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The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
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Thursday, December 16, 2010

Colonial home near Valley Forge PA
A colonial era home near Valley Forge PA decorated for Christmas

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"Blessings From The Messiah"

"All peoples on earth will be blessed through you" (Genesis 12:3).  "Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people'" (Luke 2:10).  "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).

One year when we lived in New England in the late nineties our choir had the privilege of singing a Christmas musical with the message of Jesus Christ the Messiah in a Jewish Synagogue in Plymouth, Massachusetts.  What a rich joy to express praises to Jesus Christ and proclaim Him as the Messiah who came and who has blessed all the peoples on earth.  In a place where the Jews meet weekly to express a four thousand-year-old faith that the Messiah will come, we boldly declared our faith that the Messiah has come!

All over the world during this season churches are presenting musicals, pageants, dramatic presentations and other messages presenting the coming of the Messiah.  A church up the street from us has a living nativity scene with real animals and human actors.  I hope it gets a bit warmer for their sake!  We rejoice and pray for the multiple presentations all over the world of the greatest story ever told.

Nearly four millennium ago God called out a man named Abram and gave him the powerful promise found in the daily Scripture portion.  Although there are many ways that Abram, (later called Abraham) and his descendants have blessed all the peoples on earth, one way stands out.

Through Abraham the Messiah came.  Bible scholars see our daily text as being primarily a reference to the Messiah.  Later in Abraham's life God repeated and elaborated on this promise in these words, "Through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed" (Genesis 22:18). 

Peter referred to this text in early apostolic preaching, speaking of Jesus in Acts 3:25, "And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, 'Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed'." Paul wrote to the Galatians, "The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU" (Galatians 3:8).

Readers of our daily encouragement messages are from all over the world. What a joy that there are recipients on every continent, including many countries that are considered closed to the Gospel.  I rejoice that God has kept His word to Abraham.  All peoples on earth have been blessed. 

Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah?  Have you accepted Him as your Savior?  If you have you are blessed!  If you have not you can do so at this very moment by saying our daily prayer in earnest, believing from your heart, and choosing to live according to the Scriptures.


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Thankful manDaily prayer: Jesus, thank you for loving me.  I admit that I am a sinner. I believe You are the promised Messiah who came to this earth to die for my sins. Please forgive me of my sins and come into my life. I receive You as my Saviour and will follow You as my Lord. Thank You for hearing my prayer.  Amen.





Ester & friends 12/14/10
Ester, Jenelle and their little reindeer friends.  (Roxie was relieved that all the antlers were used on the children and she wasn't forced to model this time.)



Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
Click on the link to open and play.
(In some cases you may also need to click again to start the song.)

"Come Just As You Are"  Video 

"Ju
st As I Am"  Video  Brian Doerksen



Resources for Christmas Celebrations
(We will leave these resources posted below our daily messages through Christmas)

Each year we share several online resources that we have used over the years and that may be a blessing to families and churches during this Christmas season. As we find additional material that we believe will be a blessing we will add it to this list as well.

"In Remembrance of Me" pdf  This is a passion-filled Scripture reading for two adults. Brooksyne and I have used this reading with great receptivity during Christmas Eve services many years.  We suggest, if possible, a musical background as the message is read. It is also a great lead-in to a Communion service. It should be thoroughly practiced and read with great feeling.

"When Christ Was Born" pdf This is an adaptation to the tune of "How Great Thou Art". It's a great song to sing as a congregation since most are familiar with and love the tune.

Responsive Christmas Scripture readings for church or family:
John 1:1-18  pdf
"O Come Let Us Adore Him"  pdf

My First Christmas In Heaven  This is a blessed reminder for all who lost a loved one this year.  This is the poem that Brooksyne read and wrote about in this message.  

Christmas Knowledge Test

We have also posted two Christmas carol quizzes here (scroll down).



A
re you Christmas shopping online?

Christianbook.comDaily 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 considering using these links when purchasing online through CBD! Tip: If you are regular CBD customer consider bookmarking this link and using it whenever you shop.

Looking for a very special Christmas gift for your parents?  
Here's an idea!  "The Best Gift You Can Ever Give Your Parents"

Looking for a very special Christmas gift for your children?
Here's an idea!  "The Blessing"

Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne.




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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.

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."

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