Sitting here this morning I here the sound of the birds outside and it is a wonderful sound,  compared to the horrendous noise of car engines racing by on the daily commute to get somewhere for the same time each day.  I can just open the windows let in the air for a moment. I feel able experience the nature in our own back garden.  We are blessed in that respect.

I could sit and listen to them all morning but I know that when it gets light the birds will not be so vocal and the car noise from the road will mostly take over.  How do the birds learn their individual calls so that we can identify each bird by its call? They sing the same melody each morning, with the same vigour and spirit we hear them singing every day. There is not a day (at least that I have noticed!) were they don’t wake up and sing.

Yet we are immensely more complex creatures, and sometimes get up with another weary head and try to put off the final get up. The talk towards the end of the school term starts to be more along the lines of “Two more get ups before.., or I’ve had enough already…”

Is it only me or does anyone else feel refreshed at the end of the day when they step out of the building or the place of work and breath in the air? (I guess if you work in the open all the time you might not notice this)

If I am feeling a bit tired driving home I will wind the window down and this will freshen me up.

What has this to do with God I hear you say! Three little things;

Psalm 104:12-13

By them the birds of the heavens have their home;
They sing among the branches.
He waters the hills from His upper chambers;
The earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your works.

1. Psalm 104 gives thanks to the Lord for clothing the earth in His goodness, greatness and majesty. The earth is completely satisfied with the climate and the amount of wind, rain, sun. It is all a great big balancing act and only God could control such a complex system. So when I breath the air I know God has sent this to the earth, to satisfy, and so it satisfies me. If the birds make homes in trees and sing every morning then we should at least sing our creators praise when He has given us way beyond our physical need to live out our lives.
2. I love music and teaching music I can also hear music afresh each day in new ways. It may be a way of trying to develop my knowledge of music. Birds create music, it is beautiful (certain birds I hesitate to say nice music – crows in particular need a little bit more practice at their songs!!!)
3. As was pointed out the other day, the first ever person mentioned in the Bible that had the Spirit of God on him was an artist.

Exodus 31:1-4a

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3 And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works

Someone who could create new things, use his imagination – I can connect with that type of individual – I try every day, even though I may fail. I keep going because I believe God has given me certain gifts and I need to develop them as much as I can.

Instead of writing a prayer today, I thought I would just end on asking us to listen to the great artist Bob Marley and listen to the words. Let our cares be passed to Jesus who will in turn take our burdens and lead us into another wonderful day of life were we are being provided for by our God and Creator – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – three in one.

Amen

with blessings

Graham