Birds of a feather flock together – that’s what I heard. At least a couple of my family think I’m nuts or OLD because I have a bird feeder. I love seeing the birds come to get the seed – even if they are only there for a moment. I recently bought a new bird feeder and hung in the tree near the house so I can see the birds. The picture below is taken just using my iPhone, so it is not as good as I might get with my Canon. That will come.

It has been nice out these past few days – I might even use the word mild. We were getting in the van last evening and noticed how much longer our daylight is now. The pictures below were from about 5:30 pm and the sunset was lovely too.

Do you have the same sense that I do, when you get outside, when you feel the mild air of a January day or see the beauty of such a sunset? Do you feel the pressure of life lift when walking through some woodland or watching small birds come to the feeder?

There is something about being outside one’s self that is good for us. I think it is because in every human heart is a need for a connection to creation. Mankind began in a garden and will end in a garden. And I believe that part of the mandate of every human is to be part of the re-creation work that is in the heart of God.

It is amazing to get out of the car in nature and realize how strongly you can smell the trees – especially cedars!

So today – even if your world is buried in snow, or ice or both, remember that the strong presence of the Lord is with you and as the Creator of the universe, He has given us the gift of nature.

Revelation 22

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.