Recently we had a storm. Some around here say a treetop tornado went through; there is no official report to validate that. We were at church (Thank you Lord) so I don't know - but we did see the aftermath. One of our large trees looks like a weed pulled out of the ground and tossed to the side. Several shingles on our roof where flipped over and several other large trees had large branches broken out of them, of which one came down on a power line, but did not cause a power outage. At night you could vaguely see the destruction but come the morning wow! Trash cans here and there, branches, mess, mess and more mess. As I looked around wondering how long it would take for us to be able to get out here and start cleaning the mess up I looked up and noticed a pair of mocking birds. Intrigued I stopped to watch as they happily went about gathering twigs, feathers, leaves, whatever they could find to rebuild there nest. They weren't grumbling at all, in fact they where singing while they where rebuilding! My heart sunk as I realized I wasn't rightly representing my Father, with the grumbling that was going on in my heart; the true me shown through while I was there all by myself with the happy bird couple rebuilding away.

Why, you may ask, shouldn't we grumble or complain? After all, you don't know my boss, employees, kids, husband, wife ... . Verses fifteen and sixteen go on to tell us why, "that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain." One thing I find about the Bible is that it still applies today! Look around you. Do we live in a crooked and perverse generation? You bet we do. This scripture is as applicable today as it was when Paul wrote it to the church at Philipi. Jesus said that we are the light of the world ... let your light shine before men ... that they may glorify the Father in heaven." (Mt. 5:14,16) He also said, "I am the Light of the world" (Jn. 8:12) which translates, we are to let Him shine through us.

Heavenly Father, help us to do all You have for us to do this day with a song on our hearts so that the people You place around us see a right representation of You in all we do; as we hold fast the word of life, so that in the day of Your coming we may have cause to glory because we did not run in vain nor toil in vain. Heavenly Father in all we do, may we do it as unto You with a cheerful heart. To You be all glory. In Jesus name. Amen.

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Encouragement From The Heart Website updated March 17, 2000 (note: web address changed).
http://www.geocities.com/correiaville/encourag.html there's a new page, "The Master's Garden" stop by and check it out!