The Wise Little Bird

One day a naturalist was trveling through the forest of South America.


A naturalist is someone who studies birds, plants, and animals.

He sat down to eat his lunch and suddenly heard the cries of a bird, which was fluttering over a leafy spot. He figured that's where his nest must be.

The bird was in great distress. Of course the naturalist was curious to know what all this fuss was about.

Then he saw it. Creeping slowly along towards the tree he saw one of the most venomous snakes in South America. His small glittering eyes were fixed on the birds' nests and his forked tongue darted quickly out and in; as though anticipating his prey.

Presently he saw an unusual thing take place.

The bird flew quickly away hither and thither as though in search of something.

In a few moments he saw him return with a small twig covered with leaves in his beak. Perched over the nest, he laid the twig carefully across it, covering his mate and her young completely. The little father bird had been shown by God what to do and do it quickly without delay. Then, taking his place on one of the top branches of the tree, he seemed to grow quieter and calmer.

And there awaited the approach of the enemy.

He was sure the protection he had given his little family would work.

By this time the snake had reached the tree, and bent upon his object he twisted himself around the trunk and begun climbing up, up, up.

Then, gliding along a branch, he came close to the nest.

He lifted his venomous head, ready to dart upon the poor bird. His small glittering eyes watched the nest a moment, and then -- throwing his head back, as if he had recieved a sudden blow.

The snake turned around, and as fast as possible, made his way back down the tree and disappeared in the tall grass.

You can imagine how curious the naturalist felt as to the cause of this. He could not understand why the snake had turned back from his prey at the very moment it seemed in his power. Nor could he understand the quietness of the father bird, who until his enemy departed showed no sign of emotion and NOW,

Sang a song, a rapturous song of praise!

He climbed up the tree and examined the little broken branch the leaves of which were curious in shape and color. He carried it home and told the whole story to a friend, showing him the branches. His friend explained that the leaf plucked off by the father bird to protect his family was poisonous to the snake. The snake never touches this leaf!

Just like that little bird we too have an enemy; the old devil, or the serpent.

Revelation 20:2

But God has provided a way.

 

Psalms 32:1

Blessed is the man whose sin is covered because his transgression is forgiven.

1 John 1:7

But the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin.

Just like that little bird went and got the leaf, so we must by faith recieve his forgiveness or protection.

 

John 1:12

But as many as recieved Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God.

Just like that dear little bird applied that protection, we too can be protected by the word of God. By having on the whole armour of God.

Just like the little bird we too can sing a rapturous song of praise unto our God. A good way to start your day, right?

We All Have Something To Give

           What a wonderful thrill it was greeting my daughter as she was returning home from Uganda, Africa. With my two grandchildren we all hugged her. That I liked, wouldn't you?

           I have already seen some of her many pictures she took while in Uganda. You've guessed it; one of them is a lion, an elephant, a giraffe and a hippo; not to mention a picture one took of her holding a baby monkey. Wow!

            While in Uganda, she had the opportunity to help build, along with many others, a classroom in an orphanage called Laminadera. Laminadera is in a city in Uganda named Gulu; which is like a village - with schools, homes and churches.

           This was built early in mornings, as the afternoons were too hot.
I also liked the picture of her feeding these two babies. Each one looked so bright, happy and healthy.

            Then she went on a trip to London, England, where she admired the sights and sounds of the country. While walking on the streets of London, she took a couple of pictures for her daughter's "Street Style". I can't wait to see them. Look at the "Focus" page of the Winnipeg Free Press, you will find all this. Believe me, it will be good.

           What an encouraging thought to know by having a willing heart ready and willing to help others, our daughter was able to help build ,in a small way, a better life for some of the children in Uganda, Africa.

           The bible tells us to do good to all men, especially unto them of the household of faith.

Galations 6:10.

          What a privilage we all have to be able to give in other ways to the needy of this world.  Let's keep giving. We all have something to give right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leave your Water Pot and GO!

 

        In the New Testament John chapter four verse seven to thirty we read of an exciting conversation between Jesus and a Samaritan woman. 

