Thursday, December 31, 2009

Daily Encouragement (12/31/09) "The Hope Offered To Us"

Daily Encouragement Net - A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
Trouble reading this message?  Read online or see archives
RSS feed       Podcast feed
 Daily Encouragement Net Header
The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.

<Previous Message  ·  Archives  ·  Archive edition 

Thursday,
December 31, 2009

Coast Guard lighthouse on Lake Superior (photo by Howard Blichfeldt)
Coast Guard Lighthouse Station on Lake Superior
Marquette, Michigan

Photo by Howard Blichfeldt

ListenListen to us share this message on your audio player.

"The Hope Offered To Us"

"We who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.  We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure" (Hebrews 6:18b, 19a).

As we prepare this message we have had some "weary ways" in our home.  Although I am recovering from my surgery last week and each day feel a little stronger the going seems much slower than I anticipated. Ester's unexpected admission to the hospital over the past couple of days has added to the mix of emotional weariness. (Brooksyne will explain in a footnote below.)

Another year and decade is passing and we can't help but wonder, "What will the year 2010 hold?"  We simply don't know the specifics whether in regard to the world situation or in our own lives. A verse from "I Know Whom I Have Believed" comes to mind, "I know not what of good or ill may be reserved for me, of weary ways or golden days, before His face I see."

Whatever happens, the daily Scripture is a great source of assurance and encouragement for every believer.  Read it again slowly and thoughtfully and allow its powerful words to impact your life.  Perhaps you will choose to memorize it. "We who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.  We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure" (Hebrews 6:18b, 19a).

I recall an insight shared by one of my Bible College professors many years ago.  Hope, as used in the Bible he explained, is not a wishful thought but a confident expectation of absolute certainty. The Holman Bible Dictionary offers this; "Hope is the confidence that what God has done for us in the past guarantees our participation in what God will do in the future." 

This hope is what the believer has "fled to take hold of."  We flee from the worldly sources of temporal or falsely placed hope to the only true and lasting source of hope. This Hebrews phrase gives the sense of one fleeing a shipwreck who has finally reached safety, or one who is caught in a pelting hailstorm but flees to a dry, impenetrable fortress finally safe from the assault. Once we firmly take hold of this hope which is graciously offered to us we are indeed "greatly encouraged," and declare along with the Psalmist, "God is my refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).

 
In describing this hope the writer of Hebrews uses the wonderful expression, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul."  What an incredibly powerful metaphor!  I need and want my life to be anchored solidly in the hope God offers.  When I place all my hope in temporal circumstances I am certain to be disappointed, emotionally unstable or even led astray.

Jeremy Taylor wrote a simple faith statement over 350 years ago which fully embraces the timetable of the Gospel journey and is a great focus for the believer:  "Faith is the Christian's foundation, hope is his anchor, death is his harbor, Christ is his pilot, and heaven is his country."

There are many circumstances that bring fear, despair or hopelessness. Scores of people are presently dealing with these emotions. And realistically I expect to have occasions in the coming year when I will battle with these emotions.

When I do so, I pray that God will bring today's Scripture text to mind reminding me of the hope I have in Christ which is firm and secure.  This day as we experience the transition to another year let us continue to place our hope in our ever-faithful, ever-dependable God!


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily Prayer:  Father, as we are tossed about in the tempest sea of life, we will stay afloat as we hold onto the hope secured through Your promises in the Holy Scriptures.  When doubts and fears begin to consume our thoughts help us to cling tightly to our soul's anchor, Jesus Christ, who keeps us from being swept into the crashing waves that seek to drown us.  When all around my soul gives way, You are indeed my hope and stay.  We are thankful for the year past and look forward to the year ahead as we walk step by step with You.  Amen.



Personal note: We have much to be thankful for since we were able to bring Ester home today after two days and nights of treatment, observation, and testing.  On the 19th of December we had a heavy snow storm and unfortunately Ester was scheduled to work.  When she arrived she fell in the parking lot hitting her head.  She worked that day with a bump on the back of her head and a low grade headache.  The headache finally went away the next day.  We thought nothing more about it until she got a severe headache on Dec. 24th and it refused to go away.  After four aching days I took her to the doctor. A cat scan was ordered and they found she had bleeding on the brain, in part due to the coumadin (a blood thinner) she's been on for about three or four years due to her atrial flutter issues.  The doctors reversed her coumadin (making her blood thicken) which took a full day and did another cat scan.  They felt that the location had stabilized as a result of their intervention.  She must be careful for the next three months about any head injury and is also on an anti-seizure medication, commonly prescribed for those who've had bleeding on the brain.  She will probably have a headache for a couple more weeks, but we're grateful the situation was not worse and that she's back home. 

