Look At The Birds

The invitation from a friend to come for coffee was anticipated with great joy. During a previous brief visit, I had caught sight of her outside room and looked forward to returning and sitting with her. She is a gentle-spirited woman full of peace and quiet. The outdoor room portrayed her character. It was carefully planned with everything in place. Inviting seats were under the pergola surrounded by beautiful landscaping. Bird Feeders were strategically placed and obviously filled with the bird’s favorite seed.

As we drank coffee and ate home-baked muffins, sweet conversation quickly began. It felt like a taste of heaven. Nothing else mattered for the moment. The cool breeze on this summer morning felt like the Spirit blowing new life into our hearts. It was a Sabbath moment.

The world stopped.

Two friends fellowshipped.

God came close and “touched our hearts”.

I was extremely distracted by all the birds enjoying the morning breeze along with us and banqueting upon the feast provided for them. The activity surrounding us was like a movie unfolding in front of me. I watched as they flitted from one feeder to another as if there was a competition going on. I attempted to keep my attention bent toward our conversation, but I was fascinated and didn’t want to miss a scene.

Matthew 6:25-34 sprang to life in front of my eyes.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,

what you will eat or drink;

or about your body, what you will wear.

Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not much more valuable than they?

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

A much-needed reminder that God graciously provides everything that I need. I was overtaken with the peace and joy of resting in His provision. Everything that I need is taken care of. Worrying about the unknown is a waste of time. I too can live like the birds, partaking of all that He has provided for me, casting all my cares on Him, knowing that the next day will hold everything that I need for that day.

He provides; I feed upon His provision.

I left my friend’s house refreshed and renewed. Deeply touched by His presence, her love and generosity, the prayers we whispered, the praises we lifted. He spoke to us that He is our Provider and we can trust Him. It was a beautiful day full of peace, grace and love.

How about you?

Are you heavy burdened with the cares of life? Are you dwelling on how the situation may turn out? Are you stressed about the provisions of life? Does the decision seem bigger than Him?

Pause! Consider the birds. Sit a minute and let His peace blow over you as you enjoy His provision.

Come With Me

My beloved spoke and said to me,

“Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me.

See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone.

Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come,

the cooing of doves is heard in our land.

The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.”

Song of Solomon 2:10-13

It was one of those mornings that the words I read from scripture were spoken to me personally. It was not about understanding the correct context, history or poetic symbolism. It was an overwhelming invitation that I believe my Lord, the lover above all others, gently whispered to me.

“Come with me.” (He whispers it to you also.)

It came to me different than the invitation found in Matthew 11:28:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

This invite comes as if He is standing in front of me with both arms extended inviting me to run into His arms and He will take care of it all. Now don’t get me wrong, that is an awesome invitation, but this one was different.

I received the words as if He were standing slightly in front of me with His hand reached back to me, inviting me to join Him. We were going somewhere together. He would lead me, take me there, and go with me.

“Where are we going?” was not a question in my mind. With my hand in His,

it did not matter. There was nothing else I needed to know, but to arise and take His hand.

Then came the next line of words: “See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone.” This season is over, arise and come with me into a new season. Step out of the darkness, doubt, heaviness and confusion and enter into this season filled with new life, singing, fruitfulness and fragrance. It is a promise of what is to come.

In total delight, I arose from my seat and took Him by the hand. Once again I responded, “Lord, where you lead me, I will follow”. I can hardly wait to see what the next season holds. With my hand in His, there is no fear, only confidence. He has always proven to be faithful and I need not fear any of the unknown.

I wonder if any of you are longing to hear His call into a new season. It is easy to find yourself lost in a long winter season of life, feeling that He has forgotten you and that things will never change. But a new season, a new thing is right in front of you. You never know what God is working out for you. You never know when the seventh march around the wall is about to break that thing down to the ground.

“Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing.

Now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it?

I will even put a road in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.”

Isaiah 43:19

We have no control over how long a particular season may last. We can push and press hoping to force the season we are in, but God is in control. We can also be guilty of refusing to believe there is a new day coming and we will live stuck in the winter long past the intended time.

So, we arise. We take His hand. We move forward with Him into His plan. We don’t remain seated, but we arise, ready to follow wherever…whenever.

“Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.”

All The Way Home

I can still hear her voice echoing the words in my head and even more so within my heart. “All the way home Martha. All the way home.” After listening to a message by Jill Briscoe, my heart is saddened at the many times I have propped my cross against the wall, feeling it was too heavy and taking way to long to get to the desired destination. How could I ever think my cross bearing was impossible since He made it possible through His own cross bearing? He carried that cross on his beaten body, climbed upon it and willingly gave up His life to obey the Father.

Do you find yourself weary today? Is His call weighing you down? Do you at times, like me, feel that you have served and it is time for a rest? Today I want to share Jill’s poem and pray that it will encourage you to take up your cross daily and follow Him all the way home.

All The Way Home

Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow Me!” Matthew 16:24

One day in India after a traumatic and wrenching ministry visit, Jesus asked me a hard question. It happened like this:

Shaken, drained, discouraged, sickly Tired and troubled and depressed, Glad the time of serving over, Now I’ll go home and rest.

Hot and humid was the weather Sad and needy was the crowd, Feeling I had done my duty, Earned the time of rest allowed.

Soon I could return to family "Yes," tomorrow I’d be gone, Sitting in the last hot meeting, I tuned in to what went on.

Listened to my husband preaching, My, it was a great last talk, All about the call of Jesus, All about our life’s “faith walk.”

Stuart opened up the Scriptures Talked of Jesus’ pain and loss, How He who was our great sin bearer, Bore our guilt upon His cross.

What a great word for the students! Hoped “they’d” listened, yield their hearts, They were young, their lives before them, Now their turn to do their part.

Time for prayers of dedication, I was tired, so late at night, Shut my eyes and wished it over, When a picture sprang to sight!

Saw a cross alone, discarded Lain at rest against a wall, Who’d lain down such holy symbol? Who’d abandoned life’s “faith call”?

Then a voice so dear – familiar, Asked a question – pierced me through, Who is it that you’re expecting Carrying it home for you?

How could I lay down that crossbeam? How to think that no one saw? Who did I expect to lift it, Carry it to heaven’s door?

"Jesus, Jesus, please forgive me, Carried Thou your cross for me, All the way to hell to save us, Help me carry mine for Thee!"

"I’m no hero – special woman Just a lady, old and gray, But my cross, Lord, I will carry, Home, Lord, home, Lord – ALL THE WAY!"

Spoke His voice so quiet – but clearly then: "All the way home, Jill; all the way, all the way home!"

Jill Briscoe © 2012