Thursday, February 26, 2009

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

It doesn't just happen

It Doesn’t Just Happen

He must increase, but I must decrease.
John 3:30

Recommended Reading
1 Timothy 6:11-12

On the hit TV show, The Biggest Loser, contestants must work hard every week to drop pounds so they can continue being on the show. They are held accountable by a gigantic scale that reveals their weight in front of millions of Americans. Going into the contest, they know weight loss doesn’t just happen; they have to fight for it by breaking old habits and creating new, healthy ones. Desperate to lose weight and get healthy, they do whatever it takes to achieve their goal.

This should be our mentality as Christians. Becoming like Christ won’t just happen; it takes discipline and the honest pursuit of righteousness. When we accepted Christ as our Savior, we made a commitment to Him; and it is our duty to work hard to put off the “old man which grows corrupt” and “put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22, 24).

When we earnestly do this, we will be well on our way to achieving our goal of godly righteousness and pointing others toward Christ Jesus.

I know I can't do a thing to earn my salvation; but now that I am His, I will do everything in my power to show Him how much I love Him—and I live to please the One I love who has transformed me with HIS love.
Katherine Walden

(devotional from David Jeremiah's ministry)

Friday, February 20, 2009

The flock came to our neighborhood!



So, just days after I posted about the huge flocks of Starlings, some of them were in our neighborhood yesterday.  So I stepped outside and took these photos from our patio.  It sure is neat to watch how they fly in such awesome formations!  God's creation sure is amazing!

Co-Incidents

Co-Incidents

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.
Matthew 10:29


Recommended Reading
Daniel 5:1-30

A coincidence is a co-incident—something that happens at the same time as something else; when two or more events occupy the same space at the same time. Life is full of such co-incidents, and we are always amazed by them and (if they are happy co-incidents) consider ourselves lucky, fortunate, or blessed to experience them.

But are coincidences as random, arbitrary, and co-incidental as they appear? Is the idea of random events consistent with the notion of a sovereign God? King Belshazzar discovered that what seemed like a random event was not random at all; it contained a message from God. When the disrespectful king was enjoying a huge banquet, suddenly a hand appeared and wrote out a message on the wall that no one could interpret—except for Daniel. It was a message that said Belshazzar’s kingdom was over, and he died that night. What he thought was coincidental was very intentional.

If tiny birds live and die according to God’s will (Matthew 10:29), how much more are the events of our lives in His hand? Next time you experience a “coincidence,” ask God for understanding and sensitivity to His will.

A coincidence is an event in which a sovereign God chooses to remain anonymous.
Unknown

(Devotional from David Jeremiah's ministry)

Thursday, February 19, 2009

My Bluebird friend

This sweet little Bluebird comes to our bird bath to drink pretty much every day.  I've seen him, and his mate, for quite some time now this winter.  But I never could get a photo of him because he would fly away.  So today I got it!  He is sitting on our neighbors fence, and I peeked through the blinds with the camera and zoomed in as far as I could.  Isn't he cute??  I hope they continue to visit our bird bath as the warm weather comes.  I love to see the birds come and enjoy our bird bath that we put out for them.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Large flocks of birds



I have been noticing huge flocks of birds during the winter time here in TN, and usually around evening.  I was wondering what kind of birds they were and why I keep seeing such huge flocks.  So I did a little research tonight and found out some info.  I am just fascinated with nature and animals and why they do the things they do.

So the huge flocks I have been seeing are Starlings.  Everyone's favorite bird!  LOL!  In the winter months they congregate together in huge flocks.  There are more of them here in the south since many migrate down here from the north.  They typically find one area to roost in for the evening, and will travel as much as 20 miles from the roosting site to feed during the day.  And then at the end of the day they come together again to roost and that is when I am seeing those huge flocks.  And when I say huge, I mean it looks like the Alfred Hitchcock movie!!  I found a couple photos on the internet to give you an idea of what I am talking about.  Its like they just keep coming and coming and coming with no end in sight.  It is wild!


Sunday, February 15, 2009

Ronnie's Valentine's Day



Ronnie loves balloons, especially mylar ones.  So I went to the Dollar Tree yesterday morning to get him his Valentine's gift.  Two mylar balloons tied to a stuffed doggie, and some stickers.  He loves to carry the balloons around the house as you can see in the above photos.  It is fun to be able to get something so simple and watch him have so much fun!