No More A Secret

Have you ever felt unacceptable because of education, finances, age, or culture? God’s acceptance of you does not depend on any of these things. Whatever your status in life, God loves you, cares for you, and has great plans for you. God created you and accepts you just as you are. I will never turn away anyone who comes to Me. He has made us accepted in the Beloved. John 6:37; Ephesians 1:6 (Excerpt from Who Are You? by Merle M. Mills)  

The extreme beauty of sunsets never cease to amaze and remind me of the power of the Great Creator and Heavenly Designer. These photos were taken yesterday between 4:55pm and 5:05pm from Virginia Beach Boulevard.  I pray you enjoy them as much as I  enjoyed capturing them.     Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure His greatness.        The LORD made the earth by His power,  and He preserves it by His wisdom. With His own understanding He stretched out the heavens.     Psalm 145:3; Jeremiah 51`:15

In his book The Wonders of Creation , Alfred Rehwinkel writes; “Only once every month, and then only for a very short time, the entire half of the moon’s surface is exposed to the direct rays of the sun. This phase is called the full moon”. Tonight’s moon seemed the perfect example of this great creation wonder. I trust you enjoy the photo as much as I enjoyed capturing it.  God made two great lights--the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars~ Genesis 1:16  Kindly left click on the photo for a larger view.

Today, even though it’s dark and rainy outside, this is how the sunset looked on Saturday past, and yesterday. Whether we see it or not, the sun is always there and will shine again. So it is in our lives. Today, it may seem dark and rainy, but be patient, as promised by our Heavenly Father, the sun will shine again.   Then God said, "Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years”. ~ Genesis 1:14 Photos: Wedgewood Plaza Shopping Center, Norfolk, Va.

“Great Blue Herons can hunt day and night thanks to a high percentage of rod-type photo-receptors in their eyes that improve their night vision”. 1   Our Heavenly Father too has eyes that capture every adverse situation or circumstance that we experience. Nothing escapes His keen day or "night" watchful “vision' while we wait expectantly for victory!     The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you”. ~ Psalm 32:8 1.  All About Birds   Photo taken at: Norfolk Botanical Garden

Bees depend on the beauty of flowers, and on their supply of pollen and nectar. Without it, they would hardly survive.   During today, stop. Take a deep breath. Observe the details of a flower, a smile, or a bee. Whisper a prayer. That moment has the ability to transform fearful or apprehensive thoughts into surviving moments of peace, strength, wisdom, hope, and beauty.    “ For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope”. ~ Jeremiah 29:11  Special Thanks to: Pamela Fisher, Past President of the Beekeepers Guild of Southeast Virginia   Photo taken at: Norfolk Botanical Garden    Carpenter Bees   Obedient Plant 

To those  who  lost their lives we remember you to those who shared their lives we thank you to those who still mourn we mourn with you! Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.~ Galatians 6:2 Photo: Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly   Taken at: Norfolk Botanical Garden   Special thanks to: Karon P. Hardy for Butterfly Identification

  All our successes, achievements or accomplishments will never exceed the feeling of knowing the freedom and forgiveness promised by the Great Forgiver—Jesus Christ. Remember what you have done. Ask God for forgiveness. Next, move into your future knowing and believing that you are forgiven and that He has promised to exchange scarlet sins and make them white as snow, crimson sins and make them white as wool.   “Come now, let's settle this," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.”   ~ (Isaiah 1:18)

After a year which included a Hummingbird Workshop with Eli at Norfolk Botanical Garden , purchasing a three color combination Petunia hanging basket, preparing hummingbird nectar, feeder cleaning and changing nectar every three to five days, prayer, it all paid off … a visit from this Ruby Throated Hummingbird.  Ever feel like you are doing all you can yet seeing no favorable results? Don’t be discouraged, persistence is always rewarded. So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.~ Galatians 6:9  Special thanks to:   Kevin J. Mcgowan Birdzilla.com Eli: Norfolk Botanical Garden

  On one of my recent walks through the park, I spotted these ducks. Since they were life birds for me, I needed help to identify them. I am grateful to J. McGowan, Ph.D , an ornithologist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, who graciously identified them as “domestic Mallard ducks, of the Indian Runner variety.”  I trust that you will enjoy them as much I enjoyed capturing them on film. Indian Runner Domestic Ducks Photo taken at:  Mount Trashmore Park, Virginia Beach, Va. Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to Him than they are? ~ Matthew 6:26

For years, journaling has helped me capture many special life moments. Today I am sharing with you an entry dated July 21, 1985: I had no idea how these words would transform my life –     from pain to peace …  depression to joy …                weakness to strength.    Never for one moment have I regretted one word of this commitment.   “ You will be my people, and I will be your God … And be sure of this: I am with you always, even  of the end of the age."    1. Jeremiah 30:22; 2. Matthew 28:20

In his book The Wonders of Creation, Alfred Rehwinkel wrote, “the forces involved in the production of a single cloud or a spring shower of  rain are so enormous and so cosmic in their scope that even the common occurrence is a miracle beyond all comprehension”. David the psalmist used the wonder of clouds to describe the faithfulness and love of the Great Creator: I trust you enjoy this gigantic cloud formation captured during a recent visit to Fort Monroe National Monument. as much as I enjoyed capturing it.   Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the  heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. 1   1. Psalms 36:5

Yesterday, June 20 th , was my fourth anniversary as a blogger. Many thanks to all who have read, followed, sent me messages, or commented on my posts. May much more of God’s grace, peace, and favor be multiplied to you always. Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my  God. ~ Philippians 1:3 Photo: Norfolk Botanical Garden

Special thanks to my nephew Chris who is aware of my bird watching addiction, and whose keen eyes spotted this Osprey nest, and then alerted me. In my research I found:  Osprey nests are built of sticks and lined with bark, sod, grasses, vines, algae, or flotsam and jetsam. Ospreys can end up with nests 10–13 feet deep and 3–6 feet in diameter—easily big enough for a human to sit in. 1  This bird choose to build its nest atop a power pole, which would by normal standards be a danger point, and unsafe. In life, we too are often atop danger points, and unsafe. Opportunities to fear are all around us. Like the osprey securing a safe place for its   young, in the midst of it all, we have a safe place for our young,  promising freedom from fear atop it all. Listen to Words from the Holy Scriptures through the voice of David the Psalmist:  “For He will conceal me there when troubles come; He will hide me in His sanctuary. He will place me o...

One definition given by Webster’s Dictionary for the word food is: ‘something that sustains or nourishes’.           Recently, I captured these Sanderling on Ocean View Beach shoreline, and Canada Geese off Military Highway, as they searched for ‘nourishment’ to sustain them.    Birds are another amazing wonder from the great Creator that adds ‘nourishment’ to my soul.   “You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.” ~ Psalms 63:5   Kindly left click on photos for larger image.

   As I watched these Mallard & Domestic ducks on my recent walk at Mount Trashmore Park, I too was refreshed, and reminded of this poem by Elizabeth Cheney:  Overheard in the Orchard Said the robin to the sparrow, "I would really like to know Why those anxious human beings rush around and worry so." Said the sparrow to the robin, "Friend, I think that it must be That they have no Heavenly Father such as cares for you and me."

This red fox was not only an unexpected, but a first time sighting on my recent 6:00am field trip with the        Virginia Beach Audubon Society .   All birds stayed too distant to capture. Not this fox. It remained close and posed graciously for all. I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine. ~ Psalm 50:12

Walking is one of my favorite pastimes, especially when I am accompanied by my nine year old great nephew Cairon. Not only does he exude endless energy as a budding footballer, but has the keenest eyes for spotting birding treats. We both enjoyed this Kildeer Plover as it posed for for us first with a  Canada Goose, then with a Double-crested Cormorant, and hope that you will also.  He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams .  ~ Psalms 23:2    Photos taken at: Mt. Trashmore Park     Kindly left click on photos for larger image.

Two definitions of the word worry given by Webster’s Dictionary are: to feel or experience concern or anxiety or to be concerned or troubled.  No physician in this world can prescribe, or recommend anti-worry medication as a cure for concern or trouble. As one prone to worry, I have discovered that the most effective way to deal with the habit is to refer often to Words of comfort such as these found in the pages of the Holy Scriptures spoken by Jesus, and recorded in the book of Luke 12:27-28 : "Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?”    Are you a worrier? Do you find these Words comforting also?   Photo: Prelude – Camellia Japonica    Taken at : Norfolk Bot...

On one of our recent walks, this bird was spotted by the keen eyes of my nine year old great nephew Cairon. Never having seen one quite like it before, I again sought identification help among my bird watching experts: “Morph of an intermediate adult snow goose (from Crosley Guide),”   “looks like a hybrid goose,” “looks like a cross between a Canadian Goose and a White-fronted Goose or Snow Goose,”   and “no telling for sure,” were my responses. As a bird watcher, I may never be able to identify many of the birds I see, however, I have the ability through the expertise of Scripture to be sure in the identification of my Heavenly Father:  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. ~ Hebrews 13:8 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!" ~ John 8:58 But you are always the same; you will live forever. ~ Psalm 102:27 "I am the LORD, and I do not change.” ~ Malachi 3:6a What do you say? ...

From the distance, it seemed like just another duck, but as it came closer, my waiting camera responded quickly. After searching F ield Guide to the Birds of North America , I could not positively identify it, so I sent an email to five of my expert bird watchers. All graciously identified – a male Ring-necked, including one who initially said, “looks like a Lesser Scaup.” The difference was a small detail … the ring on the beak. We are each different, but share one common identification detail: we are "fearfully and wonderfully made" by the Great Creator.  T hank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous--how well I know it. ~  Psalm 139:14  Mount Trashmore Park, Virginia Beach, Va. ,