Category: Birds

  • Unexpected – Thoughts on worry

    Mother Sandhill with chick
    Mother Sandhill Crane with juvenile

    Some personal reflection this morning. Today’s image has  nothing to do with the content. I simply like this image of a sandhill crane.

    Just over five years ago, I had surgery to remove a cancerous mass from my left kidney. It was discovered quite by accident (read God’s providence) when I rolled my truck, and the hospital ER was checking out the extent of my injuries.

    Each year, near the anniversary of the surgery, I undergo a series of routine blood tests and have a CT scan to confirm all is clear.

    Last year was my five-year check-up.

    I was feeling great as I awaited my by-phone doctor’s appointment. I would be officially five years cancer-free, and the risk of recurrence was considered extremely low after that point.

    The doctor informed me that all the results from the blood tests were normal. My kidney function was so high that there was no evidence of it ever having had an issue.

    I was feeling great, five years cancer-free. Then, you guessed it, there was a “but”. I have a lesion on the left kidney and spots on the right, which will need further testing.

    I was crushed and depressed for the balance of the day. I had known that such a result was possible and that if something showed up, it would be in the very early stages, so easily treated. I also knew that God is entirely in control, no matter what happened, so that I could face whatever news without fear.

    I promptly forgot all that for the next twenty hours and felt sorry for myself. Then I remembered what I knew about God and His plans and moved forward.

    The next step is an MRI, which, depending on the backlog in our medical system, could take many months to get an appointment. From there, only the Lord knows the next step at this point.

    Is it cancer? Maybe. Am I worried? Not really, for the same reasons I forgot.

    My faith in the goodness of God and HIs love for His children is stronger than my fears. More than 350 times in the Bible, we are told to “Fear not”.

    I know he has my back.


    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? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:26-34 ESV

    With Jesus, we can face anything, even if the outcome isn’t to our liking.

    Trust Jesus no matter what and praise His name.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

    Where do you find faith in chaos

    Some thoughts on tribulation and perseverance

    When the end comes, can you claim you didn’t know?

    Monsters in the mist

    Facing into the wind

  • Birdsong – Thoughts on the complexity of the created order

    White crowned Sparrow
    White Crowned Sparrow

    I stumbled out of bed for a few minutes around 4:30 this morning. Although the sun didn’t officially rise until 6:59, it was already getting light out. I opened the door and listened for a while. As expected, I heard the wonderful sound of birds singing. It was an early morning serenade.

    The birds love greeting the day, or so it seems. Yet, there is more happening than the birds visiting. Bird calls travel further early in the morning because of differences in barometric pressure. 

    Some studies have also shown that many plants begin photosynthesis up to 30 minutes earlier if they hear bird calls. I don’t know how plants “hear” such things, but the result benefits both birds and plants. Earlier photosynthesis means earlier flowering, flower opening, and increased production. It is similar to the response to plants growing with classical music playing.

    I am always amazed at how our Creator intricately designed the systems of life. The details are often so much more complex than we see on casual observation. The systems are far too sophisticated to have randomly evolved “by chance.”

    Everyone and everything in creation is linked together in some fashion. Each impacts the other.

    The entirety of the complex systems the Lord designed eagerly awaits God’s restoration of all things. Our very home planet is harmed by the sin of mankind.

    Paul writes,

    For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. Romans 8:18-22

    That knowledge shouldn’t turn us into Earth worshippers, but help us remember to be good stewards. It should also help compel us to work to see God’s kingdom come in full

    Paul goes on to say,

    And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

    When you hear a bird sing or see a flower blooming, may it remind you of the God we serve and help steer us on the path of becoming more like Him.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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