2008-10-21 13:14:00
"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness" (Hebrews 3:13). "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:25).
Today is a special day for us. Well, first of all its Brooksyne's birthday so that's pretty special to our family! My birthday gift to Brooksyne is a large engraved plaque that goes above the double doors in our dining room. It declares the last two lines from the chorus of her favorite hymn, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness". We often sing this classic hymn with our dinner guests as we sit around our dining room table just before prayer over our meal.
October 21st is also the day this ministry started 12 years ago in 1996. It was during my pastorate in Taunton, MA that I preached a sermon on October 20th with the subject of "Encouraging One Another daily". The message was based on the daily texts and I sensed a leading from the Holy Spirit to send an email the next morning to encourage a young married couple. (Both are still on the list to this day.)
It read: "Hopefully each of you were in church yesterday and received fresh strength from the Lord and His Word. Unfortunately, then, even as now, some had forsaken this important element of growth and discipleship. As we see the Day of Christ's return drawing ever closer may we be encouraged. Whatever you do today remember the main thing: 'Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might' (Deuteronomy 6:5).'"
For the first several years the messages were just a short challenge sent as a simple text email with no photos or music supplements. The list grew as messages were passed along and as I met people who were interested in receiving a daily encouragement message.
In 1999 we set up the website and as I gained writing experience the messages became more a brief devotional and the list continued to grow. For the first four years I wrote them early in the morning from my pastor's study in Taunton and then later from our home when we moved to Mount Joy, Pennsylvania in early 2001. During this time I began adding links to photos and music.
I resigned from a full-time job with a chaplain agency in late 2004 freeing more time to devote to this growing ministry and to pursue other ministry interests. In early 2005 I learned how to work with html and began to send the messages out using the formatted version most now receive. Around this time Brooksyne took on a larger role editing the messages and adding her prayer and occasional notes. The list continued to grow although in most cases we do not personally know the recipient. At this time we also set up the podcast and the RSS feeds.
But our goal is still the same as that expressed in the very first message; to encourage followers of Christ.
Barnabas is one of my favorite Bible characters. He comes on the scene as "Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth who was also called Barnabas by the apostles, which translated means Son of Encouragement" (Acts 4). But now we only know him by his nickname Barnabas. He is an encourager and the Scriptures demonstrate this. We are all indebted to encouragers even though it certainly is not considered one of the more prominent ministries, such as a polished preacher, a dynamic worship leader or a powerful vocalist.
Consider his influence: no book in the Bible was written by him nor do we have the text of any sermon he preached recorded in Acts as we do Peter, Stephen and Paul. In fact I am unable to find even a single quote attributed exclusively to Barnabas. All the information we have about him is biographical and brief.
A subtheme of this ministry is "Everyone Needs Encouragement." We sure believe that. Now there are certain times in our lives when we need it more than others, particularly when we're going through times of testing. Thankfully most of us don't live in a state of discouragement (depression). But I am never aware of a time I would feel that I just don't need any more encouragement. I am always receptive to further encouragement on a regular basis! So once again on the twelfth anniversary of this ministry let me encourage you today and urge you to be an encourager to others as well!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, much like Barnabas the Encourager, we want to be uplifting to our brothers and sisters, our family members, and others we see from day to day. There are those who've left us with stinging reminders of their hurtful words often accompanied by painful actions. Gratefully, there are others who have brought us strength and encouragement through their words of affirmation, hope, challenge, and helpful instruction. They remained supportive of us when others gave up. Help us to be numbered among the encouragers as we live in these perilous days where confusion abounds and deceitfulness is rampant. May we encourage others not only by our words but also by our steady, consistent, Christian walk. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.
Tags: daily encouragement,archive,blog
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