Sunday Night Hope and Comfort

Happy Sunday.  Just wanted to share today's message with you from Philippians 4:10-23, as well as the Praise Team singing, "Precious Lord, Take My Hand"

You can sing along with us, if you wish:

"Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, help me stand.

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.

Thro’ the storm, thro’ the night, Lead me on to the light.

Take my hand, precious Lord; lead me home.

When my way grows drear, Precious Lord, linger near

When my life is almost gone.

Hear my cry, hear my call, Hold my hand lest I fall

Take my hand, precious Lord; lead me home.

When the darkness appears and the night draws near

And the day is past and gone,

At the river I stand, Guide my feet hold my hand

Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.

Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, help me stand.

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.

Thro’ the storm, thro’ the night, Lead me on to the light.

Take my hand, precious Lord; lead me home."

I know there are many times when we feel just like this...we are weak and worn and tired, and we just need the Lord to take us by the hand and lead us gently home.  How blessed we are that we have such a Savior as Jesus Christ our Lord, Who is always there, ready to help us stand when our own strength is gone.   

I hope today has been a good day for you.  We enjoyed church this morning, then went out to lunch with our kids and friends as per usual.  It's just good to spend time together, fellowshipping and enjoying good company.  I must say it is the highlight of our week!

Another highlight this weekend was this:

There's a story here.  The other evening I saw a hummingbird fly up to our back porch glass doors and flutter about, looking inside, as if to say, "Why haven't you put out your hummingbird feeders for us this summer???"  Well, to be honest, the only answer I could give was I was lazy.  The hummingbird food has to be changed every couple of days in the summertime, because it is so hot outside that the sugar water will ferment and/or mold very quickly. If you don't keep it changed often and clean the feeder thoroughly, it could make the hummingbirds very sick and they will die.  So, I decided rather than go to all that trouble, they could just search for natural sources of nectar out there in nature and not become dependent on me.   I thought I was being rather noble.    

But then, my son said to me, "Mom, I saw a hummingbird out there around the trees last night, and he was looking for food. Where's your feeder that you usually put out for them?"  Talk about being shamed by my own son. I should have said, "If you want to keep up with boiling the water and adding the sugar, and then keeping it changed every couple of days and cleaning the feeder, then YOU are welcome to do so."   But instead, I grabbed the pyrex measuring cup, boiled the water in the microwave, added the sugar, washed the feeder, cooled down the sugar water until it was cool enough, and put it in the feeder and hung it on the back porch where we could see it.

And then we were rewarded with these pictures, (and many more feedings that I couldn't get a picture of quick enough).  There will probably be more to come later.  And actually, the honest truth is, the female ruby throated hummingbird literally flew back toward the glass door after getting her drink and fluttered outside the window as if to say, "Thank you for caring enough to feed me." 

Reminds me of this story found in Matthew 25:31-40

31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 

33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!"

(To read the rest of the story, for what happened to the goats...keep reading from Matthew 25:41-46)

And then remember Harriet the Hawk?  Looks like she came back for another fashion show...

Isn't she lovely?  

I do believe she knows when we are talking about her...

After posing for us on the tree, she leapt down to the ground to see whatever she was spying on down there:

I believe there is a hole in the ground there, and I think she can see the wiggles of a mole in the ground, probably digging his tunnels...

She stood watch over the hole for a while, using her talons to dig at the ground a bit...

Looking around to see if anyone else was watching...

She flapped her beautiful wings and stomped her claws on the ground a few more times,

And after giving whatever was down there a real hawk eye look...she took off into the trees as if to say, "I'll be back later for you!"

Well, that's all for now...oh wait...Last evening on our walk we met this "deer" lady:

Sadly, I did not have my good camera with me, so these were taken with my cell phone from a distance, hence the poor quality. But I think you will get the "picture" anyway:

I think this is a great way to end this post for tonight:

Habakkuk 3:18-19

18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

19 The Lord God is my strength;

He will make my feet like deer’s feet,

And He will make me walk on my high hills.

Joy of the Redeemed

Isaiah 35:1-6

1. "The desert and the parched land will be glad;

the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.

Like the crocus, 

2 it will burst into bloom;

it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.

The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,

the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;

they will see the glory of the Lord,

the splendor of our God.

3 Strengthen the feeble hands,

steady the knees that give way;

4 say to those with fearful hearts,

“Be strong, do not fear;

your God will come,

He will come with vengeance;

with divine retribution

He will come to save you.”

5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened

and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

6 Then will the lame leap like a deer,

and the mute tongue shout for joy.

Water will gush forth in the wilderness

and streams in the desert."

How's that for some hope and joy as we begin a new week?  Be blessed my friends, and have hope. 

"Be strong, and do not fear; Your God will come....He will come to save you."