This morning (Tuesday, July 25, 2023) Duane and I were having my favorite breakfast: a bagel from St. Paul Bagelry and coffee from our most preferred Caribou shop… I call it our ‘cuddle bagel breakfast’ because Tina can be on my lap (or Pewter, usually it’s Tina in the morning) and cuddle while we watch a half an hour sitcom, enjoy our food and drink, and then start our workday.

Today, in addition to the sitcom, I was highly entertained! We also love to watch the squirrels, birds, and chipmunks either take drinks from the birdbath, or eat corn fixed on their chair, seed on the round or in a feeder. It’s so much fun!

Today was one of the best! Most entertaining! I’ve even decided there is a new chipmunk in town… As we were appreciating this special breakfast tradition our new rodent repeatedly tried to get in the feeder we call ‘the boat.’ It’s simply a round, flat feeder loaded with seed: loaded, that is, usually… Today it had been.

This tenacious little striped creature repeatedly climbed up the pole of these feeders: one is the boat, the other is enclosed (because my husband believes squirrel-proofing is possible; I don’t.) Anyway, this little guy didn’t try just a mere four or five times to get into the boat. You see, he must have tried at least eight to nine times. I lost count because I was having so much fun watching him!

His challenge? A squirrel! This squirrel also must be new in the hood because he lost! Yes! He lost the challenge… Surprising? Sure, there were a couple of times he noticed this smaller fellow trying to join him in that very fun, comfortable boat so easily accessible to food once inside. This squirrel would simply turn and lunge at the chipmunk; and in body language he was saying: “Scram! I’m here!”

 

But the little guy (much smaller than he) didn’t quit. I was so exceptionally happy (because I simply adore squirrels!) to see him win because it was so hilarious!!

This chipmunk’s final try was a triumphant success! How did he do it? Certainly it was not the ‘might makes it right’ approach… Whether it was just one of those things, or by little chipmunk brainpower, he won! He beat the squirrel!! His last attempt, the one needed to conquer and divide, finally came!

 

Climbing the pole for the unknown amount of tries to seize possession of the seed in the boat, he again proceeded in making his attempt at the food. He made a calculated jump when his rival wasn’t looking. I have never seen a squirrel frightened, losing his balance, and losing his coveted position! He jumped frantically out, grabbed tightly onto the edge of the feeder; knowing he couldn’t regain access this way into the boat, gave up, landing on the ground!

 

Most all of the seed went with him: and there was a lot for my husband had just filled it less than an hour before! Now both of them will share better because it’s on the ground!

 

I’ve decided these two fur babies are new in the hood because: my new squirrel got scared: and, I’ve never seen such a determined, brave, and winning chipmunk! Therefore they definitely must haves these names:  David and Goliath! Can you guess who is who?!

 

THE LESSON TO THIS JOY STORY:

Never give up when you have the right to take what God has planned for you!

 

 

GOD CARES FOR HIS FUR BABIES:

 

Psalm 147:7-9
Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp. He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.

 

Matthew 6:25-26
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

 

 

GOD HAS GIVEN HIS CHILDREN AUTHORITY:

 

Ephesians 2:1-10
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

 

James 4:7-10
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

 

 

1 Corinthians 15:57-58
 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.