I love to feed the birds! This feeder hangs from a branch right outside the window where I do a lot of my writing. I enjoy seeing the variety of birds that come to eat from it throughout the day. It is a reminder that “God’s eye is on the sparrow, and I now He watches me.”
“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?” Matthew 6:26-27
But this feeder doesn’t only attract birds, it also attracts squirrels. The ultimate enemy of every bird feeder! Though it is a “squirrel proof” feeder they had found a way to get into the top of it. So I began a battle I was determined to win! I fought for several weeks trying all kinds of ways to out smart the squirrels. I know, many have gone before me with all sorts of strategies only to lose. But I believed I could come up with something unique that would win the battle. After perhaps my fifth try, life got busy and I didn’t have time to come up with strategy number six. Though squirrels came and ate from the feeder, the birds were coming too so I just put off strategy number six until another time. Well, one day I noticed there were no birds coming to eat, or squirrels for that matter, though the feeder was filled with seed. At first I just reasoned it away…maybe the birds were nesting and they couldn’t come to the feeder. Maybe there was enough other things to eat this time of year… Well, finally, after about two weeks of nothing coming to the feeder I decided to take a closer look. What I saw upon closer inspection revealed the reason there was nothing eating from the feeder…
It was squirrels! While they were hanging on the feeder they caused the inside of the feeder to slip down so that the holes became blocked; the “squirrel proof” feature, but it stuck in that position so there was no way to get the seed out of the feeder. I was so glad I finally took a closer look!
As I adjusted the feeder and walked back into the house God began to speak to me…
“Wilma, take a good look at that bird feeder. From a distance that bird feeder looked fine. It was filled with seed. It was hanging straight. But, there were no birds eating from it. A filled bird feeder has only one purpose, to feed birds. It isn’t meant to just hang from a tree looking good.
So with you, Wilma, there are times you think you are looking good. You are filled with seed, you are hanging straight, and life seems to be going great.
But is your life having any affect on those around you?
Are others benefitting from the things you say and do?
Are you fulfilling the purposes I created you for?
You were created to live for Me and to glorify Me. I sent you into this world to preach the Good News, to shine your light, and to bear the fruit of the Spirit so others could taste and see that I am good.
Wilma, you have been writing about the victory you have in Me, and Yes, I have won the ultimate battle, but as long as you are here on earth you will experience the affects of the enemy as he tries to rob your “seed” and means to block your “holes” so My seed won’t flow through you to others. When you get busy and don’t take time to come to Me you don’t get filled with My seed, and you are vulnerable to the enemy’s strategies. This causes you to become ineffective, just like the bird feeder hanging from the tree…looking good from the distance, but unable to be of any use.
That is why you need to come to Me every day and let Me take a closer look.
It is in My presence where you are filled and realigned from the inside out. Your heart and your actions, your mind and your words, need to be aligned with My truth so that the “seed” I fill you with will be available and accessible to others around you. Then, you will be filled with My “seed” and you will have the power and authority to overcome any strategy meant to block your “holes.” You will then fulfill the purpose for which I created you for and many will taste and see that I am good!”
“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. James 4:7-8”
“For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.” 2 Corinthians 9:10
Being filled with God’s “seed” is not only for me, but it is also intended for those around me.
Like birds coming to my bird feeder, people will come to me throughout the day needing some “seed.” They are hungry for a word from God, whether they know it or not. When I am filled daily with fresh “seed” I will have something to share with others. It is amazing how often the verse I read in the morning or the lesson God just showed me from His word, comes out of my mouth as I am talking with someone during my day. It is so satisfying and encouraging to have some “seed” to share that is helpful to someone else. It causes me to be thankful that I took the time to spend with God that morning. Not only are there birds that perch on the feeder and eat the seed, but there are also birds that sit on the ground and eat the seed that has fallen. This makes me think that not only is my “seed” going out to those who I talk to personally, but there are conversations that others overhear just because they are around me. They are eating my “seed” as well.
I love the way God uses the things in our lives to show us and teach us spiritual lessons! I’ll never look at a bird feeder in the same way again.
“Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.” Ecclesiastes 11:6
Strategy number six was a perfect plan, there was no way they could get to the feeder!
So they chewed the rope!
Squirrels – 6
Wilma – 0
Mark said he would get me some wire this time! Strategy seven is in the planning…