| RSS feed xml Podcast feed  A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Wednesday, December 27, 2006  Photo of live chicks taken by my nephew in Morocco. How's this for a colorful introduction to today's message? Click here to listen to this message on your audio player. "Another Year Is Dawning" "Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls" (1 Peter 1:8,9). Another calendar year will soon begin for us in our journey on this earth. The physical and material is all around us and its clamors for our attention. This is most evident during the Christmas season! But as followers of Christ we are called to "fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." This takes a conscientious, purposeful ongoing effort. From a spiritual perspective we continue the faith walk. The life in Christ has always been a faith walk since Jesus ascended back to the Father in Acts 1. His followers, since that eventful day, have not been able to see Him in a physical sense. During a very special period about 2,000 years ago some people had the wonderful privilege of seeing the Word who had become flesh and dwelt among us. However even during that time many did not believe in who He was or what He stood for. Seeing does not necessarily mean believing. The Apostle Peter, an eyewitness and close friend of Christ during His earthly ministry, wrote our daily verse to believers some 30 years after Jesus had ascended. These believers had not physically seen Christ in His earthly ministry but like us, they believed. O, how we thank God for this belief that fills us with His "inexpressible and glorious joy!" This is a wonderful experience. I want to note a very significant verb tense in the text this morning. Notice Peter says, "You are receiving" (not "you have received" or "you will receive") "the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." I believe this is a vital ongoing truth in the believer's faith life. While living, these fellow believers were receiving this goal. At their deaths they received it fully. The same life-changing experience is true for us today, fellow believer. As another year dawns let us continue in this faith walk and remember the timeless perspective of the Apostle Paul as we "fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." Let us stay faithful today, throughout our journey in 2007, and for the remaining time God has allotted us on this earth! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily Prayer: Father, help me to walk faithfully with You day by day. Though there are daily temptations and recurrent distractions that seek my heart's affection my first allegiance is to You, my Lord and my Savior. Though I've not seen You physically I've felt Your touch and have been filled with Your glorious joy as You set me free from the bondage of sin. Nothing in life that I pursue this day or in the years to come will ever compare to the unsurpassed eternal gift of salvation that You give freely. Thank You for such wondrous love. Amen. Another year is dawning: dear Father, let it be, In working or in waiting, another year with Thee; Another year of progress, another year of praise, Another year of proving Thy presence all the days. Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace; Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face; Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast; Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest. Another year of service, of witness for Thy love; Another year of training for holier work above. Another year is dawning: dear Father, let it be, On earth or else in heaven, another year for Thee. "Another Year is Dawning" Frances R. Havergal Personal note: Today we will be traveling out to the western part of North Carolina to visit Marian, a lifelong friend of my Mom's. We are not sure whether we will be able to prepare another message this week. We expect to get back on a regular schedule next week! We trust that many of you are enjoying a slower, relaxed pace following the Christmas holidays. Some of you are right back to work and we trust that you're having a blessed week as you remain faithful in the work God has provided for you. Here's our annual family Christmas letter we posted last week. It's probably longer than it should be and we also included some of our favorite photos from the year. (It will take awhile to open if you have a dial-up connection) Read pdf or Listen to Brooksyne read it (audio mp3)  My younger sister Genelle and her family (Christmas 2006)  Our Christmas meal 2006 |
| 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 "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 "Our family wants 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  |
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
"Another Year Is Dawning"
Friday, December 22, 2006
"The Word Became Flesh"
