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Listen while you read: "Am I A Soldier Of The Cross"1 (Lyrics) |
1 Peter 5:8 – Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. (NLT)
Charlie got his start as a project. My daughter worked in a home for developmentally disabled adults and took an egg from one of our hens to incubate. The residents watched in amazement as the egg slowly hatched and out popped Charlie! He was cute and cuddly for a while, but Charlie soon turned into an unruly rooster that found himself back with us. The only problem was, Charlie didn't fit in with us either. He was always mad and would flog anything whether it moved or not. I observed him lash out at a sponge that we were using to wash the car. The concrete duck frequently became the object of Charlie's wrath, as well as anyone who dared to turn their back on him.
After a while, we appropriately changed his name to "Crazy Charlie". This feathered bundle of trouble didn't go by rules. He assumed that he knew best and would not go in at night with the rest of the chickens. What he didn't see was the danger that lingers in the dark. Coyotes roam around looking for such delicacies.
I wish I could have warned Charlie of the dangers out there. Since I didn't speak chicken, I was helpless. If only I could become a chicken for just a minute, I could explain to this stiff-necked "bird brain" how to keep himself from becoming a meal for some hungry varmint. But Charlie thought that he knew best.
My nightly ritual was to put him away, and I would often find him huddled in the dark. On more than one night, I forgot, and was relieved to hear him crow before dawn the next morning. Eventually, a hungry coyote heard that prideful crow as a call to supper. Poor Charlie was never to crow again.
Jesus loves us so much — even us "dumb clucks" — that He came to be one of us as a man so that He could talk with us, warn us of the devil's plans, and save us from the evil that lurks in the world. He came so that none of us would perish but have life eternal. We don't have to huddle in the darkness, because He said, "I am the light of the world." He desired to bring us into the new light of His salvation. Thank God that He didn't give up on this "chick"!
We all have a little "Charlie" in us. We strut around in our own pride, in our own strength, daring anyone to tell us that there is another way. Instead of crouching in our own darkness, becoming a sitting duck for the enemy, let us turn in repentance and humility, and accept God's offer of eternal safety in Christ.
Prayer: Father, we thank You that You can give us Your lessons — even through a crazy chicken. Help us to keep our lives free of pride and disobedience. Search our hearts daily for any bad and destructive ways. May we always be mindful of Your ways. Amen.
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Amen Jeanie.
Good one. Thanks.
Thank you for your funny devotional. I love it!
I love this. Thank you and may God bless you always.
Had a Charlie once too. Only his name was Rochester. Thanks for the good word.
Great message Jeanie.
Thank you. Have a great day.
Blessings.
Thank you, Jeannie, for sharing this instructive devotional with us. May we be encouraged to quit crowing and humble ourselves before God.
Blessings.
Hi Jeanie,
Thank you for this clear illustration of salvation. May I use Crazy Charlie’s story to share when the opportunity arises?
Thank you for today’s sharing!
Dear Jeanie,
Thank you for the analogy of Crazy Charlie and his own set of rules.
That point of view gives us another way of trying to keep on the path of righteousness and the opportunity to do so.
That is quite a special devotional to read Jeanie and your words of advice are “right on”. Yes, we can get some crazy ideas and actions in our lives but it is important that we get in the right groove and follow the important words and actions of our Lord Jesus. Blessings for this very special writing.
Jeanie, thank you. I loved your story, especially the line “I don’t speak chicken”. That is so funny. I’ve spent holidays on a farm with a turkey like crazy Charlie. I kept my distance. More importantly though your point about Jesus speaking to us of the dangers lurking was so apt and brought into context with this memorable analogy.
Great example! Roosters are often nasty creatures. When I was little, my parents had a breeding flock of big chickens and my mom hated the roosters…couldn’t take my sister and I with her to gather eggs and said they were sneaky and would attack her from behind.
Blessings.
Well, Jeanie, your devotional was perfect! We live on a ranch in a beautiful part of Central Texas. Murphy, a cat, has joined us and he loves to be outside at night. So far, he has maintained his life. We shall see, but every time he goes out at night I will think of your devotional and its message.
Thank you.
Dear Jeanie, Although your devotion carried a serious message, it provided me with a good chuckle! Yes, there are many ‘crazy, dumb clucks’ in this world, including me at times. Thankfully, Jesus forgives and rescues the fallen.
Keep up the good writing.
(ON, Canada)
Hi Jeanie. Loved the crazy Charlie story. Some of us get eaten because we think we are invincible. We are beyond danger. Others get eaten because we take risks that involve a matter of life and death. We just don’t put a high enough value on our lives. And then some of us get eaten because we can’t see the coyotes for the trees. We never knew we were in danger in the first place. In all 3 cases, however, we choose to do what we want. That is God’s gift to us. Free will. It can save you. Or it can kill you. Depends on how you use it. Doesn’t it?
Dear Jeanie,
I loved the title and I loved your devotional. As you say we all have a little “Charlie” in us and it is good to be reminded of what is important in our lives – to be humble in our faith.
I especially like the part that your daughter was doing something special for the people she works with. She was going the extra mile to put delight into their lives.
Thank you for sharing your experiences and it such an amusing way so that we could really absorb the lesson. May you have a blessed day and watch your “Charlie’s” appearance.
My son brought home a baby chick in a shoe box from Nursery School. The chick outgrew the box and we made a pen in the back yard. He was unhappy and so we bought a baby female chick who soon gave us an egg a day. The rooster continued angry. One day a thief carried away the rooster and the hen for his dinner. Problem solved – We need our Faith in God and Jesus our Saviour to direct us or the thief will take over.