Shelter for the Sparrow and Shelter for You and Me

I snapped these pictures through the window of my office.  Brrrr!  Baths on a cold day?  I wish I had that downy underlay on my skin to help me survive the cold of the winter.

The second picture is one I took today.  The water in that birdbath was frozen this morning.  As you can see, it has warmed up enough to thaw out, but it's still only in the 40s.  Believe it or not, there was a sparrow that still ventured taking a bath in it.  He didn't stay in long, however, and his friends weren't too keen on joining him.   

I have often heard these little creatures called "dumb, ugly birds," but just look at them.  Notice their fine markings and the fluffy, protective layer they build up under their feathers.  God equips each one for the cold winter ahead.  Not one is forgotten. 

As it gets colder the sparrows find shelter between the evergreen branches or under plants that are not yet cut off.  As I watched them yesterday morning, a Psalm came to mind:

"Beneath Thy care the sparrow finds place for peaceful rest,

To keep her young in safety, the swallow finds a nest,

Then LORD, my King Almighty, Thy love will shelter me,

Beneath Thy holy altar, my dwelling place shall be."

The same Almighty God Who shelters such a little creature will surely shelter me from all the bitter, cold onslaughts of sin.  The same God Who gives the sparrow a protective layer will give me the Shield of faith to fend off the wiles of Satan.

Reader, that same God Who cares for every creature, no matter what they look like or what they can or cannot do, cares for you, too.  I pray that today you will find refuge in the safety of His love.

Give Me a Love for Humanity

"Give Me Your Eyes," a song by Brandon Heath, has been playing in my mind much of the day.  I've listened to this song on my favorite radio station so often, but today some of the words seeped more deeply into the longings of my heart.

The song writer writes of the confusion and chaos of people in this world, then asks himself, "Are those people going somewhere?  Why have I never cared?"

We can get so caught up in our self-centered lives that we become blind to the pain of others.  We can become so overwhelmed by our own troubles that we don't take the time to sincerely pray for the people we see around us.  How often do we realize that each and every one carries a cross, sometimes hidden from the rest of the world? 

Sometimes their crosses are revealed to us, but we still hesitate to pray for them for various reasons.  Perhaps it's someone who hasn't treated us very well in the past?  Someone who has spread rumors or believed in the slander of our person?  Someone who has abused us in some way?

Personally, I find it easier to pray for a stranger than for someone who has hurt me or someone I care about.  I confess I don't always want things to go well for certain people, and I hang my head in sadness and plead that I will become more like Jesus.

When Jesus was suffering excruciating pain on the cross to save us from death and agony, He still looked around Him and cared, even for those who were driving in the nails and taunting Him.  For those who stripped Him of His dignity.  For those who hated Him with a passion.  He still cried, "Father, forgive them..."

Our sins just as surely crucified Jesus as the hands who physically drove in those nails.  We have just as much a part in abusing Jesus as anyone, in disgracing Him to the lowest of the lowest.  And yet He still looks right at us and prays for us.

Oh, to have a heart of love like Jesus!  The words repeated in the chorus of Brandon Heath's song ripple the deep longings of my innermost being:
"Give me Your eyes for just one second
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me Your love for humanity
Give me Your arms for the broken hearted..."

*******

Music can often touch us in a personal way.  Reader, do you have a song that has deeply touched you?  Will you share it with us?

It's About Respect

A battle is raging here in SD to gain a smokefree state.  It is finally being put to a vote in the November election.

I received a pamphlet in the mail from those who are fighting to keep smoking in business places - “It’s About More Than Smoking: It’s About Freedom” - complete with a picture of an American flag and a veteran's photo and sentiments of fighting for our rights.  I’m sorry, but I guess I don’t get it.  Our soldiers fought for our freedom from danger, not freedom to put us in danger.  I am deeply grateful for all our soldiers and veterans who sacrifice their lives for our safety and freedom, but what does that have to do with freedom to put others in danger? 

Yes, I get it that property owners should have a right to run their businesses as they see fit, but why wouldn’t an owner want to respect the health of their workers and customers?  When did “freedom” start contradicting respect for another person’s well-being?

If a person drinks too much alcohol, does he or she have a right to drive?  Do they have a right to abuse other people around them?  Just ask all the families who have lost loved ones because of a drunk driver or who suffer violence because of drunkenness.

Smoking has the same repercussions.  The damage isn’t always evident immediately, but it is real and deadly.  Actually, sometimes it is immediate.  I personally have landed in the hospital when I was caught unaware in the path of a smoker. 

I am not running down smokers.  I don’t know firsthand how difficult it is to quit since I have never smoked, but I do know people who struggle with it or have struggled with it.  Many wish they had never started. 

The point I am trying to make is a need for respect for our fellow human-beings.  Would we purposely place toxic gas in our homes or businesses? 

No, I don’t think smoking in public places is about anyone’s rights or freedom.  It’s about caring about others.  It’s called common courtesy.



What's In a Cigarette?