.....HENS AND GOD.....

...how often I have longed

to gather you together

as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings...

And Jehovah God said unto the serpent

because you have done this

you are cursed...

Jesus,  I pray for your children who are reading this message.  Lord, I don't know what you are going to speak through my fingertips, but I do know Father, that Your name will be glorified.  Bless your Word today, in Jesus name, I pray.  Amen

Four days ago I noticed something wonderful.  I am a backyard keeper of my little lovlies, my hens!  My sweet husband had a chicken coop made for me.  I have 6 hens (different types) and one rooster, named Pop-Pop.

One of my favorite, precious hens decided she was going to sit on her eggs, this was May 20.  I noticed she was sitting on all the eggs-  I had green eggs, dark brown eggs, brown speckled eggs, and the white ones too.  

She was a fierce protector!  I called her my little pterodactyl (dinosaur) because that is what she sounded like.  She would puff her feathers like a turkey and screech.  She never bit me, and always allowed me to pet her and scratch her head.

Well, on June 10, I went out to feed her, and lo and behold, the morning ritual of screeching and feather puffing, out pops a little head. 

Her sitting paid off-  She was protecting two little chicks!  Two days later, one more.  The next day one more!  

Her coop was a stinky mess, so I decided to clean it, and move her and her babies to a safer environment.

Yesterday morning, I felt like something was very wrong.  My husband and I were going to do chores.  Him one direction, me the other.  What I felt, and heard was terrible.  My chicks were screeching.  Crying out-  "Grammy, Help!!!" ((I told you I have a great imagination))  I ran to the back.  That was the longest run- because I knew something was very wrong.  

First thing I noticed was my chick was stuck.  Her head and wings were stuck in different holes and she was screaming up a storm.  The other chicks were by her, when I looked up to see the commotion, to my sheer terror, and worse nightmare, a big four foot snake was wrapped around my mother hen.  It's backend was like a boa constrictor, smothering the life out by crushing her.  My nightmare was seeing this big ugly snake who had her head all the way in it's mouth sucking the breath out of her.  Worse, I didn't have anything to kill it with!

So I screamed for my Pa to help.  He got my grabber (a devise my brother-in-law used to pick up cans) and as I ran to get it and back to my babies, this was the longest 1/2 acre run ever.  As, I grabbed the snake by it's ugly head, I ripped its ugly mouth off her face.  That thing was strong, and didn't want to let go.  I got him by his neck and tried to squeeze the life out of it, while I was waiting for my pa, and his rifle.  When, he got there, I pulled this monster (no exaggeration) out of her cage and it tried to get away.  My husband shot the sucker in half, got the shovel and cut off its head.

The damage done was my baby was dead.  My favorite hen, best egg producer and one of her babies, gone too.  I was so upset, still upset as I am writing this.

When I woke up tonight to write this, I was thinking about how God loves us so much.  The hen and chick scripture came to my mind, but also the snake-thief scripture also came to mind.

You know, the ones who have grown up in church know the devil as a snake.  He's a serpent, and he is cursed by God.  I think of how this serpent wants to destroy us.  He does his very best to kill us.  He tries to steal from us- especially all that God has given.

This jealous serpent- wants what we have.  

He can't have what God has given to me! 

Do you know just like in this terrible story about my hen that I just wrote about, that God loves us so much?  He gathers us up, under the shadow of His wing, and protects what belongs to Him?  He is a vicious protector.  He sends His angels to protect us, to surround us, to watch over us fiercly.   Because just like the snake in my story, there is one out there who wants to do the same to anyone that will let him get close enough.  He will kill you- and not think twice about it.  And sometimes, snake that he is will plane catch you unexpected.

He doesn't care if he destroys your life-  or robs you blind.  What if we, allow the things of this world to subtly be accepted- then here comes the bamb!  We are blindsided.  Can't escape.  Trapped.  Ones around us cry out-  and here comes God to the rescue.  Praise God for the ones who cry out on our behalf!

In closing, I love this scripture in Romans 16:20, that says... And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.  The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

This enemy is on a short leash.  God has given us authority to bruise this Satan under our feet.  

The first thing, had I had a weapon of some sort was bruise/cut off the head of the snake.  My first thought and instinct was to kill this snake.

No snake is safe at my house!  The serpent is cursed.  No matter what kind of snake it is.  A snake is a snake, and like my friend Di says, a good snake is a dead snake!  Amen sister!

Father, our Protector, thank you for being there for us.  Even when we are foolish, you still gather us under your wing and protect us.  There are some who don't want Your protection, and that is sad to me Lord.  Because there is a serpent out there who will gladly kill, steal and destroy them without remorse.

I pray protection over your children, in Jesus name.  I pray away the preditor.  I pray away the enemy and pray the Blood of Jesus to protect us.  Protect our doors and windows (spiritually and physically)  Cover every sqaure inch of what belongs to you (which are your children called by your name) with your protection.  Give us courage to bruise the snakes neck.  To cry help,  and kill this snake.  We are the ones who have the upper hand, authority, dominion, power and might, in the mighty name of Jesus.  The power of God backs us up, gives us courage against this enemy, and we are HOSTILE toward him.  We utilize your Word, backed by faith, to shorten his leash even more.  He has no power or hold over us.  Greater is HE Jesus- who lives in me.  This enemy, devil has no power over me.  Hallelujah.  So with this I thank you for your protection, your guidance and giving me courage, when I jumped in and wanted to destroy this nasty thing, without fear.  Thank you for showing me that by the power and authority of Your Word, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  

Thank you that we are Your children- and that You love us, and tuck us tight under your loving protection, always and forever.  In Jesus name.  Amen Jesus.

Have a blessed day!  

You are empowered by God- be strong and of good courage!  Do not fear, nor be dismayed.  For the Lord your God is with you- everywhere you go!  He fights your battles!  In fact, the battle belongs to God.  Scripture says, he will not forsake you, or even fail you.  

Let us do ourselves a favor, and wait on God and Hope in Him.  He has this-  our life is in His hands.

Will you trust Him to take care of you?