God Speaks through Nature ~

Happy Monday to you ~ my dear friends!
My husband and I enjoyed an afternoon out on the 4-wheeler
and what a perfect time to get to know my new camera as I
captured some shots of nature here on the property.
We can evan take great "selfies" with this camera! 😉
While we were in Canada at the crokinole tournament 
I was asked by a friend if I would use her camera and take pictures
since she and her husband are always participants 
and unable to get pictures of themselves and their senior club.
I happily accepted insuring her that they may not be the best.
As I've shared here on my blog before, I am not very good with a camera,
but Cathy's camera was so nice and easy to use
that I found great delight rather than frustration 
as I went around snapping shots of the tournament.
To my husband's surprise, my pictures turned out beautifully.
We came home and my sweet husband so kindly bought me
the same camera as Cathy's, a Canon SX70 H with a zoom that is awesome!
I am amazed at the detail with this zoom. 
This camera is a perfect size for me, easy to hold and  easy to function,
my kind of camera.
In time I'm hoping to do much better with my picture taking,
I feel like I have a vision for a good picture,
just really bad with a camera.
I'm sharing with you some of the pictures I took on our day out ~ enjoy!

Lord, let me recognize Your voice above the world's clamor 
and follow You alone.
~ Cathy Elliott

Each spring we have the return of our Canadian geese
and a pair of mallard ducks that nest near the pond.
The red winged black birds as well as other small birds
enjoy the bull rush surrounding the pond.
It's a beautiful and peaceful site when Donatella and I take
our daily walks so as to check on the activity around the pond.
The red winged black birds look as if they were posing for the camera.

Lord, thank you that You are my hiding place
and that You protect me from harm
just as Your birds of the air do their young.
~ Janet Holm McHenry

Lord, thank you for looking out for Your creation!
For I know that if Your eyes are on creation,
then You are looking out for me.
~ Sandra Clifton

May we find our contentment in You, our Father.
~ Pepper Basham

The wild flowers have been stunning with all the rain 
 God has blessed us with!
Our State flower is the Columbine and this year they are magnificent.
The wild roses are in abundance with bloom after bloom.
And the mushrooms...they are the size of a volleyball ~ yes, a volleyball!
I have never ever seen anything quite like these mushrooms.
I placed the mushroom beside the seat on the 4- wheeler
to give you an idea of the size. 

Lord, let me see the beauty of Your plan in all things,
all creatures, and all people.
~ Cathy Elliott

Spend time outside today and see how many masterpieces 
God has put on display.
With each one, praise Him for His awesome creativity.
And then thank Him that this same God
knows you and calls you by name.
~ Ginger Kolbaba

Lord, teach us to stop and observe creation.
Help us see what You reveal about Yourself through
Your artistry and craftsmanship, in every creature great and small.
May we reflect You, too, in the details of our own lives.
~ Lori Stanley Roeleveld

Spend time in God's secret love garden today.
~ Devon O'Day

☆ The mushroom is beside the seat ☆


Let us go outside and open up our senses, and soak in the
wonders all around us.
I know that God will be there, waiting for us.
~ J. Mason Williams

Summer days keep us busy with so many wonderful things,
so thank you, dear friends, for taking time out of your own 
lives and stopping in to say hello.
Your visits bring a smile to my heart.
As you enjoy God's glorious creation where He has planted you,
may you find yourself encouraged, inspired, challenged and comforted
by His unfailing love and attention to your daily lives.
God's detail in our lives is precise, just as it is in His marvelous creation.
Glory be to God!
❤

Heavenly Father, there is not one aspect of Your creation You haven't touched,
and not one aspect that hasn't known the flaws of a fallen world.
Thank you for the beauty of Your present creation,
but the glorious promise of an Eternally perfect one.
~ Heidi Chiavaroli

Amen

Be Lovely!
Debbie

The Death of a Dove~

  I stepped out my front door dressed and ready

 for my afternoon walk only to find there was a stillness in the air.

I stood there for a second looking and listening carefully.

Not a bird, squirrel, or turkey was in sight;

it was much too quiet.

 I then noticed what appeared to be some tiny bird feathers
laying on the driveway straight ahead of me.
They had a glistening effect as the little ray of sunshine
beamed through the clouds giving them a beautiful silver tint.

It had been snowing lightly all day, the type of snow

that quickly turns to water drops on the ground.

I walked over to examine those feathers as they lay

lifeless never to take take flight again.

Each little feather was covered with water droplets

from the moisture we had been getting. 

 They looked like the feathers of a dove, our first dove of the spring

had come without my notice and then vanished,
leaving behind the evidence that she (or he) had been there.

I looked around the property, hoping to see the feathered friend

 hovering somewhere in fear of needing help;

however, all I saw as I looked up the hill was another little pile

of bird feathers matching the ones I had just examined.

It was obvious that this feathered friend had lost it's life

and likely to a larger predator.

I wasn't there to witness what happened to this little bird,

knowing the course of nature,
it likely became food that was consumed.

The usual activity from the wildlife was silenced,
 I'm sure they were nestled quietly in hiding
until they knew it was safe to come out.
Living in the mountains we have all sorts of creatures
 that would have enjoyed this little guy for a meal.
What could it have been? The fox, the mountain lion, the hawk,
 or possibly some other big bird of prey?
Hmmm...what if it is the weasel 
who has taken up residence in our shed;
not because we have allowed him a comfortable place to lay his head
but because he is wise and sneaky.

On my walk, I thought about the incident and then began to think
of how quickly that bird was taken,
likely before it even knew it's predator was near by.
The Bible verse from 1 Peter 5:8 popped into my head.
"Be sober, be vigilant: because your adversary the devil,
as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking 
whom he may devour."  
We are told to be sober-minded; spiritual sober-mindedness
includes the ideas of steadfastness, self control,
clarity of mind and moral decisiveness.
We are not to be caught up in the allurements of the world.
We are to be "vigilant", watchful, and alert.
Because the devil, our adversary and his forces
are always looking for opportunities to overwhelm
the believer with temptation, persecution, and discouragement.
We should never underestimate the devil; God is greater.


**********

I continued thinking on 1 Peter and thought of verse 9 in Chapter 5,
"Whom resist steadfast in their faith,
knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished 
in your brethren that are in the world." 
The way to resist the devil is by remaining firm in the Christian faith.
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
and watching thereunto with all perseverance,
and supplication for all saints." (Ephesians 6:17)
We are to live in accord with the truth of God's Word.

We are Sojourners and pilgrims here on this earth
and Peter encourages us through our journey.
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show
forth the praises of him who hath called you out
of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 1:9)
The whole brotherhood , the entire Christian community,
is always going through similar trials brought on by the 
roaring lion who never stops trying to devour believers.
But such a promise we have in (1 Corinthians 10:13)
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is
common to man: but God is faithful who will
not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;
but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,
that ye may be able to bear it."

**********

Let us grab hold of this wonderful promise,
 hide it in our hearts and make it our prayer.
"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them:
because greater is he that is in you,
then he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4) 
Amen.

Be Glorious!
~ Debbie ~