Turtle

Turtles are know for there slow speed and hiding in their shell. Neither characteristic is favored by humans.

It is the security that we have in Christ and taking time to listen to Him that gives us the confidence and direction we need. Rushing back and forth does not bring the answer.

Isaiah 40:31 "
Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary."

Father, I wait for Your word. I wait for Your strength. I wait for your leading.

Ohio Spiderwart

Bug getting nectar from an Ohio spiderwart. I've gotten other bugs in close up shots but they didn't look as good as this one.

The timing of this shot has nothing to do with my skill. I just happened upon this shot because it was there. Life is like that. It is going through many processes to get to a good ending.

In the MACRO world of nature there is much that we are not aware of. But is there none the less.

Spiritual life is like that. Much is happening we are not aware of.  Because I am unaware of many things in life, I trust in the Lord.

Holy Spirit lead me.

Young Thistle Flower

Psalm 2:8 "Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession."

God will give to those who believe Him people to bring to Christ for salvation.

Steps

A trail follows the contour of the ground. If it is trying to get over a hill there are switch backs going back and forth to gain the elevation. A short cut is to put steps in. Of course this is harder because of the fast gain in elevation. It is a lot more work to climb up steps than to hike on a trail with switch backs.

These steps were not the normal 8" steps you would find by a house. They were steeper, making it harder to get up them.

Life has some steeper steps at times. Are we willing to take them to reach our goal?

Psalm 18:32,33 

"The God who girds me with strength

            And makes my way blameless?

 33He makes my feet like hinds’ feet,

            And sets me upon my high places."

Father I look to for strength and the wisdom to use it for Your kingdom.

Coming in for a Landing

Come to the Lord and He will give you life, purpose and rest.

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Red Winged Blackbird

This bird would fly back and forth from his willow tree to a spot along the lake shore. After a while it would fly back to the willow tree. It didn't stay long at this spot. Just long enough for a couple of photos.

We were by a busy spot for birds because plant life had been worn off. Dirt by the lake edge was allowing birds to come for water. While we were sitting there a Blue bird came by to land and get water but when it realized we were there it changed course in mid air making a U turn and took off.

Psalm 1:1-3 

"How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

Nor stand in the path of sinners,

Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,

Which yields its fruit in its season

And its leaf does not wither;

And in whatever he does, he prospers."

Brown Headed Cow Bird

Here is another shot of Brown Headed Cow birds.

Revelation 5:12 "saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing."

Father, I look to You to bless us with Your power as I worship and follow You.

Ohio Buckeye

Buds and bark of Ohio Buckeye above and leaves below.  The tree bark in the background below is a Shagbark hickory.

For this tree to grow, it needs moist well drained soil.

The tree needs to be partly shady. It does not grow well in full sunlight.

Leaf blotch is a disease that attacks the tree and will completely defoliate the tree in the summer.

The tree does well in the sun in the morning but needs shade in the afternoon.

Grass does not grow well under the tree because of the dense foliage.

All parts of the tree are toxic for humans and animals.
The leaves also smell bad when crushed.

This tree reminds me of a person that does not know Christ. Being around the tree is not pleasant and being around some people is not pleasant.

1 Corinthians 15:53 "Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals."

Father lead me to the people that I can help and guide me to not be corrupted by people of bad morals.

Moss

Moss is a welcomed site in the deep woods. I usually find it along trails I am hiking. I

I find the dark green as a spot of color on the forest floor to be a delight.

Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart."

Lady Bug

Lady bugs eat other bugs that eat plants, so this bug is beneficial to gardeners.  There are about 5,000 species  of Lady Bugs. They can't deal with extreme cold so they hibernate in the winter. Their markings are to scare away predators.

Mark 9:38,39 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me,"

Just because someone is not like us does not mean they can't help us.

Father, show me where I am missing it with other types of people.

Indigo Bunting

I didn't have long to get this shot. When I see this bird I think of the glory of God, because of the royal blue.

It was  the glory of God that raised Jesus from the dead. Romans 6:4 "Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life."

