Birds of Prey

Last week Bill and I traveled to Topeka, KS for the joint called clergy session.  That meant we were on the road for 6+ hours.  While we were traveling we started noticing a large number of hawks, they were sitting on road signs, fence posts, and in trees.  We also saw several of them flying through the air scanning the ground for their next meal.  We started counting them, but lost track somewhere after 100 individual sightings.  I love watching birds of prey, they seem to glide effortlessly through the air.  They are an important part of the animal kingdom as they eat mice, rats, snakes and other small mammals; and obviously from the number we saw, and how plump many of them were, there are a lot of little critters for them to eat.  As I pondered what this all meant from a faith perspective I was reminded that we have a God who supplies our every need.  We are told in Matthew 6:26, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"  We are more valuable because we are God's children, made in His image.  As God's children we are showered with many blessings and some times we store up our treasures.  I believe we need to have a financial cushion for emergencies and to provide for our future, but we  should also share with those in need out of our abundance.  Romans 12:13 tells us, "Share with God's people in need.  Practice hospitality."  I pray this week you will know that your Father cares for you, just as He cares for all his creation.  Then because you know God's care, that you will help those in need by sharing out of what you've been blessed to receive.