Red Feathered Messenger

Have you ever tried to get someone's attention repeatedly only to be ignored. Persistently you raised your voice a little louder. It is frustrating when you are ignored. I wonder if God ever feels that way. I wonder if He tries harder and harder to get our attention. 

In recent days, God has gone the extra mile to get my attention. I mean the way extra mile. 

 I busied myself in study lost in sermon preparation a week ago. A thud on the window startled me out of my meditations. I looked up surprised to find a cardinal sitting on the window ledge outside. For the next three days that cardinal either ran into the window or set on the ledge 98 times. Yes, I kept count. 

The following day the same thing happened and the day after. The number jumped up to 137 times and then 156. He came over 200 times and counting. At last count, 261 times that cardinal showed up on the window ledge in a week and a half. At random times I would hear a thud and look to find my red feathered friend looking in at me. 

I started asking God what He was trying to show me when the cardinal showed up several times on the first day. Days went by with nothing. Eventually I shared it with the congregation on a Wednesday night. Four different people researched the symbolic meanings of cardinals and relayed it back to me. 

Here are the top things I took away. First, it represents God's presence and peace in distressing or trying times. That meant a great deal to me. Previous to the cardinal showing up I had trouble sleeping. I could not turn my mind off. Hundreds of thoughts constantly whirling. Most of the thoughts/prayers were focused on Spring Creek and leading us through growing pains. The joy of the growth has been tempered by the many ministry voids we the growth has revealed. Needing teachers, volunteers, additional classes and ministries have been continually on my mind. Asking God for wisdom and trying to discern His unique vision for Spring Creek have been in the forefront of my thoughts for weeks. 

God used that cardinal to bring me peace. 

Another interpretation for the cardinal showing up repeatedly came to me from a lady saying it means company is coming. In my circumstance, I took that to mean that God is continually drawing people to Spring Creek. Each week we see new faces. The exciting thing is to see all the young children. We went through a long drought where there were very few children here. I love seeing their smiling faces and their raiding of the candy jar after the worship service. Company is coming indeed. Which could lead me to more stress. 

God has gone to great lengths to get my attention. To replace my stress with His peace. He has prepared Spring Creek for such a time as this. I cannot tell you what comfort that has brings to me. 

It is very interesting as I write this, it occurs to me the cardinal has not shown up one time today. That is the first time in several days. Maybe God has sent His red feathered messenger to some other tormented soul who needs to be reminded God is present and in control. I will long treasure the memories of my red feathered messenger. 

The Hidden Rotten

 The discovery was not a pleasant one. Something that will go down in Edwards folklore for years to come. Turner looked for a menu we thought was in a back pocket of one of the two front seats in our Yukon. He did not find a menu but did make another discovery. One we all regretted. 

He found a rotten taquito wrapped in a plastic bag. The taquito had a bite taken out of it. The rest of it had turned green. Turner opened the bag and the rancid smell permeated the air, penetrated our nostrils, and turned our stomachs at the same time. If you have ever cleaned vomit, you have a good representation of what that partially rotten taquito smelled like. 

We finally ascertained when it had been left in that seat pocket. Months ago. We had no clue it lay hidden and rotting. It remained hidden for months. The rancid smell was self contained in the plastic bag. Once it was exposed it could no longer be ignored. 

Isn't that just like sin. It takes root in our hearts, souls and minds. Sometimes we do not even realize it has buried itself. We may forget it is there altogether. Then one day it surfaces. The rotten, foul, stench brings conviction from the Holy Spirit. 

There we stand face to face with the hidden rotten sin in our lives. We face a decision. Do we try to conceal the sin from others and keep up our religious appearance? Do we choose repentance and restoration with the Lord? 

Sadly, many try to conceal it. Afraid to be exposed. They lie to others and God. Many have dirty rotten sins they hate but cannot get free from. Like a foot caught in a bear trap, they are unable to free themselves. They pray. The pledge never to fall into the same sin again. They recommit. They fail and the whole cycle repeats itself. They are trapped. 

They are like the prodigal son. They have wandered from the faith and holiness. All seems fine for awhile. Until the hidden rotten rancid smell of sin eventually services. 

In those moments, we need to be reminded of some important truths. God loves and is willing to cast our sins as far as the east is from the west. Ps 103:12. It is His kindness that leads us to repentance. Rom 2:3-5. If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us all unrighteousness. I Jn 1:9. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1. He offers forgiveness, restoration, and freedom for those who will take it. 

When Turner opened that bag, I pulled over in a parking lot  and told him get out and find a trash can. I wanted that out of the vehicle. We should feel the same way about sin. We should want to get rid of it. We should want it gone. To be rid of it. To be free from it. 

Sin is not something to play around with. God desires truth in the hidden part of our lives. See Psalm 51. Truth in the parts we do not want anyone to have access. God wants to clean house. To sweep the corners. Once the rotten taquito was removed from the vehicle the stench soon faded. 

We can give off a stench too. Not of body odor. Rotten attitudes. Half hearted devotion. Lackluster service. Hypocrisy hiding authentic relationship with God. All give off a foul stench to those around us. We may be nose blind to it spiritually. It may be more evident and even repulsive to others.  It is time to remove hidden rotten sin from our lives.