American Robin (Turdus migratorius)with youngsters by Raymond Barlow
This is for every blessed parent who so anxiously works hard in raising their kids in the way of the Lord…
And for the kids being fed by their parents.
Birds emerge from the shell blind and so weak
they can’t even hold their heads up.
Parents must feed babies frequently because
baby birds digest their food quickly.
The larger the babies grow, the more food they require.
Baby Crows need at least half their weight in food
every day just to stay alive.
a baby Belted Kingfishers eat 1 to 1 3/4 times
their weight in fish every day.
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) with young in nest
On average, a songbird nestling
receives four-12 feedings
of protein-rich insect food every hour.
Young Hawks are fed about once an hour.
Feeding duties aren’t always divided
equally between the sexes.
This varies with the species and
the inclination of the individual bird.
One male House Wren – a single male
whose mate disappeared – fed his nestlings
1,217 times between 4:15 a.m. and 8 p.m.
That’s about one trip every 47 seconds.
It’s astonishing how much a young bird can eat.
In one instance, a young American Robin,
who was supposed to leave the nest that day,
was experimentally fed all the earthworms it would eat.
Each worm was measured.
The Robin ate 14 feet of worms.
Orni-Theology
If birds can feed so much to their chicks every day,
how much would God expect us as a parent
to nourish our kids with spiritual food.
Well, do we feed the word of God to our kids every day?
Kids, are you eating well? Are you reading and listening to the Word of God?
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1/blockquote>
Yours in YESHUA,
a j mithra
(Found this on the Kid’s blog. AJ wrote it especially for that blog before joining the Lord in Glory)
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) by Margaret Sloan
You’re the King(‘s) Bird ~ by a j mithra
With dark gray upper parts and a neat white tip to the tail, the Eastern Kingbird looks like it’s wearing a business suit.
And this big-headed, broad-shouldered bird does mean business—just watch one harassing crows, Red-tailed Hawks, Great Blue Herons, and other birds that pass over its territory.
Eastern Kingbirds often perch on wires in open areas and either sally out for flying insects or flutter slowly over the tops of grasses.
They spend winters in South American forests, where they eat mainly fruit.
Kingbirds are “passerines,” a taxonomic group commonly referred to as perching birds or songbirds. But kingbirds and other flycatchers are in a different subgroup from true songbirds, and they don’t have nearly as complex voices. Rather than learning their calls they probably perform them innately. The young begin to give adult calls at about two weeks of age.
God created us to worship Him after He threw satan.
This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.” Isaiah 43:21
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) by Daves BirdingPix
Like these birds, worship in our lives should be innate.
But, what are we doing in our lives?
We seem to have preset, pre-timed and pre-modeled our spiritual lives in tune with traditional church practices. Come Sunday, we celebrate and worship like as if that would be the last day of our lives. What about week days? Week days seem to be weak days with no personal worship. Corporate worship is fine, but, if personal worship is missing in our lives, is it possible to survive the spiritual warfare against satan. After all, it’s the worship that breaks the hell loose isn’t it?
Did not Joshua and his men bring down the walls of Jericho through their worship?”
The worship of King Josiah’s choir brought them victory over their enemies isn’t it?
Peter and Silas worshipped and their worship broke their chains?
How many times have we read them all, but, do we practice them in our lives?
May be we think that these instances tell us about the power of corporate worship!
Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Psalm 100:2
If only we had set our lives based on the above verse, our lives would be as triumphant as King David isn’t it? That is the reason why God calls David as a man after His own heart!
And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. Acts 13:22
The Bible calls us as the Royal priesthood. The price to be paid to be called so is worship.
David worshipped at all times and God turned him into a king.
I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1
It’s not called a kingbird for nothing. The Eastern Kingbird has a crown of yellow, orange, or red feathers on its head, but the crown is usually concealed.
We as children of the King of kings are not called the royal priesthood for nothing. That doesn’t mean that we are born with crowns over our heads, but, God is waiting
for us to finish our race to get our crown. We need to cross check our lives with that of the word of God to find out which crown we deserve to get at the end of the race.
Here are a few crowns waiting for us.
The Incorruptible Crown:
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I Corinthians 9:25
The crown of rejoicing:
“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?” 1 Thessalonians 2:19
The crown of righteousness:
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8
The crown of glory:
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 1 Peter 5:4
The crown of life :
Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10)
Above all God calls us as His crown. What privilege it is for sinners like me to be called as the crown that the Creator Himself holds in His hands!
Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Isaiah 62:3
When they encounter a potential predator the kingbird may simultaneously raise its bright crown patch,stretch its beak wide open to reveal a red gape, and dive-bomb the intruder.
What do we do when we encounter satan’s plans in our lives?
Raise our crown?
Dive-bomb?
Our God has given us double barreled ammunition to thwart and nullify satan’s plans. Be still and worship the King and He shall sent His heavenly army to raise a banner for us. For, He is Jehovah Nissi.
