Hello everyone, I hope you are all safe and well. I copied this from my daily devotion to my church family. I though it would be a good reminders while we are stuck on our homes to remember God is still holding us in love.
Today is a day of pranksters and tom foolery but I challenge us to make it a day of love with smiles. 1 John to me is a nuts and bolts of God. First off – God is Light – 1:5: –God is light: in him there is not darkness at all. Second – God is Love – Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Third – God is Life – 5:11-12 – God has given us eternal life and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the son has life. Lastly, but not in 1 John – He is King – Rev 19-16 – On his robe and across his thigh he has his name written KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
If he is my King, which he is, and I am his child, which I am, then that makes me a princess. I can live with that and even though my crown is seldom straight and sometimes not even showing, he will loving turn me around and fix it then remind me of who I am and what I am supposed to be doing.
For those who know me, know that I am a major lover of animals and believe nature can sometimes teach us the very nature of God, for God created them as well and God is love. So I leave you with some pictures of other things God creates and how they in turn reflect his very nature of love.
Always remember the PROFOUND love he has for you and let it encourage your heart today. And as always remember to be kind. It is the very essence of God.
The Escapist Coloring Club sponsored by Linda G. Hill has been a fun thing and I suggest every one give it a try. It really does help you focus on the coloring and allows for pushing aside stress. It works for me. There are calendars, books and I think even downloadable sheets. I was given this book by my daughter last year for Christmas and it really has been fun.
You can tell by the bends and creases in the cover that I am in this book…a lot. Today’s picture helps us remember the beauty of wildlife and the hopes for spring for those of us who live in snow during the months of January and February and hopefully NOT March.
I use pencils as I seem to be able to shade easier with those but I loved Linda’s page this time as she said she uses both. I may try that for next month. You will also see some bend to my page as I had a big helper this time who was fascinated with the pencils – probably because they look like a colored stick – well they are wood…
Come join in with us and we can all color together. And as always remember to be kind, it show the beauty of who you really are.
Every once in a while a photograph will come a cross the bloggosphere (I am sure that is not a real word, but you know what I mean) that so inspires me that I put pen to paper and write about it. Today’s photo came from stefansphotos.se and since we are now legally in winter I felt it was good time for some winter fun…with words. Thank you Stefan for your beautiful photos. Check out his photographs at the link above.
Winter Forest
Deep in the forest where the light seldom shines
Beneath the tall branches of the evergreen pine
There lives such a creature, one hardly ever seen
Here the cold moonlight makes his bright eyes sheen.
The snow reflects the light of the full moon above
Shining through the night like a white mourning dove.
The winter moss is green and soft at forest floor below
As he moves along paths where no one will ever know
What lurks in those dark shadows beyond those next trees
Nothing more than old man winter playing in the night freeze
– Anita Neal-
As you find yourself in the coldness of winter, remember it is easy to warm it up by being kind. Kindness can be like a blanket to wrap you up warm and snug, so let kindness come from you to cover someone like fresh new snow.
It is January which means it’s winter in the northern hemisphere which means in some areas the “S” word has arrived. We try not to say that word much here in hopes it stays away. Yea, that didn’t work for Halloween this year with 4 inches and low 20 temperatures. But I have for a picture of today’s snow, the best kind of snow – Snowed all night but due to the warmth of December, the roads were still warm and therefore the roads are still clear. So the trees were beautifully covered. The sky cleared a short while before turning back to winter gray and I was able to grab this picture.
It is amazing to me how hard wood tree twist and turn their limbs for their leaves to get the best sunshine. Even nature knows what is best for it and it tries to get there. We humans sometimes over think things and go way in the wrong direction.
As we push into this new year guiding ourselves in the direction we think is best, let us take a cue from nature and find the best direction.
And as we search for that direction, think of the beauty of fresh fallen snow, its purity and beauty and remember to cover everything with kindness.
Here in the USA over the last couple of years, figurines for hedgehogs, especially with Christmas decorations, have really taken hold. I find that interesting as the cute little creature is not native to our country. There are 17 different species of hedgehogs which is fascinating in itself to me. They are native in Europe, Asia, Africa and New Zealand. You can find replicas of them here in plant stores and multiple places that carry decorations. I bought a new Tree decoration this year and created a hedge hog family with the ones I had gotten over the last couple of years. I made a fun post of this family including a short short story that you can read about if interested, its here.
I have become fascinated with them over the last couple of years because of the fabulous photographers that capture this creature and it cuteness and its apparent ability to smile. I wrote a special post on smiling animals here. Animals do smile, their entire face lights up when they are happy and treated kindly. But I have really been taken by the cuteness of a hedgehogs smile. How can you not smile at this cuteness?
Smile
I have recently added the National Geographic Photo of the Day page to my Facebook account and again I am amazed by the fabulous photographers across this world and the amazing pictures they take. Today and yesterday two pictures of hedgehogs were posted and I downloaded them both to share with you. One was of cuteness and one was mom and babies. I was amazed at how the babies look…like little pin cushions.
Preciousness
It is amazing to me how God can create so many fascinating creatures, some none of us have ever seen other than in pictures. We don’t even know all that is on the bottom of our deepest oceans, our most intriguing earthly frontier. Some of it that has been captured on film is quite scary looking.
But I will settle for the cuteness and the beauty that photographers across the world are capturing and sharing with all of us. Thank you.
And remember as you share in the beauty of God’s creation, to show it the respect that it so much deserves. And with all creatures, beast and man alike, remember the value of kindness and share it when possible.
There are several of us in my neighborhood who feed the birds. And I look down at the sparrows on the ground and they are fat little critter.
And it hasn’t been that cold yet for them to grow their down for warmth, or are they getting ready for what they know is coming and we don’t. My yard really is a perfect place for them as they can live in the cedar trees on the edge of the property, zip to the feeders, then zip back into the trees. And they are noisy little critters as well inside those trees.
But I enjoy them. Even when I get fussed at because the feeder is empty. They will peck on the window.
The beauty of nature even in your own back yard is an amazing show how everything works together for the good of creation. Even if we get involved to play with nature by feeding the birds. There is a peace about being part of it and playing with its beauty. Even animals understand it and can feel it.
So come along and play and show the kindness God intended for His creation.
The resilience of nature is truly amazing. A week or so ago I posted the demise of my banana tree left alone for 5 minutes with my new puppy. Lesson learned and tree was moved to the no puppy zone, aka my bedroom.
Damaged but not killed
They are a pretty hardy plants, after all they survive hurricanes, so I was hopefully. Today circumstance were perfect to sneak in a Sunday afternoon nap, and it was fabulous. But right as I got comfy my eye caught this…
A new leaf coming out of torn debris
I was so excited and told you that if I saw it reviving, I would post its picture. It lives. And as I lay there looking at it, I asked myself again “wonder how tall it is going to get”, after all the ceiling is only so high.
Nature is an amazing thing when you think about it. Think about ancient civilizations now gone and nature reclaiming the land. God’s amazing creation.
While thinking about the amazing attributes of nature, remember the amazing attributes of mankind. We too can be resilient in hard times and with God’s help we are an amazing creature. Remember to reflect the love in you from God to those around you to make His kindness radiate to others.
