A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
 A daily, Bible-based message of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Click here to donate online.The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archive edition Thursday, December 13, 2012  Page from an old hymn book  Listen to this message on your audio player."What Child Is This?" "When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child" (Luke 2:17). What Child is this, who, laid to rest, On Mary's lap is sleeping, Whom angels greet with anthems sweet While shepherds watch are keeping?  In the course of our work in business chaplaincy we visit people right at their worksite, including many who work on computers. We notice that people often express themselves and share their interests by using a photo on their screensaver. Photographers have examples of their photos, one friend who's a fan of the Green Bay Packers displays a Packer logo, another shows a photo of bears he saw at his campsite and so forth. Some of the women use baby photography by Anne Geddes, showing anonymous babies in all kinds of cute poses, though I've yet to see a Geddes photo shoot on a man's computer. However I often do see baby photos on men's computers and I don't have to ask them, "What child is this?" In my experience when a man puts a baby photo on a computer it's his baby! The photo to the right shows Raymond, a mechanical engineer in one of our companies. His wife just had their first child in November, a little girl, and Raymond is a very happy dad, quite pleased to share his photos. You don't have to ask; you just have to look! Don't be confused by two screens with babies. He doesn't have twins, he's just doubly proud!One of the songs many of us will sing this season is, "What Child Is This?" written in 1865. At the age of twenty-nine, English writer William Chatterton Dix was struck with a sudden near-fatal illness and confined to bedrest for several months, during which he went into a deep depression. Yet out of his near-death experience, Dix wrote many hymns, including "What Child Is This?", later set to the traditional English tune "Greensleeves". The song is written in a catechism style (a question followed by an answer) which can be a great aid to learning. The daily text actually concerns an event at the conclusion of the Christmas narrative. The shepherds had seen Mary, Joseph and the infant Child as He laid in the manger. They now returned to share the report of what they had seen. "The statement which had been told them about this Child" was the message from the angels, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10,11). Today let us join the hymnwriter and joyfully sing the answer to the question, "What Child Is This?" This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring Him laud, The babe, the son of Mary! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, just as the shepherds spread the word concerning what had been told them about the Child we too want to spread the word regarding all that we learn about the Christ Child through the revelation of Scripture and the Holy Spirit. Thank You for sending Jesus not only to royalty but also to the peasant, not only to the influential but also to the unknown. We do not hesitate but joyfully and openly bring Him glory and honor; the Babe, the Son of Mary. It is in His name that we pray. Amen.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "What Child Is This?" Video Selah "This Little Child" Video Scott Wesley Brown "Jesus, What a Wonderful Child" Video Homecoming music "One Small Child" Video First Call Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne. |
 Stephen and Brooksyne Weber (Click on photo to enlarge) "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 10/12)  Are our daily encouragement messages a blessing to you? Each weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. We ask you to consider an offering to Daily Encouragement Net so that we can continue to prepare and provide this daily resource which is accessed by believers and seekers all over the world. Daily Encouragement Net relies solely on the generosity and financial support of its readers and podcast listeners. See here for more information on supporting this ministry. Gifts are tax deductible. Click here to donate online. 2012 financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net as of 12/12/12: $16,681.00. We express thanks to all who support our ministry! SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION  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 to our email list. These messages are never sent by us unsolicited. It was sent to you because you either signed up to receive it OR it was forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or as an email subscription through Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.)Cancel: We respect and value your time and privacy. If you no longer desire to receive these messages you can remove your address from the list by merely using 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 or who may desire less frequent mailings. It is Friday's message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. Daily Encouragement on Facebook and Twitter:  The daily message and prayer on Facebook. The daily message and prayer on Twitter.Reader Survey: Please take a few minutes to assist us in improving our ministry effectiveness by filling out this online reader survey. To take the survey click here. 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!) (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. 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."  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 2012 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us  Endorsed chaplain "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" www.dailyencouragement.net |
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