So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. Isaiah 59:19
Yours in YESHUA,
a j mithra
Lee’s Addition:
Thanks A J. Glad you are finally getting better and able to produce another great article for us. Our prayers are with you.
The Eastern Kingbird, featured in this article is part of the Tyrannidae – Tyrant Flycatchers Family. There are 11 Kingbirds in the family. They belong to flycatchers
As the name implies, a great majority of tyrant-flycatchers are entirely insectivorous (though do not necessarily specialized in flies). However, food can vary greatly and some (like the large Great Kiskadee) will eat fruit or small vertebrates (e.g. small frogs). In North America, most species are associated with a “sallying” feeding style, where they fly up to catch an insect directly from their perch and then immediately return to the same perch. Most tropical species however do not feed in this fashion and several types prefer to glean insects from leaves and barks. Tropical species are sometimes found in mixed-species foraging flocks, where various types of passerines and other smallish birds are found feeding in proximity. (Wikipedia)
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalm 1:3
Sharks would die
if they don’t swim continuously
when in water!
But how is that
most of us
are still alive in spite of
not swimming continuously
in the Living Water?
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (John 7:38)
Nuggets Plus
Lee’s Addition:
interesting thought, aj, and a reminder to stay in the Word of God.
(A J’s nuggets always come at a time when they are needed. He writes them and I work them up. I have been struggling with bronchitis for the last week or so. Fever is staying down finally and am on the mend. Praise the Lord!)
Nuggets Plus – Protection and Providence ~ by a j mithra
Nuggets Plus
Male Mountain Blue Bird
not only brings food to feed
but also protects
while the female builds the nest!
God will not only feed
but also protect us
as we build His Kingdom!
No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, says the LORD. (Isaiah 54:17)
Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala) by Clement Francis
_
If the Coppersmith Barbet chicks
don’t return
to their nest early
their parents will not allow them in!
If we don’t return
in to the kingdom early
would Jesus take us in?
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Mathew 25:13
Nuggets Plus – Watchout ~ by A J Mithra
Lee’s Addition:
What a beautiful bird, but also what a solemn warning.
The Coppersmith Barbet, Crimson-breasted Barbet or Coppersmith (Megalaima haemacephala), is a bird with crimson forehead and throat which is best known for its metronomic call that has been likened to a coppersmith striking metal with a hammer. It is a resident found in the Indian Subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia. Like other barbets, they chisel out a hole inside a tree to build their nest. They are mainly fruit-eating but will take sometimes insects, especially winged termites. They belong to the Megalaimidae – Asian Barbets Family.
I found AJ’s remark about the youngster failing to get back to the nest on time interesting and found these remarks on Wikipedia.
Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala) by MAMuin
Keeps solitary, pairs, or small groups; larger parties occasionally on abundantly fruiting Ficus trees. Fond of sunning themselves in the morning on bare top branches of tall trees, often flitting about to sit next to each other. The flight is straight, with rapid flaps.
They compete with other cavity nesting birds and frugivores. Megalaima asiatica have been noted to evict them from their nest holes, while Red-vented Bulbuls have been seen to indulge in kleptoparasitism, robbing the male of berries brought to the female at the nest.
The nest holes are also used for roosting and some birds roost alone in cavities and these often roost during part of the day. Immatures will roost with the parents but often return to roost early so as not to be prevented by the parents from entering the roost cavity.
Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. (Matthew 25:1-13 ESV)
But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Mathew 24:37
Carolina rainbow
Lee’s Addition:
Thanks, A J, your timing is perfect as usual. We just got back from a week and a half trip to Indiana. Praise the Lord for his traveling mercies and for all of you who were praying for us as we traveled 2,300 miles. Also, we had great weather. Only one rain storm for about 10 minutes which produced a beautiful rainbow in South Carolina. More about the trip that later.
The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth. (Genesis 9:16 NKJV)
“Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.” Jeremiah 8:7
Wood Stork by Dan at Lake Morton
The stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times
Well, here is another reason why God prefers to make a covenant with the birds. The stork knows her appointed time. Every bird keeps up to the appointed time from dawn to dusk. Their breeding and migration are also set to an appointed time. Birds neither breed nor migrate as and when they wish. Even their nests are built on an appointed time at the appointed direction using the appointed material.
Storks build their nests where others would never dream of spending their nights. Its choice of nesting site that ranges from a high tension electric wire to a high-rise building. They prefer high places so that it would be easier for them to locate a stupendous meal for their ravenous chicks that eat almost 60% of their body weight. Why should they risk their lives and build their nests in such dangerous places? The storks know their appointed places as well as they know their appointed breeding time.
Some of the oldest stork nests in Europe are more than seven feet wide and ten feet deep has been in use for hundreds of years and still are being used by storks as breeding homes when they begin to arrive in April from their African wintering grounds. How well they organize themselves before migration is quite amazing. Male storks arrive a few days earlier, mend their nests and then would wait for his mate to arrive.
Our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ had left us more than 2000 years back; not to mend an old depleted castle in heaven but to build a new mansion with streets of Gold, from where we would reign with Him for years to follow. He is not going to wait for the arrival of His bride like the male stork that awaits its mate but would descend like a thief to take His bride with Him. No clocks, no calendars yet, the birds prepare for their rigorous seasonal excursion weeks in advance and return to the same nest every year.
We are not going for a yearly excursion to heaven. This is going to be a once in a lifetime journey, that would take us to rest with Him forever and ever. How well are we preparing for this eternal journey? How do the birds do this every year? They should know their appointed time isn’t it? Do we know our appointed time? If only we had known our appointed time, God would’ve made a covenant with us isn’t it? We need to pray like David for God to reveal to us our appointed time…
“LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.” Psalm 39:4
Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis) by Nikhil
The turtle……. observe the time of their coming..
“Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.” Jeremiah 8:7
When do the turtles come?
Where do they come?
Why do they observe the time of their coming?
Earth’s magnetic fields and astronomical cues are a couple of the many different hypothesis found to influence turtle’s migration. Though the usage of astronomical cue hypothesis among turtles doesn’t have concrete evidence, the earth’s magnetic field hypothesis should stand good since scientific evidence proves that turtles do have magnetic interceptors. They may not see the sun, moon and the stars while they are in the ocean but still, the reason that they are able to time their migration to perfection. Wikipedia explains the magnetic field hypothesis like this.
“In regards to the magnetic field hypothesis, there are three main concepts that should be considered. The concepts include electromagnetic induction, magnetic field chemical reactions, and magnetite. In regards to electromagnetic induction, it is assumed that the sea turtles have electroreceptor. Although evidence has been found in other species such as rays and sharks, no evidence has shown that there are electroreceptors in sea turtles making this hypothesis invalid. A second concept from the experimentation by Irwin involves chemical reactions which are commonly found in a variety of species of newts and birds. The strength of the magnetic field affects the chemical reactions within the bodies of the newts and birds. The final concept includes the magnetic crystals that form during the magnetic pulses from the earth’s magnetic fields. These magnetic crystals formed by magnetite give the turtles directional information and guides in migration. The magnetite affects the cells of the nervous system of the sea turtle by producing a signal that references the forces of the magnetic field and the direction and magnitude that is applied. If this magnetite is used in the migration, when the earth’s magnetic poles reverse at the dipole moment, they signal that the sea turtle nervous system receives will change the migration direction. Regardless of the hypothesis, hatchling turtles have the ability to determine the direction and inclination angle of which they are swimming with aide from magnetic fields” (Wikipedia)
Science says that if the earth’s magnetic field is stronger, the electromagnetic storms would be too severe and if the earth’s magnetic field is weaker, the ozone shield and life on land would be inadequately protected from stellar and solar radiation. In other words, God controls the magnetic field of the earth so well that it has turned earth to be the fittest planet for lives to survive. While God controls the magnetic field, the turtles rely on this magnetic field to ignite its migration. Don’t we see how turtles observe the time of their coming?
Turtles migrate, so they need to know the time of their coming. You may wonder what does this have to do with us, humans. Do we observe time when we go to church? Or do we go as when we please. We rush to school, college or office on time. At times we are not bothered to even skip our breakfast in order to reach on time. We don’t seem to understand that God would be eagerly waiting for us in church even before the service starts. Jesus is not only preparing a mansion for us in heaven, He even waits for the last soul to come into His flock. Don’t we have a God who waits eagerly for His lost son?
…..But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” Luke 15:20
Out of the ten servant maids, only five were ready for the appointed time to meet the Bride, while the rest had gone out to but oil. If they had observed the timing of Jesus, they would’ve filled their lamps long ago with oil and wouldn’t have waited for the last-minute isn’t it? God says that He knows our going out and coming in. Can we say the same? How well do we observe God’s time? The turtle’s body is in tune with the earth’s magnetic field. How well is our body, the temple of the true Living God tuned to do His will? Is this the reason why God preferred to choose the wildlife to make covenant I wonder…
“For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:3
Common Crane (Grus grus) by Nikhil Devasar
The crane…… observe the time of their coming
“Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.” Jeremiah 8:7
The migration of cranes are another good example of how these feathered friends time their migration based on the angle of sunlight , length of the day and the hormonal changes that happen before migration. The hormonal changes allow them to gain weight by way of fat reserves that they gain due to change of diet. Whooping crabs feed on lots of blue crabs to gain weight before migration. These maybe the real reasons for cranes to migrate.
We will soon have to depart on a permanent migration to heaven; but not before we have a mid-air meet with the King of kings Lord Jesus Christ. How many of us truly believe or surely have the assurance that we will meet our creator before we embark on our journey to heaven? We all want to go to heaven but we don’t want to die. Many out there are bent on somehow going to heaven. They worship, they pray, they tithe, they willing and fervently do almost all that the Bible asks us to do. But, they are scared to die. Isn’t it strange? Should we not prepare for the date and the time of our departure?
