Daily Encouragement Net
The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
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Monday, June 24, 2024

Outhouse
A repurposed outhouse in rural Lancaster County on the property where I shared with a group of men last night. This outhouse is now used as a garden shed. The number of people who have actually used an outhouse as an outhouse is rapidly diminishing. Do you have outhouse memories? We both do.

"Reminders Of Truth"

Message summary: Do you receive reminders of truth with joy?

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"So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things" (2 Peter 1:12-15).

Like many others, we often make excuses for our misstep or poor memory by saying, "I'm having a senior moment". We use it to describe brief lapses in memory which  increases for most as we age. A younger friend describes it as "data overload".

As we get older we all generally deal to some degree with memory loss (like forgetting where we put our wallet, coffee cup, car keys, cell phone, etc). We all need memory prompts to keep us on track!

We live in an age when the "new" is highly valued. I enjoy new stuff, especially technology. However I am typically several years behind "state of the art", which I recall a computer engineer friend in New England telling me was no longer "state of the art" at the time the device came on the market.

In regard to Biblical and spiritual truths I also appreciate a new insight, perhaps something in a Bible text I had never previously considered or a helpful spiritual concept.

Yesterday our message in church was on praying during times of adversity and the pastor made several points on the subject of lamenting that we had never considered (or at least can't recall ever considering).

As writers of Daily Encouragement we are foundationally committed to expressing and contending for the faith once for all entrusted to the saints.  Our goal is to highlight a truth that you might not have explored before or provide a refreshing thought regarding a timeless truth and its application in our lives.

But there's a tendency to have a view of "I've already heard that before" and this can lead to a negative, unreceptive outlook. It can also be dangerous as we may run after new "truths" that are really old errors being recycled to attract a new following.

Today we would like to consider the benefits of being reminded of important truths. Truths that teach, reinforce and remind us are indeed a blessing because:

1) We forget! If our forgetfulness is limited to the smaller, inconsequential stuff of life that's one thing, and that is certainly frustrating. Now in our sixties Brooksyne and I are having our share of literal "senior moments." But how critically important it is that we remember that which is of foremost importance: spiritual, Biblical truths.

2) Being reminded is a means of reinforcing truth in our lives and helping us keep a Biblical/spiritual perspective. The Apostle Peter is writing about it in his last letter of 2 Peter. I find today's Scripture especially pertinent. Hopefully you read the Scripture portion I placed at the beginning. It really shows the heart of a caring servant. As this first generation believer was passing the torch of faith on to the next and all subsequent generations he emphasized the vital importance of remembering the crucial, foundational truths of the faith that were known and firmly established in his initial readers.

3) Others may need to hear the reminder or may be receiving the teaching for the first time. In a group setting such as a church there will be all ages and levels of Bible knowledge and spiritual maturity. A healthy church will have those who have just come into the faith and for some the Bible teaching is a reminder of a truth learned long ago; for others it's a new teaching.

In Peter's text notice the repetitive emphasis; "So I will always remind you"; "it is right to refresh your memory"; and "I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things".

Today we bring no new revelation, no teaching that will "tickle" itchy ears or bring about a large following because of our "unique" message. Instead we simply prompt you to consider the need for being reminded of that which is of first importance and encourage you to faithfully proclaim these truths to others! And never grow weary of being regularly reminded or being the one who does the reminding, which is good discipleship.

The daily text expresses an attitude we should have when we are reminded of familiar truths. Peter was confident his readers not only knew the truths he had shared, but they were also established in their hearts and minds. Nevertheless he pledged to be steadfast in reminding them of these things.

Today Peter might preface his message by saying, "I know I'm preaching to the choir. but...." He was determined to "make every effort to see that after his departure others would always be able to remember these things". That's a faithful minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Do you receive the reminders of truth with joy? I recall the line in an old hymn that put it this way, "I love to tell the story, for those who know it best, seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest". May we never lose interest or find ourselves yawning when hearing or reading of the foundational truths of the Gospel, even if it is the umpteenth time! May it instead reassure and refresh our spiritual appetite.

