Daily Encouragement

The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.

About Us

Listen to these messages Archives

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)

Thursday, September 26, 2024

These Mennonite boys are enjoying the view from the back of a horse-drawn pickup truck near Martindale, PA. How many of our readers remember riding in the back of a loaded pickup!

Brooksyne's note: Growing up on a farm we always had a pickup and rode in the back often. The most memorable trips of sitting in the bed of a pickup were our trips to Mountain Top, Arkansas where Grandpa had a 200 acre farm. We often brought home a pet goat, geese, or even a shetland pony over the years. We were so excited or there was no room in the pickup cab so we rode the 180 miles in back with our newly acquired pets. My sister and I had very long hair and though we had them in pony tails it was a real challenge to comb out all the tangles after we got home from our long, windy trip. We loved it, though!

_{^{"Recalling
Your Tears}}_^"

Message summary: Weeping is found in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

Listen to our message on your audio player.

"Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy" (2 Timothy 1:4).

David Fisher is a friend who served as a chaplain to several sports teams in Canada including 29 years for the Toronto Blue Jays. He has a vibrant faith and he sent out a periodic email to encourage and inform others concerning his ministry.

Once he shared a perspective that really touched my heart:

"Oops! I almost did it again. One of my typos almost got widespread distribution but I caught it just in time. I was referring to the past 29 years of sports ministry but I accidentally typed "tears" instead of years. 29 tears of ministry?

Actually there have been many more than 29 tears over the years. Ministry, and life in general, is not without its share of heartaches, sorrows, tears. They are part of the equation. I'm reminded, though, of one of my favorite Bible verses, a promise that I have appropriated and I have seen God confirm the truth of His Word. The Psalmist writes, "Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him" (Psalm 126:5,6).

As we share God's "good news" with love, compassion and tears, we can expect a glorious harvest in His time. Don't shy away from tears. As the songwriter penned, "Tears are a language God understands."

David's thoughts remind me of the verse in which I began this encouragement.

"Recalling your tears" apparently is a reference to the last time that Paul and Timothy had seen each other in person. This tearful departure is similar to one mentioned when Paul left Ephesus where it is recorded "They all wept" (Acts 20:37).

Tears serve many purposes, and your eyes produce them all the time. In fact, we make 15 to 30 gallons of tears each year, mostly to lubricate our eyes. In Scripture tears are more frequently associated with emotions than physical pain.

Weeping is found in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation with the final reference being, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4).

Some types of tears:

1) Tears of sorrow. These may be tears as a result of death or other types of loss. Our Lord experienced this in the famous, easily memorized, "Jesus wept".

2) Tears of heartache. We recently visited with a couple distraught about their wayward daughter. As we talked the mother began to weep as she told the story. This type of tears is expressed in the song "Tears Are A Language".

Often you wonder why, tears come into your eyes
And burdens seem to be much more than you can stand

3) Tears of joy. In yesterday's message I mentioned that my dad rarely displayed his emotions. But one emotional expression is seared permanently in my memory. In the mid-sixties my mom, sister and I went out to California to visit my brother, his wife and their newborn daughter, my folks first grandchild. My dad stayed home to work. We were gone for two weeks as I recall (we took a train). When he met us at Union Station in Kansas City he was weeping with joy at seeing his family again.

Sheridan Voysey wrote in an "Our Daily Bread" article,

"Weeping for joy is a paradoxical experience. Tears are normally a response to pain, not joy; and joy is normally expressed with laughter, not tears."

4) Tears as a result of being moved by the Holy Spirit. Dave, the main worship leader in our church, often tears up when he introduces a song, an earnest expression of worship. At times sensing God's awesomeness and His other attributes it brings tears to our eyes.

Our daily text continues, "I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy". Paul longed to see Timothy again and he anticipated the great joy it would bring when they met together again. This is such a personal expression that all of us who love and are loved can identify with and have likely experienced.

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, You created us in Your image and gave us emotions including that of excitement, joy, sadness, and sorrow. When we feel deeply about a matter it often spills over into tears. Psalm 56:8 assures us that our tears do not go unnoticed by You, nor are they wasted for "You have collected all our tears in Your bottle. You have recorded them in Your book". You dry our tears by the presence of Your comforting Holy Spirit and the words of Scripture and often by the words and actions of loving friends who come alongside us in our pain. Tears truly are a language, no words needed, that You fully understand. We love You for it. Amen.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Tears Are A Language" Listen on YouTube Booth Brothers

"Hymn Of Heaven" Listen on YouTube Phil Wickham

And every prayer we prayed in desperation
The songs of faith we sang through doubt and fear
In the end, we'll see that it was worth it
When He returns to wipe away our tears

"Goodness of God" Listen on YouTube Don Moen, Rachel Robinson & Tom Lane (Note: this link is corrected from Tuesday's message)

Yesterday our friend Larry Garber stopped by for a visit. We met Larry many years ago through nursing home ministry. He presently coordinates speakers for Paramount Senior Living Center, a nursing home in Maytown. You can see that he is very dedicated to pro-life ministry, and takes a courageous stand for which we are most thankful.

This morning I road my bike over to purchase some butternut squash at our neighbor's produce stand. Chris is an Amish farmer who grows organic produce for the local Co-Op and wholesale. We saw his squash yesterday at our local Giant Supermarket but thought it a privilege to get it right from our own neighborhood.

Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne

About Us

"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!"

Personal Ministry Update

Daily Encouragement email!

(each weekday)

Name:

Email:

We respect your email privacy

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.)

Our ministry in daily encouragement is primarily for those who have placed their faith in Christ but we are aware there may be those who come across these messages who may not know or understand the plan of salvation. Here's a site with a good explanation. How to become a Christian: https://twowaystolive.com/

We want to thank all who financially support our ministry. We realize there are many fine ministries and causes requesting support but if you would like information about making a donation to our ministry see here.

In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.

You can send a check payable to "Daily Encouragement Net" to:

Stephen and Brooksyne Weber

495 Kraybill Church Road

Mount Joy, PA 17552

To donate directly online click here. (This will open to a page that designates the offering to: Stephen and Brooksyne Weber - 700001-237376 serving in specialized chaplaincy (Daily Encouragement is our endorsed special chaplaincy ministry).

If you desire you can also 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, for international supporters, and for those who may not need an official receipt. You can also set up for recurring donations.

Thank you,

Stephen & Brooksyne

2024 offerings YTD: $17,875.00

Daily Encouragement on:

Wordpress

iHeart radio

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.

How to become a Christian: https://twowaystolive.com/

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 and a variety of other versions.

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."

dailyencouragement.net

"Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation"