Saturday, May 31, 2014

It's Not Just "For the Birds"

Matthew 6:26 (ESV)
"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"

Outside my kitchen window, a sparrow of some sort, perhaps a "Common Redpoll" according to a photo I looked up, built a nest underneath the porch rafters. I had considered early on discouraging it from building its nest there, but then decided I would enjoy having such a close view of the nest, to see all the "stages" unfold before my eyes.

It HAS been fun to see the momma bird come and go, trying to keep up with what looks like FOUR hungry mouths to feed! Oftentimes when I hear the clamor of little baby birds chirping, I know that the momma bird has returned with food; I hurry over to the kitchen sink, and from my "front row seat" (window), I get to watch all the activity.

In my Bible reading this morning from Psalm 104:27-30, I read this:
27 "These all look to you,
    to give them their food in due season.
28 When you give it to them, they gather it up;
    when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed;
    when you take away their breath, they die
    and return to their dust.
30 When you send forth your Spirit, they are created,
    and you renew the face of the ground." (ESV)

Every time I hear and see those little birds with their mouths wide open in eager and frantic expectation of food, I can't help but think of my own relationship with my Abba Father God and ask myself: Do I look to Him for my food--not just for my physical sustenance, but for my soul? Do I gather up the "soul food" he provides and allow Him to fill me with good things?

I do know that "when He hides His face from me," I am dismayed. But I do realize that He is not really the One who is hiding His face from me, but rather I have turned my back on Him and I cannot see His face when the "eyes of my heart" are looking in the opposite direction! I remember that when Father God turned His face away from His own Son who was bearing the sin and shame of the whole world on the cross, that meant that God would never turn His face away from His "adopted children," which includes me! So I am the one who must turn, must repent, and fix my eyes once more on Jesus, "the Author and perfecter of my faith!" (Hebrews 12:2)

As I went outside to turn on the sprinkler yesterday, I saw a little baby bird lying facedown on the ground, dead. Since it was only a few feet away from the nest I've been watching, I wondered if it might have come from there. I will see if I can count how many mouths are now still poking up out of that nest! As the baby birds have been growing quite rapidly, I figured it would not be very long before that little nest would become just too small to hold four growing birds! Perhaps that little bird grew impatient and decided he was ready to escape the nest and fend for himself. Perhaps he grew impatient waiting for his mother to return each time with something to eat. Or perhaps he was forced out, or even pushed (quite by accident, I'm sure!). Whatever the circumstances, his life was over before he got to see the world; however, its fall did not escape Father God's attention (Matthew 10:29); nor does any calamity that befalls me escape my Father's attention!

I'm reminded that not even death can separate me from the love of God! (Romans 8:38-39)

What does He require of me then? "To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Him." (Micah 6:8) He wants me to "walk in His steps," (1 Peter 2:21), to "taste and see that the Lord is good!" (Psalm 34:8)
"Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!" (Psalm 27:14)
"T
hey who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)

I'm going to continue watching this little bird family and try to learn more lessons!



  

No comments:

Post a Comment

Summer 2007 Collage

Summer 2007 Collage
Brittany mails her deposit for puppy; Piano recital with supporting "fans"; making music in our home; Family get togethers; baseball; new fence.

Family dinner in Chicago, 9JUL07

Family dinner in Chicago, 9JUL07
Brittany, Nan, Jim, Jenelle, Derek, Grant, & Evan celebrating Jenelle and Derek's 3rd anniversary (early) at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Chicago. Yummy!!!

Jenelle and Derek

Jenelle and Derek
It's always fun to have them come home for a visit! They got to spend a week with us over the 4th of July holiday. We celebrated their 3rd anniversary early by going to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Chicago.

New Patio Furniture to enjoy

New Patio Furniture to enjoy
Brittany, Evan, Claire, Jenelle, Derek, Grant, & Jim trying out our new patio furniture. Sadly, the new umbrella got destroyed in our Aug. 24 tornado!!! :-(

Coach Jim (and nephew Austin)

Coach Jim (and nephew Austin)
Jim coached our boys' baseball team, the Chicago Titans, in the Skyscraper League, Chicago. This was a lot of work, but Jim and the boys had some fun with it.

