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<Previous Message Next Message> "God's Purpose Will Stand"
(New Year's Message) Today's message is a reminder that God's purpose for your life will stand. ![]() "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14). "I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please" (Isaiah 46:10). "The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O LORD, endures forever" (Psalm 138:8). "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). ![]() The scene is a 50th anniversary high school class reunion with the people in attendance being in their late sixties. It just has the feel of a party of sixty-somethings. But Peter Pan, who was a member of that class shows up, and he never grew up. He's still a squirrelly teenager with some very annoying antics characteristic of our teen years such as the fake hi-five followed by a punch in the stomach. I remember when I did that and Brooksyne does as well, usually the surprise blow was reserved for a sibling. But it would sure be out of place for me to do that now with a group of business associates my age! ![]() But Peter Pan is a mythical character. We don't stay young forever. David wrote "I was young and now I am old" (Psalm 37:25). Those who graduated 50 years ago probably look a lot more like the couple Peter Pan annoys in the commercial! Our journey through this brief life is but a transition to the future eternal Kingdom God has prepared for us. I am convinced that very early in eternity we will recognize just how brief this earthly part of our journey really was. But for now it's all we know and thus is wholly significant. The transition of one year to another seems to stir within us a desire to do some soul searching as we consider behaviors and attitudes that need either modified or even eradicated from our lives. Perhaps there are goals that we will set for 2016 that will motivate us and help us feel good about accomplishments seen in this calendar year. If you are setting goals, begin another year focusing on God's eternal purpose and make sure you implement that perspective while setting goals for the new year. Consider our daily text and examine these words from our eternal God. Note the phrase from our second daily Scripture text, "My purpose will stand." It's a source of great peace and assurance in both the microcosm and in the macrocosm. God is speaking here and I believe Him. I surely don't always understand His complete purpose nor do I understand how it all fits together. Sometimes it’s a daunting mystery. But from the beginning; from the first command God gave to Adam, He also calls us to seek, trust and obey Him. The Psalmist proclaims his faith in this God of purpose: "The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O LORD, endures forever." Today, once again and continually, we need to seek, trust and obey God who will most assuredly fulfill His purpose for our life. ![]() That's right, fellow believer, His purpose for you will work out. His nature has not changed. These promises are just as valid today as when they were written nearly 2000 years ago. And they are valid for you whatever you are facing today or whatever God has in store for you in 2016. Take comfort in God's reassuring words, "I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and future" (Jeremiah 29:11). Be encouraged today and have a blessed New Year, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber ![]() Special Year-end appeal: ![]() ![]() Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"We Are A Moment" (Be Unto Your Name) Video Robin Mark "Who Am I" Video Casting Crowns Geico Ad featuring Peter Pan Video Doris High posts her many photos and personal reflections on her "My Journey" blog. 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.) 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 |