When "Feistyness" pays off!

There's been a lot of activity at my bird feeders lately.

Even the bluebirds, who NEVER have visited my feeders before,
seem to be curious about all the "hullabaloo"!

It's this guy that has caused all the turmoil...

...and made most of the other birds take flight.

Yeah... This guy...
Know formerly as "The Elusive Yellow Bellied Sapsucker",
about which I wrote a post about a few years ago.
(Click on the link above if you wish to see that post.)

I guess he decided that being shy didn't pay off.

If he wanted to enjoy the food,

he would have to take action.

And taking action, HE IS!

This morning I read about a lady who did that very thing.

She was being treated unfairly by someone.

SHE TOOK ACTION!

She took her case to the judge, but he refused to help her.

She wouldn't give up...

It sounds to me like she was quite a FEISTY and persistent lady!

Although you may think of the word FEISTY in a negative manner, 

Vocabulary.com states that:

 "It may also describe a courageous or spirited person,

especially one who is smaller or an underdog."

The lady in the story above won her case.

She kept pestering the judge until he listened and took action.

The story comes straight out of the Bible,

from Luke 18:1-8.

It says "that Jesus used this story to teach his followers

that they should

"always pray and never lose HOPE".

He said that "God will always give what is right to His people

who cry to Him night and day,

and He will not be slow to answer them."

Well, I don't want to encourage any bullying here,

but I do think there are times in life we all need to be

a little more like the Yellow Bellied Sapsucker,

and become a little FEISTY

instead of doing nothing about a situation.

My little sis gave me a wall hanging many years ago that said,

"PRAY TO GOD,

 BUT ROW TOWARDS SHORE".

Grab your paddles, and let's go!!!

Escaping "The Snare of the Fowler"!

What is a "Fowler"?

According to the simplest web definition that I found,
a "Fowler" is a "hunter of birds".

So, after looking up many definitions,

it seems that a "hunter of birds" can be a human,

...or even another bird...

...such as the hawk that appeared 

at my bird feeders this morning!

I was enjoying watching the birds while sipping on a cup of coffee...

The finch family are always welcome...

...Not so much the starlings,

...or the grackles...

But the mockingbird usually chases them away for me.

I always enjoy seeing the yellow bellied sapsucker...

...Although sometimes I wonder if he's killing my peach tree
with all the little holes he's making in it!

I love the flashes of bright blue from the jays...

...And the cardinals are always a pleasure to watch.

This morning I even had a Northern Flicker...

Here he is showing off his black crest...
Well, actually, I think this is a "she"!

But this morning there was a quick scattering of all the birds
when this fellow arrived.  I actually saw him fly after some of
the smaller birds trying to catch them to devour them for his breakfast!

He boldly sat in my cherry tree,
and even appeared to be staring at me
as I sat in the window watching!

This is what started me thinking about
"The Snare of the Fowler"
that is mentioned in Psalm 91:3:
"Surely He shall deliver you
from the snare of the fowler,
And from the perilous pestilence"

Well, this "FOWLER" soon flew away when he was unsuccessful,
and  this is all I caught as he left - a view of his tail feathers.

 Isn't that the way it goes?

If we are diligent and keep watch,

the old "fowler", the devil,

will leave us alone and go on to some other prey.

James said to "RESIST HIM",

and that he would flee from us.

In looking up things on the "FOWLER",

I came across a wonderful sermon by Charles Spurgeon on this subject.

If you have time to take a look at it, I'm sure it will be a blessing to you.

You can find it by clicking HERE!  

"Euphoric Recall"

My good friend Tricia not only has a blog about her expeditions,

she is also a registered dietitian who

 introduced me to First Place 4 Health.

These are Bible studies that help to create balance in the four core areas of life---

emotional, spiritual, mental, and physical.

The Reflection and Application portion of Week 6,
about "Faith Ensures Hope" used the term
"Euphoric Recall"
to describe "a selective memory process that allows
recovering addicts to recall how good they felt when they were using their drug of choice - but somehow forget how foolishly they behaved and the dire consequences of their behavior."
The author went on to describe that "remembering how good the high felt in the absence of recalling painful consequences" kept many addicts from realizing the depth of their addiction.
"Euphoric Recall" limited their ability to admit their powerlessness,
and kept them from depending on God to deliver them.

THEN came the blow!
This totally is how it is with many of us that have food issues!
In wanting the instant gratification of mouth-watering food,
we often give in to the "Euphoric Recall" of  our food memories,
and then suffer "eater's remorse" because of the consequences!

This week of Bible Study was focused on Hebrews 11,
the "Faith Chapter".
What impressed me about each of these heroes of the Faith,
was that each of them gave up something
 in order to obtain something better!
In doing this, Hebrews 11:34 says that their
"weakness was turned into strength."


Well,  I've got things to do and places to go today,
but I felt impressed to share this with you.
Here's to healthier living for all of us!
May God give us all the grace and strength to not give in to
EUPHORIC RECALL today!


Thanks for your visit!