A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
 A daily, Bible-based message of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archive edition Wednesday, August 1, 2012  An Amish farm here in Lancaster County. We especially like the white picket fence and lots of colorful flowers. Doris High shares this on her photo blog.  Listen to this message on your audio player."Nearing Life's Finish Line" "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand" (Job 19:25). "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7)  Yesterday a friend sent me an autographed copy of "The Courage To Run" by Jim Ryun. It's subtitle is "Inspiration for running the race of your life". Jim Ryun broke the world record for the mile and was an Olympic medalist when I was a young man and serious about running. The Olympics are now in the news and many events have a finish line. Today let us consider a finish line we all have in common; life's finish line. One of the benefits personally in preparing these daily messages is that, due to the personal way we write, they also serve as a journal. Twelve years ago today I was in Independence, Missouri with my widowed mom. At that time we were moving her out of the home where I had spent my high school years, where she and Dad had lived in for nearly thirty years.  We were there that day to finish that part of her life. We had an auction to dispose of most of hers and Dad's earthly possessions. (My dad had died two years earlier.) Her phone practically rang off the hook with calls from friends she'd made for the nearly 60 years she'd lived in the Kansas City area. Some didn't want her to leave, others knew it was best for her. We walked through the house and shared long held memories. The next day we went down to tiny Harwood, Missouri to see her childhood home and the cemetery where my dad's ashes are buried as well as her parents. At that time Mom was near her finish line. She lived another five years with us before she was called home to be with the Lord and crossed the final finish line. Where are you in regard to life's finish line? Truth be told none us really know. I realize I'm well beyond the halfway point in a normal life span but the finish line is not always crossed due to old age. Job epitomizes the life of suffering. In the midst of it he proclaims one of the greatest statements of faith in the entire Bible. "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand". Today I am especially moved by the phrase, "in the end". Life has its setbacks, hurts and disappointments. We've all had some. And some of you are in the very midst of them today. The finish line is ahead. Hold onto faith in the ever-living Redeemer. In the end you will stand with Him at the finish line! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, there are many goals, deadlines, and expectations we meet as we tarry here below. But there's one goal yet unmet that will carry us to the very end of our lives here, and that's to cross over the finish line that transports us from our temporal dwelling to our place of eternal rest. Rest from all that troubles us, a place where we will no longer taste of death, sickness, evil or sorrow. But until then we rejoice in knowing that Christ our Redeemer lives. He walks with us through every trial, every heartache, and every temptation that our enemy, the devil, hurls at us. We are victors through Christ Jesus our Lord in whose name we pray. Amen. Still available! Yesterday we saw these kittens that we first photographed several weeks ago peeking out a barn loft. They were very curious about some dog supplies we dropped off with our two dogs who are going to the farm for a few days. Though our cat is 11 years old she still gets excited, just like the kittens, about anything new I put in her living area. (BTW the kitties are still available.) Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resource "The Race Is On" Video A very early Michael W. Smith song (1983) "It Will Be Worth It All" Video (Musicians not identified) "Find Us Faithful" Video Steve Green Two books come to mind that we would recommend in regard to today's topic: "Nearing Home" by Billy Graham "Though None Go With Me" by Jerry Jenkins A novel which chronicles the life of its main character from childhood to old age. It packs an extremely powerful finish and has a powerful life lesson. It has been made into a Hallmark movie, although in our view the book has a stronger witness for Christ. See here for more photos of an Amish farm taken by Doris High. Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne. |
 Stephen and Brooksyne Weber Our 36th anniversary photo (Click on photo to enlarge) "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 4/12)  Are our daily encouragement messages a blessing to you? Each weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. We ask you to consider supporting Daily Encouragement Net so that we can continue to prepare and provide this daily resource which is accessed by believers and seekers all over the world. Daily Encouragement Net relies solely on the generosity and financial support of its readers and podcast listeners. See here for more information on supporting this ministry. Gifts are tax deductible. 2012 financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net as of 7/31/12: $9,571.00. We express thanks to all who support our ministry!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. These messages are never sent by us 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 through feedburner.Cancel: We respect and value your time and privacy. If you no longer desire to receive these messages you can remove your address from the list by merely using 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 or who may desire less frequent mailings. It is Friday's message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. Daily Encouragement on Facebook and Twitter:  The daily message and prayer on Facebook. The daily message and prayer on Twitter.Reader Survey: Please take a few minutes to assist us in improving our ministry effectiveness by filling out this online reader survey. To take the survey click here. Please feel free to pass these messages on! Our other blogs: "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!) (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. 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 2012 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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