A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
 A daily, Bible-based message of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Click here to support our ministry.The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archive edition Monday, December 31, 2012  Vista view from the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia.  Listen to this message on your audio player."Thou Changest Not" "But You remain the same, and Your years will never end" (Psalm 102:27). "I the LORD do not change" (Malachi 3:6). "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). "Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not: as Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be."  Change is everywhere. One of the most dramatic examples of change is technology. My first computer was a used one I bought in the early nineties, an xt as I recall. The computer on which I am writing this message is many times faster than those early computers and yet it costs me far less. That's a good change!Bob Deffinbaugh writes, "Some changes are welcome; some are not. A great comfort for the Christian living in these turbulent, troubled times is the confidence we have that God does not change. Theologians refer to this attribute of God as the "immutability of God." God does not change. This truth is referred to a number of times in the Scriptures and even in the hymns we sing in church." Another year is coming to an end and another is about to begin. 2013 will arrive at midnight and of course we are not sure what to expect. What evil plots do the terrorists have planned? What will happen in the Middle East? How will the economy affect our personal life? What will the political changes bring? Will we fall off the fiscal cliff or how about the moral cliff? * What changes will come in my life and family? Of greatest importance, will this be the year the events described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 take place? The end of a year is a great time to consider life's inevitable transitions and the Scripture truths in the daily texts provide great assurance for these transitions. It's said that change is certain and from our perspective this is true. There will be change in our world and in your life in 2013. That's for sure. The Psalmist is speaking of God in the first daily text when he writes, "But you remain the same." This speaks of the theological attribute known as the immutability of God, which is taught throughout the Bible. The immutability of God means that God is unchanging. More specifically, "God is unchanging in His character, will, and covenant promises." C.H. Spurgeon writes, "Consider what thou owest to His immutability. Though thou hast changed a thousand times, He has not changed once; though thou hast shifted thy intentions, and thy will, yet He has not once swerved from His eternal purpose, but still has held thee fast." God declares in Malachi 3:6, "I the LORD do not change." Hebrews 13:8 proclaims that, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Many of us have found rich assurance in these lines from the ageless hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness", "Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not. As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be." The latter part of the first daily text states, "And Your years will never end." This speaks of the attribute known as the eternality of God. From eternity past, to every changing moment we call "now", and throughout eternity future He is. Very soon this year will end and one day our physical existence on earth will end, but His years will never end. And the remarkable blessing is that He has made provision for us to live with Him for all eternity and thus our years will never end! There are many changes on earth we may dread, but the certainty of a future in heaven with the King of kings is a change that fills us with glorious hope as we enter the new year of 2013. As we go through life's transitions let us place our growing faith and steadfast hope in God's ever-faithful care! In doing so His grace will sustain us and His Word will guide us through another year. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, we are so very thankful for all the blessings we enjoyed over the past year of 2012. There were many opportunities for rejoicing and plenty of opportunities for trusting. Your mercies are renewed daily and Your provision is experienced in our lives each moment of every day. We seek You for guidance in the new year and growth in our daily Christian walk. Though we cannot know the future we can have assurance of Your faithfulness because You are a God that does not change. Every promise You've made is true as we have seen in the Biblical records. This gives us reason to trust You for the dawning of a new year where we will once again experience Your guiding presence in our daily lives. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Amen.* Those living here in America and following the news are aware of a lot of discussion about the "fiscal cliff", which has to do with tax increases and spending cuts. I have been considering the moral cliff, the consequences of open rebellion as a people against God seen in the rampant increase in what the Bible calls "the deeds of the flesh". Galatians 5:19-21 states, "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Jesus Never Fails" Video Truth "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" Video Selah "Every Promise" Video Keith and Kristyn Getty "A Christmas Compilation" Video From the Homecoming Series - Over two hours of compiled music. "The Immutability of God" article by A.W. Pink "The Immutability of God" article by Bob Deffinbaugh Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne. |
 Stephen and Brooksyne Weber (Click on photo to enlarge) "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 12/31/12)  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 an offering to 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. Click here to donate online. 2012 financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net as of 12/30/12: $18,261.00. 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 to our email list. These messages are never sent by us unsolicited. It was sent to you because you either signed up to receive it OR it was forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or as an email subscription through Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.)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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