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


Tuesday, April 5, 2005

"Mutts"

"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God" (Romans 15:7).

Ester is so excited. Yesterday her cousin gave her a puppy. We met at a Cracker Barrel restaurant about 60 miles away last night to make the transfer. This puppy did not come from a pet shop and is certainly not registered.  Actually Roxie was rescued and had a very rough start in life.

I recall an experience with Ester about eight years ago when she got a new puppy while we lived up in New England.  People asked what kind of dog Penny was and we said she was just a "mutt". One afternoon I took a walk with Ester and Penny. Ester looked up at me with an inquisitive expression and asked me, "Daddy, am I a mutt?"

This got me to thinking and please read my thought all the way through!  You know, she is a mutt.  She was born in Guatemala, and immediately taken to an orphanage.  Her birth mother was unable to care for her and God only knows where her birth father is.  She came to us at three months of age dying of congenital heart disease and spent the next three months in a major medical center.  She's had five heart surgeries and numerous heart catheterizations.  Two years ago she got a pacemaker and has actually had too many overcomings to list in this writing.

Are you a mutt?  Don't be insulted!  Think of where you've come from and your acceptance into God's family.  Sure, many come from "good" families and that is such a blessing. But undoubtedly many others, like Ester, came into this world under difficult circumstances and so many come from homes far from ideal.

Consider a single phrase in our daily Scripture "as Christ accepted you."  What a glorious truth!  We've been accepted by Christ and we are a part of His family.  Whether we were born into the most proper of families by this world's standards or not, through redemption we've been accepted into God's family.  And this glorious transition is made possible entirely by His marvelous grace!

Alas, and did my Savior bleed and did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head, for such a worm as I. *

Yes He would and praise God, He did!!!


Be encouraged today,


Stephen C. Weber


Here's a photo I took this morning of Ester with her new puppy, Roxie.
Ester with her new puppy, Roxie

Brooksyne's note: The text this morning regarding acceptance of one another is a topic I wrote about regarding an experience I had at a recent funeral.  I hope you'll read it and allow God to speak to your heart as He did mine.
Enduring Friendships

* "Alas And Did My Savior Bleed" Watts, Isaac / Wilson, Hugh © Public Domain

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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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