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NOISY COUNTRY LIVING!
I never knew living out in
the country could be so noisy! Easter morning I went outside with a cup of
coffee and my Bible to have time with the Lord. This is going to sound
funny, but let me paint the picture. My favorite outdoor place that I love
to get alone with God is on an old cement, non-functioning cistern just a few
feet from a storm-torn windmill. The cistern is three steps up,
approximately 8’ x 10’ and surrounded by trees, tall bushes, grapevine and
honeysuckle that also cover the arbor next to it. I sat down in a cozy chair
and opened my Bible.
The morning was unexpectedly
cool and crisp, compared to the record-breaking daytime temperatures we had
been experiencing. I was just getting into my Bible reading when a tiny
little airplane buzzed by me…at least it sounded like one. I looked up and
there was a hummingbird hovering over the honeysuckle. Then it propelled
right over in front of me and gave me that look as if to say, “I’m back!
Fix me some nectar!” I laughed and told him I’d get right to it.
Before I could look back down at my Bible, two
sparrows flew by playing chase in and around the tree branches and chirping
with delight! Over to the right of me, I heard a woodpecker busily carving
his latest creation. Then across the road to the North, I heard the cows
lowing and a rooster crowing his early morning wake-up call. Before they
were done, the neighbor’s dog to the East of us began to bark excitedly and
the llamas to the Northeast gave their morning hello. Blue jays were
squawking at each other so fiercely, I wondered if they really have strong
domestic quarrels, or do they just sound that way (much like some of the race
teams we know J)? I smiled as I
saw a mockingbird sitting on the tip-top of the windmill singing his little
heart out.
All of a sudden I realized my ears had become so tuned
to all the outdoor noises that it seemed almost deafening. I began to
question this unusually loud morning and then it dawned on me what Jesus said
to the Pharisees when they urged Jesus to quiet the crowd during His
triumphal entry into Jerusalem just one week before He was crucified. “I
tell you, if they be quiet, the rocks will cry out!” (Luke 19:40)
It was Easter morning and all creation was rejoicing
in the victory that Jesus is Risen! Romans 8:19 says, “All
creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.”
Also, in Revelations 1:17b-18 Jesus says, “Do not be afraid; I Am the
First and the Last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I Am
alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” Hmmm
…”Hades”… the place created for Satan and his angels.
I contemplated the glorious victory Jesus won so that
I can have direct communication and relationship with God; Creator of this
amazing universe! Again, I was aware of all the animals noisily playing
around me.
Unfortunately, the bubble burst when my mind went to
the 4-1/2 foot snakeskin Larry found in our basement that morning. It was
still warm and you know what that means! It didn’t appear to be evidence of
a poisonous snake, but somehow, that didn’t bring a whole lot of comfort
knowing it was somewhere in our basement or under the house.
Furthermore, this was the 2nd snake we
found in just a few days. The first one was 6 foot long; a Black Snake that
got tangled up in the netting on the Koi pond and died. He thought he was
going in for a banquet and ended up in a snare, costing his life.
In Genesis 3:1, it says, “Now the serpent was more
crafty than any beast of the field…” Satan came to Adam and Eve in the
form of a serpent and convinced them that God was holding out on them. He
appealed to their pride and enticed them with the beautiful “forbidden
fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Thus, the fall of
mankind separated us from God until He sent His own Son, Jesus Christ to make
a way for us to come back to Him.
Today, we rejoice in the victory we have through the
shed blood of the Christ, but there is no doubt we have to be on the alert
for that “Sneaky Snake!” I Peter 5:8 says, “Be of sober spirit, be
on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion,
seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that
the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who
are in the world. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of
all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself
perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”
Yes, it can be very noisy out on Old Route 66 in
central Oklahoma, but the noise of the celebration of new life is the best
noise you can hear! Join in with King David when he says in Psalm
100:1-5 “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands,
Serve the Lord with
gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know ye that the Lord, He is God; It is He that hath made us, and not we
ourselves;
We are his people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise;
Be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all
generations.”
Linda Smiley
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