Joy Every Morning

Listening to the birds singing this morning – it’s a beautiful song. The sparrows, the finches, the dove and the quail; they are all singing praises!

They know that their Creator has supplied their needs. Dave and I do our part in scattering seed every morning and evening. They rejoice as they meet the day.

“I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth more than birds?

27 Can worry make you live longer? 28 Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don’t work hard to make their clothes. 29 But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth[b] wasn’t as well clothed as one of them. 30 God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. He will surely do even more for you! Why do you have such little faith?

31 Don’t worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?” 32 Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. 33 But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.” Matthew 6:25-31 CEV

Not one of the birds woke on the tree branch this morning and said “I’m just going to stay in bed, I can’t face the day! I don’t know what I’m going to do about the mortgage on this nest, these eggs are going to hatch soon and it’s another mouth to feed and there just might not be enough bugs or seeds. I’m just going to pull a twig or a leaf over my head and stay here. I don’t have the energy or the courage to face another day.”

No, they get up singing! The break of day tells them this is another day to sing. A day to see God’s provision, a day of promise!

When I was a little girl we sang a chorus in Sunday School:

The birds upon the tree top sing their song,

The angels chant their chorus all day long.

The flowers in the garden blend their hue

So why shouldn’t I, why shouldn’t you Praise Him too?

This morning – get up with a song in your heart and praise on your lips – the Father loves you and He will provide!

Now get out there and find some seeds. 🙂

Father Knows Best

As a follow up to yesterday’s blog, Getting to Know the Father, I thought it was important to share these thoughts with you.

“Jesus said to his disciples: I tell you not to worry about your life!” Luke 12:22 ERV

Now I tell you it just doesn’t get much plainer than that!

Not a suggestion or a nice idea. Not an impractical concept but a direct admonition from Jesus, himself. Plain – simple – truth!

I love that the Lord knew we would have multiple opportunities to worry each and every day, yet His instruction is that we do the exact opposite. How can this be?

Well, He knew something we all should be learning daily. He knew how much the Father loves and cares for us.

Take yesterday for instance. It started out to be a pretty normal day but at 10 a.m. everything changed. Strong winds started and shortly after we could smell smoke and could see it in the air. We didn’t know where it came from at first, but it was close.

Immediately one of the ladies I work with, and I grabbed hands and prayed. We prayed for protection of the homes in our community and safety for our residents. Within a few minutes we received a “ready” notice and then within another 20+ minutes we received the order to evacuate.

As we went from home to home to give the evacuation order many of our neighbors told me that they were praying too.

God will save you from hidden dangers and from deadly diseases. You can go to him for protection. He will cover you like a bird spreading its wings over its babies. You can trust him to surround and protect you like a shield.” Psalm 91:3-4 ERV

We were so thankful for the quick response of the local Fire Department, and the added support of other departments nearby. Within a few hours the fire was extinguished, and we were able to return to our homes.

Don’t worry about having something to eat or wear. 23 Life is more than food or clothing. 24 Look at the crows! They don’t plant or harvest, and they don’t have storehouses or barns. But God takes care of them. You are much more important than any birds. 25 Can worry make you live longer? 26 If you don’t have power over small things, why worry about everything else?

27 Look how the wild flowers grow! They don’t work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn’t as well clothed as one of these flowers. 28 God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. Won’t he do even more for you? You have such little faith! 29 Don’t keep worrying about having something to eat or drink.” Luke 12:22-29 CEV

“If you don’t have power over small things, why worry about everything else?”

This must also mean that we don’t have to worry about the finances that we need to buy the groceries, our clothing or a place to live. Our Father knows our needs and we can trust Him.

Remember the old television show Father Knows Best? Well, in this case He does and we need to trust Him!

We can’t trust and worry at the same time. They are contrary to one another. So, I encourage and implore you trust and worry not!