Birds count but we count more

Feb

24

2012

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Feb

24

2012

Yesterday my wife excitedly told me our purple martins had returned. I went out in our backyard and sure enough a dozen or more of these beautiful little birds were sitting atop their martin houses elatedly chattering away while others circled overhead happily soaring through the air. Excitement seemed to be in the air as they arrived back at their summer home after making their long journey from their winter home in South America.

These beautiful birds will stay for most of the summer and raise their brood prior to returning to their winter home with their offspring. I love these little birds and we have three colonies of them located in different locations on the plantation.

I could not help but wonder at how these fragile little fellows make that long arduous trip each year and yet these little guys don’t seem to worry about it at all. God watches over them as they fly some 4400 miles (just as He has been doing for centuries or who knows maybe eons).

I could not help but think that we should have such trust in our maker. They don’t pack anything for the trip and don’t visit the ATM. When they return home it is as though a hidden command is issued and suddenly hundreds if not thousands of them begin circling Honey Lake noisily chattering their anticipation and then they suddenly are gone. God will provide food and water and protection from predators for them all along the trip.

In much the same manner Moses departed Egypt. He was faced with a horde of people making the long journey to the Promised Land and they wandered forty years in the desert following a cloud provided by God. Estimates are that it would require 4400 tons of food per day and 11,000,000 gallons of water to accommodate such a crowd daily. Moses didn’t worry about it; he trusted His Lord that things would work out and although his people worried, grumbled, and griped most every step of the way, in the end they were taken care of by God.

Last night we conducted our FCA banquet at Honey Lake Plantation. I know that our staff and the FCA staff had deep concerns over planning a silent and live auction, parking, seating, feeding, arranging equipment for singing and speaking to 600 people, not to mention getting Coach Richt of the Georgia Bulldogs from Athens GA to Greenville FL and safely home again on a private plane.

I told my staff not to worry that the event would be held and we would do the best we could and work very hard organizing and implementing it, and leave the rest, including the windy threatening weather up to God.

I had the opportunity to speak to Coach Richt for a few minutes and he impressed me with his laid back calm spirit that we so often see on television. It seems that his demeanor doesn’t change much whether his team is winning or losing the biggest game of the year.

I have heard Coach Richt speak before, but this night he outdid himself. We were treated to a moving testimony offered up by the coach and he gave us an understanding of how he maintains that calm relaxed spirit.

He trusts in the Lord.

He talked of being on the hot seat this year especially after they lost their first two games, but then the tide turned and they won ten straight in the toughest conference in college football. Throughout the early calls for his resignation he never lost sight of his God and understood that valleys and peaks are the norm for this old world. He believes as I believe that the Bible is perfectly right in saying that all things work for the good of those who love their Lord and he is undoubtedly counted among them, because make no mistake, he loves the Lord.

The event was sold out beyond its capacity and the room was super crowded, and then coach Richt’s plane arrived a little late and the schedule was not adhered to as we had planned which created some angst and on-the-fly decision making, especially with serving the food. We experienced a few hiccups here and there, but overall it went as well as could be expected and importantly everyone with whom I spoke said that they had a great time. Most important of all our objective was accomplished in that money was raised for this tremendous organization, God’s name was glorified, and His word was effectively communicated by the coach and I believe people came to know Jesus because of it.

I hope you are encouraged today not to wring your hands with worry over the hills and valleys and the bills and follies of this brief life that you are sure to experience. Remember Moses and the simple purple martin, and the promise of Jesus that we are worth far more to Him than a simple bird, and yet He escorts these little fellows all the way to South America year after year without fail.

How much more so will he do for us?

Trust in the Lord today and every day and good things will come your way!

Have a great day and go to church this Sunday!

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

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