Much More Valuable

When Brian, I, and our sons were hiking in a mature forest near Whitefish, Montana, we spotted this plump woodpecker tapping vigorously on the tree trunk. He was obviously looking for insects living in the crevices of the bark. In the picture you can see several holes the woodpecker has made.

There are 180 species of woodpeckers worldwide, but only 12 are found in the United States. The one pictured above is a male Hairy Woodpecker.

It is amazing how God feeds all the different types of birds in the world, and created each type with special abilities to feed. The woodpecker for example has a strong, pointed beak that acts like a chisel and a crowbar to remove bark and find hidden insects. Woodpeckers also have very long barbed tongues with a glue-like substance on the tip for extracting the insects. Their skulls are reinforced and their brains are tightly cushioned to handle the constant impact of their pecking.

And just think, if God cares and provides for all the creatures on the earth that He has created, how much more does He care and will provide for us!

"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?"

Matthew 6:26 (NIV)

After God's Heart

Are some pastors today more concerned about increasing their empire or God's Kingdom? Do they care about people's hearts or their pocket books? How does a pastor's heart beat? In synchronization with God's? Or has the lust of money and desire for power drawn their hearts far away from Him? Are pastors shepherds or are they controllers? Do they lead the people with knowledge and understanding of God's Word or with manipulations of His Word?

"Then I will give you shepherds 

after My own heart,

who will lead you

with knowledge and understanding."

Jeremiah 3:15 (NIV)

In other words, how do pastors use the pulpit? To fulfill their own personal goals and desires or to fulfill God's great commission as stated below?

"Then Jesus came to them and said, 

'All authority in heaven and on earth

has been given to Me.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the Name of the Father

and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

and teaching them to obey everything

I have commanded you.'"

Matthew 28:18-19 (NIV)

In Montana, we were so surprised to see these signs posted everywhere. These signs were a constant reminder to the people of what matters most to God.

It Was Very Good

While we were waiting for our snowmobiles, my sons got bored, so they built the snowman Olaf from the Disney movie Frozen.

My sons get their creative spirit from God.

"God saw all that He had made,

and it was very good."

Genesis 1:31 (NIV)

The Mystery Of Ice

"From whose womb comes the ice?

Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens."

Job 38:29 (NIV)

There is really little that we know? Many things still transcend our utmost power of thoughts.

Peace To This House

"When you enter a house,

first say, 'Peace to this house.'"

Luke 10:5 (NIV)

Before we left Bigfork, Montana, I took pictures of the inside of our two cabins. They were peaceful dwellings the seven days we stayed there. (Each leather couch turned into a queen-size bed.)

These cabins became our homes the week we stayed in Bigfork. There was sadness in my heart when it was time to leave them.

For Giving Grateful Praise

On the way back home, we decided to choose a different route than the one we took going to Big Fork, Montana. This other route took us through Glacier National Park. As we quietly viewed the splendor of God's majesty in this beautiful park, our hearts were filled with thanksgiving to God for all His blessings during our family winter fun!

 "Shout for joy, all the earth!" 

Psalm 66:1 (NIV)

"Sing for joy to God our strength,

shout aloud to the God of Jacob!" 

Psalm 81:1 (NIV)

"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;

let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation."

Psalm 95:1 (NIV)

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,

burst into jubilant song with music."

Psalm 98:4 (NIV)

"For giving grateful praise.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth."

Psalm 100:1 (NIV)

Breaching A Dam

This morning we drove to view the eleventh tallest dam in United States, the Hungry Horse Dam.

This dam is 171.9 meters tall and 736.4 meters wide.

We were able to walk across the top of the dam and view the river valley below.

Hungry Horse Dam was built in 1953.

It took five years to build.

The dam was built on the Flathead River, creating a very scenic reservoir.

This crane was built for the dam, which can roll along the top.

It is interesting that the Bible  compares starting a quarrel to breaking a dam. It is better to drop the matter before allowing the floodgates to open.

"Starting a quarrel 

is like breaching a dam

so drop the matter

before a dispute breaks out."

Proverbs 17:14 (NIV)