audibly or through a faithful minister of the Gospel proclaiming God’s Word. But as we quote the Scriptures and live by its teaching each of us proclaims His Word of Truth. Many times this happens in brief, barely discernible encounters but when the content of our proclamation includes His Word we have a promise that, “It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
We’re assured by this passage that when we speak the Word of God into our own life or that of others it will bring about truth and transformation. It will achieve the purpose for which God sent it and yet it seems there are many times that we don’t see fruit from our spiritual labor.
Consider the many brief encounters that have shaped your life or in which you have impacted another soul. Of course, many of these you cannot even recall. Those who have spoken a word of grace and truth into your heart by sharing a Scripture with you made a difference according to God’s Word. “It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
We are often the vessels that God uses to communicate His truth. A foundational part of our impact on others should be the Word of God and God promises His Word will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it. Remember today as you live your life for Christ and faithfully share His Word that even brief encounters make a difference !
Listen to this message on your audio player.
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10,11).
This morning we are having a light snow storm although more is forecast for later in the day. We still a light layer of snow remaining on the ground which is a blessing not only for its appearance but also for its God-ordained function. As I type today's daily encouragement the snowflakes are coming down and leaving a fresh coat of snow.
Farmers appreciate the special characteristics of snow cover which is valuable for two reasons. The snow soaks in better when it slowly warms up, saturating the fields rather than just running off. The snow also provides insulating characteristics, protecting the vulnerable cover crops that grow through the winter. Snow is a poor man’s fertilizer since it contains several nutrients essential for plant growth such as nitrogen. Whatever attitude you might have about snow, good or bad, consider the blessing snow is to farmers!
The Holy Scripture acknowledges this in our daily text which in turn illustrates the power of God’s Word: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater...” Here we have an absolutely scientifically observable truth. Without the moisture provided by rain and snow we would have disastrous consequences to life. Just consider the effects of a prolonged drought.
As God works in the physical realm to provide for our physical needs, He also works in the spiritual realm to provide for our spiritual needs. "So is My word that goes out from My mouth."
We may rightly consider this to mean those dramatic times in history when God has spoken audibly or through a faithful minister of the Gospel proclaiming God’s Word. But as we quote the Scriptures and live by its teaching each of us proclaims His Word of Truth. Many times this happens in brief, barely discernible encounters but when the content of our proclamation includes His Word we have a promise that, “It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
We’re assured by this passage that when we speak the Word of God into our own life or that of others it will bring about truth and transformation. It will achieve the purpose for which God sent it and yet it seems there are many times that we don’t see fruit from our spiritual labor.
Consider the many brief encounters that have shaped your life or in which you have impacted another soul. Of course, many of these you cannot even recall. Those who have spoken a word of grace and truth into your heart by sharing a Scripture with you made a difference according to God’s Word. “It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
We are often the vessels that God uses to communicate His truth. A foundational part of our impact on others should be the Word of God and God promises His Word will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it. Remember today as you live your life for Christ and faithfully share His Word that even brief encounters make a difference !
Be encouraged
today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, it is with love that You teach us through
the Word that we are not to be conformed any longer
to the pattern of this world, but we are to be
transformed by the renewing of our minds. It is in
our transformation that we finally see clearly the
spiritual forces of evil that seek to devastate our
lives and destroy us for all of eternity. But now
the evil one’s masquerade is over and the light of
truth is revealed. Your Word accomplishes that which
You desire and achieves the purpose for which You
sent it, to set us free us from our sins, to teach
us the right way to live, to make us bud and
flourish, even as You do the plant life on earth.
Keep us on the straight and narrow and spur us on to
bring as many as possible along with us as we
journey onward toward our eternal home. In the name
of Jesus we pray. Amen.Brooksyne's
Note:
Stephen
asked that I post this and I give all the glory to
God for a reminder that our labor in the Lord is not
in vain.
Over the past couple days I received two very special notes from Teresa, a classmate and neighbor from my years of growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They really speak to the truths written in our message today. You can imagine my delight upon reading Teresa's messages which I post below. I have only seen her once in our adult years.
I
remember well her parents who were raising five
girls, Teresa being the fourth of five children.
They were Native American and not living for Jesus.
Teresa gave birth to two girls during high school
and her younger sister had three children out of
wedlock. The family was heavy into alcohol and the
house was filled with a haze of smoke during my
visits. The Lord had given me a great burden for
Teresa in my young teens and I visited her always
hoping to get in a word for the Lord. Finally, she
attended a youth rally with me and gave her heart to
Jesus. Who would know that the teen father of her
two girls would soon commit suicide. Not long
afterwards I attended Bible College, married Stephen
and we moved to the northeast to plant a church in
Northern Pennsylvania and we lost contact with her.
But as our daily text states, "My word that goes
out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty".
I saw
she was on Facebook and wished her a brief happy
birthday on her Facebook page and this was her
response:
Teresa:
Thank you Brooksyne, I have always held a special
love for you in my heart. You are more than a
friend...you are a true servant of God. Even at such
a young age you had such wisdom and love for God.
You obeyed Him as He led you to a very young lost
soul who needed Him in my life. I will never forget
that night I met Jesus at the altar and truly gave
my life to Him with my young prayer warrior by my
side. Even now I get so emotional thinking about it.
I remember we sang "Thank God I am free free free
from this world of sin, washed in the blood of Jesus
been born again". Brooksyne, I thank God for you and
I know your reward will be great!
My
response: You made my day, Teresa! I'm
thinking it would have been over 50 years ago that
we knelt at that altar together. But, praise God, He
has preserved our lives, saved us from our sins and
folly, and by the grace of God we truly are "free,
free, free from this world of sin" because we're
"washed in the blood of Jesus, been born again". You
were always a very special friend and neighbor and
I'm so glad you yielded your life to Jesus!
Teresa:
Yes, Praise God! I was able to live a wonderful,
full life because of that night. I do not know if
you knew it, but I was so full of joy unspeakable,
it brought my parents, my sisters and their husbands
all to God and we are all, including most of our
children, serving God. Some as missionaries in
Africa, building schools and being administrators
there. They have brought a village that was hurting
to where it is now thriving. See what your obedience
brought to me!
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
To
receive the "Daily
Encouragement" each
Monday-Friday use our sign-up
form or this
page to subscribe to our
free email list.
You can also subscribe to the
Wordpress rss
feed or through a Wordpress email
subscription. (See the email
subscription on the top right side
after opening this page.)
iHeart
radioPermissions: 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.
To
donate
directly
online
click here.
This will open
to a page that
designates the
offering to: STEPHEN
&
BROOKSYNE WEBER -
700001-237376 SERVING
IN SPECIALIZED CHAPLAINCY
Please Note: If
you
desire you can donate
directly through
PayPal using this link.
This will open
to a page that
states
"Brooksyne
Weber".
We
keep this option
available due to the
familiarity,
convenience,
international
supporters, and for
those who may not need
an official receipt.
You can also set up
for recurring
donations. You can
also use PayPal
on this link.
Stephen & Brooksyne
2022 YTD
offerings to Daily
Encouragement Net:
$1,615.00
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 2022 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA