Don't Let A Bird Build A Nest On Your Head!
by Barbara Chadwick



Last night my dishwasher had one minute left on the timer. I opened it and took out some forks to set the table for dinner and didn't close it all the way. As we were eating we heard a beep beep every couple of minutes. We kept talking about it and looking around us to see what could be beeping. Finally our grandson, Kenneth Ryan, walked into the kitchen and stood over by the dishwasher thereby discovering it was indeed the dishwasher beeping. He closed the door and in one minute it beeped that it was finished. I had left it open too long when it was trying to do it's work!

When the door of the refrigerator or freezer is left open too long it will beep. The oven beeps when it is preheated. The de-humidifier beeps when it is full. Then, of course, there is the smoke alarm. But I think you'd have to use a different word than beep. Maybe BONG!

Wouldn't it be neat if we had a beeper that would alert us when we're drifting away from God? When we tell a little white lie or we listen with relish to certain gossip or our eyes go where they shouldn't go?

Kenneth says you can't keep a bird from lighting on your head but you can keep it from building a nest there. Consider a temptation as DANGER and run from it - or at least duck!

Then what if we had a smoke alarm kind of sound, BONG, BONG, BONG if we started to steal something or commit adultery or strangle someone!

The devil wants us to trip up - actually he wants us to fail big-time. BUT -

...God is strong, and He wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well -made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to every - thing the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own., Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensible weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. Ephesians 6:10-18 The Message

And watch your head!

Some Days Are Like That

So today is Sunday. I knew it was going to be a busy day because our pianist is out of town and I’m filling in for her. Then directly after our two services we’re having a rehearsal in preparation for our Easter service in two weeks. Again, I will be filling in for our pianist. Then I woke up late but still in enough time to get ready. My daughter-in-law then informs me that someone got sick in the main bathroom and it’s all over the walls, floor, … etc. I’ll spare you the details. I decide to clean that up before getting ready, only now I have even less time. Then I remember that I also need to post, it’s my turn.

Argh … I have a couple of decisions to make: Gripe & Complain? Praise & Worship? Run away? There are always options available to me … some days it’s not as clear which ones I will choose to choose. I encourage you … and me, today to choose life! Choose worship! Choose God! No matter what your day is like choose God’s ways … and while you’re at it “let’s consider how to encourage each other” to do the same.

They Go To Church


Melissa came to Juneau to have her baby delivered. There is no one to deliver babies in her village in Alaska. She brought her boys, ages five and seven.

After they were settled in with the family where they are staying to wait on the baby. Melissa told the boys they would go to church with this family on Sunday. Five year old Jimmy's eyes got really big and he said in awe, "They go to church in Juneau?!" He was delighted and excited that even here in Juneau he could go to church.

Don't you just love a child's simple delight?

David said in Psalms 122:1, I was glad when they said unto me, "Let us go into the house of the Lord." and in verse 4: That is where the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, to praise the name of the Lord.

Have you had the experience of encountering a fellow believer in a strange place? Do you know that feeling of comraderie; that feeling of shared hope and the communion of love and grace that comes with the fellowship of the saints?

I remember being delighted when we met a fellow believer in a shop in Panama when we were on a cruise. An unexpected encounter like that can fill your heart to overflowing.

Paul writes to Philemon, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, to Apphia, our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home:

Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. Philemon 1-5

Making God Famous!

Mikala strolled casually into class dropping Tai’s wallet into his lap on her way to her place on the risers. “Thank you. I did not know it was missing.” His happy smile immediately changing to concerned fear as he checked the contents … no money, no house-key. He looked around in consternation, not sure what to do next. Mikala and everyone else in the class had their eyes on him and deep concern filled the room as everyone became aware of his predicament at the same time.

Mikala and Tai went to the office hunting the lost & found and trying to see what else could be done. Just after they left we decided to pray for them. Specifically, we asked God to help them find the money, and in case someone had stolen the money we asked that the person would be unable to stand it, that they would be so convicted that they could not even stand to have the money in their hands and they would just have to confess and turn the money in.

Turns out Tai’s money was supposed to buy a calculator for his cousin. Tai rides the bus to and from school and his house key obviously lets him actually get into his house, his uncle’s house. Tai is here on a school visa, the rest of his family live in Vietnam. He’s a senior at our private Christian school. I had found out recently that his cousin was attending a public high school here in town on a similar visa. Both boys feel that Tai really lucked out at the Christian school because of the treatment that he receives there. The other boy has had a hard time at the public school. Neither of them know anything about Christianity. Their family in Vietnam goes to the temple but they are not religious. Three days ago someone gave Tai his first Bible and it’s in Vietnamese. He was so excited to get it.

Because it was such a beautiful spring day and because we’d already run through our songs we went outside for the rest of the period.

“Tai someone turned in this key at the office. Is it yours?” asked the high school secretary.

“Oh yes, thank you!” Grateful, Tai accepted the key. Mikala started talking to the other students about collecting money to replace the $64 that had been stolen. Everyone was willing and interested in participating.

A few minutes later the secretary returned. The whole choir erupted in hoots and hollers. A lot of rejoicing and backslapping and congratulating went on till the bell rang. Apparently, the same middle school boy that had turned in the key was sitting in class and just began to cry. He came up to the teacher and confessed what he’d done and gave her the money.

Now here’s what’s so cool. Tai knew something about our God because he’s been sitting in chapel and Bible class for over six months. However, there’s been a bit of a language barrier so it’s not been something real and related to him. Then God decides to use these high school students to make His name famous! He sets up a situation that requires prayer, they pray, and then He comes through in a very personal way for a young man who’s already seeing the difference between Christians and non-Christians.

God You Rock! Thank You for giving me an opportunity to participate in making You famous to Tai!