"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances" (Philippians 4:11).

It's amazing how advertising slogans can have a sticking impact. I was out on a country walk and considering my blessings when the slogan came to my mind "It's better here." I couldn't recall what it advertised and later told Brooksyne that I thought it was for a vacation place in the Caribbean. (As it turns out I was very wrong!)

From the beginning Satan has tormented the human race with the lie that what God has provided is never enough. At the very heart of Satan's first lie and temptation to Adam and Eve was that the outstanding beauty and provision in the Garden was not enough. 

They fell for it and this fallen race has been doing so ever since.  Today a multitude of false religious systems and perversions of Biblical Christianity assert that what Christ did on the Cross is not enough, yet the Holy Scripture says, "He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him" (Hebrews 7:25).

Today we have an abundant allure of things promising to fulfill; a special place that promises to be better, a new item that will thrill, and for many someone else to be that special person.

All believers do well to take to heart the Apostle Paul's confident assurance expressed in the daily verse. "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."  He wrote this from prison and yet he exudes a deep abiding peace and assurance so lacking in our world today, even among many professed believers.  Today I want what Paul had.  What about you?  Through Christ we have it!

"Enough for me that Jesus saves, this ends my fear and doubt."  (Lidie H. Edmunds)


Be encouraged today,

Stephen C. Weber

Here's a song that expresses my heart as I ponder today's message.* I first heard this song in a church up in Connecticut last Spring and it has really blessed me.

Here's an interesting article about advertising slogans along with a quiz and the correct answer to what the slogan, "It's better here" attempts to advertise. Do you know before you look it up?

Two administrative notes:
As I seek to improve this online ministry I have recently made two changes some of you may have noticed.
1) I changed the background color of the "boilerplate" notes at the bottom of each encouragement to distinguish it from the changeable portion prepared each weekday.
2) I have been able to place a subscription form on the website and subscription page which allows new subscribers to place their name as well as email address. Many present subscribers signed up through email and all I had is an email address. In order to clean up the appearance of the list and make the "to" address a name rather than a mere email address I sought to fill in these names when they could be determined from the email address (such as stephen.weber@....). If my determination is incorrect please let me know and I will make the correction! I also was not able to have any sense of a name for many email addresses such as savedbygrace@ and so forth. If you are reading this and you would like me to use your name in the "to" field please just let me know by replying to this email and I will add the name.

Finally let me give you an update on our new puppy. One of the features I really enjoy about dogs is their loyalty and companionship. We were told by my niece before we got her that she really likes to be near you at your feet. Well, she's already found her favorite spot under my computer desk!

For those so interested we were told Roxie is a mix between a Basenji and a Rhodesian Ridgeback. A feature we read concerning the Besenji is that they don't bark and thus far we've not heard Roxie bark once. She does make a whining sound when she wants in. Here's an interesting site about dog breeds.