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Daily Encouragement Net
"Encourage one another daily" (Hebrews 3:13).
A daily, Bible-based perspective of
hope, encouragement and exhortation.


Monday, April 5, 2005

"Grace To The Humble"

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6).

On many Monday mornings I attend a prayer meeting with a group of men in a local restaurant. We come together from a variety of area churches and specifically pray for the needs in our community. In our group is a man who has a very visible neurological disorder (Tourette Syndrome). When he prayed he expressed how he often feels people look down on him because of his condition.

Another man prayed and candidly confessed the tendency to look down on those who have addictions and various disabilities. He happens to be a successful businessman and life has gone quite well for him. He prayed for the man with the esteem issues and also gave him a kind a word of affirmation.

As he prayed God reminded me of a Scripture verse I memorized many years ago.  It's really a truth we all need to keep before us. "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

There are many sources of pride. It can be in our position or our possessions. That's how we normally see it.

But a subtle source of pride, at least for me and the brother I prayed with today, can be that we feel we "have it altogether." I really have never struggled with the typical addictions and I do not have a disability that makes me socially uncomfortable. I am sure many reading this have a similar testimony.

But we must be on our guard for God opposes the proud regardless of the source of our pride. He gives grace to the humble and our ongoing need is for grace, so we can be a part of God's grace extended to those around us.


Be encouraged today,


Stephen C. Weber

We are pleased when we see God at work in our children. The man I spoke of with the disability lives in town and when we pass by his place he is often sitting on the porch. Ester, will say, "Daddy, let's stop and say 'Hi' to Jimmy." She realizes how much that just such a greeting means to him.


Here in Lancaster County we have a dairy that makes the best ice cream. It is sold all through the east. As a promotion they have a giant dairy cow they take to various functions. It is really quite a sight to see it go by, particulalrly if you don't have visual context


Giant Turkey Hill cow

Here are some great cow stories.

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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. Used by permission; 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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