Henny Penny’s Great Reminders

Psalm 25:4-5, "Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you."

So, I've used my chickens before as great reminders of things I've learned. Today our lesson came from my chicken Henny Penny.

     Let's begin by saying my chickens are an odd bunch. We've raised them with a light on in their coop 24/7. For no other reason, it's just easier than always having to mess with the plugs. Because of this, if the light is unplugged for any reason and it gets dark, they will not go into their coop.

     It so happened one night after it was quite dark, I headed out to close them in and their light was unplugged, and they were chilling outside. I turned their light back on and scooted them in for the night. After the door closed, I headed inside the coop to collect the eggs. Usually, I don't do a head count nightly, but I have accidentally shut out one chicken or another outside, so one night, as usual. I counted. 1,2,3…14,15… “Wait, there should be 16.” Counted again and recounted. Nope still 15, where is my white Henny Penny? She wasn't with the rest. Oh no, what if something got her.”

     I hurried back inside to grab a flashlight. If anything, I need to know if I have a dead bird lying around somewhere. Walking back outside I began to psych myself up to deal with whatever I found. Now, the outside part of their coop wraps around the back of the barn to the other side. Unfortunately, there is only a small door to that part of the coop (we had separated chickens when raising flocks a year apart), and the access door has been blocked with an overgrown bush.

     I share that because as I was shining my flashlight around, I went to that side and there was Henny Penny alive and sitting on top of stacked bricks. I quickly headed to that side of the barn hoping to get her down because I was unable to reach her. She tried to hop down a few times but the unknown and darkness in front of her kept her hesitating. I kept trying to reach her through the small openings in the fence but couldn’t and I kept shining the small light at her and the ground.

     Eventually she hopped down but now we had another problem. As much as my flock loves me, I am still a human, and they run the other way. As she approached the small opening and the light, she'd see me and would back away from me, and again I couldn’t reach her. Unable to chase her, I did the only thing I could, I stepped away, backwards, so she could see and follow the light. She liked that and kept following the light as I walked her back to the entrance of the coop. Once she saw the open door she went right in, safe again, with the other chickens.

     So, this story reminded me, and maybe you too, of some things from the Bible, I’ll share what I thought as I walked back to the house.

     First, I thought about the parable of the lost sheep. I could understand how the shepherd felt. Sure, she's just one chicken and I had 15 more, but she is more than one chicken. She is part of my flock, I've had her since she was a little bitty chick, she is mine. Even if I found her dead, I still needed to find her. If she was hurt or lost, I needed to do what I could to help her.

     This is what Jesus is trying to teach us when He spoke the parable to begin with. Sure, there are millions of Christians in this world. What is just one or two that are lost. Well, we know as fellow Christians that is an unkind thought, and most of us don't think that way. As much as we do our part to help show Jesus to others, Jesus is in the business of saving all who are lost. Good or bad, every soul on this earth matters to Him. Until the day of His return, He will go out and search for the lost and those who are seeking a Savior. He is our Shepherd, and He will do His best to bring all who choose home with Him.

     The second thought that comes to mind, once I found Henny Penny, was the light. When she was in complete darkness she stayed in one place unable to see how easy it was to get home, had she just jumped down. Once she saw my light, she was sure of herself and how to hop down. Then once she saw the light moving it was easy to find her way home.

     Jesus tells us that He is the Light of the World. When we choose Him, we don't have to walk around in darkness anymore. His light will be our guide to not only help us navigate through this chaotic world, but it will lead us to our promised home in heaven.

     Isn't it wonderful how we can find simple reminders in God's creation that are all around us. Through Henny Penny I am reminded that the Lord loves me so much that when I feel lost or my path is unseen, He is there making sure I find my way home. I am also reminded, that even if the chaos of this world keeps getting darker, I have Jesus as my light to guide me safely home. There will be times of struggle, trials overwhelming or at the most feel unending. In our sorrow, tears, or frustrations we only need to look to Jesus and He will guide us through it all.

     ‘When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away your ticket and jump off. You sit and trust the engineer. Trust God today, no matter how dark your situation. God says, “You are coming out.” Amen!’ -Unknown

     Henny Penny just sat still on those bricks trusting that I'd find her and because she is one of my flock, I didn't throw in the towel and say, “Well I have 15 more.” I went and found her getting her home safely. Jesus will do the same for you. Be still and trust God each day.

We've taken a few weeks off from our Bible studies, yet I hope you still have found time for your own personal study time with Jesus. It's important to find a balance of time for yourself and time with God. Even if it's just a few more minutes reading your Bible, jotting your thoughts down before you pray, or doing a quick Bible study. Any time you make for the Lord can only bring you closer to Him and He has promised to draw closer to you. We are going to try a new type of study. These come from one of my devotionals I have written. Short easy ways to study the Bible a the while growing your walk with Jesus. Each study shows new ways to study and maybe by the end of them you will find one you like and incorporate it into your own studies.

Lesson 1- Personalizing.docx

     Thank you for taking the time to read this blog and if you'd like take a few more minutes to look around or click on my other links, God bless.

     If you haven't already please subscribe to our email list on our homepage https://www.connectwithgoddaily.com/ or join any of our media, and please feel free to visit us on Facebook and join our group. https://www.facebook.com/dailyblessingblog/        

     Also come visit and see what is new in our bookstore. dswells.weebly.com       

     Don't forget to share with your friends some inspiration today and brighten up their day too.     

     For those new to our emails, if you would rather receive these via text or on messenger please let me know through my email, dswell123@yahoo.com or our FaceBook page.