I woke early today and put on a pot of coffee.
I made my way to a little porch just off my kitchen with my first cup,
It's a cozy little porch with a small table at the center, lovely vines climb the columns at the entrance to the porch. There are geraniums on the side of each step planted for their sweet frangrance. Planted just in front of the geraniums are tiny pink rose bushes . One of my favorites.
Just beyond the little porch is a garden; my garden. I take such delight in it. There are over a dozen bird feeders along with bird houses and bird baths.
As I sat with my coffee, I watched as a beautiful red cardinal flew to the large feeded at the center of the garden. I had been out of town and realized that the feeder was probably about empty.
I got up from my comforable chair, left my coffee and went to fill the feeders. WHY? Because I want the birds to keep coming. I take such pleasure in just watching them come and eat.
I sat back down and watched as they came one by one, as if each one that flew off went to tell a friend "The owners back and the feeders are full."
As I sipped my coffee and watched the birds come and partake of the food that I had put out for them, The Lord began to speak to me and I heard the words "COME AND DINE"
In the same way that I had created a garden for my pleasure , to watch the birds, The Lord created us for His own pleasure..He longs for us to come and be in His presence, He has set a table before us.
As I continued to sip my coffee and watch the birds I observed how some birds come and go and some linger. Some grab one seed and leave as fast as they came. Some sit in the middle of the feeder and stay awhile.
I thought how we are like that with God. Sometimes we run to take just what we need and fly away. Back to the business of life and don't go back to God till we need another seed. Others have found the pleasure of lingering a little longer in His presence. Still others have made their home in the birdhouses provided with no desire to leave the garden.
While watching the birds suddenly a song bird began to sing and I can't help but feel that the pleasure that I feel when I hear the song bird sing Is like that of the pleasure that the Lord feels when we sing our praise songs to Him.
There have been mornings when I have sat and did not see a bird in my garden, my heart longed to see just one. I am reminded of the verse where the Lord says that He would have gathered us under His wing but we would not. How He longs for us.
There seem to be many similarities, like the bird that flys to the feeder and finds no food.. How many times have we gone to the Lord and come away feeling like we didn't receive anything, yet like the bird that keeps coming back till the feeder is full again the Lord says to us " Keep knocking and you will receive."
FLY TO JESUS TODAY AND LIKE THE SONG BIRD SING YOUR SONG OF PRAISE TO HIM.
