That little bird has chosen his shelter.
Above it are the stars and the deep heaven of worlds.
Yet he is rocking himself to sleep
without caring for tomorrow’s lodging,
calmly clinging to his little twig,
and leaving God to think for him.
~Martin Luther
Red–bright, bright, glorious red! How easy it is to find in the winter landscape! Yahweh not only provided birds with sheltering places, but He also formed plants that produce colorful, and therefore easy to spot, feasts of red berries. In Scripture, we are told that we needn’t worry about what we require either because the Lord promises to provide for our needs too. However, since youth is an opiate that leads many a “fledgling” like I once was to a) believe that he/she is infallible and b) to believe he/she is the only one on the planet with a clue about anything, I foolishly thought for a time that my life was only what I was making of it. Then as time passed I began to realize there were doors that did not have to open, but they did; there were opportunities that didn’t have to present themselves, but they did; and there were misfortunes that could have occurred, but they didn’t, and so on. It’s our God-given free will which allows us to make choices that determine the outcome of our lives, and even poor choices can and do sometimes lead to a path that eventually merges back into the one the Lord wants us to travel. Looking back at such things I realize now that it’s only because of the intervention of God’s divine and saving grace that advantageous things happen. And who knows perhaps even the detours are gifts of His divine providence meant to protect the unwise sojourner from harm. Though prudence and patience are lessons I’m still trying to master, at least I’ve become more aware of the importance and necessity of listening to the Lord, consulting Him before making choices, yielding to His will and plan for my life, and living more like the birds who worry not. So on I go these days putting one foot in front of the other. In the meantime God keeps His eye on me and the sparrow, the birds feast upon the garden’s berries, and I rely more and more on the Lord, letting my little piece of Eden continue to feed my soul and remind me of His faithful provision and promises.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin…” ~Matthew 6: 25-28 ✝
**Images via Pinterest; overlay created by Natalie
Sacred Touches 
J’adore ce passage de Mathieu : se confier à la Grâce du Père céleste
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ce est un de mes passages préférés ainsi, Elisabeth. Prendre soin! 🙂 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
So beautifully said Natalie. I love the quote by Anne Raver about the garden being the table. In season it is also our table, when we know what to look for. So much edible goodies put there by God to keep us all fed, if we only look for them. We were given eyes to see, but progress has blinded those eyes to all but what must be bought in a store. Hugs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Angie. I love that quote too and yes, the good Lord does keep us all well fed, and you’re right it can be found outside the grocery store. Hugs, N ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooooooo—I love this!! The color, the image, the cardinal, the quote and the analogy as it too is my own story. As I am most thankful for the Divine intervention. . .over and over as I continue to be hardheaded and bent on following my own path when I should know better, over and over He patiently redirects—Thank God!!!
What a wonderful post Natalie
Hugs and love—cookie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why thank you, madam! I’m so glad you enjoyed this one. Oh my yes, where would any of us be without Divine intervention. We are so much alike in many ways, my friend. My mom would agree wholeheartedly with the “hardheaded and bent on following my own path” description. In fact she muttered something to that effect about me the last week of her life. I believe she called me a “know it all” among other things that night. She knew her oldest daughter well it would seem. Hugs, Natalie 🙂 ❤
LikeLike
Just lovely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. 🙂 ❤
LikeLike
This is just what I needed to see read. Thank you, Natalie, for sharing your beautiful testimony and overlay. Tonight I shall rest in the bosom of Providence.
Blessings & hugs ~ Wendy ❀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I so glad it was a timely message. As always, Wendy, you are very welcome. Love and hugs, N ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a beautiful post. I can no longer count the ways I now see where God has intervened in my life and until now I had foolishly thought the success of the venture was owing only to my own skill. I guess age brings with it better eyesight than I had at first realized, and I thank-you for the timely reminder. God Bless Natalie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so very welcome. I can readily think of quite a few ways He has intervened in my life and I’ll just bet if I were to take pen to paper and start counting the list would go on and on and on. There but for the grace of God go I as they say. Blessings to you as well, David. Hugs, N 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is lovely LMS.
Love’n Hugs
Laurence.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you kind sir. I pray your week is going well. Love’n hugs, LMS 🙂 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
As well as can be LMS.
Love’n Hugs,
Laurence.
LikeLike
Well, let’s move that up a notch. Here’s a whole bunch of smiles from little old LMS to cheer you up a bit. 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful post Natalie. I love that scripture which tells us not to worry about the small things – God will take care of it for us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. That passage is one of my favorites too. I pray that the Lord is blessing you abundantly these days and always. Hugs, N ❤
LikeLike
There is so much wisdom here, Free will, paths, detours, and providence. I understand. I wish that I were more steadfast and consistent. I am so easily distracted, and also loose track of time.
When I first started my blog I had to come up with a name and also an address. My address in prone to ponder. I am prone to contemplate things, but my mind resists being “stayed” on the Lord. One of my favorite hymns is “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” There is a verse in that hymn that is a type of confession. I am always sincere when I sing it:
“O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.”
Hugs and blessings,
Theresa
LikeLike