"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"  (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Last night in church we met several people who shared tremendous stories of overcoming life's hardships. One lady had sustained severe injuries when she was run over by a dump truck.  Another man had come out of a life as a drug dealer and imprisonment.  Now they are serving the Lord and experiencing the process of transformation.  I am always delighted to hear testimonies of how God, in His mercy, is bringing restoration to broken lives.

Cardone Industries is a large company in Philadelphia that produces remanufactured auto parts and is now the largest private employer in the city. Their first corporate objective is "Honor God In All We Do". Among interesting corporate features is a very extensive chaplain program for their employees, including chapel services.  A key impetus in the founding of the company was the founder's Christian convictions and specifically the redeeming nature of God. This led him to found his business in taking discarded auto parts and "redeeming" them!  That story really blessed me! God indeed takes broken lives and redeems, restores and "remanufactures".

In ministry we cooperate with the Lord in His work in the remanufacturing process. He ultimately does the remanufacturing but we have a cooperative part in teaching the Scriptures, encouraging, and serving in a host of other ministries.

The Apostle Paul describes this wonderful change, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17).  Paul experienced that change in his own life and he rejoiced in the transforming power of God in the people he ministered to.  Slave-trader John Newton experienced the change and went on to write "Amazing Grace."  Chuck Colson experienced the change and went on to found Prison Fellowship. 

The list of changed, "remanufactured" lives goes on and on and is being added to every day.  Are you on that list? 


Be encouraged today,


Stephen and Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, the question in the old hymn asks, "What can wash away my sins?"  The only correct reply is "Nothing but the blood of Jesus." I am gratefully reminded that only You can take a heart that is bent toward sin and completely turn it toward godliness.  Thank You for Your redemptive love that forgives my heart of sin.  You take away the sinful way of thinking that leads to sinful living, and replace it with a spiritual way of thinking that leads to a Biblical lifestyle.  Your grace amazes and empowers me to be transformed into newness of life because of the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

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"Mercy Saw Me" by Geron Davis is a song on changed lives that really blesses us. Linda Reid, who was in the church we pastored in New England, sang it so beautifully and with such meaning. If you are interested in hearing this song it's on this page. (It's 26th up from the last song listed.)   However in searching I found another song by the same title that really has a good message along this same theme also called "Mercy Saw Me".  Here's the audio file.

Another song that came to mind based on a phrase in Brooksyne's prayer is "Your Grace Still Amazes me" This version is from a church in Durham NC.