The frog's been perched up there for years--a silly mental note to Fully Rely On God. Get it? I'm a slow learner and a quick forgetter so it helps to have reminders strewn about the house!
The lovely chapel bird house, however, is a beautiful new addition, given to me by my sweet friend, Betsy, who saw it up in the mountains. I wish I knew the story behind the artist, but I guess he'd rather me know The Story about The Artist...and so it's to God's glory alone that he creates his little masterpieces to encourage us all to remember the True and Glorious Artist. I must say, the frog's expression seems to betray a bit of exasperation...as if to say, "Geez, I have to sit next to this? Is this some kind of joke about beauty and the beast?
Painted on the back of this tiny treasure is the reference to the verse--Matthew 6:26. "Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" Boy, don't we all need that reminder daily!
Yes, Lord, we are of more value than even the magnificent birds, for You made us in Your image. And You tell us over and over again in Your Word of Your love and grace. Every verse proclaims Your power, Your provision, Your peace, Your presence...but we tend to forget.
We're mighty good forgetters.
We tend to wring our hands over the past that we cannot change, and worry over the future that we cannot control. In the process of that fruitless, faithless regret and worry, we can completely forfeit the joy of the present day--the only day You've given us. The only day we can live fully for You and by You. The only day we can love our family and friends. The only day that gives us the opportunity to make changes that could help and alter our future. But we can't make changes today if we're preoccupied and focused upon yesterday's failures or tomorrow's worries.
I'm betting the birds aren't out there today bemoaning the bugs that got away from them yesterday. Nor are they fretting about whether our bird feeder will have enough seed tomorrow.
Nope. They're just busily working and eating and flying--today. Today. We've just got today.
The Lord's given the birds--and us--today to soar--or to savor. Today to work hard...but trust for tomorrow. Today to love and encourage others. Today to be kind. Today to be grateful. Today to rejoice in His gifts. Today to worship the Gift-Giver. Today to live to His glory.
And today to know that the Lord Jesus will help us shoulder today's burdens. Today's burdens--not tomorrow's...not yet. But even as we hand Him today's hardships and difficulties, we'll trust that our forever faithful Burden-Bearer will give us the grace and the strength to handle those of tomorrow as well. And somehow, in His sovereignty to work out all things for our good and His glory.
Augustine said it best: "Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to His love, and the future to His providence."
Our Father's got it all...so we can rest in Him. To God be the glory.
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