Lessons to be learned from nesting.

For the past two years I have had some very unusual guests. The birds seem to like setting up their nests in my front porch and also in the tree right in front of my door. I did not mind having them there at all. As a matter of fact I felt honored that they would find my place so appealing. I have had at least five grand baby birds so far.

I watched as they first chose the spot that they liked. Then they began gathering the materials to make the nest. It was a demanding job and took many hours and even days to complete. It had to be just right. It needed to support and insulate the egg as well as provide concealment from predators and shelter from the rain.

When the nest was completed the bird was ready to lay her egg. Then there was a period of nesting where the bird was required to sit for days and in some cases for weeks. This was called the incubation time. The egg needed the mother's warmth for its development. The mother exhibited much patience at this time.

I noticed the father bird came by periodically to check on the progress of mother and egg. Each time he would bring food in his beak. Satisfied that everyone was okay he flew off again until the next feeding.

Finally things began to change. As soon as I saw mother and father bird coming and going I knew that the baby bird had broken out of its shell. It was time for a feeding frenzy. This went on for a week or two until it was time for the baby bird to fledge. Both mother and father huddled over the baby to make sure no predators came near it until it was able to fly away on its own.

I have always wanted desperately to witness the moment when baby bird flew away from the nest but sadly have missed it every time.

Throughout these experiences I have gained some spiritual insight into my own life. When God speaks a word or a promise to you about something he wants to accomplish in your life you become impregnated with that word. And like the bird who knows she is carrying an egg she begins to make preparation for the egg. In the same way we have to make sure the word finds good soil in our hearts conducive to its growth.

It demands constant supervision, support and insulation like the egg. Predators are another factor in the preservation of the word. There will always be people or situations that would try to snatch the promise away from reaching its fruition. That is why we need to hide the word in our heart.

Then we have to deal with the 'sitting' on the word during the incubation period. This is usually the hard part because it requires a lot of patience. Since we always want things right now and waiting is not something we like to do it can be a challenge. But wait we must with expectation. And just like the father bird comes by to check on the family and bring food so does the Holy Spirit while we are in transition.

Then when it seems like the vision is about to be birth it's not time to relax. Like the bird it's time to huddle over the vision. It is a delicate time and requires a praying through and a time of worship to see it to the end.

And even though I did not witness the baby birds fly away to freedom I pray that in my own life I would not miss all that the good Lord has in store for me.

Celia

Earthquakes, earthquakes, everywhere earthquakes

Isaiah 24:20 "The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage, and the transgressions thereof shall be heavy upon it, and it shall fall, and not rise again."

According to the Torah, the year 5770 is this year 2010. God mentions this year over two thousand times in the Torah. Why? When I heard this it made me ponder its significance. Why is this year so important to God that he speaks of it so many times.
One morning I was awakened out of sleep by the sound of a loud trumpet. I quickly realized that it wasn't a natural trumpet that I heard but a trumpet in the spirit realm. But what did it mean? The answer did not come right away.

A week later on January 12th a powerful earthquake rocked Haiti. It was at that moment revelation came to me. This year was going to be known for devastating earthquakes unlike any other time. I had to warn the people. Ezekiel 3:17 says, "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman........therefore hear the word at my mouth and give then warnings from me" The Lord had placed a trumpet in my mouth. I had to do his will.

The earthquake in Haiti dominated the news. Meanwhile I began to notice that earthquakes were also happening in California, Oklahoma, Venezuela and Cayman Islands. However, these quakes, because they were not as powerful as the one in Haiti was overshadowed and were not reported in the news.

I found a web-site called USGS Earthquake Hazard Program that gave a detailed account of every earthquake as it happens. I began to post this information on Facebook. Every day there were numerous earthquakes taking place around the world. But according to the scientists,'earthquakes are a normal occurrence and there should be no cause for alarm.'

Then on February 28th another earthquake struck.. This time it was Chile and it was an 8.8 magnitude earthquake, seven hundred times stronger that the one that hit Haiti. This one was so powerful that it moved a city ten feet from its original position. And s if that wasn't bad enough it also moved the earth off its axis by three inches and as a result we lost time as well.

On March 8th Turkey became the next victim of an earthquake. The news reported that "everything is knocked down and at least six villages were flattened". Meanwhile Japan and many other places were experiencing very strong quakes as well.

March 11th dealt another very strong quake to Chile. A 7.2 magnitude this time that disrupted the swearing in of a new president. Chile continues to be bombarded with strong quakes on a daily basis. The people there are fearful and are on edge all the time.

Is it over? I don't think the shaking is over. This year has only just begun. We have a long way to go. What is the Lord saying in all this? Matthew 24 warns that in the last days one of the signs is that there will be a lot of earthquakes in many different places. We are indeed living in those times now. I believe the return of the Lord is near. How close? No one really knows. But the Lord will get the people's attention.

I believe before the Lord's return there will be a major outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the earth the likes of which has never been seen before. There will be a great harvest of souls that will be ushered into the Kingdom of God.

The saints of God are not to be concerned with all that's happening. We need to continue to praise Almighty God and intercede for our loved ones, friends and neighbors.