As we walk with Christ we have this glory.

Baltimore Oriole

They feed on fruit, nectar and insects.  The male songs are a little longer then the female. Sometimes the birds will sing a duet.  They are not as common where I live so it is a pleasure to see one.

They are more often found on the tops of trees or high up in them. Interestingly they like oranges. Cutting oranges and hanging them from trees may draw them to your yard.

Just as the Baltimore likes to eat fruit, Christians are blessed by those who show the fruit of the Spirit.

Brown Headed Cow Birds

An interesting bird. It lays its eggs in other birds nests. Instead of putting energy in building a nest they lay more eggs. Up to 36 a summer have been reported.

There are a lot of lessons here. People try to get by from preparing for life. Then they expect others to take care of them.  Let us live to help others.

These birds are not monogamous.  The lack of caring for their young and not being monogamous is a type for people that don't take responsibility for their life. Let us prepare for the future with a foundation in the Bible and serving Christ, taking care of our body to keep it strong and healthy, and studying for a profession/career/job.

2 Thes. 3:10; Palm 90:12

Yellow Warbler

It is a quick bird and eats insects from trees and shrubs.

It likes to build nests in willow trees.

If a cowbird lays an egg in the Yellow Warbler's nest, it will build a new nest over the egg. There have been reports of nests consisting of several tiers.

In winter this bird heads to the Caribbean and the northern part of South America.

Males have rust colored streaking on its breast, while the young and females don't.

As this bird is living on top of its world in this photo we too can live on top.

Deut 28:13 "The LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully,”

Cedar Waxwing

Captured these Cedar waxwings hanging out in this tree. In my previous post on Cedar waxwings I talked about how they eat old berries that make them drunk.  This photo reminds me of how the worldly people gather together to drink. Reject the way of the world and follow Jesus.

1 John 2:15-17 "Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever."

Father, I look to You for help in living a life that honors you and helps others.

Guinea Fowl

These birds make a lot of noise, don't seem to have a lot of smarts. Their little head doesn't match their body size.  They are known for eating all the ticks in the area. For this reason they would be worth having.

They are good to eat. They have a little bit of a game taste but less than pheasant or grouse.


Proverbs 17:28 "Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent."

Grass Going to Seed

Grass going to seed because it wasn't cut soon enough.

Sometimes natural beauty will come when we are too busy. We consider the urban view of beauty and don't realize that nature will grow and bring beauty at all stages its growth.  But then time marches on and the grass dies and waits for Spring.

God and the Bible are sure and we can count on Him in good times and bad.

1 Peter 1:24,25

"For, All flesh is like grass,

And all its glory like the flower of grass.

The grass withers,

And the flower falls off,

25 But the word of the Lord endures forever.

And this is the word which was preached to you."

Dandelion Seeds

These seeds are so light, they carry everywhere in the wind.

This reminds me of the seeds sown of the Gospel of the Kingdom. They are carried by the Holy Spirit to all the world. Carried by preachers as they are sent out to preach.

Romans 10:14,15 "How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”

White Throated Sparrow

Got this shot from a long way off. I could tell where the sparrow was by the contrast against the dirt infield.  I put the lens on it and this one came out clear.

f6.3 1/800 200 ISO 400mm lens

Many times we don't have a clear view of what we are looking at. Because of our experience we have an idea of what it is. Faith can be like that at times. We know God is doing something and if we jump in and go with it God moves.

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

Father, I trust Your Spirit to lead me when I can't see.

Star of Bethlehem

Six pointed flower like the six pointed star used in the Israel flag and other symbols.

The flower is small which says to me though many saw the Star of David it was not recognized what it meant by most people. Jesus was a common man and most would not recognize Him. He would appear to most as just another labor worker.

There are 6 petals which points to Israel for they use a 6 pointed star.

The gold center to the flower signifies to me that royalty that Jesus had at birth.

The white petals to the flower point to the purity Jesus had as God coming to earth and living as a man without sin.