A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.
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Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Anchor at Plymouth Harbor in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
One of our favorite photos of Plymouth where we frequently visited and walked along the harbor while living in New England.
Listen to this message on your
audio player.
"When Hope Is Lost"
"For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope" (1 Chronicles 29:15). "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" (Romans 15:4).
Today we are uncertain what opportunities may come our way. We pray for hearts receptive to our care and message. One thing we do know is that we will encounter someone who needs a word of hope and encouragement. We have that form of job security!
Sometimes
these encounters come through our readers such as this message
requesting prayer: "Dear Webers, I'm a Christian for 20 years and also
a survivor of a lifetime living with depression and panic disorder. My
pain is unbearable right now. I'm asking for your prayers that the Lord
would lead me on a path of healing. I'm desperate and in despair.
Please pray."
There's
a great line early in the classic Christmas film "It's a Wonderful
Life" where the angel Clarence is beckoned to help a troubled
human. "Is he sick?", Clarence asks. "No, it's worse than
being sick", the head angel replies, "he's discouraged."
It's a poignant scene and touches my heart each time we watch it.
Undoubtedly some of you are discouraged today and might just be
experiencing a sense of hopelessness so it is our prayer that today's
word of Scripture exposition will bring you fresh hope and
encouragement today!
In the first daily text David states "There is no hope". The Apostle Paul describes the unregenerate state as being, "without hope and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:12). In 1 Thessalonians he writes of those "who have no hope" (4:13).
C. S. Lewis insightfully summarizes the human condition; "We try to be our own masters as if we had created ourselves. Then we hopelessly strive to invent some sort of happiness for ourselves outside of God, apart from God. And out of that hopeless attempt has come human history . . . the long, terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy."
One of the great inheritances of the child of God is "hope". Notice the wonderful phrase that concludes the second daily text, "through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." Consider today the blessing of having hope, a confident assurance in God and the veracity and dependability of His promises. "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure" (Hebrews 6:19).
As I read the Scripture text today the word "endurance" really caught my eye. We've posted a quote in several places in our home, "Endurance is activating hidden strength for my tasks by keeping my eyes on future rewards."
So believing friend, today, let us continue to trust in the One who is ever dependable and let us rejoice together in the hope we have in Christ. That is the heart of being encouraged!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Lord Jesus, often the
daily grind is not appealing as I awaken each morning to the tasks
before me. Sometimes the routine seems endless and I find myself lacking fulfillment in this aspect of my life
and yet it requires the majority of my time and focus. Jesus, please
help me to find the hidden strength that only comes from seeking You to
deal with the negative attitudes that tempt me daily. Help me also to
look beyond the immediate to the deeper meaning of each day's task.
Above all, help me to keep my eyes on spiritual truths as I meditate
upon Your Word and apply its meaning to my life each new day. It is in
this faithful practice of placing You at the center of my focus that I
can rise above the difficulties that come my way. Restore to
me, this day, the joy of Your salvation and renew a steadfast spirit
within me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Here's another comment from our message on Monday:
Our milkman and his wife had a Downs Syndrome child and no baby sitter to leave him with. My Mom told them that they could drop Keith off at our house and he could stay with me. My grandparents lived with us, so there were adults there if needed. Well, I came to love Keith like a brother - he was sweet and kind and he thought he was keeping "me" because my Mom told him, I didn't like to be by myself. He gave the best hugs. We would play "Old Maid" and I always had to leave the Old Maid card sticking up, so he wouldn't pick it. But I didn't mind losing every game because of the happiness I saw in Keith's face.
Total 2012
financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net: $26,146.33
Here’s our Thank You letter to our supporters (pdf)
2013 YTD financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net as of 1/14/13: $275.00
We express thanks to all who support our ministry!
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
<Previous Message Next Message>
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Anchor at Plymouth Harbor in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
One of our favorite photos of Plymouth where we frequently visited and walked along the harbor while living in New England.
Listen to this message on your
audio player.
"When Hope Is Lost"
"For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope" (1 Chronicles 29:15). "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" (Romans 15:4).
