Dusty Sandals (Christian Devotional)

Bowerbird

Ps 84
I love to decorate! I love the rustic lodge log cabin look: bears, moose fish añd the like! Everything I have relates to the UP of Michigan. You would think as much as I love Mackinac island ( an Island just next door to Michigan's UP) that I would decorate Victorian because the houses all have Victorian decor inside and out. Even the storefronts have a Victorian flare. So even thoe I decorate with a rustic theme I add the Island in by hanging pictures of it in the main livingroom - like a arial picture of entire island. Another Arial photograph close up of part of the island. And I have a folk art painting depicting all the beauty of the island! So to some the framed Mackinac Island pictures might clash with all the moose and bear but to me it's ALL a part of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. AND I LOVE IT!!!!!!
I began to struggle with the fact my mind is on decorating so much that I began feeling guilty for thinking about it all the time. So I prayed about it and the Lord said to my heart look at the birds of the air... are you not more valuable than they?
Yes. I answered. He went on and showed me something I learned long ago of a bird called the Bowerbird. The male Bowerbird builds his nests in a very thought out plan! They are naturally drawn to Shiney objects and 3 out of 4 birds will pick up a blue object to take back to decorate his nest. But no 2 nests are alike, some are made entirely from rocks and pebbles. Others made from sticks, some that live near an Ocean collect sea shells! Bottle caps are one of the most picked items among all the birds because they are shiny and full of color! They do all this in an attempt to find a mate! The male birds are beautiful color of blue -thoe some would argue even a dark Purple! The female bird is a simple brown color. The males practice a shameless mating dance this along with their decorating ability is what decides the fate of getting the female impregnated. The older ladies dont pay as much attention to the grand decorating ability as they do to the mating dance!  However, the youngèŕ birds watch the male build their nests and the flasher they get their nest is the faster it gets noticed!
So if the birds have an appetite to decorate how much more can we as humans have a desire to decorate? I believe it's a God given apitite to decorate òur dwelling.
I can see how God loves to decorate!  All the beautiful flowers to all the beautiful fish in the sea. The colors in the wòrld beneath the sea is breath taking! Look to our sky's for beautifully painted sun sets and sunrises!  If you don't have a clear view of the sky go onto sites like the one I look at everyday called addicted to Mackinac island.  The view from the island is breathtaking! The sun rises and sets and makes for a spectacular light show every morning and every night.
Psalms 65:8

I have a testimony and trust and faith in Jesus EVEN THOE
I have a rare Lung disease and Multiple Sclerosis
I am in pain sometimes
I am bedridden
I have tube coming out of my bladder and heart
I miss my old life
I miss walking
I miss using anistesia for surgical procedures
I miss my freedom
I miss driving my car
I miss going out to the store, mall,out to dinner
I miss my yearly trip to Mackinac Island
My life may not look blessed, but it is, because I'M STILL HERE AND I STILL TRUST JESUS!
The Bible says to " not think it's strange when faced with trials of many kinds."
I look at the the Bible and read about Paul.  He was in prison and still sang songs and worshipped Jesus, he was shipwrecked on an island and much much more... but still had faith.
I am still here and I  am blessed with a wonderful daughter and family that give up their time to care for me so that I can live at home and not a nursing home.
I'm blessed to take my next breath and keep my life so my family and I can LIVE together.
I am blessed to have a Savior that cares for me and is building a home for me in Heaven
I am blessed to be a testimony of God's Grace.
I know someday there will be no me pain , no more emergencies no more ambulances, hospitals Dr.s or nurses.
I'm blessed to know for sure when I take my last breath I will go to Heaven!
Do you know that? Ask Jesus to forgive your sins and to come into your heart. So you may have the peace I have in knowing this world and all it has to offer is not worth giving up Heaven for. Turn away from your sins . Nothing is worth giving up a sure home with Christ. 
I pray you will read my life and see the peace and happiness I find in Jesus and know you can have that and more...
Prayers for all that read this.
Shannon