Please re-check the last article I posted this evening. I went to fix one thing and it wiped out most of the article. It is now the way is was supposed to be.
I am still looking for remarks or a story that could be posted as to what you think that expression is saying.
Great Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa) ©Peter K Burian at http://www.peterkburian.com
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: (Job 5:17 KJV)
Great Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa) ©Peter K Burian at http://www.peterkburian.com
The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. (Isaiah 43:20 KJV)
Peter K Burian at www.peterkburian.com has given me permission to use this photo. Now, what am I going to tell you about it?
Those eyes look like it is in shock from seeing something. Or maybe he is telling a tale and getting very expressive as it is being told. I would like you to leave a remark and tell me your take on this photo. Or maybe one of you readers could come up with a short story about this? (Remember this is a Christian site.)
The Great Grey Owl or great gray owl (Strix nebulosa) is a very large owl, documented as the world’s largest species of owl by length. It is distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. In some areas it is also called Phantom of the North, cinereous owl, spectral owl, Lapland owl, spruce owl, bearded owl, and sooty owl
Adults have a large rounded head with a grey face and yellow eyes with darker circles around them. The underparts are light with dark streaks; the upper parts are grey with pale bars. This owl does not have ear tufts and has the largest facial disc of any raptor. In terms of length, the great grey owl is believed to exceed the Eurasian eagle-owl and the Blakiston’s fish owl as the world’s largest owl. The great grey is outweighed by those two species as well as several others, including most of the Bubo genus.
Great Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa) Cross section showing fullness of feathers ©WikiC
Much of its size is deceptive, since this species’ fluffy feathers, large head and the longest tail of any extant owl obscure a body lighter than that of most other large owls. The males are usually smaller than females, as with most owl species.
These birds wait, listen, and watch for prey, then swoop down; they also may fly low through open areas in search of prey. Their large facial disks, also known as “ruffs”, focus sound, and the asymmetrical placement of their ears assists them in locating prey, because of the lack of light during the late and early hours in which they hunt. On the nesting grounds, they mainly hunt at night and near dawn and dusk; at other times, they are active mostly during the night.
They have excellent hearing, and may locate (and then capture) prey moving beneath 60 cm (2.0 ft) of snow in a series of tunnels solely with that sense. They then can crash to a snow depth roughly equal to their own body size to grab their prey. Only this species and, more infrequently, other fairly large owls from the Strix genus are known to “snow-plunge” for prey, a habit that is thought to require superb hearing not possessed by all types of owls.
Here’s another photo of the owl by Peter K Burian.
Great Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa) ©Peter K Burian at http://www.peterkburian.com
He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? (Psalms 94:9 KJV)
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. (Proverbs 20:12 KJV)
GBNA – Guide to Birds of North America eField Guide: Great Gray Owl//
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3 KJV)
Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus setosus) ©WikiC
“He hath made His wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.” (Psalm 111:4)
While all living things defy evolution, some do it more clearly than others. The echidna is one example of a creature that obviously challenges evolution. This Australian marvel is often called the spiny anteater. However, it has little resemblance to anteaters in other parts of the world.
Echidnas are classified as monotremes, which are egg-laying mammals. While the adults have no teeth, a hatchling echidna escapes from its egg with an egg tooth. Adults have a long snout and an even longer sticky tongue that catches ants. The hatchling is protected and nursed in a marsupial-like pouch. As it grows it develops the long spines of an adult. If the echidna sounds like a strange creature, its mating habits are even stranger. At mating time echidnas form “trains.” A large female leads the train, followed by up to seven males, the smallest being the last car of the train. They walk single file until the female finds a tree she likes. Then the males dig a trench around the tree and seek to drive each other out of the trench. Only the victorious male is allowed to mate with the female.
With its mammalian, reptilian and marsupial features, the echidna challenges evolution. Evolutionists would have a hard time explaining what forces would produce a creature that is apparently related to no other. The best explanation for the echidna is that it is the work of an infinitely creative and powerful Creator.
Prayer:
Dear Father, Your unlimited creativity fills me with joy. Amen.
Notes:
Science Frontiers, p. 129, “Echidna Eccentricities.” Photo: Western long-beaked echidna. Courtesy of Matma Rex. (CC-BY-SA 3.0) ©Creation Moments 2015 (with permission)
Echidna ©WikiC
Lee’s Addition:
Thinking about this photo and how the Lord created this critter to be protected brings several great passages to mind:
And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” (John 10:28-30 NKJV)
For the LORD will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught. (Proverbs 3:26 NKJV)
He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. (Psalms 121:3 NKJV)
I would love to show you a Puggle, the name for a baby Echida, but I couldn’t find one that gave permission to use. Click this link to see one, Those in Awana, know the name “Puggle”
Lord Bless Your Day!
