TRUST - The Sequel

Sorry, more about birds. This will be the last, I promise.

My son in Corona, California, has an unusual timepiece in his back yard. Early every morning a group (we're talking hundreds) of loud, squawking, obnoxious, caustic, big, black crows flies from the east to the west across a reserve behind their subdivision. Then 5:00 every evening, that same group of crows retraces the route back to their favorite roosting place in a grove of trees. They truly are southern California commuters. You can tell the time of day from this strange, noisy activity.

Isn't God's creation orderly? Dependable? Just think, not only the animal world, but the seasons, climate patterns, rock formations, plant life, and other sciences have God's stamp all over them. All of the "-ologies" we study in school are God-created entities. A good friend taught geology for years at a local high school. He once said, "The more I learn about science, the more I believe in God." I remember that comment whenever anyone tries to lure me into disbelieving God's omnipotence in creation. But...that's for another post.

Back to those crazy birds. Their behavior leads to a familiar Bible passage about God caring for us. It's so familiar it threatens to become a cliche, causing us to overlook the power of its teaching.

"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? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" (Matthew 6: 26-27)

A rough paraphrase of this verse applied to the daily migration of those crows might be something like this:

if God cares enough to instill survival instinct in these dumb, loud, annoying, stupid birds, surely he will take care of my _____________________ (insert whatever problem is plaguing you today).

Specifically, this passage speaks to:

• God's timetable
• God's dependability
• God's provision

All are things we desperately need and count on. It can be summed up in the word, TRUST. Why all this on trust (2 posts--enough already!)? I think it's because it is something I've struggled with the past several years and I'm trying to nail it in my own walk with God.

Where do you and I need to trust?

1. Family life
2. Relationships
3. Spiritual life
4. Health
5. Work
6. Life's direction
7. Finances

 God will honor your sincere prayer for guidance in any of those areas. It is his promise.

"...neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us [you] from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 38-39)

"I [you] can do everything through him who gives me [you] strength." (Philippians 4: 13)

TRUST

What is it about Arizona quail and Brian Williams on NBC Nightly News? Every evening at 5:30, when my husband and I turn on Nightly News, quail come to our back yard to feast. Not just a family, sometimes as many as 19. Their timing is precise and it almost never fails.

These unique birds must have a time clock embedded in their miniscule brains to know just when to come for juicy bugs and world news. The weather's pleasant and the door is open so I'm sure they're listening. Note to Brian: would you lighten up on world news a bit. There's a covey of little quail listening.

Bible Quail:

This reminds me of the quail story in the Bible. You knew I was going there, didn't you? When the Israelites roamed the desert for forty years, God met all their needs, including sending daily nutrition in the form of manna. There it was, every morning when they walked out of their tents: coriander-like wafers ready for the picking. It was nutritional and sufficient for the day. If they picked too much, it went moldy, emphasizing God's message to trust him for each day's provision.

True to human nature, the Israelites started grumbling. They ate manna in the morning and a little meat from their limited livestock in the evening. Still, they tired of the menu. God must have been exasperated, as he is with us sometimes. He provides but we grumble.

Well, he showed them. He sent quail. Lots and lots of quail. A year later, after a major gripe session, the Bible tells us, "Now a wind went out from the Lord and drove quail in from the sea. It brought them down all around the camp to about three feet above the ground, as far as a day's walk in any direction." (Numbers 11:31) Now that's a lot of quail!

We're told the people gathered and ate and while the meat was still between their teeth, the anger of the Lord burned against them and he struck them with a terrible plague.

What is the sin here?

It's grumbling and not appreciating the provisions of God who loves mankind. Period. As I look into my own heart, often I take for granted God's daily provision and forget to rely on his care for me. I am called to trust, even in the middle of life's greatest issues.

The quail who come to hear the evening news (I know, I know. They're not listening. It's a joke.) remind me since God provides for his creatures through their inner clocks and bugs in our yard, then surely he will guide me through life. He just wants my trust.

Can you join me in trusting God for the issues you're facing right now?

(Helpful Hint:  you can put an icon for this blog on your desktop and it will be easier to click on than typing in a web address. It also will remind you to check each Thursday and Sunday for new posts. Just left click on the little gray icon next to my blog address in the upper left corner, hold and drag it to your desktop. You might have to first move the blog window to the right of your screen so you can see the desktop and screen at the same time. It's easy-peasy.)

Greetings!

Welcome to my blog. I'm venturing into unknown territory here so please be patient with my learning curve. I am determined to produce something of value for anyone taking the time to read what I share. My goal is to help readers deal with life's issues by leading them to trust God who cares and understands.

• Growth is important. When something or someone ceases to grow, stagnation sets in. It's important for plants, people, and organizations to keep improving. My posts will focus on a person's development in his or her walk with God. The process is sometimes painful, sometimes happy, but always beneficial if it leads to knowing him more fully. I welcome you to join me on an adventurous journey of growth.

• Why should you read my blog? Ouch. Valid question. The answer centers on who I am:  a Christian woman with a faith strengthened through surviving various stages and issues of this thing called life. I do best when I remember to rely on God and his resources. The Bible has long guided me and prayer has sustained me through the curve balls life has thrown. I'm a wife, a mother of four grown children, a grandma of ten, a former high school teacher, and a writer. I've experienced the life of a stay-at-home mom as well as that of a full-time educator. I've done it all, just not all at the same time. 

• You, my readers, are very busy people and I hope to respect your limited time. You are most likely stressed, overworked, over-scheduled, wearing too many hats, trying to do it all, and needing to survive various problems or situations. Here is the good news:  the Bible has answers for whatever issue you are facing in modern life. Really. Convincing you of that is one thing I hope to accomplish through these writings. Stay with me long enough to see for yourself and then proceed on your exciting journey to grow with God.

Thank you for investing your time in reading this blog. I promise to make it worthwhile.

"The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth."

(Psalm 145: 18)