Inspired by . . . Life thru My Lens 9:52

Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all you shining stars! (Psa 148:3)

The waxing gibbous moon is doing a good job of drawing attention to my favorite constellation this month; Orion and its Nebula where stars are born. Shift your gaze slightly northwest and you'll have no trouble seeing the Pleiades Star Cluster. Even through binoculars, it is a wondrous thing to behold!

February is the only month this year that doesn't host a full moon. Instead, March will host two full moons, the second of which will be the second (and last) blue moon of 2018!

When enveloped by the heavy scent of this year's pear blossoms it is hard to believe that we are but a mere speck in the universe.

Even if we could count all the bees in the world and all the sand on the seashore we still wouldn't reach the number of stars in the sky. 

Looking up into the night sky can make us feel very small and insignificant indeed. The truth is, we may be small but we are far from insignificant.

We can delight in our surroundings because the earth and everything in it is proof of God's love for us. We are significant because we matter to Him.

10,000 species of birds? 20,000 species of butterflies? Surely, five or six hundred would have been enough. Our Creator God delights in His creation and we are the apple of His eye! 

American Lady Butterfly

Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings, (Psa 17:8)

Pipevine Swallowtail Butterflies

If we listen and observe, God will use nature to reveal things about Himself.

For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.  (Rom 1:20)

Eastern Bluebird

As our hearts awaken to the truth of God's presence we gradually become aware of the great chasm of sin that separates us from Him.

For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Rom 3:22-23)

God in His great love, before time began, had already prepared a way for us to return to Him. 

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  (Joh 3:16)

Jesus Christ died to pay our debt and His blood washes us clean from the stain of sin.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 6:23)

Carolina Wren

The gift of life, freely given to His beloved children. Given to you.

It doesn't matter what you've done, what you've said or how many times you've rejected God. The past is behind. Today, if you come to Him, He will receive you.

Today. Now. Is all that matters.

Will you open your heart to Him? Admit your sins. Turn away from them, turn to Jesus and confess Him as Lord?

"Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts."  (Heb 4:7)

Blessings, 

How to Know Jesus

Sharing inspiration here:
Nature Notes, Through My Lens, Bird D’pot,
Saturday’s Critters, Life thru the Lens,
Wild Bird Wednesday, Our World Tuesday,
Community Global, Photo Friday, Little Things Thursday

Inspired by . . . front porch ramblings

After a few hours glued to the computer screen, nothing lifts the spirits and un-clouds the mind like stepping out onto my front porch. I’m not quite ready to quote Bilbo Baggins on the matter, but there is always something {or someone} going on within viewing distance of our front door.

Contrary to my initial observations the mockingbirds are extremely attentive and cautious parents.

 

I haven’t gotten a look at the babies yet, but there are regular feedings going on. If the parents see me watching they will wait several minutes before approaching the nest and always enter and exit from a different point. Dinner, anyone ?

 

 

With all the rain we’ve had there is an abundance of bugs this year, which leads to an abundance of other critters as well!  I haven’t been able to identify this toad, yet, please feel free to offer an id in the comments if you have one.  There are a ton of them hopping around, some so tiny you can barely see them! I’m being very careful where I step!

 

 

The Texas Spiny Lizard is always a favorite! I don’t mind being watched by a reptilian eye when it’s on a critter this size.

 

 

These are a type of squash bug, I think, although I couldn’t positively id them. They are swarming the stalks of Common Mullein right now.

 

 

This lady-bird was a surprise! I am pretty sure she is a female Eastern Bluebird, or perhaps an immature male? I have never seen bluebirds here before, although I know they’re around. I didn’t realize they were such big birds, but allaboutbirds.org lists them at 6-8inches. I guess I’ve always seen pictures of them perched contently with their feathers fluffed.

 

 

 

One afternoon I looked out the window and saw this guy hopping across the lawn. At first I thought he was a baby fawn. This picture doesn’t give you the best gauge of his size, especially with his ears down, but the Jackrabbits in Texas are BIG! We have a lot of these guys, and gals running around, but usually not this close to the house during the day. I was as surprised to see him as he was to see me! The black-tailed jackrabbit is actually a hare and the only one native to Texas.

 

 

Speaking of fawns, we have quite a few of those running around here, too!

 

 

Thank goodness they grow into the those ears!

I read a quote on a friend’s blog recently that gave me pause:

 

Summer is the time when one sheds one’s tensions with one’s clothes,

and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit.

A few of those days and you can become drunk

with the belief that all’s right with the world.

~Ada Louise Huxtable

 

It’s true, summer can be a “jeweled balm for the battered spirit.” But not this summer. Not in this country anyway, and certainly not in many other places in the world. It’s also true that there is a strong tendency to immerse oneself in nature and become “drunk with the belief that all’s right with the world.” But that is the equivalent of burying one’s head in the sand, because, clearly, all is not right with the world.

Rather, it is my hope that nature, the images shared here along with your personal experiences, serve to remind you that there is HOPE. That creations manifesto will point you to the One who will walk beside you, at times even carry you, through life’s tragedies. The One who will right every wrong, and dry every tear. The One who gives wisdom and grace. The One, the only One, who brings PEACE.

 

Wishing those in the US

a safe and happy 4th of July -

and to all, peace in your

hearts this summer.

 

Shalom,

 

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