| RSS feed xml Podcast feed A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Friday, December 22, 2006  Click here to listen to this message on your audio player. "The Word Became Flesh" "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). Last night we went Christmas caroling with a group of our neighbors on a hay-filled farm wagon pulled by a great big John Deere tractor. At each home we modified the words of "Jingle Bells" from "Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh" to "Oh, what fun it is to ride in a wagon full of hay" which always brought a chuckle to both carolers and those we sang to. The children rang their sleigh bells as a steady accompaniment to our songs, no matter the tempo of the song, which was delightful as well. Our driver, Leon, took us through fields which were bumpy, dark, and lots of fun for the children as they grabbed onto over-hanging tree branches. We adults gave our warnings about being left behind should you hold on too tightly! It's interesting to me how phrases of oft sung songs can take on renewed meaning. Several times last night we sang the well-known carol with the line, "veiled in flesh, the Godhead see, hail the incarnate Deity" and I considered once again the marvelous, wondrous act of redemption. John's Gospel does not give us a Christmas story like Matthew and Luke. There's no mention of shepherds, Magi or an obedient young couple. John seems to have a special leading of the Holy Spirit to write the story from a heavenly perspective beginning his account with the great phrase, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God." Our daily verse sums up John's Christmas story; "The Word became flesh." Up to this point in his gospel John has not used the proper name "Jesus Christ" and does not do so until the seventeenth verse, after which he never again uses the phrase "the Word" in reference to Jesus. That first Christmas morning the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. That's the heart of the Christmas story. John, the last living of the twelve disciples, wrote his gospel late in the first century. He had been among Christ's closest disciples and friends. He had heard the wonderful teachings and witnessed the great miracles. He had seen Christ die on the cross and had fellowship with the risen Lord. He had been there when Christ ascended back to the Father. And now for some sixty years he had been obeying the great commission before putting his account down in writing for all subsequent generations. This season I join hundreds of millions of believers around the world reflecting on this wonderful truth some nineteen hundred years after John wrote his account. We remember and thank God for this glorious visit. We believe that the Word did become flesh. As J. B. Phillips wrote, "The Christian faith is founded upon a well attested sober fact of history; that quietly, but with deliberate purpose, God Himself has visited this little planet." Praise God for that life-changing visit! I again reaffirm my decision to serve this great God who has indeed sent His Son, full of grace and truth. Won't you join me! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Jesus, thank You for clothing Yourself in flesh and making Your home among Your own creation. You are both God and Man, completely divine and completely human. Rather than coming to us only through written precepts and the revelation of Your Word, You came to us through a person's life, something we could tangibly see, physically grasp and personally identify with. You revealed the divine nature and perfect will of the Father through the person of Jesus Christ. Grace flowed through You in those whose lives were spiritually transformed and the lives of those who experienced miracles and healings. Thank You for emptying Yourself and taking the nature of a servant as You walked in truth and obedience, even death on the cross of Calvary. And now we praise You, Jesus, as You are exalted to the highest place. We confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father! Amen. Personal note: Today we want to share with any interested reader our annual family Christmas letter. It's probably longer than it should be and we also included some of our favorite photos from the year. Read by brooksyne (audio mp3) Due to travel next week we expect the normal delivery of our messages will be inconsistent but we will be taking along the laptop and hope to prepare the messages some of the days we are out. We will be leaving following our Christmas Eve service in our interim church near Harrisburg, PA and travel to North Carolina to visit with my sister and her family. We also hope to see some long-time friends during this trip. Today I would like to share a song sung by Herb Basso, who was a part of the church we pastored in New England. Herb, an older Italian man (and I mean really Italian!), is an outstanding harmonica player and was a very colorful part of our lives during our entire stay in Massachusetts. When we left that area he and his wife Cecilia took us to an authentic Italian restaurant in Providence and I watched him eat escargot. I spoke to Herb and Cecilia this morning and they are still plugging right along! This is a beautiful version of Silent Night. It's also quite meaningful to us since a long-time pastor friend's daughter is playing the violin in a portion of the song. Laura Marie Silvia is the daughter of Bob and Janine Silvia who pastor a church in Wellfleet practically on the end of Cape Cod (near Provincetown). Laura attends Evangel College in Springfield, Missouri. Audio mp3 (broadband version) Audio mp3 (dialup version)  Dashing through the snow (well not really) on a wagon full of hay!  Yesterday I was in the Valley Forge area and drove by this beautiful colonial home with wreaths and bows on each window. |