Chicago Skyline

Chicago Skyline
This was the baseball field near UIC where the boys played all their games this summer. It was quite a spectacular backdrop to view!

Our cute puppy, Sadie

Our cute puppy, Sadie
Grant liked this little puppy! Jim, Brittany, Grant, and Nan drove up to northern WI to get her (Golden Retriever) on July 22. She was fantastic for the 6 hour trip home!

Evan and "Sadie"

Evan and "Sadie"
This golden retriever puppy was such a cute 6 1/2 week old puppy. Evan worked at a private golf resort all summer, so he did not have too much free time, but in his few spare moments he would enjoy playing with Sadie.

Brittany and "Sadie"

Brittany and "Sadie"
And of course, Brittany loved Sadie! It was HER puppy. She had counted the days after Sadie was born in June until the day we could go pick her up! Nan loved Sadie, too, but caring for such a young pup combined with all the kids soon heading back to full-time at schools...was too much for Nan...and the decision was made to take Sadie back to her home in WI...where she was placed in a very good home with folks who raised golden retrievers! We had fun with Sadie for 6 days and we miss her! (You can see the new fence we put up in our back yard...for our doggie.)

Jim and "Sadie"

Jim and "Sadie"
Jim and Brittany drove Sadie back to WI after we had her 6 days. Sadly, Nan was the one who could not "cope" with all that would be involved in raising a dog. It has been one of the hardest things in Nan's life...to bring to an end the dream of her daughter to have a dog!

Grandpa turned 80!

Grandpa turned 80!
Grandkids: Brittany, Brandon, Grant, Austin, Jalen, Connor, LeAnn, Ethan, Garrett~think "Grandpa Wonderful"...

Grandma's turn was coming...

Grandma's turn was coming...
she also would turn 80 this year, so her grandkids helped her celebrate early. LeAnn, Brittany, Austin, Brandon, Grant Ethan, Connor, Jalen, Garrett

Happy 80th Birthday, Mom!

Happy 80th Birthday, Mom!
Randy(50), Nan (52), Mom(80), Anne (44), poolside in Morenci

Angelina, Grant, Evan, Claire

Angelina, Grant, Evan, Claire
Making summer memories...ready to drive to Cleveland, OH for a Kenny Chesney concert, with a stop in Morenci to introduce the girls to G'ma & G'pa; and enjoy the Randy Porter Family and their 4-wheelers! :-)

Grant-man leaving for Biola

Grant-man leaving for Biola
It was an early morning departure for Grant as he and Jim would drive the Ford Pickup Truck back to La Mirada, CA, where Grant began his 3rd year.

Sunrise Departure

Sunrise Departure
Nan and Grant take a "self-portrait"...photo booth style! Grant and Jim were leaving early in the morning to drive cross-country to California! Nan is smiling, but she is NEVER happy to see her boys leave home...again!

Evan-man heading back to Biola, 20OCT07

Evan-man heading back to Biola, 20OCT07
Mom says yet another "good bye" :-( We brought Evan home for a "mini fall break" so he could surprise Claire with an in-between-visit before Thanksgiving.

My Girls 9Sep07

My Girls 9Sep07
Jenelle (25 in photo, now 26) and Brittany (15 here, but now she's "sweet 16") are pure delights to my heart! They are truly "treasures" from the Lord! We enjoyed a Labor Day week visit from Jenelle and Derek. We LOVE having them visit!!!

Hello, Snow!

Hello, Snow!
First snow of December, day 1

Busy, Hungry Squirrel

Busy, Hungry Squirrel
Here's one of many squirrels we enjoy watching as they scamper and play in the snow. This one found a cob of corn and seemed to enjoy nibbling at it!

Squirrel eating his lunch...

Squirrel eating his lunch...
This squirrel was a lot of fun to watch as he dragged this cob of corn around our yard! I wonder if he carried it up into his hole in the tree!

One more squirrel photo

One more squirrel photo
I enjoyed looking out my kitchen window to watch this busy squirrel as he ate his corn. It is so marvelous how the Lord cares for meeting the needs of the wild animals! How much more He cares for us!!!