This morning as I walked around my garden to check on things, a bee flew by. It landed on a calendula that I had started from seed months ago and now is blooming beautifully. The video above is of this little bee doing what bees do and its wiggle and waggle made me smile.
It reminded me of when my brother preached a sermon and asked, “If Jesus were to come back right now, in this moment, would he find you about his father’s business?”
It may sound a bit silly, but I think if Christ came now and I was standing in my garden feeding the birds, adding water to the bird baths, or tending the flowers, I think he might say I was. In a season where I often question if I am doing anything helpful for the kingdom, this reminder was comforting.
Even in these seemingly small things, I think of how God’s word tells us that the Father provides nests and food for the birds.
Psalm 84:3-4 says, “Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
ever singing your praise! Selah”
My Father’s house. My Father’s garden. I have been thinking a lot about how I want to spend more time exploring within the safe boundaries God has laid out for me instead of trying to figure out this crazy fallen world. I think he has buried treasure for me within the beauty of these grounds of his, and I want to go digging.
As the birds fly around chirping, the bees continue buzzing, and the water keeps flowing, I want to praise him for letting me be a part of the work of his hands in this moment. I raise my face to the sunshine and remember that God is the light that makes all things grow.
As I look around today, I can see that he has seed here for me to sift through my fingers and scatter on the land. He whispers to me that this is a worthy use of my time and afterwards, I will get to watch Him do what only He can do. There is great contentment, companionship, and expectant joy in this garden place.
In Matthew 6:26-34 it says, “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
I pray you would sit for a moment here with him. He knows our hearts. He knows our needs. He will provide and guide and through it all, most importantly, He is with us.
Breathe deep friend, He sees you.
