2 Messengers: A Snake and A Cardinal

We had another conflict.  Some sinful patterns of the past were creeping back in to our Sunday morning routine.

I decided to drive to church alone with the kids.

A providential "prophet" slithered past Nate's gaze as he put his shoes on downstairs.  How could the timing of this snake be so precise?  Just when sin was creeping around, so was this messenger.

The irony was not missed by Nate.  He hastened to shut the door to the laundry room and block the crack, so the snake wouldn't escape during church.  Similarly, our conflict was put on hold and shut into a vault as a holding pattern during church.

"Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion [or a slithering snake] looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith."  1 Peter 5.8-9a

It was hard for me to sing.  I sat alone in the back corner of the service, pouring my prayers and heart out to God.  How would we get through this day?

The sermon was on Titus 2.3-5, which I had recently memorized.

"…younger women…love [your] husbands and children…"

Just when I was wanting to fly away from my nest…
Just when I was struggling so much to care for my children, when I needed someone to care for me…
Just when I was fighting against not wanting to love my husband…

Pastor Bob set me free when he reminded me of my identity in Christ:

"Before you're a woman, you're a worshiper."

"Husbands and children: the raw material for discipleship."

These marital conflicts are opportunities to see God's grace at work, to be refined in faith, and to worship Him more deeply.

Our church community walked with us through that struggle.  A pastor, an accountability partner, a friend….they met us there in the halls of grace.

Hours later, Nate went home on a mission…determined to hunt and kill that snake...

"that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray." Revelation 12.9

"For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God….Put to death therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature…" Colossians 3.3 & 5

Amazingly, that same afternoon I lifted the curtain to my bedroom window and discovered a female northern cardinal had built her nest in the branches of the shrub!

Was that just a coincidence?!  Certainly it was another messenger sent to teach me something beautiful.

A loving mama bird, huddled down in her nest, covering her baby eggs...content and singing.

"How often does that mama leave her nest?"  I wondered.  "What makes her sing?"

I knew God was reminding me that He called me to this family, to this nest, and to loving my husband and children.  He had made me first a worshiper of Jesus, and in that identity I can sing his grace.

"Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. 

Forgive as the Lord forgave you…

sing…

with gratitude in your hearts to God."

Colossians 3.13 & 16

The red cardinal, my mate Nate, flew to me, and together we sang God's praise.

*This post was published with Nate's approval & permission =)