The
online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
&
Brooksyne Weber
A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Mobile users:
Visit Daily Encouragement on your mobile browser, hit "Add to
home screen" or "Add page shortcut." This creates an instant
Daily Encouragement App!
Search Daily Encouragement
A new message is
updated most weekdays usually by Noon Eastern Time (USA).
(Click refresh or reload for current message)
(Click refresh or reload for current message)
Tuesday, August
9, 2022
Yesterday we passed this home
and beautifully landscaped lawn along Rt 343 in Lebanon
County.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
"Strengthened
By Grace"
(Part
1)
To face
life's changes,
look to the unchanging God.
look to the unchanging God.
Note:
As study progressed for today's teaching it became
necessary to make it a two part message as I studied the
richness of our text. Tomorrow we will focus on the
phrase, "It is good for our
hearts to be strengthened by grace".
Message
summary: Today may peace
strengthen your heart as you look beyond the present
turmoil in our world and in your life to the immutable
God.
"Jesus
Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do
not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.
It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace,
not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit
to those who do so" (Hebrews 13:8,9).
In May I
(Stephen) had a bike accident on a mountain trail and
sustained several surface injuries where my body hit the
gravel, but most severely I tore my rotator cuff. The
surface injuries to my knees and arm have healed leaving
only scars as a reminder, especially my left knee.
I am slowly regaining strength in my shoulder, in part
aided by Physical Therapy. I had a similar injury about
fifteen years ago when I was swimming in Louisville, KY.
Over time, without medical intervention, that injury
healed, although the healing left some limitations that
I could live with.
Regarding
my most recent injury I am in the process of seeing just
how much restoration will return to my shoulder though
it is already diminishing as a result of aging anyway. I
don't think I will be doing any power-lifting but I
never had that aspiration anyway!
Though our
physical strength diminishes due to the aging process,
the good news is that our spiritual strength can
increase and help mature us in our walk with Christ, "It
is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace".
More on that thought tomorrow.
I was
blessed by the context of our verse today, a verse many
of us have memorized, "Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday and today and forever". Jesus is the
same unchanging Rock, immutable Hope,
and Firm Foundation today that He was yesterday,
that He is today and He will still be tomorrow and
always will be! An old, now rarely sung hymn states,
"Yesterday,
today, forever, Jesus is the same,
All may change, but Jesus never, glory to His name!
All may change, but Jesus never, glory to His name!
"Jesus
Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever".
This is a timeless doctrinal truth. It's always a
present tense verse.
Today
(August 9, 2022) or whenever you may read this message,
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday (since the
beginning), today (in context, as God calls us to be
strengthened by grace), and forever, into never-ending
eternity. Christ the Immutable One is our sure anchor
amid waves of suffering, affliction and uncertainty, "an
anchor for the soul, firm and secure" (Hebrews
6:19).
Consider
the instability of this present world and how we long
for stability and security. But don't be deceived, the
world is unable to offer any real guarantee for this
stability. Wars and rumors of wars, terrorist actions
and threats of all kinds will always exist on this side
of eternity. It's real and a part of our fallen world
which is in rebellion against God Almighty.
Today may
the peace of God strengthen your heart as you choose not
to solely focus on the present turmoil in our world, but
wholeheartedly focus on the immutable God.
On Your
faithfulness, God
You're faithful God
Jesus, You're the same
Yesterday, today, and forever
You're faithful God
Jesus, You're the same
Yesterday, today, and forever
Daily
prayer: Faithful Father,
to You we ascribe glory, honor and
majesty, for You are the same yesterday,
today and forever. You change not, Your
mercies are renewed daily, and just as
You have been in the past You forever
will be in the future. Our Lord is the
same unchanging Rock, immutable Hope,
and Firm Foundation today that He was
yesterday, and that He will be tomorrow!
What more could we hope for than that
which You have already supplied through
the sacrificial life and unstoppable
love of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen. Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Yesterday, Today,
Forever" Video Congregational
singing by Clays Mill Road Baptist
Church in Lexington KY. This is the chorus to the
song referred to in the message. This is how singing was in
our early days!
"Yesterday, Today And Forever" Video Passion, Kristian Stanfill (In searching for the old hymn mentioned in our message I found this new song.)
"Same God" Video
Jonsal Barrientes (We also used this
song yesterday but it also fits so
well with today's message)
Last
Saturday Ester joined a group of her
friends from her Sunday School class,
called Adult Bible Fellowship (ABF) in
our church, to go to Longwood Gardens.
Black-eyed
Susan (Rudbekia)
Longwood
Gardens has one of the most astounding
variety of flowers in the world and is
considered one of the world's premier
flower gardens.
Click on photo to enlarge
I am
surprised they would have fake birds!
But it's still a neat sight. (I know
why - no messes to clean up throughout
the pristine flower garden displays.)
Click
on photo to enlarge
They now
have a temporary feature called "Light".
Installations
by Bruce Munro at Longwood Gardens
Video
A
highlight for Ester was the illuminated
fountain show. We first saw this
magnificent presentation about 5 years
ago with our late friend Jerry Smoker
Illuminated
Fountain Show 2022 - Longwood
Gardens Video
To
receive the "Daily
Encouragement" each
Monday-Friday use our sign-up
form or this
page to subscribe to our
free email list.
You can also subscribe to the
Wordpress rss
feed or through a Wordpress email
subscription. (See the email
subscription on the top right side
after opening this page.)
Daily
Encouragement on: 
Wordpress
iHeart
radio
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. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Wordpress
iHeart
radioPermissions: 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. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
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
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 can
also use PayPal
on this link.
Stephen & Brooksyne
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 2022 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA