Flamingos In Love ©Pixabay
In honor of Valentines tomorrow, I thought I would re-post this:
“A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;” (Ecc 3:4)
I apologize for not posting lately but was sick with food poisoning that zapped me for a while. All is well now and hope to get back to the Birds of the Bible II series.
Birds of the Bible II – Introduction
Birds of the Bible – First Bird Species Named
Also see all the previous Birds of the Bible posts
House Sparrow by Ray
While working on updating the indexes to the Birds of the Bible-Sparrows, I came across an interesting question. How many Sparrows are mentioned in the Bible? I discovered a previous search I had started from the Bible Gateway website.
The Young’s Literal Translation found 6 verses mentioning Sparrows.
Psalm 84:3 – “a sparrow”
Hosea 11:11- “a sparrow”
Matthew 10:29 – “two sparrows”
Matthew 10:31 – “many sparrows”
Luke 12:6 – “five sparrows”
Luke 12:7 – “many sparrows”
House Sparrows visiting NA Parrot Show Outside by Lee
Okay, so what, you might ask? One, it challenges you to actually study what’s in the Word of God. It is also nice to see what the Bible actually says about the Sparrows and how that impacts us. Try using a website like e-sword.net or Biblegateway.com, and do a little investigation of these questions:
In Psalm 84:3, where was the sparrow and what was she doing?
Hosea 11:22, why was the sparrow trembling?
Matthew 10:29 and 31, what assurance can we get from that verse?
Luke 12:6, who remembers the sparrows?
Luke 12:7, what has been numbered? What about fear?
Female Chipping Sparrow bird feeding three baby Chipping Sparrow nestlings, Athens, Clarke County, GA. by William Wise
These are just some of the previous posts about these little Avian Wonders:
To find out more about Sparrows:
Birds of the Bible – Sparrow I
Birds of the Bible – Sparrow II
Birds of the Bible – More Value
Birds of the Bible – Little Brown Jobs
Birds of the Bible – Worry and Sparrows
Birds of the Bible – Lord Who Is There
Eye of the Beholder – House Sparrows
Sparrows Peterson’s Video
His Eye Is On The Sparrow (Birds in Hymns)
The Eyed Sparrow
Mighty God, While Angels Bless Thee (Birds in Hymns)
The Birds, the Economy, and My Provider – by April Lorier
Sparrows and God Care – by April Lorier
Ian’s Bird of the Week – Masked Finch
World Sparrow Days – by a j mithra
Worthen’s Sparrow – Lost, but found… – by a j mithra
White-crowned Sparrow – The Restorer – by a j mithra
Renewed Day by Day: Signs of Spring
Sparrow Quote from The Life Project ~ from Don Merritt
Sunday Inspiration – Old World Sparrows
Sunday Inspiration – Sparrows
Sunday Inspiration – Sparrows II
Emberizidae’s – Buntings
Emberizidae – Part II
Emberizidae Family Allies I
Emberizidae Family Allies II
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks in yard
While we were eating breakfast, I was making a list of the birds that were out our back door. You have seen many of the photos, and posts about these Breakfast Blessings. Yet, like Tuesday, we were just eating and watching the antics of our Avian Wonders. There is always a squabble or two going on over something, one standing watch guard, as the rest are eating, seeing a new injury, or a bird that hasn’t stopped or flown by lately. What a delight!
Also, in our reading of Scripture, there is always a passage, or verse that catches your attention. Plus, I have a daily calander this year that has sayings from Church Signs. Humm! What if I tie all three of these into a series for the blog? So, after thinking along that trail, here is the first attempt at writing a new series.
We were blessed with having a parade of birds come into view while having our breakfast this morning. A couple of Mourning Doves landed first, and then two Loggerhead Shrikes landed on the feeder hook. First time we have spotted two of them. The Black-Bellied Whistling Duck couple showed up next to check out the ground feeders. They are becoming quite regular visitors. Mornings and in the evening. Three Boat-tailed Grackles landed across the water, and flew over to harrass the Whistling Ducks.
The neighborhood Muscovy ducks waddled and strutted around, while a Green Heron landed by the water. He looked around a minute or two, and then flew off. I walked outside to put some more seed in the feeders, when I heard and saw a Killdeer fly by. Had it not been calling, I would have missed seeing it. As I was walking back in the house, when I turned to close the door, a Tricolored Heron landed by the water. Not bad for a span of about 30 minutes!! [No photos for any of this.]
Here are two to start us off:
God’s Steadfast Love and Compassion
“Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:18-19)
What a great promise!
Stay tuned as this series is developed. Lord’s Blessing on you.
[P.S. It’s dated two days ago because that is when these birds were spotted and the series idea began to grow.]
Green-tailed Sunbird (Aethopyga nipalensis) by Peter Ericsson
The green-tailed sunbird (Aethopyga nipalensis) or Nepal yellow-backed sunbird is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae.
It is found in the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent, stretching eastwards into parts of Southeast Asia.
Its natural habitats are temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. In southeast Szechwan and Yunnan, it lives in open mountain woods with moss-covered trees, from 1825 to 3350 meters elevation.
When viewing this bird, the Wordless Book/Wordless Birds came to mind. Let’s see if we can find all the colors need.
There is definitely Gold/yellow on this beautifully created Sunbird from our Creator.
Green-tailed Sunbird (Aethopyga nipalensis) ©WikiC male
“This GOLD bird reminds us of Heaven. The Bible tells us Heaven has a street of gold! But the best part about Heaven is that God, who created you and me, lives there. The Bible, God’s Word, says: “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” — John 3:16 Jesus, God the Son, is in Heaven preparing a place for all who put their trust in Him. (John 14:2-3) God is holy and perfect. He cannot allow anything in Heaven that is less than perfect, so there’s one thing that can never be in Heaven. Can you think of what that might be?”
