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Birds Of The Bible – Gull With A Broken Wing

Posted in Birds of the Bible, tagged , , , , , , , on January 27, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

Laughing Gull Imm injured wing

Laughing Gull Imm injured wing

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. (Matthew 10:29 KJV)

Yesterday, Dan and I went to Lake Hollingsworth in Lakeland, FL for a little birdwatching and to just enjoy the day. It was around 77 degrees and a few clouds were hanging out. Just another beautiful day from the Lord. After walking as far as I could, we turned around and retraced our steps back along the southern shore of the lake.

My legs are doing much better, praise the Lord, but I still have issues. I stopped to rest a minute and spotted a Laughing Gull along the shore. Something in its appearance didn’t seem right, so I got up to investigate. (They have benchs along the way.) What I found was that the Gull had a wing hanging down and I assume it was broken. It appears to be an immature Laughing.

Laughing Gull Imm injured wing

Laughing Gull Imm injured wing

The bird walked up by the tree and kept dragging it’s wing as you can see in the third photo.

Laughing Gull Imm injured wing

Laughing Gull Imm injured wing

I know that verse has been many used times here with the Birds of the Bible articles, but it still applies so well. That verse popped into my thoughts while observing the Gull’s situation. The verse mentions the Sparrow, but all birds were created by the Lord and it applies to them as well. I do not believe that He is only aware of just Sparrows that fall. God is ever-present, all-knowing, and all-powerful, so how could God NOT KNOW?

We know that verse was used to encourage those being persecuted (v.23) to not fear, knowing that the Father is aware of what they were experiencing. They did need to worry about someone who could destroy their soul. (v.28) The passage goes on to reassure them that they are more valuable than sparrows or birds.

Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:31 KJV)

Not sure if Gulls “worry.” but that immature bird was in a very precarious situation. Without that wing he (or she) was very vulnerable to what could happen to it. There was a Red-shouldered Hawk flying by and I believe that that might be the tree it landed in when we went by the first time. I was trying to get its photo, but it flew off. I didn’t notice the Gull then. When we noticed the bird on the way back, the Hawk was still flying in the area.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary says this about verse 31: “for their (the persecuted) Father was truly concerned for them and aware of their circumstances. He is aware of the death of a sparrow which is worth so little. Two sparrows were sold for a mere penny (assarion, a Gr. copper coin worth about 1/16 of a Roman denarius, a day’s wages). God the Father also knows the number of hairs on a person’s head (Mat_10:30). The apostles were instructed not to fear for they, being far more valuable to God than sparrows, were seen and known by Him. “

Believer’s Bible Commentary: “10:30, 31 The same God who takes a personal interest in the tiny sparrow keeps an accurate count of the hairs of the head of each of His children. A strand of hair is of considerably less value than a sparrow. This shows that His people are of more value to Him than many sparrows, so why should they fear?”

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33 KJV)

We should not be afraid to tell others about the Saving Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, nor that we believe that God is the Self-Existent, All-Knowing, All-Powerful, Ever-Present, Loving (He gave His Son to die for our sins.), Creator of the world and all these birds, critters, and us.

What will be the fate of the Laughing Gull? I have no clue, but God already knows all about its situation, but better yet, He knows all out us and our situations and circumstances. He cares and wants us to put our trust in Him.

Sharing The Gospel

And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure. (Isaiah 33:6 KJV)

See more Birds of the Bible

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Birdwatching and Still Kicking Up Dust

Posted in Birds, tagged , , , , , , on March 17, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) shot thru window with screen by Lee

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) shot thru window with screen by Lee

You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalms 16:11 NKJV)

Some birdwatching has been going on around the yard and neighborhood. Every once in a while, I do get away from the computer and look around, though only nearby. Yet, I have been seeing some interesting birds, especially some I have never seen in the yard. I was watering a new tree when I heard a sound I didn’t recognize at first. After searching and praying that it would come into view, I spotted a Pileated Woodpecker on a power pole. Been here 5 years and it is the first one spotted from the yard. Then I spotted 2 Chipping Sparrows yesterday and 3 today. (also a yard first) Today an American Goldfinch showed up on my feeder. All 3 of those species were new to the yard. They were kept company by 2 Cardinals, Boat-tailed Grackles, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Eurasian Collarded Doves, Mourning Doves and Red-winged Blackbirds.

