Our birds enjoy berry, seed, and mealworm cylinders near our front porch throughout the day. These now last a good deal longer since we installed a squirrel baffle. The squirrels still stop by, along with the doves, to glean the scattered seeds that fall from the feeder to the ground but they’re no longer eating us out of house and home like ravenous teenaged boys. One squirrel frequents our little bird haven and judging from his lack of reaction to movement, including Jake and the grandkids, and from the look of his eyes, we think he must be blind.
Amelia and I were on the front drive and she was alternately playing water table and riding her tricycle. We noticed the little guy rummaging around unsuccessfully by the shrubs so we inched over to the feeder and broke off a little piece from one of the cylinders, scattering the bits onto the ground near the pole. He reacted to the sound of metal on metal when the feeder swung back by darting stealthily into the bushes. We stepped carefully away and waited, watching for him to emerge. He skirted the edge of the porch twice before sniffing his way to a chunk of food. He snatched it up with his little paws and Amelia nearly squealed, “He has little hands! He’s holding his food and eating like a baby!”
We watched in wonder, she watching the squirrel while I watched her delight, until she spied Poppy heading down to the lake to feed the fish. She darted across the yard, on to our next adventure. It doesn’t take a two year old long to toss a bucket full of fish pellets onto the water. Poppy spread his far and wide while most of Amelia’s floated in clumps near the retaining wall. She skipped back and forth as the bluegill flashed just beneath the surface. Splash! The water stirred each time a fish grabbed a bite and turned abruptly toward deep water. Geese flew in from across the lake, landing just beyond our ruckus, intent on getting their share of the buffet. Amelia spied them heading our way and said, “Yolly, where are their hands?”
I stifled a laugh before explaining that geese have wings which they use to fly, not arms or hands. They fold their wings while they swim and they paddle below the surface with their webbed feet. She seemed satisfied with my explanation and spying the swings, she darted ahead of me, saying, “You can’t beat me!” Later, I waved goodbye as her car pulled away but I kept thinking about her innocent question. “Where are their hands?”
“You are the body of the Anointed One, and each of you is a unique and vital part of it.”
1 Corinthians 12:27 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/1co.12.27.TPT
“Just as the human body is one, though it has many parts that together form one body, so too is Christ.
For by one Spirit we all were immersed and mingled into one single body.
And no matter our status—whether we are Jews or non-Jews, oppressed or free—we are all privileged to drink deeply of the same Holy Spirit.
In fact, the human body is not one single part but rather many parts mingled into one.
So if the foot were to say, “Since I’m not a hand, I’m not a part of the body,” it’s forgetting that it is still a vital part of the body.
And if the ear were to say, “Since I’m not an eye, I’m not really a part of the body,” it’s forgetting that it is still an important part of the body.
Think of it this way.
If the whole body were just an eyeball, how could it hear sounds?
And if the whole body were just an ear, how could it smell different fragrances?
But God has carefully designed each member and placed it in the body to function as he desires.
A diversity is required, for if the body consisted of one single part, there wouldn’t be a body at all!
So now we see that there are many differing parts and functions, but one body.”
1 Corinthians 12:12-20 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/1co.12.12-20.TPT
Jesus died for the sake of the body. He submitted Himself to the cruelest imaginable torture, a Roman cross, scorning its shame. He is now seated at the right hand of the Father interceding for you and for me. He places His righteousness like a mantle on every believer and commands us to go in His authority with a message for the masses. Jesus is alive forever. He has defeated sin and death and offers eternal life to all who trust in His name.
“But I promise you this—the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and you will be seized with power.
You will be my messengers to Jerusalem, throughout Judea, the distant provinces —even to the remotest places on earth!””
Acts 1:8 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/act.1.8.TPT
“For it is Christ’s love that fuels our passion and holds us tightly, because we are convinced that he has given his life for all of us.
This means all died with him, so that those who live should no longer live self-absorbed lives but lives that are poured out for him—the one who died for us and now lives again.
We are ambassadors of the Anointed One who carry the message of Christ to the world, as though God were tenderly pleading with them directly through our lips.
So we tenderly plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Turn back to God and be reconciled to him.”
For God made the only one who did not know sin to become sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God through our union with him.”
2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 20-21 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/2co.5.20.TPT
“What a beautiful sight to behold— the precious feet of the messenger coming over the mountains to announce good news!
He comes to refresh us with wonderful news, announcing salvation to Zion and saying, “Your Mighty God reigns!”
Yahweh has unveiled his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations.
To the ends of the earth, everyone everywhere will see the salvation of our God!”
Isaiah 52:7, 10 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/isa.52.7-10.TPT
“So don’t hide your light!
Let it shine brightly before others, so that your commendable works will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven.””
Matthew 5:16 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/mat.5.16.TPT
“We will show mercy to the poor and not miss an opportunity to do acts of kindness for others, for these are the true sacrifices that delight God’s heart.”
Hebrews 13:16 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/heb.13.16.TPT
A Fitting Reply 