Inspired by . . .  Life thru My Lens 04:52

Always be joyful; pray continually; give thanks whatever happens; for this is what God wills for you in Christ Jesus. 

The winter birds are helping me live out 1 Thessalonians 5:16 during this wet and dreary weather we're having.

Birds have a special place in my heart and in my life. Almost every time I can recall that I've been very sick or dealing with significant issues in my life, God has sent me birds. He has spoken to me through their gentle ways. Through their complete and utter dependence on Him.

As you can see, this winter has been crispy cold. Seeing the birds all fluffed up is amusing. Knowing that He has uniquely equipped them to deal with the cold reminds me that He has provided for me as well.

The Cardinals and the House Finches may be part of my regular backyard visitors but I will never take them for granted. I never tire watching them and delight in trying to capture their beauty.

This week we had some special visitors to the yard!

The Cedar Waxwings come through only once or twice a year looking for berries. They are always a challenge to capture! This year a flock of about thirty flew through. We don't really have any good berry trees or bushes - we need to plant some!  They often stop in the Tallow and Cedar trees briefly before moving on.

These were the only two pictures I managed to capture this time around!

There is one other bird that always brings me joy. Although I'm almost guaranteed never to see one in the wild!

I'm working on this cross-stitch pattern as part of a triptych for our new grandson's nursery.

I'll leave you with a few lessons I'm learning as I stitch . . .

Lessons from a Penguin

☆Mate for Life (Matt 19:6)
☆Always dress well (Col 3:12)
☆Always wear your happy feet (1 Thess 5:16)
☆Sing to each other (Eph 5:19)
☆Never forget your loved ones (Ex 20:12)
☆Stick close together (Ecc 4:9)

What are you seeing through your lens this week?

Have a wonder-filled week, my friends!

Inspired by . . . Life thru My Lens 14:52

It was a gray, misty morning and I almost didn't go outside for my morning devotions. But the finches were calling and the little wren had much to tell, so out I ventured wrapped in my favorite sweater, confident that coffee and the Word would warm the rest.

The cottonwood tree in my front yard is still young and she likes to tease. It was several minutes before I realized she was hiding masked bandits behind her leaves.

Cedar Waxwings are one of my favorite birds! I only get to see them about twice a year when they come through. Although they winter in Texas we don't have enough berry bushes around to get them to stay very long.

Little droplets of red wax on his wings are no doubt where he got his name. And it looks like he dipped his tail in someone's yellow paint bucket.

Waxwings winter in more than half the United States and are year-round visitors in the northern climes, so chances are you have them where you live.

They almost always travel in flocks, although the number of birds will vary. I had about a dozen visitors. They stayed around a good part of the morning and I enjoyed every minute of their visit!

We can miss so much locked away in our little houses. I'm glad I didn't miss the blessing God had for me on this misty morning.

What are you seeing through your lens this week?

Blessings,

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Inspired by . . . ask

Cedar Wax Wings {Bombycilla cedrorum} are one of my favorite birds.  They winter in Texas {and most other southern states} but I've only had the pleasure of seeing them 3x in the last seven years. Both times were during the spring when {I assume} they are on their way back to their summer mating grounds in Canada.

The 2nd time I saw them was about a month ago. I was drawn to my window one afternoon by their distinct trilling sounds. They almost always travel in large flocks and this was no exception. They swooped in, filling the top of one of our oak trees. We have no berry trees on our property {something I intend to rectify} so they were certainly just passing through. I didn't even bother to go for my camera.  I knew my little Kodak point-and-shoot would never capture them. Oh, how I wished my new camera had arrived!

It was a hope of my heart, not a formal prayer per se, but still a prayer, that I could one day capture these beautiful birds to share with you all. 

A couple of weeks later my new camera did arrive, and if you've been here before you might know that – I'm thrilled with it! 

A few days later I was sitting on my front porch . . .

. . . you'll never guess what flew in.  There were only a couple of them. Very unusual. I almost didn't believe my eyes.

It was so like the Giver of all good gifts. So like our God to bless me in this way.

 

  "Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you.

Everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find, and for the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
"If your child asks you for bread, would any of you give him a stone?
Or if your child asks for a fish, would you give him a snake?
Even though you're evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children.

So how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him? 

Matt 7:7-11

 

 

I read something recently from Alistair Begg:

"It's helpful to remember that prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance to answer our requests, but laying hold of God's willingness."

Is there something you need from God? Are you waiting on Him to accomplish something in your life?

How important is it to you? Maybe you need to show God you're serious. Or maybe there is something you need to sacrifice first.

FAST

Has God asked something of you? Maybe there is something you need to do for Him first.

OBEY

Is there unrepentant sin in your life? Maybe you need to kneel at the alter.

REPENT

"Who do you say that I am?"

Do you have faith that God will do what He says He will do?

BELIEVE

Or maybe, just maybe, all you need to do is:

ASK

 

 

"Whether we like it or not, asking is the rule of the kingdom.

If you may have everything by asking in His Name, or nothing

without asking, I beg you to see how absolutely vital

prayer is." ~ Charles Spurgeon

 

Blessings,

 

 

 

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