"Forever God"

RSS Podcast feed A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Home · About Us · Archives · Donate · Podcast · Free email subscription <Previous Message · Easy read/print edition Wednesday, January 9, 2008 Great Smoky Mountains Click on photo to enlarge Listen to this message on your audio player. "Forever God" "Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God" (Psalm 90:2). Over the last several days we have visited family and friends in North Carolina and are now in Gatlinburg, Tennessee right on the border of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The last time I visited this park I was about 12 years old so I am having a great time of reminiscing as we visit some of the same sites. This is the very first visit for Brooksyne and Ester and we are awestruck by the immense beauty of the massive mountain ranges. We are staying in a large resort that offered us an incentive to listen to their hour long (more like two hours) sales pitch with the express purpose that we would buy into their time share. The saleswoman had many years of experience and was quite persuasive throughout her presentation. Following our tour of the attractive facilities she took us out on the balcony. She pointed toward the breath-taking view of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as she enthusiastically exclaimed, "Just look at this view. It will be here for your children and grandchildren forever." (She was correctly pointing out that the undisturbed beauty of the preserved national park will remain that way unlike the non-preserved hills all around Gatlinburg that are dotted with all kinds of development.) However when she confidently used the word "forever" I considered the true nature and definition of "forever" which is a whole lot longer than our kids and grandkids will be around on this tired earth! My thinking immediately took me to a more important locale than an attractive resort and even the grandeur of a beautiful mountain region created by God. A song sung in many churches comes to mind that declares in the chorus, "My God He was, my God He is, my God He's always gonna be." As we, through faith, ride out the tumultuous waves of life's ups and downs we need to regularly recall this absolute truth, "From everlasting to everlasting You are God." This truth is taught abundantly in the Scriptures. It expresses one of God's attributes or characteristics known as His "eternality". Theologically the eternality of God refers to His timeless nature. That God had no beginning, and will have no end. This is one of the foundational beliefs of Christianity. Our God surpasses time as we define it here on earth. The eternal, almighty God has revealed Himself to us and sent His only begotten Son to pay the price for our redemption as fallen sinners. He alone is from everlasting to everlasting. Let's praise Him today and rest in His steadfast care, no matter the turbulence of life we face on this day or in future days! He is forever God! My Savior loves, my Savior lives My Savior's always there for me My God He was, my God He is My God He's always gonna be Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily Prayer: Almighty God, all the universe declares Your glory who creates, sustains, and watches over Your creation. Though the earth will someday be destroyed You created us with a soul that will exist eternally. While the foundations are being destroyed here on earth we, the redeemed, find great comfort and immense hope in Your eternal foundation. It is from eternity past and will exist in eternity future, with no beginning and no end! Only a loving God like You would choose to include us in Your vast plan and find delight in us, in all our humanness. You are worthy to receive glory, honor, and praise in this life and for all eternity. Amen. Personal Note: Some curious readers are wondering if we chose to buy into the time share. We did not. We will return to PA tomorrow. We have been unable to get these messages out on schedule due to lack of internet in our room. Today's Suggested Music "Everlasting God" (Audio) Info about multi-media files and photos used on daily encouragement. Send an email message to Stephen and Brooksyne

Administration Information Stephen, Brooksyne and Ester Weber "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update Revised 11/28/07 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 encouragement ministry? Thanks! See here for details. (2008 YTD financial offerings 1/4/2008 $10.00) Join: To receive these free "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. You can also subscribe to the rss feed. Cancel: To remove your address from this mailing list merely use the link automatically placed by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each message. Weekly Version: The weekly version is designed for those who do 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. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.) Please feel free to pass this message on! Our other blogs: "A Daily Prayer" - The daily prayer from each daily encouragement message. "A Little Foolishness" - A collection of humorous and satirical stories drawn mostly from our years of ministry, as well as my sometimes fertile imagination. "Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the church. 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. Used by permission; and the King James Version. © Copyright 2008 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" http://www.dailyencouragement.net/

"The Great Contest"

