"Why Should I Be Discouraged?" (Revisited for Friday Foto Friends)

I can't believe it's Friday, and I don't have any new pictures to share with you again! It was a busy week with Dr. appointments and other commitments, and, well, you know how it is! We all have weeks like that...no time for taking pictures when we are in the midst of "life"...so here is a post from a couple of years ago about a cute little wren who built a nest on our back porch.  The wrens still come and go, but I haven't seen any evidence of nest building on the porch yet this year...but it is still early...

This little wren is sitting in her nest, right out in plain view on my back porch. As I walked by the nest this morning on my way to hang up the bird feeders for the day, I almost missed the fact that she was sitting in there. She didn't even move as I swept by singing "Oh What a Beautiful Morning!" at the top of my lungs. I think she was afraid to move into the path of something so....noisy?! Anyway, I tiptoed in and out of the house quickly to get my camera, and very quietly tiptoed back to her nest asking myself, "Do I dare disturb this little wren just so I can have this wonderful picture that I know the world wants to see?" My hubby told me not to do it. But he should know better than to tell me that...you'd think he'd have learned by now... But anyway, I stood there very quietly for a moment while my camera focused and prayed that she wouldn't fly away...and this is my gift from God this morning to share with you! I quoted from the wonderful song, "His Eye is on the Sparrow, and I know He watches me." Yes, I know this is a wren, not a sparrow...but to my knowledge no one has written a song or Bible verse about a wren yet. And that message comes from the scripture found in Matthew 10:29-31:

"Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do NOT FEAR therefore; YOU ARE OF MORE VALUE THAN MANY SPARROWS!" 

I pray this little wren will bring a smile to your face today as you remember that not only does our heavenly Father watch over the birds of the nest...but that He IS ALWAYS WATCHING OVER YOU...AND YOU ARE VERY VALUABLE TO HIM! Praise God!

This is another picture of her nest...not very neat,
but it seems to suit Mrs. Wren very nicely!
I guess that is all that matters!
"Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home!"

Why should I feel discouraged and why should the shadows come?

Why should my heart be lonely and long for heaven and home?

When Jesus is my portion, a constant Friend is He, 

His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.

His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.

I sing because I'm happy; 

I sing because I'm free; 

His eye is on the sparrow (WREN!)

And I know He watches me.

Let not your heart be troubled; these tender words I hear; 

And resting on his goodness I lose my doubts and fears; 

Though by the path He leadeth but one step I may see; 

His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.

His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.

I sing because I'm happy; 

I sing because I'm free; 

His eye is on the sparrow (WREN!)

And I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted; whenever clouds arise; 

When songs give place to sighing; when hope within me dies; 

I draw the closer to Him; from care He sets me free; 

His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.

His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.

I sing because I'm happy; 

I sing because I'm free; 

His eye is on the sparrow (WREN!)

And I know He watches me...

(Written by Civilla D. Martin, 1905)

You can see this perky little bird has been a source of joy and delight for me for a while!

Rest peacefully little Wren...I'll try not to bother you anymore today!

To read previous posts about a similar story, click HERE, 

AND HERE!   and HERE'S ANOTHER ONE!   It would appear that this blog has gone to the birds!  But there are so many valuable lessons to be learned from God's creation.  I never get tired of seeing what God is going to show me next!  Certainly is a wonderful way to lift our spirits, don't you agree?

Have a blessed day my friends!  Go out and see what YOU can learn from God's magnificent world around you today!

Back to the present:  Now let's fly on over to Deb's place at Breathing in Grace and see what our other Friday Foto Friends have been up to this week!  Have a blessed and happy day!

TGIF!

How often have we said, "TGIF" in our lives?  I know I've said it frequently throughout my years of employment...and even during my times of unemployment. There is just something special about Friday.  Today I am particularly giddy because I completed my first full week of my new job and survived.  Additionally, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I have Friday afternoons off...that's almost as good as a four day work week! 

So today I celebrated by rushing right home to enjoy an absolutely gorgeous afternoon by dining out on my patio for lunch, surrounded by the joyful melody of so many birds I can't begin to count them! The bright yellow goldfinches are enjoying the thistle seed I put out for them.  Their golden bodies are such a bold contrast twittering back and forth against the spring green background of newly budding trees in the little copse of woods behind my house. Just as beautiful are the brilliant red cardinals and their more subdued colored mates as they chip chip chip away at the safflower seed in the other feeders. 

Earlier I heard the loud cukcukcukcukcukkkk of the tall pileated woodpecker as he flew from one tree to another in search of dead wood to peck away at.  There are several other red-bellied woodpeckers hopping up and down the tree trunks and on the ground in search of bugs, larvae, and acorns. 

A few minutes ago there was a war between the red-tailed hawk and our Barred Owls...apparently the hawk flew into the wrong territory...I am expecting the baby owl(s) to make their debut any day now. We are hearing a lot more owl activity at night....last night the adults were calling back and forth to each other from opposite ends of the woods, then just as I was watching out our back door (it was dark), I saw one of the owls fly pell-mell across our yard, calling "Who Who Cooks for YOU?" very loudly as he flew in the direction of his responding mate.  I think she was letting him (or vice versa) know that she had found some tasty rodent for dinner.  Food becomes a major issue when they are feeding newborn owlets.   

I know, this is a lot of jibberish about birds and stuff...but tomorrow is the first day of Spring...and all of God's beautiful creation is celebrating!  This is just the way He intended it to be right from the start...

Genesis 1:20-22  "Then God said, 'Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens...and God saw that it was good...And God blessed them, saying, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.'"

And yet even more significant is what Jesus taught His disciples about the sparrow...

Matthew 10:29-31 "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Do not fear therefore; YOU ARE OF MORE VALUE THAN MANY SPARROWS!"

Yeah, I know, maybe being more valuable than a little sparrow doesn't sound like much to you, but the fact remains that we were created for a noble and unique purpose...not to worship the "creation", but the Creator, and to one day dwell with Him forever...ONE DAY may be sooner than we think...so we may as well start celebrating now!

Revelation 5:13 gives us a bird's eye view of heaven at the end of the age...

"And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

'Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!'"

Amen and Amen!