Daily Encouragement (3/16/21) "God's Grace Still Amazes Me!"
Published: Tue, 03/16/21
|
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
You are receiving this email because you have signed up to receive our Daily Encouragement messages or it was forwarded to you. Don't forget to add scweber@dailyencouragement.net to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox! Having trouble viewing this email? Click here.   <Previous Message Web version of this message
Tuesday, March 16, 2021  With Daylight Savings Time it now gets dark around 7:30 in our neck of the woods. After dinner last evening we walked over to Donegal Creek. Due to the field work (manure spreading) we decided against a close-up photo of the tractor and equipment!
"God's Grace Still Amazes Me!"
Message summary: God's Grace ever-remains amazing!
Listen to this message on your audio player.
"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding" (Ephesians 1:7,8). One of the most beloved hymns regardless of our background and probably wherever we live on this terrestrial ball is "Amazing Grace". In fact on most lists it is number 1 in regard to being a favorite.
It was written by John Newton, who for a time in his life was a slave trader. Based upon what he had once been there may very well be those today in the cancel culture nonsense that would advocate cancelling him! Would that also mean cancelling his beloved song?
He was transporting slaves from Africa and confronted a vicious storm. His craft was severely weather-beaten, compelling him to call out to God for mercy and deliverance. The God his mother introduced him to as a child suddenly became very real and His power to still the storm took on fresh and relevant meaning. Newton experienced amazing grace and subsequently led a movement to abolish the slave trade in 1788.
"Amazing Grace" continues to remind us that
 forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of sins committed. What Newton wrote
in various ways and degrees applies to all of us, "I once was lost, but now am found, 'twas blind, but now I see".Newton never lost sight of the grace he wrote about in stanza one, the "grace that saved a wretch like me". He said before he died, "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things – that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior".
A danger for all of us is that grace may cease to be amazing when we lose sight of what we once were, a wretch that God saved through His amazing grace.
 Today's text is a great passage to memorize. It's already in the first person (plural)
but in my effort to completely personalize I say it this way, "In Him I have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of my sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on me with all wisdom and understanding". Amazing Grace has prompted other great songs including one that our title today is based on, "Your Grace Still Amazes Me". It is sung by a
group called Phillips, Craig and Dean. Brooksyne and I have both been deeply touched by the stirring words of this song.God's grace really is amazing and we never want to lose that sense! I never want to take His grace for granted nor lose the wonder. And He's still lavishing that grace today on undeserving people like you and me. Will you this moment His grace receive? Your grace still amazes me,
Your love is still a mystery Each day I fall on my knees Cause your grace still amazes me. Your grace still amazes me. Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Faithful Father, my enduring Friend, Your tender mercy
is like a river with no end. It overwhelms me, it covers my sin. Each time I come into Your presence, Lord, I stand in wonder once again. For Your grace still amazes me and Your love is still a mystery. Each day I fall on my knees cause Your grace still amazes me. It's deeper, it's wider, it's stronger, it's higher than anything my eyes can see and Your grace still amazes me. Thank You for lavishing me with Your tender mercies and amazing grace. Amen.(Adapted from "Your Grace Still Amazes Me")
Songwriters: Andrew Shawn Craig, Connie Harrington
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Grace" Video CityAlight
"Amazing Grace" Video Gaither Vocal Band
"This Is Amazing Grace" Video Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir with Phil Wickham
This powerful scene from the ending of the movie "Amazing Grace" William Wilberforce & Slave Trade Act of 1807 Video It sure makes you long for principled politicians!
 There's a sermon illustration here for John 15 or Ephesians 3:17. Any ideas? Look carefully and you'll see our house to the right of the standing tree, with the trail we enjoy so much beginning across the street from our house lined by only three trees now as opposed to numerous trees when we moved to our location 19 years ago. Most were rotted and fell down after heavy
thunderstorms.
Some of the trees removed farther up the trail across from our house and these will go to a lumber mill. When we saw this log truck we thought of long-time friends Bruce and Cindy Jack. Bruce drove a huge log truck in northern PA for many years.
 Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
To receive the "Daily Encouragement" each Monday-Friday through email see here to sign up for our email list. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or through a Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.)
 We want to thank all who financially support our ministry. If you would like to make a donation to our ministry see here for more information.
To donate directly online through our chaplaincy account click here. This will open to a page that designates the offering to: WEBER,STEPHEN CHAP, Specialized Chaplaincy Ministry ID: 700001-237376  Please Note: We also provide this easy option due to the convenience, for international
supporters, and for those who may not be concerned regarding receiving an official tax deductible receipt. Click here to send an offering using PayPal. This will open to a page that states "Brooksyne Weber".2021 YTD offerings to Daily Encouragement Net: $2,595.00 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.
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 2021 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
"Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation"  |
Listen to these messages