Nuggets Plus – Dragonfly – The Pusher…Dragonfly – The Pusher…
by ajmithra
Nuggets Plus
As the female holds its wings
without flapping,
the male Dragonfly,
gives the forward thrust
from behind to push the female forward…
Be still and know that
Jesus will provide
the forward thrust
to not just push you forward
but to place you ahead of the others..
After all,
We are His bride
And He is our Bridegroom…
Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you. (2Chronicles 20:17)
Nuggets Plus – African Honey Bees – The Resister.. ~ by ajmithra
Nuggets Plus
African Honey Bees, called as killer bees will pursue the enemy quarter mile or more… Never did our Creator ask us to pursue the devil but, to just resist him and he shall flee forever…
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
ten primary feathers to the wings of the birds to produce thrust… Likewise, God has given us Ten Commandments, not just for keeps, but, to give us thrust to do the impossible…
And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth (Deuteronomy 28:1)
Male firefly dive deep,
flashing light
and
turn upward to make
“J” shaped pattern of light
to attract the female…
Do you know
the LIGHT called “J”
that came down from above
to save us
and
to mate with us?
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)
If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
We are introducing “Nuggets Plus” to our articles by ajmithra. We were chatting the other day, via Yahoo, and decided to use some of aj’s short little Nuggets of Truth that he has already written. He said that they were not all about birds and I reminded him that the Last Word of this blog’s name is “PLUS.” It was named that way so that other articles of interest could be added like creation or other animals, flowers, sunsets, etc.
A J Mithra, ajmithra as he prefers, lives in India and has been a regular contributor for several years. He has about 150 of these already written and will start posting them regularly. They are short, but have a “nugget of God’s Truth” tucked away in each of them. We may have our other writers add to them. Who knows the future, other than our Lord?
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) by S Slayton
American Robin – Singing Slayer..
American Robin
is the first among birds
to sing at dawn
and
the last in the evening
and
they band together
to drive the predator away!
Wanna drive the devil?
Worship at dawn
and at dusk
and together in trouble…
Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, (Exodus 23:25)
The Egyptian Plover is a localised resident in tropical sub-Saharan Africa. It breeds on sandbars in large rivers. Its two or three eggs are not incubated, but are buried in warm sand, temperature control being achieved by the adult sitting on the eggs with a water-soaked belly to cool them.
If the adult leaves the nest, it smoothes sand over the eggs, though if it is frightened the job may be hasty…
The adults cool the chicks in the same way as with the eggs.
When I read this, the three young men inside the furnace came to my mind..
When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the furnace for no fault of theirs, down came the Pillar of cloud to stroll with them..
Is it to cool them from the heat?
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. (Isaiah 43:2)
Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) by Nikhil Devasar
Baya Weaver – The Model Church ~ by a j mithra
The Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) is a weaverbird found across South and Southeast Asia. These are sparrow-sized (15 cm) and in their non-breeding plumage, both males and females resemble female house sparrows. They have a stout conical bill and a short square tail.
Non-breeding males and females look alike, dark brown streaked fulvous buff above, plain (unstreaked) whitish fulvous below, eyebrow long and buff coloured, bill is horn coloured and no mask. Breeding males have a bright yellow crown, dark brown mask, blackish brown bill, upper parts are dark brown streaked with yellow, with a yellow breast and cream buff below.
Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) by MAMuin
Baya Weavers are social and gregarious birds. They forage in flocks for seeds, both on the plants and on the ground. Flocks fly in close formations, often performing complicated maneuvers. Their calls are a continuous chit-chit-… sometimes ending in a wheezy cheee-eee-ee that is produced by males in a chorus. A lower intensity call is produced in the non-breeding season.
Feeding together and flying together and singing together?
The church needs to take a leaf out from the lifestyle of these birds..
Is it not important, to be together as a one? We say that Christ is the head of the church. But how can Christ be the head of disintegrated choirs in disintegrated churches and indifferent individuals who make disoriented families?
These birds feed together…
How many Christian families spend time together in reading and meditating the Bible?
How many Christian families live together?
These birds even fly together performing complicated maneuvers…
How are our maneuvers as a team?
We are supposed to be the army of Jesus, but sadly each one facing different directions…
These birds sing together in chorus..
How do our family and church worship the Lord?
Do we sing in unity as one?
