Author: Kristi Wilson

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The Bucket List

A few years back a movie was released with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, Bucket List. I’m not a big fan of either actor but had heard about the movie and it was on TV so Dave and I watched it. The premise: What do you want to do before you die, what would make life feel complete. And not long after the movie’s release people began to ask “what’s on your bucket list” and to say “that’s on my bucket list”.

I’ve never made a bucket list. Imagine that. Sixty-six years old and no bucket list. I don’t believe it’s because I am not adventurous or that I’m unimaginative. No, quiet the contrary, but God has filled my life so full that there is nothing that I still need to do to feel my life is fulfilled. I have a wonderful husband, loving children and grandchildren, I get to share God’s word with you each day and I have a home I enjoy. I am blessed!

Oh yes, there are some things I would like to do – a Cinderella night with Dave, catch a marlin and go on a resort-style vacation but I live enjoying each day and what is in it.

Years ago I dealt with some issues of low self-esteem and loneliness. I needed to be needed. During that dark time the Lord showed me that what I needed was more of an awareness of His love and constant companionship. Jesus and I became a team; everything I needed was in Him. I guess you could say He became my bucket list. His name is at the top, the middle and the bottom.

In the 1980’s, a worship chorus was being sung in churches everywhere. It echoed what I felt in my heart.

“Lord, you are more precious than silver. Lord, you are more costly than gold. Lord, you are more beautiful than diamonds, and nothing I desire compares to you.

Lord, your love is higher than mountains. Lord, your love is deeper than seas. Lord, your love encompasses the nations, and yet, you live right here inside of me!”

There are many mornings, like today, when I wake up and those are the words that I going through my heart and my head. Yes, that is my bucket list – there is nothing that I desire that compares to the Lord.

“And let God All-Powerful be your gold. Let him be your pile of silver. 26 Then you will enjoy God All-Powerful, and you will look up to him.” Job 22:25-26 ERV

“Those who find wisdom are fortunate; they will be blessed when they gain understanding. 14 Profit that comes from wisdom is better than silver and even the finest gold. 15 Wisdom is worth more than fine jewels. Nothing you desire has more value.” Proverbs 3:13-15 ERV

In the book of James we are told to ask the Lord if we lack wisdom and He will give it to us generously. His Word is THE source of wisdom and it is provided to us freely.

“Do any of you need wisdom? Ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys giving to everyone. So he will give you wisdom.” James 1:5 ERV

Now there is nothing wrong with compiling a bucket list as long as we don’t base our happiness and joy on the items we place there. Jesus said He came to give us an abundant and overflowing life. Just make sure that the first item on the list is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and our relationship with them. That truly is what makes life complete.


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Step on Snakes

So some of you have seen the pictures I posted this morning of the rattlesnake that Dave killed at our front gate. I have to tell you the whole story because this is a real testimony to the protection the Lord provides.

Early this morning I let Glory out in the backyard. It’s the first thing she does in the morning. Out to take care of business. Before we came in she hurt her leg somehow; anyway, she back to me limping and crying. I took her in and look to see if she had a sticker or some sort of injury to her paw. She didn’t so I just massaged her foot and leg for a while. She limped to her foot bowl, ate and then laid down. I knew we wouldn’t be going for a morning walk.

When Dave got up she was still limping and so we decided we have another cup of coffee and not bother with the walk. As we were sitting there, Dave remembered that he needed to walk to the neighbors and put out their trash cans.

He put his flip flops on, grabbed the neighbors house key and out the door he went. In about a minute, literally, he was back in the front door.

“Man, that was close!” What? “There is a rattlesnake right out our front gate! It’s aggressive – striking. I need to get my shovel.” Out to the garage he went, grabbed the shovel and around to the front gate. The snake was on the move – he wasn’t under the cactus any longer but on his way across the sidewalk.

It should have been Glory and I going through the gate at that time.

Dave has much experience in killing rattlers, goes back to our days of farming alfalfa. He knows how to use a shovel with deadly force. I stayed in the house and I could hear it rattling from there. A couple of strikes with the shovel and the battle was over. He faced them down nearly everyday while we were farming.

Whew!

