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 Sleeping, God Keeping

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Plopping down on the bed in the guest bedroom, I looked forward to a good night’s sleep. What should have been a five hour trip turned into over six. Driving through Baton Rouge tends to mess up any and all schedules. On one trip, the GPS even had the nerve to ask if we’d like to switch into pedestrian mode. Traveling through the capital city of Louisiana is a slow stroll down the interstate. You don’t move fast. At all. And there’s no good reason for it.

My body ached at the long hours of sitting in the car. Stretching my legs and my arms while I lay flat on the mattress I thought “I’ll bet I fall asleep in no time! I’m weary!”

As my brain and body quieted and still, I heard an odd noise. It sounded like hundreds of birds chirping. Or thousands! And they didn’t stop. My room was on the second floor. I’m up high enough to be level with their nests. 

Off and on through the night, I dozed. Then woke. Only to hear the birds. Again. When do birds sleep? Do they sleep at all?

I thought of the Hitchcock horror movie from long ago: The Birds. Set in a quaint California town, hundred of birds suddenly and violently began attacking people. Was this the Mississippi version of that film?

This is the scripture that pushed those thoughts aside:

 “Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep.” Psalm 121:4

God is our protector. He doesn’t sleep or slumber. He keeps us safe.

Rest easy, friend.

Until next time,

 

 

 

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