I was reminded of how blessed we were when her cardiologist came by to see her.  Though not on duty Dr. Cohen came to see her when he learned of her situation.  He commented as he gave her a warm hug, "I said to myself, Oh, no, not Ester.  She's done so well this year."  And she has - this was her first overnight hospital stay this entire year.  Interestingly, Dr. Cohen was Ester's first doctor who diagnosed her heart problem after her arrival in the U.S. at 3 months of age. Five heart operations and four years later we moved to New England and lost track of him for nearly eight years.  But then when we moved to Lancaster County nearly 9 years ago we met up with him again as he had moved his practice to Hershey.  His presence is a steady comfort when Ester goes through her medical difficulties. He also said he thought about the movie actress who had the skiing accident in Canada this past year who died from head trauma.  So we all gave thanks that this was caught and contained.  How fortunate we are to enjoy such good, dependable health care and caring health professionals!




Special Thanks: At the close of this day we'll turn the calendar page not to just another month, but another year.  We're thankful for our new readers over the past year - some in just the past month or so. We're also very thankful for our steady readers over the years who take a few minutes with us each day as we share a message God has laid on our hearts.  We also give thanks for those who share with us in prayer for Daily Encouargement and for those who give generously to help support our ministry. Your vote of confidence in us is truly humbling as we desire to honor God in all we do.



Fresh snowfall 12/31/09
We had a beautiful snowfall overnight and Brooksyne took this photo this morning in the back yard while taking care of one of my customary weekly duties; hauling our trash out to the roadside for pickup!



Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

Click on the link to open and play.
(In some cases you may also need to click again to start the song.)

We Have An Anchor

"We Have An Anchor"  Video  I am so very blessed by this grand old hymn and this is an especially beautiful version musically. (I only regret this version only has one verse).  Here are the words to the entire hymn:

Verse 1
Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift or firm remain?

Chorus
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love.

Verse 2
It is safely moored, 'twill the storm withstand,
For 'tis well secured by the Savior's hand;
And the cables, passed from His heart to mine,
Can defy that blast, thro' strength divine.

Verse 3
It will firmly hold in the straits of fear,
When the breakers have told the reef is near;
Tho' the tempest rave and the wild winds blow,
Not an angry wave shall our bark o'erflow.

Verse 4
When our eyes behold thro' the gath'ring night
The city of gold, our harbor bright,
We shall anchor fast by the heav'nly shore,
With the storms all past forevermore.

"I Know Whom I Have Believed"  Video

"It Is Well With My Soul"  Video

Today's outstanding photo of the lighthouse station on Lake Superior was taken by our friend, Howard J. Blichfeldt and is used with his permission. His website is here. Howard desires to honor the Lord through his photography.

Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
Photo of Stephen and Brooksyne Weber
"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!"

Personal Ministry Update
Revised 10/21/09

DonateEach weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. Would you please consider a financial offering to support us in this daily encouragement ministry? Donations are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by my chaplaincy endorsing ministry. Thanks!  See here for details(2009 YTD financial offerings through 12/30/09: $17,302.00)

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

Free email subscription
Were you forwarded this edition of Daily Encouragement Net?  If you desire you can receive your own free! To receive these "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. This newsletter is never sent unsolicited. It was sent to you because you either signed up to receive it OR a friend forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the rss feed. or as an email subscription update through feedburner. You can also subscribe to Daily Encouragement feed updates by email.

Cancel: 
We respect and value your time and privacy. If these messages no longer meet your needs (providing encouragement) you can remove your address by merely use the link automatically inserted by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each email message. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.)

Weekly Version:
The weekly version is intended for those who may not check their email regularly. It is merely the Friday message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address.


Please feel free to pass these messages on!


