"There's That Chicken!"

"Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His godly ones." Psalm 116:15

Yesterday were doing school on the back porch when our "happy Monday" was shattered by the news of the death of our dear, dear friend in Ghana, Dr. Sam. We were so very blessed to have him in our lives for a season, and to have him here in our home just a few months ago. I am reposting what I wrote after his visit, and pray you will be blessed. We miss you, Dr. Sam. Oh, how we miss you.

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We had a wonderful time last night, enjoying fellowship in our home with our friend Dr. Sam from Ghana. He is such a dear man. It is obvious to all who are around him that he walks very closely with God. The Holy Spirit is clearly manifested in the way he talks and in the things he says. He hears from God. He speaks wisdom. He is absolutely fascinating to be with! So we sat last night around our dining room table soaking up what Dr. Sam had to say. I'm still processing most of it, so it will surely come out in my "blogging" at some point.

What I love about his testimony is that he wasn't always a Christian. He didn't accept Christ until well into his adult life. So he's gotten where he is spiritually in relatively few years, which really inspires me. I asked him last night when he began to really seek after and sense God's presence in his life, and when he began to actively listen for the Holy Spirit's "voice" for himself. He told the story of his 12 year old daughter, "W", who is a sweet friend of Bethany's.

When W was four years old, she came upon a dying chicken. This chicken was apparently lying on the ground, paralyzed, to the point of death. Dr. Sam (who is, in fact, a medical doctor) explained medically what had been wrong with the chicken. I'm not sure what he said, but the point was that it was clear this chicken was dying and that was that. Well, not for W. She went over to the chicken, laid her little four-year-old hands upon it and spoke healing for the chicken in Jesus' name. She claimed it, she believed for it. The matter was settled. Well, it was not long before that chicken was up and clucking around with the other chickens! That chicken had been healed! Dr. Sam said last night, "When I saw what the power of God would do for a chicken... I knew he would do that in my life too!"

Last night as Dr. Sam was leaving our house, Kyle showed him this picture that we have on our refrigerator. W drew this picture and sent to us earlier this year. I love that verse, and it is a reminder of our sweet Ghanaian friends each time I look at it. When Dr. Sam saw the picture his sweet daughter had drawn, he said "Ah, yes. There's that chicken!" Though I had heard the chicken story before, I had not made the connection. To me, the chicken represented the "feathers" and "wings" in the verse. But to the artist, it represented power!

Now I see that picture differently. I'm so glad I see the chicken! How often I'm a chicken. Not just a chicken, but one who can't move! If God can be called upon by a four-year-old to bring life to paralyzed poultry, He can certainly be trusted to infuse every area of my life with that same power, when called upon with believing boldness like that of a child.