INFORMATION - Matthew 6:26 LOOK! at the birds of the air; (and pay attention to this) they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and YET your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are YOU not worth more than they?
I can see it now. Everybody stopped what they were doing and immediately began looking up for birds. Well if that was not the case then they must have closed their eyes and imagined watching birds. I wonder how many that it just went in one ear and out the other? For how many was it so simple to that they paid it no mind. Oh, and how many ignored it because it wasn't DEEP enough?
MEDITATION - I was surprised by these seemingly simple words and what they revealed to me and about me. Birds? If Jesus is telling us what they do not do then what exactly does a bird do?
And what a great place for an application. At first I really thought that a birds life was realtively easy. After two days of doing what Jesus said and actually looking (directing my eyes in order to see, directing my attention mentally upon birds) I found some things about a birds life that I hadn't considered. With my new found knowledge I don't find it easy by any means.
APPLICATION - On Saturday, Sunday and Monday observe the birds. Become a bird watcher. Write down a short description of the various birds you see and in just a few words what did you observe about them. And as always should anything be revealed to you that has life application please share it for some great rewards!
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Ok, so I'm sure there will be many more bird stories to come, but this just stood out to me yesterday on the way to Onething. I was just getting ready to turn onto SR 60 when ahead of me WALKING across the road was a dove. It was walking pretty fast crossing from the opposite side of the street I was on (I was in the far right hand lane). I didn't really think much about it, because past experience has taught me that surely the bird will get scared by the approach of my car and fly away.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm not sure if I can chalk this up as one of those experience that just doesn't fit the mold and that you can't just "assume" the outcome based on past experiences...or...maybe it was just a rogue bird (or a dumb bird) that just "happened" to cross my path...
But I quickly noticed that the closer I got to the bird, the quicker he made a point to position himself right in front of my 40mph travelling car. Right up until the last second of me still expecting he'll just lift his wings and fly away, I slam on my breaks causing close-following traffic behind me to swerve to avoid an accident to allow the bird one last chance to "decide" whether or not he would like to live today. (Call me an animal lover, I don't care, but I just couldn't bear the thought of killing something as innocent as a dove.)
Just as my car was nearly at a complete stop and I had quite a parade of honking cars in pursuit, the bird lifted itself effortlessly straight up in front of my car and flew away. Almost like a "Did you see me? No, really, I didn't want you to miss me." It was wierd...like it was planned or something.
The only thing that came out of my mouth (yes, to the bird) was "DO YOU NOT HAVE WINGS?"
I "humphed" and drove on realizing the ridiculousness of me shouting at a bird while in my car. I thought "that was crazy" and began wondering why the bird would choose not to use his wings and instead WALK across the street. It seemed not just "silly" to me but a waste of a gift. I found myself mentally placing myself in the birds "feet" (lol) and saying "If I had wings, I would use them."
And here's what all of this blabber comes to...
While trying to rationalize why the bird wouldn't use his wings, (was he hurt? were his wings broken? were the only 2 questions that seemed logical/justifiable at the time) I felt the Spirit come into my car and gently minister to me that I DO have wings...I do have "gifts" from God inside of me that I choose not to use (sometimes, honestly, because I forget I have them, othertimes because I see them there but honestly don't believe they'll work once I try to use them).
I don't want to waste a moment of this life of fulness God offers and promises me. I don't want to be so distracted by my fears/worry/unbelief that keep me from "using my God-given wings."
Someone once said, "Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, it is that we are powerful beyond measure."
I'm not sure if that little dove knew (God uses creation to testify about Him) that all this would come of his little near-death experience, but if I ever see him again, I think I'll thank him. :)
Oh! And I couldn't figure out how to follow you on the other blog, so for everyone's info, I have started a blog about my plant:
ReplyDeletehttp://ellienme.blogspot.com/
It is interesting that God feeds the birds which is true, but the birds don't have a carefree life. They have to find a place to build a nest, look for the food that God provides weather it be from plants or people who are moved to feed them. They have to find a mate, raise young, be on guard for predators. Get ready for winter or fly to warmer weather.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that their life is not without trial became apparent when a hawk swooped in and snatch a bird when I was watching brought in that God may feed the birds of the air, but some of the birds he feeds feed on the other birds. You do not get to just sit and eat with out having to use the rest of the sences God gave you as well.
Today I watched some birds. I watched them jump from branch to branch. It was almost like a military base, there were some birds who were standing guard some who were scouting out ahead. Yet they weren't concerned about the squirrel in their tree. Not sure what I can draw from this yet but I'm pondering it.
ReplyDeleteI saw birds in many forms this weekend! I saw several just chilling out on the powerline. I saw many birds flying in the air without a carry in the world. They were vary carefree. There is an ostrich in a animal farm near my house, he was either eating or watching cars drive by. I heard and saw many birds in the courtyard at Onething. They were hopping around or flying from one tree to another. I saw birds in pictures that were flying. I saw birds in clothing, as statues, I even saw some Flamingo eyeglasses. I know I probably got a bit carried away finding the birds, but hey it was fun finding the birds in many ways. Just take a look at my facebook page for my birdwatching. I saw a cowbird walking in the grass area of Sonic looking for food.
ReplyDeleteMichelle and I were on our way to Ybor City and painted on the side of a building were a huge set of eagle eyes. While we were at Ybor city I saw several birds that were hopping around looking for food or just chilling until someone walked by them and scared them away. We were down by the port today and saw several seagulls. I named them all Scully from the movie The Little Mermaid.
When we came home Michelle had told me about some peacocks that she saw in the neighborhood and she told me to drive down a street, sure enough there were like 10 or more peacocks. I saw baby peacocks walking around w/ it's mother. They were so cute. They were very peaceful just walking around in the neighborhood. It was as if they were not scared of the people in the neighborhood, because they were near me and another family that happened to be walking in the neighborhood.
A little disconcerting...after intentionally looking for birds and getting frustrated that I wasn't seeing as many as I had hoped, the first one I see is a dead blue heron in my grandmas yard. :(
ReplyDeleteSaturday night I got to feed one of my favorite birds - ducks! They seem so carefree and weren't afraid of coming close to me (a stranger). I found that interesting.
Noticed a flock of white ibis birds travelling to a pond in a gated community Monday. Realized how different their group mentality is from my own personal independent reality. I wonder if the 'trip to the water hole' is mundane to them as my routine activities are often for me.
Great comments and as you all know you're getting a ceramic bird decoration to put on your plants pot. That is those of you whom have participated and commented.
ReplyDeleteHi Ed, I'm sorry I haven't yet done this application. We spent almost 20 hours in the hospital on Sunday waiting for my nephew to be born, and I've been really sick with the flu since.
ReplyDeleteOk, So i was watching the birds fly by and watching their wings spread wide, And thought what a beautiful creature.
ReplyDeleteThen i thought, What about vultures, Not so beautiful, Such disgusting creatures, Always flying around looking for dead carcuses.
But then the revelation came to me, They just eat like the rest of us, They don't actually murder anything, Their not as bad as i thought they were, Good vultures
ive always found it interesting that birds, or any animal for that matter, just know.. instinct, you know? there is no one to teach them, they just follow what is already inside of them, and react to what is already around them.
ReplyDeletewhat if the spirit was OUR only instinct? c;
sad to say, vulures where the only birds ive seen on the road. i was hoping to see something native to each state. BOOO!