| 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"
