Meet Cisco, the male Northern Bobwhite
Photography by Curtis and Norma Beaird
Article by Norma Beaird
We serve a God who loves us and wants us to talk to Him, no matter how big or how small the request. He's our Father, He created us, and He's interested in our thoughts, requests and desires. Sometimes, Christians don't think about petitioning Him unless they have big requests that involve health issues, financial burdens, family troubles or problems at work. However, He's interested in every aspect of our lives. Why? Because we're His children and He loves us.
Curtis and I are avid birdwatchers and bird photographers. Since 2013, we have been submitting bird species checklists to eBird, a division of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. We recently passed 1,000 checklists for Montgomery County, Georgia. As Citizen Scientists, we contribute to avian research for our region of Georgia.
Last year, we kept hearing the entertaining call of the Northern Bobwhite and we kept hoping that he would find his way into our yard, but he never made a visit. This year, we heard him in the woods again. One morning I prayed in faith and said, "Lord, I wish you would send the Northern Bobwhite into our yard. I would really like to photograph him!" Well, a few days later, not only did the Lord send Mr. Bobwhite, He sent the Mrs. as well. God answers prayer! Many times, He answers above and beyond what we could ever think or ask. Praise the Lord!
God is good and He seeks to teach us lessons of faith. We can find wonder in these small lessons of faith. These small lessons will increase our faith when we have even bigger prayers that need an answer from the Lord. At times, we can allow doubt to creep in and tell us that the Northern Bobwhite will never show up. On the other hand, we can believe.
Meet Coco, the female Northern Bobwhite
Matthew 18:3
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children,
ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mark 11:24
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray,
believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Copyright 2016, Curtis and Norma Beaird. All rights reserved.
