A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Monday, December
31, 2018
"I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust'" (Psalm 91:2). "So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of His purpose, He guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul" (Hebrews 6:17-19).
As we share our final message in 2018 we ask you to consider a truth that all who have placed their trust in God can declare, "I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust" (Psalm 91:2).
Another year is passing and we wonder, "What will the year 2019 hold?" We simply don't know the specifics whether in regard to the world situation or in our own lives. A verse from an old hymn comes to mind, "I know not what of good or ill may be reserved for me, of weary ways or golden days, before His face I see."
Whatever happens, the daily Scripture portion is a great source of assurance and encouragement for every believer.
Throughout the Old Testament there are many verses dealing with the image of the refuge as a source of assurance, many in the Psalms. Today we share just one of them: "On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God" (Psalm 62:7).
But in
the New Testament our
second daily text is the
only
reference to
refuge. "We who have
fled for refuge might
have strong
encouragement to hold
fast to the hope set
before us. We have
this as a sure and
steadfast anchor of
the soul" (Hebrews
6:18b,19a). Read
it again slowly and
thoughtfully and allow
its powerful words to
impact your life.
Perhaps you will choose
to memorize it.
Hope, as used in the Bible, is not a wishful thought but a confident expectation of an absolute certainty. The Holman Bible Dictionary offers this: "Hope is the confidence that what God has done for us in the past guarantees our participation in what God will do in the future."
"We who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us." We have fled for refuge from the worldly sources of temporary and falsely placed hope to the only true and lasting source of hope. This Hebrews phrase gives the sense of one fleeing a shipwreck who has finally reached safety, or one who is caught in a pelting hailstorm but flees to a dry, impenetrable fortress finally safe from the assault. Once we firmly take hold of this hope which is graciously offered to us we indeed "have strong encouragement" and declare along with the Psalmist, "On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God" (Psalm 62:7).
In describing this hope the writer of Hebrews uses the wonderful expression, "We have this (hope) as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul." What a powerful, powerful metaphor! I want my life to be anchored solidly in the hope God offers as a refuge. When I place my hope in the temporal circumstances I am certain to be disappointed, emotionally unstable or even led astray.
There are many circumstances that bring fear, despair or hopelessness. Scores of people are presently dealing with these emotions including many of our readers. And realistically I expect to have occasions in the coming year when I will battle with these emotions.
When I do so, I pray that God will bring today's Scripture text to my spirit reminding me of the hope I have in Christ which is steadfast and sure. This day as, we experience the transition into a new year, let us continue to place our hope in our ever-faithful, ever-dependable God who is our present and eternal refuge!
Our hope in Christ is a sufficient anchor for the new year.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, inevitably in
one way or another we
have been and we will
be tossed about in the
tempest sea of life.
We will stay afloat as
we hold onto the hope
secured through Your
promises in the Holy
Scriptures. When
doubts and fears begin
to consume our
thoughts help us to
cling tightly to our
soul's anchor, Jesus
Christ. He is our
eternal refuge, our
hope and our stay. We
are thankful for the
year past and look
forward to 2019 as we
walk step by step with
You. Amen.
"Ever Faithful" Video The Collingsworth Family (This is the song quoted in today's message)
"An
Anchor For The New Year"
Message
summary: Our
hope in Christ is a
sufficient anchor for
the new year.
Listen to our message on your audio player.
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust'" (Psalm 91:2). "So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of His purpose, He guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul" (Hebrews 6:17-19).
When dark
shadows fall around me
when the day turns into night
I am safe within His keeping
for He draws me to His side
when the day turns into night
I am safe within His keeping
for He draws me to His side
As we share our final message in 2018 we ask you to consider a truth that all who have placed their trust in God can declare, "I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust" (Psalm 91:2).
Another year is passing and we wonder, "What will the year 2019 hold?" We simply don't know the specifics whether in regard to the world situation or in our own lives. A verse from an old hymn comes to mind, "I know not what of good or ill may be reserved for me, of weary ways or golden days, before His face I see."
Whatever happens, the daily Scripture portion is a great source of assurance and encouragement for every believer.
Throughout the Old Testament there are many verses dealing with the image of the refuge as a source of assurance, many in the Psalms. Today we share just one of them: "On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God" (Psalm 62:7).
Looking back I
see more clearly
and my heart will not forget
All the ways His grace has kept me
He has never failed me yet
and my heart will not forget
All the ways His grace has kept me
He has never failed me yet
But in
the New Testament our
second daily text is the
only
reference to
refuge. "We who have
fled for refuge might
have strong
encouragement to hold
fast to the hope set
before us. We have
this as a sure and
steadfast anchor of
the soul" (Hebrews
6:18b,19a). Read
it again slowly and
thoughtfully and allow
its powerful words to
impact your life.
Perhaps you will choose
to memorize it.Hope, as used in the Bible, is not a wishful thought but a confident expectation of an absolute certainty. The Holman Bible Dictionary offers this: "Hope is the confidence that what God has done for us in the past guarantees our participation in what God will do in the future."