Our other blogs:
"A Daily Prayer" - A blog simply posting the daily prayer. We keep this up each day since it's merely the prayer from the Daily Encouragement Net message!
"A Little Foolishness" - Humor/satire blog (a great outlet for non-serious writing but at times with a subtle message!) Last updated with the story of Mildred Swanson, who joyfully discovers her "spiritual gift" is sending forwarded emails! (Note: This material is satire!)
"Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the faithful believer and church. (Actually this is my intent but I haven't done much with it!)
"Hymns of Hope" - Brooksyne along with two friends made a CD using classic hymns. Brooksyne tells the background story of the 11 hymns. All of these songs are also available for download on the site.

Christianbook.comDaily Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com. Any orders placed to Christian Book Distributers using this link or any specific product link to a recommended resource in a daily encouragement message will help our Daily Encouragement ministry through a small commission on the sale. Thank you for using these links when purchasing online through CBD!

Personal Mission Statement
"I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

Four Spiritual Laws

How to become a child of God



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.


© Copyright 2009 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved

Daily Encouragement Net
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552
Contact us
Chaplaincy logo
Endorsed chaplain

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

www.dailyencouragement.net




Daily Encouragement is issued Monday-Friday.  To make sure you continue to receive these e-mails in your Inbox (so they're not sent to a junk folder), please add scweber@dailyencouragement.net to your address book or safe sender list. You are receiving these recurring messages as a subscriber to Daily Encouragement Net because you signed up on our website or otherwise requested it unless someone forwarded the message to you. If you desire to unsubscribe use the link below.  However, please do not use this link unless your address is the subscribed address below as you will otherwise unsubscribe the person who forwarded it to you!


 

You are currently subscribed to dailyencouragement as: stephencweber.dailyencouragement@blogger.com
Add scweber@dailyencouragement.net to your email address book to ensure delivery
Forward to a Friend  |  Manage Subscription  |   Subscribe  |   Unsubscribe
Net Atlantic

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Daily Encouragement (12/29/09) "Guide Us To Thy Perfect Light"

Daily Encouragement Net - A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
Trouble reading this message?  Read online or see archives
RSS feed       Podcast feed
 Daily Encouragement Net Header
The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.

<Previous Message  ·  Archives  ·  Archive edition 

Tuesday,
December 29, 2009

Michigan winter scene (photo by Howard J. Blichfeldt)
Winter scene in rural Michigan
Photo by Howard J. Blichfeldt (used by permission)

ListenListen to us share this message on your audio player.

"Guide Us To Thy Perfect Light"

"When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy" (Matthew 2:10).

Contrary to traditional Christmas pageantry and artist's portrayals of the nativity setting, a careful consideration of the Scriptures reveals that the shepherds and wise men were not both present at the same time at the birth of Christ.

Today's Scripture text actually reveals that the wise men who followed the star in the east took arrived quite some time after Christ's birth. They had first seen the star while in the east and had traveled to Jerusalem to inquire regarding the exact place of Christ's birth.  Who these wise men were remains a mystery. They may have been among those from the Jewish line who stayed in the East following the Exile or perhaps were proselytes (converts to the Jewish faith) who may have known of the Messianic promise.  After receiving the information that Christ was born in Bethlehem they went there to worship Him. 

For some reason, after initially seeing the star while in the east, it was no longer seen for a period until after they had been to Jerusalem and were on their way to Bethlehem. (compare Matthew 2:2 and 2:9,10)

These men were earnest seekers.  The journey from the east to Jerusalem was likely long and hard.  But they were persistent.   It was the reappearance of the star on the way to Bethlehem that prompted the response described in the KJV when they "rejoiced with exceeding great joy."  The apparent redundancy in the English is an attempt to convey the richness of emotion that Matthew uses four Greek words to express.  The Amplified Bible says, "thrilled with ecstatic joy."

Why were they filled with such great joy?  After all, at this point they had not yet seen Jesus (read the text carefully).  It clearly was the reappearance of the star that prompted their joy and also their ability to continue the journey to find the Christ child.

But why?  I believe we have here an example of how God reveals Himself to the earnest seeker.  They had seen the star while in the East and then went to Jerusalem by faith. The reappearance of the star on their way to Bethlehem gave them an assurance that their seeking was not in vain!

At times the light of God's guidance is remarkably clear like the star seen by the wise men while in the east.  At other times God's leading is less clear, such as when the guiding star was no longer visible.  But like these wise men, as earnest seekers we walk by faith and obedience to God's Word.  Then we see again the clear, unmistakable light of God's guidance, as the wise men did when they saw the star a second time.  Truly this is a time of great rejoicing. 

Where are you today in your walk of faith?  For some the answer will surely be "I haven't seen the 'star' in a long time".  Keep seeking, believing, and following my friend. "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6).


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily Prayer: Father, Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.  Help me to journey in faith  when the path is dimmed or obscured.  When I can only see through a glass darkly, help me to trust You for what is yet to come.  May I have a believing, obedient spirit even when I don't fully understand Your plan. For Your thoughts are not my thoughts nor are Your ways my ways.  They are higher and wiser and are of divine origin, so help me to be mindful that You always know what's best and will lead me according to Your will and Your timing.  Amen.



Personal update: As regular readers have observed we have been unable to prepare these messages as I have rather slowly been recovering from the abdominal hernia repair surgery I had last Monday afternoon. I am coming along fine but am very appreciative of the role my abdominal muscles have in everyday life, something I had taken for granted!  Last week Ester fell on some ice and hit her head on her way to work and has had a headache much of the time since. Brooksyne took her to the Doctor yesterday and today is following up.



Open house 12/27/09
Sunday evening we had an"Open House" time of informal fellowhip in our home and had friends in through the evening and throughout our home. Here is a group who are sharing around our dining room table.

Jim & Stacey Ailes 12/28/09
Yesterday Jim and Stacey Ailes stopped by to visit. When I served a church in Saint Marys Pennsylvania, Jim was the pastor at the CMA church and we developed a friendship and fellowship. They now live in the Pittsburg area but have a son who lives here in Mount Joy who they were visiting.



Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

Click on the link to open and play.
(In some cases you may also need to click again to start the song.)

"Lead Me Lord, I will Follow"  Video   Brooksyne suggests this song to reinforce today's message.  It is perfomed by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.

"We Three Kings"  Video  Of course for those familiar with Christmas hymns the title in our daily message is a phrase from this hymn.

Howard J. Blichfeldt

Today's photo of a rural winter scene in Michigan was taken by Howard J. Blichfeldt and is used with his permission. His website is here. Howard is a friend of this ministry who desires to honor the Lord through his photography.



Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
Photo of Stephen and Brooksyne Weber
"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!"

Personal Ministry Update
Revised 10/21/09

DonateEach weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. Would you please consider a financial offering to support us in this daily encouragement ministry? Donations are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by my chaplaincy endorsing ministry. Thanks!  See here for details(2009 YTD financial offerings through 12/28/09: $17,152.00)

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

Free email subscription
Were you forwarded this edition of Daily Encouragement Net?  If you desire you can receive your own free! To receive these "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. This newsletter is never sent unsolicited. It was sent to you because you either signed up to receive it OR a friend forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the rss feed. or as an email subscription update through feedburner. You can also subscribe to Daily Encouragement feed updates by email.

Cancel: 
We respect and value your time and privacy. If these messages no longer meet your needs (providing encouragement) you can remove your address by merely use the link automatically inserted by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each email message. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.)

Weekly Version:
The weekly version is intended for those who may not check their email regularly. It is merely the Friday message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address.


Please feel free to pass these messages on!


Our other blogs:
"A Daily Prayer" - A blog simply posting the daily prayer. We keep this up each day since it's merely the prayer from the Daily Encouragement Net message!
"A Little Foolishness" - Humor/satire blog (a great outlet for non-serious writing but at times with a subtle message!) Last updated with the story of Mildred Swanson, who joyfully discovers her "spiritual gift" is sending forwarded emails! (Note: This material is satire!)
"Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the faithful believer and church. (Actually this is my intent but I haven't done much with it!)
"Hymns of Hope" - Brooksyne along with two friends made a CD using classic hymns. Brooksyne tells the background story of the 11 hymns. All of these songs are also available for download on the site.

Christianbook.comDaily Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com. Any orders placed to Christian Book Distributers using this link or any specific product link to a recommended resource in a daily encouragement message will help our Daily Encouragement ministry through a small commission on the sale. Thank you for using these links when purchasing online through CBD!

Personal Mission Statement
"I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

Four Spiritual Laws

How to become a child of God



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.


