WOODLAND SONG

Joyfully, joyfully, the feathered friends call,
chickadees and grosbeaks and orioles all,
to sing a lyric melody at opening of day,
and start the winging choir, a-chirping all the way!
 
Over high, over there, beside the babbling brook,
cardinals and veeries resound in every nook;
the drumming of the ruffed grouse, the cooing of the dove,
the tapping of the woodpecker that echoes high above!
 
“Yahweh God! Yahweh God!”, into the evening night,
hummingbirds and nuthatches turn in from their flight.
And in the final light of day, the robin sings her song.
What joy to hear the woodland birds sing praises all day long!

 

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Luke 1:46-47

 

 

WOODLAND SONG

The veeries are very glad in Veery Glade! And so am I! These deep-forest thrushes have returned to the woods. Their mystical, swirling tones lift our spirits and remind us to call on God.

Like Mary, who magnified the Lord and rejoiced in spirit.

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Luke 1:48

Humbly submissive is the definition for the word ‘meek’. Some people might think taking on a role of submission is weak. Our society often does not promote submissiveness. Society says that one should be assertive with one’s own agenda, not meek and in service to someone else’s. But the Bible tells us Jesus humbled Himself even to the point of death, obeying His Father.

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Philippians 2:8

In addition to submissiveness, Mary displayed self-control too. She was obviously pregnant when she reached the third trimester but still a virgin, the only woman to be in such a state! There must have been some sacrifice of her own will and cool temperance as she carried the Christ child in her womb. She had great self-discipline from the angel visit, I imagine, and was able trust in the power of the Holy Spirit.

What a beautiful thing to have a relationship with the King of kings!

Henceforth, I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things I have heard of my Father I have made known to you.

John 15:15

In friendship with Him, we walk, talk, and work on our self-control by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Counselor, as He is also called, makes us birds of a feather. We flock together.

The righteous is more excellent than his neighbor: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

Proverbs 12:26

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10

God is able to help anyone who calls on Him. The Spirit of Truth teaches that we need Jesus and friends of Christ speak Truth because they know it. Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you in friendships and to avoid the way of the wicked, who lead astray.

As a way to further display self-control, Christians should be careful what they allow in Church. Events that have nothing to do with the Lord are events to step away from and not condone. Do we want Jesus to come back and find us in church doing these things?

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:14-16

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 

Luke 1:49

Pray for a humbly submissive heart to persevere because of friendship with Jesus. With Mary, praise Him who gives perfect consolation and self-control.