In our backyard, in the shade of a tree, in a small flower bed that surrounds a hose and a leaky spigot,
there lives a big old bullfrog. I don’t know where he came from, but he’s been there as long as I can recall.
He goes no where. He does not seem to have any ambition at all. He is quite content with his circumstances.
There is shade, water, and apparently food; though I hate to think of what kinds of critters cross his path.
Like the church of Laodicea in Revelations 3:14-19, the bullfrog is not excited about much of anything. He has gotten lazy.
Then, I see the squirrel, which is so busy all day long, gathering food, and fluff to soften his nest. He has no time to play.
He is very industrious, always busy. He is much like the church in Ephesus in Revelations 2: 1-4 who had gotten
so busy with life that they had forgotten their first love. The squirrel has forgotten what was truly important.
And over there is our lazy old cat. He has everything he needs. He gave up hunting years ago.
The most exercise he gets is to approach is food dish. He may protest mildly, if we are late filling it with his favorites.
He is quite comfortable. He is supposed to be keeping rodents and other harmful creatures out of the yard,
but, like the church in Thyatira in Revelation 2:18-20, the old cat has a live and let live philosophy.
He lets bad things slip into his territory without protesting. The Word clearly points out what all the churches today
are doing right and wrong. Unfortunately, many have disregarded anything that might cause a stir or might offend.
But Who are we trying to please? Finally, I spot the bird. She goes from flower to flower gathering pollen and water.
She takes a moment out to chase away the old cat nearing her nest, then flies up and over to her mate.
They fly together in a sort of dance. I guess that’s their play time. A little later I notice the bird is back.
I see her bring something back to the nest. There must be new chicks there. I hear their chirping, even from here.
And then she sings such a lovely song. Jesus wants all of us to be like this bird. She does her work with a glad heart.
She protects her home, and spends time with her mate. She saves time for play and worship.
As In Proverbs 31 the bird is a multi-tasker. Like her we should strive to be virtuous women, according to the Word of God.
Do you identify with any of these animals? Do you work too hard, not enough, or just sit and complain about everything?
Or do you go through life, tending to business, but still gladly making time for the people God ‘gave’ to you?
What are you doing for Him? Have you told others about Jesus? Have you told your children?
What kind of example have you been to family, friends, and strangers? We are supposed to do everything well.
Even if this work has nothing to do with Jesus, we are to do everything as if we were doing it directly for Him.
That means arriving on time, and doing it all with a smile and glad heart. He also wants us to be beacons.
Grumpy people do not draw anyone. A merry heart is like medicine. And when you are happy and grateful,
others gather and want to know why. That’s when we can tell them the “Good News”.
We can live because Jesus took our place. That in itself is worth smiling about. Then we can tell them the rest.
And there is so much more!
THANK YOU, JESUS!
there lives a big old bullfrog. I don’t know where he came from, but he’s been there as long as I can recall.
He goes no where. He does not seem to have any ambition at all. He is quite content with his circumstances.
There is shade, water, and apparently food; though I hate to think of what kinds of critters cross his path.
Like the church of Laodicea in Revelations 3:14-19, the bullfrog is not excited about much of anything. He has gotten lazy.
Then, I see the squirrel, which is so busy all day long, gathering food, and fluff to soften his nest. He has no time to play.
He is very industrious, always busy. He is much like the church in Ephesus in Revelations 2: 1-4 who had gotten
so busy with life that they had forgotten their first love. The squirrel has forgotten what was truly important.
And over there is our lazy old cat. He has everything he needs. He gave up hunting years ago.
The most exercise he gets is to approach is food dish. He may protest mildly, if we are late filling it with his favorites.
He is quite comfortable. He is supposed to be keeping rodents and other harmful creatures out of the yard,
but, like the church in Thyatira in Revelation 2:18-20, the old cat has a live and let live philosophy.
He lets bad things slip into his territory without protesting. The Word clearly points out what all the churches today
are doing right and wrong. Unfortunately, many have disregarded anything that might cause a stir or might offend.
But Who are we trying to please? Finally, I spot the bird. She goes from flower to flower gathering pollen and water.
She takes a moment out to chase away the old cat nearing her nest, then flies up and over to her mate.
They fly together in a sort of dance. I guess that’s their play time. A little later I notice the bird is back.
I see her bring something back to the nest. There must be new chicks there. I hear their chirping, even from here.
And then she sings such a lovely song. Jesus wants all of us to be like this bird. She does her work with a glad heart.
She protects her home, and spends time with her mate. She saves time for play and worship.
As In Proverbs 31 the bird is a multi-tasker. Like her we should strive to be virtuous women, according to the Word of God.
Do you identify with any of these animals? Do you work too hard, not enough, or just sit and complain about everything?
Or do you go through life, tending to business, but still gladly making time for the people God ‘gave’ to you?
What are you doing for Him? Have you told others about Jesus? Have you told your children?
What kind of example have you been to family, friends, and strangers? We are supposed to do everything well.
Even if this work has nothing to do with Jesus, we are to do everything as if we were doing it directly for Him.
That means arriving on time, and doing it all with a smile and glad heart. He also wants us to be beacons.
Grumpy people do not draw anyone. A merry heart is like medicine. And when you are happy and grateful,
others gather and want to know why. That’s when we can tell them the “Good News”.
We can live because Jesus took our place. That in itself is worth smiling about. Then we can tell them the rest.
And there is so much more!
THANK YOU, JESUS!
| OUT IN OUR BACKYARD by Kathleen Puccio |
| OUT IN OUR BACKYARD by Kathleen Puccio |
| You are the LIGHT of the WORLD -Matthew 5:14 |
| You are the LIGHT of the WORLD -Matthew 5:14 |
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