Dear Faith Family, 

Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds!  (Psalm 148:9-10) 

That dude was doing the breaststroke!  In my birdbath.  The birdbath was freshly cleaned and filled with clear, sparkling water.  It was almost like he was showing his appreciation.  A bright red cardinal waded right on up in there – chest deep.  He was having a field day!  I don’t know who was enjoying it more, him or me?  What a delight! 

Now, I don’t want to assume too much.  But I’ve never received an email from Mr. Cardinal informing me that it’s time to clean the birdbath.  In fact, to my knowledge I’ve never even heard him complain when it’s dirty or dry.  There was the time that he knocked on the back door hoping to draw attention to the empty birdbath.  (Ok.  He didn’t do that!) 

My point?  I want to be more like that cardinal – wading right on up in that birdbath and appreciating all that our God provides.  His attitude looked like an offering of praise.  Question: how often do we overlook or take for granted God’s provision?  Like running water.  We have access to clean running water.  Water pressure is a wonderful thing! 

And food?  Not many of us have had to hunt for food.  Hunting for us looks like sorting through the pile of frozen turkeys picking out just the right one to suit our needs (21.7 pounds sounds just about right, right?!) 

Here’s what I want to say.  We, at times, offer words of praise and thanksgiving.  And so, we should.  Don’t stop.  Can we add another step?  Can we offer a heart attitude of praise and thanksgiving?  Such a heart thrives in the soil of humility.  God owes us nothing.  And, in Christ, He has freely given us all good things! 

Although I’m not a cardinal whisperer, I promise you that cardinal had an attitude.  An attitude of appreciation.  He owned that birdbath with all the gratefulness his little heart could muster.  Well, that’s what he told me anyway! 

Are we looking for God’s goodness?  Do we trust Him that He is good?  Do we wade right up into Him embracing whatever He’s given us today with an attitude of appreciation? 

Working on my attitude, 
Pastor Karl