European Bee-eater, Ariège, France. The female (in front) awaits the offering which the male will make. Photo by Pierre Dalous

Good morning!

I have decided these are my new favorite birds. They eat bees! How fabulous is that! I think we should, as Americans, raise a petition. Bring these birds here! Especially to Illinois. We, okay, I, need these birds, instead of these woodpeckers that keep trying to build there homes in our siding of our house. They are so cute. They bang the stinger out of the bees and then eat them. Maybe we could train them to eat mosquitoes too. I’d be willing to pay them. Seriously.

Yesterday, we spent the afternoon watching the second round of the Bible brought to you by Wal-Mart, and the History Channel, and Mark Burnett. I can’t say I was as thrilled with the second portion as I was the first. No spoilers, I promise, but I found myself wishing I had my Bible with me. I kept thinking and saying out loud, really, was it like that? Did it happen that way? Yet, friends, what I was left with, what I needed to remind myself of, the Bible is coming alive, especially the Old Testament.  How many of us as children (if we went to church) were taught the events of the Old Testament outside of the regular Sunday School stories? It’s amazing to see His Word outside of my imagination or flannel graphs!

As David walked among the Israelites, he was speaking the Word to himself, as he faced off with Goliath, he was fearless.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…

I will fear no evil…

For You are with me…

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me…

Of course, this is Psalm 23. All of the my kids memorized this Psalm, so I had plenty of practice but even if I didn’t, this is an incredibly popular Psalm.  It was powerful watching David chose to walk towards this man/beast.  As Goliath disparaged the one true God, on David walked. The entire army parted ways to bring David to this man. He saw David and threw aside his helmet. Powerful. He was not afraid of a little kid. And that proved to be his demise.

I am told, time and time again. Do not be afraid. Cease striving. Cease the constant conversation of fear.  Yet to watch the men of the Old Testament face their demons, sometimes they failed, which to me, is a good reminder. They were men. Men whom God used. (Women too..)  Pictures in my mind are helpful. Remembering this scene in my mind, I know, I know my God, our God, our faithful, true God will never, ever forsake His children. We can walk through the valleys. We can be without fear.

This is not the story of men. This is the love story of our God dwelling among us.

He fights for us.

Pray on. Pray on.