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Bible teaching
ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Monday,
December 18, 2023
Stone barn along the Tulpehocken Creek in Berks County PA.
Click on image to enlarge
"A
Throne For A
Manger"
Message
summary: Today
we consider
when Jesus
exchanged His
throne for a
manger. What
a difference
it makes for
me to
personalize
the
incarnation of
Jesus and
consider that
God has indeed
"come to earth
for me".
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn" (Luke 2:7). "Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness" (Philippians 2:5-7).
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn" (Luke 2:7). "Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness" (Philippians 2:5-7).
The
yearly
calendar has
forwarded us
to the date
when churches
pull out all
the stops and
present their
choral music,
pageantry,
children's
programs,
Christmas
dinners, and
all the other
ways we
celebrate our
Lord Jesus
Christ's
arrival to
earth clothed
in human
flesh.
Yesterday our
choir and
orchestra
presented a
number of
Christmas
songs that
clearly spoke
of that joyous
occasion. The
choir and
orchestra
appeared to be
about the size
it was
pre-covid.
We,
like most of
you, enjoy the
music during
the Christmas
season. We
value the
songs from our
childhood like
"Joy To The
World", "O
Come All Ye
Faithful" and
many others.
We also enjoy
new music such
as "Manger
Throne" a
theologically
rich Christmas
song by Phil
Wickham.
In
our view we
feel there is
a needed
balance
between the
new and the
old, both of
which can
bring glory to
God and
edification to
His followers.
When you think
about it all
songs were at
one point
contemporary
to the
generation in
which they
were
introduced!
Today we consider when Jesus exchanged His throne for a manger.
Today,
let us
consider "Thou
Didst Leave
Thy Throne"
published over
150 years ago
in 1870 by
Emily Elliot.
It begins:
Miss Elliot originally wrote this song to teach children the truths of the advent and nativity. Considering the rich theological depth of the song, which focuses not only on Christ's birth, but also His life, suffering, death and ultimate triumph, it may surprise you that it was initially intended as a children's song.
Today let's focus on the words, "When Thou camest to earth for me". This describes what is theologically known as the incarnation. The noun "incarnation" is derived from the ecclesiastical Latin verb incarno, meaning "to make into flesh" or "to be made flesh".
In His incarnation God in Christ "came to earth". The apostle Paul, in his magnificent incarnation passage states, "Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness" (Philippians 2:5-7).
What a difference it makes to me personally when I, like the songwriter, personalize the incarnation of Jesus and consider that God indeed "camest to earth for me".
Thou
didst leave
Thy throne and
Thy kingly
crown,
when Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem's home there was found no room
for Thy holy nativity.
when Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem's home there was found no room
for Thy holy nativity.
Miss Elliot originally wrote this song to teach children the truths of the advent and nativity. Considering the rich theological depth of the song, which focuses not only on Christ's birth, but also His life, suffering, death and ultimate triumph, it may surprise you that it was initially intended as a children's song.
Today let's focus on the words, "When Thou camest to earth for me". This describes what is theologically known as the incarnation. The noun "incarnation" is derived from the ecclesiastical Latin verb incarno, meaning "to make into flesh" or "to be made flesh".
In His incarnation God in Christ "came to earth". The apostle Paul, in his magnificent incarnation passage states, "Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness" (Philippians 2:5-7).
What a difference it makes to me personally when I, like the songwriter, personalize the incarnation of Jesus and consider that God indeed "camest to earth for me".
Theologian
Herman Bavinck
states, "But
what spells
out His grace
is the fact
that from the
moment of
creation God
stoops down to
His creatures,
speaking and
appearing to
them in human
fashion". The
incarnation is
God’s ultimate
demonstration
of grace in
sending His
one and only
Son to this
world to die
for our sins.
Let's
remember this
wonderful
truth today,
this season,
and all our
lives! How
blessed we are
that God came
to the earth
to live among
us! Let's
always follow
Him who gave
His all for
us!
We would be remiss not to include the chorus of this sacred hymn that is really an invitation to make room in our hearts for Christ to dwell therein. If you haven't already done so, make the following words the prayer of your heart:
When
the heav’ns
shall ring,
and her choirs
shall sing,
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home, saying “Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for Thee.”
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home, saying “Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for Thee.”
We would be remiss not to include the chorus of this sacred hymn that is really an invitation to make room in our hearts for Christ to dwell therein. If you haven't already done so, make the following words the prayer of your heart:
O
come to my
heart, Lord
Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.
There is room in my heart for Thee.
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Jesus, You
came to earth
from heaven to
take on flesh
and dwell
among us as
You became the
supreme
example of God
in human form,
pouring out
Your grace
upon grace. In
Your humanness
You were
victorious in
the raging
battle against
the spiritual
forces of evil
when faced
with
temptations
and trials
common to all
people. We
stand in
glorious
victory as we
follow Your
example and
hold to Your
unchanging
truths. We
come alongside
those who are
grieving loss,
enduring
heartache, or
battling
affliction in
the midst of
this glorious
season, for it
is in keeping
with the
season of
giving, that
we give
ourselves in
faithful
prayer and
kind acts
toward those
experiencing
underlying
grief and
pain. It is in
the loving
name of Jesus
that 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.
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Stephen and
Brooksyne
Weber -
700001-237376
serving in
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chaplaincy
(Daily
Encouragement
is our
endorsed
special
chaplaincy
ministry).
Thank
you,
Stephen & Brooksyne
Stephen & Brooksyne
Offerings
YTD:
$23,246.00
"Manger
Throne"
Watch
on YouTube
Phil
Wickham
Watch
on YouTube
The
selection of
music from our
service
yesterday at
Calvary Church
Barns Of Berks County
Today we feature one of my favorite photographic subjects: barns. Berks County is adjacent to and northeast of Lancaster County. It has a city, Reading, (pronounced Redding) but also beautiful rural areas and many picturesque barns. These photos were taken several years ago when we had snow!
Huge wreath on stone barn in Berks County.
The vertical slits are known as "balistratus" used for ventilation.
Click on image to enlarge
This barn across the Tulpehocken Creek has an unusual barn yellow color.
Click on image to enlarge
This stately white barn is decorated for the season.
Click on image to enlarge
We
have had
several
company
Christmas
banquets.
Friday evening
we attended
one for JK
Mechanical.
For 13 years
now we've been
given the
privilege of
reading the
Christmas
story from
Luke
(Brooksyne's
part) followed
by prayer (my
part).
Yesterday
the teaching
team from our
Crossroads
Adult Bible
Fellowship
(ABF) class
had a panel
discussion in
our final
class
gathering for
the year.
Rick, our
class leader,
is asking us
questions. I
am one of five
teachers (one
was missing)
who take turns
teaching.
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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.
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