✝ Daily Encouragement (12/13/22) "The Blessing Through Abraham"
Published: Tue, 12/13/22
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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Tuesday, December 13, 2022  Christmas red and green
Brooksyne's cousin, Peggy Stepp, who lives in Mountain Top, Arkansas took this close-up of a visiting cardinal. Amazingly, the cardinal even let her touch him before he flew back in the air. Perhaps word gets around to other birds that Peggy is a bird lover since she feeds thousands of humming birds every summer.
"The Blessing Through Abraham"
Message summary: Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah? Have
you accepted Him as your Savior? If so you are blessed! If not you can do so at this very moment by saying our daily prayer in earnest, believing from your heart, and choosing to live for God according to the Scriptures.
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“All peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3). "She will give
birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). “Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people’” (Luke 2:10). “The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU” (Galatians 3:8).
All over the world, during the Christmas season, churches are now presenting musicals, pageants, dramatic presentations and other messages celebrating the coming of the Messiah. We shared a photo yesterday of the children's Christmas program in our church and this coming Sunday the adult choir and orchestra will present Christmas music. We rejoice and pray for the multiple presentations taking place all over the world sharing the greatest story ever told. Brooksyne has led Christmas programs and choirs for many years through much of our ministry together and has had many memorable, sometimes humorous, sometimes touching experiences. One year when we lived in New England, in the late nineties, our choir had the privilege of singing a Christmas
musical with the message of Jesus Christ the Messiah in a Jewish Synagogue in Plymouth, Massachusetts. (The building was being leased on Sundays to a church plant with the pastor inviting our choir to sing.)
What a rich joy to express praises to Jesus Christ and proclaim Him as the Messiah who came and who has blessed
all the peoples on earth. In a place where the Jews meet weekly to express a four thousand-year-old faith that the Messiah will come, we boldly declared our faith that the Messiah has come!
Nearly four millennium ago God called out a man named Abram and gave him the powerful promise found in the first daily Scripture portion. "All peoples on earth will be blessed through you". Although there are many ways that Abram, (later called Abraham) and his descendants have blessed all the peoples on earth, one way stands out far above all others: the Messiah. Later in Abraham’s life God repeated and elaborated on this promise in these words: “Through your offspring (seed) all nations on earth will be blessed” (Genesis 22:18). Peter referred to this text in early apostolic preaching when he spoke of Jesus in Acts 3:25, “And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed’.” Paul wrote to the Galatians, “The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith,
preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU” (Galatians 3:8).
We see the ultimate fulfillment of this in Revelation with a glimpse of heaven, "After this I looked,
and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb" (Revelation 7:9).
It's so heartening that readers of our daily encouragement messages are from all over the world. What a joy
that there are recipients on every continent, from many nations, tribes, peoples and languages. This includes countries that are considered “closed” to the Gospel.
But, truth be told, no country, leader or law can block the power of the Holy Spirit reaching the hearts of
those who yearn to know Almighty God. I rejoice that God has kept His word to Abraham. Truly, all peoples on earth have been blessed.
Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah? Have you accepted Him as your Savior? If you have you are blessed! If not you can do so at this very moment by saying our daily prayer in earnest, believing from your heart, and choosing to live for God according to the Scriptures. Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer
: Father, thank You for sending Jesus, the long awaited Messiah. Not just for the Jews, but the good news is that Jesus was born for all people of all generations, from every nation, tribe, people and language. I admit that I am a sinner in need of a Saviour. I believe You are the promised Messiah who came to this earth to die for my sins. Please forgive me of my sins and come into my life. I receive You as my Saviour and will follow You as my
Lord. Thank You for hearing my prayer, saving me from my sins, and providing a home for me in heaven for all eternity. Amen.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"He Is Lord" Video The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
Concerning yesterday's message about the name of Jesus, David, a reader from Arizona writes,
As I drive around my suburban Chandler, Arizona neighborhood at night on the way to the grocery store, I see many inflated Santa Claus's, Snowmen, and even skeletons decorating a Christmas tree at one house. It is very sad. I pray for them as I drive by their homes. There is only one nativity scene on display around this neighborhood. One of my neighbors expresses a Star Wars holiday spirit, while their next door neighbors have
the humble nativity displaying the true Christmas Spirit. What a contrast!
Yesterday afternoon Brooksyne visit our neighborhood Amish School and shares some photos and thoughts.
 This expansive Christmas mural at the front of the classroom is being constructed by the 7th & 8th graders. 8th grade is the last school year for Amish children.
Ester and I made Christmas treats to distribute to the 26 students at the school. As always the children were pleased and each expressed their thank you as we went from desk to desk. I collected a number of nice books to donate to their library as well. Most Amish children are voracious readers so there is always a need for more good books.
 The school teacher, Naomi, does a great job decorating the classroom, hardly an empty space on the wall. Since the children went outside after my visit she welcomed my taking photos with a request that I would send her copies of the photos as I've done in the past.
 The wall clock sits to the left of the teacher's desk.
 Another cheerful reminder. What a contrast to reports of unruliness and disorder in many public schools.
 The teacher invited me to attend the children's Christmas program which I have enjoyed each time we've gone to the Lapp (Old Windmill Farm) children's programs at their school. But unfortunately I have a conflict for the 20th and am unable to attend. Maybe in the spring!
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. 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.
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