Its time for us to check ourselves and try learn to live like these birds…
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. (Psalm 133:1-3 KJV)
Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) by Nikhil Devasar
Flocks of these birds are found in grasslands, cultivated areas, scrub and secondary growth and they are best known for their hanging retort shaped nests woven from leaves. These nest colonies are usually found on thorny trees or palm fronds and the nests are often built near water or hanging over water where predators cannot reach easily.
They are widespread and common within their range but are prone to local, seasonal movements mainly in response to rain and food availability.
Christ is mindful of us even unto death..
He did think of you and me even as He wore the crown of thorns…
These birds remind me of Psalm 23:2
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
These birds choose to live in the grasslands and build their nests with green leaves over fresh water bodies…
The Lord is our Shepherd and the Living Water..
No doubt about it…
But, the question is, do we let Him makes us lie down in green pastures and lead us beside still waters?
If the answer is yes, then how come our soul is weak, weary and thirsty?
Lets seek His presence, for He is the God of abundance…
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:11)
Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) 3 Male building by Nikhil Devasar
The nest of the Baya Weaver bird is an engineering marvel…
These dull looking birds have a most interesting breeding season…
The breeding season of the Baya Weavers is during the monsoon..
The breeding condition is initiated by environmental characters such as day length and comes to an end after summer although this termination is not influenced by short day length as in temperate birds…
They nest in colonies typically of up to 20-30, close to the source of food, nesting material and water. Baya Weavers are best known for the elaborately woven nests constructed by the males. These pendulous nests are retort shaped, with a central nesting chamber and a long vertical tube that leads to a side entrance to the chamber. The nests are woven with long strips of paddy leaves, rough grasses and long strips torn from palm fronds. Each strip can be between 20–60cm in length. A male bird is known to make up to 500 trips to complete a nest.
Our Lord Jesus Christ made just one trip to the earth and is now building a mansion for us…
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2)
The birds use their strong beaks to strip and collect the strands, and to weave and knot them while building their nests. The nests are often built hanging over water from palm trees and often suspended from thorny Acacias and in some cases from telephone wires. Although thorny trees are preferred, they may sometimes use avenue trees in urban areas. Nests are often located on the eastern side of the tree where they are believed to provide shelter from the Southwest Monsoon, however late breeders are more likely to build their nests in other orientations relative to the trunk of the nest tree..
How do these birds know where and when to build their nests?
How do these birds know the direction where the nest has to be placed?
Is it cos they look up to God the directions in life?
A Meteorological expert knows about the weather…
A Botanist knows about the plants and trees…
A Hydrologist knows about water…
But how do these birds know about the season, the tree and the water?
Want to know everything under the sky? Just follow the following verses…
Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things. (Proverbs 28:5)
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. (Psalm 34:10)
This male Baya Weaver is working on his nest. This is by Wondersf, which is one of the videographers who has given us permission to use his videos. Khong Tuck Khoon lives in Malaysia.
The males take about 18 days to construct the complete nest with the intermediate “helmet stage” taking about 8 days. The nests are partially built before the males begin to display to passing females by flapping their wings and calling while hanging from their nests.
When I read the above passage I was reminded of the famous picture of the cross where I read the following quote..
I asked Jesus how much He loved me
He answered “this much”
Then He stretched out His arms and died for me
The females inspect the nest and signal their acceptance of a male. Once a male and a female are paired, the male goes on to complete the nest by adding the entrance tunnel. Males are almost solely in charge of nest building, though their female partners may join in giving the finishing touches, particularly on the interiors. So much so, that even a snake would never be able to enter its nest. Females may modify the interiors or add blobs of mud.
Studies have shown that nest location is more important than nest structure for the female, when it selects the nest and mate…
When we build our lives above the Living Water, the serpent would never be able to enter our homes…
Instead we would walk over them..
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven. (Luke 10:19,20)
Willow Flycatcher songs are innate, not learned like those of most songbirds. Young Willow Flycatchers reared in captivity with Alder Flycatcher tutors sang typical Willow Flycatcher songs.
Daniel was put to test, But, he chose not to defile himself with the portion of king’s meat or the wine..
No matter where God places you, never try to be like others…
Though God has created each one of us In His image, there still isn’t anyone like you…
You are God’s unique creation…
Please read Daniel Chapter one…
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) by J Fenton
If a Brown-headed Cowbird lays its eggs in the nest of a Willow Flycatcher, the flycatcher may bury the Cowbird eggs in the nest lining, or even build a completely new nest over the top of the first one…
How do you respond when satan tries to hatch his ideas in your life?
