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 A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Home About Us Archives Free email subscription  Listen to these messages  Text only for printing  See here for more info. <Previous Message · Archive edition Tuesday, July 15, 2014  "Like a mighty sea, like a mighty sea. Comes the love of Jesus sweeping over me!" "Grace Upon Grace" Note: Due to travel we did not prepare a podcast for this message. "For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace" (John 1:16). Yesterday we walked the boardwalk looking out over the ocean in Ocean City, NJ. Growing up in the Midwest, far from any ocean I only saw the ocean two times as a child, once on each coast. Brooksyne who was raised in a poor family in Oklahoma didn't see the ocean at all until her mid-twenties after we had been married for several years. Some raised near the ocean can't even recall their first ocean sighting but for both of us and many others it is a distinct memory. Our favorite "first ocean sighting" story took place several years ago when we drove an Amish family to the shore. Upon arrival the excited children discharged themselves from the 15 passenger van and beheld the great expanse of water. Little Eli, about three at the time, just couldn't get enough play from the large waves that swept up on the sandy shore. When his mom wanted him to rest a bit he informed her and all of us, "But I want to go back in the big pond!" I've long associated the daily verse with the ocean due to a sermon I heard as a young Christian. Jeff Ronald was a fellow Bible School student who was preaching from John 1 and used the persistent, rolling waves of the ocean as an illustration of the phrase, "grace upon grace." Today we have friends on our hearts who seem to be experiencing one heartache after another. This could be many including some reading this message. Today we want you to experience grace upon grace. John wrote his gospel late in the first century. Most believe his writings were the last in the Biblical canon. Some sixty years after his encounter with Christ and His earthly ministry he sat down as an old man to write his gospel. Three other accounts had already been written (Matthew, Mark and Luke) but surely John's perspective in writing was long awaited by the early church. His purpose in writing is clearly stated in Chapter 20:30 & 31. "Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name." Thus his intent was in part evangelistic; hopeful that unbelievers would receive his account and respond in belief. The daily text begins with the phrase, "For of His fullness we have all received." What an incredible blessing to be a recipient of His fullness! The last phrase is "grace upon grace." The Amplified expresses, "one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift heaped upon gift." It's a little like a husband and wife receiving the news that they're not only giving birth to one baby, but they've been doubly blessed with twins! What a marvelous blessing grace is; this unmerited favor and undeserved gift. In understanding grace many have found helpful the descriptive acrostic "God's Riches At Christ's Expense" or "Gifts Received At Christ's Expense." Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? By believing you may have life in His Name. That's the greatest gift of grace! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: God, You've given the greatest treasure available to all people. We don't have to fit into a particular segment of our population nor are we required to live during a certain time period to receive this unsurpassed gift. The gift of Your grace is available to every generation and exceeds any temporary material blessing that we'll ever receive. Your grace not only brings reconciliation through Your Son, but it continues to pour into us grace upon grace, much like the waves of the ocean. Thank you that You gave in abundance so that we could be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God through the incarnation of your Son, Jesus Christ. How unlimited and ceaseless is your grace upon grace! We in turn offer you thanks upon thanks for Your overflowing goodness to us. Amen. We enjoyed a delicious lunch; salmon, crabcake, scallops - the seafood works with our friends, Jim and Dorothy Schmidt and afterward drove throughout Ocean City ending up at the boardwalk. We became friends with these good folks back in New England during a conference when Jim represented Send Int'l. They live in Ocean City and remain active in ministry. Dorothy had a very serious head concussion several months ago that required intensive recovery. Though she's still recovering we were delighted to see how good she looked.  This business along the main street in Ocean City takes its name from a Scripture verse. As we passed this business Jim pointed out the verse and also spoke of the opportunity he had in leading this businessman to Christ many years earlier.  We thought this was an interesting sign on a store along the boardwalk.  Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Like A Mighty Sea" Video An old hymn most have probably never heard but we recall singing in churches years ago. "Your Grace Still Amazes Me" Video Phillips, Craig and Dean Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne  Stephen and Brooksyne Weber (Click on photo to enlarge) About Us "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 10/21/13) 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.2014 YTD offerings to Daily Encouragement Net: $6,273.00 SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION  If this email was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here.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 to you. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or as an email subscription through Wordpress email subscription. 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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. Your answers are anonymous and I we are unable to respond. If you want to send a personal message use the 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. Other versions are also occasionally used. © Copyright 2014 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552  Endorsed chaplain "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" www.dailyencouragement.net |
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