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Listen while you read: "The Church's One Foundation"1 (Lyrics) |
Psalm 145:15-16 – The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. (NIV)
Lana's mittens dragged along the snowbanks as she walked the snowmobile path through the bush. The snow sparkled in the bright sun. The winter birds filled the sky with their colour, motion, and patterns. Lana was startled by a sudden heavy flapping of wings. When the hidden Ruffed Grouse burst out of their snow tunnels, snow scattered everywhere. Her first thought was one of wonder — at God's goodness and provision.
When we look at the birds, we see small creatures, vulnerable and alone in a large domain, with predators all around. By God's grace and mercy, they survive with what He provides for them. They eat the fresh new growth from the forest floor and make shelters from twigs and bushes. When the snow gets deep enough, the grouse make tunnels in the snow to shelter from the cold.
As for us, our precious Lord provides not only for our earthly needs, but also our spiritual needs. Our loving God knows the needs of all, and He graces us with the necessities of life — and more. In His wisdom and power, He provides mankind with even more than He provides for the birds. Because the birds have no knowledge of sin, they have no need of the salvation that Jesus provided for us.
Jesus tells us, "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?" (Matthew 6:26 NIV)
As we observe God's provision for the birds, let us remember that His care and provision for them speaks of His infinitely greater care and provision for us, for He gave us Jesus, Whose sacrifice for our sin meets our need for salvation.
Prayer: Dear Father, we thank You that when we look at Your creation, we see the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We know that You are faithful and good through Your holy Word, and we know so by faith, by practice, and by observing Your creation. Amen.
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Thursday, January 23, 2025 – In Europe — Pray for the Jewish community to be encouraged and feel the love of their non-Jewish Christian friends. Pray that the Holy Spirit would open the hearts and minds of these secular Jews, and for God's leadership in my work.
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Amen, Karen.
Beautifully written!
Thank you, Karen, for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. Blessings.
Amen Karen. But l really don’t want to think about snow for quite awhile yet.
Blessings.
HI Karen,
Such a beautiful opening paragraph. The imagery is rich and inviting.
Thanks for sharing.
Impressed by Henri Nouwen’s urging to “silence and solitude”, I decided to practice this actively on my walks. God spoke to me so clearly in the flowers, trees, colours, breeze, and beauty of His world. I know what Lana experienced. Thanks for sharing this in the Daily Devotional!
Blessings on you all.
Greetings Karen and thank you for this beautiful devotional today. We need be so thankful for all the beauty of this earth that has been provided for us and above that, extreme gratitude for all the Lord’s loving care of us each and every day. Out Lord truly is phenomenal in delivering provisions to us. Blessings for your very special and faithful writings.
Good morning, Karen,
Well I didn’t expect you to be the writer of today’s devotional with this title. I was surprised and pleased. I live in Canada, and we have lots of snow but never seen a ruffed grouse since I live in a city. I love the snow and the clean white freshness it brings to the city.
God’s creations awe me all the time. I am growing a frangipani and the flower looks so perfect and unreal. We don’t have anything like that in Toronto so it is extra special gift from God.
God looks after all of us with our needs also.
Thanks for sharing and your encouragement to all of us to trust in the Lord. Blessings.
Beautiful, Karen. Thanks for your inspired sharing of your faith with us.
Good morning, Karen,
God is there for us at all times indeed. We used to have grouse at our place when we lived on a small acre property. I have had it too when I went to get the mail at the road that a grouse flew out from underneath the cedar trees.
Thank you for your good words, they brought back good memories.
Blessings.