RSS Podcast feed A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Home · About Us · Archives · Donate · Podcast · Free email subscription <Previous Message · Easy read/print edition Friday, January 4, 2008 Purple finch feeding outside our office window. Listen to this message on your audio player. "The Great Contest" "Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering" (Hebrews 10:32). For those of us living here in America we can sure get a lot of football at this time of year with college bowl games and the professional postseason. I know this is a subject that will not "connect" with everyone so I'll keep the illustrative portion of the encouragement brief! Consider the goal line stand. It's 1st and goal with the ball on the 1 yard line. You are a lineman and your job is to keep the opposing team from moving the ball that one yard, although they have four opportunities to do so. You must stand your ground! The Greek word translated "contest" in the daily text is "athlasis", which surprise… is a root of the English word athlete. We that follow Christ are all involved in what the Apostle Paul calls "The Race" (2 Timothy 4:7). Some approach this contest in a passive sense, as if we are just standing on the sidelines as spectators. Others rightly recognize that we are in the midst of this great spiritual battle and God's call is that we actively stand our ground. The apostle Paul alluded to this stand when he stated that "when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand" (Ephesians 6:13). The early believers to whom the Book of Hebrews addressed were enduring persecution for their stand. Yet they stood their ground even in the face of tremendous suffering. This wasn't "suffering" as we may experience when we see a particularly hard hit in a football game, and say, "OUCH." No, their suffering was a reality. Today so many of our brothers and sisters in Christ are standing up against tremendous opposition and facing persecution in this great contest. Using football as an illustration may actually have a sense of trivializing the very real contest in which they battle. As we prepare this message from the comfort of our little home office looking out across peaceful farm fields we feel so far, far removed from their plight. Today may God help each of us to remember them as they stand up in the midst of the great contest. And may the Lord empower each of us with grace to stand in regard to the issues we will deal with today and in this new year. Prepare us, should we be called to face persecution, as so many of our brethren already are. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily Prayer: Jesus, You warned Your listeners as You sat on the Mount of Olives that at the end of the age nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom, famines and earthquakes will be commonplace. Believers will be handed over to be persecuted and many will turn away from the faith as wickedness increases. In the midst of such dark desolation we cling to the bright promise, full of hope and motivation for those who walk steadfastly with You; he who stands firm to the end will be saved. We will conquer the enemy, for we do not fight the battle in our own strength, but in Your strength, Lord Jesus. Amen. Brooksyne's Note: Thank you for your generous prayers. I am completely recovered from the 24 hour virus I had Wednesday and I give thanks to God for His healing touch! Stephen's note: Today we will be travelling to North Carolina to visit my sister and family as well as some friends and spend several days in the Smoky Mountains near Gatlinburg, Tennessee. We hope to continue the encouragement series but may not always have internet access. Today's Suggested Music "Everlasting God" (Audio) "Let My Words Be Few" (Audio) "Be Still And Know" (Audio) Info about multi-media files and photos used on daily encouragement. Send an email message to Stephen and Brooksyne

Administration Information Stephen, Brooksyne and Ester Weber "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update Revised 11/28/07 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 encouragement ministry? Thanks! See here for details. (2008 YTD financial offerings 1/4/2008 $10.00) Join: To receive these free "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. You can also subscribe to the rss feed. Cancel: To remove your address from this mailing list merely use the link automatically placed by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each message. Weekly Version: The weekly version is designed for those who do 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. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.) Please feel free to pass this message on! Our other blogs: "A Daily Prayer" - The daily prayer from each daily encouragement message. "A Little Foolishness" - A collection of humorous and satirical stories drawn mostly from our years of ministry, as well as my sometimes fertile imagination. "Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the church. 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. Used by permission; and the King James Version. © Copyright 2008 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" http://www.dailyencouragement.net/

"Priorities Reflect Purpose"