"We who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us." We have fled for refuge from the worldly sources of temporary and falsely placed hope to the only true and lasting source of hope. This Hebrews phrase gives the sense of one fleeing a shipwreck who has finally reached safety, or one who is caught in a pelting hailstorm but flees to a dry, impenetrable fortress finally safe from the assault. Once we firmly take hold of this hope which is graciously offered to us we indeed "have strong encouragement" and declare along with the Psalmist, "On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God" (Psalm 62:7).
In describing this hope the writer of Hebrews uses the wonderful expression, "We have this (hope) as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul." What a powerful, powerful metaphor! I want my life to be anchored solidly in the hope God offers as a refuge. When I place my hope in the temporal circumstances I am certain to be disappointed, emotionally unstable or even led astray.
There are many circumstances that bring fear, despair or hopelessness. Scores of people are presently dealing with these emotions including many of our readers. And realistically I expect to have occasions in the coming year when I will battle with these emotions.
When I do so, I pray that God will bring today's Scripture text to my spirit reminding me of the hope I have in Christ which is steadfast and sure. This day as, we experience the transition into a new year, let us continue to place our hope in our ever-faithful, ever-dependable God who is our present and eternal refuge!
Our hope in Christ is a sufficient anchor for the new year.
Ever
faithful through the
fury
through the fire and through the flood
I am trusting as He guides me
Ever faithful through His love
through the fire and through the flood
I am trusting as He guides me
Ever faithful through His love
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, inevitably in
one way or another we
have been and we will
be tossed about in the
tempest sea of life.
We will stay afloat as
we hold onto the hope
secured through Your
promises in the Holy
Scriptures. When
doubts and fears begin
to consume our
thoughts help us to
cling tightly to our
soul's anchor, Jesus
Christ. He is our
eternal refuge, our
hope and our stay. We
are thankful for the
year past and look
forward to 2019 as we
walk step by step with
You. Amen.Special
Year-end Financial Appeal
We want to thank all who
have financially supported our
ministry this past year (and some for
many years!). We realize there are many
fine ministries and causes requesting
support at this time but if the Lord
would lead you we surely need and
appreciate the financial support from
our readers and listeners. Like
many ministries, we typically see a
spike in giving at the end of the year
for which we are most thankful.
Our ministry labor is comprised of approximately half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies for which we receive compensation. Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many years is that each would provide half of our ministry expenses and income.
If you would like to consider making a donation to our ministry see here for more information.
To donate directly online here. This will open to a page that designates the offering to: WEBER,STEPHEN CHAP, Specialized Chaplaincy Ministry ID: 700001-237376
Please Note:
We also provide this easy option due
to the convenience, for
international supporters, and for
those who may not be concerned
regarding receiving an official tax
deductible receipt.
Click here
to send an offering using PayPal.
This will open to a page that states
"Brooksyne Weber"
Thank you,
Stephen & Brooksyne
Our ministry labor is comprised of approximately half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies for which we receive compensation. Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many years is that each would provide half of our ministry expenses and income.
If you would like to consider making a donation to our ministry see here for more information.
To donate directly online here. This will open to a page that designates the offering to: WEBER,STEPHEN CHAP, Specialized Chaplaincy Ministry ID: 700001-237376
Please Note:
We also provide this easy option due
to the convenience, for
international supporters, and for
those who may not be concerned
regarding receiving an official tax
deductible receipt.
Click here
to send an offering using PayPal.
This will open to a page that states
"Brooksyne Weber"Thank you,
Stephen & Brooksyne
"Hi
there found the attached Kember print
hanging over the front door of a wee
old house we had purchased to knock
down and build our new home on. The
house had been unoccupied for nearly
20 years and as Christians we wanted
to retain something from the old house
and this was worth saving. On reading
the print on the back we came upon
your web page. We live in Northern
Ireland."
Our Kember print web page
Our Kember print web page
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"Ever Faithful" Video The Collingsworth Family (This is the song quoted in today's message)
"I Will Say"
Video
Lou Fellingham
Finally today:
We appreciate many who
are using the internet to
provide Bible teaching. Richard
Dresselhaus is a retired pastor
we met several years ago in San
Diego, California, though we had
read his articles for many years
in the Evangel, a weekly
magazine we distributed in
several churches we served. Each
day he posts and sends out an
inspirational missive. This one
seems especially appropriate was
we consider our country's
condition as well as many lives:
A Rudderless Ship
A rudderless ship. It
has lost the one implement that
can give it direction.
It describes nations,
families and individuals. There
is no compass, indisputable law,
nor plumb line – to provide
direction.
Relativism prevails.
Public opinion rules and
everyone does what is right in
his own eyes.
This is living without a rudder.
But what is the rudder? It is the Bible – the infallible Word of God. It alone can guide you through the tempestuous sea of life.
This is living without a rudder.
But what is the rudder? It is the Bible – the infallible Word of God. It alone can guide you through the tempestuous sea of life.
Sadly
self-determination and a spirit
of independence has won the
day. People resist any
outside influence.
But the true rudder
is known by revelation. It is
God invading man’s space and
establishing the absolute
guidelines by which man is to
live.
Without the rudder shipwreck is inevitable.
From One For The Road by Richard Dresselhaus. His writings are available on his blog and through an email subscription. Highly recommended!
Without the rudder shipwreck is inevitable.
From One For The Road by Richard Dresselhaus. His writings are available on his blog and through an email subscription. Highly recommended!
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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 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."
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Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA