Looking in our Back Yard

For those who are regular readers of my blog post, you may recall that I have written on several occasions about the many birds that visit the bird feeders around our home.   We find great joy in observing them as they feast on the bird seed we provide for them.    I have noticed lately a growing numbers of rabbits around our home and in our neighborhood.   Though I have seen them many times of the day, I observe them most frequently in the early mornings and in the evening as the sun sets and day becomes night.    The other evening, I noticed three rabbits playfully chasing each other in our back yard.   Early one morning, I saw a rabbit rolling in a dirt spot of our yard.   This  early morning act drew the consternation of my wife, Ann, as she had planted a seed in that very spot.    Despite that, Ann has been known to put out pieces of lettuce and the like into our back yard for these four legged creatures.  She is generous to  four legged creatures just as she is to two legged creatures like me!

What a wonder are the creatures created by our God!   While humans worry and fret about what they read on the internet or on the evening news, these creatures live and move in the quiet confidence of our Creator God.   As I think about the wonder and beauty of God’s creatures, I am reminded of these words from Job 39: 19- 30 where God says to Job:  

¹⁹ “Do you give the horse its strength
    or clothe its neck with a flowing mane?
²⁰ Do you make it leap like a locust,
    striking terror with its proud snorting?
²¹ It paws fiercely, rejoicing in its strength,
    and charges into the fray.
²² It laughs at fear, afraid of nothing;
    it does not shy away from the sword.
²³ The quiver rattles against its side,
    along with the flashing spear and lance.
²⁴ In frenzied excitement it eats up the ground;
    it cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds.
²⁵ At the blast of the trumpet it snorts, ‘Aha!’
    It catches the scent of battle from afar,
    the shout of commanders and the battle cry.

²⁶ “Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom
    and spread its wings toward the south?
²⁷ Does the eagle soar at your command
    and build its nest on high?
²⁸ It dwells on a cliff and stays there at night;
    a rocky crag is its stronghold.
²⁹ From there it looks for food;
    its eyes detect it from afar.
³⁰ Its young ones feast on blood,
    and where the slain are, there it is.”

Have a joy-filled week!   I close with the words of a hymn that I hope will be a prayer for us all.  -  Pastor Randy Wall

PRAYER

O God, your creatures fill the earth with wonder and delight,

And every living thing has worth and beauty in your sight.

So playful dolphins dance and swim; Your sheep bow down and graze.

Your songbirds share a morning hymn To offer you their praise.

You made the pets we welcome in- They're wondrous blessings, too.

With paws and whiskers, wings and fins, They offer praise to you.

O Lord, you call us to embrace These creatures in our care.

May we show kindness, love and grace To all pets everywhere.

You made the creatures on each farm; You know the things they need.

May they grow healthy, safe from harm, And safe from human greed.

Just as a shepherd loves the sheep, You know their joy, their pain.

Lord, bless the animals we keep; May all farms be humane.

Your creatures live in every land; They fill the sky and sea.

O Lord, you give us your command To love them tenderly.

We're called to have dominion here--To care for them always.

By loving creatures you hold dear, We offer you our praise.