| 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 "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 "Our family wants 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 |
Thursday, December 21, 2006
"True Worshipers"
| RSS feed xml Podcast feed A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Thursday, December 21, 2006  Click here to listen to this message on your audio player. "True Worshipers" "Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 'Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him'" (Matthew 2:7,8). Once again here in America we are already gearing up for the next presidential race which is still nearly two years away! Among the hot topics is the pursuit of religious or value voters and regardless of the politician's political ideology attempts are made by many to use the name of Jesus to gain voters (when the group of potential voters serves their own political interest.) Several years ago a prominent politician made the outlandish assertion that the baby Jesus was homeless to try to score a few political points. Political candidates are jostling to use the Holy Name, a sort of "getting my picture taken with Jesus" approach attempting to convey that "I too worship Him." Although only God knows their real heart and motive, many of them hardly pass the "you shall know them by their fruit" test! Herod was the first to have a political interest in Jesus. He feigned interest as he sought the advice of the Magi to find out where Jesus was. His insincere explanation for needing their advice was so that "I too may go and worship Him." However the text goes on to reveal that Herod's motive was jealousy and the real intent of his search was to find Jesus and kill Him. He certainly had no plan to worship the newborn King. The Magi (wise men) however appeared to have the purest of motives in their quest. They had responded to the star seen from the east (some authorities feel as far away as present Iran) and began a long, arduous journey to seek out the Child. When they had worshipped Him and gave of their gifts they were instructed in a dream to take another way back, rather than reporting to Herod. They, along with Anna, Simeon and the shepherds are the very first true worshipers of our Lord Jesus Christ. Later, during His ministry, Jesus spoke of "true worshipers" as those who worship God in "spirit and in truth" and taught his hearers, "these are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." What about you and me today? Are we true worshipers, the kind of worshiper the Father seeks? That's my heart's desire today, and I trust that it is yours as well! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Jesus, You teach us that our act of worship is not confined to a cathedral setting nor does it require professional ministerial training to carry out true worship. It comes from the heart of the true believer who acknowledges that You are the long awaited Messiah, the One who is called Christ. We worship You in Spirit, for though we cannot humanly see or touch You, we come to You in complete sincerity with a spirit that is directed by the life and activity of the Holy Spirit. We worship You in truth because union with You requires believing and speaking the truth. May we be the kind of worshipers that pleases the heart of the Father. Amen. Personal note: Tomorrow we will be sending a special Christmas message including a link to our annual family Christmas letter. Due to travel next week we expect the normal delivery of our messages will be inconsistent but we will be taking along the laptop and hope to prepare the messages some of the days we are out. We will be leaving following our Christmas Eve service in our interim church near Harrisburg, PA and travel to North Carolina to visit with my sister and her family. We also hope to see some long-time friends during this trip. The wonderful song "Angels from the realms of glory" has the recurring refrain that comes to mind as this message is prepared. "Come and worship, Come and worship. Worship Christ the newborn King!" Audio Video From the worship service of the Willingdon Church in British Columbia Canada An alert reader upon reading yesterday's message observes, "if we could build a spaceship that could travel the speed of light, the headlights would not work while traveling at the speed of light! This attempt to use Jesus is true in other contemporary issues as well and recently an attempt was made at determining where Jesus would or would not shop! |
| 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 "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 "Our family wants 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 |
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
"Christ, the Light of the World"
