Tag Archives: unexpected challenges

There’s a Peacock at Your Door!

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I wrote of turkeys that were at my neighbor’s door, as some of you may remember from a previous blog. The truth is, we never know what bird… or life circumstances might show up at our doors.  Sometimes a new day simply brings routine activities; other days we may find surprises awaiting us, and at other times we will be confronted with challenging circumstances.

…And then there are those days when “extraordinary” shows up.

Such was the case for my sister.  She lives in Florida, and recently heard a pecking at her patio door. After investigating – she found that the noise came from the pecking of a beak.   Behind the beak stood a vibrant array of colors – in the form of a magnificent bird.  Yes, a peacock was at her door. IMG954669

She was amazed that this beautiful creature resided in her state, and even more astounded that it was  “knocking” at her back door.  She certainly didn’t expect that.

This glorious creature at my sister’s door reminded me that too often I can make God too small in my own eyes, and forget that He specializes in the impossible and unexpected.  The God who spoke the world into existence, rescued men from mouths of lions and fiery furnaces, and raised Jesus from the dead is the same God who lives in me today. Amazing!  I pray to have more and more of the kind of exceptional faith that believes in the “wonder of what God can do”  – which Jesus described after raising Lazarus from the dead.

40 “Did I not tell you,” replied Jesus, “that if you believed, you would see the wonder of what God can do?”  Jn. 11:40 (JB Phillips translation)

What do you believe God can do in your life?

In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice;

        in the morning I lay my requests before you

        and wait in expectation.  Psalm 5:3

You just never know when something unexpected and magnificent may be knocking at your door.

When the Chicken Hits the Fan

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So, lately I’ve written about an electric fan, and various birds.  That combination reminded me of a conversation that leads to today’s post.

There is an odd commercial I have noted of late.  It is an advertisement for directTV, and follows an unlikely and absurd domino of events in a person’s life that could have been “avoided” if they had only purchased directTV.  The commercial reminds me of a conversation I had with someone several years ago.

I noticed this “someone” (I’ll refer to as “person”) had a black eye.  I inquired as to the cause of this malady.  The conversation that ensued went something like this:

Me:  How did you get the black eye?

Person:  Because of the chicken

Me: Because of the chicken?

Person: Yes, I had a friend over and they brought their pet chicken.

Me:  A pet chicken?  So what does that have to do with your black eye?

Person:  I didn’t appreciate him bringing a chicken into my apartment so I asked him to leave and he didn’t.

Me:  And?

Person: So I took the chicken and threw it in the air…but it hit the fan.

Me:  What??!!  Was it ok?

Person:  Lost some feathers, but it was ok…but the guy was mad that his chicken hit the fan.

Me:  And so he punched you?

Person:  Yes, he punched me.  He’s not coming back.

So, I would have never guessed the progression of such a seemingly illogical chain of events.

But, I’m on a bird theme of late…so could not resist sharing this remembrance.

However, while I laugh at this chain of events, I can sometimes be just as disjointed in my chain of thoughts and prayers.

I understand why the scriptures depict prayer as hard work.  Often, I have to wrestle in prayer to keep my concentration.

Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.  Col. 4:12

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.  1 Peter 4:7

I know Satan does not want me to pray as these scriptures teach, as prayer unleashes the power of God.

Sometimes I can begin to pray as I praise and thank God and pray for many situations and people…and then the “chicken hits the fan” so to speak.  I begin with full concentration and then as I pray for my friends and the woman I met at the grocery store who wants to study the Bible….I remember what I need to purchase at the grocery store, which reminds me of the meal I need to schedule next week.  Then I pull it back in focus and pray for people and places in mission work, which reminds me that I need to book our flights for our trip next month, and I hope they have the wandering seat problem fixed by then, and oh yeah, I need to make sure the dogs are taken care of …..

Am I alone in attention deficit prayer temptations and challenges?  I doubt it, otherwise we wouldn’t have the need for the scriptures above and below.

Col. 4:2

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Prayer is not easy, but oh so necessary.  It is also an incredible privilege.  Given my propensity to do several things at once (to help concentration, really) I like to walk and pray… or to pray out loud and with someone. I know that prayer truly makes a difference.  I desperately need to speak with my Father and amazingly, he wants to hear from me.