Yesterday Dave and I put up the last of the Christmas decorations. We added more lights, another nativity scene and turned our storage shed door into a gingerbread house.
First thing in the morning I refilled the bird feeder with seeds and the hummingbird feeders with juice. Kaci, Stephen and the kids were coming, and I know how the grandkids love watching the birds come to eat.
We had a wonderful afternoon! We spent time going for a long walk, meeting the neighbors’ dog and collecting rocks. All afternoon the birds came and went from the feeders. At times the kids were too busy with other activities to notice them but then there were the occasions when a bird would land and eat for a while, and they would oo and aah. The biggest response came from the Nothern Cardinals, both a male and female.
I don’t remember when I first started noticing that more and more cardinals were being used in Christmas decor’ so this morning I “goggled” it. Cardinals have been nicknamed the Christmas Bird for their bright color.
“Today, the cardinal represents constancy no matter the season like the constancy of God’s love, and the atoning sacrifice of his Son which gives us peace and hope in this life and in the next.”
They represent the peace and hope that we have in Christ…I like that. In fact, as I was praying about what to share this morning I was drawn to the word peace.
We’ve just come through Black Friday and tomorrow is Cyber Monday, then comes Small Business Tuesday and oh, it goes on from there. The hustle and bustle of Christmas activities has a way of robbing our peace. That isn’t God’s intention.
“Then a huge army of angels from heaven joined the first angel, and they were all praising God, saying, 14 “Praise God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace to the people who please him.” Luke 2:13-14 ERV
God’s purpose in sending Christ was to bring peace. The prophet Isaiah gave us a list of names for Jesus and one of those is Prince of Peace.
“ This will happen when the special child is born. God will give us a son who will be responsible for leading the people. His name will be “Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 ERV
Some of you know that several years ago I wrote a daily devotional for the Christmas Advent, “The Best Gifts of Christmas, Receiving and Giving God’s Best”. One of those gifts is peace.
“ We pray that the Lord of peace will give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all.” II Thessalonians 3:16 ERV
For the next several days we will focus our attention on Scriptures that speak of peace.
When you’re out and about, take note of the Cardinals that you see in the stores, on television and on the Christmas cards you receive. Let the “Christmas Bird” be a reminder of God’s constancy and of the peace He gives to us all.