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<Previous Message Next Message> Thursday, October 29, 2015 We pass this peaceful pond along busy Rt 283 between Lancaster and Mount Joy. "Victory Verses"
Note: Podcast not prepared for this message due to early start and projected long day of chaplain visitation. "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your Word" (Psalm 119:9). "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee" (Psalm 119:11) Our Sunday School teacher, Stan Miller, is diligent in his walk with the Lord and this last Sunday he made a point that has given me cause for pondering and further study. (Brooksyne teaches another class at the same time but we discussed this concept together.) Stan shared an illustration about a missionary who had ministry to military personnel in Asia. He held Bible studies in his home, which was off the base, for the servicemen. However the men had to drive through a seedy strip as they left the base to get to his house and again when they returned to the base. (I well remember the seedy strip leading up to the main gate at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri where I served as a chaplain's assistant during college. The garish signs beckon the men to sin.) The men were having a time with temptation just going to and from the Bible study and some were succumbing. The missionary challenged the men to memorize "victory verses". These are Bible verses that would arm their hearts to resist temptation. When the time of testing came they could draw strength from God's Word to have victory over the temptation. Well, regardless of our age are we all need victory verses. The sources of temptation will change throughout the course of life but Satan is a wily foe and will continue his quest to devour (see 1 Peter 5:8) till we are safely home. We should all have an arsenal of victory verses. We believe memorization is a great key and gives us the ability to immediately draw strength. However you may also carry your sword with you (and of course many now have the Scriptures on their phones). You still need to know where these verses are for quick access. Today we contemplated some matters that are common sources of temptation and considered a fitting victory verse:
Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, You make it possible for us to move from defeat to victory with Your many provisions and promises revealed throughout Scripture; the victory verses that show us how to be strong in our weakness, how to exercise self-control in temptation, how to trust instead of doubt, how to be consoled in the midst of our sorrow. And in our death we find life everlasting. You are truly our all in all! So we look to You for victory as You supply everything we need. Amen. There's another takeaway I had from Stan's lesson that I want to address tomorrow in a message we will title, "The Danger of Dabbling". Yesterday's message on "The Case For Sexual Purity" prompted more response than usual and reminded us of how many family members are affected when God's standards are violated. Consider this note we received permission to share: Reader's Response: "I am in tears as I write this. Your message today about sexual purity struck a chord with me. I, too, am a grieving grandmother. My daughter went through a divorce two years ago. She was in a difficult marriage but instead of turning to Jesus, as I encouraged her to do, she got involved in an affair with her now ex-husband's best friend. They both left their spouses so they could be together. And they married. She has two children (my grandchildren) from the first marriage. There is joint custody and my daughter and her ex-husband fight like no other. Additionally, my daughter got angry with me and my son (her brother) because we did not approve of the situation. The three of us had always been so close and I sometimes feel like I am dying inside. I wouldn't wish this on anyone, but you mentioned grandparents in your message. Knowing that others go through what I'm going through lets me know I am not alone in my brokenness. Please pray for my family." (Brooksyne spoke with this grieving mother and prayed with her. Later we also prayed for our daily encouragement friends who have similar grievous disharmony due to the consequences of those who've chosen to live in disobedience to God.) A new coffee cup Brooksyne uses as she helps write and edit Daily Encouragement. A wooded path is always a pleasant sight. This photo was taken in Wisconsin by my cousin Georgia. Another one of my favorite autumn sites is the large round hay bales that now dot the landscape all around us. (Photo by Doris High) Today's
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"Thy Word" Video Maranatha Singers "Consequence Of A Moral Tumble" A thoughtful analysis by Randy Alcorn To receive the "Daily Encouragement" each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe to our email list. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or through a Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.) Are our daily encouragement messages a blessing to you? We ask you to consider making a donation to Daily Encouragement Net so that we can continue to prepare and provide this daily resource which is accessed by believers and seekers all over the world. Daily Encouragement Net relies solely on the generosity and financial support of its readers and podcast listeners. See here for more information on supporting this ministry. Gifts are tax deductible. Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. I do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact. Text only version for printing: To make a text only version for printing (without photos or any of the supplemental materials) 1) Open the basic text editor that comes with all computers (known as wordpad, textpad, etc.) You can also use a program like Word and select paste text only. 2) Select and copy the text from the portion of the message you want to print. 3) Paste into the text pad. (The photos won't show up but you will have a brief text description of the photo which you can delete or just ignore.) 4) Format if you desire (change font, increase or decrease size, etc.) 5) Print! 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 make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity." © Copyright 2015 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA |