In case you are not able to hear them on the radio in Sheboygan or Plymouth, here are my Morning Meditations for the week of April 26-30, 2010.

Monday, April 26
This week we will find our inspiration from the nest building practices of the many birds who are now busily at work preparing to lay their eggs and raise their young. The simplest nest construction is called the scrape, which is merely a shallow depression in soil or vegetation. Eggs and young in scrape nests are more exposed to predators and the elements than those in more sheltered nests. They have well-developed distraction displays, which are used to draw potential predators from the area around the nest. The killdeer is a local bird that nests in this way. If you come near its vulnerable nest it will fake a broken wing and run away just fast enough to keep a predator following it. Its actions are like Christ who drew all of the attention of Satan to Himself. The heavenly Father had such love that He sent His Son to be “stricken, smitten, and afflicted” as the prophet Isaiah had said. Christ bore the burden of our sins so that we could live. He makes us safe in our homes today and safe for all eternity in heaven.

Tuesday, April 27
Perhaps you have an old tree on your property that has become home to a cavity dwelling species of bird. Cavity-dwelling species have to contend with the danger of predators accessing their nest chamber, catching them and their young inside and unable to get out. These birds have a variety of methods for decreasing the likelihood of this happening. Some woodpeckers peel bark around the entrance, and drill wells above and below the hole. Since they nest in live trees, the resulting flow of resin forms a barrier that prevents snakes from reaching the nests. The resin flowing from the tree reminds us of the blood of Christ shed for us on the cross. We are offered His true presence in the sacrament of the altar to strengthen our weak faith and to prepare us for the daily spiritual attacks. The Bible reminds us to “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”

Wednesday, April 28
This week we are observing how bird nests are good object lessons for our Christian life. Our state bird, the robin, builds a cup nest which is smoothly hemispherical inside, with a deep depression to house the eggs. They use pliable materials, including grasses, and mud. Once the mother robin perches on her nest, it is so tight that nothing else could fit into this initial home for their young. Sometimes we have allowed things into our homes that conflict with God’s plan for us. We begin to trust money and government rather than the Father in heaven who gave us everything freely, including His own Son. In the Bible, Joshua warned people about this when he said, “Choose this day whom you will serve but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” Joshua was proclaiming that as leader of his family, he would never make room in his house for anything that would be against the Lord and His ways.

Thursday, April 29
Perhaps you have observed a beautiful orange and black pair of Baltimore orioles building a pendant nest on your property. The pendant nest is an elongated sac woven of pliable materials such as grasses and plant fibers and suspended from a branch. Far from the reach of predators, these curious nests sway in the spring breezes. It reminds us of how the human child is cuddled and swayed and kept safe in its mother’s arms. The Holy Spirit inspired the prophet Isaiah to write about that kind of comfort and security as he spoke of the Father’s love for us. “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” God promises us comfort in the gathering of believers here on earth as we receive His blessings in our weekly Divine services. We look forward to the final gathering of all believers in heaven for eternity where there will be no more tears and only joy because we will be in the very presence of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Friday, April 30
In our parks and at our waterfront areas we are currently observing Canada Geese building their mound nests with grass and plant material and lined with feather down. Because their nests are at ground level they are especially vulnerable to predators such as foxes, mink, coyotes and dogs. Knowing how defenseless the eggs and later those tiny goslings are, the gander and his mate zealously guard the nest and will attack any intruders, putting their own lives on the line. The tiny offspring gather behind the protective wings. This is exactly how Jesus desires to protect us. One time He looked at his beloved city of Jerusalem and said “How often I would have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings.” We are covered in such a way according to God’s plan for the Christian church. Jesus spread his arms on the cross at Calvary and we who believe and trust in the victory won by Him over sin, death and the power of the devil can be assured of His protection and love.