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Friday, July 24, 2026

Gold finches on sunflower
The view from my office window. The focus here is not our decorative rooster planter with the "wandering Jew, but rather the harder to see gold finches feeding on the sunflowers. We still have not had gold finches feed at our camera feeder for a close-up view. They must prefer fresh sunflower seeds. But we've had lots of purple finches!

"What's In Your Hand?"

Message summary: What's in your hand? God still has a plan and He's still using ordinary people and ordinary things to do the extraordinary.

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"Then the LORD said to him (Moses), 'What is that in your hand?'" (Exodus 4:2). "Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need" (Ephesians 4:28).

Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.

ScooperWe have a small backyard and three small dogs. One of my (Stephen's) chores is the daily cleanup trek though my backyard carrying a small pooper scooper that looks similar to a spatula but we never want to confuse the two. If you pass our home early in the morning that's what's in my hand. I am confident I am able to take care of our backyard dog messes without a professional service.

During our lifetime there are many new types of businesses that have developed. Of course for the most part we probably think of tech but some enterprising business people have developed a business cleaning up dog doo doo using the services of a "professional pooper scooper". The name of the business is poopbutler.com

I have no idea what credentials are needed for this profession nor what degree of formal education may be required. Given some of the fruitcake classes taught in colleges, though, I suppose such a class wouldn't surprise me.

What do you have in your hand?  Maybe a cup of coffee, like me! Of course many have their cell phone (likely the smart kind) in their hands practically all times. We know many read our messages on mobile devices. Some reading this, if you are an old-fashioned computer user like me, will look down and realize you have a mouse (a computer mouse that is).

"What is that in your hand?" The Lord asked this question to Moses during his encounter at the burning bush. Moses had been called to deliver God's people from their bondage in Egypt. But rather than jumping at the opportunity he's reluctant and unsure of himself and he begins to make excuses. "They won't listen", "I can't make speeches", etc.  Sound like us?

But God had a plan and that plan was going to be fulfilled. Of course the all-knowing God knew the answer to His own question about what was in Moses' hand, but He had an object lesson for Moses. He still teaches us through object lessons.

Moses answered, "a staff." God wanted to teach Moses that He could use the ordinary to accomplish the extraordinary. Moses threw the staff to the ground and it became a snake and after another strike it turned back to a staff, then God used a demonstration with Moses' hand (see Exodus 4:6,7). Surely Moses would be ready to obey now. But a few verses later Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it" (4:13). Well, as you know, Moses finally obeyed and 3,500 years later is one of the greatest figures in history.

Another verse came to mind, actually just a phrase from our second text, "doing something useful with their own hands". God enables us to take what's in our hands to do something useful and beneficial and that varies widely. We often use the phrase "work with the hands" to describe manual labor but the truth is virtually all of us use our hands in our work unless prohibited by a disability. (What a blessing that there are accessibility aids for those who cannot use their hands).

What's in your hand? Of course I'm not speaking literally but spiritually. God still has a plan and He's still using ordinary people and ordinary things to do the extraordinary. I enjoy witnessing ordinary people using their "hands" for God's work, people just like you and me.

"Just ordinary people, God uses ordinary people.
He chooses people just like me and you,
Who are willing to do as He commands.
God uses people that will give Him all.
No matter how small your all may seem to you.
Because little becomes much,
As you place it in the Master's hand."


Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13.


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Praying manDaily prayer: Father, thank You for the physical instruments You supply when You created us. We have mouths to speak, ears to hear, eyes to see, feet to walk, and hands to work. We dedicate our lives to You and to Your service, whether it is related to evangelism and the church or whether it is the work we do in places of employment or in our community. May the work of our hands be sweet in Your sight, worthy of honor, and a blessing to others so that we all pitch in to make this world a better place to live, until we reach our eternal abode where sin will not be present nor will sorrow or sadness exist. And it’s all because of Jesus in whose name we pray. Amen.

Personal Note: Early next week we will be attending the Steincross family reunion (my mother's side) and will not be posting daily encouragement messages. We hope to resume Thursday or Friday depending on how tired we are!


Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Ordinary People"   Watch on YouTube  Danniebelle Hall

"Little Is Much When God Is In It"  Watch on YouTube    Larry Ford

Larry Ritter
Our friend Larry from our Sunday School class joined us for dinner last night and our two maltipoos made sure he was welcomed. Larry's wife, Cindy, died early last month from pancreatic cancer and he's adjusting to the "new normal". Thankfully, he has an assurance of God's love and comfort and a network of family and friends. After dinner we went for a long bike ride and Larry rode an electric bike for the first time.

Larry Ritter riding bike
It was a beautiful evening to head out through the countryside on a bike ride.

Lisianthus blooms
Brooksyne's note: Among my favorite annuals is the lisianthus which is quite popular in our parts, with the Amish especially, as they are usually part of their flower arrangements at their produce stands. Lisianthus comes in many colors and remains fresh for over a week in a flower arrangement. I still have other colors waiting to open, as it takes several months for these to appear, but they last until late fall.

Squirrel at feeder
We are in constant battle with the squirrels who want to eat from our bird feeders. Yesterday I repositioned a feeder when we learned the "technique" they were using to jump up on the pole so I put a squirrel baffle that is supposed to keep them from climbing the pole. Lo and behold early this morning the camera caught this one feeding away! So, I made some adjustments by removing what may have been their stepping pads to get to the feeder, increased the height and relocated the baffle. We'll see what happens. They probably see it as fun, but I see it as a challenge!

Finally today:

Drone in corn field
 Yesterday afternoon this large drone was spraying the corn field across from our house. The tanks on them hold about 30 gallons and they can cover up to 40 acres an hour. They really go fast as well, especially being so close to the corn as they spray.

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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 and a variety of other versions.

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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."



 
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