A raging forest fire. A blackened, lifeless bird. As rangers examined the devastation, one of them bumped the bird with a stick. Three little chicks scrambled out. Unharmed. Mama could have flown to safety, but instead she covered her little ones and sacrificed her life for theirs.

It’s amazing how God shows us lessons of His great love through His creatures. But there is no greater sacrificial love than Jesus who so willingly took on the heavy burden of our sin. Our sin and the sin of those who have hurt us. All our sins are washed away and all our hurts can be healed and redeemed through Jesus and the blood He shed for us.

He loves us so deeply
That He gave up His Crown
To sacrifice His life
For ours
Covering us
Keeping us safe
From what can destroy us

Unspeakable anguish
Whips slashed His flesh
A crown made of thorns
Beaten into His head
Nails brutally pierced
His hands and His feet
To a wooden cross
Meant for criminals
And sinners like us
The worst of the worse
Forsaken by His Father
So we would never be
Abandoned and unloved
Enduring the pain
In body and in soul
Out of deep love for us

Incomprehensible sacrifice
Love beyond our understanding
Love so infinite
So firm and steadfast
Love so true and constant
Always and forever with us
No matter what

“God’s love is wide and high and long and deep
And God will never stop loving me
No matter where I go…”

Every Season Displays God’s Love and Power

The robins have arrived in the neighborhood with their lively chirps! Oh, how I love all the new life in spring! Hope soars and my heart sings!

I favor spring and summer and their warmth. All the new life displays God and His faithfulness and tender loving care. But every season shows evidence of His grace and power when we open our eyes to it. The fall brings its glorious display of color. The winter snow falls so white and clean as it sings of God’s pure grace in washing our hearts and making them whiter than the snow. No matter what season it is, God is still here.

God never slumbers or sleeps. He never fails to keep nature running like clockwork. The laws of all creation continue day and night. The sun lightens our world day after day, even through the clouds. Imagine how cold it would be without its rays of warmth. The moon and stars shine in the darkness of the night. We can always count on the changing of seasons guided by the never-failing love of God. Nature flows faithfully in all its beauty, each and every creature and created thing a steady sign that God watches over every little detail and is with us 24-7.

“After a hard winter in the mountains, when the snow finally melts, it barely seems possible that such a beautiful flower could exist in such a hard place — but there it is. A lovely reminder to keep our eyes open to what only God can make possible.” Grace Chou Simons in The Way of the Wildflower

Nature Retreat

More Amazing Bird Photos Shared by My Brother John