Stinging Nettles

Stinging nettles have small hairs that come off the plant when touched and sting. It will take a while for the sting to go away. A bothersome plant but nothing serious. In some people the sting may cause a skin rash.

There are many health benefits from this plant.
Helps with:
prostate cancer and other problems
A remedy for allergies
Cardivascular issues
Joint pain and Arthritis
Bleeding and Burns
Eczema and Diabetes type 2

Sometimes problems can actually be a benefit in the long run.

Psalm 119:71

"It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes."

Bald Cypress

Could be early growth of cypress twig gall midge.

Hackberry Leaves

Interesting yellow forming along the veins of the leaves. Photo taken August 24th

This growth on the underside of Hackberry leaves is the result of the hackberry nipple gall maker laying eggs and the larve feeding. The leaf then responds with this gall formation.

There can be a tendency to respond to problems in our life the same way. Hackberry trees are susceptible to this problem and people are susceptible to different problems in their life. Just as the Hackberry tree is helpless against this attack we can also be helpless. But there is a solution to our problems. Jesus is our savior, healer and provider. Seek Him and search for Him with all your heart. You will find the answer as you look for Jesus.

Matthew 7:7,8  “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

Black Willow

Black Willow leaf and bud.

Lightray and Grass

A small ray of sunlight highlighted this grass leaving the background dark.

At times an area of life will be highlighted to us. Take note of it. It could be God showing you something.

2 Corinthians 4:6 "For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."

Wild Blackberries

Found some blackberries on a hike I was on. I made a note of this and will return in a week to see if they are repening to pick.  I was there July 3rd and plan to return on the 10th or latter to see the progress.

Revelation 14:15 "And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.”

Just as I am waiting for the fruit to become ripe so is the Lord waiting to harvest the earth.

Eastern Tiger Swallow Tail

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."

The bee and the butterfly were busy collecting nectar. And David in the above Psalm is eagerly seeking the Lord. We need to be about the work of the Lord for when we seek Him we will find Him  when we search with diligence.

Humming Bird

I put this humming bird feeder up a couple of hours ago and this lady came by for a drink. This proves there are humming birds around. If you don't put a feeder out you won't see them.

God is near. If we don't approach Him there will not be an encounter. James says, draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you.

Father I want more of You in my life. Let me experience more of you.

Basswood Blow Down

We drove up to this park and noticed a blow down after a recent storm.  All the other trees withstood the storm but this one didn't.  What was the cause of the weakness? Sometimes you will see whole rootwads pulled up. This tree just snapped at the stem.

The stem does not look that bad. There did not seem to be any rot.  Basswood is a lighter wood than other trees. It would do better with other trees than to stand by itself.

Here is what is left in the ground.

Leaf and fruiting leaf of basswood.

Romans 12:3 "For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God as allotted to each a measure of faith."

Find like minded believers to fellowship with and be encouraged by. We are built up by prayer, the Word and encouragement. 

Green Bug

Bright green bug found on forest floor. This bug does not match up with the Emerald Ash Borer. So it is an unknown bug. It does show the variety and beauty of nature.

Psalm 4:4-8 

"Tremble, and do not sin;

Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,

And trust in the Lord.

6 Many are saying, “Who will show us any good?”

Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord!

7 You have put gladness in my heart,

More than when their grain and new wine abound.

8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep,

For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety."

Black Cherry

Tree measurements:

Height 56'

Circumference of large stem 52 7/8"

Canopy 47' & 43'

Total Points = 109

Followed the rocky trail to a top of a hill and found this unusual shaped tree. I look for trees that will be interesting to return to. The tree seems to be healthy and will live for many years. This Black cherry was growing among many E. Red cedars. Measuring the canopy was a little prickly as I pushed my way through the cedar branches.

Growth in life comes not by taking it easy. Or complaining about what is wrong or what you disagree with. Growth comes by doing hard things and sticking with the job till you complete it.

Romans 5:3-5 " And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

Trials if endured will bring access to God's love. And God's love brings the answers we are looking for.

Common Grackle

One of the things that make Common grackles interesting to me is the way their yellow eyes stand out against their black feathers. Birds seem to have more than one way of seeing. They can see with both eyes or they can look with one eye.

This grackle took notice of me as I was shooting pictures of him eating below our bird feeder. He did fly up and look at the food in the feeder but decided to be content with the food that had been knocked out on the ground.

There is more than one way of seeing for humans as well. In Ephesians 1:18 it talks about seeing with your spiritual eyes. This is possible by envisioning the promises of God being real.

Let us not only see with our eyes but also in the spirit.

Ephesians 1:18,19 "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. . . ."

Father, help me see what You are doing to live effectively for You.

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.