© Copyright 2009 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved

Daily Encouragement Net
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552
Contact us
Chaplaincy logo
Endorsed chaplain

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

www.dailyencouragement.net




Daily Encouragement is issued Monday-Friday.  To make sure you continue to receive these e-mails in your Inbox (so they're not sent to a junk folder), please add scweber@dailyencouragement.net to your address book or safe sender list. You are receiving these recurring messages as a subscriber to Daily Encouragement Net because you signed up on our website or otherwise requested it unless someone forwarded the message to you. If you desire to unsubscribe use the link below.  However, please do not use this link unless your address is the subscribed address below as you will otherwise unsubscribe the person who forwarded it to you!


 

You are currently subscribed to dailyencouragement as: stephencweber.dailyencouragement@blogger.com
Add scweber@dailyencouragement.net to your email address book to ensure delivery
Forward to a Friend  |  Manage Subscription  |   Subscribe  |   Unsubscribe
Net Atlantic

Monday, December 21, 2009

Daily Encouragement (12/21/09) "The Original Christmas Song"

Daily Encouragement Net - A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
Trouble reading this message?  Read online or see archives
RSS feed       Podcast feed
 Daily Encouragement Net Header
The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.

<Previous Message  ·  Archives  ·  Archive edition 

Monday,
December 21, 2009

Snow storm 12/20/09
The view from our front door early yesterday morning following the heavy snowstorm we had on Saturday!

ListenListen to us share this message on your audio player.

"The Original Christmas Song"

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14).

What is your very favorite Christmas hymn?  I would imagine that a variety of hymns would be nominated if such a poll were taken among Christians. In a sense your selection might depend on your age, geographic region or even denominational background.  But I am quite sure that any Top Ten Christmas Carols list would include songs such as "O come all ye faithful", "Silent Night" and "Joy to the World."  Each of these are older classic hymns written hundreds of years ago. They've been sung for centuries by multiple generations in various cultures and different languages, all expressing faith
in the Christ Child.

But what was the original Christmas song?  Actually there was an expression of praise by Mary while she carried Jesus in her womb (Luke 1:46-55).  Many have called this "Mary's song" or "The Magnificat". 

However the first song heralding Christ's birth is a brief snippet of angelic praise found in the daily text, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." This angelic host had specifically come down from heaven to offer this praise concert in the presence of the shepherds and immediately returned to heaven when it was completed.

I wonder how different heaven felt when they returned and the Son of God remained.  It was a unique historic moment for the angelic host who had only known Him in His rightful place in heaven.  He who was always present with God in the Highest had now descended with the lowly people.  A descriptive line from our Christmas musical expresses this so well, "The holy and lowly will finally embrace, for love has a heartbeat and grace has a face."  How grateful we are for the fully divine and fully human Person of Jesus who sacrificed His all for us.

This angelic praise indeed expresses the essence of the message of Christ's birth.  It was great cause for praise and rejoicing.  The angels knew it, but man did not grasp the full meaning of Christ's incarnation at the time.  Many still do not 2000 years later.  Further understanding  would come in time and be more fully realized at our Lord's resurrection!

Our Lord's coming surely brought glory to the Father and expressed God's good will toward men.  Peter expressed this good will when he wrote regarding the extent of God's salvation offer to all who repent and receive His free gift, "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).

Finally it's so obvious that this fallen and broken world needs peace! Wars and rumors of war abound. Conflict continues to rage in many places; from hearts to homes to communities and international relations. But the very heart of the Christmas message is one of God's reconciliation with the human race which provides peace; peace God brings to the hearts of men and women, boys and girls.

I believe fundamentally the peace the angels referred to is the same as the apostle Paul later wrote about in Romans 5:1, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."  Or as musically expressed by Charles Wesley, "God and sinners reconciled!"

As we sing our songs of praise and worship to God this Christmas season let us thoughtfully rejoice in the full meaning of Christmas.  It is easy to sing the Christmas carols without giving much thought to the words since we've sung them from memory for years.  Instead, let us carefully consider the message of each hymn text.  As we do so it will keep us mindful of God's peace and good will for our lives, not just at Christmas but during our entire brief pilgrimage here on earth.


