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Tag: Psalms

  • Chickadee – an amazing bird

    a black capped chickadee sitting on my

    The black-capped chickadee is an amazing little bird. They are cute, friendly, and have a sweet song, but they also have some amazing characteristics you might not know about.

    Each year, the chickadee’s hippocampus sheds memories of the previous year and develops new patterns to remember the location of every seed it stashed away. It is estimated that they can remember 100,000 seeds. Scientists are studying this to learn how memory works.

    A chickadee can go into a state of semi-hibernation. Their internal body temperature can drop nearly 50 degrees (F) allowing for far less energy usage. I extreme cold.

    Chickadees remember faces that fill their feeders and more. Being naturally inquisitive, other species of birds watch them to see if an area is safe before moving in.

    Such a little bird, made in such a complex, specialized way. How much more so does that apply to humanity, being made in the very image of God?

    So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

    I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14

    Every human being has intrinsic value. Every life is important to God. We need to remember that when we look down on or dismiss others because of their lifestyle, melanin levels, gender, socioeconomic status, or anything else. 

    We’re called to love and compassion. We’re called to share the gospel. We’re called to be in the world not of it.

    Jesus died for them, just as He died for us while we were yet sinners and enemies of God.

    Like other birds watching chickadees to see if things are safe, people are watching us to evaluate the claims of Christ. Is He safe?

    May your life reflect the fruit of the Spirit and the love of Christ.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

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  • Crowns of glory

    Crowns of glory

    Water droplet crown

    I like to watch water drip and form perfect little crowns as it impacts the surface beneath it. I’ve never quite managed to get the photo of that event I wanted, so this morning I’m using someone else’s shot to illustrate it (I couldn’t track down the photographer’s contact info, so I couldn’t give them credit). 

    What can I say? Some people say small things amuse small minds, but personally, I think we simply become blasé and ambivalent about much of what we see about us. We look and see, but we never truly see.

    The physics involved in creating the drop aside, I think that it is quite a spectacular event every time it happens. We tend to overlook it because it is small and common, but every one of those marvelous crowns is unique and really something to behold. It happens so fast that it is very difficult to appreciate without the aid of a photograph, but it is majestic, nonetheless. None of the crowns worn by any king or queen has the same beauty as that of a simple raindrop or the drip of atap. 

    That’s kind of humbling in a way. God dresses the everyday raindrop in a crown of splendor that surpasses the crown jewels of any monarch that ever lived. We are surrounded by infinite beauty created by God that we simply never take the time to notice. 

    The crown of the raindrop, the puff of a dandelion, the curve of a mouse’s whiskers, and more escape our gaze, yet they surround us. 

    When I am trout fishing, the flash of a rainbow as a trout leaps out of the water should take my breath away, but I often miss it in the excitement. 

    Such things are not seen with our busy eyes. They require us to be still and truly look at our surroundings. When we do that, we can sample a taste of the glories of God. 

    These things are to be appreciated, but not worshipped; after all, we worship the creator, not the created. Yet they can draw us ever closer to Him. 

    We are called to pause and think on Him. 

    Commit your way to the Lord;
        trust in him, and he will act.
    He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
        and your justice as the noonday.

    Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
        fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
        over the man who carries out evil devices
    !
     Psalm 37:5-7

    “Be still, and know that I am God.
        I will be exalted among the nations,
        I will be exalted in the earth!”
     Psalm 46:10 

    I can hardly wait until glory, when we will be able to truly appreciate all He has created without the veil of sin on our eyes. When we can do that, I think we will be much more able to give Father the praise and glory due His name. 

    When was the last time you stopped and were still? I mean, truly still with no background music, no cell phone, just you and God and the wonders of His creation. When was the last time you paused to look at the wonders of His handiwork? 

    If you are like most of us, it has been too long. Take some time today and just look for the crown jewels our Lord has put in your path. 

    Be blessed

    Kevin