Thursday, December 7, 2017

Note: Stephen is slowly recovering from his cold but his voice remains very weak and is again unable to read today's message for the podcast! We're grateful for your prayers.

Message summary: Thank God today for the thrill of hope, a longing for many but a reality for the child of God who can abound in God's eternal hope.

Listen to our message on your audio player. (Brooksyne only)

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:12).


For many years we have prepared our business cards with a calendar on the back to share with the people we encounter through the year, especially in the course of our chaplaincy. We are told that even in this digital age many people still find value in a quick glance at a full year calendar. And it's gratifying to us that many will have this posted at their workspace and in some instances a collection of these cards for several years back!

We hope the card makes us "sticky", a concept I shared about 15 years ago when I had a management role over workplace chaplains here in south central PA. Being sticky does not mean taking that which doesn't belong to you, but it means intentionally leaving evidence of your influence in tangible ways.

On these cards we try to have a brief spiritual message or Scripture verse. This year we used one of Brooksyne's favorite verses, Romans 12:12. She has demonstrated her stickiness for many years by quoting verses to those undergoing trial. Romans 12:12 is a verse she's written on Post-It sticky notes at people's worksite that I've seen years later posted on their bulletin boards or above their computer monitors!

It's a great verse but today let us only consider the first phrase, "Be joyful in hope". Many versions render the phrase, "rejoicing in hope". The Amplified states, "constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ]." "Base your happiness on your hope in Christ" (Phillips).

Robert Morgan writes, "When we can’t rejoice in circumstances, we can rejoice in the anticipation of what God’s going to do with them, in them, through them, despite them, and because of them. On cloudy days the sun still shines as brightly as ever in the center of the solar system; and when we rejoice in hope, we’re saying, 'Despite current conditions, the Son is shining for me as brightly as ever with healing in His rays'."

Later in Romans we read, "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13).

Today we began with a single line from a well-known Christmas hymn, "A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices." Do you recognize where this comes from? We post the song below as a YouTube video.

Thank God today for the thrill of hope, a longing for many but a reality for the child of God who can abound in God's eternal hope. This advent season may you truly rejoice in hope, specifically the hope demonstrated at the Incarnation of Jesus Christ! May the hope in us abound and be demonstrated to the world around us.



Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, one of the greatest emotions we can feel is that of hope. In celebrating the advent of Christ's arrival to earth we are filled with hope. Jesus not only fills us with hope, He is our hope. Christ descending from heaven to earth gives us a thrill of hope that turns into a fixed hope lifting us from the weary struggles of this world and filling us with great anticipation of that which awaits us on the other side of glory. There is nothing on this side that can fill us with such joyful hope as our future eternal home. Thank You for preparing it and for providing it through Jesus our Lord. Amen.

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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"

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"The Thrill of Hope"  Video  Christy Nockels

"O Holy Night"  Video  David Phelps  This was recorded at one of the Homecoming Christmas shows that we look forward to attending this Saturday evening in Reading, PA.

"Noel"   Video   Lauren Daigle

Note: YouTube often places an ad before a video plays. Most are annoying but not objectionable. Some are humorous or inspiring. However the ad that played before one of the songs used today was in very poor taste. You never know what you will get but of course the ad is not a reflection on either the musician or us!

For further study: Commentary notes on Romans 12:12