RSS Podcast feed A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Home · About Us · Archives · Donate · Podcast · Free email subscription <Previous Message · Easy read/print edition Thursday, January 3, 2008 Snow scene in rural Maine Our friend Doris High took this photo. Here in Lancaster County today it is bitterly cold but with a crystal blue sky and still no snow! Listen to this message on your audio player. "Priorities Reflect Purpose" "You, however, know all about … my purpose" (from 2 Timothy 3:10). Bob is a long-time friend of ours who lives in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. He and his wife, Linda, faithfully minister in several nursing homes where they actively share their faith. Bob is a real overcomer as he has, for many years, dealt with an affliction called tinnitus. Tinnitus causes persistent ringing in the ears often resulting in severe and lengthy headaches. In the midst of this onging affliction, Bob maintains a vibrant faith and enthusiastic outlook in life. Recently he shared a story with me concerning his work as a sales manager years ago in the corporate world. He was speaking to a vice president in a company he worked for and rather boldly shared his life's priorities: "God first, my family second and, then work." The vice president then told Bob that his priorities were the very same but in reverse order; "work first, my family second, then God." I'm confident that the majority of readers identify with Bob's outlook in life, but all of us recognize those, like Bob's boss, who have reverse priorities! And, if I were asking for feedback some of you would respond, "I've had a boss just like Bob's" and others would indicate, "That's a perfect description of my supervisor right now." Our priorities reflect our purpose. One of the greatest innate needs common to all people is a purpose for our existence. Many aimlessly drift through their lives with little sense of direction or purpose. As young believers, Brooksyne and I learned to share our faith using a booklet called "The Four Spiritual Laws" which begins with the phrase, "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life." Of course the noun "plan" can equally be understood as "purpose" and truly God has a purpose for each one of us. 2 Timothy is considered the last letter that Paul wrote. The first nine verses in chapter three list over twenty three godless characteristics evident in a period that Paul describes as "terrible times in these last days." In fact it could easily be a description of the world in which we live today. In today's verse he lists a number of positive personal characteristics that Timothy had observed in his life. Paul demonstrated these characteristics in his life and was recognized by them. Among these characteristics was "my purpose." The word means a plan or a resolve, denoting that a decision has been made. Another reference states this purpose to be, "the guiding motive of my life and work." God has a purpose for each of us. There are aspects of this purpose common to all who follow Christ. Although we may not all choose to word it the same way, it would be very similar to my "personal mission statement." This could also be called my "personal purpose statement." It reads, "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." But I believe God has also specifically gifted each of us for the unique purpose He has for our life. This purpose varies depending on the gifts and callings God has granted us. In Acts 12:36 we read, "When David had served God's purpose in his own generation." My goal is to serve God's purpose for my life in my generation. Let me ask each reader to consider several questions today, early in this new year of 2008. • Do I know my main purpose in life? • Do the people who know me clearly observe me living by my purpose? • Do my priorities in life reflect this purpose? Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily Prayer – Your purpose in my life, Lord, is seen in a multitude of ways; whether it is in my vocational training; in the way I raise my children; in the relationships I engender or in the way I use my gifts to touch other lives. But Your purpose in my life is most visible in my response to heartache, betrayal, disappointment, suffering, and loss. Your purpose can be seen when I choose not to repay evil for evil, but rather good for evil. Lord, as I keep Your purpose for my life always before me I will remember that much good spiritual fruit can be developed in me in the ups and downs I encounter today. May I be faithful in making choices today that reflect Your purpose in my life. It is by Your grace I pray these things and it is in the name that is above all names, Jesus. The full text of the daily verse is: "You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance" (2 Timothy 3:10). I intentionally highlighted just the characteristic "my purpose" for today's message. Brooksyne's note: Thank you, readers, for your prayers and well wishes yesterday. I am now in recovery mode for which I am very grateful. I have had the good fortune of being a very healthy individual, so when a virus wipes me out with the usual aches & other undesirable symptoms, it comes as quite a surprise and makes me appreciate good health in a whole new way. I am working through the weakness that follows such an illness and do appreciate your continued prayer. Stephen's note: Tomorrow we will be leaving early in the morning to visit my sister and family as well as some friends in North Carolina and spend several days in the Smoky mountains. We hope to continue the encouragement series but may not always have internet access. Institute of Meaningless Knowledge Stephen's note: One of my favorite shows is "Modern Marvels" on the history channel. I've always liked to know how stuff works. Yesterday we had three tons of anthracite coal delivered, hopefully enough to last the rest of the winter and then some. Since only a fraction of readers heat with a coal stove and since a few of you may have similar interests or enjoy such things here are some photos. Just ignore them if you're not interested! The delivery truck backs up to our coal bin beside our small barn and uses a chute and conveyor system to deliver the coal to the coal bin. The coal comes out of the dump truck and down the chute. From the chute up the conveyor into the coal bin! Early each morning I fill two large buckets of coal and carry them in and pour the coal into the hopper behind the coal stove and empty the ash bin. The coal stove heats our entire home with a small supplement from electric heat needed if it's really cold, like this morning. It was 17 degrees at 5:30 when we got up! Even our pets enjoy the coal stove! Today's Suggested Music "This Is My Desire" (Audio) "Jesus Be the Center" (Audio) "Holy, Holy, Holy" (Audio) Info about multi-media files and photos used on daily encouragement. Send an email message to Stephen and Brooksyne

Administration Information Stephen, Brooksyne and Ester Weber "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update Revised 11/28/07 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 encouragement ministry? Thanks! See here for details. (2008 YTD financial offerings 1/2/2008 $10.00) Join: To receive these free "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. You can also subscribe to the rss feed. Cancel: To remove your address from this mailing list merely use the link automatically placed by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each message. Weekly Version: The weekly version is designed for those who do 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. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.) Please feel free to pass this message on! Our other blogs: "A Daily Prayer" - The daily prayer from each daily encouragement message. "A Little Foolishness" - A collection of humorous and satirical stories drawn mostly from our years of ministry, as well as my sometimes fertile imagination. "Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the church. 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. Used by permission; and the King James Version. © Copyright 2008 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" http://www.dailyencouragement.net/

"God's Eternal Purpose"

RSS Podcast feed A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Home · About Us · Archives · Donate · Podcast · Free email subscription <Previous Message · Easy read/print edition Wednesday, January 2, 2008 Snow scene in rural Wisconsin My cousin Georgia McKelvey sent us this photo she took outside of her home near Holmen Wisconsin. We still haven't had a significant snow storm in our area but it's very cold today with a strong wind coming across from the west. Listen to this message on your audio player. "God's Eternal Purpose" "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14). "I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please" (Isaiah 46:10). "The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O LORD, endures forever" (Psalm 138:8). "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28). The briefness of life can be illustrated using an aerosol spray. Press the applicator button, watch the mist go into the air and quickly evaporate. Our lives are like that in light of eternity. As we shared yesterday, the longer we live, the more we are aware of this perspective. We live our life as a mere blip on the radar screen of eternity. Our journey through this life is but a transition to the future Kingdom God has prepared for us. I am convinced that very early in eternity we will recognize just how brief this earthly part of our journey really is. But for now it's all we know and thus seems wholly significant. As we begin another year we do well to focus on God's eternal purpose. Let us consider the Scriptures above. Let us examine these words of our eternal God. Note the phrase from our second daily Scripture text, "My purpose will stand." It's a source of great peace and assurance in both the microcosm and in the macrocosm. God is speaking here and I believe Him. I surely don't always understand His purpose or how it all fits together. Sometimes it’s a daunting mystery. But from the beginning, the first command to Adam, God calls us to seek, trust and obey Him. The Psalmist proclaims his faith in this God of purpose: "The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O LORD, endures forever." Today, once again and continually, we need to seek, trust and obey God who will most assuredly fulfill His purpose for our life. The final daily verse expresses a wonderful truth that has brought assurance to scores of believers all through the church age. His promise is to work all things out for them that love Him. All things work out according to His purpose and they work out in His time. That's right fellow follower of Christ, His purpose for you will work out. His nature has not changed. These promises are just as valid this day as when they were written. And they are valid for you whatever you are facing today and in 2008. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Lord, Your Word declares that You reward those who diligently seek You. Help me to keep an eternal and spiritual perspective and to realize the brief duration of my life on this earth in light of eternity. I acknowledge Your purpose in my life. Today help me to seek, trust and obey You in all things. Brooksyne is ill today with the flu and is unable to help with today's message. So if you see more mistakes than usual ... Today's Suggested Music Today's music is from the website of Kristian Walker, who along with his wife Shannon, have a musical ministry in our area. They have a Godly heritage with 27 ministers throughout their respective family trees! "God Is In Control" (Audio) A great song in relationship to today's message. "Hear Us From Heaven" (Audio) "Listen To Our Hearts" (Audio) "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" (Audio) Info about multi-media files and photos used on daily encouragement. Send an email message to Stephen and Brooksyne

Administration Information Stephen, Brooksyne and Ester Weber "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update Revised 11/28/07 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 encouragement ministry? Thanks! See here for details. (2008 YTD financial offerings 1/2/2008 $10.00) Join: To receive these free "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. You can also subscribe to the rss feed. Cancel: To remove your address from this mailing list merely use the link automatically placed by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each message. Weekly Version: The weekly version is designed for those who do 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. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.) Please feel free to pass this message on! Our other blogs: "A Daily Prayer" - The daily prayer from each daily encouragement message. "A Little Foolishness" - A collection of humorous and satirical stories drawn mostly from our years of ministry, as well as my sometimes fertile imagination. "Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the church. 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. Used by permission; and the King James Version. © Copyright 2008 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" http://www.dailyencouragement.net/

"Crowned With Goodness"