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Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis) by Ian
The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove (Cisticola?) Is heard in our land. (Song of Solomon 2:12 NKJV)
The Cisticolidae – Cisticolas and Allies family has 158 species currently. They are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are often included within the Old World warbler family Sylviidae. Among the Cisticolida, besides the Cisticola, there are; Jery, Prinia, Warblers, a Longtail, Apalis, Camaroptera, Wren-Warblers, Tailorbirds, Forest Warblers, and Eremomelas.
This family probably originated in Africa, which has the majority of species, but there are representatives of the family across tropical Asia into Australasia, and one species, the zitting cisticola, even breeds in Europe.
Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis) by Nikhil Devasar
These are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub. They are often difficult to see and many species are similar in appearance, so the song is often the best identification guide.
By them the birds of the heavens have their home; They sing among the branches. (Psalms 104:12 NKJV)
These are insectivorous birds which nest low in vegetation.
Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. (Psalms 100:2 NKJV)
“How Can I Keep From Singing?” ~ by the Trio + 1 (Pastor Jerry, Reagan Osborne, Caleb & Jessie Padgett) Faith Baptist
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Cisticolidae – Cisticolas and allies
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Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) by Ray Barlow
These photos by Ray Barlow have just been running around in my mind. It’s about the same as when you hear a song and then for days you hear it and hum the song.
How close are we walking with the Lord Jesus Christ? Are we near and close enough to touch base once in awhile like the photo below?
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) by Ray Barlow
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:22-25 NKJV)
Are we spending more time in reading, praying, attending church, and having fellowship with other believers? Getting closer to the Lord to where we are starting to reflect Him in our lives.
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) by Ray Barlow
As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man. (Proverbs 27:19 NKJV)
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) by Ray Barlow
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV)
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Lord Bless your day as you consider these verses. I trust we all will strive to be more like Jesus and others can see Him in us.
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Gospel Message
Birds of the Bible – Fly Like An Eagle
Thanks to Raymond Barlow for the permission to use these photos.
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Princess Parrot (Polytelis alexandrae) © Jenny Spry
Sorry! I just pulled Ian’s Bird of the Week – Princess Parrot
Give me about a half an hour and I will re-post it. Many have mentioned not seeing the photos.
Stay Tuned!!!
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) by Ray Barlow
For thus saith the LORD; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab. (Jeremiah 48:40 KJV)
I received an email newsletter from Raymond Barlow today with this photo. Oh, my! What a shot. Ray has been one of the first photographers that gave permission to use his photos on this blog. After sending a quick note up to him (Canada), that permission remains and here are some of his latest Bald Eagle photos.
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) by Ray Barlow
Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. (Proverbs 23:5 KJV)
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) by Ray Barlow
Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs. (Jeremiah 49:22 KJV)
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) by Ray Barlow
And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
(Revelation 4:7 KJV)
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) by Ray Barlow
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (Revelation 12:14 KJV)
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) by Ray Barlow
If you click on these photos you will see them much larger. Thank you, Ray. Thank you Lord for creating such fantastic birds, especially Eagles.
Blessings,
Lee
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Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena) by Michael Woodruff
While reading through Lamentations, I came across this verse:
Her consecrated ones were purer than snow, They were whiter than milk; They were more ruddy in body than corals, Their polishing was like lapis lazuli. (Lamentations 4:7 NASB)
I immediately thought of the bird above – the Lazuli Bunting. Working with the Birds of the World, the name “Lazuli” has been seen before, so this is an attempt to find out what it really means and which birds have that color. Let’s dig around and see what we can find out.
Lazuline Sabrewing (Campylopterus falcatus) ©WikiC
The NASB has two more verses that use “lazuli”: Ezekial 1:26 and 28:13. All three use lapis with the lazuli. Checking with my eSword program in the compare mode most of the translations use “Sapphire.” and some use the lapis lazuli. They all refer to a very well polished and cut stone of the sapphire or lazuli color.
Polished Block of Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan ©WikiC
Lazuli
Lazuline Sabrewing (Campylopterus falcatus)
Lazuli Kingfisher (Todiramphus lazuli)
Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena)
Sapphire Gem ©WikiC
Sapphire
Blue-chinned Sapphire (Chlorestes notata)
Sapphire-throated Hummingbird (Lepidopyga coeruleogularis)
Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird (Lepidopyga lilliae)
Blue-throated Sapphire (Hylocharis eliciae)
Rufous-throated Sapphire (Hylocharis sapphirina)
White-chinned Sapphire (Hylocharis cyanus)
Gilded Sapphire (Hylocharis chrysura)
Blue-headed Sapphire (Hylocharis grayi)
Humboldt’s Sapphire (Hylocharis humboldtii)
Golden-tailed Sapphire (Chrysuronia oenone)
Sapphire-spangled Emerald (Amazilia lactea)
Great Sapphirewing (Pterophanes cyanopterus)
Sapphire-vented Puffleg (Eriocnemis luciani)
Sapphire-rumped Parrotlet (Touit purpuratus)
Sapphire Flycatcher (Ficedula sapphira)
Sapphire Quail-Dove (Geotrygon saphirina)
Sapphire-vented Puffleg (Eriocnemis luciani) by Michael Woodruff
What an amazing colection of birds with a beautiful color that the Lord has given us. Not only did we get that fantastic color in stones from the Creator, but He used that color for His avian beauties also.
Hope you enjoy seeing these beautiful birds. The Bibles verses didn’t really have anything to do with birds. The verse is actually about the destruction of Jerusalem and how those that had been so well dressed in various colors were now appearing blacker than soot (Lam 4:8) because of their sin which had caused the destruction. Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, was describing what had been and what they were seeing now.
We also will face judgment one day, for either rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ, at the Great White Throne judgment or for those that have accepted Him as Lord and Savior at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” (John 3:16-21 NASB)
Torrey’s Topical Textbook – Precious Stones
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Chestnut-backed Scimitar Babbler (Pomatorhinus montanus) ©WikiC
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. (Hebrews 3:1-4 KJV)
Looks like this week you’ll be introduced to three families of avian wonders. I am skipping over the Cisticolidae – Cisticolas and allies until next week, because it is quite large. This week the Black-capped Donacobius (Donacobiidae), only bird in family; the Malagasy Warblers (Bernienidae) with 11 species; and the Babblers, Scimitar Barbler’s of the Timaliidae Family of 55 should give us enough birds for a slideshow.
Black-capped Donacobius (Donacobius atricapilla) ©©
The Black-capped Donacobius (Donacobius atricapilla) is a conspicuous, vocal South American bird. It is found in tropical swamps and wetlands in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela; also Panama of Central America. They are common in a wide range of Amazonian wetlands, including oxbow lakes, riparian zones, and other areas with tall dense aquatic or semi-aquatic vegetation.
Mating for life, pairs of Black-capped Donacobiuses can be seen frequently and throughout the day atop thickets of dense lakeside or streamside vegetation. They often will engage in antiphonic dueting. Adult offspring will remain with their parents and help raise siblings from subsequent nesting periods in a system of cooperative breeding. (Wikipedia)
Long-billed Bernieria (Bernieria madagascariensis) WikiC
The Malagasy warblers are a newly validated clade of songbirds. They were formally named Bernieridae in 2010. The family consists of 11 species of small forest birds and is endemic to Madagascar. (Wikipedia)
Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler (Pomatorhinus superciliaris) ©WikiC
Our last family has Scimitar Babblers and some of the various Babblers.
The genus Pomatorhinus of scimitar babblers are jungle birds with long downcurved bills. These are birds of tropical Asia, with the greatest number of species occurring in hills of the Himalayas. They are medium-sized, floppy-tailed landbirds with soft plumage. They are typically long-tailed, dark brown above, and white or orange-brown below. Many have striking head patterns, with a broad black band through the eye, bordered with white above and below.
Spelaeorni genus the typical wren-babblers, is a bird genus in the family Timaliidae. Among this group, the typical wren-babblers are quite closely related to the type species, the chestnut-capped babbler (Timalia pileata). Typical babblers live in communities of around a dozen birds, jointly defending a territory. Many even breed communally, with a dominant pair building a nest, and the remainder helping to defend and rear their young. Young males remain with the group, while females move away to find a new group, and thus avoid inbreeding. They make nests from twigs, and hide them in dense vegetation. (Info from Wikipedia)
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. (Revelation 5:12 KJV)
“Worthy The Lamb” ~ Choir at Faith Baptist Church
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Donacobiidae – Black-capped Donacobius
Bernieridae – Malagasy Warblers
Timaliidae – Babblers, Scimitar Babblers
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Baby Chick Peeping Out From Under His Mom’s Wing – CC
STAY UNDER HIS WINGS
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:4, 5 King James Version)
Pastor William Orcutt Cushing wrote a beautiful hymn “UNDER HIS WINGS”. I love the words in this hymn. “Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow! How the heart yearningly turns to His rest! Often when earth has no balm for my healing, There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.” We have a loving Saviour!
A mother bird will push her baby out of the nest so it will learn to fly. It is just the opposite with Jesus. He wants us to stay with Him not only so He can protect us, but also because we can’t do anything without Him. I can’t even get out of bed without Him. If I can’t serve Him, there is no reason to live.
Someone said “I can’t wait until I’m old enough to move out and leave home”. When Jesus is our Saviour, we don’t want to leave Him. Not only is Jesus our Saviour, He is also the dearest Friend we will ever have. He will never leave us, not even for one minute. What a Saviour, this Jesus of Nazareth!
For those who are trying to make it in this world without Jesus, it hasn’t worked and it will never work. We need Jesus every minute of every day. Stay under His wings and allow Him to protect you, comfort you and encourage you. Don’t try to make it without Jesus. You will hurt Him and break His heart.
Joanne Lowe
September 25, 2015
To see more of Joanne’s devotionals go to her blog at He Loves You And Died For You.
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Joanne Lowe is a guest author and I trust you will be blessed by this and her other devotionals.
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Bald Eagle (close up) LP Zoo by Dan
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 KJV)
Today we were blessed with the sightings of four mature Bald Eagles. Each had their beautiful white heads and their white tails visible. And I wasn’t even out birdwatching. I therefore had no camera with me.
Because I am still under the weather fighting a bad cold and my slipped disc, we have not gone “birdwatching.” So this morning on the way home from therapy, we spotted a Bald Eagle on one of the power poles. A few days ago we had seen one nearby on another street, so this may have been the same one.
I love this time of the year because the eagles start migrating back down to spend the winter with us. Polk County, Florida, where we live, has one of the highest concentrations (in the lower 48) from now through the winter.
Osprey Road by Dan – (Old Bartow Road)
This evening, we drove to Bartow on the Old Bartow Road, which I have renamed “Osprey” road. I call it that because of all the Ospreys that make nest on the flat platforms that are on the power poles. They were placed there when the Osprey were becoming endangered. Now they are recovering right well. Anyway, most of the Ospreys left within the last month, except for one or two, which we saw this evening. (They come down in late January or early February, make babies, and then leave July to August.)
On the way back, we spotted one Bald Eagle sitting in one of the nest and then up about this end, where the picture was taken, there were two more standing in a nest. So much for traipsing through the woods to find an eagle, they were just right there in plain view.
So, even though I didn’t get to go birdwatching lately, the Lord brought the birdwatching to us. What a Blessing. Thank you Lord for allowing us to see them.
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) by Lee at National Aviary
I have seen other birds while we were riding around, but Bald Eagles are very special to me. As that top verse says, I am to be reminded that my strength will be renewed, not be weary or faint. Not so sure about the running though. :)
Accipitridae – Kites, Hawks and Eagles
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“SUPERB,” “SPLENDID” AND “LOVELY”
“I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.” Psalm 50:11
There are 13 species of a brightly plumed little songbird known as the fairy wren. The birds are found in Australia and New Guinea. So colorful are their feathers that the various species go by names like “superb,” “splendid” and “lovely.” However, even more noteworthy is the birds’ unusual behavior.
Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) by Ian
A male courting a female will bring her a flower petal. The petal usually matches his color or is a deeply contrasting color. Normally a perky little bird with an upright tail, when courting he lowers his tail and creeps around close to the ground. As he twists his body back and forth, he puffs out his cheek feathers. If the female accepts his courting, she builds their nest alone, lining it with bright parrot feathers. While they mate for life, they are not known for fidelity to their mates.
Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) Juvenile and Female ©WikiC
When mature, females will go off on their own, but males may stay with their parents for a year or more. Their main duty is to guard the family nest. If danger approaches the nest, the guard will puff up his wings, lower his tail and scuttle through dry grass, pretending to be a mouse. The idea is to lure the predator away from the nest.
Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) Female by Nick Talbot
The beauty and unusual behavior of these little birds testifies to more than God’s creativity and love for beauty. They remind us of the beauty that was lost to God’s creation when it was tainted by man’s sin. Thankfully, some of that beauty that was lost can return to our lives through the forgiveness of sins that is found in Jesus Christ.
Prayer:
Dear Father, I thank You for the beauty of Your creation and for giving me the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Notes:
Natural History, 11/94, pp. 56 62, “Faithful Philanderers.” Photo: Superb blue fairy-wren. Courtesy of Benjamint444. (CC-BY-SA 3.0)
©Creation Moments 2015 used with Permission
Lee’s Addition:
Here are some more photos of the Fairywrens from their Creator:
Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus 