Eastern Blue Bird

Psalm 127:1

"Unless the Lord builds the house,

They labor in vain who build it;

Unless the Lord guards the city,

The watchman keeps awake in vain."

Eastern Blue Birds numbers were dwindling. Efforts were made to help them by building houses. My brother and I made a few and took them to the woods for the Blue birds to use. When we went back a year later they were unused. So this verse came to mind. It is important to have the Lord involved in what you are doing.

Now it was good for my autistic brother to build things, so it was not a loss for us to make these houses. Yet in life, we need to work for what will profit. With the Lords leading we gain blessings as the Lord helps us.

Lord I want to serve you in ways that will profit others and Your Kingdom. Thank you for Your guidance.  

Virginia Creeper

Psalm 128:1

"How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,

Who walk in His ways."

Vine turning red in the fall presents a nice view. It is the work of others at times that allows people to enjoy beauty.

Some have to work hard so that others can enjoy the benefits. Those in faith that bring people into the church bless others that just go to enjoy the show.

Let us not be passive in our walk with the Lord but diligent to see the kingdom brought to people.

White-breasted Nuthatch

Psalm 126:4

"Restore our captivity, O Lord,

As the streams in the South."

Courting male carries foot to female, performs bowing and singing ritual with head feathers raised, tail spread. (Birders Handbook Ehrlich, Dobkin, Wheye)

The White-breasted Nuthatch eats from the tree by standing upside down on the bole of the tree and going down the tree to find bugs to eat.

There is much that is stolen from us in life. We can regain what God has promised as we learn to walk with Him in His fullness. The ways of God are often upside down from the ways of man. Don't asume you know what God wants. Listen to His word and learn from Him.

Mums (Chrysanthemums )

Mums do well in the Fall.
When they are subject to freezing move them inside by a window.
        My wife leaves them out all winter and they keep blooming year after year. We live in the north part of zone 5b.
Keep the soil a little moist but don't over water.
Cut off the flowers after they wilt.
Fertilize in the Spring after new growth starts.
If you pinch the new stems about 5” long, this will encourage the flower to grow like a bush.

Psalm 123:1,2 

"To You I lift up my eyes,

O You who are enthroned in the heave\ns!

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master,

As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,

So our eyes look to the Lord our God,

Until He is gracious to us."

Carolina Wren

This little guy landed on my flower boxes at my driveway. I had about 3 seconds to get 2 photos and this one came out good. Each male sings from 21 -47 song types. They will sing one of these songs repeatedly before switching to another one. The neighbouring males will sing along with the same song. The male and female pair will sing a duet together.

It is good to go through the day worshipping God. And when we can worship with others it is even better. 

Psalm 122:1 "I was glad when they said to me, 

Let us go the the house of the Lord."

Father God I worship you for all Your goodness and all the gifts of nature I get to see.

Bur Oak Acorn

 Bur Oak gets it name from the fringe on the end of the acorn cap. The fringe becomes hard when it dries out.

It can be the same with us. When we are full of the Holy Spirit and the love of God we are much easier to get along with. When we neglect our time with God we become self focused, brittle and caustic. When our purpose is to help others we are able to express God's love.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 "If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing."

1 John 3:14 "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death."

Love can flow from God through us to others when we decide to give up our rights so we can help others.

Lord, I desire to be filled with you, so I give up my rights and follow You. Thank you for Your grace. So be it in Jesus name.

Start of Fall Colors

The vine on the left is Virginia creeper. The bottom right photo is a Sweet gum leaf and the top photo is an elm leaf. Below the yellow leaves may be Hophornbeam. 

I enjoy each season though winter drags on longer than I would like. We need to be ready for change because it comes whether we like it or not. Those who are able to adapt to change are the ones who do well. When we can't change and try to live in the past, we suffer in life and don't succeed.

People get confused and think that some things should change when they are not supposed to change.

When we are led by the Holy Spirit we are able to adapt to life. John 3:8 speaks of the Holy Spirit. "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

I hear the Spirit in my inner ear. It takes time to learn to hear in the spirit. When we have God in us we are able to hear when we soften and quiet  our hearts to listen. Hiking in nature helps me listen to the direction of the Holy Spirit.

American Kestrel

God blesses us with many things in life. Sight to see His creation is a blessing to me. What I see with my eyes and what I can pull in with my camera is a blessing. God is so magnificent and wonderful. His creation shows me much to admire.

Psalm 108:4,5 "For Your lovingkindness is great above the heavens,

And Your truth reaches to the skies.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,

And Your glory above all the earth."

False Purpose

 

These 2 trees I considered centennials that guarded the creek. For a few years I thought of them like this  as I walked by. The 2 trees above, are the 2 large trees in the photo below on either side of the creek line. They are dead trees and I did not realise this for a couple of years because I did not look closely at the trees.