When we farmed alfalfa we learned to take this Scripture verse literally:

“I have given you the power to trample on snakes and scorpions and to defeat the power of your enemy Satan. Nothing can harm you.” Luke 10:19 CEV

It’s a verse we live by. So thankful for God’s protection!

“The Lord Most High  is your fortress. Run to him for safety,  and no terrible disasters will strike you or your home. 11 God will command his angels to protect you wherever you go. 12 They will carry you  in their arms, and you won’t hurt your feet on the stones. 13 You will overpower the strongest lions and the most deadly snakes.” Psalm 91:10-13 CEV

Just had to testify of God’s goodness and let you know you can ALWAYS depend on Him! Thank you Jesus!

By the way, Glory is fine now and no more limping.

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What Is Communion?

There are those who acknowledge the meaning of communion as heart to heart conversation between dear friends or loved ones. To some the answer to that question brings the image of a priest standing at the front of the church offering a wafer and wine to his parishioners. To others it will be quiet reflection on the sacrifice of Christ while remaining seated in the church assembly as trays of bread and wine are passed.

All of these living definitions of the word communion are correct.

It is a cool and quiet morning. The birds aren’t even up yet and I am enjoying this time with the Father and with you. This too is communion.

I particularly enjoy the time we spend with long time friends reminiscing. The love the Lord has built between us, the many miraculous answers to prayer and moves of God we have seen make our friendship and our communion sweeter. We are blessed!

The Apostle Paul’s letters to the different churches were his communication with them or his communion. He took the responsibility of teaching the Christians in the various churches seriously. He willingly gave of his life to minister to those he called his children in the faith and in turn, he ministers to us.

Paul’s teaches very plainly about Christian behavior and “communion” in his letter to the Corinthians. He instructed the church not to be divided – not to be judgmental and not to embarrass the poor.

Paul was upset with the way they were treating the Lord’s Supper with disregard. Some were gluttonous and greedy and some were drinking too much. It was more of a free-for-all instead of a time to celebrate what Christ has done for us.

“When you all come together, it is not really the Lord’s Supper you are eating. 21 I say this because when you eat, each one eats without waiting for the others. Some people don’t get enough to eat or drink, while others have too much. 22 You can eat and drink in your own homes. It seems that you think God’s church is not important. You embarrass those who are poor. What can I say? Should I praise you? No, I cannot praise you for this.

23 The teaching I gave you is the same that I received from the Lord: On the night when the Lord Jesus was handed over to be killed, he took bread 24 and gave thanks for it. Then he divided the bread and said, “This is my body; it is for you. Eat this to remember me.” 25 In the same way, after they ate, Jesus took the cup of wine. He said, “This cup represents the new agreement from God, which begins with my blood sacrifice. When you drink this, do it to remember me.” 26 This means that every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are telling others about the Lord’s death until he comes again.

27 So if you eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in a way that does not fit its meaning, you are sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 Before you eat the bread and drink the cup, you should examine your own attitude.” I Corinthians 11:20-28 ERV

When we celebrate the Lord’s supper we need to be mindful of all the Lord did, and has done, for us. He established a new covenant, a new relationship, a way of reconciliation with the Father. His shed blood purchased our freedom from sin. Complete forgiveness, total reconciliation. His bruised and beaten body purchased our peace and the stripes on His back paid for our healing.

If we don’t look at the Lord’s Supper as a time of communion with the Father who loved us so much He sent his Son to die and don’t take time to lovingly appreciate Jesus for His sacrificial death to bring us into right relationship with the Father we haven’t truly participated in communing with the Lord and participating in “remembrance of Him”.

The Lord’s Supper isn’t a church tradition – far from it. It isn’t just something we do on the first Sunday of the month. It is a time to reaffirm all that the Lord has done for us, a time to be grateful for this precious and wonderful gift of salvation, salvation for our body, soul and spirit. The Lord’s Supper is a time for us to recognize our total dependence on Him and what He died to bring us!

Dave and I celebrate the Lord’s Supper in our home at the beginning of each new year, we reaffirm our dependence on the Lord and commit our year to Him. We can celebrate our remembrance of all the Lord has done at any time.

I encourage you not to wait for a specific time to enjoy communion with the Lord. We can and should experience that each day. Let the Holy Spirit minister to our hearts a freshness in our relationship with the Father! May we all experience the true depth and meaning of communion with the Father.

