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hope, encouragement and exhortation.
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Lure Lake in
western North Carolina
(click to enlarge as desktop background and to see Scripture verse)
Listen to
us share this message on your
audio player.
Mike
and Kathy Matangelo have been our friends for over thirty years and
attended the very first sevice in our church plant in Saint Marys, PA.
over 30 years ago. Mike's mother is visiting them from Rhode Island and
Tina is Ester's best long-time friend - her "Guatemalan sister". We
enjoyed a delicious New Year's Ham Dinner with them yesterday.
Today's Suggested Music
Friday, January 2, 2009
(click to enlarge as desktop background and to see Scripture verse)
Listen to
us share this message on your
audio player."Jesus Will Still Be There"
"The
LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: 'I have loved you with an
everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness'" (Jeremiah
31:3). "God has said, never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews
13:5,8).
As we prepare this first encouragement message for 2009 we want to share a special message of hope and assurance. We consider the various burdens and uncertainties so many of you are dealing with. In many cases Brooksyne and I can visualize who you are and the situations you struggle with. You may be a family member, a friend or a former parishioner. Perhaps you're among the many we meet in our chaplain service or a faithful long-time reader of the Daily Encouragement.
At creation God established the annual unit of time (Genesis 1:14). The passing of years is a great time to do some reflecting as well as looking ahead to the next phase in our life's journey. We each look back to milestones this past year and for some they're more significant than others.
Some of you look ahead to 2009 with a temporal optimism; in your life things are going well and you feel secure. Your health is good, your job seems secure, you have exciting plans for the New Year. But others face the New Year with a great sense of uncertainty. You may be dealing with physical pain, a wayward child, a financial hardship or some other form of distress. Today's message is for both.
Settle deep in your spirit that our one and only certain source of hope is Jesus Christ. He alone is an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. This is expressed so well in the great hymn, "The Solid Rock." Most especially in the line, "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness."
I selected verses today that express three unchangeable truths concerning God:
• His Steadfast Love: He loves us with an everlasting love.
• His Abiding Presence: He will never leave us.
• His Eternal Immutablity: He is always the same.
As we ground our faith in these truths we can, regardless of our temporal condition, experience the hope, peace and assurance that is at the very core of living an abundant life.
A song comes to mind that has a very fitting theme for beginning a New Year, "Jesus Will Still Be There." We are reminded of a most certain reality; that Jesus will still be there. His love will never change, no matter what changes around us. As we end one year and move into another He is a never-changing Presence in our lives. We can absolutely rely upon Him!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, as the year unfolds I want to keep my soul's anchor embedded in the Rock of Ages. Help me to be unwavering in my faith and confident as I meditate on Your many promises. You promise never to abandon me; instead You carefully guide me through turbulent waters as I cling tightly to Your hand. Even as I daily experienced Your goodness and faithfulness in 2008 I am absolutely certain I will enjoy Your constant presence and guidance in my life and those I love in the new year of 2009. You are faithful and I am grateful. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
As we prepare this first encouragement message for 2009 we want to share a special message of hope and assurance. We consider the various burdens and uncertainties so many of you are dealing with. In many cases Brooksyne and I can visualize who you are and the situations you struggle with. You may be a family member, a friend or a former parishioner. Perhaps you're among the many we meet in our chaplain service or a faithful long-time reader of the Daily Encouragement.
At creation God established the annual unit of time (Genesis 1:14). The passing of years is a great time to do some reflecting as well as looking ahead to the next phase in our life's journey. We each look back to milestones this past year and for some they're more significant than others.
Some of you look ahead to 2009 with a temporal optimism; in your life things are going well and you feel secure. Your health is good, your job seems secure, you have exciting plans for the New Year. But others face the New Year with a great sense of uncertainty. You may be dealing with physical pain, a wayward child, a financial hardship or some other form of distress. Today's message is for both.
Settle deep in your spirit that our one and only certain source of hope is Jesus Christ. He alone is an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. This is expressed so well in the great hymn, "The Solid Rock." Most especially in the line, "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness."
I selected verses today that express three unchangeable truths concerning God:
• His Steadfast Love: He loves us with an everlasting love.
• His Abiding Presence: He will never leave us.
• His Eternal Immutablity: He is always the same.
As we ground our faith in these truths we can, regardless of our temporal condition, experience the hope, peace and assurance that is at the very core of living an abundant life.
A song comes to mind that has a very fitting theme for beginning a New Year, "Jesus Will Still Be There." We are reminded of a most certain reality; that Jesus will still be there. His love will never change, no matter what changes around us. As we end one year and move into another He is a never-changing Presence in our lives. We can absolutely rely upon Him!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, as the year unfolds I want to keep my soul's anchor embedded in the Rock of Ages. Help me to be unwavering in my faith and confident as I meditate on Your many promises. You promise never to abandon me; instead You carefully guide me through turbulent waters as I cling tightly to Your hand. Even as I daily experienced Your goodness and faithfulness in 2008 I am absolutely certain I will enjoy Your constant presence and guidance in my life and those I love in the new year of 2009. You are faithful and I am grateful. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Here are a few photos of our trip!
We've
spent several days with my sister Genelle and her husband César in the
Greensboro NC area. For many years they lived in Miami, Florida. We're
pleased that they moved closer two years ago so that we can enjoy
visiting with them more often. César is a masterful chef!
Here's
a photo of Genelle's family (Genelle, Daniel, César, Carolina,
Carolina's fiancé-Adam, and Karina) during a family vacation last week
taken on this.
Bob
and Linda Southard are friends we met about twenty years ago who share
a vibrant faith-filled walk with Christ. Both have overcome and are
presently overcoming physical adversity. We enjoyed a BQ dinner with
them on New Years Eve. They have a joyous outlook and
share ministry in nursing homes in the Charlotte area.
Today's Suggested Music
and
Supplemental Resources
(Click
on the link to open and play. In some cases you may also need to click
again to start the song.)WELCOME 2009
HOLD FAST TO YOUR FAITH - (Hebrews 4:14)
ASSEMBLE WITH THE SAINTS - (Hebrews 10:25)
PRAY EARNESTLY EVERY DAY - (I Thess. 5:17-18)
PRAY FOR GREAT BLESSINGS - (Malachi 3:10)
YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION - (I Thess. 5:22)
NEGLECT NOT YOUR TALENTS - (Galatians 6:10)
EXAMINE YOURSELF DAILY – (II Corinthians 13:5)
WORK DILIGENTLY FOR THE LORD – (I Corinthians 15:58)
YIELD YOURSELF TO RIGHTEOUSNESS – (Rom. 6:11, 16)
EXERCISE YOURSELF IN GODLINESS – (I Timothy 4:7)
AIM AT SINLESS PERFECTION – (Hebrews 6:1)
REDEEM THE TIME – (Ephesians 5:15-16)
ASSEMBLE WITH THE SAINTS - (Hebrews 10:25)
PRAY EARNESTLY EVERY DAY - (I Thess. 5:17-18)
PRAY FOR GREAT BLESSINGS - (Malachi 3:10)
YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION - (I Thess. 5:22)
NEGLECT NOT YOUR TALENTS - (Galatians 6:10)
EXAMINE YOURSELF DAILY – (II Corinthians 13:5)
WORK DILIGENTLY FOR THE LORD – (I Corinthians 15:58)
YIELD YOURSELF TO RIGHTEOUSNESS – (Rom. 6:11, 16)
EXERCISE YOURSELF IN GODLINESS – (I Timothy 4:7)
AIM AT SINLESS PERFECTION – (Hebrews 6:1)
REDEEM THE TIME – (Ephesians 5:15-16)
- Roy D. Creamer
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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 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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Copyright 2009
Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
"Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation"