Daily Encouragement Net
The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.

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Monday, December 13, 2021

Christmas Spectacular at the Radio City Music Hall NYC
A photo of the Living Nativity scene from the Christmas Spectacular show at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City. We took this photo about ten years ago when the show included the Christmas story along with Scripture readings and traditional Christmas hymns. Hopefully that is still the case!

"When The Soul Is Pierced"

Message summary: Today's message is for those who are experiencing soul piercings.

Listen to this message on your audio player.

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior" (Luke 1:46,47). "And a sword will pierce your own soul too" (Luke 2:35).

This weekend has again reminded us of the groanings of creation (Romans 8:22). Deadly tornadoes have pierced the souls of so many here in the US making national news, particularly the tornado that stretched over 230 miles leaving death and destruction all along the way. But the groanings of creation are worldwide. Yesterday I spoke with Dennis, a long-time missionary to Nigeria, who bears a heavy burden for the turmoil in that country with practically daily attacks on Christians by Muslim terrorists.

Some soul-piercing events make the news but most happen with little notice apart from those personally affected. But these are no less heart-breaking for the people and families who experience them. We witness this in the lives of those we minister to and in scores of other heartaches taking place right now that won't make the news:
  • Longtime friends who recently lost their daughter in a most painful way.
  • For several months we've been praying for a young Christian man who would have celebrated his 22nd birthday on Christmas day, but a few days ago we got the sad news that he died after a seven month battle with a brain tumor.
  • On the way back from California Brooksyne sat next to a mother who was traveling to visit her daughter who had a rapid onset illness. Several days later Brooksyne received a text that her daughter had died the next day.
Musing over this message for the last several days I had on my heart a consideration of how faith works when life just doesn't work out as we had desired or planned. Many years ago I read a book by Philip Yancey with the rather provocative title "Disappointment With God" in which he poses three questions that Christians wonder but seldom ask aloud:
  • Is God unfair?
  • Is He silent?
  • Is He hidden?
Years later (the book was published in 1988) Yancey explains the title, "At the time, the publisher questioned the title, so different from the cheery titles that predominate the Christian market. But I wanted to speak to people who were truly disappointed." Who among us has not had disappointment in life?

An online article from gotquestions.org (see below) explains that the word disappointment means "a feeling of dissatisfaction when one’s hopes, desires, and expectations fail to come to pass".

It's interesting how the Lord speaks to us and how our present circumstances can impact our receptivity or lack thereof. Yesterday Pastor Beau Eckert preached about Mary and the wonderful assurance she received from God about her unique situation. She expresses it in song, often referred to as Mary's Magnificat meaning "Praise", taken from the first word of the Latin translation magnificat anima mea Domium, literally, "My soul praises the Lord" (Luke 1:46-55). “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior". Mary's song focuses on God's great works, including His tendency to turn everything upside down.

Pastor Beau ended with a consideration of the future soul piercing that Mary would endure. Simeon's prophecy candidly informed Mary that "a sword will pierce your own soul too" (Luke 2:35). Of course this is a prophetic message specifically for Mary since she would experience intense soul-piercing as she witnessed her Son Jesus being crucified. But Pastor also expanded this prophetic reality to all who experience a pierced soul, so in one way or another that's all of us.

Here's a quote from the closing of his message that moved both of us as we listened from our pew on Sunday (video cued to this portion below).

Quote"How is it possible that Mary's soul could be pierced and in the very same moment be rejoicing and magnifying the Lord? That is the reality of what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus Christ in this fallen and broken world, that those two things can be true at the same time. This world will pierce our souls. Jesus promised that it would happen. Don't allow the piercing of your soul to cause you to turn away from Him. Be settled in your faith, make sure that it is personal, make sure that it is God-centered. So that then when your soul is pierced you can fall back on the character and nature of who God is no matter what we might be facing. From that perspective Mary's faith should be emulated by us all. And may that be true of us no matter what we are facing this Christmas season."

Today we consider readers who may have a pierced soul even as they read this. But we've all experienced these soul piercings. As we reflect upon God's greatest gift to all of us let us remember, "In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37).


Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Praying man Daily prayer: Father, it's easy to imagine Mary's piercing pain, as prophesied by Simeon the prophet, when years later she witnessed the cruelty hurled at her Son, including His suffering and death as detailed in the Gospels. It must have been agonizing when Jesus was declared "guilty" by His accusers since she knew of His innocence. Having a veiled sense of Your divine plan for the salvation of mankind as prophesied by Simeon, this surely helped her to accept Your overall plan for her life that included intense emotional pain. Like Mary, there are many soul piercings that we also will endure on our journey here below. Jesus forewarned us, "In this world you will have tribulation" but He also reminded us that we can have peace and joy in the midst of such heartbreaking adversity when we look to Him who overcame the world. We can turn every trial into triumph when we place our faith and confidence in the One who stills the tempest and calms the sea. 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 you would like to make a donation to our ministry see here for more information. 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 from 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.

To donate directly online click here. This will open to a page that designates the offering to: STEPHEN & BROOKSYNE WEBER - 700001-237376 SERVING IN SPECIALIZED CHAPLAINCY

Make A Donation Please Note: If you desire you can donate directly through PayPal using this link. This will open to a page that states "Brooksyne Weber".  We keep this option available due to the familiarity, convenience, international supporters, and for those who may not need an official receipt. You can also set up for recurring donations. You also can use PayPal on this link. 

Thank you,

Stephen & Brooksyne



Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

Children's choir
"Christ be Magnified"  Video  Calvary Church children What a joy to see the children gathered and hear them singing out, especially on the word, "Oh!". The words in this beautiful song require adult understanding so practices surely included not only excellence in singing, but also understanding the words they were singing.

Here's a video cued to Pastor's conclusion of the message printed above and the beautiful song, "My Soul Rejoices" sung by Johanna Spangenberg who co-wrote the song with two other worship leaders from our church.

"Is it wrong to feel disappointment with God?"  A brief perspective from gotquestions.org

Blessings Of Hope, a local food bank ministry in Lancaster sent out two truckloads of food supplies within hours. More are on their way to aid victims in the wake of the tornado devastation. Our support in prayer and giving to a Christian aid ministry like this is an important way we can help those devastated by this deadly storm.

"It Is Well with My Soul"  Video  Guy Penrod, David Phelps  Perhaps we could consider the familiar hymn, "It Is Well With My Soul", as Spafford's Magnificat. It was an expression of praise and acceptance of Horatio Spafford's heartbreaking circumstances in 1873 during a time of major challenge and loss. He lost his extensive real estate business in 1871 during the Chicago fire, he also mourned the death of his four year old son due to scarlet fever in 1871, and the most famous loss was that of his four daughters who drowned at sea two years later. After learning of their deaths he booked passage to join his wife who survived the shipwreck in Europe.  On a cold December night the captain called him aside and showed him the location where the Ville du Havre ship went down resulting in 222 fatalities including that of his daughters. Upon returning to his cabin Spafford found it difficult to sleep but he settled the grievous matter deep in his soul as he said to himself, "It is well; the will of God be done."

JK banquet
On Friday we joined employees and their spouses at the JK Mechanical Christmas banquet where each year we enjoy a delicious buffet. We have been serving as their chaplains over eleven years now and have had the privilege of reading the Christmas story from Luke and opening in prayer every Christmas.

Cauliflower
Friday morning we bought some brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli brought in fresh from the field in New Danville. The tractor had just dropped off this wagon of cauliflower picked moments earlier. But winter's on the way so the stand closed Saturday for the season.

Resources for Christmas Celebrations
(We will leave these resources posted below our daily messages through Christmas)

Each year we share several online resources that we have used over the years. Perhaps they may be a blessing to you, your family or church during this Christmas season.

"In Remembrance of Me" pdf  This is a passion-filled Scripture reading for two adults. Brooksyne and I have used this reading with great receptivity during Christmas Eve services over the years.  We suggest, if possible, a musical background as the message is read. It is also a great lead-in to a Communion service. It should be thoroughly practiced and read with great feeling.  Here's a great Communion Hymn for Christmas (Video)

"When Christ Was Born" pdf This is an adaptation to the tune of "How Great Thou Art". It's a great song to sing as a congregation since most are familiar with and love the tune.

Responsive Christmas Scripture readings for church or family:
John 1:1-18  pdf
"O Come Let Us Adore Him"  pdf

My First Christmas In Heaven  This is a blessed reminder for all who lost a loved one this year.

Christmas Knowledge Test

We have also posted two Christmas carol quizzes here (scroll down).

Finally today:

Pets at peace
These two don't fight like cats and dogs!



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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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