When hope is lost, I call You Saviour
When pain surrounds, I call You Healer
When silence falls, You'll be the song within my heart
When pain surrounds, I call You Healer
When silence falls, You'll be the song within my heart
Today we are uncertain what opportunities may come our way. We pray for hearts receptive to our care and message. One thing we do know is that we will encounter someone who needs a word of hope and encouragement. We have that form of job security!
Sometimes
these encounters come through our readers such as this message
requesting prayer: "Dear Webers, I'm a Christian for 20 years and also
a survivor of a lifetime living with depression and panic disorder. My
pain is unbearable right now. I'm asking for your prayers that the Lord
would lead me on a path of healing. I'm desperate and in despair.
Please pray."There's
a great line early in the classic Christmas film "It's a Wonderful
Life" where the angel Clarence is beckoned to help a troubled
human. "Is he sick?", Clarence asks. "No, it's worse than
being sick", the head angel replies, "he's discouraged."
It's a poignant scene and touches my heart each time we watch it.
Undoubtedly some of you are discouraged today and might just be
experiencing a sense of hopelessness so it is our prayer that today's
word of Scripture exposition will bring you fresh hope and
encouragement today!In the first daily text David states "There is no hope". The Apostle Paul describes the unregenerate state as being, "without hope and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:12). In 1 Thessalonians he writes of those "who have no hope" (4:13).
C. S. Lewis insightfully summarizes the human condition; "We try to be our own masters as if we had created ourselves. Then we hopelessly strive to invent some sort of happiness for ourselves outside of God, apart from God. And out of that hopeless attempt has come human history . . . the long, terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy."
One of the great inheritances of the child of God is "hope". Notice the wonderful phrase that concludes the second daily text, "through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." Consider today the blessing of having hope, a confident assurance in God and the veracity and dependability of His promises. "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure" (Hebrews 6:19).
As I read the Scripture text today the word "endurance" really caught my eye. We've posted a quote in several places in our home, "Endurance is activating hidden strength for my tasks by keeping my eyes on future rewards."
So believing friend, today, let us continue to trust in the One who is ever dependable and let us rejoice together in the hope we have in Christ. That is the heart of being encouraged!
I will praise You, I will praise You
When the tears fall still I will sing to you
I will praise You, Jesus I will praise You
Through the suffering still I will sing to you
When the tears fall still I will sing to you
I will praise You, Jesus I will praise You
Through the suffering still I will sing to you
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Lord Jesus, often the
daily grind is not appealing as I awaken each morning to the tasks
before me. Sometimes the routine seems endless and I find myself lacking fulfillment in this aspect of my life
and yet it requires the majority of my time and focus. Jesus, please
help me to find the hidden strength that only comes from seeking You to
deal with the negative attitudes that tempt me daily. Help me also to
look beyond the immediate to the deeper meaning of each day's task.
Above all, help me to keep my eyes on spiritual truths as I meditate
upon Your Word and apply its meaning to my life each new day. It is in
this faithful practice of placing You at the center of my focus that I
can rise above the difficulties that come my way. Restore to
me, this day, the joy of Your salvation and renew a steadfast spirit
within me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.Here's another comment from our message on Monday:
Our milkman and his wife had a Downs Syndrome child and no baby sitter to leave him with. My Mom told them that they could drop Keith off at our house and he could stay with me. My grandparents lived with us, so there were adults there if needed. Well, I came to love Keith like a brother - he was sweet and kind and he thought he was keeping "me" because my Mom told him, I didn't like to be by myself. He gave the best hugs. We would play "Old Maid" and I always had to leave the Old Maid card sticking up, so he wouldn't pick it. But I didn't mind losing every game because of the happiness I saw in Keith's face.
Total 2012
financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net: $26,146.33
Here’s our Thank You letter to our supporters (pdf)
2013 YTD financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net as of 1/14/13: $275.00
We express thanks to all who support our ministry!
We passed this railroad car diner in Northumberland, PA on the way back from a Memorial service.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
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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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