Someone Else Will

I'm new to the whole birdfeeder-in-the-backyard thing. After all, I've been retired less than 2 years. I'm learning about the bird population in my area and what they like to eat, but word has spread in the bird community lately, and there are more birds coming to my backyard this spring than there were last year.

I realized I hadn't been keeping up with the feeder as well and I meant to when I noticed it was empty again.

"I let the birdfeeder get empty again, and the birds are going hungry," I thought to myself.

Now, the Lord doesn't speak to me audibly, but I sometimes I just get a sense of what He's saying. In my spirit I felt Him say:

"I won't let them starve. I use many different means to feed the birds."

Ok. There are two of the things I know I'm called to do. First, all Christians are called to the Great Commission of sharing the Good News about Jesus with the lost. The second one, encouraging others, is one of my spiritual gifts. I realized this early in my walk with Christ, and it's still one of the things I'm called to do. It's one of the reasons I write this blog.

So I'm standing in my kitchen, looking out into my backyard. The thought occurred suddenly to me that sometimes we rationalize this way about sharing the Gospel and encouraging others.

Well, if I don't do it someone else will.

Yes, someone else will, because God desires for all to come to Him and be saved. He is "not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9 NASB

But...someone else will get the reward for that lost soul being saved.

Someone else will be rewarded in heaven for encouraging that person that was on my heart, but I couldn't be bothered to reach out to them when I felt the tug on my heart to do so.

This revelation was earth-shattering to me.

Something inside me broke. I was convicted of my actions, or lack thereof:

I'm guilty of not sharing Jesus every time I feel like I'm supposed to.

There are times I know I need to write a note of encouragement to someone and I don't do it.

There are times when I really, truly know I'm supposed to write a blog post about something for some person to see someday, probably someone I don't even know. I'll write it in the morning, I tell myself.

In the morning, I can't recall what I was going to write about. IF I even remember it at all.

Someone else could do it, but I'm committed afresh to not let someone else do what God asked me to do.

Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing.1 Thessalonians 5:11 NASB

A Note About Spring

I've mentioned before that I didn't like Spring. In fact, I believe I said I hated it. Granted, I mostly hated it because of tornadoes, but I also didn't like the pollen that torments allergy sufferers.

Anyway, there are some new developments on that topic.

Spring is...growing on me. (I promise there's no pun intended here, seriously). It might have started with something my granddaughter said to me recently. I had mentioned that I was sad Winter was leaving, and she said Spring was her favorite season because that's when Jesus died for our sins and then rose on the third day.

I started to argue that we didn't know the exact time of year, like for instance, Christmas probably isn't the time of year He was born. But then, I quickly remembered, concerning His resurrection, yes it is. Yes, Jesus' death and resurrection was in the Spring. It was at passover. So I had this little argument in my head, thankfully, and never said a word about it out loud. 

A while back I was having a little prayer time while walking in the park, and I felt convicted about my stance on Spring. The Lord reminded me that Spring is a joyous time of new growth, and, as my granddaughter had mentioned, it was when He redeemed all mankind. 

As I walked, I was noticing the daffodils blooming in large bunches all over. Daffodils are very special to me (see Just a Daffodil, Feb. 25, 2018 in my older blog posts), but I've actually started to enjoy other things about spring as well.

I enjoy hearing the birds singing. I love to see the birds at my birdfeeder in my backyard. I also really enjoy a day when I can raise the windows and let the fresh, Spring air flow through the house. 

So I guess the Lord is changing my heart. If He can work in the heart of an old curmudgeon like me, He can work in anyone!

On a related note, I haven't posted the sunrises much lately, but I took a picture this morning. The first picture is January 27. The second one is this morning, March 15. Look how much farther toward the northeast it is rising now! 

I love this part of science. It's fascinating to me!

Also, notice the birds at my backyard birdfeeder. I love to watch them. 

Be blessed! 

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118.24 ESV