Daily Encouragement (Archive Edition)

The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

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Monday, November 2, 2020

Fall Decorations

"In This"

Message summary: Today, whatever is troubling you, consider we serve a resurrected Savior who has given us an inheritance in heaven that can never perish, spoil or fade.

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"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials" (1 Peter 1:6).

We're confident that most churches all across America (those that met together and those connected by internet) offered prayers for election day tomorrow. It was also a "Day Of Prayer for the Persecuted Church" and hopefully that was included in your church prayers as well. Certainly we should pray regularly for our brothers and sisters undergoing persecution, in church settings and in our own personal devotional time.

Like many, we are subject to being anxious about the election and the state of our country. We feel regardless of what happens that we are in for a period of increasing unrest. We have our hopes in regard to the future of our country but these hopes are certainly not assured. Above all we pray for a Spirit-filled revival that provides the only hope for restoration of a Christ-centered culture and restoration of the nation that our founding fathers established when founding our nation. But above all we must keep our hope focused on the Lord.

We and the majority of our readers have lived our lives here in America and many of our international readers have lived in countries that have enjoyed a long period of relative peace and prosperity, when considering the conditions that millions have lived under in previous generations or are presently experiencing. A consideration of the persecuted church reminds us of this (or at least it should). Far too many have a sense of entitlement that living such a life is our right but you won't find these kinds of promises in the Bible.

Peter, who himself suffered persecution, is writing to "God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia" (1 Peter 1:1) which are in modern day Turkey. They were "suffering grief in all kinds of trials". We tend to use the word "trial" rather loosely, sometimes even flippantly, such as an appliance breaking down or being stuck in traffic. But trials (testings) are life's really hard times such as a physical affliction, financial devastation or loss of a close loved one.

But in today's text trials most certainly included persecution. This verse came to mind for me (Stephen) in the middle of the night when I was musing and perhaps anxious over current conditions. I had memorized it many years ago and the Spirit brought it back to my memory. I especially mulled this phrase over and over, "In this you greatly rejoice". But I couldn't remember what the "in this" was till I got up this morning to study the passage. As it turns out it was another passage I had at one time memorized which forms a foundational perspective of how and why we can greatly rejoice and have enduring hope regardless of what happens in the U.S. election or any other trial of life.

The "in this" that we greatly rejoice is, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3-5). Amen!

Today, whatever is troubling you, consider these words over and over if needed. Plant them deep in your heart and rejoice greatly because we serve a resurrected Savior who has given us an inheritance in heaven that can never perish, spoil or fade.

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, we rejoice in the marvelous fact that we serve a risen Savior who defeated death and the grave. And we also rejoice that we walk in His resurrected power giving us victory over the devil and his kingdom. We can rest assured that we have a glorious eternal inheritance in heaven that can never perish, spoil or fade. But for now we live on this side of heaven and are subject to those in our authority, some who are led by godly principles and others whose agenda does not honor You nor does it serve our country well. We pray that as we seek to honor You and respect authority on earth that we can lead peaceful lives and see people saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Through Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.

See I Timothy 2:1-4

Prayer for Election: Here's an excellent format with guidelines in praying for our election. Many have been praying for quite some time, but perhaps the Lord will use these biblical suggestions from writer Dave Butts to enhance your prayer time as we approach tomorrow's deadline for voting. How to Pray for the Upcoming Election

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Praise Be To The God And Father (1st Peter 1:3-4)" Video Scripture Memory Songs

"All Things Together" Video Andrew Peterson

Due to the nature of our work as company chaplains we meet a lot of people. We met Stan at a company several years ago. He is now semi-retired and works part-time at, you guessed it, Lowes. During my last shopping experience at Lowes I found that Stan is exactly one week older than I!

Coming up from Willow Street after a chaplain visit we pass the Corn Wagon on Rt 741 near New Danville and Friday morning they had wagon loads of huge heads of fresh cauliflower!

And broccoli!

On Friday we took Sadie to work dressed in her hotdog costume, as she is a charmer to the employees at Kleen-Rite, especially when they bribe her with a treat! Brooksyne teased with a tune, "She ain't nothin' but a hotdog, eatin' all the time"!

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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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