The Rooster

 THE ROOSTER

The picture above shows a sculpture tableau carved into the outer wall of the Sagrada Familia Church in Barcelona, Spain.  If you look closely you can see a square carved rooster on top of the column just over Peter's shoulder.  Imagine that the rooster has just crowed.  Notice the dejected droop of Peter's shoulders and the sorrow etched across his face as he realizes what he's done.  Only hours earlier, Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times," Matthew 26:75.

A rooster sits atop a church in St. George, Bermuda

Poor Peter.  His failure is recorded there in scripture for all the world to see.  In fact, I've noticed roosters atop many a church and cathedral during our travels, and it always makes me think of poor Peter -- with a constant reminder of his sin.

Rooster atop cathedral in Harlem, Netherlands

The fact is, Jesus forgave Peter, just as He forgives you and me when we sin.  He plainly tells us that "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness," 1 John 1:9.

I wonder if seeing all these roosters that symbolize Peter's sin, is meant to remind us of God's forgiveness rather than the need to continue remembering all of our sins.  Does not God say to us in Psalm 103, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us," verse 12.

The sight of the rooster might also be a reminder that we need to put on the armor of the Lord, because it is far too easy to fall into sin.  Only hours before Peter sinned, Jesus told His disciples, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation," Luke 22:42.  We're also reminded in Psalm 119, "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You," verse 11.

Jesus loved Peter - and loves him still.  Peter devoted his remaining life to sharing the Love of Christ and spreading God's Word.  He ended up dying a martyr's death, refusing to ever again deny His Lord.

Rooster atop a church in Stockholm, Sweden 

How about you and me?  Whether we see a rooster, or not, let's remember Jesus' words to "pray," and the Psalmist's words to hide God's words in our heart -- all so that we will not sin against Him.  "And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom.  To Him be glory forever and ever.  Amen!" 2 Timothy 4:18.

The Fish and the Coin

 The Fish and the Coin

    My granddaughter was so excited when she caught her first fish in a lake in South Carolina.  It was a nice looking fish and we were all happy for her.  Not surprising - there was nothing in its mouth but a hook.  

     Let me tell you a fish story.  One day, about two thousand years ago, Jesus instructed Simon Peter to go to the Sea of Galilee and catch one fish.  The fish may have looked very much like the one my sweet girl is holding, but with one difference.  Imagine Peter pulling the fish from the sea, opening it's mouth and finding a coin sitting there waiting for him.  Sound strange?  Here's how the story goes -

      Jesus and the disciples were in Capernaum when one of the temple tax collectors asked Peter if Jesus had paid the temple tax.  Jesus didn't want to offend those in the temple, so he agreed to pay.  That's when he told Peter, "Go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first.  And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you," Matthew 17:27.

        This is one of those little stories about Jesus that's contained in a mere four verses, easily missed and often taken for granted.  But, think about it.  This is just as much a miracle as the feeding of the five thousand and turning water into wine.  How did this coin get into the fish's mouth?  Why was the coin not swallowed?  How did the coin happen to be just the right amount needed for the tax?  How did the fish just happen to be in the spot where Peter cast his line that day?  

          I believe someone dropped the coin into the sea just as the fish swam by.  The fish grabbed the coin in its mouth and God led the fish to swim to just the right spot at just the right moment so it could bite Peter's hook.  However it happened that day, it's a miracle that shows the Almighty power of God in every single facet of life -- and I love it!

         This is a perfect illustration of Isaiah 46:9-11:  "For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning...saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,' calling a bird of prey [or a fish] from the east, the man who executes My counsel, from a far country.  Indeed I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass..."

       

         I get excited when I think of all the miracles God is still performing in our world today.  What an amazing blessing to be loved by an omnipotent God who holds every bit of everything in His hands and has complete control of it all!

          "Oh, give thanks to the Lord!  Make known His deeds among the peoples!  Glory in His holy name," Psalm 105:1-2. 

           Wanna go fishing?

More License Plates

MORE LICENSE PLATES

 Since we're looking at license plates in this post, I figured a couple of really nifty cars would be appropriate.  The car above is a Bentley convertible, priced well over $200,000 - in other words, the cost of a modest home.  It was parked along the street in Monaco, which boasts many crazy-cost cars.  The sleek, ultra-expensive Aston Martin below was parked outside the church where Grace Kelly was married and is buried.  I'm quite happy with my little black nine-year old Toyota Camry, thank you very much!

I can't help myself, I enjoy clever license plates.  My last list was in August, so - maybe this will be a semi-annual list.  Hope you get a chuckle from them.  Here's the latest plates I've been collecting:

LVMIPIG      757LIVN     FRST BYT     GOD AWSM      N2HAPPY

PPL SUK     BADWLF4     XSLRATE     BEYRSLF     GEEZGRL

HUM4GOD     ELTN JON     FNLY RET     WILD GRL     4WINKY

NVR4GT     NT RIGHT     SO N LUV     CHEMYST     BNVLNT

MACABRE     EVL WMN     FAVR     PIXY DST     VERY L8

LUMBRMAN     MLRTYME     SUNFWR     DSNYLND     LUV R

SEL HME     GD2AIR     LKSDE OH     4T TWO     VINO MAN     RSDNT

Here's a Christmas classic:  GRINCH

This plate is on a little yellow Volkswagen:   A YOLK

The words people choose to put on their car's plate is usually a reflection of their personality, an attitude, or some special interest they have.  You don't have to sport a specialty license plate to give off a reflection to people you come into contact with.  The question is - what special interest or attitude do you reflect with your life?  Jesus says you should, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven," Matthew 5:16.  In other words, BSM$RT and show that UGOTGOD by your attitude and your interests.  

Beauty From Ashes

 

Beauty from Ashes

In the book of Isaiah, God makes a fascinating promise.  He says He will give His hurting children, ”beauty for ashes.”  This means He will turn something that seems bad into something good. 

In Greek mythology, there’s a bird called the Phoenix.  At some point in its life, the bird bursts into flames.  The Phoenix then rises from the ashes of its flaming death and is reborn more beautiful than before. 

 

            While the story of the Phoenix is only a myth, the work God does in the lives of His children is very real.  By the power of God, you can rise from the ashes of your burning sorrow.  You can become stronger and more beautiful than ever before, and, yes, you can once again be filled with joy.

 Do you think the Phoenix had a story to tell to her other bird friends after her miraculous transformation?  Can you imagine her describing the fear and pain she felt as she endured the horrible flames?  And then when she rose from the smoking ashes with singed feathers and burning feet – how might she explain her deadly experience?

When her friends saw how she overcame such a fiery death and rose from the hot ashes more beautiful than before, do you think they listened more closely to what she had to say?  Do you think her story might have made an impact in their own lives?

 “To give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified,” Isaiah 61:3 NKJV

           When beauty rises from ashes and joy replaces mourning, people notice.  They’ll see a difference in your life and they’ll listen more intently to your story.  Like never before, you’ll be in a position to be called a “tree of righteousness,” and your story will bring glory to Almighty God in ways you never imagined.

We were placed on this earth to have a right relationship with God and to bring glory to His name.  Let’s rise from our ashes and proclaim our beautiful story to a watching world.

             Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

» List things in your life you consider to be ashes (failures, losses, heartaches, hardships, etc):

» Can you think of good things that have come into your life from, or as a result of those ashes?

» In what way does your story bring glory to God?