It's a Bird's Life

Jul. 24, 2008

Sonshine and Shadows

It's funny...the things the Lord uses to speak to our hearts. Like the idea of shadows. I receive a daily devotional from Alpha Omega Publications called "Daily Focus". The title of the message dated Wednesday, July 23, 2008 was "Shifting Shadows". The author was reflecting on how the Lord used the idea of shadows to provide an art lesson to her children and a spiritual lesson to her about perspective. I suppose this stuck with me because, at the same time, my husband and I have been reading the book "Peter and the Shadow Thieves" by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

with our 10-yr. old son. In the book the evil inhuman (spiritual?) force is Lord Ombra. His ability to control a person has to do with his being able to "steal" the person's shadow. Of course this is much easier if the shadow is lengthened by a light-source coming from a plane that is low to the ground so that it causes a long shadow to be cast. The same would have been true for the art lesson on perspective while taking an evening walk when the sun is low in the sky. It would have caused elongated shadows to be cast on the ground.

After I read this I found myself meditating on the spiritual lessons of shadows even more. It occurred to me that as long as the sun is directly overhead, there is very little shadow cast, if any. But as the sun moves lower in the sky, shadows lengthen until eventually darkness overtakes all. I began to realize that as long as I stayed directly under the full "light" of the Son (in Whom there is no darkness), I would not "cast any shadow" (of what? Doubt? Unbelief? Sin?) on the world around me; but the more I lag behind Him, the more of "my" shadow (my human nature, my weaknesses, etc.) would be cast around me. How do I lag behind Him? By not spending time with Him daily. By getting distracted by the concerns of life and wandering off in a different direction than He has been leading me. How easy it is for the Evil one in the world today to get a hold of my shadow and strengthen his hold on me when I do not stay in the full light of the Lord of glory!

My prayer today is that, when I begin to see the shadows lengthening around me and the darkness increasing, I would remember to look at where I am in proximity to the Son! I want to remain directly under His light! May your every day be filled with the brightness of the Son!

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Jul. 15, 2008

On The Edge

Posted in Food for Thought

Those nestlings just outside my front door are getting bigger and stronger every day! Just a few days ago they could hardly hold their heads up and were making sounds that were barely audible. They were covered in soft downy fuzz and the only distinguishable feature were their bills pointing up and out waiting for mama and papa birds to drop in some tasty morsel. Only yesterday we began to see their individual heads bobbing around the edges of the nest. This morning we could clearly see all five little birds, complete with recognizable plumage struggling to keep their place in the nest as the others jostled them about. They were peering anxiously at every movement in the driveway and yard below as they preened their new feathers and chirped loudly for the next meal. By all appearances, these "teenagers" are feeling crowded in that nest and are ready to fly away.

We're doing a lot of "tip-toeing" around as we go in and out today. We don't want to do anything to startle the birds and cause them to fly prematurely. We learned last year how disastrous that could be. Even though they look like they're ready, and they probably "think" they are, too, it's important that they stay in the protective confines of the nest until the moment that God has predetermined for them to take to flight.

I'm impressed that our teen-agers are so like these young birds. They grow so rapidly, and soon their bodies resemble that of adults...mature and ready to take on the world. Their confidence grows just as rapidly, and they tend to over-estimate their abilities. It's equally important that we proceed gently with our young people, encouraging them to stretch and explore the world around them without pushing them into independence before they are really ready. Remember, they will look and sound mature long before they actually are. Let us be wise and judge our children's maturity with the wisdom that the Lord (who sees the heart) gives.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

My Nest

I love bird-watching! God has taught me so much from the close observation of these small wonders of His creation which He has promised to provide for in every way. They have been both my example and my encouragement. I hope you will find good things to nourish and build up your nest as you visit mine!

Songs, Calls, and Twitterings

• Preparing for Migration
• Sonshine and Shadows
• Bye-bye Birdies
• And Then There Were Four
• Testing
• On The Edge
• Welcome to Our Nest!

A Bird's Eye View

Or...What I'm Reading

• Home-Designed High School
by Diana Johnson
• Little Women
by Louisa May Alcott

My Perches

• Home
• View my profile
• Archives
• Email Me
• My Blog's RSS

Flying Lessons

Here you will find links to some of our favorite websites for curriculum and resources!

• Hands of a Child

Nest-Building

Do you need a little help getting (or keeping) your nest in order? Here are some websites that you may give you some useful ideas and resources:

• Flylady.net

Birds of a Feather

Did you enjoy your time here? Let me know if you'd like to join my "flock"!

•

Flight Plan to Fun

Word of the Day