“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” James 4:14
But, the actual take off of cranes happens on days that are very sunny. This sunny weather warms some areas more than the others like the walkway is hotter than the lawn and the land is hotter than lakes and streams. This difference in temperature causes air to rise from the warmer areas and causes an air thermal. These airs thermal not only causes the cranes to stay aloft for longer durations but also helps them fly hundreds of miles in a single day using very little or no energy at all. They will also wait for the right day and will not depart until the day has the right length before their marathon journey. The cranes know its appointed time, if only we know our appointed time God would have surely made a covenant with us instead of wildlife species isn’t it?
The church is eagerly (?)waiting to depart to meet the King. No one knows the time that God has slated for this major space schedule. But still, though we don’t know the moment of actual occurrence, why most of us have set up benchmarks and some are even trying to raising their spiritual bench mark to measure up to the yardsticks spread by the rulebook of God? We take the following verse as a supporting document to lay emphasis on our fickle faith. “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Mathew 24:44.
But then, there is another verse which says, “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7. If a crane could know their coming, do we not have the privilege to seek dispensation from God? He did not give His precious life on the cross for the cranes isn’t it? Since He bore the cross for us, He is sure to reveal our going out from this world, in other words His coming in to this world to transfigure us in order to make us worthy citizens of heaven. Before Jesus left for His heavenly sojourn,”….. He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15. Do we spread the gospel as was told by His? Did we the person who sits next to us at office? Or have we spread His good news to our classmate in school or college? Well, it is still uncertain if we have reached the person who lives next door to spread the gospel. How dare do we expect God to reveal His coming in when we do not find the courage to even talk about Jesus in public? Go back to the first sentence of this paragraph. God clearly says, “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7.. Does it not mean that God expects us to serve Him and in return He shall reveal His secrets I wonder…
Barn Swallow by Dan
The swallows observe the time of their coming
“Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.” Jeremiah 8:7
European swallows spend the winter in Africa south of the Sahara, in Arabia and in the Indian sub-continent. While the British swallows spend their winter in South Africa: travelling through western France, across the Pyrenees, down eastern Spain into Morocco, and across the Sahara. Some birds follow the west coast of Africa avoiding the Sahara, and other European swallows travel further east and down the Nile Valley. Outside of the breeding season some species may form large flocks, and may also roost communally. This is thought to provide protection from predators such as sparrow-hawks and hobbies. These roosts can be enormous; one winter roosting site of Barn Swallows in Nigeria attracted 1.5 million individuals, says Wikipedia.
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” Mathew 18:20
God did not give the Bible for swallows but still how did they know that communal roosting would give them protection from predators. The church had proliferated endlessly from the first congregation of hundred twenty members at the upper room to millions under thousands of denomination and doctrines around the world. In spite of this phenomenal growth, the church is being targeted and thrashed in so many countries. If only the church had unity, the whole world would have known about the power of a united church. The power of unity is thus shown in the following verse. “And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.” Leviticus 26:8. Do we ever have a chance of witnessing those days in our life time?
The upper room congregations of those hundred and twenty disciples were touched by tongues of heavenly fire, Contemporary Churches gather in so many different places from a small upper room to a gigantic stadium. Yet nothing quite stunning as that had happened as it did on the day of the Pentecost. Though the churches are not on fire for God, church buildings and believers are being set on fire for following Christ. Why? Is it ‘cause of lack of faith in God or lack of oneness of mind among churches?
“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
For Christ’s sake let us stand united like swallows so that God would make covenant with us…
While leading the Israelites in the wilderness, Moses never moved forward till the Pillar of Cloud moved from the Tabernacle. He moved when the Pillar moved and camped where the Pillar stood. God has not given us the Pillar of Cloud; instead He has sent His own spirit to guide us. The Pillar of Cloud resembles the anointing of God. Do we wait for the Spirit of God to lead us in all that we do? There are times we start doing things without asking for God’s direction and life turns miserable. If only we had listened to the voice God…
“For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.” Luke 12:12
Emu Lowry Pk Zoo by Lee
Emu needs lots of water every day and they run behind rain clouds in the hope that they would get water. Do we really run behind the Living Water? Do we still have the thirst that was found during the initial days when we gave our life to the Lord? Most of us would certainly answer in the negative. So, let us start learning from the beasts and the birds in particular, so that God would make a covenant with each one of us. And that’s what Prophet Job prescribes for us in his book…
“But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.” Job 12:7-8
*
Birds of the Bible – The Hidden Covenant ~ by AJ Mithra
Hosea 2:14 says, “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her” Did He not allure us and bring us from the wilderness of sin? He has been so kind to us that He still comforts us with His words, songs and above all with His presence and peace that passeth all understanding. What does this verse got to with the covenant? Hosea 2:16 has the answer to it. “And I will give her vineyards from there, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth,and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.”