Do you receive them or reject them like these birds?
Remember, his place is not beside you, but, under the sole of your feet…
Don’t let satan sit in your life..
Just bury him under your feet…
“And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”Romans 16:20
White-fronted Bee-eater (Merops bullockoides) by Bob-Nan
White-fronted Bee-eater – The Community Developer ~ by ajmithra
The White-fronted Bee-eater, Merops bullockoides, is a species of bee-eater widely distributed in sub-equatorial Africa. They have a distinctive white forehead, a square tail and a bright red patch on their throat. They nest in small colonies, digging holes in cliffs or earthen banks but can usually be seen in low trees waiting for passing insects from which they hunt either by making quick hawking flights or gliding down before hoveringbriefly to catch insects.
This species, like other bee-eaters, is a richly coloured, slender bird, but with a distinctive black mask, white forehead, square tail and a bright red throat. The upperparts are green, with cinnamon underparts. The call is a deep squeak. White-fronted Bee-eaters are found in the vast savannah regions of sub-equatorial Africa. The habitat commonly consists of open country, often near gullies, because this is the region that their food (bees) lives.
Where there are bees, there these bee-eaters are..
We are the inheritors of the kingdom of God, and the working partners of God in building His kingdom…
But, where are we found?
Martha knew this that’s why she chose to sit at the feet of Jesus instead of cooking in the kitchen like Mary….
Look how Mary got frustrated cos of Martha!
She in fact would’ve turned jealous of her and that maybe the reason why she started complaining to Jesus..
When our live revolves around Jesus, we become new..
We will not be jealous and we will never complain..
Its when we start complaining, that we should know that we are in the kitchen like Mary and not sitting in His presence like Martha..
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Southern Carmine Bee-eaters (Merops nubicoides) on bank by Africaaddict
White-fronted bee-eaters nest in colonies averaging 200 individuals, digging roosting and nesting holes in cliffs or banks of earth. A population of bee-eaters may range across many square kilometres of savannah, but will come to the same colony to roost, socialize, and to breed. White-fronted bee-eaters have one of the most complex family-based social systems found in birds.
Their diet is made up primarily of bees, but they also take other flying insects depending on the season and availability of prey. Two hunting methods have been observed. They either make quick hawking flights from lower branches of shrubs and trees, or glide slowly down from their perch and hover briefly to catch insects.
Colonies comprise socially monogamous, extended family groups with overlapping generations, known as “clans” which exhibit cooperative breeding. Non-breeding individuals become helpers to relatives and assist to raise their brood. In white-fronted bee-eaters, this helping behavior is particularly well developed with helpers assisting in half of all nesting attempts. These helpers may contribute to all aspects of the reproductive attempt, from digging the roosting or nesting chamber, to feeding the female, incubating and feeding the young; and have a large effect on increasing the number of young produced. Only 50% of non-breeders in a colony typically become helpers, and whether or not an individual becomes a helper and to whom it provides aid is heavily dependent on the degree of kinship involved. Non-breeders are most likely to become helpers when breeding pairs are close genetic relatives.
When faced with a choice of potential recipient nests helpers preferential help the breeding pair to who they are most closely related, suggesting that this behaviour may serve to increase the helper’s inclusive fitness …. The life style of these birds reminds us of the early church where everyone shared all that they had among themselves and lived as one large extended family..
When did the church forget to share their blessings?
We say that we are the body of Christ and that Christ is the head of the family, but, We still live either as individuals or as little groups inside the church..
Is that the reason why the church is not able to extend the boundaries of the eternal Kingdom?
How many good Samaritans are still living among us?
Or in other words how many Annanias and Sapphiras are still inside the church?
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? (Ecclesiastes 4:11)
White-fronted Bee-eater (Merops bullockoides) by Africaddict
Female White-fronted Bee-eaters leaving their nesting burrows must avoid pursuit by unmated males who may force them to the ground and rape them. Furthermore their unwelcome attentions are preferentially against females who are laying eggs and who thus might lay the eggs of their rapist rather than their mate.
This reminds us of Dinah, daughter of Jacob, who went out alone to have a look around the countryside and how she was defiled and how there was bloodshed among the Hivites..
This reminds the church to cling to the Bridegroom rather than to tradition and custom…
Tradition and custom can never take us further in our pursuit to holiness, but, it is the presence of God in our lives that makes the difference..
Sin was not found among Adam and Eve until they disobeyed and ate the fruit..
Is that why Eve gave birth to Cain who turned into a murderer?
The duty of the bride is to stay close to the bridegroom and that is where she would have protection…
If you have lost your way, find THE WAY and cling on to Him…
It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me. (Song of Solomon 3:4)
Jacob didn’t leave God until He blessed him…
Moses didn’t leave God’s presence till he got the answer from God..
Never leave God’s presence until something happens…
American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) by Daves BirdingPix
Goldfinch – The Latecomers… ~ by ajmithra
Hello everyone,
This morning I happened to read an article on Goldfinch in http://www.wild.enature.com, and that inspired me to write about these amazing late nesters.. Having just entered into the month of July, I thought it would be apt to just ponder over these awe inspiring July nesters..
By July, most songbirds are in the final stages of raising their young, but not the American Goldfinches. These appealing, colorful birds are just getting started. Notoriously late nesters, goldfinches have been waiting for the thistles to bloom.
Do we wait for God’s timing in our lives?
We may feel bad when everyone is moving ahead of us.
But, God’s plan for our lives is not as same as it is for the others…
David was anointed by Samuel when he was just a kid..
He did not turn into a King immediately after the anointing..
He had to wait for more than thirty years..
He did wait without grumbling, always rejoicing in the Lord and you know what?
David is still considered the greatest king ever lived..
So great that God chose to be born in his family tree..
Wait for God’s plan to bloom, like how these Goldfinches wait for the thistles to bloom..
He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) on Thistle by Fenton
When this happens in July, it signals the goldfinches that they can start building their nests which are made primarily of the silver fibers and down of thistle blooms. Generally, the nest is built in the fork of a horizontal tree limb, 4 to 14 feet above the ground. The female builds a durable, neat cup of thistle and cattail fibers, so dense that it will hold water.Medieval writers believed that thistle can heal headaches, plague, canker, sores, vertigo, and jaundice. Do these birds know the thistles’ medicinal value?
God expects His bride to build a church that is durable and so dense, so that it can hold The Living Water…
God has promised to pour His spirit on all flesh during the last days and we do know that we are in the last days…
God pours so much anointing in every service in church, but we still haven’t reached the unreached yet. Why?
Is it because of the leak that is found in our spirit?
Are these female birds showing us how to build our nest so as to hold The Living Water?
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. (2 Corinthians 4:7)
American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) by Lee thru window
In it she lays 4 to 6 pale blue to white eggs and then she incubates them for 12 to 14 days, until they hatch. The attentive male often feeds his mate while she sits on the nest. By the time the eggs hatch, the thistle has gone to seed, which is perfect timing for feeding young goldfinches.
God’s timing is awesome..
See how well the birds know that the nest material will also become food for their chicks, And they don’t have to wander in search of food..
That is God’s timing..
We tend to think that God is late, but we fail to understand that He is always on time.. There are so many instances where God has asked His servants to look out for His timing..
Joseph had to wait for God’s time to become a Prime Minister..
Moses had to wait for God’s time to become a leader..
Sometimes God even asks us to wait for nature’s signal, like how he asks David to wait for the mulberry leaves to quiver before he falls over the enemy camp..
Do we wait or wilt under pressure..
Do not wait for a man or for an opportunity, just wait for the Lord..
Waiting to the Lord releases super power…You know?
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
The parents nourish this chicks by consuming the thistle seed themselves, and then regurgitating the partially digested, milk like cereal into the mouths of their nestlings. This is as close as birds come to mammals that feed their young milk from mammary glands.
Baby goldfinches are fully feathered and out of the nest 10 to 16 days later. Almost immediately, they join their parents at bird feeders across America. That’s when many people suddenly notice so many goldfinches as the summer progresses. If these birds were normal nesters like the other song birds, they would’ve faced a sever threat on their existence, which is based upon the thistle….
Masterpieces are not made overnight.. It may take weeks, months or even years to make one..
Do you want people to take notice of you?
Just wait…
You are destined to be the Master’s masterpiece, so just wait….
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (Psalm 139:14)
Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus 