On Top Of The World

I bet this hawk could see for mile sitting on top of the world. Oh to be able to view things from his eyes. But this is very hard to do, since I am not a hawk.

I try to see another person point of view. I try to be sensitive to their feelings. But I can be very short sighted.
I allow my feelings and point of view to rule over my compassion.

The thing I need to do is to ask God to open my eyes and my heart. I need Him to help me to see things from His perspective. Than I can start to see things from on top of the world.

Moab Guide

There was this young guide who love her job. It showed in the way she got excited over telling the stories of the fossils and the history of Moab. It seemed she could not contain herself any longer and would explode. I love the way she brought these stories to life and gave us a glimpse of another world and time.

I can only imagine what would happen if I could put the same excitement in my telling of the goodness of God. How many people would be able to better understand the history and importance of the Bible and Jesus.

Each day as I post on this blog I hope to share a little of my excitement. I love telling the story of my walk with God and sharing His creations in my pictures.

Crater Lake

When we went to visit Crater Lake last summer, I was in awe at how blue and beautiful the lake was. The water in this lake is made up of melted snow and rainwater. No streams feeds into this lake.

Crater Lake is the result of a volcano that caved in. Through a major destructive event something amazing was created.

Many times in life when we are going through trials and tribulations we can not see the end results. It is only  in hindsight that we see the beauty that God was creating.

Today I look back and can see why I had to go through the pain of past events. It helps me to be more compassionate to others. I can relate when a friend is hurting and minister to the pain.

I know that more trials will happen in my life. But with God's help I can hang on to see the beauty that He is creating.

Waterway Church

When I visit the many waterways and watch the bird and their interactions I can't help but think how much it is like being in church. There are birds of many species from different walks of life just like there are Christians of many shape and sizes.

Some are as common as the Canada Geese. There are not any waterways that you can not find them in. They are everywhere. They partake of the elements and take up a lot of space. They are not bad. But they can be loud and annoying. Yet they will defend their young ones against any threats.

There are many Christians in the church who kind of act like the geese. They may migrate from church to church looking for spiritual food. Some goes south for the winter ad return when the weather warms up. Some makes their voices heard. Yet when things get rough they band together to defend the church.

We need the Canada Geese Christians in our Waterways Churches. I thank God for them.

Braving The Cold

This morning a dear friend called me because she needed someone to talk to. So I braved the cold and met her at a nearby restaurant. We talked and she felt a little better. It was worth it when she left smiling with a plan.

Later in the day I had to brave the cold again to get some running around done that was needed. I went to the different place with my camera since I had time before work. It was worth it because at the pond in Bel Air I got to see the pileated woodpecker, and a wooden duck.

I thank God for today and his blessings and allowing me to be a blessing to my friend. If tomorrow is as cold as today I will brave the cold because it is worth it.

Lesser Scaup

The other day I went early to work just so that I could stop by the Bel Air pond. I saw my usual Canada Geese, Snow Geese, Mallard Ducks, Gulls and a few Ring-necked Duck. But I notice one of the ring-necked duck looked a little different.

I took lots of pictures and when I got home I looked it up. It was a Lesser Scaup. I expected to see one of these at the boardwalk in HDG out in the opened waters. But to see one in a pond in the middle of town was a surprise to me.

The lesser scaup is a winter bird just like the ring-necked duck. Acts just like the ring-necked duck diving for food at the bottom of the pond. But he is not a ring-necked duck.

It is funny how sometime I act like something I am not just to fit in. I am who God created me to be. I can stand out alone and still be part of God's family. I can be a lesser scaup and be great.

He Didn't Know My Name

I have been trying to sort through all my junk and make more room to walk around. When I came across some old diaries from my school days I decided to read just a few pages.

Boy was I an shocked to see myself as a raging hormonal fickle teenager. Every week I must have fallen in love with a different guy.

There was this one guy that I would walk to class with everyday. He was very nice to me. Once we ran into each other at a carnival and rode a couple of rides together. So I got a friend to ask him if he like me. He did not know who I was. He did not know my name.

Boy did that sting. I nurtured that wound for a long time.

I am glad that there is someone now who knows my name and can count the hairs on  my head. When I spend time with Jesus he not only knows my name he knows my heart as well.

Locker Surprise

Today when I went to work and opened my locker I was greeted with a nice surprise. A very dear co-worker friend had baked peanut butter cookies and put them in my locker. That made my night.

Sometime it is the little things that makes the day worth while. A greeting from an old friend may brighten your day. Maybe you find a lost book you have been wanting to read. It could be you get a second chance to fix a broken relationship.

Whatever you get a chance to do something for someone else no matter how big or small, do it. Thank God for the little delights in life. Rejoice in the big things.

Bake cookies for someone and deliver them. I promise it will put a smile on their face and put a little pleasure in their stomach. I sure did enjoy mine.

A Jungle Mess

Sometime I just don't know what to write. These past few days there has just too much going on in my mind that it has become a jungle mess.

My thoughts sometime follow the different branches of ideas only to get cut off, broken or entangled with the many other thoughts.

I have a friend who said her mind was like popcorn. When she thinks of one good idea many more pops into her head and she cannot focus  on even one thought.

The only time my thoughts get untangled is when I spend time with God. He helps me to focus. I have been letting my time with Him take a backseat to my own interests.

I need to refocus and get things straight with God. Than maybe I can write something worth reading.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day. Did you get to go to dinner? I didn't. I made my at home.

Did you get your box of chocolate? I didn't. I bought a cake with chocolate frosting though.

Did you get a Valentine card? My hubby did get me that. It was very pretty too.

Even if you did not get anything today. You can give something out. Pray for those who might be feeling lonely and unloved today. If at all possible give some one you do not know a smile and a hug and wish them a Happy Valentine's Day.

A little love does go a long way.

Who Has Your Heart?

Who has your heart? Is it your spouse, your children or someone else you love? What are you giving them for Valentine's Day? Is it a card, flowers or chocolate?

There are a lot of things that I can do to show someone my love. When I cannot buy a present I make dinner for them. Sometime I cook them breakfast.

Tomorrow I will be cooking breakfast and dinner. My daughter birthday was today. She is getting the breakfast. The dinner is for the rest of the family. They say the best way to a love one's heart is through food.

Of course I will buy a card and get chocolates for my hubby. He loves chocolate covered cherries.

But my heart belongs to Jesus. Because of that I can love others unconditionally.

Just a Note

Today I will leave you with just a note. God is Good.

Okay! I can't just write one note. I have to write a lot more.

 There are notes all over my place. Notes for what I need to buy from the store, notes concerning the different groups that I am involved with, notes for work and notes for my pictures.

I should own stock in note cards.

The things I like taking notes about is the things that God shows me. I have to do it when He inspires me or I will forget about it. I do that a lot.

But today I want to just leave you one note. Get ready. God is Good.    

Test The Water

 Smokey sticks his paw into the bowl to test if there is any water in there.











He than licks his paw to confirm that there is something there.








After doing this several times he finally lowers his head and begins to drink.







I get a kick out of watching my cat test his bowl to see if there is water in it. He watches me put the water in, place it on the floor and splash the water around. And yet he has to test the water for himself. He does not see the water.
I wonder if God look at me when I test the waters and laughs. How many times in my life do I just not see the blessings or believe in them. It takes many examinations on my part before I partake of the waters.

I need to trust the first time. I need to open my eyes and my heart. I need to stop testing the God's waters.

The New Couple

The marsh has a new couple. For the past week as I make my daily visit I have been watching the new set of swans that has made this place their home. I am excited at the aspect of seeing little geese swimming around this spring.

I want to document the life cycle of the first year of the swans. It is going to take some discipline on my part. But I feel I am ready to give it a try.

Why do I want to do this? I believe God creatures has something to teach me. I have learn so much in the past year. I want to bring the joy I feel out so other can share in the blessings that God has to offer.

The world is a beautiful place. I thank God for it. I can't wait to see what each day will hold for me. Tonight when I go to bed I will make my plans around what pictures God will allow me to take and share. It gives me purpose.

I can only pray and hope that those who read and view my pictures and stories are blessed as well.

It Was Huge!

It was huge. I had heard that the Pileated Woodpecker was one of the biggest woodpecker around. I just was not prepare to see just how big it was.

Today I went to walk at my favorite stomping ground to check on the local wildlife. As I was getting the peanuts out of my pocket to feed Stumpy the squirrel this huge bird flew into the tree right in front of me.

I was taken aback by the shear size of the woodpecker that I almost forgot that I had my camera. I was able to get one shot out before it flew away.

Never in my dreams did I think that I would see this bird in my neck of the woods. Once again God has blessed me with this rare sighting.

God delights in giving His children the desire of their hearts. Sometime the blessing are small. Other times they are huge. Just like this Pileated Woodpecker.

Odd Couple

Just the other day I went by a pond close to my home to see if I could get a picture of a black Canada Goose that I saw days earlier. He wasn't there.

As I pulled close to the fence the ducks and geese that were there came running to the car. I guess they thought that I had some food for them. I did have a biscuit in my car and broke it up to give them.

To my surprise a wooden duck showed up in the mix. Of course I grabbed my camera and started snapping away. As the duck scrambled to get the bread I noticed that the wood duck and the mallard duck stayed close together. In fact the wood duck became very protective of the mallard.

I thought what an odd couple. They did not leave each other side the whole time. Now my curiosity has peaked. Will this odd couple have babies together? Better yet can they have babies together? Only time will tell.

So in the meantime I will keep an eye for them and any other odd couples I will come across in my travels.

Is It Real?

 Yesterday when I went up to the boardwalk I was blessed to get some shots of new ducks. But my excitement grew when I saw an owl perched by the boats.

It was after I took the seventh picture that I realized that the owl feathers were not being disturbed by the blowing winds. That is when I knew that it was a fake owl.

How many times in my life have I been fooled by something that was not as it seemed. Too many times I am ashamed to admit. But I am one of the first to admit when I am wrong. I do not want to hide my short comings. I want to grow by them.

Of course I can look back and laugh at some of my mistakes. Now I need to ask is if it real before I accept the fact the it is real. The one thing that I can say is real is my relationship with God. I don't have to ask if He is real. I know.

Push And Shove

Push and Shove. Push and Shove. When does the time comes to push and shove? With these two ducks now was the time for pushing and shoving. 

It seemed to annoy one of the other duck and she would come over and break up the two shoving pairs only to have them go right back to pushing and shoving each other.

I know of some friends and family members who seemed to push and shove each other whenever they get together. People try their best to pull them apart only to have them go at it again. 

I know sometime I try to have a pushing match with myself. I want to go one way and another part of me wants to go another way.  It is only when I let God intervene that I can separate myself from this fight.

But just like these ducks I go back to pushing and shoving. If only I could learn that God's ways are the best ways. Maybe I wouldn't have so many bruises.