Female sparrow doing a nest box / bird house inspection

How exciting to see a sparrow inspecting the new nest box i made last week!

It's a female

The initial inspection is from outside, to see if it's safe.

Is it far enough for squirrels and neighbours cats to reach?

Let's take a look inside ...

Has any other bird lived here before?

Is the floor safe?

Let's get inside and see ...

(This made my day today!)

What does the outside world look like from inside?

Will she come back again to make this her home?

Swapping wheels in the Audi A4 and a friends Ford

Today I helped a friend swap the wheels on one of their cars.

And after that, 

changed the wheels from winter to all-season on our A4

The last time i built a nest box ...

... a squirrel claimed it as their home!

That was because it was placed where the squirrel could easily access it.
Even though the birds liked the nest boxes 

So this time I'm making another nest box and 

placing it where hopefully only the birds can access it

The wood is from our fence that fell in the winter storm

two years ago.

I made a patio table with a lot of that wood!

I like to keep the edges rough and natural,

Imperfect compared to what you buy,

But functional for the birds.

Drilling a couple of holes underneath for ventilation

Now let's wait and see!

Did GOD want us to live our lives in fear?

I shared Matthew 14:27 with friends over the weekend. It's on the subject of fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’

In red are Jesus’s words to HIS disciples.

What comes to my mind these days is the subject of fear, and being afraid.

They say we are born with only two innate fears: the fear of falling and the fear of loud sounds, all the rest is learned or conditioned fear. Scientists describe fear as an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain or harm. A feeling of anxiety concerning the outcome of something or the safety of someone.

Today, many of us are living in unprecedented times, where fear has suddenly taken a solid grip on society, and our thoughts, words and actions are determined by our fears.

Just a few months ago no one would ever have imagined that a tiny virus would shake the entire world, the rich and the poor alike, and get people rethinking everything they thought they knew.

People actually fear for their lives!

Did GOD want us to live our lives in fear?

Truth is, HE commands us to fear and also forbids us to fear.

1. Fear that is Commanded
2. Fear that is Forbidden

Here are a few verses of both types of fear:

What does it mean to fear the LORD?

To Honour and Respect, to live in Awe of HIS power.

Job 28:28 - The fear of the Lord - that is wisdom and to shun evil is understanding

Proverbs 1:7-9 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline

     

      Luke 12:4-5

     ‘I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do

      no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: fear him who, after your body

      has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him”.

Fear of Man versus fear of GOD

Proverbs 29:25 - Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe

Fear GOD

Isaiah 8:13

The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, HE is the one you are to fear,
HE is the one you are to dread.

   

      Why we must not fear death

      Luke 9:23-27

      Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves  

      and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life

      will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for

      someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever

      is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he

      comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

      How fear prevents us from speaking for Jesus

      John 12:42-43

      Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of  

      the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be

      put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God

           

      Letting Jesus deal with our fears, and HIS assurance (highlighted)

      Matthew 28:19-20

      “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the

      Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything

      I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

      Fear can be overcome by Faith (Jesus walks on Water)

      Matthew 14:22-32 

     

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: 

‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’

‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water. ’Come,’ he said. 

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. 

‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’

      Peter began to sink the moment he took his eyes off Jesus and started focusing on the   

      waves around him.

      I’ve learnt that in times like these, I need to take my mind off all the human   

      distractions, fear, and negativity that our sinking world has to offer via news and

      social media and focus instead on Jesus!

      Friends, we are all in the same boat, and I wish you all Peace in these troubled times.

      With love and prayers,

      John

   

Switching Wheels

Surely there will be one more winter storm before the weather changes,

But today's a lovely day to step outside, 

Switch wheels & enjoy some sunshine,

Without going anywhere or meeting anybody!