Hackberry

A berry from a Hackberry tree that remains in the winter.

Winter Close up Cattails

Isaiah 35:7

 The scorched land will become a pool

            And the thirsty ground springs of water;

            In the haunt of jackals, its resting place,

            Grass becomes reeds and rushes.

Winter Beauty

Winter plants have their beauty.

Seeds

Photo of a head of grass.

2 Corinthians 9:10 

"Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness;"

Mark 4:30-32

"And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, 32 yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade.”

January Plants

Even the Eastern Red Cedar has a brown tint in January. 

White Oak Comparrison

These 2 white oaks (the 2 large trees on either side of the hiking trail.) are almost the same size in circumference. The one on the right is 92 7/8" and the one on the left is 89 1/8".  The one on the right is healthier and I propose it will grow at a faster rate than the one on left. Why?

Look at a close up of the bark of the White oak on the left. The bark has remained in a more juvinle state because of the growth on the bark.

The bark is the protection of the tree.

It is the same in our life with Christ. If we protect ourselves from the influences of the world we will grow much faster than if we fail to protect.

And how can we protect ourselves spiritually?  Guard your mind!

Philippians 4:8
"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

Winter Sunset

Sunset on January 6th 2015 at 6:37 PM

6 Jan 15 6:37 PM
Sunset from my back yard.

Canon EOS Rebel T3
f/6.3
1/640 sec
ISO 6400
-1.7 step
55 mm