So? Does it not mean that we need to sing as in the days of our youth and as we sang when we came out of Egypt? Do we sing and worship the way we used to when we first met Jesus? Who would forget the day of salvation! The day when our hearts overflowed with the joy and peace that had never been experienced ever before! Do we have the same joy over the years?
Life has not been too kind for most of us. Battered and bruised we still are trying to come to terms with living a life that is pleasing unto God. During times of trouble, murmuring and self-pity takes our priority above singing and worshipping God. Look at the fowls of the air. Rain or shine they still keep singing like preset robots. No matter what kind of weather it is, the birds never stop their concert. Is God expecting this bird-kind of worship from us? Some of us may not know this bird-kinda worship. Here is how the birds sing.
Sombre Hummingbird (Aphantochroa cirrochloris) By Dario Sanches
“Early Singer”
Dawn Chorus is part of every bird’s daily routine. They never venture out in search of food before they finish their dawn chorus. Do we dawn chorus everyday or just the morn-chorus every Sunday? Do we know why birds dawn chorus?
Since they use most of their energy in singing and flying, birds have to eat once in every ten minutes like the hummingbirds, to once in couple of hours like raptors, depending upon the species,. How much energy do we use in singing for God is another question which we may have to ponder a little late! Coming back to where we left, birds do not eat from dusk to dawn, which can be called as an everyday hibernation period. If birds don’t eat well the previous evening, the chances of staying alive to deliver the dawn chorus the next morn is very minimal. So they need to eat well to stay fit to render their dawn chorus so as to advertise that they are still alive.We boast that we worship Jesus – The Life, the way and the truth. But, do we advertise every dawn that we are still alive? God says, “I love those who love me; And those who seek me early shall find me” Proverbs 8:17.
“Those who seek me early shall find me”, which means those who don’t seek early shall not find isn’t it? How early do we seek Him? The Israelites had to collect the dew wrapped manna before sunrise, else manna would melt and they may have to starve for the day. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…… And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1 & 14. The word of God is our daily manna. In other words, Jesus is our manna. Well, how many of us collect our daily manna before sunrise? Most of us are starving in spirit, is it because we seek God when the sun is over our heads? “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:” Isaiah 55:6
God expects a dawn chorus from us and not a morn chorus. Each new morn would be a great blessing, when we kneel before God before our feet touches the ground. And it would be even more blessing when we open our mouth wide to praise and worship our eternal Father before we actually utter the first word for the day. Light is better seen in the dark. Remember, that Jesus is the Light. He expects us to seek Him early and not yearly. May be God will make a covenant with us if we too start singing not just the Sunday morn chorus but the dawn chorus like birds,.
“Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.” Psalm 108:2
Spectacled Spiderhunter (Arachnothera flavigaster) by Peter Ericsson
“High voltage Singer”
Coming back to the question, “How much energy do we use in singing for God?” posted in the previous paragraph; it isn’t fair, yet, there is no other choice but to compare our singing with the singing of the birds. The song of a 5-gram Black-bellied Sunbird or that of a 45-gram Spectacled Spiderhunter can be heard as far as 300 to 400 meters. If they are as big as the Homo sapiens, their songs can be heard as far as 3 to 4 kilometers. If at all we sing, how loud do we sing for God? Paul and Silas sang and the earth shook inside the jail. But, these days, the singing inside a church doesn’t seem to even reach the roof of the church.
The secret lies in the noise that we make for God. All those who shouted for the Lord found immense favour from the Him. The noise of Joshua and his men tore down the walls of Jericho. We should know the size of the walls of this mighty for, to comprehend the real power of praise. The Archeologists who excavated the burnt city, explain the walls of Jericho like this,
The fortifications of Jericho were massive.
These walls were structured on a three-tiered plan. The walls started with an earthen rampart, or embankment, which ran from ground level, upwards on an incline to a stone retaining wall. The stone retaining wall stood 12 to 15 feet in height (4-5m).
On top of the stone wall, stood another wall made of mud-bricks, 6 feet (2m) thick, and 20 to 26 feet (6-8m) high. Together, these two walls combined to form a fortification 32 to 41 feet high.
To put this into perspective, envision a 4 story tall building. Such was the height of the walls of Jericho.
On the other side of the double wall, the embankment continued to climb upwards. At the summit of the embankment, another mud-brick wall stood.
At their base, the walls of Jericho stood 46 feet (14m) above ground level outside the retaining wall. To the Israelites below, Jericho seemed impenetrable.
The illusion created by the two walls on the bottom, and the large wall at the crest of the embankment, seemed to stand nearly 10 stories in height from ground level! From this height, the Israelites must have seemed like ants, and surely were deemed no threat whatsoever.”
None of us would have faced an enemy as big as this fort of Jericho in all our life. In other words, our trials and tribulations would look much smaller compared to the walls of Jericho. If a mighty fort can buckle under the power of praise, will not our shouts of praise melt away our miseries and misfortunes? Sadly we don’t seem to use it to good effect: but birds do it with what little energy they have and that maybe the reason God chose to make covenant with them,
Maybe God will make a covenant with us if we too start singing loud like these little avian singers.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth. Psalm 100:1
Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis) by Nikhil Devasar
“LP (Long Play) Singer”
There are birds that sing for long durations. Birds like grasshopper warbler’s solo may last for over two minutes, nightjars may “chur” nonstop for eight minutes, a skylark may belt an unbroken heartfelt song for 18 minutes and an Oriental Magpie Robins would practice singing for more than half an hour to woo a potential female. To establish territories and to court females there is a bird called Dickcissels that would spend about 70 percent of the day singing while establishing territories and courting females. How long do we sing and worship every day to woo God’s presence. For God loves to dwell among our praises and the Bible says it too.
But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Psalm22:3
From dawn to dusk to summer to winter, every little movement of the planets and the billions of stars, the blooming of the flowers and the fruiting of the trees, every tiny creation under the sky are set in perfect motion each following different rhythmic patterns ensuing perfect harmony. There can be no better musician that God Himself. He orchestrates the whole universe like only He alone can. And that is the reason God assigned Moses to do something which he has never done before.
Before bidding goodbye for the last time to the people whom he led from Egypt through the wilderness, Moses was entrusted the job of teaching a song to the Israelites that God had personally composed.
Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.
For when I shall have brought them into the land which I swore unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.
And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I swore.
Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel. Deuteronomy 31:19-22
Moses did teach God’s real big song immediately to his people and that can be found in Deuteronomy 32. How would our church respond if our pastor taught us that same big song? Faces frown when worship session extends beyond the stipulated time by a few minutes and if still continues for another few more minutes, worship turn to murmur. That is ‘cause most people find themselves so restless when it comes to spending that extra few minutes in the presence of God. We measure our praise and worship but we want immeasurable blessings from God.
Maybe God wants us to sing for longer durations like our flying friends so as to make a covenant with us…
“I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”Psalm 34:1
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) by Dan
“All Season Singer”
“Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory” Isaiah 6:2-3
Since creation the Cherubs and Seraphs had been singing Holy, Holy, Holy, non-stop 24×7. I wonder how they don’t get bored singing the same song for thousands of years. Most birds sing the same family song generation after generation after generation. The Northern Mocking birds sing all through the day and many a time can be heard even during the night. These slender birds never seem to get bored with singing. They also continue to add new sounds to their repertoires all through their lives. Don’t be surprised if someone says that a male Northern Mocking bird would learn more than 200 songs in its lifetime. That is their lifestyle, singing new songs all through the day and even during nights. A single male would sing longer than a male that has a family.
We prefer to worship only when life is on a rollercoaster. Do we sing and praise God at all times, during dark times in particular? May be that is the reason why God had not made a covenant with us yet is it? The Catholic Bible says that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego worshipped right inside the fiery furnace that was set to heat seven times more than normal. And our God who loves to dwell among praises descended down and took the three young men for a stroll right in the middle of the furnace. Wear on the garment of Praise and worship, for it is fire-proof you know! Think of Paul and Silas, who were battered and bruised for no fault and was thrown into the prison. Undeterred, they preferred to sing and praise God at the darkest hour. That’s when God shook the foundation of the prison, broke their bondage and also of the other inmates of the prison. Wear the garment of Praise and Worship and you will find that no chain can bind you or jail you…Hundreds of years passed between these two significant incidents. Sandwiched between those two incidents is another great worshipper is King David, who knew the secret of Praise and Worship and that is the reason he says, “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1
Maybe God is waiting to hear us sing at all times to make a covenant with us..
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) By Dan’sPix
“New Song Singer”
Some birds sing just one song all through their lives. But there are birds that have vast repertoires of over thousands songs too… Brown thrasher can sing 2,000 songs while an Red-eyed Vireo had been recorded to have sung 20.000 songs in a day. Northern mocking birds often learn new songs. Sometimes it may end up learning about 200 new songs every year, during adulthood the male needs to improvise its singing capabilities by practicing for hours together to impress upon its probable mate. The male that sings the most complex songs are in demand among the eligible females. Most female prefer to mate with the male which sings the most complex songs since, she thinks that the male that sings the most complex songs is best suited to raise and look after the family.
Male Black-throated blue warblers that had bred and reproduced successfully would sing to its offspring to influence their vocal development. If young birds fail to learn songs from their fathers, they would starve to death. Bird vocalization is absolutely necessary for the young birds to grow into a successful adult.
