A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
 A daily, Bible-based message of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archive edition Wednesday, June 20, 2012  Amish open cart, Lancaster County, PA. It was a beautiful day yesterday and we came up behind this Amish cart leaving Costco. We followed for awhile since we were unable to pass but somehow their means of conveyance helps me to slow down as well! Ester was with me and I asked her to snap the photo using her cell phone.  Listen to this message on your audio player."Mistaken Assumptions" "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). We were recently walking through a company in the course of our chaplain visitation and Brooksyne had a rather unusual experience. I usually don't carry anything unless I'm distributing some literature but Brooksyne always carries her day-timer that also serves as storage for literature, business and note cards, etc. Occasionally she will lay her day-timer down at a work site if she needs to free both hands. On this visit she had the following experience she'll tell you about: I had made my visits with all the ladies in a factory and was preparing to leave the building. Before doing so I was saying good-bye to the supervisor when I noticed that I was carrying a plastic shopping bag alongside my day-timer and couldn't figure out why I had an extra bag on this day. I held the bag up to eye level to examine the contents and saw two or three large unopened bags of candy (M&M's, Miniature Candy Bars, etc.). Feeling very foolish I asked the supervisor, "Why am I carrying this bag of candy?" as though she would know the answer. She erupted in laughter and responded, "I don't know but I sure enjoyed watching your face turn various shades of red." Embarrassed all the more I asked, "Do you have any idea where I picked up this candy?" "Yes," she responded. "You would have picked it up from the workstation where Sandy, Marlene and Mary Ann sits." Shaking my head in dismay, I lowered my flushed face and headed right back to where I had picked up the stash of candy. As I entered their workstation they all looked up as though they might be expecting me. I stammered, "I am so sorry, I must have put my day-timer next to your candy and unknowingly picked up your bag of candy as well." They burst into laughter as they told me, "We watched you do it, but we didn't know what to say. We figured you'd bring it back, but when you didn't we just said, 'Well, she must be hungry.'" The next week I came through and dropped off pieces of candy at their workstation without saying a word. Each of us smiled with a knowing look of why I was distributing candy that day. The above story illustrates one of the many reasons for faulty assumptions and misunderstandings in life and Numbers 32 has an interesting lesson this. The background: The new generation is camped east of the Jordan positioned to cross over and move into the Promised Land. The leaders from the tribes of Reuben and Gad made a request to Moses to settle and consider as their inheritance the lands east of the Jordan, which were suitable for livestock. But Moses initially misunderstood their request, assuming they were attempting to dodge their responsibilities in assisting their brethren in the conquest of Canaan. In reading the text, we see he sternly rebuked them for his assumption that they were shirking away from fulfilling their responsibility as part of the new nation. However, they further clarified their proposal indicating that they would indeed be sending their fighting men to assist the other tribes and pledging that they would not return until the conquest was complete. Moses' tone changed with the clarification and he accepted their proposal, but reminded them 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. Build cities for your women and children, and pens for your flocks, but do what you have promised." Tracking through the history of the conquest we see they did indeed do what they promised and were commended by Joshua for their faithfulness in Joshua 22, "You have done all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded." There's a lot of good teaching in this chapter but let me just focus on the initial faulty assumption and reaction by Moses. I believe it typifies situations that occur frequently in life and lead to problems in relationships in the home, church, work and elsewhere. Moses initially made a faulty assumption and based his response on that assumption. (Perhaps the leaders of the eastern tribes also erred in not being clearer in their initial proposal.) Have you ever been like Moses and made a faulty assumption? I sure have. Communication, clarification, and when necessary, confrontation can help bring healing and understanding in relationships. May God help us to listen carefully to others and clarify as needed. Be careful with assumptions or you might just find yourself "barking up the wrong tree!" Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, help us to be slow to speak, quick to listen, and eager to give the benefit of the doubt to others. We often jump to conclusions that are erroneous due to our own preconceived ideas or based on past experiences. Give each of us an understanding heart, a forgiving attitude, and a discerning spirit as we relate to those who intersect our paths from day to day. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.Numbers 32 (The background of today's passage) Joshua 22 (These tribes are commended by Joshua for keeping their promise.) Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Beloved, Let Us Love One Another" Video Maranatha kids A great way to learn a Scripture verse (1 John 4:7,8) whether young or old! |
 Stephen and Brooksyne Weber Our 36th anniversary photo (Click on photo to enlarge) "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 4/12)  Are our daily encouragement messages a blessing to you? Each weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. We ask you to consider supporting Daily Encouragement Net so that we can continue to prepare and provide this daily resource which is accessed by believers and seekers all over the world. Daily Encouragement Net relies solely on the generosity and financial support of its readers and podcast listeners. See here for more information on supporting this ministry. Gifts are tax deductible. 2012 financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net as of 6/19/12: $7,260.00. We express thanks to all who support our ministry!SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION  Were you forwarded this edition of Daily Encouragement Net? If you desire you can receive your own free! To receive these "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. These messages are never sent by us unsolicited. It was sent to you because you either signed up to receive it OR a friend forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the rss feed or as an email subscription through feedburner.Cancel: We respect and value your time and privacy. If you no longer desire to receive these messages you can remove your address from the list by merely using the link automatically inserted by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each email message. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.) Weekly Version: The weekly version is intended for those who may not check their email regularly or who may desire less frequent mailings. It is Friday's message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. Daily Encouragement on Facebook and Twitter:  The daily message and prayer on Facebook. The daily message and prayer on Twitter.Reader Survey: Please take a few minutes to assist us in improving our ministry effectiveness by filling out this online reader survey. To take the survey click here. Please feel free to pass these messages on! Our other blogs: "A Daily Prayer" - A blog simply posting the daily prayer. We keep this up each day since it's merely the prayer from the Daily Encouragement Net message! "A Little Foolishness" - Humor/satire blog (a great outlet for non-serious writing but at times with a subtle message!) (Note: This material is satire!) "Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the faithful believer and church. (Actually this is my intent but I haven't done much with it!) "Hymns of Hope" - Brooksyne along with two friends made a CD using classic hymns. Brooksyne tells the background story of the 11 hymns. All of these songs are also available for download on the site. 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, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version. © Copyright 2012 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us  Endorsed chaplain "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" www.dailyencouragement.net |
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