Oh, to be a bird of the air or flower of the field with no capacity to labor or spin. They simply live and move in the midst of their Creator, they grow and build and do as they were made to do. But I have choices to make and a will to contend with. Standing at the cross-roads of fear and life, I have to choose life with every step or worry will grow up like a tangled weed and consume all signs of hope.
Sometimes it’s the big things like you might think, like big dreams and small faith rubbing against each other in my heart. Other times it is in the small things, where fear and worry try to creep in among the happy chatter of the everyday. Either way, I am reminded of those birds of the air who do not store away in barns, yet their Heavenly Father feeds them. Or the lilies of the field who grow in spite of their lack of labor.
“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to her life?” Matthew 6:27
You have no idea how your words affected me today. Thank you.
What wonderful words to absorb as we travel through this journey called LIFE… everything is out of our hands. Our Heavenly Father loves us and desires to take care of us! How awesome is that, yet humbling too. Thank you for sharing such a simple, yet powerful illustration of our CREATOR!
Hi Emily~
I cant tell you how many times I have let fear overcome me. I remember once when I was in high school and had to sing a song in front of thousands{well,hundreds but it felt like millons}I was afraid. I prayed about the song that the Lord wanted me to sing. I waited for the Lord to place a song on my heart. Well,he did but I fought it a bit. Consider the sparrow? How could he want me to sing this song! I mean it was so not a cool song and none of my friends had even heard of it.lets just say God has a way of making things right.I sang the song and it was then that I understood the meaning. I got it! Now those poor people that had to hear me…well let’s just say it was not a pleasure Im sure. To sing is one of those gifts I wished God had blessed me with. It’s one thing to sing when you can sing but it’s a “God Thing” when you can bring your skinny ,no shape 14 year old self in front of all of those people and sing a song. A “God” song in front of your friends. That’s when I knew He loved me and I loved him! Thank you for your bird story. We all need a reminder sometimes that God loves us even when we dont think we are worthy. Thanks Em~
Beautifully written. Thank you.
” …big dreams and small faith rubbing against each other in my heart.”
You put this so beautifully and oh, man. It’s the story of my life. I’ll tell you that I trust Him to catch me as I take those big leaps, but I’m really afraid more than I’m not. I’m thinkng it’st time to act like a bird.
Thank you for visitng BeeMusing today. Your comments mean a lot to me.
You have NO IDEA how your words affected me today. You are gifted, my friend!
Oh my friend – thank you for the wonderful reminder in the midst of our family’s “God Watch.” It’s been many, many months now, and Gregg’s decided to go out on his own….these will be words (and a verse) that I will cling to often.
I hope I’m not being presumptious. Though you haven’t gone into detail, it seems alot must be going on in your life or with someone close to you. I’ll be praying for you – that He will be your peace since He is not just the Giver of gifts but He is the Gift that He gives also.
Galatians 2:20 – I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me. {Amplified Bible}
My Sunday school teacher said last Sunday, “No one ever committed suicide by crucifixion.” Let Him do it ALL. Thank you for always encouraging us. We should be doing the same for you, friend.
Your writing has a poetic quality ~ beautiful composition (piX and prose).
Great words of truth, thank you. We just lost our home after extended unemployment and I am begining to see that God has been taking us through a season of ‘tearing down’ things in our life that do not necessarily give him glory. It is making it easier to see the things that remain; those things are eternal and secure.
Thanks again for reminding us to allow faith, not fear, to rule our hearts.
This is so wonderful. Your words have pierced my heart, especially today, these days of recent, when worry has been all-consuming. We serve an awesome God who has used you to speak to us, so many, who needed these words, this simple and gentle reminder. Thank You.
I return to these verses often. In fact, I consider it our family verse. Every time I read it I remember that when I got married I became a “Lillie” and I tell myself over and over that Lillies don’t labor and spin (or worry or fret). I think God knew that I’d need to marry a Lillie in order to have this constant reminder of how I need to live. Thanks for helping Him remind me yet again.
Oh, Emily. You are, indeed, a writer. Thank you for sharing your gift with us.
What beautiful words!
sandy toe
Weird! Are you my prettier twin?
Weird! Are you my prettier twin?
That picture is beautiful!!
Thank you for your encouraging words! May I copy this and pass it along to my friends in church as an encouragment to them?– your name will be credited to this, of course, naturally!
Thanks,
Jennifer
Oh Emily! Thank you for this as I have been a big worry bug lately! Kelly
sometimes it’s scary how much you and i are in the same spot…even on the same day! i was reminding myself of that very verse and that same picture of how simply the Father holds the birds in His hands…and says to us..are you not of much greater value than the birds!? How He cares for us, without us even seeing His hand.