The online
Bible teaching
ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.
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Thursday,
December 14, 2023
Copley Square in Boston Massachusetts
Most of our visits to Boston include a walk by this statue!
"The
Everlasting
Light"
Message
summary:
Let us all
make it our
prayer today,
that Jesus
Christ the
everlasting
light will
shine through
us, in both
our words and
deeds, and
even our
countenance.
Note:
Due in part to
noise from men
installing
siding with
lots of
hammering and
that we both
are both under
the weather a
podcast not
prepared for
this message.
"And
God said, 'Let
there be
light,' and
there was
light. God saw
that the light
was good, and
He separated
the light from
the darkness"
(Genesis
1:3,4). "The
LORD is God,
and He has
made His light
shine upon us"
(Psalm
118:27). "The
LORD will be
your
everlasting
light" (Isaiah
60:20). "In
the beginning
was the Word,
and the Word
was with God,
and the Word
was God. He
was in the
beginning with
God. All
things came
into being
through Him,
and apart from
Him nothing
came into
being that has
come into
being. In Him
was life, and
the life was
the Light of
men. The Light
shines in the
darkness, and
the darkness
did not
comprehend it"
(John 1:1-4).
"For God, who
said, 'Let
light shine
out of
darkness,'
made His light
shine in our
hearts to give
us the light
of the
knowledge of
the glory of
God in the
face of
Christ" (2
Corinthians
4:6).
Yet
in thy dark
streets
shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in Thee tonight
(From "O Little Town Of Bethlehem")
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in Thee tonight
(From "O Little Town Of Bethlehem")
When
we lived in
New England
and visited
Boston we very
much enjoyed
the historical
sights of the
city. One
place
reminding us
of our
Christian
heritage was
the statue of
Phillips
Brooks in
front of
Trinity
Church. Brooks
traveled to
Bethlehem in
1865 and three
years later
the memories
of his journey
inspired him
to write the
lyrics to "O
Little Town of
Bethlehem."
Trinity
Church’s
organist,
Lewis Redner,
wrote the
music to carol
that is still
very popular
158 years
later.
The
line "Yet in
thy dark
streets" is
still true in
2023 with the
ongoing strife
in the Middle
East. But
Brooks saw the
significance
of the birth
of Christ and
even in the
darkness the
everlasting
light shines.
That's a word
of
encouragement
to us as well
in whatever
way we may be
encountering
darkness.
The
Christian
population of
Bethlehem has
been in steady
decline since
the mid-20th
century. In
1950,
Christians
made up over
80% of the
local
population but
now hover
around 10% in
a
Muslim-dominated
region. Many
Christians
have chosen to
flee the area
due to
persecution
and religious
harassment. *
We'll
be visiting
Bethlehem on
Christmas Eve:
Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania
that is, a
city named
after the
place of
Christ's
birth.
Light
is one of the
great themes
of the
incarnation.
Light can be
glowing,
beaming,
piercing,
twinkling, dim
or intense.
There are many
sources of
light; in
nature the
sun, moon and
stars in their
courses above.
In our homes
we may have
light from
electricity,
candles, gas
lanterns (our
Amish
neighbors),
burning
firewood or in
our case from
our coal
stove. But
there is only
one source of
Everlasting
Light.
Our first daily text shows the origin of light on the first day of creation. The first designation of "good" in the Bible is light.
A wonderful truth is so simply expressed in our second daily verse: "The LORD is God, and He has made His light shine upon us". "The Lord is God" merely asserts the Biblical truth of the one true God revealed in Scripture.
"He has made His light shine upon us". All through history the redeemed have been able to proclaim this truth. The great prophet Isaiah in a Messianic prophecy declares, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light" (Isaiah 9:2) and later declares, "The LORD will be your everlasting light" (Isaiah 60:20).
In the Apostle John's account of the incarnate Christ he writes, "In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men".
In this church age we look back on the full revelation of Christ and understand what the Apostle Paul meant when he wrote, "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6).
Jesus Christ came to be the Light of the world, to reveal the knowledge and glory of God, and to shine brightly in a world darkened and infiltrated by sin. Is He your Lord and God? Today are you experiencing God's radiant light as it shines upon you? Are others seeing its revelation of truth and ray of hope shining through you? We sure hope so!
Let us all make it our prayer today, that Jesus Christ the everlasting light will shine through us in both our words and deeds. It will be noticed by others even in our countenance.
Our first daily text shows the origin of light on the first day of creation. The first designation of "good" in the Bible is light.
