Daily Encouragement Net - A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
Trouble reading this message? Read online or see archives
Trouble reading this message? Read online or see archives
 The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive edition Monday, January 11, 2010  Sure makes you appreciate your heater! Yesterday afternoon we visited with our Amish friends Jesse and Anna Ruth, who joined us for a service at a local nursing home. When I picked them up I inquired about all the open buggies I saw along the way and they told me it was young people going to youth meeting. So that's why we saw several snuggled up real close!  Listen to this message on your audio player. "All I Need" "I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself" (Genesis 33:9). "God has been gracious to me and I have all I need" (Genesis 33:11). "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all--how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32). In one sense life is a continual transition since change is inevitable as we age and have experiences familiar to that growth period. But there are specific times such as the death of a loved one, a job loss, a health crisis, a broken relationship or other unsettling life experiences when this is especially the case. Today we consider those going through difficult transitions and pray this message will be a source of encouragement to you. Life's transitions usually include a time of testing, growth, and acceptance. During these junctures in life we are often more receptive to the Scriptures as we look for guidance and seek assurance of God's care. A sermon, an inspirational article, or the words of a friend may speak to our critical need and "hit the spot" in our particular circumstance. When we are truly seeking, God's Word is like fresh manna falling from heaven, "For the word of God is alive and powerful" (Hebrews 4:12a). Each morsel of truth and light is filled with just enough direction for the day before us. Jacob had experienced many transitions and experiences. In Genesis 33 he had a long dreaded encounter with his estranged twin brother Esau where he expected severe retribution due to his deceptive trickery years earlier. Jacob's lasting remembrance of Esau was their extremely difficult parting over 20 years earlier. After all, Esau had declared, "I will kill my brother" so Jacob fled his wrath. Scripture tells us that Jacob dealt with fear and distress over the matter, and certainly he lived with years of regret.  All the while Jacob was thinking of various ways to pacify his brother's anger God was working in the background invisible to Jacob's view. He had prospered Esau and softened his heart over the years. So often we try to work out our difficulties in the natural, while God wants us to trust Him for the supernatural. He works invisibly within the heart of man, whereas we like to work in the visible realm – we want to see immediate results. God calls us to pray, but instead we like to plan! When they finally met, Esau received Jacob favorably with one of the most touching reconciliation stories recorded in Scripture: "Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept" (Genesis 33:4). Jacob sought favor from Esau or perhaps he was trying to give back the "blessing" he had stolen by giving him gifts but Esau refused them. Our first daily text reveals Esau's response, "I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself." But Jacob insisted in our second daily text with one of the great faith perspectives of Scripture: "God has been gracious to me and I have all I need" (Genesis 33:11). Finally today let us consider a great verse from Romans: "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all--how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?" God "did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all." This alone should prompt our deepest eternal gratitude. If this was all God did for us it would be far more than enough and infinitely more than we deserve. But the apostle Paul goes on to declare, "How will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?" The clearly expected answer to this rhetorical question is, He will! He will fulfill His eternal purpose for our lives and that which brings Him glory. Peter puts it this way, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3). Let us live with the assurance today that God is working. If we believe that with all our hearts then we are trusting. Trusting God in our transition will bring about a triumphant testimony of God sovereignly working in our lives. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, we rely upon Your divine power to give us everything we need for life and godliness, through our knowledge of You, who called us by Your own glory and goodness. As we gain knowledge from Your Word and apply it to our lives, we will not waver when the transitions of life seek to knock us off balance. Keep us steadfast and trusting. Amen. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources Click on the link to open and play. (In some cases you may also need to click again to start the song.) Several years ago Jim Gambini, who was my pastor at the time, preached a message titled "Transition and Transformation". With his permission I have edited a selection from it which I find especially encouraging. Perhaps there are readers who will likewise be blessed! A great song of assurance: We sang a new song yesterday in our church service (new to us and much of the congregation anyway!) But actually it was written over 100 years ago! Following a prayer meeting last Wednesday night Jesse Dourte, a retired pastor who now attends our church, suggested it, pulling out an old worn hymnbook to show Brooksyne. Brooksyne was unfamiliar with the hymn so she set it to the more familiar tune of another song by the same hymn writer, Frances Ridley Havergal. Notice especially how it is filled with Holy Scripture! "Standing At the Portal" (Sung to tune of "Like A River Glorious") 1) Standing at the portal, of the opening year Words of comfort meet us, hushing ev'ry fear Spoken through the silence, by our Father's voice Tender, strong, and faithful, making us rejoice Refrain: Onward then and fear not, children of the day For His word shall never, never pass away 2) "I the Lord am with thee, Be thou not afraid; I will help and strengthen, Be thou not dismayed. Yea, I will uphold thee, with My own right hand; Thou art called and chosen, in my sight to stand." Repeat Refrain 3) For the year before us, O what rich supplies! For the poor and needy, living streams shall rise; For the sad and sinful, shall His grace abound; For the faint and feeble, perfect strength be found. Repeat Refrain 4) He will never fail us, He will not forsake. His eternal covenant, He will never break. Resting on His promise, what have we to fear? God is all-sufficient, for the coming year. Repeat Refrain I was unable to find an online version of this song but here's a nice online version of "Like A River Glorious" Video "He's Been Faithful To Me" Video Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir This has been one of Brooksyne's favorite songs for many years. "He's Always Been Faithful To Me" Video Sara Groves "More Than Enough" Video Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne |
 "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update Revised 10/21/09  Each weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. Would you please consider a financial offering to support us in this daily encouragement ministry? Donations are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by my chaplaincy endorsing ministry. Thanks! See here for details. (2009 YTD financial offerings through 12/31/09: $17,302.00. Note: 2009 offering total will be incomplete till final posting and verification from my chaplaincy account.)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. This newsletter is never sent unsolicited. It was sent to you because you either signed up to receive it OR a friend forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the rss feed. or as an email subscription update through feedburner. You can also subscribe to Daily Encouragement feed updates by email.Cancel: We respect and value your time and privacy. If these messages no longer meet your needs (providing encouragement) you can remove your address by merely use 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. It is merely the Friday message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. Please feel free to pass these messages on! "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!) Last updated with the story of Mildred Swanson, who joyfully discovers her "spiritual gift" is sending forwarded emails! (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.  Daily Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com. Any orders placed to Christian Book Distributers using this link or any specific product link to a recommended resource in a daily encouragement message will help our Daily Encouragement ministry through a small commission on the sale. Thank you for using these links when purchasing online through CBD!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 2010 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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