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Turning Pages

This morning I was aware of how much I love picking up my Bible, opening to a book, reading the words and turning the pages. There’s just something about actually having the Bible in my hand that encourages and comforts. It brings me joy!

That’s not to say that I don’t use the on-line Bible apps. You know I do! But they are clinical, study tools, research. My physical, leather-bound, underlined, notes- in-margin Bible is my personal heart connection with the Father.

When I was a little girl in Sunday School we had Bible drills. Did you ever do that? The Sunday School teachers called them sword drills. We would close our Bibles, hands on the cover, and then the teacher would give a verse reference and say “go”. The first kid to find the verse would stand and read it aloud. Those sword drills got us familiar with where the different books were in our Bibles.

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Hebrews 4:12 NLT

We memorized the books of the Bible in published order, Genesis to Revelation. We learned which books were in the Old Testament and which were in the New and we learned why there was a difference between the two. We were taught who wrote the books under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and some of the back story behind the authors.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17 NLT

Have you ever noticed how little children love to have someone read to them? They want to hold the book, look at the pictures, turn the pages…they love to sit on our laps and be involved. Some of my favorite times with my kids and now with my grandchildren is story time. We can read and turn a page but very shortly they want to go back and read it again. We have to look at the pictures and absorb the story!

That’s how I feel when I read my Bible.

I want to live the words written on the pages. Its God’s word to me – it’s personal, very personal.

“Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long. 98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide. 99 Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your laws. 100 I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments. 101 I have refused to walk on any evil path, so that I may remain obedient to your word. 102 I haven’t turned away from your regulations, for you have taught me well. 103 How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.” Psalm 119:97-103 NLT

Once when Jesus was teaching, speaking God’s word, the whole crowd got upset with Him and walked away. Jesus asked his disciples if they were going to leave too. Here’s their response:

“Then Jesus said to the twelve followers, “Will you leave Me also?” 68 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, who else can we go to? You have words that give life that lasts forever. 69 We believe and know You are the Christ. You are the Son of the Living God.” John 6:67-69 NLV

These are the words of life – not just for life after we die but for our life here on earth. They are our daily instruction and encouragement.

“My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. 21 Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, 22 for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. 23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:20-23 NLT

Turn the page, read on, we find God’s love written in the whole of Scripture. No other book has stood the test of time – it is the true and living Word of God.

“Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble.” Psalm 119:165 NLV

Turn the Page – the story continues!

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Spoiler Alert – Watch Out!

“Our vineyards are in blossom; we must catch the little foxes that destroy the vineyards.” Song of Solomon 2:15

Or to paraphrase: don’t let the little things in life spoil your garden.

In my case it was the gophers that spoiled the vine. Years ago I made a serious attempt to plant a garden. It was a difficult task because we lived in an area where the soil was good but the water wasn’t. We had to keep the water slowly running in the garden because if it stopped the surface would become dry and a salty crush would form.

I took good care of my garden. We protected it from the varmints with a rabbit fence and it discouraged the coyotes as well. I watched as the watermelons developed and could hardly wait to cut one of those delicious dark green beauties open.

The kids kept asking if they could pick them but I said they weren’t quite ready – I was checking everyday and then the day of harvest came. We went to the garden, with mouth watering, we bent down to pluck the melon from it’s vine. To our shock and great disappointment, the melon was ruined.

It looked beautiful – a rich, dark green – big and round. It was going to be the best melon ever and it would have been if the gophers hadn’t have come up from underneath and eaten a hole in the rind and devoured the middle!

A life lesson here – as christians we are to bear fruit – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, faith. But if we aren’t careful the little foxes and the gophers (varmints), will come and destroy the fruit. We know them better as worry, fear, self-reliance, peer pressure, overwork, laziness, stress, etc. These varmints will try to destroy the fruit that God wants us to produce.