| RSS feed xml Podcast feed A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Wednesday, December 20, 2006  Each street lamp is decorated with a real lighted Christmas tree! Click here to listen to this message on your audio player. "Christ, the Light of the World" "I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12). Last night we drove through Bethlehem, Pennsylvania which was founded on Christmas Eve in 1741 by the Moravians, who named it after THE Bethlehem where Jesus Christ was born. It is a beautiful old city specially decorated for Christmas with candles in all the windows of the historic stone buildings, street lamps decorated with real lighted Christmas trees and a huge 81 foot "Star of Bethlehem" on the mountain south of the city. I can only imagine how beautiful it would be on a snowy night! Yesterday we wrote about the subject of light and we want to continue that theme today. Today's message is actually written by Nigel Lee, a friend from Massachusetts. He shared it with me many years ago and I used it in an encouragement message at that time but, as I again ponder the theme of light, I would like to share it again. Nigel is a scientist and thus his reflection will likely stretch you a bit, but it's very interesting. The scientific perspective in the next two paragraphs is hard to grasp for non-scientists (at least for Brooksyne and I!) but hang in there because his spiritual application in the final paragraph is outstanding! Light is an amazing component of our universe. Nothing in the universe travels faster than the speed of light (Star Trek warp speed notwithstanding!). Special relativity tells us that the speed of light is independent of the motion of the observer (that is, to an observer traveling 1 meter per second slower than the speed of light, an object traveling the speed of light would still appear to be traveling at the speed of light!). Light has a dual nature that has confused physicists until modern times: it behaves as both a wave and as a particle. Einstein among others showed that light consists of "particles" called photons that have energy (but no mass). However, light has many wave-like properties such as refraction (seen, for example, when light bends through a prism). Of course, light enables us to see, and the wavelength at which light radiates determines what color we see. And light (sunlight) enables plants to undergo photosynthesis, which is essential to life (plant, animal, and human) on Earth. From a physical standpoint, then, light is absolute, mysterious, sight-enabling, life-giving, and -- without a doubt -- wondrous! From a spiritual standpoint, the Light of the World -- Christ – is equally wondrous. Christ is the Light who forms the absolute standard that discerns the thoughts and intentions of the hearts of men. Christ is the Light who is mysterious (1 Tim. 3:16), dual in nature, both human and divine. Christ is the Light who illuminates the spiritual darkness of this world, forcing those who do not know Him to flee back into the shadows and yet enabling those who do know Him to see and to understand the things of God. And Christ is the Light who gives us eternal life, for He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In the world we live in today, with so many uncertainties and so much evil, Christ is the only answer to the questions of life. Let us turn to Christ, the Light of the World, this Christmas season! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily Prayer: Jesus, I thank You that You lead us in the paths of righteousness through the Light of Your Word. It is a faith undertaking that never takes us where You, the Light of the World, have not gone before us illuminating every step. Because You are the Way, we seek no other direction. Because You are the Truth, we won't twist the facts to serve our own base interests. Because You are the Life we draw near to the Father through Your divine bloodline. You are everything we need for life and godliness as You call us out of this world's darkness and into the light of Your own glory and goodness. Amen. Nigel Lee received his doctorate in electrical engineering from Princeton University and is currently working at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory. He grew up in Rhode Island and met his wife, Laifong, while at Princeton, where they were both involved in the campus chapter of Chi Alpha, a Christian ministry to college students. Laifong grew up in Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim country, but by God's grace she came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ at age 15. Laifong also has a doctorate from Princeton in molecular biology and is a researcher at Harvard Medical School. They have a 4½ year old son named Caleb. Nigel and Laifong were a wonderful blessing while in our church in New England and share the distinction of being the very first recipients of the daily encouragement message. They now attend the Boston Worship Center on the North End (a very interesting center city church we visited). They continue to receive the daily encouragement messages and we periodically share together, although now separated by distance. Nigel emailed me a family update today.  "Here I am to worship" is a song that goes well with today's message beginning with the phrase, "Light of the world, you stepped down into darkness". (audio file) This sounds like a locally produced rendition but I am blessed by those who place such content up on the internet to share with others. |
| 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 "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 "Our family wants 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 |
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
"The Light Has Come"