A wonderful truth is so simply expressed in our second daily verse: "The LORD is God, and He has made His light shine upon us". "The Lord is God" merely asserts the Biblical truth of the one true God revealed in Scripture.
"He has made His light shine upon us". All through history the redeemed have been able to proclaim this truth. The great prophet Isaiah in a Messianic prophecy declares, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light" (Isaiah 9:2) and later declares, "The LORD will be your everlasting light" (Isaiah 60:20).
In the Apostle John's account of the incarnate Christ he writes, "In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men".
In this church age we look back on the full revelation of Christ and understand what the Apostle Paul meant when he wrote, "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6).
Jesus Christ came to be the Light of the world, to reveal the knowledge and glory of God, and to shine brightly in a world darkened and infiltrated by sin. Is He your Lord and God? Today are you experiencing God's radiant light as it shines upon you? Are others seeing its revelation of truth and ray of hope shining through you? We sure hope so!
Let us all make it our prayer today, that Jesus Christ the everlasting light will shine through us in both our words and deeds. It will be noticed by others even in our countenance.
Hail
the
Heav'n-born
Prince of
Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, the
radiance of
Your holiness
is revealed in
the light of
Your Son,
Jesus, who
came to dwell
among us. We
know that in
Him there is
no darkness at
all. Satan,
the prince of
darkness
blinds and
deceives us,
but Jesus, the
Prince of
Peace,
illumines us
with wisdom
and truth
through His
earthly life
revealed by
Your Holy
Word. And now
we have the
light of Your
Holy Spirit to
guide us in a
sin-darkened
world as we
sojourn below.
May this light
that burns
within us
brighten our
countenance
and be our
power source
for truth,
holiness, and
courageous
witness to
those who have
allowed the
darkness to
overtake them.
Bring them
into the light
of Your
salvation,
dear Jesus, we
pray. 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!). Like most ministries, we typically see a spike in giving at the end of the year for which we are most thankful. Thus we bump up this appeal on each post through the remainder of the year.
We
realize there
are many fine
ministries and
causes
requesting
support at
this time but
if you would
like
information
about making a
donation to
our ministry
see here.
In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
You
can send a
check payable
to "Daily
Encouragement
Net" to:
Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
495
Kraybill
Church Road
Mount
Joy, PA 17552
To
donate
directly
online click
here.
(This will
open to a page
that
designates the
offering to:
Stephen and
Brooksyne
Weber -
700001-237376
serving in
specialized
chaplaincy
(Daily
Encouragement
is our
endorsed
special
chaplaincy
ministry).
Thank
you,
Stephen & Brooksyne
Stephen & Brooksyne
Offerings
YTD:
$23,046.00
"O
Little Town of
Bethlehem"
Watch
on YouTube
Gaither
Vocal Band
Note:
The statue
seen above is
in Boston
since Brooks
was born and
died in
Boston and
served much of
his ministry
there. However
"Oh Little
Town Of
Bethlehem" was
actually
penned by
Philips Brooks
when he served
a church in
Philadelphia
from
1862-1869. He
was inspired
and
overwhelmed by
his visit to
the town of
Bethlehem in
1865. He wrote
the song three
years later
for his
church. The
organist of
his church,
known as Lewis
Redner,
composed its
music. Also
note that his
first name was
indeed
Phillips (not
Phillip).Phillips Brooks was noted for his poise and quiet manner. At times, however, he suffered moments of frustration and irritability, as do we all. One day a friend saw him feverishly pacing the floor like a caged lion. “What’s the trouble, Mr. Brooks?” he asked. “The trouble is that I’m in a hurry, but God isn’t!” Haven’t we felt the same way many times? I sure have!
In
reading Helen
Keller's
autobiography
you will see
Bishop Brooks
name come up
often as she
sat under his
ministry for a
number of
years and held
him in high
esteem.
To
receive the
"Daily
Encouragement"
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Monday-Friday
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(See the email
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after opening
this page.)
We
want to thank
all who
financially
support our
ministry. We
realize there
are many fine
ministries and
causes
requesting
support at
this time but
if you would
like
information
about making a
donation to
our ministry
see here.
In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
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)
If
you desire you
can also
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,
for
international
supporters,
and for those
who may not
need an
official
receipt. You
can also set
up for
recurring
donations.
In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
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)
If
you desire you
can also
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,
for
international
supporters,
and for those
who may not
need an
official
receipt. You
can also set
up for
recurring
donations.
Thank
you,
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Daily
Encouragement
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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.
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 and a variety of other versions.
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