A writer writes, right? So that is what I am determined to do. I need to record my random thoughts about how I see God showing up in my ordinary, everyday life.
September 27, 2016
As I sat on the deck in my backyard today enjoying the cooler autumn air, I watched as the little birds came to the feeder. They landed on the picket fence and sunflower stalks congregating in little groups, waiting for a turn at the feeder and basically, just enjoying the day - like me.
A breeze was blowing the whirl-a-gig in the raised flower bed, the small garden flag was swaying to and fro. The sky was clear - not a cloud anywhere and it was so very blue.
In the distance I noticed that the soybeans in the field behind our house were turning from bright green a few weeks ago to yellow, which means it won't be long until harvest. A flock of birds flew over the bean field and were joined by another flock. They moved in unison this way and that and looked like a cloud performing a dance in the sky. A few sparrows sat on the rim of the bird bath taking small sips and they flying away to join their own little flock.
As I watched the activity around me in my little garden, I felt total peace.
My backyard is a foretaste of heaven. I had a sense of wonder at a God who created all the different types of birds. From the plain brown sparrows to the colorful cardinals and bluejays and the remarkable woodpeckers, each one was created by God for specific reasons.
Even the types of seeds they eat are varied. It occurred to me that He made birds initially to make sure that seeds would be spread throughout the earth. And I wondered how many of the seeds from my garden flowers will sprout somewhere next spring because of the birds visiting my yard. I know I've seen them eating seeds in the zinnia bed and they have feasted on the sunflowers. This tiny little patch of property has such amazing and far-reaching potential. It's beyond my understanding.
In the scheme of things, my garden is nice, but it's not really noteworthy - it looks kind of sad right now. Most of the plants are done blooming and growth has stopped. Weeds are threatening to take over, but it's still a peaceful place.
As I contemplated the peacefulness, I realized just how fortunate I am to have this haven in my backyard. The world around me is filled with chaos and disorder. There is so much hatred and anger - oh how those who steal, kill and destroy would benefit from a little garden time. I wonder if they would appreciate the value of time spent watching birds, or if they would sense the presence of the Almighty God which is so evident to me? I guess maybe you have to be looking for God in the everyday events to find Him.
I wonder where I'll experience His presence tomorrow?
September 27, 2016
As I sat on the deck in my backyard today enjoying the cooler autumn air, I watched as the little birds came to the feeder. They landed on the picket fence and sunflower stalks congregating in little groups, waiting for a turn at the feeder and basically, just enjoying the day - like me.
A breeze was blowing the whirl-a-gig in the raised flower bed, the small garden flag was swaying to and fro. The sky was clear - not a cloud anywhere and it was so very blue.
In the distance I noticed that the soybeans in the field behind our house were turning from bright green a few weeks ago to yellow, which means it won't be long until harvest. A flock of birds flew over the bean field and were joined by another flock. They moved in unison this way and that and looked like a cloud performing a dance in the sky. A few sparrows sat on the rim of the bird bath taking small sips and they flying away to join their own little flock.
As I watched the activity around me in my little garden, I felt total peace.
My backyard is a foretaste of heaven. I had a sense of wonder at a God who created all the different types of birds. From the plain brown sparrows to the colorful cardinals and bluejays and the remarkable woodpeckers, each one was created by God for specific reasons.
Even the types of seeds they eat are varied. It occurred to me that He made birds initially to make sure that seeds would be spread throughout the earth. And I wondered how many of the seeds from my garden flowers will sprout somewhere next spring because of the birds visiting my yard. I know I've seen them eating seeds in the zinnia bed and they have feasted on the sunflowers. This tiny little patch of property has such amazing and far-reaching potential. It's beyond my understanding.
In the scheme of things, my garden is nice, but it's not really noteworthy - it looks kind of sad right now. Most of the plants are done blooming and growth has stopped. Weeds are threatening to take over, but it's still a peaceful place.
As I contemplated the peacefulness, I realized just how fortunate I am to have this haven in my backyard. The world around me is filled with chaos and disorder. There is so much hatred and anger - oh how those who steal, kill and destroy would benefit from a little garden time. I wonder if they would appreciate the value of time spent watching birds, or if they would sense the presence of the Almighty God which is so evident to me? I guess maybe you have to be looking for God in the everyday events to find Him.
I wonder where I'll experience His presence tomorrow?