How many parents take time to teach new songs to their children? How many parents feel that children should go to Sunday school regularly? Raising a child is not about feeding clothing and sheltering alone . It is about teaching them survival traits which would help them rise into a successful parent in future. Those survival traits include worship, prayer, tithing, knowledge in the word of God and so on. Do we teach them to sing for God? If we as parents fail to teach them the power of worship and how it can change any bad situation, who else would? We don’t have to be musically trained to teach them new songs. The least could be family prayer both at dawn and dusk. Wherein we have the habit of singing hymns and choruses that would help parents expose their children to new songs. If a father smokes in front of his children, he is sure to see one of them smoke in the near future. And if a mother gossips in front of her child, she would surely end up seeing her child gossip too. Do we want to define machismo and femininity by smoking and gossiping? What we are is what our children are going to be. The ones who learn to worship God singing new songs even in times of trouble are the ones who are capable of overcoming any situation, bad or worse.
God doesn’t expect us to sing the same song over and over again; we have a better choice to sing new songs every day. Our God says, “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19. David knew the secret of touching God’s heart. Maybe that is the reason he made it a point to sing new songs for God. We may not sing thousands of song, do but do we have the habit of singing a few new songs for God? Is that the reason why God chose to make a covenant with birds instead?
“O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.” Psalm 96:1
Birds neither have a worship leader nor a worship team to lead them in singing. They know God’s plan in their lives. They also know that God had created them to sing and so they sing. No matter what, rain or shine, they never cease to sing. They sing on time, the time that God had set for each one of them. They do not overlap their singing instead they share space even in their singing. Homo Sapiens love to talk, talk and talk 24×7. We talk about our family and finance, sports and corruption, love and sex, marriage and divorce. At the end of the day most of all that we spoke through the day is found to be just rubbish. But birds always talk about global warming, climate change and natural disaster.
Duetting among birds not only help them stay close to each other but also to locate each other in dense foliage. Initially this behavior was thought be a battle of sexes, where duetting behavior reflects the struggle between bonding pair. But recent studies show that duetting is not about singing romantic duets but it is all about aggressive audio warfare, where it bonds a potential pair in defending territorial invasion by other bonding pairs.
Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” Mathew 18:20. When two are three gather in His name do they fill the air with “gossip” or “worship?”
This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.” Isaiah 43:21
God created man to just worship. But, we do every other thing except worshipping. Worse still, man’s priorities shifted from worshipping the One to be worshipped to worshipping the worship or the worship leader or the choir or the musician. Most churches feel that it’s the talent of the worship leader or the worship team or the selection of songs that is crucial in pulling off a successful worship session. It is time for us to switch on the search lights and check on how we worship God. Do we worship God in truth and in spirit? Don’t we prefer this worship leader than that worship leader? Don’t we feel that this worship team is better than the other worship team? Did we not say that the presence of God is mightier when that guy sings or plays the keyboard? Are we spiritual Christians or emotional Christians? Most believers treat church as a concert hall rather than a place of worship. That must be the reason why they prefer to listen to worship rather than to participate in worship. The reason they give, “I don’t have a good voice” God doesn’t look for a good voice but for a joyful noise.
“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.” Psalm 98:4
Pale-yellow Robin (Tregellasia capito) in nest by Ian
“Silent Singer”
Most birds do not sing all through the day. As told earlier, they have a set time for their everyday concert, what researchers call as “Bird clock”. They know when to sing and when to stay silent. Do we know when to stay still and when to worship? The Bible calls us as the “Royal Priesthood”. Bible explains the robe of the Royal Priest like this.
“Make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth,
with an opening for the head in its center. There shall be a woven edge like a collararound this opening, so that it will not tear.
Make pomegranatesof blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them.
The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe.” Exodus 28:31-34
The gold bells and the pomegranates that alternate around the hem of the robe show us how to live the life of a true worshipper. Bells make noise and pomegranates stay quite. In other words the alternate arrangement of gold bells and pomegranates seems to say that we need to know when to make a joyful noise and when to keep quite. Music is also an amalgamation of notes and pause. In other words music is not complete without pause. The birds know it well and help them sync so well with the bird clock. A royal priest also ought to know when to make noise and when to give a pause.
“And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the Lord, and when he cometh out, that he die not.” Exodus 28:35
The sound of the bell should keep ringing while the priest is inside the holy place before the Lord. The sounds of the bells would die only if God slays the priest only after having found him to have sinned. This only substantiates the fact that we, the so-called royal priesthood need to make a joyful noise in His presence and if we don’t, it sounds like we are dead. We need to remember that, “The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.” Psalm 115:17.
Of all the languages, silence is the most powerful language on the face of the earth. Now that we know when to make noise, we also need to know when to pause too. The life of Jesus itself shows us importance of being still in silence. On more than one occasion Jesus did show us what silence can do. Jesus echoed the language of silence in the most profound mode on the cross of Calvary. If not for His silence, we would still be waiting for redemption. It was His silence that broke the shackles of sin to set us free from the clutches of satan. How silent are we in His presence? Do we take time to listen to Him or just go blah-blah in His presence?
Birds know when to sing their mating songs and when not to. They have a specific season for mating; unlike human beings whose birthday fall on every single day from January through December and that includes February 29th, the leap day too. Romancing for birds is seasonal, purposeful and decisive: whereas for Homo sapiens, it is more of lust than of commitment, a commitment to God’s eternal plans, per se. There is a season for everything. Do we adhere to God’s timing? In His time He makes all things beautiful and not in our time. Birds must be intrinsic to God’s time. That must be the reason for God to make a covenant with these feathered singers isn’t it?
“a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,” Ecclesiastes 3:7
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Birds of the Bible – The Hidden Covenant ~ by AJ Mithra
(Written by A J – layout, photos, and sounds added by Lee)
Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) by Dan
(The first of a three part article.)
The Hidden Covenant
“Berith” the Hebrew word for covenant means “a coming together” in English, appears 280 times in the Bible. Covenants may include a treaty, agreement, mutual understanding, pact, deal, alliance, pledge, promise and so on. Marriage is a covenant between two individuals. Treaty is a covenant between two states or nations. The Last will that is written by an ailing individual to pass on his /her property to his surviving spouse or children is also a covenant. We are bound by so many covenants in our everyday life. Housing and vehicle loans, debit and credit cards, driving license are all covenants.
Though each one of us is bound by a direct or an indirect covenant with an individual, an organization or a government, we long for God to make a covenant with us. Bible shows us so many covenants between individuals, kings and between leaders of a group of men; but the covenants that God made with individuals and a group of individuals are the ones which were widely meditated, preached and written about.
Somewhere down the line, over centuries after centuries after centuries, there is one covenant that was either unintentionally hopped or deliberately overlooked. This covenant may look irrelevant and immaterial, trivial and trifling; but an in-depth study of this covenant would unveil a big secret that God has for the peace and tranquility of the whole universe.
That “Berith – Covenant” is as follows…
“And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.” Hosea 2:18
When does God make a covenant with them?
Why would God want to make a covenant with the beasts of the field, with the fowls of the air and with the creeping things of the ground?
How could a covenant with wildlife break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth?
Is it possible for a covenant with wildlife, help us lie down safely?
These were the queries that rose from my mind when I read the above verse from Hosea. While I was pondering over this attention-grabbing episode of God, He slowly unraveled the crucial presence of wildlife, not just for food and clothing but for the survival of mankind as a whole.
Sitting on the balcony one morning, trying hard to gulp those recent unpleasant happenings along with her morning coffee, watching a squirrel jump from a coconut tree to a custard apple tree like a seasoned pro, my wife probed, “God could have created us like these animals. Why should we suffer like this? See how they enjoy life” Just as she was lamenting, I felt God say, “They are sinless, whereas man was born of sin”
I thought this conversation not only opened avenues of thought but also made sense on this new covenant that God uncovered a few days back. Ever since God clothed Adam and Eve with animal skin and accepted the sacrifice of Abel. God did express how imperative animals and birds are in His creation. Abel knew that there is no redemption without shedding blood. So he chose from the best among wildlife and sacrificed. And we all know how God accepted his sacrifice and rejected the sacrifice of Cain.
Northern Raven (Corvus corax) by Ray
Noah also had to seek the help of birds to get the weather report after the flood isn’t it? And God made a covenant with Noah but not before he sacrificed from every clean beast and from every clean animal. Remember, if not for the beasts and birds God wouldn’t have placed the beautiful rainbow in the sky. If not for rainbow, we wouldn’t have studied prism in school.
God also taught Moses and Aaron, His appointed servants. about how to sacrifice, when to sacrifice and what to sacrifice. God gave them a list of clean animals and birds for sacrifice. In fact birds were sacrificed when Jesus was brought to the temple of Jerusalem after the days of purification.
“And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
(As it is written in the law of theLord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Luke 2:21-24
The birds seem to have handed over the entry ticket for the Creator when He entered the temple of Jerusalem for the first time is His life on earth.
So? Does it mean that only clean beasts and birds are sinless? I thought. If it is so, why should God send an unclean raven to feed Prophet Elijah? I wondered. Anyway, there should be a strong central theme for God to make a covenant with the beasts and the birds instead of man, whom He created in His own image.
Birds of the Bible – The Hidden Covenant ~ by A J Mithra
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? (Isaiah 58:7)
***
Gravity from A J
The power of gravity decreases
as we head away from the earth
but, it never really fades away…
In our journey towards
the Heavenly Authority,
it is easy to keep away from
earthly desires
when we shift our focus from
the creation to the Creator,
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2)
***
Mullberry from A J
Mulberry fruits, leaves,
roots and bark are used
to treat ailments from cough to tumor!
But, God asked David to wait
for its leaves to move
before he went after his enemies!
Want to be a winner?
Wait before you war!
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. (Habakkuk 2:3)
Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus 