Like a Chicken with Its Cut Off

I was reading a story on the internet today about a chicken that lived 18 months after having its head cut off. www.miketheheadlesschicken.org

In a nutshell, there was this guy who went out to the barnyard to behead a chicken for dinner. Unfortunately, the axe barely missed the jugular vein, leaving an ear with the majority of the bird’s brain stem intact – but it took off its head.

Well, according to the story, the chicken shook off the blow and went about being a chicken, still pecking with his neck (even in the absence of its head) and continuing to try to straighten and clean its feathers with its nonexistent beak. 

The guy waited for the chicken to die, but when it made no signs of doing so, he decided to have something different for dinner that night and he took to caring for the bird. He fed him things like milk and water through his open esophagus using an eyedropper. And, small bits of gravel were also dropped down his throat to help his gizzard grind food.

The chicken was initially able to walk but clumsily. It soon got used to the situation and its new center of gravity. But it could no longer crow, but instead made a gurgling noise.

The chicken died 18 months later.

Is there a lesson to be learned here? Perhaps like this ‘headless’ chicken, we, too, will live a limited, less than quality life if we’re running around without our ‘head’, trying to ‘make-do’ with what we have left of ourselves.

I’m not referring to just being overloaded with much busyness that leaves us exhausted and stressed out. I’m suggesting we consider it’s a greater problem than that when we’re disconnected from our ‘head’ – who is Jesus Christ. He is the Head and we are the body. We can grow up healthy in God only as he nourishes us. (Col. 2:18-20) Without our ‘head’, we will operate like the chicken without a head.

I don’t want to be like a chicken with my head cut off! I really want to be like the eagle that flies. Those of you who know me, know that this my favorite scripture:  “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”  (Is. 40:31)

FEAR is NOT just a ‘feeling’ –
it is a‘spirit’

So says God’s Word:
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 1 Tim. 1:7

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 Jn. 4:18

√Some common causes of fear:

1. Focusing on the temporal
            fear is paralyzing. It creeps up on you and overtakes your mind and thoughts (and, eventually, your body) and will render you powerless to function properly in your everyday life.

2. Believing the evil report
            fear is viral (spreads quickly over a short amount of time) in our world as we daily soak it in through the TV, media of all sorts, internet, blogs, and social media, just to name a few.

3. Accepting your circumstances
            fear dominates our thinking to the point of convincing us that our present state of affairs is permanent. It keeps us in state of being afraid by imagining all kinds of seeming giants in an attempt to intimidate us into a position of cowering in fear.

L I admit, personally, I have fallen into this trap too often.

I was greatly admonished this morning by the Holy Spirit as I read this from 2 Jn. 1:8  . . . . Look to yourselves (take care) that you may not lose (throw away or destroy) all that we and you have labored for, but that you may [persevere until you] win and receive back a perfect reward [in full].

J I am determined to not get so consumed with my problems and crisis' that I forget the great things God has performed for me in the past.

Have we read the entire quote of the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt who said,

As Christ is - so am I in this world!

As Christ is, so am I in this world!

So says God’s Word: 

In this is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 1 John 4:17

Therefore, I ask myself: 

• Does Jesus expect everything that He touches to prosper? Yes, He does! 
• Does Jesus expect good things to happen to Him? Yes, He does! 
• Does Jesus enjoy God’s unmerited favor? Yes, He does! 
• Is Jesus sick and carrying infirmities? NO, He is not!
• Is Jesus filled with guilt and shame? NO, He is not!

As Christ is, so am I in this world! 

♫ ♫  I STAND REDEEMED ♫ ♫

When I think of all my faults and my failures
When I consider all the times I've let God down
I am humbled by the grace He has extended 
I'm amazed at the mercy I have found
I could never earn His love on my own
Yet every time I come before His throne

Chorus:
I stand redeemed by the blood of the Lamb
I stand redeemed before the great I am
When He looks at me, I sees the nail scarred hands 
That bought my liberty
I stand redeemed

Even at my best I am unworthy
I have nothing precious I can give
A broken life is all I have to offer
And yet it's a priceless gift to Him
The bitter mark of sin will never fade away But  can come before Him unashamed

I See Grace

Here in these walls; here in these rows
There are those who regret the roads they once chose
More than the sorrow, more than the pain
There is joy for the way that
Through Christ they've been changed.

