A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
 A daily, Bible-based message of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Click here to donate online.The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archive edition Thursday, December 6, 2012  Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us" (1 Samuel 7:12). "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Here I raise my Ebenezer; Here by Thy great help I've come; And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home. Come, Thou Fount, come, Thou King; Come, Thou precious Prince of Peace Hear Your bride, to You we sing, Come, Thou Fount of our blessing Yesterday afternoon we received word concerning a Christian brother who experienced a very difficult loss. His 5 year old grandson was killed in a traffic accident earlier in the afternoon. These are not uncommon tragedies but generally we read about it in the paper or it happens to someone else, not those close to us. We have been praying for our friend and his wife along with their son, daughter-in-law and their 3 year old granddaughter. In the midst of this most difficult, pain-filled trial may they experience their Ebenezer, the kind of help and peace that comes only from the Lord. (For a message regarding the background of the term Ebenezer see below.) Today's second text is from John 16:33, "These things.." is a verse I learned with the words set to music so it is permanently etched in my memory. I am so thankful for the words of our Lord Jesus in this passage! "These things I have spoken unto you." He is giving His final teaching to His disciples prior to His death on the cross. He knows that their future will include uncertainty and peril due to their decision to follow Him. Our Lord readily acknowledged and prepared His disciples for tribulation (or "trouble" listed in other Bible versions) in His matter of fact declaration, "In the world you will have tribulation." This may seem a strange question, but have you considered that the presence of tribulation in your life is evidence of Christ's truthfulness and faithfulness? Have you ever met a believer going through a difficult trial who in faith joyfully declares to others, "God is keeping His promise" in regard to the trial in progress? I heard a brother give a testimony to the veracity of Scripture regarding this promise as he was going through a great trial. It stunned those of us who listened on as we witnessed his victorious testimony in the very midst of trouble. Thankfully the stirring promise includes an underlying peace: "in Me ye might have peace." Christ's desire is that His followers have this peace, surely meaning in this case the sense of emotional and spiritual rest and much needed assurance that can only come through a fervent relationship with the Peacemaker Himself. The apostle Paul wrote, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:8). Gil's exposition of the Bible says this: "There is a peace by Christ, which he has made for his people by the blood of His cross; and there is a peace in Him, which is enjoyed through faith's looking to His blood for pardon, to His righteousness for justification, to His sacrifice for atonement and satisfaction; and by having communion with Him, and discoveries of His love, and by seeing safety and security in Him." Hear the assuring message of our Lord and apply it to your heart today. "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world!" I've added the exclamation point because I believe that's the tone of how Christ spoke these encouraging words. He said it with absolute confidence even before His agony in Gethsemane and His suffering and death on the cross at Calvary. He knew His Father had everything under control. And our Father still has everything under control. He always does! Let us experience His abiding peace today as we commit ourselves to His unfailing love. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Jesus, Prince of Peace, thank You for calming the raging storm in my soul when You took up residency within my heart, as You removed my sins and replaced them with Your righteousness. This eternal exchange has brought me countless joy, abiding peace, and a home in heaven. It is once and for all established in the heavens and serves as an anchor to provide unwavering hope even while the torrential waves of world tragedies, wars, fears, strife, and personal difficulties attempt to shatter my peaceful state of mind. We raise to You our Ebenezer whereby our help has come. You have overcome the world and You will also help me to overcome my troubles. Amen.For a message regarding the background of the term "Ebenezer" see this daily encouragement titled "Raising My Ebenezer". Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing" Video Chris Rice "Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing" Sovereign Grace Music Here's a beautiful congregational version with a powerful Scripture reading introduction (open this page and click on the audio player at the top) "Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing" Video Gateway Worship This is the version that has the new line about peace as quoted in our message today. "Raising Ebenezer" An interesting article about the merit of maintaining the original words in hymns rather than seeking to modernize them along with suggestions such as adding a new verse rather than changing the original verses. 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 10/12)  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 12/5/12: $16,256.00. 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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