Thirty Birds Made Me See

Thirty Birds Made Me See
By Brenda Black

I never saw them until they bolted from behind a hedge row. Some of the wild turkeys escaped on speeding and spindly legs while others took to flight. Where seconds earlier there was silence along my gravel road, now there were thumping wings and chattering cries of turkey warning. I walked within 10 feet of thirty large birds and didn't know they were there until they were leaving. I thanked God as I caught glimpses of their rapid retreat and soaring escape.

Though I only saw them briefly, it was none-the-less impressive and exciting. It really doesn't take much to impress me, but God sure goes out of His way without my asking. Last night He painted a steel blue sky before the storm and boldly striped it's exit with an enormous rainbow as He ushered the clouds on their southbound trek. The grass today is one hundred shades of green from ample showers and sun-soaked days. A spider web glistens with dew and clings to barbed wire with remarkable tenacity under the damp load. Humming birds darted and hovered and dove in acrobatic maneuvers during the heavy downpours and I wondered how they were not dashed to the ground. No artist ever captures the penetrating colors from heaven. No seamstress has made a silk garment as equally fragile and resilient as the spider's web. Engineers feign to imitate the humming bird's incredible prowess with their man-made, modern aircraft. And these backyard observations are infinitesimal samples of God's far-reaching and fantastic works in nature.

More of His majestic artistry is detailed in Job 38-41 where God clearly distinguishes His supreme authority over all the earth. He makes it perfectly clear that man can take credit for none of it – the measurement of the sky, the limits of the seas, the warehouse where storms are kept or any of the magnificent creatures that roam this earth. One read through this list of the Lord's astounding feats of creation or a visit back to Genesis where it all began, will help us keep perspective that the place where we live is wholly a gift from God.

“Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were it's footing set, or who laid its cornerstone – while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7) The answer: God and God alone.

So why is God mindful of mere mortals among all that He has made? It's for fellowship. “...our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:3b) “God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” (1 Corinthians 1:9)

I almost missed seeing the handiwork of God this morning on my walk. I took that as a wake-up call to not miss Him the rest of the day and a reminder that I need to look for Him every step of my life. Because, my Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ is also my big brother looking out for me as well as blessing me with this great big, fabulous world.

“We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

“It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified:

“'What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet.'

“In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the Grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

“In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.” (Hebrews 2:1-11)

Like turkeys who stick together and flee danger, I want to cling to my Brother Christ and live under his protection and authority. What a beautiful walk it can be when we open our eyes to see the incredible plan God has for us on earth and in eternity!