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Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Osorno Volcano in Southern Chile
Photo by Patricia Hormabazal, a Chilean friend we know from a company we serve.
"Hope For The Hopeless"
Note: I am still dealing with a severe cold. Brooksyne once again has gone out for our chaplain duties solo (although today Ester joined her). Also normally we work together on message preparation with Brooksyne being proof reader and editor so please be patient these last several days.
Message summary: Even in the darkest moments, you never know when love and hope will reveal itself."
Due to my vocal condition a podcast was not prepared today. I can't speak louder than a whisper!
"Where then is my hope— who can see any hope for me?" (Job 17:15)
Sometimes you read a story that you just can't wrap your arms around. So often this is in the context of evil but the story I share today is of practically unbelievable good. We have a link to the story below that includes a video that includes some police cam footage. But here's the short version.
Police Officer Ryan Holets in Albuquerque New Mexico came across a couple doing drugs and noticed the woman was pregnant. He is stunned and informs her she is killing her unborn baby which she initially reacted to as a judgment.
However she is very broken and realizes he is really looking out for her baby's best interests and she conveyed that she was willing for someone to adopt her baby. In a spontaneous leading from God Holets says, "I just felt God telling me, tell her that you will do it (adopt the baby), because you can."
Three weeks later the baby was born and indeed Holets and his wife (who already had four kids) adopted the little girl and named her Hope. The story ends with this gripping line, "For Officer Ryan Holets, it’s proof that even in the darkest moments, you never know when love and hope will reveal itself."
Think about that line in life, "Even in the darkest moments, you never know when love and hope will reveal itself." Today let us consider a dark time in Job's life when he asks an interesting question in one of those likely less considered portions of Scripture. He is responding to Eliphaz the Temanite, one of his "friends" who had attempted to give him some helpful counsel.
Job's response conveys his desperation and even moments of apparent hopelessness. "Where then is my hope— who can see any hope for me?"
At that specific time Job would appear to have no hope at all but interestingly apart from the Psalms hope is mentioned more times in the book of Job than any other book of the Bible (16 times). Job's real life experience some 4,000 years ago is an example for all who face apparent hopeless situations. Sometimes we may teeter on hopelessness but let us not stay there! Job's sense of hope is expressed in one of the more well-known verses from. "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him" (Job 13:15).
But in my view Job's greatest declaration of faith is this one, "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth" (Job 19:25). Later in the book there was a resolution to his situation that worked out well but Job made this faith statement before he knew that outcome.
The late Bible teacher James Montgomery Boice noted, "The God of the Bible is not weak; He is strong. He is all-mighty. Nothing happens without His permission or apart from His purposes -- even evil. Nothing disturbs or puzzles Him. His purposes are always accomplished. Therefore those who know Him rightly act with boldness, assured that God is with them to accomplish His own desirable purposes in their lives."
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
the day to day circumstances in our lives are not scripted so that we
know ahead of time what will unfold. Some events will be welcomed and
even applauded, but others will be perplexing and even beyond our grasp
to control. You don't expect us to have all the right answers or to
fully understand all that concerns us, any more than Job who was
hard-pressed when he tried to understand his multiple losses and
hardships. You simply want us to trust You, as we hold on to Your
unchanging hand, while You go before us making our crooked paths
straight and extending Your right hand as we walk the steep mountains
together. We join the Psalmist in proclaiming "For I hope in You, O
Lord." We have trusted You over and over throughout our lives, and
today we pray for grace to trust You even more. It is in the name of
Jesus that we pray. Amen.
Special Year-end Financial Appeal: We
want to thank all who have financially supported our ministry this past
year (and some for many years!). We realize there are many fine ministries
and causes requesting support at this time but if the Lord would lead
you we surely need and appreciate the financial support from our
readers and listeners. Like many ministries, we
typically see a spike in giving at the end of the year for
which we are most thankful.
Our ministry labor is comprised of approximately half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies for which we receive compensation. Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many years is that each would provide half of our ministry expenses and income.
If you would consider making a donation to our ministry see here for more information.
To donate directly online here. This will open to a page that designates the offering to: WEBER,STEPHEN CHAP, Specialized Chaplaincy Ministry ID: 700001-237376
Please Note: We also provide this familiar option
due to the convenience, for international supporters, and for those who
may not be concerned regarding receiving an official tax deductible receipt. Click here to send an offering using PayPal. This will open to a page that states "Brooksyne Weber"
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
Story of baby Hope referred to in today's message. I suggest you also watch the embedded video. I am also gripped by the extremely sad state of the drug addicted mother who at least in the video states she has given up. “I did give up, I just decided that this was going to be my life.” We hope that she find deliverance and hope in Christ and freedom from her chains. We have worked with these kinds of addiction in the course of our chaplaincy.
For many years I recalled listening to James Montgomery Boice and his distinct voice. Here is a clip from a sermon "Bondage of the Will (part 1)" Video
"Chain Breaker" Video Gaither Vocal Band We have shared this song many times in the last 6 months but it seems appropriate for today's message. Brooksyne is looking forward to joining the Calvary Church Choir this Saturday evening in backing up the GVB on this song in a concert in Reading, PA.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
Osorno Volcano in Southern Chile
Photo by Patricia Hormabazal, a Chilean friend we know from a company we serve.
