The bird lesson

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?  Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Matthew 6:25-27

I was baffled and at the same time concerned about the bird laying her eggs out in the open, exposed to the elements. As you can see from the picture, it is such an odd spot for a bird's nest.

I was wondering why she chose the exposed location to lay her eggs. Why didn’t she hide her nest behind some plants or some sort of shelter? Wasn't she afraid of being attacked? How would she gather her food?  She would have to leave her eggs alone while she searched for food. Wasn't she concerned about that?

The bird didn't realise that she was teaching a massive lesson about worrying.

“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them.”

The bird wasn't worried about anything because our Heavenly Father feeds her.  The bird is a reminder that our Heavenly Father knows what we need and He will take care of it!

Trust in the powerful, limitless God because He is faithful.

Thank you Lord for the simple yet powerful message!

Fragrance of Christ

“For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” (2 Corinthians 2:15-17 English Standard Version (ESV)

“Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.” (New Living Translation)

This verse struck my attention this morning, in particular the first part, ‘For we are the aroma of Christ…..’

 

My mind associated the word aroma with a mental image of a burning incense or perfume being sprayed. The fragrance it gives out is pleasantly sweet. The sweetness attracts me to it and makes me want to ‘hang around’ it. The sweet fragrance will also drive or stimulate my curiosity to want to know the brand or the origin of the smell.

Just like the burning incense or the perfume, as we spend time with God, our knowledge of Him grows. We learn about who He is and who we are because of Him. As our knowledge grows, our lives, our behaviour changes. The old is gone and the new ways take over. Where ever we are whether at work or out in the community, we carry the fragrance of Christ. People will see who Christ is through our words and our actions. Our Christ-like aroma that is like a pleasantly sweet perfume will first attract people then cause them to seek the Source of the sweetness.

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.” (2 Corinthians 2:14)

Sometimes it takes a mountain

"Sometimes it takes a mountain
Sometimes a troubled sea
Sometimes it takes a desert
To get a hold of me
Your Love is so much stronger
Then whatever troubles me
Sometimes it takes a mountain
To trust you and believe." 

 lyrics from Gaither Vocal Band


Thank you Jesus that your LOVE is so much stronger! I know that I can lean on You no matter the circumstances!