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| RSS feed Podcast feed  A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Message ·  Listen to these messages · Easy read/printFriday, October 13, 2006  Ash tree across from our home (Click on photo to enlarge) (Click here to listen to this message on your audio player.) "Rejoicing In God's Goodness" "May your saints rejoice in your goodness" (2 Chronicles 6:41). "The goodness of God endures continually" (Psalm 52:1).It's an absolutely beautiful morning here in rural Pennsylvania. The fall colors are beginning to move into our area and several of the large Ash trees across the road are at their peak as seen in the photo I took this morning. Last night I ceremonially started up our coal stove as colder weather has set in and this morning we had our very first frost of the season. Periodically we even get that wonderful scent of burning wood from our neighbor's wood stove! It's another day to rejoice in God's goodness. I believe rejoicing in God's goodness is a fundamental way in which we express our faith. I have met some believers who compartmentalize their lives. They earnestly praise God at the appropriate times, but frankly their overall attitude is negative and whining comes all too easily. They may stand in church on Sunday morning, lift their voices and praise God, but Monday their focus returns to the negative circumstances in their lives. In our fallen world we all deal with difficulty in one way or another and sometimes intensely so. But nevertheless God is good all the time! Today's first Scripture is a portion of the prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the temple; "May your saints rejoice in your goodness." This was a high point in Biblical history as the people of God rejoiced in this particular manifestation of God's goodness. Theologian Thomas Manton writes concerning the goodness of God, "He is originally good, good of Himself, which nothing else is; for all creatures are good only by participation and communication from God. He is essentially good; not only good, but goodness itself: the creature’s good is a superadded quality, in God it is His essence. He is infinitely good; the creature’s good is but a drop, but in God there is an infinite ocean or gathering together of good. He is eternally and immutably good, for He cannot be less good than He is; as there can be no addition made to Him, so no subtraction from Him." God's goodness is an immutable attribute. "The goodness of God endures continually." It's part of His divine nature. A popular phrase that reinforces this Scriptural truth is "God is good all the time." And the people of God respond, "And all the time God is good!" Yes, indeed, He is! Be encouraged today, Stephen C. Weber Daily prayer: Father, from Your mercy seat You dispense goodness that endures to all generations. As with previous generations, ours is undeserving of Your abundant goodness that supply our needs and enriches our lives. The paintbrush of Your handiwork brings vibrant color into view whether we are looking up, down or from the North to the South. We rejoice in Your enduring goodness that is evidence of Your incomparable love to all of Your creation. You are good all the time, and Lord, all the time You are good! Amen. As I studied for today's message I came across a quote by C.H. Spurgeon pertinent to today's topic. "When others behave badly to us, it should only stir us up the more heartily to give thanks unto the Lord, because He is good; and when we ourselves are conscious that we are far from being good, we should only the more reverently bless Him that He is good. We must never tolerate an instant’s unbelief as to the goodness of the Lord; whatever else may be questioned, this is absolutely certain, that Jehovah is good; His dispensations may vary, but His nature is always the same." Here's an audio version of the song that prompted the popularity of the phrase, "God is good all the time, all the time God is good." Please note: I find these audio songs on the web and they work for some users but not others.  We'll be gathering in the barn to the left in the photo. (Click to enlarge) Final Call: Barn Sing-along - everyone welcome! Daily Encouragement Net readers are invited to a Praise and Worship service on this Saturday, October 14, at 6 PM at our Amish neighbor's barn. Before the worship service, from 4:30-5:45, another neighbor will be hauling children and adults on hayrides with his tractor and wagon. Refreshments will follow the Worship Service. If you would like to come the directions to our home are here. The farm is located at 690 Kraybill Church Road around the corner from Kraybill Mennonite School and just up the road from our house. The hayrides prior to the service will be with a large John Deere tractor and wagon. It would be great to have it horse powered, but we're grateful for the John Deere as well! Brooksyne took this photo in northern Pennsylvania this last weekend. |
| ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION  Each weekday Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all around the world. Would you please help us continue this encouragement ministry? As an expression of appreciation for your support we are offering our new "Encouragement" screensaver, a selection of photos with accompanying Scriptures, along with our desktop collection with each offering (available either as download or CD.) See here for details.Personal Ministry Update Join: To receive this free "Daily Encouragement" e-mail devotional use our form. New subscribers receive a link to free computer desktop background photos with Scriptures! Here's the welcome letter that comes with new subscriptions. Cancel: To remove your address from this mailing list merely use the link at the very bottom. (To change addresses cancel old address and then join again using new address.) Contact us Please feel free to pass this message on!  The Weber Family Stephen, Brooksyne & Ester "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" (Click on photo to enlarge) 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. Used by permission; and the King James Version. © Copyright 2006 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552  "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" |