RSS Podcast feed A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Home · About Us · Archives · Donate · Podcast · Free email subscription <Previous Message · Easy read/print edition Tuesday, January 1, 2008 New Year's Day Message Martin farmpond in Lancaster County Our friend Nancy Martin sent us this photo she took of their farm pond after a beautiful snowfall. Click here to see a larger desktop-sized photo. Listen to this message on your audio player. "Crowned With Goodness, Dripping With Abundance" "You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance. They drop on the pastures of the wilderness, and the little hills rejoice on every side" (Psalm 65:11,12). Today is the dawning of a New Year. Last night Brooksyne asked me; "Do you know what year our 50th anniversary will be?" She had been thinking about it earlier in the day. After a bit of mental math calculation, and after she reminded me of the year that we repeated our vows, I responded "the year 2026." "Do you realize how funny that sounds?" she quipped as we both knowingly shook our heads. Then I told her, "not nearly as funny as 2008 sounded 30 years ago!" The years pass with an ever increasing pace, which admittedly is a characteristic of aging. Even though astronomically each year is exactly the same length, based upon our perception, time goes quicker each year and then the birthday rolls around all too quickly. We dealt with the extra candle on our birthday cake in 2007 and here we are about to do it all over again in 2008! As sure as we've bought new calendars acknowledging another year has passed we will all too soon turn the January calendar page and think to ourselves; "Wow, where did this past month go?" The days, weeks, months and years quickly come and just as quickly speed by. What a joy to seek an eternal and spiritual perspective as we begin a new year. David wrote today's Psalm portion some 3,000 years ago; "You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance." Today I use this verse both in retrospect and in prospect. Although I have experienced both physical and material blessings I feel the verse is primarily applicable in a spiritual sense. I am aware that there are some reading this who did not find 2007 to be a "good year" in the way we typically mean it. You lost a loved one or endured a great trial that left you lingering in intense pain. Yesterday Brooksyne wrote in her prayer: "You have ordained the trials, the victories, the losses, the gains and all the paths laid for us even before we were conceived in our mother's womb." We do not know what this New Year will bring, either on the personal or international level. I read yesterday that an estimated 16,000 Christians are martyred annually. The writer, an Indian evangelist, was commenting how unprepared Christians are in America and elsewhere in the West for persecution. Would today's Scripture verse be true under these circumstances? The answer is a resounding "Yes", from an eternal and spiritual perspective. The apostle Paul, who knew little of this world's richness (particularly as we reckon it), who suffered much for his faith and who died a martyr's death wrote, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). Be encouraged today and have a blessed New Year! Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, You have crowned our year with Your goodness that flourishes within our hearts, in our relationships, in our provisions, and it is evident throughout the universe. In a world that is filled with evil intent and short-sided vision we cling to Your goodness and seek the eternal perspective in all that we experience in this new year of 2008. Spiritual blessings come from You in the midst of Satan's attacks and because of this essential truth we know that if You are for us, who can be against us! There is no formidable foe that cannot be conquered as the power of Your Holy Spirit enables us to remain faithful and ever growing in our devotion to You. Remind us that as we share in Your sufferings we also share in Your glory. In all areas of trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, and danger we are more than conquerors through You who loves us abundantly. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, nor anything else in all of Your creation will be able to separate us from Your love that has been revealed to us through Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. We rejoice with our family of believers and with all of Your creation in the paths of abundance You lay out before us and walk hand in hand with us. Amen. This morning I was blessed by a call from my Uncle Don, my Dad's younger and only living brother. He and my Aunt Mary live in Missouri where we visited them in August. Although my dad passed away 10 years ago it's great to still stay in contact. He had a great love for his younger brother, Don, which makes him all the more special to me as well. This morning we also got a call from Marvin, a young man from Guatemala, whom we hosted about 18 years ago when he was about 5. He came to the states for surgery in Erie, PA in 1989 for a severe throat condition that restricted his ability to breathe. We were a host family during his two visits to America and we also visited him and his family in Guatemala City in 1991. He is shown here in his Sunday best with two young sisters in our church who had befriended him. Several months ago we also met with Shawna and Sharon, who of course are now grown and have children of their own. Here's a current photo of them. This last fall Marvin found us on the internet and we are now in contact although we do have a language barrier. When he calls he tries very hard to communicate in his limited English. He is now married and has a young son and works for the forestry department in Guatemala. Marvin testifies to a faithful walk with the Lord and desire to lead his family as a Christian husband and father. Today's Suggested Music "Another Year Is Dawning" (Lyrics) "My Jesus I Love Thee" (Audio) "Blessed Assurance" (Audio) "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" (Audio) Marvin sent us some instrumental music from Guatemala and we use it as a background on today's podcast. Info about multi-media files and photos used on daily encouragement. Send an email message to Stephen and Brooksyne

Administration Information Stephen, Brooksyne and Ester Weber "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update Revised 11/28/07 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 encouragement ministry? Thanks! See here for details. Join: To receive these free "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. You can also subscribe to the rss feed. Cancel: To remove your address from this mailing list merely use the link automatically placed by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each message. Weekly Version: The weekly version is designed for those who do 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. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.) Please feel free to pass this message on! * Our other blogs: "A Daily Prayer" - The daily prayer from each daily encouragement message. "A Little Foolishness" - A collection of humorous and satirical stories drawn mostly from our years of ministry, as well as my sometimes fertile imagination. "Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the church. 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. Used by permission; and the King James Version. © Copyright 2008 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" http://www.dailyencouragement.net/