| RSS feed xml Podcast feed A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Message ·  Listen to these messages · Easy read/printTuesday, December 19, 2006  Wreath in front of our home. Click here to listen to this message on your audio player. "The Light Has Come" "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19). We have some beautiful Christmas light displays in our area as I am sure many readers do. We have elaborate formal displays such as Hershey Sweet Lights. There are many homes, trees and shrubbery intricately decorated. An entire dairy farm along Route 283, the four lane highway from Lancaster to Harrisburg, is lit up to look like a miniature Christmas village. We look forward to seeing it each time we drive to church in the evening hours. One of our favorite sites is seeing the star of Bethlehem lit up on top of silos – you can see them from a long distance off. At Christmas we also have all types of lights around our house. Brooksyne really likes to decorate, although she's scaled back over the years. Besides the lighted Christmas tree we have lighted wreaths, various lighted figurines, window candles and many scented Christmas candles. Light has long been a symbolic theme of the Christmas season based upon various Biblical texts. Yesterday's daily text read, "That life was the light of men" regarding Christ's appearance. Today's text states that, "Light has come into the world." A battle has long been raging and continues to do so even more furiously it seems. The Bible fundamentally teaches that: 1) The Almighty God is the Creator, Ruler, Redeemer and Judge over the entire universe. 2) He has revealed His will for man through His Word. 3) He has established non-arbitrary laws governing the conduct of His creation. By contrast the secular humanist worldview that dominates in the west fundamentally asserts that: 1) God is merely a religious figment or whatever one wants to believe, if anything. 2) The Bible is, at best, just a collection of good stories (sometimes handy to make political points), but certainly not the rule of authority in our lives. 3) The rule of the Bible and its laws are merely arbitrary and subjective, requiring ongoing revision by the whims of man. We see this ancient battle between these two opposing worldviews rising to a fevered pitch. Our world is in desperate need of true heaven-sent revival! The daily verse is so powerful and illuminating. "Light has come into the world." The Greek has the definite article "the" before light and I believe this is significant. In the Gospel and Epistles of John "the light" is Jesus Christ (see John 1:4-9; 8:12: 9:5; 12:46; 1 John 1:5). In Christ's incarnation indeed the light came into the world. But men loved the darkness instead of the light. Again we have the definite article in the Greek prior to both light and darkness. This is a matter of fact statement that explains much about human nature and conditions in our fallen world. Because we are created with a free will many have chosen to walk in darkness and reject the light of Christ. We who live in the glorious light of Jesus Christ marvel that anyone would choose to be a companion of darkness but they do "because their deeds were [are] evil." The text continues, "Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed" (John 3:20). If they come into the light they must deal with their evil deeds. They must confess and repent as have all true children of God. This season as we celebrate the glorious birth of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, may we truly love the light rather than the darkness. We no longer keep our sin "under wrap" hidden in darkness, but we have exposed it by confessing it to Jesus. May we be among those who have believed the truth concerning Jesus Christ, "But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God" (John 3:21). Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Jesus, as I live by the truth of Your radiant light I am reminded again of the spiritual transformation that took place when You uprooted my human nature and replaced it with Your divine nature. Now my roots grow deep into the light of Your Gospel causing me to draw up nourishment from You so that I grow in faith, becoming strong and vigorous in this glorious new life. Thank You for canceling my sin debt when You were nailed to the cross on my behalf. I'm forever grateful that You came to seek me out and save me when I was lost in sin. I am so glad to be walking in the light of truth. Shine, Jesus, shine through me. Amen. I have written several times concerning Bob, a man in the church we presently serve in an interim (temporary) basis. Bob passed away last week and his funeral is today. He accepted Jesus when he was 70 years of age and spent the remaining 12 years of his life as a faithful servant of Christ. He demonstrated God's grace to the end of his earthly life and we know he is now "home with the Lord." Here are the messages I wrote concerning our ministry to him: Message 1 Message 2 "Arise, Shine" is a song from "The Gift" a Graham Kendrick Christmas musical that goes well with today's message. (audio file) Graham Kendrick is a British musician that has an outstanding assortment of his song clips available on his website. Our favorite and we are so blessed by this live type recording with narration is "Amazing Love" which has a tremendous incarnation message as well. |
| 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 "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 "Our family wants 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 |
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