The Holy Spirit and Love

I don't know how many people noticed that I recently changed my profile picture for this page. Well, I have to tell you, I love my little snowbirds so much that I have to rerun the article that I wrote the night that I found their picture. It was in February, 2012, and I remember how the holy Ghost came upon me in a powerful way when I saw this picture for the first time. The love and goodness of God was revealed to me in a greater way than I had ever seen, and I just wept like a baby for close to a half hour, just basking in the wonder and glory of God's gloriously holy love. God sees scenes like this every day in so many places where man rarely, if ever, steps foot; and he takes great pleasure in these things every time he sees them. After all, he did make all these things for his own pleasure. I'm just thankful that he allows me to see and feel a fraction of what he experiences continually. It was quite an experience the night I saw this and I was moved to write the following article afterward. I hope it's half the blessing to you as it was for me when I received it from the Lord. I hope all my friends on facebook had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, as many as celebrate the day.

"Behold the Fowls of the Air" by Lary R. Hale

Today's post is being taken from the precious picture seen here that I found with two of God's meager creatures who are conveying to us an entire Bible full of truth. I was just deeply touched and moved upon finding this picture, and the holy Ghost just filled me with awe at this wondrous little scene of God's pure love and goodness on display. So let's just look at a couple of beautifully simplistic truths that are conveyed to us here by means of these two little birds. "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. ARE YE NOT MUCH BETTER THAN THEY?" (Mat. 6:25,26). Can't you just see it friend? These tiny creatures are wondrously clothed, obviously well fed and nourished, and perfectly content with all that they have. And they build houses and work to get their food, yet they don't worry and fret with it all; but rather they enjoy what they do, and live simplistically happy lives. The scripture tells us, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Wow! Now that's something that is worth more than anything we could ever attain to, have, or accomplish in this world: "I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE." My friend, that is God that said those words! These two sweet birds sure don't look forsaken, do they? No wonder they're so content and happy! And that is what the passage means, that says, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content" (I Tim. 6:6-8). Again, these two birds very much appear to be living by that rule, and they look plenty wealthy to me.

Jesus laid down the truth nice and simplistic, when he said, "These things I command you, that ye love one another" (Jn. 15:17). And to that the apostle Paul added, "And be at peace among yourselves" (I Thess. 5:13). And once again Paul tells us, "Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits" (Rom. 12:16). I have to tell you, these two birds sure do look to me that they "love one another," and they surely look "to be at peace [between themselves]." And it is more than evident that they are "of the same mind one toward another," and that they are not concerned with "high [minded] things." It's so easy to see that these two snow birds are in perfect harmony with one another and with God, and that they are just thrilled to be together and to have everything in the world that they need. Again the scripture informs us that "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law" (Rom. 13:10). You don't need me to tell you that neither of these birds has any ulterior motive toward one another, and there just isn't any way that either of them is going to do anything harmful to the other. Yes these two small and obscure birds are indeed fulfilling their purpose in this life beautifully, and that without strain or worry. And I'm certain that if we look at this picture a little longer with honest contemplation, the words of Jesus will ring truer and truer to our hearts: "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" (Mat. 6:31-34). And in powerful conclusion: "Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows" (Mat. 10:31). You sure can learn a lot from a couple of birds, can't you? Amen and God bless.