| RSS feed Podcast feed  A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Monday, December 4, 2006  Roxie in crate Click here to listen to this message on your audio player. Today's instrumental background music is "Refiner's Fire" "Your Sin Will Find You Out!" "But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23). "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:13).Brooksyne and I recently purchased a collapsible crate for our dog Roxie. It's similar to a pop-up tent and fits nicely into our van without having to remove the bench seat when we travel. We also use it for securing Roxie when we leave the house since she is very domesticated, preferring to be inside. She's extremely well-behaved when we're home, but when we leave for several hours she gets anxious and searches for a shoe, a hat, or one of Ester's stuffed animals and occasionally chews on these items. Since Roxie's arrival 1 ½ years ago she has been Brooksyne's shadow, so this makes her very soft-hearted when it comes to restraining or disciplining Roxie. She always wants to give her the benefit of the doubt where I am more inclined to consistently discipline when needed. The collapsible crate has a circular zipper that goes around the entire front opening with two pullers that meet together to secure its closing. It didn't take Roxie very long to figure out that if she nuzzled her nose between the two zipper pulls where they join together she could unzip the front opening and quickly be on her way to freedom. When we come home and find her meeting us at the door she is consumed with guilt, and crawls back to the crate awaiting permission to get out. We've outsmarted Roxie's Escape Plan by zipping the entry door and bringing the zipper pulls to the top where her nose cannot force it open. (At least thus far she hasn't managed to do so!) Last week when we left for church soft-hearted Brooksyne zipped Roxie into her crate intentionally zipping it all the way shut but with the pulls coming together so Roxie could nuzzle her way out of the crate. She put away anything that Roxie might be tempted to destroy hoping that she could be trusted. Since Brooksyne made her confession to me on the way home, we expected Roxie to meet us at the door. Surprisingly she was not at the door, but we heard the usual sound of her excited tail flopping back and forth against the sides of the crate as it vigorously rocked back and forth. We were amazed to find her still in the crate as she looked at us with a rather cute "dog smile" that said in dog language, "Aren't you proud of me, I stayed in the crate the whole time!" There was only one problem. The entry door was completely unzipped. We then looked about the room, noticing that the middle sofa pillow was indented, warm to the touch, and covered with hair – in fact, it was the same color and texture of Roxie's hair. Roxie thought she was getting away with it but we have a bit more sense than she realizes. She'd been found out and was guilty! I consider a parallel of how it is in our dealings with the Lord. We may very well think we are getting away with something but we can be sure our sin will find us out. Since the consequences of sin are not always immediate we may be under the illusion that all is well. Moses reminded the people of the consequences of failing to keep their word in our daily verse. "But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out." Tracking through history we see they did indeed keep their word in this particular regard and are commended by Joshua for their faithfulness in Joshua 22. Today let us live with the solemn realization that our sin will not go undetected by an all-seeing, all-knowing, all-present, holy God. Indeed, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight." But we also live with the solemn blessing of His forgiveness when we go to Him with a humble and contrite heart. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, You reward the faithful and You repay the unfaithful. Obedience brings about blessing and disobedience brings about dishonor. I want to honor You with my life, for there is nothing hidden from Your eyes. Help me to set the standards of truth and honesty by Your Holy Word, not the standards of this world that are customizing "truth" to suit their ever-changing whims. When I'm confronted with my sin help me to have the fortitude and courage to deal with it. May I not cover it up, change its true meaning, procrastinate or deceive myself. Thank You for granting complete forgiveness. Amen. Refiner's Fire is a song that we feel goes well with today's message. Here is a site with the lyrics and music. This song is also playing in the background to today's podcast. |
| ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION  Each weekday Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all around the world. Would you please help us continue this encouragement ministry? As an expression of appreciation for your support we are offering our "Encouragement" screensaver, a selection of photos with accompanying Scriptures, along with our desktop collection with each offering (available either as download or CD.) See here for details.Personal Ministry Update Join: To receive this free "Daily Encouragement" e-mail devotional use our form. New subscribers receive a link to free computer desktop background photos with Scriptures! Here's the welcome letter that comes with new subscriptions. Cancel: To remove your address from this mailing list merely use the link at the very bottom. (To change addresses cancel old address and then join again using new address.) Contact us Please feel free to pass this message on!  The Weber Family Stephen, Brooksyne & Ester "Our family wants to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" (Click on photo to enlarge) Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity." How to become a child of God 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. Used by permission; and the King James Version. © Copyright 2006 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552  |
Monday, December 04, 2006
"Your Sin Will Find You Out!"