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Glory to God In the Highest!  The Latin expression the angels echoed from the heavens, "Gloria in excelsis deo" is also the refrain from our hearts this Christmas.  Although more than 2,000 years has passed since that glorious announcement was hailed to the shepherds in the fields, we continue to sing its refrain in our celebration of Your wondrous birth.  May we never cease to be in awe and wonder of Your coming to earth to become the Son of Man so that we could become sons of God!


Winter Snow Storm!

Snow storm at dusk 12/19/09
We had a very heavy snow storm this Saturday with over a foot of snow. We had to cancel our church service yesterday morning along with a planned Open House fellowship time in our home last night.  I took this photo during the storm Saturday afternoon at dusk when our driveway coach lights came on and before the snow plow came through.

Snow storm cardinal 12/19/09
The trees outside our home were beautifully covered with snow Saturday afternoon. Brooksyne and I were doubly blessed as we spotted the bright red Cardinal perching snugly on a snow covered lower branch as the heavy snow continued to descend upon us. 

Neighbor Leon Rutt and snow storm plowout 12/19/09
Although it was still snowing Saturday evening our neighbor Leon drove over on his John Deere tractor to clear us out.
Ahhh, the blessing of neighborly kindness!

Evergreen tree covered with snow at night 12/19/09
I took this photo late Saturday night through a window from our dining room.  This is not the canned fake snow I recall spraying on Christmas trees when I was little!

Sunrise after snow storm 12/20/09
The storm finally passed and we saw a beautiful sunrise Sunday morning. I stepped out into the cold to take this photo.



Rick & Rachel Caldwell 12/18/09
Friday evening we joined our friends Rick and Rachel Caldwell for a delicious lasagna dinner and a warm time of fellowhip at their home in York, Pennsylvania. They had a very interesting scavenger hunt for us. In nearly every room of their home they hid a tiny character from a Hallmark miniature Nativity set. The character or animal was visible but barely, since they were so small (Baby Jesus was less than an inch, I would guess). They challenged us to go though their home and locate each piece. We had quite a time and occasionally needed hints (in one room especially) but managed to find them all!   It was a great idea. Brooksyne commented that only good housekeepers could plan such a game and Rachel is definitely a good housekeeper. Not a scant of dust could be found where we located the wee nativity characters!  



Personal note: Today I (Stephen) will be having surgery at Hershey Medical Center to repair an abdominal hernia. I have dealt with a problem in this location since
I had an accident playing in a little league baseball game.  A base runner collided with me when I was playing first base! My medical problem grew worse and a bit more complex due to the four abdominal surgeries I had beginning in 2002. Since my surgery is scheduled for this afternoon I may have to spend the night in the hospital but hope to be home by tomorrow afternoon. I will resume preparing the daily encouragement messages as I am able. However realistically we expect to be out of commission possibly for several days! Brooksyne and I share in this ministry together but I haven't been able to get her interested in the technical part necessary for distribution.

Brooksyne's Note:  It's not that I'm not interested.  It's just that I'm  not mentally wired to understand the technical process.  Also, I've learned over the years -  the more I know, the more responsibility I end up having.  So playing dumb isn't always such a bad idea if your plate is already full!

Waiting for bus 12/21/09
Ester, along with her furry pets, watching for the Transport Bus that takes her to work. (Taken about 7 A.M. this morning.)



Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

Click on the link to open and play.
(In some cases you may also need to click again to start the song.)

We have been sharing videos from our Christmas musical, "Hope Has Hands". Mike Martin, a friend in our church, spent a great deal of time getting these videos up on Youtube so we can share them with others.

Today we will share the remaining two songs.

New! "Come" is the song of invitation the choir sang just prior to a brief devotional and challenge to follow Christ.  It was at the end of this song we heard the loud knocking sound referred to in last Monday's message (turned out to be a child hitting the nursery window with a toy hammer). You can clearly hear the knock in the video! At times like this the preacher better think quick. Video  

New! "Go Tell The World" is the final song as the choir regrouped following the devotional and invitation.  Video



Resources for Christmas Celebrations

It is our desire to share online resources that may be a blessing to families and churches during this Christmas season. We will continue to post these resources through Christmas Day. As we find additional material that we believe will be a blessing we will add it to this list as well.


Christmas Memories  Here's a collection of Christmas memories sent in by daily encouragement readers several years ago, along with an opportunity to share your own story. 

