Don't be a ' lost turkey' !
" When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ' Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep."
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"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."
~Luke 15:6-7
Find The Lost Turkeys Game
Rules: Game officially starts on Nov.1st
and a drawing of 3 winning entries will take place on Thanksgiving Day ~ Gobble, Gobble !
Clicking on the turkey will take you to My Daily News Post page where you can find more information on how to play the game and enter to win a prize.
God Bless You!
by Hiker Dan
As an avid nature enthusiast and hiker, my wife and I this past summer, had a unique experience to observe and study a flock of 11 turkeys that inhabit a nature center where we frequently walk in the evenings. When I awoke Oct. 28th with this idea for a game to play here on my Hiker4Jesus ministry, I believe the Holy Spirit wanted me to bring out a message that relates also to how fascinating it was for us to witness how God works in nature and cares for all His animals, birds, and How He works in all things. We can learn much from all of these marvelous wonders around us. That being said, I will share what I learned about turkeys.
I found it most interesting in how a ' lone turkey ' will run around haphazardly foraging about for food in the brush, appearing to be somewhat nervous and agitated, though not to say that it is not driven instinctively and would no doubt survive fairly well on it’s own. Or would it become a
' lost turkey ' and a victim of it’s own demise?
Howerver, when it joined the flock that was being watched over by a much larger and authoritative turkey (obviously the strongest and wisest turkey) who was guiding all the others it oversees through the day and night showing them the best way to go ~ the ' lone and lost turkey ' who was welcomed back into the flock ~ exhibited a much more peaceful and less agitated demeanor. It obviously to my eyes was trusting it's life fully to the head turkey who was protecting and watching over the entire flock ~ very much the same as Jesus our Lord and Shepherd will watch over each of His children whom He protects and cares for individually as if there were no others. How awesome and incredible has that reality been fully realized by me.
Witnessing this scenario a few times over towards the end of summer, as we sat quietly and watched this flock of turkeys, made me think not only of God’s children who do not yet know and follow Jesus as their own personal Lord and Savior; but also of us already believers who many times will stumble and become a little lost, and even fall down.
How many times have I myself strayed and found myself
' lost ' and in a dazed, uneasy, agitated state just like the wandering ' lone ' turkey when I was not paying attention to where Jesus was guiding me; hence I made bad choices and decisions that only led to even more unrest and agitation inside of me. Just like a ' lost ' turkey we can then become victims of our own circumstances and situations we find ourselves in ~ but the good news is that when we have Jesus to guide us and when we keep our eyes and ears focused on Him we will find that He will always lead us on the best pathway for our life, no matter what the circumstance or situation is as we mature and grow to become who we were meant to be as child of God in Christ Jesus.
" Without Jesus you will remain like the ' lone and lost ' turkey." ~ I can say that with the authority of what I've learned time and time over again in my own life and know to be the absolute truth as taught me by Jesus and His Word that I believe and trust in full faith as it is so written … in The Bible.
“ Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” ~ 1 John 5:12
The truth is that we can choose to reject His free gift of salvation and eternal life that Jesus Christ offers. John's Gospel tells us, "God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (3:17-18).
But, it you really want to be assured of your salvation, you can only do so by giving control of your life to Jesus allowing Him to save you from yourself.
God clearly states that whoever believes in Jesus Christ will be saved (v. 16). And the Bible stresses that we have only this earthly life in which to make a choice, do not be fooled for ~ there are no second chances after death and there is no other way.
“Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me.” ~ John 14:6
Jesus' free gift of salvation and eternal life is available to everyone, no matter who you are, what you’ve done in the past or wherever you are in right now in your life. You just need to sincerely open your heart and pray asking for His forgiveness and accepting Jesus for who He really is. Receive Him as your Lord and Savior and you will never have to wonder what awaits you in eternity ever again.
That is the message I share with you and I stand on every word as it was given to me today in my heart.
I thank all of you who have joined in the fun playing my game and I hope you were blessed in some small way at the same time. I always appreciate and welcome your thoughts on my Hiker Notes, so please leave a comment.
After I have the drawing on Thankgiving Day, you can check back here where I will post the winner's names and the Bible verses they have submitted.
God bless you my friend,
Prayers and blessings,
In all things Jesus,
Hiker Dan