Daily Encouragement (6/15/21) "A Trustworthy Saying"
Published: Tue, 06/15/21
|
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, June 15, 2021
Doris High posted this photo of a Rose-breasted grosbeak and makes this interesting observation: Grosbeaks are famous for their melodic song and during the mating season males may sing up to 689 songs in a day while advertising their breeding
territories.
"A Trustworthy Saying"
Listen to this message on your audio player.
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).
Ester (pronounced E-stair’, or as she likes to say, “Like Fred Astaire), celebrated her 32nd “American birthday" yesterday. On June 14, 1989 she first arrived in America from Guatemala. She still loves to celebrate even at thirty-two years of age. Perhaps it’s because she’s crossed so many arduous health milestones during her life, much more than Brooksyne’s and mine combined, especially the severity of her health matters. Arriving from Guatemala as a 5½# very sick baby girl at 3 months of age, she was rapidly dying of a congenital heart problem. In fact the flight attendant who escorted her to the US was concerned that she would even make it through the flight since the doctors in Guatemala had their doubts as well. Within three days of her arrival she was admitted to Geisinger Medical Center, a major hospital 3½ hours from our home in St. Marys,
PA, where she underwent two open heart surgeries followed by numerous complications which contributed to her remaining in the hospital for three very long months.
In addition to her March 9th birthday and June 14th “American” birthday she likes to celebrate her adoption day and her American citizenship day. I don’t know if it’s because she’s an only child but she feels we need to make a fuss over her on all these days no matter her age. We recall a somewhat humorous teaching moment that happened on her "American" birthday when she was ten. I asked her to pray at the dinner table and she prayed, “Thank you, God, that I’m alive and that I came to this earth”. Well I was also thankful that Ester was alive, and that she came to this earth. I’m just not sure she understood at the time that both Guatemala and America are on the same earth! I chuckled after her prayer and commented, "I’m sure glad you didn’t arrive in Jupiter". On a far more serious note we consider another One who came to this earth, over 2000 years ago. Clothed in flesh Jesus would now reveal the loving heart and holy character of His Father who is not willing that any should perish, so He provided a way to be saved. “Here is a trustworthy saying”, the apostle Paul wrote initially to Timothy, that remains a trustworthy saying deserving full acceptance and is true today and every day. This phrase "trustworthy saying" is used 5 times in the Pastoral epistles. Of course the entire Bible is trustworthy but this is likely a
creedal phrase of the early church.
"That deserves full acceptance" Indeed it does! “Christ Jesus came into the world”. In the incarnation Christ Jesus came to this earth. He said of Himself, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven” and “I came from the Father and entered the world”. Jesus clearly knew His mission, “for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth”.
"To save sinners" In a key verse recorded by Mark we read, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). And in Luke, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (19:10). "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans
5:8).
I’m forever grateful and desire to express my gratitude today by living for the One who came to earth to save me! Can you say “Amen” if that’s your heartfelt response to Christ descending to earth on your behalf as well!
You did not wait for me to draw near to You
But You clothed Yourself with frail humanity. You did not wait for me to cry out to You But You let me hear Your voice calling me. And I’m forever grateful, to You I’m forever grateful, for the cross I’m forever grateful, to You That You came to seek and save the lost. Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Today we appeal to all reading this. Have you believed in Jesus Christ and accepted His generous provision for your salvation?  Daily prayer: Father, we are eternally grateful that You sent Jesus to
earth to seek and to save those lost in their transgressions and sins. You received people like Nicodemus, a man of authority, who secretly came to Jesus in the night where he sought answers to life’s most important questions. You sought out people, like the Samaritan woman, despised by the Jews and an outcast among her own as she lived a promiscuous life. Their stories represent various ethnic, economic, and lifestyle choices but the one common thing they shared is true of all humankind.
They both had a sin problem that could be cured only by Jesus, the One who wants to heal our soul’s diseases. Thank You for Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God, who came down from heaven, into the world, bearing witness unto the truth that we are indeed sinners in need of forgiveness. Thank You for providing the answer through Jesus. Amen.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Forever Grateful" Video Integrity's Hosanna! Music "I Got Saved" Video Selah
"Sinner Saved By Grace" Video Gaither Vocal Band
"Such Love" Video Just a group of people singing! Considered this song for the line, "That God should love a sinner such as I". I suppose there are others that will recall singing this song.
"A Trustworthy Saying" - Yesterday we shared about the lobster diver who claims he was taken in by a whale. Now it seems some question the story. I still think it may very well be true but do understand the incentive on social media to exaggerate and even make stuff up to get fame and attention. Although there has been lying ever since creation it sure seems lying has increased a lot in the internet age. Thank
God for the truth and reliability of the trustworthy sayings of the Bible and for the entire Bible and that's the reliable message we seek to proclaim in our daily encouragement ministry!
Finally today:
 We received word that Connie went home to be with the Lord this week. In this photo she is getting her Pastor's hug from our friend, John Keefer, at the end of a service. Connie who lived to be 60 years old was loved and valued most especially by her mom and dad, but also other family members, friends and the family of God.  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: $8,415.00 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
 Our forty-fifth anniversary photo in front a Harpers Ferry WV store window. (Click on photo for larger view) "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" |
Listen to these messages