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)

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

We passed this large farm yesterday north of New Holland Pennsylvania.
It is a beautiful setting but would be even more picturesque if draped in the brilliant white snowfall that fell overnight into the morning hours.

Click on photo to enlarge

_{^{"The
Father's
Relentless
Love"}}

Message summary: Today we consider a description of God's relentless (an adjective meaning unceasingly intense) love.

Listen to our message on your audio player.

“And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him" (Luke 15:20).

This week we have been considering key points in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Monday's message was about the younger son's rebellion. Yesterday we considered his confession and repentance as he was at rock bottom. He determined to return to his father in hopes that, although no longer worthy to be called his son, he could be treated as one of his hired servants. So "he arose and came to his father".

The text continues,

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him". This strongly suggests the father was watching and waiting for his return! Despite the younger son's reckless actions, the father loved him unconditionally and is willing to forgive him. This portrays God's boundless grace and willingness to forgive sinners who repent, no matter how far they have strayed.

"and felt compassion”. Psalm 103:13 states, "As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him". "'With everlasting love I will have compassion on you,' says the Lord, your Redeemer" (Isaiah 54:8). A wonderful verse describing Jesus uses this same wording. "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36).

"and ran and embraced him and kissed him". The father didn't stand at a distance wagging his finger at his rebel son. Their reconciliation didn't begin with the father belittling his son by gloating, "See, I told you so! I knew you'd come back!"

Instead he ran to greet him inspiring a song we have both enjoyed for many years called "When God Ran" (link below).

The description instead portrays that of a compassionate father with unconditional love! It is foremost a description of God's relentless (an adjective meaning unceasingly intense) love. It's also a description of how we all want our earthly fathers to be. And for all the fathers reading it's an aspiration for us that we should have such enduring love for our own children!

Be encouraged today! Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, we learn so many valuable lessons in raising our children and living our Christian faith through the story of the Prodigal Son. One of the greatest examples is that of the loving, patient father. He could have turned his back on his ungrateful, selfish son. He could have demanded payback for all the turmoil he put him through when he abandoned his responsibilities and lived a reckless life, destroying the good name he was given when he was born into the family. But the father demonstrates to us that even when his son was disloyal, he remained faithful because that's the kind of person he was. He could be nothing less then what he was! It's such a splendid picture of You, our ever-faithful, ever-loyal and ever-loving Father who cares for us when we're staying on track or when we are living for self. Your love beckons us when we're tempted to go adrift from Your purpose for our lives. Such love we could never earn nor do we deserve but we gratefully receive it. Amen.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"When God Ran" Watch on YouTube Philips, Craig and Dean

Here's the entire parable from Luke 15:11-32

Old order Mennonite meeting house and parking

Across the road from where we took our lead photo of the farm is an old-order Mennonite meeting house. On three sides of the meeting house there is shelter for the horses. Does your church provide covered parking? Do deacons take turns mucking the stalls? Or do families take turns because whoever was on duty this past week still had some cleaning up to do! Perhaps it's the ice and snow we've been getting that's prevented the designated cleaner to carry out his responsibilities. Would you volunteer to do the job in your church, should the need arise! We're thankful for those who scrub the toilets in our church, one of Stephen's first jobs after we got married.

Click on photo to enlarge

Here's a photo alongside the side old-order Mennonite meeting house. A pump for water on the women's side and farther down the parking lot it the men's pump (or should we say drinking fountains). The women's restrooms are the small white building on the right. The men's restroom is the same style but is to the right of where I took the photo. This was likely in a very rural area but suburban sprawl is nearby with a housing development in the background.

Click on photo to enlarge

We were over in Blue Ball eating at the Shady Maple Smorgasbord with Stephen's brother Pat and his wife Laverne. Pat's a good reader and I loaded them down with some books in the Boscov's bag.

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 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, especially at this time of year, but if you would like information about making a donation to our ministry see here.

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.

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

Stephen and Brooksyne Weber

495 Kraybill Church Road

Mount Joy, PA 17552

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.

Thank you,

Stephen & Brooksyne

2025 YTD offerings: $1,560.00

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"