"Hope For The Hopeless"
Note: I am still dealing with a severe cold. Brooksyne once again has gone out for our chaplain duties solo (although today Ester joined her). Also normally we work together on message preparation with Brooksyne being proof reader and editor so please be patient these last several days.
Message summary: Even in the darkest moments, you never know when love and hope will reveal itself."
Due to my vocal condition a podcast was not prepared today. I can't speak louder than a whisper!
"Where then is my hope— who can see any hope for me?" (Job 17:15)
Sometimes you read a story that you just can't wrap your arms around. So often this is in the context of evil but the story I share today is of practically unbelievable good. We have a link to the story below that includes a video that includes some police cam footage. But here's the short version.
Police Officer Ryan Holets in Albuquerque New Mexico came across a couple doing drugs and noticed the woman was pregnant. He is stunned and informs her she is killing her unborn baby which she initially reacted to as a judgment.
However she is very broken and realizes he is really looking out for her baby's best interests and she conveyed that she was willing for someone to adopt her baby. In a spontaneous leading from God Holets says, "I just felt God telling me, tell her that you will do it (adopt the baby), because you can."
Three weeks later the baby was born and indeed Holets and his wife (who already had four kids) adopted the little girl and named her Hope. The story ends with this gripping line, "For Officer Ryan Holets, it’s proof that even in the darkest moments, you never know when love and hope will reveal itself."
Think about that line in life, "Even in the darkest moments, you never know when love and hope will reveal itself." Today let us consider a dark time in Job's life when he asks an interesting question in one of those likely less considered portions of Scripture. He is responding to Eliphaz the Temanite, one of his "friends" who had attempted to give him some helpful counsel.
Job's response conveys his desperation and even moments of apparent hopelessness. "Where then is my hope— who can see any hope for me?"
At that specific time Job would appear to have no hope at all but interestingly apart from the Psalms hope is mentioned more times in the book of Job than any other book of the Bible (16 times). Job's real life experience some 4,000 years ago is an example for all who face apparent hopeless situations. Sometimes we may teeter on hopelessness but let us not stay there! Job's sense of hope is expressed in one of the more well-known verses from. "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him" (Job 13:15).
But in my view Job's greatest declaration of faith is this one, "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth" (Job 19:25). Later in the book there was a resolution to his situation that worked out well but Job made this faith statement before he knew that outcome.
The late Bible teacher James Montgomery Boice noted, "The God of the Bible is not weak; He is strong. He is all-mighty. Nothing happens without His permission or apart from His purposes -- even evil. Nothing disturbs or puzzles Him. His purposes are always accomplished. Therefore those who know Him rightly act with boldness, assured that God is with them to accomplish His own desirable purposes in their lives."
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
the day to day circumstances in our lives are not scripted so that we
know ahead of time what will unfold. Some events will be welcomed and
even applauded, but others will be perplexing and even beyond our grasp
to control. You don't expect us to have all the right answers or to
fully understand all that concerns us, any more than Job who was
hard-pressed when he tried to understand his multiple losses and
hardships. You simply want us to trust You, as we hold on to Your
unchanging hand, while You go before us making our crooked paths
straight and extending Your right hand as we walk the steep mountains
together. We join the Psalmist in proclaiming "For I hope in You, O
Lord." We have trusted You over and over throughout our lives, and
today we pray for grace to trust You even more. It is in the name of
Jesus that we pray. Amen.Special Year-end Financial Appeal: We
want to thank all who have financially supported our ministry this past
year (and some for many years!). We realize there are many fine ministries
and causes requesting support at this time but if the Lord would lead
you we surely need and appreciate the financial support from our
readers and listeners. Like many ministries, we
typically see a spike in giving at the end of the year for
which we are most thankful.Our ministry labor is comprised of approximately half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies for which we receive compensation. Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many years is that each would provide half of our ministry expenses and income.
If you would consider making a donation to our ministry see here for more information.
To donate directly online here. This will open to a page that designates the offering to: WEBER,STEPHEN CHAP, Specialized Chaplaincy Ministry ID: 700001-237376
Please Note: We also provide this familiar option
due to the convenience, for international supporters, and for those who
may not be concerned regarding receiving an official tax deductible receipt. Click here to send an offering using PayPal. This will open to a page that states "Brooksyne Weber"
Thank you
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
Story of baby Hope referred to in today's message. I suggest you also watch the embedded video. I am also gripped by the extremely sad state of the drug addicted mother who at least in the video states she has given up. “I did give up, I just decided that this was going to be my life.” We hope that she find deliverance and hope in Christ and freedom from her chains. We have worked with these kinds of addiction in the course of our chaplaincy.
For many years I recalled listening to James Montgomery Boice and his distinct voice. Here is a clip from a sermon "Bondage of the Will (part 1)" Video
"Chain Breaker" Video Gaither Vocal Band We have shared this song many times in the last 6 months but it seems appropriate for today's message. Brooksyne is looking forward to joining the Calvary Church Choir this Saturday evening in backing up the GVB on this song in a concert in Reading, PA.
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 make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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