Praising the Lord for chickens

This is the back of our chicken coop.

I started painting the back first, so my husband could work on the run and not be waiting on me to paint it first.

I was blessed to have a beautiful day and the energy to do it all at once last weekend.

My husband had finished the inside where the chicks will be and we moved them.

(They don’t care if I’ve not finished painting the rest of the coop!)

I knew they had out grown the place we had them, but I had not anticipated how much they were going to like their new home.

They pecked and chirped and scratched and chirped and jumped on the feeder and back down and tried to fly and ran in circles and chirped some more.

They were very happy chicks.

The funny thing was, getting them into their new home.

I tried tilting the tote I’d carried them in so they could just jump out, but they wouldn’t.

Instead of jumping into the “unknown”, which it was a tiny distance, they crowded in on top of one another to the extent I was afraid they were going to be harmed.

So, I moved the tote and began picking them up one by one and placing them on the floor.

Their shock at the change was evident by their bewildered wandering about at first.

By the time I got the last chick out of the tote the first ones were busy exploring and chirping their satisfaction.

We all just stood around watching them and their antics.

We laughed when one little chick decided to try flying, but obviously doesn’t know how to steer and nearly flew directly into our son’s lap, for he was sitting on the floor.

The little bird nearly fell over itself trying to get away from him.

These little feathered bits of fluff are a blessing to our family.

Not just the future of having our own eggs, but because we are enjoying God’s creation.

Watching the unique ways God has made other creatures is an opportunity to praise Him.

While my heart is very thankful for both of these things, I’m especially grateful for the provision of God.

I remember telling our son-in-law, before we started the process to move here: “Well, pray, because it would take a miracle for us to be able to do that.”

Not only did He provide the miracle for us to move, He supplied all our needs to make renovations for my health, and now He’s given us opportunities to raise our own food.

Truly, God is incredible and His ways are not our ways.

As I daily enjoy the task of caring for our chicks, I’m reminded of my Lord and Savior who so graciously looks after me.

1 Peter 5:7 NKJV — casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your provision. Thank You for supplying all our needs and looking after us so we’ll. Lord, thank You for even those times I can’t understand how Your working through a circumstance. I know I can always trust that You are. Lord, please help me to remember that there’s an enemy out there, trying to steal, kill, and destroy and that I need to remain inside Your protection so I’m not allowing a place for the enemy anywhere in my life. For Lord, the enemy doesn’t want to just harm me, he’s after the innocent, the helpless, the young, and I don’t want to be the reason he is able to reach others. Lord, please teach me how to pray, that I might stand in the gap for those who cannot. Please teach me how to walk in righteousness, so I’m not soiling myself or others through sin. Lord, please help me to recognize evil and stay away from it, that I might not be used by the enemy. Thank You for Your truth. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for all Your wonderous works! I love You, Jesus. Amen.

Praising God in the midst

Yesterday morning, I woke with a headache.

At first I just figured it was due to my lack of proper sleep.

I began my normal routine.

But I figured out it was more than just a headache when I realized I was struggling to read.

Then I remembered going to bed with a headache.

I got up and took my inhaler and medication.

Which set my stomach off.

I had a migraine.

I was able to get a yogurt down and later to get my migraine medicine down.

I had to remain in bed.

Thankfully, I have a spiral notebook of review work for Jase and he worked on it alone.

Afterwards, he vacuumed the living room and swept.

He brought me toast and tea.

He kept coming in to “check” on me and reheat the heat pack.

Finally, I moved to the couch so he could check on me a little more easily.

Anne had made lunch, but I couldn’t eat any.

I watched Emma with Kate Beckinsale.

I eventually felt good enough to crochet a bit.

By supper I was definitely improving.

I even ate some dinner.

Praise God!

I went to bed with a mild headache and the heat pack and praised God for His blessings.

Because, although I had a headache, I was still able to enjoy our family when they brought the grandbabies over for an evening of cards.

I even got to hold our grandson while I lay on the couch.

It’s such a comfort to know that I can rest in God’s will even when I’m feeling poorly.

It wasn’t too many years ago that I would chastise myself when sick.

I thought days of illness were days wasted.

All my efforts went to trying to get better fast.

But I’ve learned that God is Sovereign.

And I am precious to Him no matter what my health is.

He knows what is best and His grace is sufficient.

I’m feeling much better today and praising God for it.

I’ll be resting again today and I’m praising God for my family who all take such good care of me.

It’s not about what I wanted to do today, it’s about being willing to do what is best.

To surrender myself, my health, my day into God.

And praising Him through it all, because He is worthy.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for today. Thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for loving and valuing me no matter what I’m experiencing. Lord, please continue to teach me how to trust You and how to walk with You in all things. Thank You for Your unending care and thank You for being good. I trust that even in the days of illness or pain, You are with me. Amen.

Weary

There are many types of weariness.

One can weary of an occupation or chore.

There can be weariness of the body, a physical need to rest.

It could be weariness of social structure or the traditions of another generation.

As Americans we seem to grow weary as a culture and are always in search of the new.

Yet, those who follow Christ have His words to sustain and guide us, especially when we weary in those things which matter most.

We must not grow weary in prayer.

Luke 18:3-5 KJV — And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

Jesus told this story as an example of how we should always pray and not lose heart.

There are other examples.

Daniel’s perseverance in prayer us recorded in chapters 9 and 10.

Daniel 10:2-3 KJV — In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

When things don’t seem to be changing, or suffering increases, our hearts can grow weary of the effort.

But Daniel’s circumstance shows us we don’t see everything which is happening.

Daniel 10:12-13 KJV — Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

A battle had been raging over Daniel receiving the answer to his prayer.

God had answered, but it took days.

We too must remain vigilant in our prayers.

To continue to seek God’s face on behalf of ourselves, others, and the world.

To remain steadfast in seeking God and His will for our lives is a worthwhile and rewarding experience.

But the flesh is weak.

Therefore we must cling to God’s Word.

Galatians 6:9 NKJV — And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for the examples we find of those You have used who didn’t grow weary of doing good. Lord Jesus, please remind us to keep our eyes upon You. Please bring us to scripture we need for each day. Fill our hearts with Your Holy Spirit and lead us into Your paths. Thank You for everything You are doing on our behalf. Thank You for Your ceaseless love and unending work. May our hearts remain steadfast before You. Amen.