I overslept a little bit this morning. This used to mean that I would be rushed to get everyone in the house ready to get out the door, but now, it means that I have lost a chunk of my personal Bible study time. I hate it when I do that.
So, I sat down at the kitchen table, opened my Bible, glanced at the clock and groaned inside as I realized I probably only had 15 minutes of peace before the whole house woke up and needed my attention. I began to read Psalm 84, what Charles Spurgeon refers to as the "Pearl of the Psalms." I have to agree with him.
Psalm 84:1-2
"How lovely is Your tabernacle
O LORD of hosts!
My soul longs, yes, even faints
For the courts of the LORD;
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God."
At this point in my reading I get distracted. A tiny sparrow has been spending a great deal of time in the basket of a dying house plant that is sitting on my back porch. (I'm notorious for killing plants, despite coming from a long line of green-thumbed women.) I think this little bird must be building a nest. For some reason this morning, he or she, I can't tell which it is, was just a singin' at the top of its little lungs. I stood up and walked over to one of the windows to get a better look at the joyful little bird. It saw me standing on the other side of the glass, probably less than 4 feet away, and it flew to the table that sits on our back patio to continue its song.
Its beak pointed straight up into the air. Its little tail bobbed with each exuberant chorus. Its chest swelled and the feathers on its back puffed in and out as this tiny creature poured out his joy. It sounded to me like his song declared, "Do you know? Do you know? Do you know?"
I just stood and watched him for a few minutes, enjoying this special close-up glimpse of the beauty of creation. Then I sat back down to continue my reading. Here is exactly what I read in verses 3-4.
"Even the sparrow has found a home,
And the swallow a nest for herself,
Where she may lay her young--
Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
My King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;
They will still be praising You."
I was stunned. It really felt like I just got a big wink and grin from God!
The 84th Psalm is deserving of a much more in-depth post, and maybe I'll even get around to writing one, but just for this morning, it was all about that little sparrow, and the treat it seemed God planned just to set my day off on the right course.
Praise Him all creatures here below!
By the way, if you have any similar stories, I'd love to hear them. Just leave me a comment!
GPS…FINALLY!!!!
9 years ago
2 comments:
What a beautiful thing to experience! I too have experienced what I thought was God's way of smiling down on me, but I can't seem to remember any of them specifically. I should remember to jot them down when they happen or when they come to mind so I can refer back to them. Thanks for the idea and thanks for sharing. :)
I too have a story about God's love for me using His creation to show it. I had been prone to worrying...(about everything), my husband was out of work, bills piling up, my income not enough to live on, etc. ..anything Satan could throw at me. My mind was a clutter of doubt, etc. I knew what I had to do...Pray...but I could not break this hold the clutter had on my mind. Then, I was finally able to get out a few words of prayer...God, Please send some ministering spirits to me!
Within seconds, the clutter was replaced with the sound of birds chirping outside my bedroom window. God answered my prayers that morning by bringing those birds to the shrubbery outside my window. He loves and cares for us!!
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