Daily Encouragement Net - A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
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 The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive edition Thursday, January 14, 2010  Yesterday afternoon we had a stunning sunset view from our home. However it was many times more beautiful than this photo conveys!  Listen to this message on your audio player. "Hopeless" "When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved" (Acts 27:20). Like scores of churches all over the world, last night we spent time in intercessory prayer for Haiti and the scores of workers who are lending aid to this devastated country. A number of our people have personal connections. The news reports are understandably horrific with large loss of life, suffering, destruction, and homelessness. But it's also at times like this that we witness the best in humanity with people coming together from all over the globe to bring aid and relief to those in utter despair. When we lived in New England we periodically attended minister's fellowship meetings on Martha's Vineyard. With no land accessibility apart from the ferry ride, it is a beautiful island off the coast of Massachusetts that Brooksyne and I enjoy visiting. I recall once riding a freight ferry on the return trip to Cape Cod when the deep, ferocious waves persistently battered against the side of the ferry, about 15-20 feet above the water. Spectators were growing increasingly nervous as the fury of the waves did not die down, but rather they increased. Several pastor friends joined me at the front of the boat and as the waves continued to rage we began to discuss some of the fear and turmoil Paul and his shipmates likely experienced before their ship crashed. Looking back now, we might have been able to turn the bow of that ferry into a sanctuary and preached a salvation message resulting in a number of conversions (the foxhole kind). Well, we didn't do that, but needless to say, we were quite happy to finally reach land safely on that particular stormy afternoon. The daily Scripture text is the account of a horrific storm. Today let us ponder the phrase, "We gave up all hope of being saved." What utter despair the 276 men on board must have felt as experienced sailors on the boat accessed the severity of their situation. Even the chronicler Luke, who wrote this narrative in Acts, includes himself among the hopeless. But Paul, who had earlier warned them not to take the journey, had a powerful word of hope and encouragement for the crew: "But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed" (27:22). As the authorities on board took their orders from their prisoner, Paul, it happened exactly as he prophecied. We consider the present suffering in Haiti, which in many ways makes our present suffering, in any form, pale in comparison. Still some of you reading this today find yourselves in the midst of a severe storm, figuratively speaking. It may be a health crisis, a family meltdown or a financial catastrophe. Pertaining to your situation you may even sense in despair, "it's hopeless." That's a lie! There is always hope, as we serve the God of hope. Brooksyne and I pray for you as we send this message out, as we do for each message. We urge each reader to receive this Biblical benediction today, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13). Your situation may seem hopeless and perhaps it is, from our viewpoint. But the God of Hope does not work in the natural, rather the supernatural. Jesus said "Humanly speaking, it is impossible, but not with God. Everything is possible with God." (Mk. 10:27 NLT). God's supernatural work is not limited to human resources, earth's time clock, nor man's understanding. Aren't you glad for that! Today let us pray and hope for the impossible because it is the impossible realm that we can be certain God is at work. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily Prayer: Heavenly Father, when those aboard the ship in Acts 27 were looking at the gloomy forecast that appeared for many days their hopes diminished day by day. So often that's what leads us to defeat; we fear the raging storm and the damage it will do, instead of looking for the Peacespeaker who controls the wind and waves. When we consider the scores of relief workers in Haiti we're reminded that it is their duty to go beyond the dangerous ransacked rubble to search for life. They must expect the impossible in order to save lives where it would seem there could be no one alive. We trust You for the miraculous stories that will eventually be reported, reminding us that You are a God of the impossible, bringing hope in the midst of devastation, restoration in the midst of loss. We entrust every one of these workers to Your care and pray for their safety as well as those who are presently entrapped by the rubble. We pray that there will be Christian believers who will bring the life-saving message of Jesus Christ to the hearts of surviving Haitians so that their hope is not based on what they see, but in the hope we have through the Holy Spirit as we trust in You. 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.) "My Hope Is In The Lord" Video I stand in awe within the presence of the Lord. With whom the wisdom of the ages lie. Of whom the raging of the seas subsides. The living sacrifice, the only source of life. My hope is in the Lord From this time on and evermore. Oh my hope is in the Lord forevermore. His tender mercies come with every rising sun. To meet the sinner in his brokenness. To offer healing and forgiveness. And those who trust in Him will find their hearts at rest. "The Solid Rock" Video "I Know The Peace Speaker" Video |
 "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 financial offerings $18,177.00. This is the final accounting. We want to thank all who have supported this aspect of our ministry during this last year. We had gifts from seventy separate sources. If you gave a gift you will (or in some cases already have) receive your "official" receipt from our chaplaincy department in Springfield Missouri. 2010 YTD financial offerings as of 1/13/10 $125.00 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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