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Praying man Daily prayer:  Father, we thank You for the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit. May Your Words be impressed upon our hearts as we give regular attention to them through reading and memorizing the Scriptures. We don't want a casual attitude about Your Holy Word, but rather we want to be earnest students genuinely contending for the faith. Help us not to be absent minded when approaching the gospel truths but rather be wholly present that we might partake of all that You have to teach and show us in Your Word. May we never weary of the basics of the gospel or lose the awe and wonder of seeing a life that is changed when redemption takes place. We want to hunger and thirst after righteousness and not lose sight of the old, old story that will be our theme in glory. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.


Paul and Sylvia Hollinger 11/22/18Paul Hollinger worked for 52 years at WDAC, one of our local Christian radio stations, serving most of that time as the general manager. For over 20 years we've had an abbreviated "Daily Encouragement Minute" program on WDAC  and developed a friendship with several on the staff. Because we are able to produce the messages in our home, and send them in as an email attachment, it does not require our being at the station. But we occasionally drive down just to say "Hi".

Years ago I was visiting the station during an "Open House" and in Paul's office I saw a napkin on his desk that stated, "I Have CRS". Considering all the disease acronyms such as MS, COPD, ALS, OCD and so forth I thought it might be a disease I had never heard of so I asked him what it meant and he informed me it stood for, "Can't Remember Stuff".


Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Yes I Will"   Watch on YouTube   Vertical Worship  A great song of resolve during times of testing. We sang this yesterday in our worship service.

"Even If"   Watch on YouTube  MercyMe  Another very candid song of resolve.

Bontrager Family Singers
A neighborhood gospel concert was held last night in the meadow of the Brubaker Farm. The night before we had a heavy downpour during a thunderstorm and the same was in the forecast for last night along with hail and high winds right around the time the concert was to begin. Nevertheless the "diehards" made their way to the outdoor singing and what a delightful evening we had. Some light rain fell now and then but they were like cooling raindrops due to the high humidity. Marlin and his wife Becky along with their four younger children and another young man completed the team. Seven of the older children have now married and are raising their families in Iowa so Marlin said the younger "B" Singers are now the "A" Singers due to their children growing up and raising families.

Bontrager Family Singers
The young people are very talented with their instruments and harmonies.  They also challenged the audience to follow Christ as they introduced their songs. I (Brooksyne) saw quite a few longtime friends since it was not far from our own back yard and that is always a joy!
Sadly, many gospel concerts we've attended over the past twenty years or so no longer give an invitation for salvation but the dad, Marlin, gave a clear challenge for those present to live for God and for others who've not yet taken the step to receive Christ as their Savior to do so that night. He and his wife, Becky, made themselves available for any who wanted to learn more about following Christ after the singing.

Men's group
While Brooksyne was at the gospel concert I shared with a group of men from Reich's Evangelical Congregational Church at a cookout. We had it in a member's backyard overlooking a rural view. I challenged the men to "Dare to be a Daniel".

Dare to be a Daniel,
Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm!
Dare to make it known.

Texan deer
Last week we had dinner in our home with Craig and Barbara Stanford who live outside of Houston, Texas. They shared this photo from their front window. How's this for having deer in your front lawn day in and day out! Hunting is not allowed in their development so the deer wrote a newsletter about that to others who like to graze without fear of being hunted.

Texan deer
Wow! Amazing how a window will provide security and an excellent close-up without serious consequences!

Finally today:

Bird nest with two hatched eggs
Brooksyne's Note:  I was walking with the dogs in the back yard and they excitedly inspected a blue egg shell that had fallen below the hydrangea tree where a robin has been nesting for about ten days. I felt badly thinking we'd lost one little birdie. But Stephen came in after taking the photo above and to my pleasant surprise I saw that it wasn't an egg that fell but just the shell from one that had hatched! With a rainstorm overnight Mama Robin should find plenty of tasty worms!

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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.



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