This is like my life  when I pursued things that were not alive. Like things that deceive I thought these trees were alive because I did not look closely at them. But when I got next to them and looked up I realised these trees were dead. 

Do I pursue things that are not alive? Do I live for things that are just an illusion? Do I pursue things, that when I achieve them, they are empty?

Life presents many illusions. The ways of man fall into these traps often. Jesus offers the way of truth. John 14:6 "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."

Following Jesus is the way of life. Turn from illusions to the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Decide to submit your life to Jesus the Lord and King. You will not be disappointed.

Kayak the Missouri

These adventuresome people were kayaking down the Missouri. The river runs about 3 miles an hour and the channel is about 20 feet deep. Submerged logs and sandbars need to keep your attention. I rarely see a pleasure boat on the Mighty MO. Almost all the land is private with few public access points.

It would be a different world out there. civilization does not intersect the river at many points. It would be a peaceful way to spend time.

Are we willing to go against the norm to spend time with God?
Habakkuk 2:1 "I will stand on my guard post
And station myself on the rampart;
And I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me,
And how I may reply when I am reproved."
Psalm 5:3 "In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice;
In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch."
Luke 6:12 "It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God."

Lord, I seek You and look for Your answer.

Mourning Dove on Pine Tree

Got a photo of this bird today as I walked abound the block. Looking closely I see there is another bird behind the first one. They are just hanging out at the Pine tree. Now that Fall is here the birds may enjoy the warmth of the morning sun.

Psalm 106:1
"Praise the Lord!
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting."

Osage Orange Sprouts

This Osage Orange tree in the foreground has stems growing up from the roots. This tree has thorns which makes it hard to approach. 

Some people are hard to approach. By their nature it is not easy to talk to them or befriend them. Yet, all people have value and deserve friends. We should not write off those who are not easy to be friends with. Instead, we should show kindness even when we don't receive anything in return.

Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Father, give me Your love for others.

Red-Spotted Purple Butterfly

Found this Red-Spotted Purple butterfly on the trail the other day. It's always a surprise when I see the colorful butterflies on the trail. As I hake I get used to the common sites I see. But I'm always looking for something unusual.

The adult butterflies fly from may to October. The caterpillars lower their water content from around 80% to 50% to keep from freezing in the winter.

Never give up looking for God to do things in your life. Though life might look like winter and becomes hard, God wants to bring you into His will to ministry as He has made you.

Ephesians 2:10 "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."

Father let me see and understand the instrument you have made me to be for Your Kingdom.

Monarch Butterfly

During the fall migration the Monarch butterfly covers 1000's of miles and it takes more than one generation to return. So the pattern of of migration is not learned.

Our life has many twists and turns. We can't always learn before hand what to do. God will lead us as we rely and look to Him for answers.

Proverbs 3:5,6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight."

Roots

The purpose of roots is to get water. But these roots are taking up all the ground which is allotted to this Honey locust tree which isn't much. I've seen many trees planted in sidewalks die. I'm assuming the roots of this tree must have tapped into some sewer line or other source. How could the tree survive otherwise?

Just as this tree has a limited water source, it found a way to survive. Christians need to find a source of nourishment also to thrive in their walk with the Lord. Don't neglect your source of nourishment from the Bible. Your spiritual life depends on it. Let the Lord guide you to green valleys.

Psalm 65:13

 "The meadows are clothed with flocks and the valleys are covered with grain; they shout for joy, yes, they sing."

American White Pelican

The ungainly Am. White Pelican has the whole pond to himself. Seemingly it swims aimlessly around the pond. If a fish swims by it would snatch it.

It is good when we get some time to relax like this pelican.

Psalm 37:7 "Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes."

Dragon Fly

I was taking pictures of these Water Lily pads and didn't realize that I had gotten a photo of this dragon fly. As I cropped the photo this dragon fly became apparent.

It is interesting to find things like this. There is many insights hidden in Scripture that we find when going over them in our mind as we meditate on them. I am blessed as I read, learn and live the Bible.

Ephesians 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,"

Water Lily Flowers

Beautiful Water Lily flowers. 

Flowers come and go but God's word will stand forever. Trust the Lord to meet your needs and give you the plan to meet your needs.

Luke 12:27,28 "Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith!"

Father, you have made much beauty in this world. Let me trust You in all I do.

Water Lilies

These water lilies are now above the water. Yesterday I posted of the lily pads flat on the water.

The largeness of these plants is impressive as you walk up to them.

Mark 18:23 "This is the LORD'S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes."

Lord, what you have made is marvelous and wonderful.

Water Lilies

Water Lilies laying flat in the lake. We found many lilies at these ponds.

Hosea 14:5 "I will be like the dew to Israel; He will blossom like the lily, And he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon."

Thank you Lord that You will help me become mature in life and Your work.