DOODLE TAG
"Jaye Young, ... 1, 2, and 3 a new species of dinosaurs are born." - Caroline
"I love your stuff... clear lines." - Farid
"... that dinosaur is so cuddly, as though it's stealing chocolates." - Ketna
This blog was originally set up to share our sabbatical (07-08) in State College, USA - otherwise known as "Happy Valley". "Brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent and praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (Phip 4:8)
DOODLE TAG
"Jaye Young, ... 1, 2, and 3 a new species of dinosaurs are born." - Caroline
"I love your stuff... clear lines." - Farid
"... that dinosaur is so cuddly, as though it's stealing chocolates." - Ketna
In the conclusion of his book, Come before Winter, Charles Swindoll shared the story of a farmer who became jaded in his faith. Skeptical, he chose to isolate himself from others and live out his days without the hassles connected with people involvements. It took a never-to-be-forgotten experience in the dead of winter to jar the man free from his self-imposed cynicism and draw him back to the One from whom he had distanced himself for so many years.
One raw winter night, the man heard an irregular thumping sound against the kitchen storm door. He went to a window and watched as tiny, shivering sparrows, attracted to the evident warmth inside, beat in vain against the glass.
Touched, the farmer bundled up and trudged through fresh snow to open the barn for the struggling birds. He turned on the lights, tossed some hay in a corner, and sprinkled a trail of saltine crackers to direct them to the barn. But the sparrows, which has scattered in all directions when he emerged from the house, still hid in the darkness, afraid of him.
He tried various tactics: circling behind the birds to drive them towards the barn, tossing cracker crumbs in the air toward them, retreating to his house to see if they'd flutter into the barn on their own. Nothing worked. He, a huge alien creature, had terrified them; the birds could not understand that he actually desired to help.
He withdrew to his house and watched the doomed sparrows through a window. As he stared, a thought hit him like lightning from a clear blue sky: If only I could become a bird - one of them - just for a moment. Then I wouldn't frighten them so. I could show them the way to warmth and safety. At the same time moment, another thought dawned on him. He had grasped the whole principle of the Incarnation.
A man becoming a bird is nothing compared to God's becoming a man. The concept of a sovereign being as big as the universe He created, confining Himself to a human body was - and is - too much for some people to believe.
Christmas is a timely reminder that God did indeed become a man. Because of Jesus, because He died for our sins and because He rose from the grave, the Christian faith has substance. Just as Swindoll wrote, He promises you not merely a temporary barn for overnight shelter but a permanent home with Him, eternal in heavens ... if you will only come.
The bible also says that "you are worth more than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:31). God is aware of everything that happens even to sparrows, and you are far more valuable to him than they are. You are so valuable that God sent his only Son to die for you. Because God places such value on you, you need never fear personal threats or difficult trials.
“May our GOD bless you and protect you; May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.”