The Squawking Woodpecker~

Matthew 6:26

"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?"

This morning I woke up to a constant and loud tap tap tap at my bedroom window. I opened the shutters and saw a woodpecker with the most beautiful red crest pecking away. I was temporarily awestruck, and then I realized it might actually break the window. I tried shooing it away, but it would not leave. I physically went outside, and that's when the woodpecker started flying toward me. I froze for a second then started flailing my arms to scare it away. The woodpecker was not deterred. Rather, it came closer and closer. I turned to run back inside the house and tripped on the front steps of my porch. I almost had a panic attack as I saw the woodpecker approaching again. It flew straight to my ear and squawked, "Help! I have nothing to eat!"

Sorry! I made all that up to make a point:  A bird will never ask us for food because GOD takes care of everything they need.

And we, dear people, are worth so much more than the birds. If we connect the dots, this means that God will take care of every single thing that we - His more-beautiful, more-beloved, and more-precious-than-the-birds children - will ever need!

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Thank You that You are the source of EVERYTHING I need. I have decided to take You at Your Word and invite You to unleash Your transforming power into this area of my life ______________________________.  If You so freely take care of the birds, and if I am so much more precious to You than they, then I know that I know that I shall receive today that which I have prayed for. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

I Shall Not Want~

Greetings dear brothers and sisters J

I love Psalm 23, and it’s a powerful reminder of Who is taking care of us.   Sometimes, just by looking at my reactions and behavior, you would think I have forgotten that God is busy in my life.

Verse 1: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”

This little nine-word phrase means big and beautiful things for us, and all we have to do is look at a shepherd’s job to know what God does for us.

God leads us to rest and safety. He knows in which direction we should head, and where the best pastures are for provision. He knows where the “wolves” are, so He watches over us.  If we stray from the flock, He stretches forth His hook and gently brings us back, and when the heat is on, He finds shelter for us.

Other versions of the Bible say, “I am never in need,” “I lack nothing,” and “I don’t need a thing.”  It’s never a question about whether God is doing His thing or not, but whether we want to take Him at His word and yield to His goodness.

If any of us feel as though we are in need of something, then it’s time to pray.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You are our Shepherd.  You put the responsibility on Yourself to care for us.  We yield to Your goodness and provision.  With You as our Shepherd, we are never in need.  Thank You that You are providing ___________ for ___________ right now.  In Jesus‘ name, AMEN~