“I am the Vine and you are the branches. Get your life from Me. Then I will live in you and you will give much fruit. You can do nothing without Me. 6 “If anyone does not get his life from Me, he is cut off like a branch and dries up. Such branches are gathered and thrown into the fire and they are burned. 7 If you get your life from Me and My Words live in you, ask whatever you want. It will be done for you. 8 “When you give much fruit, My Father is honored. This shows you are My followers. 9 I have loved you just as My Father has loved Me. Stay in My love. 10 If you obey My teaching, you will live in My love. In this way, I have obeyed My Father’s teaching and live in His love. 11 I have told you these things so My joy may be in you and your joy may be full. 12 “This is what I tell you to do: Love each other just as I have loved you. ” John 15:5-12 NLV

If we stay connected to the vine, Jesus, we will produce the fruit that He has commanded of us. That fruit is love for each other as Christ has loved us.

Don’t let the little foxes spoil the vine…and watch out for the gophers too!

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Loud & Noisy

When will I learn? Once again it happened; that annoying three beep blast from the smoke detector at 3:30 a.m.! It’s now 4:30 and my heart rate is just now coming back to normal…I can guarantee you that I have now written on my calendar “Change Batteries” on both September 1 and March 1.

A noisy gong and a clanging cymbal! Life has many obtrusive interruptions. The Apostle Paul writes about such things.

“ If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.” I Corinthians 13:1-3 NLT

These are the first verses in what is called the love chapter. Paul is telling us that we may have all sorts of talents, abilities and motivations but if they aren’t done with a loving attitude then our good deeds are worthless, annoying and for self-gratification.

Like a clanging cymbal!

However, when done from a heart of love, a servant’s heart, people’s lives are impacted and they are pointed to Jesus.

“But you are his chosen people, the King’s priests. You are a holy nation, people who belong to God. He chose you to tell about the wonderful things he has done. He brought you out of the darkness of sin into his wonderful light.” I Peter 2:9 ERV

A clanging cymbal can be either an annoyance or a sound of joy and comfort. The little toy monkey pictured with this morning’s blog is one of the most annoying toys ever. Clang- Clang- Clang! It can certainly be compared to the blast of the smoke alarm.

But then there is the blast of the horn of a fire truck on it’s way to rescue someone or the siren of an ambulance. Those sounds might annoy drivers in traffic or someone in their home trying to nap but they most definitely bring comfort to the one who made the 9-1-1 call.

The clanging cymbal – it can be like the little toy monkey or it can be like the finale of the 1812 Overture. It can be dreaded or excitedly embraced! The same is true of our actions. We can be annoying because the things we do are void of love or we can be a comfort and source of joy.

“Praise him with a clash of cymbals;  praise him with loud clanging cymbals. 6 Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!” Psalm 150:5-6 NLT

Today I choose to be a loud clanging cymbal used to praise God and tell of His greatness!

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I Learned Something New!

Don’t you enjoy learning new things? I learned something new yesterday and I just had to share it with you. We were listening to a teaching by Pastor Tim Ross. He was using the first chapter of the book of Ruth as his foundational Scripture.

I love the book of Ruth! It’s one of the Bible’s best love stories. It’s short and easy to read. In a nutshell, it’s about two women and their relationship and it ends with a marriage and a child that effects the course of Jewish history.

Naomi is a Jewish woman who is widowed and also experiences her two sons deaths. She decides to return to her home country; her family had left years ago because a famine. Her widowed daughters-in-law make plans to go with her. However, Naomi tells both women to stay with their families and that she will return home alone. The women argue with their mother-in-law, who is in a real state of depression and at Naomi’s insistence one of the women decide to stay in their home country of Moab.

“But Ruth said:

“Entreat me not to leave you,
Or to turn back from following after you;
For wherever you go, I will go;
And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
Your people shall be my people,
And your God, my God.
17 Where you die, I will die,
And there will I be buried.
The Lord do so to me, and more also,
If anything but death parts you and me.”

18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her. 19 Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem…” Ruth 1:16-19 NKJV

I have heard Ruth’s reply used at weddings to express the commitment between the bride and the groom. It has been used on jewelry charms shared between friends. It is a true expression of loyalty that has come through the ages.

Ruth would not let her mother-in-law go through this time of sadness alone. Ruth was experiencing her own grief, she had lost her husband, but her concern for her mother-in-law overrode her own need for comforting, she needed to the be comforter.

Isn’t that what we were talking about in yesterday’s blog. Jesus said he came to be a servant and not to be served?

