Everyday for the past few weeks she has escaped; flew the coop… I’m assuming it’s because of “The Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side” syndrome.  The temptation of something better was luring her over the fence. She had everything she needed on her own side of the fence, plenty of food, a lovely courtyard to roam about in with the other hens, and one rooster.

Everyday Larry had to round her up and put her back in the pen. In his frustration he was starting to think “chicken and dumplings”. I’ve never figured out why they are smart enough to fly out and then run around like a chicken with its head cut off when it comes to getting back in. She would pace this way and that and circle the pen in a state of panic wanting to get back in and never figuring it out. Was the sky falling?

As of yesterday her flying days are over, at least for a while. Karla came over and showed us how to clip her wings. She raised parrots several years ago and would clip their wings. She still has two and they are quite entertaining. She showed us that clipping the wings is actually quite simple.

Hopefully by the time her wings grow back “Fly Girl” will have put away the thought of flying the coop again. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could have a little snipping procedure to keep us from discontent, from the temptation of forbidden areas? Well actually we do, we just need to put it into use. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Ps 119:11

Too often when a new  gadget comes along I find myself straining to reach the grass on the other side. I must remember to discipline myself with these words: But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 1 Tim 6:6-8

More often than not when I read the newspaper or listen to the news on TV, I find myself shaking my head in disbelief at what I read and hear. It reminds me of the following verses in Psalms.

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.  All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Ps 14:1-3

I have this picture in my mind as I read the above verse. I imagine God leaning over from his throne, searching, looking for any who understand, any who are seeking him. What he sees are the immoral, the liars, the corrupt, those who live by the violence of their own hands; crushing those who can’t defend themselves. Evil men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

One commentary I looked at describes the kind of fool mentioned in this text as one who has a moral problem in the heart, not a mental problem in the head. He also used the following quote “sinners can’t find God for the same reason criminals can’t find policemen — they aren’t looking”!

We all have a fallen nature we cannot change, and if not for God’s grace, none of us could be saved.

The text is referring to the sins of the Gentiles, yet today, no one has an excuse for not honoring God, because the whole created world reveals him. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Rom 1:20

It also reminds me of the ostrich with its head in the sand, thus the picture for today’s post.

I have longed for Spring this year more than any other time. Winter just keeps hanging on and I am ready for warmth and sunshine. Here in our neck of the woods it is still a bit slow in coming, although things are greening up and flowers are blooming. Spring is absolutely one of my favorite seasons.

Like many others I am beginning to feel energized and find myself in that “spring cleaning mode” and I begin to think too of a “spiritual cleaning of my heart”. We must remove clutter from our hearts, because Satan is waiting to come in and fill our hearts just as he did with Ananias and Sapphira. Acts 5:1-10 It is obvious that this was pretty serious since the penalty was immediate death for both of them. Their hypocrisy of Christianity mocked God and deceived others.

Eph 5:18 tells us we are to be filled with the Spirit and Phil 1:11 says we are to be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ— to the glory and praise of God.

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. Gal 5:16-17

If we let things of the world clutter our hearts we are in danger. God can meet all of our needs, the more we desire him the more our other desires decrease.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Eph 3:20-21

Occasionally Larry and I are a little slow getting around to things we want to do and places we want to go, but eventually we do get around to it. We have lived in our little town since November of 2005 and we are finally attending the monthly Skiatook Opry on Friday nights. The Opry is held at the Skiatook Auction Building. The show starts at 7:30 with a 15 minute intermission at 8:30 and ends at 9:30. Admission is $5.00 per person.

The band members are Clarence Ashlock, (rhythm guitar player) singer, Willie Ashlock (Clarence’s wife) singer, Chuck Smith (Lead guitar) singer, Ethyle Smith (Chuck’s wife) singer, Fred Tobin (Bass guitar) singer, Larry Cloyd (Steel guitar), Ron Shipman (Drums) singer, and Dale Shipman (Piano) singer.

We attended in March for the first time, “we” being Larry and I and Karla, and again this past Friday night. We took mom with us this last time. It is great family entertainment and the band plays to a packed house (usually around 300). Remember, we do live in a small town. People come from several other small towns too and several church groups also attend.

The band sings a variety of country favorites, southern gospel, and classic oldies from the early rock and roll era. Mix in a few jokes and skits and a couple of songs from the “Big Bopper” and you have been entertained. The band also has a guest singer each week and Friday night the guest was Gary Morris. That guy can sing!

We really have a great time and it’s hard for me to stay in my chair, (although I do). I thought mom was going to reach over and pinch me like she used to do when I was a kid squirming around in church. I’m pretty sure I got the “eye” from her a couple of times. In my younger days I was the dancing queen. Put me with some great music and my feet have a mind of their own.

Life in a small community is great and the people are warm and friendly.

Our next adventure will be to actually attend the Auction, hold on to your wallet Larry!

Hide-and-seek or hide-and-go-seek is a variant of the game tag, in which a number of players conceal themselves in the environment, to be found by one or more “seekers”. Wikipedia

I remember playing this with my brothers and neighbor friends as a young girl. I liked the hiding part much more than the seeking part. I didn’t like being caught off-guard, when the seeker would find me unexpectedly and scare the daylights out of me.

I have tried playing Hide-and Seek with God too, it never works either. We have all tried it, even from the beginning of time. Adam and Eve tried hiding from God after they ate of the forbidden fruit. Gen 3:8-10 Jonah allowed himself to be thrown overboard, only to be swallowed by a large fish in his attempts at hiding from God and not doing what God told him to do.
Jonah 1:1-17

I recall a story about a large bowl of apples, placed at the front end of a cafeteria line at a theological institution for the training of Christian leaders. The note attached read: “Take only one please, God is watching.” Well, some practical joker attached a note to a tray of peanut butter cookies at the other end of the line. It read: “Take all you want. God is watching the apples!”

That has been my attitude too often, trying to get away with my sins while “God is watching the apples”.

We can’t hide from God; he can watch the apples and the cookies at the same time. We may try hiding from him, yet he never hides from us. He wants us to seek him!

Ps 139:1-12 O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in — behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide mean the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.