Blue-winged Teal by Dan at Circle B

Blue-winged Teal by Dan at Circle B

Dan took some photos today out at Circle B Bar Reserve while I was busy. He said there was lots of activity and many photographers taking advantage of that activity. One photo in particular caught my interest and I have included it. He also had some neat photos of an immature Black-crowned Night-Heron, but they aren’t available yet.

I am still working on updating the Birds of the World section to the IOC World Bird List, ver. 2.7. I have over 91 Families updated and started working on the Index also. The Species List of the First Name of the Birds and Genus is updated “A” through” Z”. So at least you can find the birds.

American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) by Lee thru window

American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) by Lee thru window

As I have been updating, I have been adding photos to some of the families. Some of the Families that we have written about lately have also been updated even though they are beyond the 91 completed.

Thrush – Turdidae was updated when Return Of The Robins was written.

Meliphagidae Family mentioned in Ian’s Bird Of The Week – Yellow-spotted Honeyeater

Strigopidae Family mentioned in Formed By Him – Kakapo

Since the last update, Birdwatching and Still Updating, I have now completed these bird species:

Kingfishers are next on the agenda.

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Not By Chance

Posted in Birds, tagged , , , , , , , on November 17, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Not a Chance by Creation Moments – 11/17/10

Psalm 148:7-8 “Praise the LORD from the earth, You great sea creatures and all the depths; fire and hail, snow and clouds; stormy wind, fulfilling His word…”

Is there any such thing as chance or luck? Does anything ever happen randomly? Many people don’t realize that the Bible speaks to these questions.

In late August 1992, a tornado swept through a small Wisconsin town and caused a great deal of destruction. That made it newsworthy enough. However, the destruction it wrought on one church in town received special notice on some national newscasts. Pictures showed the church in ruins. But the altar still stood, barely visible in the rubble. Most astonishing was the fact that the Bible still stood on its stand in its customary place on the altar. The undamaged Bible was open to where Psalm 77 reads,

The clouds poured out water, the skies sent out a sound; your arrows also flashed about. The voice of your thunder was in the whirlwind; the lightnings lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook.

Does that sound like chance?

Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) Reinier Munguia

Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) Reinier Munguia

In Matthew 10, Jesus tells us that God is so involved in His creation that not one of the billions of sparrows in the world falls to the ground without His knowledge. Psalm 148 tells us that the entire creation praises God in everything that happens. God is so personally involved in the creation that He even instructs each wind about the speed and direction to take.

Was it simply luck that the altar was spared and the Bible was open to Psalm 77? God is involved in every detail of the creation. Let’s praise God that there is no such thing as luck!

Prayer:
Dear Father, I thank You that there is no such thing as luck because You are so intimately involved in the creation. Help me to cleanse my mind and speech of the pagan ideas of chance and luck. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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Worthen’s Sparrow – Lost, but found.. by A.J. Mithra

Posted in Birds, tagged , , , , , , on March 24, 2010 | 2 Comments »

Worthen's Sparrow (Spizella wortheni) ©SFSeattle

Worthen's Sparrow (Spizella wortheni) ©SFSeattle

Worthen’s Sparrow (Spizella wortheni)
was originally discovered in the United States,
where just a single bird was caught on 16 June 1884,
near Silver City, New Mexico.
Video of Worthen’s Sparrow Singing
No Worthen’s Sparrows have since been captured in the country,
where it is now thought to be extinct.
Formerly, the bird also ranged over much of the Mexican Plateau.
That makes it one of the rarest sparrows in North America.
What is more, although flocks of the sparrow are sometimes seen in winter,
but its summer habitat was unknown

Worthen’s Sparrows do not migrate, but they move on
from nesting sites as soon as the breeding season ends.
Over the past 30 years, the sparrows have only been seen
in a 25km squared area in northeastern Mexico,
These historical records also suggested that
the sparrows like to breed in valleys full of desert scrub
and grassland habitat also filled by prairie dogs.

A team of researchers from BBC targeted areas of similar habitat,
particularly searching around the La Soledad valley
in the municipality of Galeana,
home to one of Mexico’s most important prairie dog locations
and found the species in Mexico after nearly 125 yrs..

GOD knew where to find Moses,
HE knew where to find Zacchaeus..
No matter how far away you’re from GOD or
how deep you’ve sunk into problems,
GOD knows where to find you, cos you are too precious
for HIM to abandon you..

