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SO RUN
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Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. (1 Corinthians 9:24 KJV)
Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) ©©Nathan Davis Bing
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Author Archives: Lee
Lee’s One Word Monday – 4/4/16
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LOVE
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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV)
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) Passing Berries ©WikiC
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Longsuffering
Gentleness
Faith
Meekness
Temperance
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Creation Moment’s – Great Travelers Have Great Stories To Tell
Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) by Nikhil Devasar
GREAT TRAVELERS HAVE GREAT STORIES TO TELL
“Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch….” (Acts 11:19a)
Those who widely travel usually have interesting experiences to talk about. That is no less true of animals that migrate. A commonly known example is the monarch butterfly. In the fall, monarchs from all over North America head south to the same small patch of jungle trees in Mexico. Even more astonishing is that each generation finds this exact traditional wintering spot but has never been there before.
Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) by Ian
Scientists have recently discovered that another migrating creature has an even more interesting story to tell. Bar-tailed Godwits, shorebirds with a wingspan of about 12 to 16 inches, summer in Alaska. But they winter in New Zealand, over 7,000 miles away. As you mentally picture their route, you would be right to notice that there are very few places to stop and rest between Alaska and New Zealand. Researchers outfitted seven female godwits with tracking devices to learn more about their migration. They found that the godwits traveled the distance nonstop, without rest or even food or water. That’s the equivalent of a nonstop flight from London to Los Angeles, plus 1,000 miles more!
Godwits glorify God as Creator with their amazing migratory paths. As the first Christians scattered across the Roman Empire in fear of persecution and martyrdom, they spread the wonder of God’s love for us in the Gospel of salvation.
Prayer:
Father, I thank You for the glory of Your creation, but I rejoice in the wonder of Your love and salvation. Amen.
Notes:
Science News, 11/22/08, p. 14, Laura Sanders, “Nonstop godwit flights.”
©Creation Moments 2016
Lee’s Addition:
What an amazing Creator that gives these Godwits the ability to make that 7,000 mile journey NON STOP! Wow!
Godwits are in the Scolopacidae Family of the Charadriiformes Order
Bar-tailed Godwit’s Self – Control.. by ajmithra
Lee’s Seven Word Sunday – 4/3/16
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AND LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAY
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Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20 KJV)
Black-cheeked Lovebird (Agapornis nigrigenis) ©WikiC
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Sunday Inspiration – Finches IV
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) on Thistle by Fenton
So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” So the evening and the morning were the fifth day. (Genesis 1:21-23 NKJV)
Today, we finish up the Finch Family. I trust you have enjoyed getting to see so many of the finches, “after their kind.” Our Lord, their Creator, gave them some mighty nice colors and markings. There are missing ones, not shown, that are available, but we don’t have permission to use them. So, if you check the internet and books, they can be found.
Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus) ©WikiC
Spinus is a genus of passerine birds in the finch family. It contains the North and South American siskins and goldfinches.
Purple-throated Euphonia (Euphonia chlorotica) by Dario Sanches
Most Euphonias are dark metallic blue above and bright yellow below. Many have contrasting pale foreheads and white undertails. Some have light blue patches on the head and/or orangish underparts. They range in overall length from 9 to 11 cm (3.5 to 4.3 in). They eat small fruit and berries particularly mistletoe (Loranthaceae). Some species may also eat some insects.
“But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” (Matthew 28:5-6 NKJV)
“Once Upon A Tree” ~ by Faith Baptist Church Choir
“Crown Him Lord of All” ~ Faith Baptist Orchestra
Because of Resurrection Sunday – Easter last week, there was no Sunday Inspiration.
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Sunday Inspiration – Finches I
Sunday Inspiration – Finches II
Sunday Inspiration – Finches III
Fringillid Finches & Allies – Ian’s Birdway
Finch – Wikipedia
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Lee’s Six Word Saturday – 4/2/16
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FOR THEY NEITHER SOW NOR REAP
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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)
Raven Feeding ©Flickr Josh More
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Hummingbirds! – by Brian Thomas, M.S.
Scintillant Hummingbird (Selasphorus scintilla) in Flight by Raymond Barlow
That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it. (Isaiah 41:20 KJV)
I wanted to share an article from the latest Acts and Facts. Acts and Facts is a monthly magazine from the Institute for Creation Research. Here are a few quotes from “Hummingbirds!”, by Brian Thomas, M.S.
Magnificent Hummingbird (Eugenes fulgens) by Judd Patterson
“Who doesn’t pause to marvel when a hummingbird flies by? These tiny, colorful birds perform amazing aerobatic feats, and yet some very smart scientists insist that mere natural forces mimicked a real engineer to construct these fascinating flyers. Authors of a Nature paper on hummingbird flight wrote in 2005 that “the selective pressure on hummingbird ancestors was probably for increased efficiency.”1 They imagine that hummingbirds….”
Violet-headed Hummingbird (Klais guimeti) by Michael Woodruff
“Hummingbird beaks, bones, and feathers differ from those of all other living or extinct bird kinds.3 Their wings don’t fold in the middle. Instead,….”
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (Panterpe insignis) by Raymond Barlow
“New hummingbird research has revealed other fascinating features. Birds generate a lot of heat when they fly. Considering their speed, you might expect hummingbirds….”
To read the article CLICK HERE.
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“Hummingbirds!”, by Brian Thomas
Institute for Creation Research
Trochilidae – Hummingbirds Family
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Lee’s Five Word Friday – 4/1/16
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TO THE GLORY OF GOD
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Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV)
Snowy Egret and Lee at Gatorland by Dan (even birdwatching)
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Lee’s Four Word Thurday – 3/31/16
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THE LOVE OF GOD
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And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. (2 Thessalonians 3:5 KJV)
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) Jax Zoo by Lee
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Lee’s Three Word Wednesday – 3/30/16
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WE FLY AWAY
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The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. (Psalms 90:10 KJV)
Birds Flying over Tampa Bay by Lee
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Lee’s Two Word Tuesday – 3/29/16
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TEACH THEE
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I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. (Psalms 32:8 KJV)
Brown-throated Wattle-eye (Platysteira cyanea) Male ©WikiC
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Friendly and Welcome Visitors
Goldfinches at feeders by Lee thru screen
Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. (Psalms 96:1-4 NKJV)
For the last two weeks, I have had to stay close to home. First, the disc in my back slipped a little more, causing great pain and lack of mobility. (The biggest slip was back in August) Then, after making it almost through the winter without bronchitis, it caught up with me. The pollen was so heavy, that it was necessary to just stay home to get things back in control. So, this was all mentioned for several reasons. 1) Prayers are always accepted. 2) I was able to work on my online course from the School of Biblical Apologetics. 3) Best of all, the Lord kept sending Avian Wonders for me to watch and be reminded that He always cares for them and us.
“[Even the migratory birds are punctual to their seasons.] Yes, the stork [excelling in the great height of her flight] in the heavens knows her appointed times [of migration], and the turtledove, the swallow, and the crane observe the time of their return. But My people do not know the law of the Lord [which the lower animals instinctively recognize in so far as it applies to them].” (Jeremiah 8:7 AMP)
The most surprising was the American Goldfinches that started coming to my feeders. Very seldom do any come by to dine. Maybe one or two at most. Several times over a week or so, we saw as many as 14 at one time. We figured that they were probably a small flock making their way north for the summer, and with the Lord’s help, landed here to rest and “tank-up” for the rest of their journey. They seem to have now continued their migration. Haven’t seen but the one or two who come by occasionally for the last two days. (OOPS!!!) Just looked out the window while working on this article and now there are at least 10 of them out there feeding. YEAH!!
Here are some of the photos of them, unfortunately, photographed through a screened window.
Goldfinches at feeders by Lee thru screen
Goldfinches at feeders by Lee thru screen
Goldfinches at feeders by Lee thru screen
Goldfinches at feeders by Lee thru screen
Goldfinches at feeders by Lee thru screen
Goldfinches at feeders by Lee thru screen
Goldfinches at feeders by Lee thru screen
Goldfinches at feeders by Lee thru screen
Goldfinches at feeders by Lee thru screen
Goldfinches at feeders by Lee thru screen
Sandhill Youngster in Yard 3-26-16
Then on Saturday, mom and pop Sandhill Crane came to the yard with their two new youngsters. This time, Dan was able to take the camera and get a few photos of them.
Sandhill Youngster in Yard 3-26-16
Sandhill Youngster in Yard 3-26-16
Sandhill Youngster in Yard 3-26-16
Sandhill Youngster in Yard 3-26-16
Yesterday, Easter, we drove over to Tampa to the Bayside Community Church to hear Dr. James J. S. Johnson from the Institute for Creation Research speak. On the way over, we had two Swallow tailed Kites fly right over us. They migrate through here this time of the year. They seem to stay for about 2-3 months and then head on north. They are so beautiful to watch.
Swallow-tailed Kite
We always have the Lord’s Wonders to behold, if we just stay alert. He sends blessings to us, even when we may think we are “down.”
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Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus 