A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
 A daily, Bible-based message of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Click here to support our ministry.The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archive edition Thursday, December 27, 2012  "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another" (1 John 1:7). Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above.  For the last twelve years we have attended a rural church that has a long heritage. Although we have had short term stints as an interim pastor this church has been our base. We really appreciate the multi-generational aspect of our congregation. As we sang the carols and awaited the circle to be all aglow I began to observe the people we fellowship with. What I saw could easily be replicated in other churches from our past as well as the church you presently attend. I scanned my memory bank over the last twelve years and considered the blessing of overcoming faith in the genuine people of God. However the following is not just our local church but a composite of our ministry, now over 35 years of Christmas Eve candlelight circles, as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Some are fresh observations from the other night, others are from my reservoir of memories going back many years. I purposefully mix the two settings in the interest of confidentiality and use fictitious names in some cases. Before our Father's throne We pour our ardent prayers; Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one Our comforts and our cares. I looked over and saw Jim, a young man whom I recall going through several years of rebellion as an older teenager, who "disappeared" from the church for several years. He's now married, faithfully attending church with his wife and serving on the board! Across the sanctuary I spotted Irene, a woman who has been through some very deep valleys, including being abandoned by her husband, but she remains faithful, and God has provided for her needs. Charles, a cancer survivor stood tall amidst his family members, now three years in remission and daily thanking God for the blessing of good health that he once took for granted. We share each other's woes, Our mutual burdens bear; And often for each other flows The sympathizing tear. Jason and Debbie were present; a couple who had a very rocky period in their marriage. It warmed my heart to see him light her candle just as they did in their wedding ceremony. They've persevered and by God's grace are rebuilding their marriage. I saw William who years earlier had confided in me his struggle in overcoming pornography. He wants his life to honor God and for several years has experienced freedom. As I looked around the circle I saw a number of grown children, now with their own young children, home for Christmas joining their parents in worshiping God with the church body on Christmas Eve. When we asunder part, It gives us inward pain; But we shall still be joined in heart, And hope to meet again. I smiled as I saw a young couple, Peter and Jen, whose marriage ceremony I conducted a number of years ago; there with their infant son, an answer to prayer. On the other side of us was another young couple, Mike and JoAnna. It seems it was not that long ago that I conducted their wedding, but they now have three children. Adoree', their pre-school daughter, filled the room with her booming child's voice as she sang out, "O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord." I observed a recent widow, Martha, who for many years stood next to her husband during this service. Now she stands among her support team who are seeing her through this lonely transition. Joe, an old World War 2 vet who had a laryngectomy many years ago, belted out the Christmas songs through his mechanical larynx. The voice was rough but his joyful countenance was priceless and contagious. This glorious hope revives Our courage by the way; While each in expectation lives, And longs to see the day. I saw a couple, Jeff and Linda, who many years earlier, were delivered from a life of alcohol and drugs. It happened before I knew them and due to the change in their life it's practically impossible for me to see them in that kind of lifestyle! They've been such a blessing to others over the years. Grace and Earl, an older couple who stood in our circle, lost their young adult son in a car accident caused by a drunk driver many years ago. As God enabled them they reached out to the drunk driver who had killed their son. Dave is standing beside his wife, Sandy, who sings as she sits in her wheel chair. For many years Sandy has endured the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis but they both demonstrate such overcoming faith and endurance. From sorrow, toil and pain, And sin, we shall be free, And perfect love and friendship reign Through all eternity. Today's text states "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another." Our fellowship with each other is ultimately our common decision to walk together through steep mountains and dark valleys as the light of Jesus illuminates our path one step at a time. Someday all sorrow, toil and pain will be replaced with unending joy and freedom from sin. Our love and friendship will reign through all eternity as our hearts are forever united in Christian love. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, we thank You for the band of Christian brothers and sisters that circle the globe who are among the redeemed, overcoming life's obstacles, and giving testimony to Your faithful work in their lives. We uphold each other in prayer and lend support to those who have need, as together we walk in the light of Your holy Word. Thank You for the fellowship of believers that encourages us in our daily Christian walk. Amen.  We welcome our daily encouragement readers to read our 2012 Weber family Christmas letter Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Blest Be The Tie That Binds" Video Homecoming "Blest Be The Tie That Binds" Video Smokey Mountain instrumental with photos of Cades Cove in Great Smokey Mountain National Park, I believe. "How Beautiful" Video Twila Paris "Bind Us Together Lord" Video "I'll Be Your Friend" Video Michael W. Smith "Faithful Friend" Video Twila Paris & Steven Curtis Chapman 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 12/26/12: $18,211.00. 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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