Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Soaked in God's Word, Sprouting Seeds of Faith

Short & Tweet: Birds Objecting, Holy Spirit Directing

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Ahhhh, mornings. I’ve come to love them since retirement. Slow, quiet and peaceful. Jesus, coffee and me. 

But not this morning. Gazing out the window, Bible in hand, I saw several birds doing fly-bys under my front porch. Odd. Next, I heard their squeaking and screeching. What on earth?

Bluejays, wrens, cardinals and a mocking bird or two – all raising a ruckus. The cardinal’s fun and happy “Chirp, chirp” was not there today.  “Danger, danger” was what I heard. Chaos disturbed the peace and quiet of my morning. So much who-rah going on outside!  It was not letting up, but growing louder and more urgent.

Standing, I  left my steaming cup of coffee to peek out the front door. Glancing down at the threshold of the door, I checked for a snake. I’ve run into them across thresholds before, and believe you me, it will scare the craziness out of you!

Unlocking the door, I eased it open an inch or two. There it was! The snake I knew had to be there, but I couldn’t see! The danger all the birds were screaming about. I slammed the door so fast and loud, it scared the birds away. 

Running outside, I grabbed a shovel to shoo him away from the door. I’m too chicken to kill him. Finally, he slithered away.

Back inside, settling down with coffee and Bible in hand, I wondered: 

“Did Eve hear birds?” 

While the serpent was talking to her, did the birds in the Garden of Eden warn Eve?

When we sense objections in our soul, we have One who sends directions. The Holy Spirit of Jesus.  Listen for Him.

“Your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left.’” Isaiah 30: 21 (NASB)

Short & Tweet: Birds Needing, Jesus Feeding

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In the cool of the house, peeking from behind the curtains, I saw her. With diligence, she prepared breakfast for her little one. He was hiding in the camellias, but I saw him. His feathers were downy soft, not yet formed. There were no tail feathers, meaning he couldn’t fly away if there was danger. Why was he out of the nest?

Walking outside to check the mail, I had to pass right by his hideaway. All the birds in the area got a tad bit jittery. They thought I was a threat to Baby Bird. Even though Baby was well hidden, many of the other birds were looking out for him. The male cardinal was especially ready to peck my head, if I got too close. They all stick together, well, like birds of a feather! LOL! 

Photo Courtesy of John Chauvin

The soon-to-be feast from Mama Bird was acorn meat. I watched her dig the small, round nut out of the heat scorched ground. The squirrels had planted them last fall, and she was reaping the harvest. She smashed the acorn several times with her beak, bringing the morsels of the meat to Baby Bird. He sat motionless, watching and waiting for her. When she landed, you could see Baby Bird’s joy in his wide open beak. Mama Bird gently placed the acorn meat in his mouth.

Manna. Sustenance. Nourishment. We are the birds needing food. Jesus is our bread of life, who feeds us.

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 NASB