 

        Jesus had just come to a well, actually Jacob’s well. Well bring tired, Jesus sat down. When this Samaritan woman came by to draw water, Jesus said to her,

“Give me a drink”. 

 

     The conversation continues and Jesus says to her,

 

“Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him

shall never thirst;

but the water that I shall give to him shall be in him a well of water

springing up into everlasting life.”

 

       In verse fifteen the Samaritan woman said, “Give me this water that I thirst not, neither come here to draw water.” 

    

     Then the Samaritan woman found out this was the prophet, the Messiah, for he had told her she had five husbands and the one she now had was not her husband. Verse twenty-six to twenty-eight and twenty-nine:

 

Jesus said to her,

“’I that speak unto thee am he." 

The woman left her water pot and went into the city and said to the men, ‘Come see a man which hath told me all things that ever I did; is this not the Christ?’” 

 

My meditation is this; the Sea of Galilee flows into the Jordan River to the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea has NO outlet  - the water becomes polluted (dirty and filthy). The Samaritan woman left her water pot and began to witness to the men of the city. This witnessing became the woman of Samaritan’s outlet. The outlet of her telling others about the Messiah became her well of water springing up unto everlasting life. 

 

In verse thirty-nine it says,

“And many of the Samaritans believed on him,

 for the saying of the woman, which testified,

‘He told me all that ever I did.’”  

 

Let’s all leave whatever is hindering us from witnessing about our Lord and Savior and like the woman of Samaria go out and witness. Leave our water pots and go!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loving with the Heart of God

      At the funeral of former U.S. first lady, Betty Ford, her son Steven said, "She was the comfort, and she was the first one there to put her arms around you. Nineteen years ago, when I went through my alcoholism, my mother...gave me one of the greatest gifts, and that was how to surrender to God, and to accept the grace of God in my life.
And truly in her arms I felt like the prodigal son coming home, and I felt God's love through her. And that was a good gift."

      Steven Flood concluded his tribute with the words, "Thank you, Mom, for loving us, loving your husband, loving us kids, loving the nation, with the heart of God."

      This is a quote taken from "Our Daily Bread," written by David Mc Casland:

      "Truly Steven Ford gave us all one of the greatest sermons ever ministered. Thank you, Steven, that really spoke to my heart."

      What's so amazing about all this is that we all should be more thankful and speaking well of our families.

 

 

 

 

What Do I Value?

     
  It's already the seventh of January and have all my resolutions gone? My answer is no --- my resolutions for 2013 are all from the good old book, the Bible. These are the ones what I have valued over the years.

        Do I value my family, my friends, my neighbors, the poor, the neglected? What value do I put on these people?

        They say you are the happiest when you are living what you value. So, here I go, wishing them all a Happy New Year, the best year of their lives.

        Taking the time each day praying for them -- perhaps the greatest value of all is spending a moment to  stop and ask for God's guidance on their lives. If that makes them happy then in turn I will have put value in these people.  Their value cannot be bought. Think of other things you or I can do for each other.

        This value we put on each other will bring us much happiness all because we are living out what we value.

Let's go for it!

New Year's Dream

         Another year has come and gone.

 

         How marvelous; or is it?

 

     Really, what is time in the grand scheme of things, of life, of reality, of a heartbeat?

It may not be anything that virtually matters, I would say.

 

Living is more than counting the days and keeping track of the clock on the wall.

It is instead, living in the moment, that makes life so precious.

 

I say no to resolutions, and in lieu, I say yes to dreams. 

Dreams come true.

Dreams are the essence of existence.

Without dreams there would be no hope, no love, no patience.

 

 So this New Year's, dream. 

 

 

Christmas 2012

       When we sing "Away in a Manger, no crib for a bed", we are singing about God's precious gift to mankind.

      Think of it how God's son humbled himself allowing himself to become a baby, totally human. This He has done for you and me. I can hardly imagine that kind of love God was giving his beloved Son.

      What a treasure we all are to our God. What a price He paid, or shall I say; what a "value" he was putting on you and me.

      This should make you and me happy full of great joy at this time of year.

      Jesus the Son of God at Christmas was a happy name for he was living out what He valued -----you and me.



     Merry Christmas one and all.