 The other morning I watered my hanging basket of petunias only to find that a house finch had decided to make its nest and lay some eggs! I had been watching her and her mate visit my basket many mornings! My fear...that they would build a nest - and many mornings I would shoo them away hoping they would seek another location. Then, as quickly as overnight, they did not heed my warnings and they built a nest anyway! I didn't realize it until I had already handled the basket and began to flood it with water. My petunias needed a drink! Not all was totally lost! One little birdie survived.  Spiritual Application: How many times do we not heed the warnings of the Holy Spirit and do what we want - what we think is best or easy?! The the flood waters of life come and drench us. We built our "nest' where we had no business and then chastisement appears! Sometimes God takes those choices we have made and turns them for what seems okay, and other times, the outcome doesn't look so good - or so we think! Perhaps the "best" was sacrificed for "good!" (One little egg floated out of the nest and the baby bird never hatched.) At the end of our decision making, there is much benefit to be gained - good fruit or a lesson well learned. What could or would it have looked like if I had paid attention to the warnings of the Holy Spirit? What would His best have looked like? Why didn't I seek your will...first?! The moral: Take heed! Don't dwell where you have been warned! I had not realized it until much later that one of the eggs had floated out of the nest. It never got the attention and care that its mommy and daddy bird could provide. I knew I couldn't remove it for fear of ruining everything for the one egg that remained. I couldn't help but think, "If they had only paid attention and heeded my warning, the best for them would have taken place." In my imagination, I have seen myself as those anxious birds. In a hurry to make something happen. Finding something that seemed safe (the basket). Already prepared, not much work would need to take place (since the petunias appeared as a nice bed for my task). After the "flood," everyday I saw that lone egg, tossed aside, the remains of what could have been. I had taken matters into my own hands and had placed my trust in something that wasn't designed for that particular purpose. If I only would have paid attention to the warning signs! 
This is true as children of God. We must learn to obey the voice of the Father if we want things to go well for us. But first we must learn to listen! These two words seem to go hand in hand throughout the scripture: Listen and Obey I encourage you to do a word study or search throughout this week on listening and obeying. "Listen to and Obey my voice, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you that it may go well with you." Jeremiah 7: 23 If today were my last day on earth, my words to you would be this:
I'd like to leave you with a few scriptures to ponder. It is rare that we hear sermons that admonish us. It's wonderful to be a child of God, but it is painful when He chastises us in love! 6 "For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”[a] 7 If[b] you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:6-11  Numbers 32:23 "...Be sure your sin will find you out! "Moses is speaking of one particular sin, that being a stubborn refusal to wholly follow the Lord!" ~ David Wilkerson Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." God Disciplines His Sons Hebrews 12: 5,6 5And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to children, My son, despise not you the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of him: 6For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and whips every son whom he receives. … Psalm 94:12 Blessed is the one you discipline, LORD, the one you teach from your law; Seeking to obey His every command and not jump ahead, Sherry
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