Now, I’ve known this story and it touches me each time I read it – the love between these two women. The depth of their friendship and commitment to one another goes deep. But this is the new part – Pastor Tim asked how many have ever felt alone in their time of grief and disappointment. He wanted to know how many had ever been “ruth-less”.

Ruth- less! The definition of ruthless is this: “having or showing no pity or compassion for others”. Merciless, cruel, hard hearted, pitiless are just a few words that can be used as synonyms for ruthless.

But did you know that “ruth” is a word that can be used as a noun and it means a feeling of distress or grief? It’s synonyms are compassion, condolence, regret, sympathy, understanding and sadness. We have all needed “ruth” in our lives at one point or another and we have all felt ruthless at other times. I had never known this before. This was a very new understanding to me. Of course, I knew the meaning of ruthless but I had never put it in this light.

Ruth was a companion, a friend of true depth to Naomi. In going back to Bethlehem with Naomi Ruth met Boaz, her husband and they had a son. Ruth is King David’s great grandmother. King David is in the ancestral line of Jesus. A woman with a servant’s heart, a heart of compassion, created a legacy of compassionate people.

I pray you never know ruthless days! We have the promise of God that He will never leave, abandon or desert us. He brings ruth to our lives just like He brought Ruth to Naomi’s life.

My prayer is that I will always be able to see those who need me to be ruth to them.

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A Servant’s Heart

About a week ago I shared a post on spiritual bookkeeping. We need to settle accounts quickly. If you don’t remember the teaching on “Owe No One Anything but Love” go back and re-read the post I did on August 27, 2019. Did you find that you owe a huge debt of love; first to Christ and then to those He has placed in your life? I did too!

We need to look for ways to love each and every day. It could be a kind word, an invitation to dinner, a listening ear or financial assistance and it doesn’t have to be a “huge” gesture to be effective and selfless. Just make it heart felt and sincere.

Again this morning I was reading in Romans, among other places. I usually start at the first of a book and read through but the last couple of days I have been drawn to the end of the book. It’s there we find Paul’s instructions for living with one another.

“If our faith is strong, we should be patient with the Lord’s followers whose faith is weak. We should try to please them instead of ourselves. 2 We should think of their good and try to help them by doing what pleases them. 3 Even Christ did not try to please himself. But as the Scriptures say, “The people who insulted you also insulted me.” 4 And the Scriptures were written to teach and encourage us by giving us hope. 5 God is the one who makes us patient and cheerful. I pray that he will help you live at peace with each other, as you follow Christ. 6 Then all of you together will praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Honor God by accepting each other, as Christ has accepted you.” Romans 15:1-7 ERV

Jesus knew what it was like to help and encourage the outcasts, the hurting, the misfits. Many came to Him looking for help. He also knew what it was like to be criticized and judged wrongfully for doing what was right. He was never out to promote Himself or to receive accolades or praise from men; He had one simple mission – to do what the Father had asked Him to do; to reconcile the world to the Father. He became a servant instead of a king.

“Whoever wants to be first must serve the rest of you like a slave. 28 Do as I did: The Son of Man did not come for people to serve him. He came to serve others and to give his life to save many people.” Matthew 20:27-28 ERV

I remember the first time those verses became real to me. I had been complaining to the Lord about all I was doing to take care of people; going on and on about how no one was helping me and how all the responsibility for a particular meeting was on my shoulders. Poor me! My bottom line of love was in a severe deficit.

That’s when I just “happened” to be reading in Matthew and these words jumped off the page and into my heart. I quickly repented and changed my attitude about serving. I can truly say that today I thank the Lord for opportunities to serve.

The Lord will give us as many opportunities to serve others as we ask for. In fact, He will bring some that we don’t ask for. Look for situations to serve today. Do it with an attitude of love and not obligation. It’s what the Father is asking us to do.

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Start With a Clap

“If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands. If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands. If you’re happy and you know then your face with surely show it. If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands.”

I have to start the morning with a joy filled heart! I choose to be happy; there is a little rain, lightning in the distance and a faint sound of thunder. The morning is starting and I don’t want to miss it.

A joy-filled day – let’s see a show of hands of how many of you experienced a full day of joy. I must admit that yesterday I got distracted a few times – I forgot that I was in the Father’s presence and I discovered that attempting to do things in my own strength and power was tiring at best and frustrating too. But today is a new day, a new opportunity to be joy-filled.