There are lives freed from bondage of sins once concealed
There are bodies and minds, spirits now healed
Those who found freedom and shook off the chains
From the long years of guilt, anger, and shame

I see grace; I see grace
In every life; on every face
Of the faithful who gather each week in this place
I see grace

There are those in this life who’ve been dealt a poor hand
They’ve overcome and by God’s strength they stand
Those who have come through unbearable loss
Not defined by the past but defined by the Cross

I see grace; I see grace
In every life; on every face
Of the faithful who gather each week in this place
I see grace

Story after story, one common theme
God’s power and glory in those He’s redeemed
Such tender mercy time after time
So many ways in this story that’s mine

I see grace;
Grace; I see grace
In every life; on every face
Of the faithful who gather each week in this place
I see grace

The faithful who gather each week in this place
I see grace; I see grace

Written by Jim Brady, Barry Weeks, and Tony Wood/Brady House Publishing/BMI/New Spring/Row J, Seat 9 Songs/ASCAP/Building Bridge/BMI

God's Eagles

God’s Eagles

By L. Y. Janes

God stirs the nest and makes you fly,
Then you begin to weep and cry;
His hand has failed and down you go,
With naught in sight but rocks below.

A dreadful sight and fast the fears

Take place as all hope disappears;
Oh, how you miss the downy nest,
But God has stirred it for the best.

He knows your lack of faith and trust,

He knows how for vain things you’d lust.
He knows you’d lean on men and creeds,
And would not to His Word take heed.

So from your nest He picked the down,

Left naught but thorns and briars around;
Then gladly you step on His wing, 
And to this thought you’d always cling.

But still on this you could not grow,
The way of God to fully know;
’Tis time to exercise your wings,
And get the faith that launching brings.

So—quick He lurches, down you go,
And help you cannot see or know;
Then to your wings you swiftly take, 
While fears increase, your heart to break.

Far down, down, you swiftly go, 

Until you’re near the rocks below;
Then quick beneath your trembling frame
He darts: you’re safe from care and pain.

This lesson He repeats quite oft,
Until you learn to soar aloft,
Above all troubles, trials and waves,
Until you learn Christ always saves.

From Death to Life!

When the last hour comes to the believer, and death and God's judgment appear before his eyes, he does not base his comfort upon his works. Even though he may have lived the holiest life possible, he says with Paul, "I am not conscious of anything against myself, and I feel blameless; but I am not vindicated and acquitted before God on that account. It is the Lord [Himself] Who examines and judges me." 1 Cor. 4:4

These words imply being ill pleased with self, with the whole life, indeed, even the putting to death of self. Though the heart says, "By my works I am neither made righteous nor saved," which is practically admitting oneself to be worthy of death and condemnation, the Spirit extricates from despair, through the Gospel faith, which confesses, as did St. Bernard in the hour of death:

"Dear Lord Jesus, I am aware that my life at its best has been but worthy of condemnation, but I trust in the fact that thou hast died for me and hast sprinkled me with blood from thy holy wounds. For I have been baptized in thy name and have given heed to thy Word whereby thou hast called me, awarded me grace and life, and bidden me believe. In this assurance will I pass out of life; not in uncertainty and anxiety, thinking, 'Who knows what sentence God in heaven will pass upon me?’”

The Christian must not utter such a question. The sentence against his life and works has long since been passed by the Law. Therefore, he must confess himself guilty and condemned. But he lives by the gracious judgment of God declared from heaven, whereby the sentence of the Law is overruled and reversed. It is this: "He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life".  Jn. 3:36

When the consolation of the Gospel has once been received and it has wrested the heart from death and the terrors of hell, the Spirit's influence is felt. By its power God's Law begins to live in man's heart; he loves it, delights in it and enters upon its fulfillment. Thus eternal life begins here, being continued forever and perfected in the life to come.

THE SERMONS OF MARTIN LUTHER
VOL. VIII, PAGE 244

♫  ♫  ♫ ♫ ♫  ♫  ♫  ♫

From Death to Life

Hymn written by Ulysses Phillips 

The Evening Light Hymnal 1949

From death to life, oh, what a thought!
Within my soul what change is wrought
By pow’r divine, no tongue can tell,
One thing I know—for me ’tis well;
From darkness unto light sublime,
Through my Redeemer’s matchless Name;
For this He left His home on high,
That I should not forever die.

Refrain:

Oh, praise the Lord for victory,
From death to life He lifted me;
By His great love and pow’r divine
Eternal life is truly mine.

There Jesus paid it all, I see,
To bring this wondrous life to me;
Life from above, oh, joy sublime!
That such a treasure should be mine;
Now in God’s Son I have a part,
Eternal life within my heart,
Translated from the shades of night,
Into the realm of glorious light.

A resurrection, I confess,
Has taken place within my breast;
I’ve been awakened from the dead,
And now I live with Christ instead;
And when I lay this body down,
To mold and crumble in the ground,
My ransomed soul shall fly away,
To one long, bright, eternal day.

There light and life without an end
Into eternity shall blend;
And I the Lord of life shall greet,
And worship at His blessed feet;
Then may I clasp His nail-scarred hands,
Which broke for me death’s awful bands,
By His great love; how could it be?
From death to life He lifted me.

John 5:24

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.