Daily Encouragement (11/9/21) "Jesus Loves Me!"
Published: Tue, 11/09/21
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A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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Tuesday, November 9, 2021  Keith Vogt, who owns these grain bins on Colebrook Road, shared this photo.
(Click on photo to
enlarge)
"Jesus Loves Me!"
Listen to this message on your audio player. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
One of the benefits of Bible memorization is our cooperation with the Holy Spirit in recalling sacred Scripture at opportune moments. Many years ago I memorized the daily text, actually aided by singing it to music, a tune that I still recall. Each word ministers to my heart. But today let us especially consider just one glorious phrase, "who loved me". This is written by Paul, who at one time with hateful vengeance and great zeal, persecuted the Church. The very first words he heard from Christ at his conversion were, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” Yesterday we wrote about the persecution of the church around the world and we can see from this verse that when His church is being persecuted ultimately Jesus is being persecuted. Don't try too hard to
figure this out theologically, I am only quoting the verse!
"For God so loved the world", so begins one of the most quoted verses of the Bible. It teaches of the universal extent of God's love, "the world". That is immensely assuring. Christ's gift of redemption is offered to the world. But Paul personalizes God's love in the daily passage. Writing of a deep assurance of Christ’s love for him Paul simply says, "who loved me". Amen, and He specifically loves you and me this day and every day. We also can each declare "He loves me". He then reflected on the love His Savior specifically had for him. So much
so, that He "gave Himself for me".
You may not have experienced a loving earthly family as Brooksyne and I have, and for which we are very thankful. We personally know so many who have not and some of our readers carry deep scars. When a parent, relative, close friend, or a clergy member shatters a youth’s innocent world, their misconduct violates the child’s personal boundaries. The perpetrator misuses his or her power and breaks a fundamental trust given to them by
God and earthly authorities. One who has been violated has difficulty learning to fully trust anyone, and this overflows into their spiritual life as well.
Earthly parents are imperfect and some have problems that might overwhelm them, at times due to unresolved conflict from their own childhood years. But we can all learn to trust our heavenly Father because He is altogether trustworthy.
Pastor and author, Robert Morgan, makes this observation: “If you could have one verse of Scripture engraved on your tombstone, what would it be? Or if you could have one verse and only one scripted and framed to hang in your living room or kitchen, which verse would you choose? Or, to put it a little differently, if someone were to write a biography of your life and put one verse on the title page, what verse would best summarize your aspirations and experiences as a Christian? I’d like to
suggest that out of the 31,102 verses in the Bible, you’d have a hard time coming up with a better choice than Galatians 2:20.”
Those with deep scars listen carefully to me today. Take our daily verse from Galatians 2:20, write it on a card and memorize it. Say it over and over, phrase by phrase. Hide it deep in your heart. For what Paul said for Paul, you can say for you and I can say for me. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, we have crucified our old
nature with Christ and therefore it is Christ who lives in us. The life we now live in the flesh we live by faith through Jesus who loves us and gave Himself for us. Help us to set our affections on things above not on things on the earth since we have died to the world and our life is hidden with Christ in You, Father. When we appear with You in glory grievances here on earth will disappear forever, for the only scars we will see in heaven are the scars Jesus bore for us from his death on the
cross! Amen.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Jesus Loves Me" Video Gaither Vocal Band
"Scars in Heaven" Video Casting Crowns
"Crucified with Christ" Video Booth Brothers
"Even Me" Video Triumphant Quartet
I was unable to find Galatians 2:20 sung to the tune we memorized, but there are many versions online.
Lamar Dourte is a local friend and nephew to Jesse and Wilma Dourte, whom we esteemed and are both now with the Lord. Today we will share several of his Lancaster and Lebanon County photos. It looks like he got some peak of foliage photos!
 Corn harvest
(Click on photo to enlarge)  View from the Governor Dick Tower which is on a ridge between Lancaster and Lebanon Counties. See here on Google maps
(Click on photo to enlarge)  Conewago Lake in Mount Gretna
(Click on photo to enlarge)  The Lebanon Valley Rail Trail is one of the many rail to trail paths in our area. It's so pleasant to ride bikes over or walk on the fallen leaves!
(Click on photo to enlarge)  Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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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
 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 7/23/21
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