“ My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. 3 You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested. 4 But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything.” James 1:2-4 CEV

In the King James version of this verse it says “Count it all joy”.

Really? Count it joy when you fall into temptations – really? Yes, the joy comes from knowing that we’re not in this alone! God has promised to never leave us or forsake us. It means we are in His presence and in His presence there is fullness of joy! Joy in knowing He is able, joy in knowing that we aren’t operating under our own power or our own wisdom, joy in knowing that He has created us to be victorious! When I realize all of this and focus on it, I am growing and maturing, becoming the more Christ-like .

In John 16, Jesus was talking with his disciples the night before His crucifixion. He was giving them last minute instructions. He told them that they would all abandon Him and that He would be alone but He quickly added that the Father would be with Him so He wouldn’t really be alone. (In His presence is fullness of joy)!

He then told the disciples that they would have troubles in this world. Not as big as the crucifixion but troubles all the same. His next words may have seemed strange to them, He said “Be of good cheer (find joy), for I have overcome the world”. Jesus had just told them how he was overcoming the trials in His life – He wasn’t looking for the support of friends and followers but He was simply looking to the One who would never leave or forsake, the Father, and in the Father’s presence is victory and fullness of joy.

“No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. 10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. 11 You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” Psalm 16:9-11 NLT

So let’s try this again today. I am determined that I will have a joy-filled day. I will keep my mind focused on the Father and in His presence I will have fullness of joy!

If you’re happy and you know it CLAP!

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The Smallest Details

I am amazed every time I am out in nature! God’s handiwork can be overwhelming. When we were in the mountains we took our grandson on a couple of nature hikes. We wanted him to see things that he didn’t experience at home. We found a massive Ponderosa pine tree that had fallen and the roots were exposed. Tangled in the root base were big rocks. Can you imagine the strength it took for those roots to push past them and go deeper into the earth to provide the stability for the tree’s growth?

Then just a few steps later we were looking at mushrooms. All kinds of mushrooms – yellow, pink, orange, red and white mushrooms. Why didn’t God just create one kind? They all appeared to be similar in structure – just different colors. Another opportunity to stop and wonder at the greatest of God.

And then there were the flowers…I’m not sure if they were echinacea or Spanish daisies but I had to stop. Just like I stopped for the young deer playing tag by the road side or the turkeys coming down from their roost in the pines or the herd of elk in the meadow enjoying their morning grazing. All of these sightings caused me to stop and ponder the greatness of my Father.

I understand the words of the Psalmist:

“When I look up and think about Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in their place, 4 what is man, that You think of him, the son of man that You care for him? 5 You made him a little less than the angels and gave him a crown of greatness and honor. 6 You made him to rule over the works of Your hands. You put all things under his feet: 7 All sheep and cattle, all the wild animals, 8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and all that pass through the sea. 9 O Lord, our Lord, how great is Your name in all the earth!” Psalm 8:3-9 NLV

What is man that You think of him? With all that the Father has made and all He has done I am awed when I think that He desires relationship with me. There is no room for self-loathing and low esteem when we realize that the God, who created the universe, loves us and desires a personal relationship with us.

Recently our daughter posted an ultrasound image of her unborn daughter to Facebook. Less than nine weeks and baby Elizabeth will be here to greet us all. Kaci has studied that image and knows every bump and wiggle – this is her and Stephen’s daughter. They are “mindful” of her existence and her development. They already have two children, Sam and Kristine, but their hearts are full of love for Elizabeth. That’s the amazing thing about a parent’s heart – it’s expandable and will have more than enough love for every child.

That’s how the Father’s heart is toward all of us, loving and expansive!

Jesus wanted us to know the depth of the Father’s love and gave this example to the disciples so that they could gain understanding and know the answer to the Psalmist question, what is man that You think of him.

“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? 26 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? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?” Matthew 6:25-30 NLT

If God knows about the birds, the trees, the flowers, the elk, the deer and the mushrooms don’t you think that He knows and cares so much more for us?

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:31-33

Take a look around today. Look for the smallest details in nature; God created the minute and the great. But most importantly of all He loves us and He cares for us!

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