We were lost, so HE climbed up the cross to find us..
GOD has kept you among Lions and serpents to glorify
HIS name through you ….

These birds which dwell among prairie dogs
seems to remind the words of King David, which says,

If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; (Psalm 139:8-9)

These birds are confined to open, arid shrub-grassland at elevations of 1,200-2,450 m
where breeding sites have been found in associations of :

1. Tarbush whose leaf extracts is an important source of bactericidal compounds
against multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis.
2. Creosotebush, which is a virtual pharmacy for Native Americans
and the steam from the leaves was inhaled to relieve congestion.
It was also used in the form of a medicinal tea
to cure such ailments as flu, stomach cramps, cancer, coughs, colds, and others.
3. Fourwing Saltbush which gives cover and protection from winter cold and summer sun within its branches
and
4. Short Grassland…

GOD has created us and chosen us to reveal
HIS power through us…

The dwelling place of Worthen’s Sparrow is among
the shrub , whose trees are used for medicinal purpose..
Where ever Peter and Paul went, people received healing…
Do we heal people through words and deeds or……?

When JESUS, the word dwells in us and we in HIM,
our life shall heal and should heal all those who are around us..

He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. (Psalm 107:20)

Have a blessed day!

Your’s in YESHUA,
A. J. Mithra

Please visit us at: Crosstree

Wordless Birds

Interesting Links:
Greg Lasley’s Worthen’s Sparrow
Worthen’s Sparrow – Bird Life International
Emberizidae – Buntings, New World Sparrows & Allies

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Birds in Hymns – Mighty God, While Angels Bless Thee

Posted in Birds, tagged , , , , , , , on March 7, 2010 | 2 Comments »

For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. (Psalms 47:7 KJV)

Words: Ro­bert Ro­bin­son, 1774.
Music: Autumn by Fran­çois H. Bar­thé­lé­mon, 1785
Al­ter­nate tune: Wellesley by Liz­zie S. Es­ta­brook, 1878

Mighty God, While Angels Bless Thee

Mighty God, while angels bless Thee,
May a mortal sing Thy Name?
Lord of men as well as angels,
Thou art every creature’s theme.
Lord of every land and nation,
Ancient of eternal days.
Sounded through the wide creation
Be Thy just and endless praise.

Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis) by Nikhil Devasar

Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis) by Nikhil Devasar

For the grandeur of Thy nature,
Grand beyond a seraph’s thought;
For the wonders of creation,
Works with skill and kindness wrought.
For Thy providence, that governs,
Through Thine empire’s wide domain,
Wings an angel, guides a sparrow,
Blessèd be Thy gentle reign.

For Thy rich, Thy free redemption,
Bright, though veiled in darkness long,
Thought is poor, and poor expression;
Who can sing that wondrous song?
Brightness of the Father’s glory,
Shall Thy praise unuttered lie?
Break, my tongue, such guilty silence!
Sing the Lord Who came to die.

From the highest throne of glory
To the cross of deepest woe,
All to ransom guilty captives;
Flow my praise, forever flow!
Reascend, immortal Savior;
Leave Thy footstool, take Thy throne;
Thence return, and reign forever,
Be the kingdom all Thine own!

See Video of Hymn by pipeorgan8

Song Sparrow in white flowers by Daves BirdingPix

Song Sparrow in white flowers by Daves BirdingPix

Ro­bert Ro­bin­son, (1735-1790)

“Robinson’s wi­dowed mo­ther sent him at age 14 to Lon­don, to learn the trade of bar­ber and hair dress­er. How­ev­er, his mas­ter found he en­joyed read­ing more than work. Con­vert­ed to Christ at age 17, Ro­bin­son be­came a Meth­od­ist min­is­ter. He lat­er moved to the Bapt­ist church and pas­tored in Cam­bridge, Eng­land. He wrote a num­ber of hymns, as well as on the sub­ject of the­ol­o­gy. His lat­er life was ev­i­dent­ly not an ea­sy one, judg­ing from a well known sto­ry about his hymn Come, Thou Fount of Ev­ery Bless­ing. One day, he en­count­ered a wo­man who was stu­dy­ing a hymn­al, and she asked how he liked the hymn she was hum­ming. In tears, he re­plied, Madam, I am the poor un­hap­py man who wrote that hymn ma­ny years ago, and I would give a thou­sand worlds, if I had them, to en­joy the feel­ings I had then.” (CyberHymnal)

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More Birds in Hymns

See ~ Wordless Birds
Most information from The Cyber Hymnal - Mighty God, While Angels Bless Thee

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Comments – God’s Records

Posted in Birds, tagged , , , , , , , , on February 22, 2010 | 2 Comments »

Tree rings from Wikipedia

Tree rings from Wikipedia

“If God can write with the finger of nature the record of the years in trees which He planted, if He can record in the trees the story of the years when there was a drought and make a record of the years when He sent rain on the just and the unjust, it seems reasonable to suppose that He can and will keep a record of the deeds of man whom He created in His own image. Trees may live for millenniums, but eventually they all die and decay. Man will live forever. He does not stay on this earth for long, but he lives somewhere forever and ever.

Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) Reinier Munguia

Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) Reinier Munguia

There is a God. He never forgets to keep His records. A bird does not die without His knowledge. ‘He marks the sparrow’s fall.’ The very hairs of our heads are numbered. He hears the cry of every baby. His ears catch the sigh that comes from every broken heart. His recording machine makes an eternal record of every thought. God sees. He knows. Woe be unto the sinner who falls into the hands of an angry God! It is wonderful to be saved. God, infinite as He is, cannot see our sins through the blood of His Son. He sees every Christian as if the Christian never sinned. He has taken us up in His Son. He sees us in Christ. We have all sinned, but if we are save He remembers our sins against us no more forever. As these line have been written there has been a whispered prayer in my heart for all who may read this article.. May you so trust Christ and so write your life record that you will be able to meet God unafraid. Remember, if you are a sinner, Christ bore your sin in His body on a tree. Trust Him. If you are a Christian, Christ is your advocate. He is the attorney who pleads your case. Thank God for such a wonderful lawyer!”

The above article is taken from Comments on Here and Hereafter (1942) by Dr. Bob Jones, Sr., p 34, 35

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31 KJV)

The Gospel Message

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Birds of the Bible – More Value

Posted in Birds, tagged , , , , , , , on October 27, 2009 | 2 Comments »

Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) by Nikhil

Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) by Nikhil

We have mentioned the sparrow many times in the blog and about how God takes care of them, as in the following articles:

Birds of the Bible – God’s Care for Birds – Sparrow II – Sparrow I and Eye of the Beholder – House Sparrows

This time, I would like point out the part about being of “more value.” In Matthew 10:29-33, the two sparrows are mentioned as being sold for a farthing, a very small amount. According to A. Barnes’ Notes, “The argument is, that if He takes care of birds of the least value, if He regards so small a thing as the hair of the head, and numbers it, He will certainly protect and provide for you. You need not, therefore, fear what man can do to you.”

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.(Matthew 10:29-33 KJV)

Northern Raven (Corvus corax) by Ray

Northern Raven (Corvus corax) by Ray

Also: “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:7 NASB);  “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?” (Luke 12:24 NKJV) and He said to them, “What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? “How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:11-12 NASB)

We see then that “man” has more value than sparrows, ravens, birds, and sheep just from these few verses. Yet, each of them are greatly valued by their creator. Where else are things of value mentioned in Scripture?

David had the opportunity to kill King Saul, but he valued the life of the king more.

May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. And indeed, as your life was valued much this day in my eyes, so let my life be valued much in the eyes of the LORD, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation.” (1 Samuel 26:23-24 NKJV)

Wisdom and understanding have great value and Job mentions it in Job 28.

But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? “Man does not know its value, Nor is it found in the land of the living. (Job 28:12-13 NASB)

Where then does wisdom come from? And where is the place of understanding? “Thus it is hidden from the eyes of all living And concealed from the birds of the sky. (Job 28:20-21 NASB)

Zechariah in his prophecy of the future, tells about the price of Christ the Lord as 30 shekels (pieces) of silver.

Then the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter, that magnificent price at which I was valued by them.” So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD. (Zechariah 11:13 NASB)

We are of great value to the Lord, so much so, that He gave His Life for our salvation. If you know the Lord as Savior, then, that “knowing Christ Jesus,” has tremendous value.

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, (Philippians 3:8 NASB)

We trust you do know the Lord and realize how much He loves you and cares for you. Much more than the critters, whom he cares for tremendously.

See also Gospel Message

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