"In Remembrance of Me" pdf  This is a passion-filled Scripture reading for two adults. Brooksyne and I have used this reading with great receptivity during Christmas Eve services many years.  We suggest, if possible, a musical background as the message is read. It is also a great lead-in to a Communion service. It should be thoroughly practiced and read with great feeling.

"When Christ Was Born" pdf This is an adaptation to the tune of "How Great Thou Art". It's a great song to sing as a congregation since most are familiar with the tune.

Responsive Christmas Scripture readings for church or family:
John 1:1-18  pdf
"O Come Let Us Adore Him"  
pdf

My First Christmas In Heaven  This is a blessed reminder for all who lost a loved one this year.  This is the poem that Brooksyne read and wrote about in this message.  

Christmas Knowledge Test

We
have also posted two Christmas carol quizzes here (scroll down).



A
re you Christmas shopping online?

Christianbook.comDaily Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com. Any orders placed to Christian Book Distributers using this link or any specific product link to a recommended resource in a daily encouragement message will help our Daily Encouragement ministry through a small commission on the sale. Thank you for considering using these links when purchasing online through CBD! Tip: If you are regular CBD customer consider bookmarking this link and using it whenever you shop.

Looking for a very special Christmas gift for your parents?  
"The Best Gift You Can Ever Give Your Parents"

Looking for a very special Christmas gift for your children?
"The Blessing"

Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
Photo of Stephen and Brooksyne Weber
"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!"

Personal Ministry Update
Revised 10/21/09

DonateEach weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. Would you please consider a financial offering to support us in this daily encouragement ministry? Donations are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by my chaplaincy endorsing ministry. Thanks!  See here for details(2009 YTD financial offerings through 12/20/09: $15,747.00)

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

Free email subscription
Were you forwarded this edition of Daily Encouragement Net?  If you desire you can receive your own free! To receive these "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. This newsletter is never sent unsolicited. It was sent to you because you either signed up to receive it OR a friend forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the rss feed. or as an email subscription update through feedburner. You can also subscribe to Daily Encouragement feed updates by email.

Cancel: 
We respect and value your time and privacy. If these messages no longer meet your needs (providing encouragement) you can remove your address by merely use the link automatically inserted by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each email message. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.)

Weekly Version:
The weekly version is intended for those who may not check their email regularly. It is merely the Friday message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address.


Please feel free to pass these messages on!


Our other blogs:
"A Daily Prayer" - A blog simply posting the daily prayer. We keep this up each day since it's merely the prayer from the Daily Encouragement Net message!
"A Little Foolishness" - Humor/satire blog (a great outlet for non-serious writing but at times with a subtle message!) Last updated with the story of Mildred Swanson, who joyfully discovers her "spiritual gift" is sending forwarded emails! (Note: This material is satire!)
"Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the faithful believer and church. (Actually this is my intent but I haven't done much with it!)
"Hymns of Hope" - Brooksyne along with two friends made a CD using classic hymns. Brooksyne tells the background story of the 11 hymns. All of these songs are also available for download on the site.

Christianbook.comDaily Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com. Any orders placed to Christian Book Distributers using this link or any specific product link to a recommended resource in a daily encouragement message will help our Daily Encouragement ministry through a small commission on the sale. Thank you for using these links when purchasing online through CBD!

Personal Mission Statement
"I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

Four Spiritual Laws

How to become a child of God



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.


© Copyright 2009 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved

Daily Encouragement Net
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552
Contact us
Chaplaincy logo
Endorsed chaplain

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

www.dailyencouragement.net




Daily Encouragement is issued Monday-Friday.  To make sure you continue to receive these e-mails in your Inbox (so they're not sent to a junk folder), please add scweber@dailyencouragement.net to your address book or safe sender list. You are receiving these recurring messages as a subscriber to Daily Encouragement Net because you signed up on our website or otherwise requested it unless someone forwarded the message to you. If you desire to unsubscribe use the link below.  However, please do not use this link unless your address is the subscribed address below as you will otherwise unsubscribe the person who forwarded it to you!


 

You are currently subscribed to dailyencouragement as: stephencweber.dailyencouragement@blogger.com
Add scweber@dailyencouragement.net to your email address book to ensure delivery
Forward to a Friend  |  Manage Subscription  |   Subscribe  |   Unsubscribe
Net Atlantic