Black/Dark is the next color in the Wordless Book/Birds
Green-tailed Sunbird (Aethopyga nipalensis) ©WikiC male
It is sin! That is what this DARK bird reminds us of. Sin is anything you think, say, or do that does not please God, like lying, cheating, being selfish, or hurting others. The Bible says: “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” — Romans 3:23 That means everyone, big or little, young or old! No matter where you live or who you are, you have sinned. Everyone is born with a “want to” to do wrong. God says that sin must be punished (Romans 6:23), and the punishment for sin is to be separated from God forever in a place of suffering….a place called Hell. But God has a wonderful plan so that you will not have to be punished for your sin!
Red is next which stands for Sin
Green-tailed Sunbird (Aethopyga nipalensis) by Peter Ericsson
God sent Jesus Christ, His perfect Son, to be born as a little baby. Jesus lived a perfect life….He never sinned. When He was grown, wicked men nailed Him to a cross. This bird is RED reminding us of Jesus’ blood. The Bible says that without the giving of blood there can be no forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22). So Jesus Christ willingly died to take your sin punishment. “…Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures.“— 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 Now, because of what Jesus has done for you, you can have your sins forgiven. Read on to see how!
White is a little harder to find on the Green-backed Sunbird, but this Lovely Sunbird has plenty of white. It is in the same family.
Lovely Sunbird (Aethopyga shelleyi) ©WikiC
The Bible says: “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believed on His name.” — John 1:12 The WHITE bird reminds us of a CLEAN heart. How can you have a clean heart? A = Admit to God you are a sinner and want to turn away from those sins. B = Believe in Jesus Christ, that He is God’s perfect Son who died for your sin, was buried, and rose again. C = Call on Him to save you from your sin. Would you like to do that right now? He has promised to hear, and once you are His child, He will never leave you (Hebrews 13:5). Take a moment and talk to God right now. It will change your life forever. Only one more color! What can it mean?
Green is for Growth after you accept the Lord as your personal Savior.
Green-tailed Sunbird (Aethopyga nipalensis) by Peter Ericsson
The GREEN bird stands for things that grow. When you ask God to forgive you and save you, you become His child. God wants you to get to know Him better and to grow to become more like Him. These four things will help you grow:
1. PRAY (talk to God every day)
2. READ & OBEY THE BIBLE (to know what He says, then do it)
3. TELL OTHERS ABOUT JESUS
4. GO TO A BIBLE-BELIEVING CHURCH (where you can learn more about pleasing Him)
As a child of God, if you should sin again, stop and tell Him about it. He promises in His Word… “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9 Ask God to help you live a life to please Him! Share the Good News of this story with someone else.
The Wordless Book has been used for many years by CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship). These words are from CEF.
See more Wordless Birds
Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus) by S Slayton
TINY SUPERLATIVES AND GOD’S LOVE
“Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.” Psalm 10:14
Hummingbirds are among the most exquisite jewels in God’s creation. Many of their activities and habits seem almost unreal.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus) by S Slayton
I know of no one who has ever tired of watching a hummingbird hover or fly backwards. Our sense of wonder is not decreased because we understand how the bird can do these tricks. Perhaps an even greater wonder is how these tiny, fragile creatures can make their way in a large and often hostile world.
Consider the broad-tailed hummingbird, for instance. This tiny hummingbird migrates 1,200 miles between Mexico and the Colorado Rockies each year. Its nesting site in the Rockies is filled with predators. In this setting, the mother searches for a protected branch where she will build her fragile nest. It’s best if there is another branch right above the nesting branch to provide shelter from the elements as well as visual cover from hawks and blue jays. She weaves her nest, about the size of half a golf ball, from spider webs and down from plants. It will take two and one-half weeks for her two pea-sized eggs to hatch. In the meantime, the tiny mother, who weighs less than one-eighth of an ounce, must keep herself and her eggs warm in temperatures that can drop below freezing.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus) by Michael Woodruff
God has equipped the delicate hummingbird with intelligence and excellent flying ability, so that even though it is tiny and weak, it can make its living. The continued existence of this fragile creature glorifies its Creator, not the principle of survival of the fittest!
Prayer:
I am filled with wonder, Father, at how You have designed and cared for the hummingbird. When I am tempted to act by my own strength instead of Yours, remind me of Your care for the fragile hummingbird. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Notes:
Calder, William A. 1992. “Ten years on an aspen branch.” Natural History, July, p. 4. Photo: Broad-tailed hummingbird. Courtesy of Michelle Lynn Reynolds. (CC BY-SA 3.0)
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Other Creation Moments Articles
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Black-cheeked Lovebird (Agapornis nigrigenis) ©WikiC
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,(Galatians 5:22 KJV)But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (Ephesians 2:4 KJV)
Dan and I have just returned from three days at an Art of Marriage Retreat at Daytona Beach. Along with almost 20 couples, we were encouraged and given suggestions on ways to improve our marriages. Marriage is under great attack by society, but as Christians, it is very important and much help is given in God’s Word.
We had a great time, other than a fire alarm at 3:30 am. We all had to leave our rooms and depart the resort. Praise the Lord, it was a false alarm. Our first morning found us on the beach enjoying the sunrise and having devotions together. Because of this emphasis, the “love” birds came to mind. Hope you don’t mind. Also, some photos from the retreat are included. Yes, after 51 years together, room for more improvements were taken to heart.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Ephesians 5:25 KJV)
Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. (Ephesians 5:33 KJV)
“Oh The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus” Special by Christina
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Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus) by Ian
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? (Matthew 6:26 KJV)
Golden Eagle ©PD
Boys and girls, this is another one of the amazing statements that have come from the lips of the Lord Jesus Christ! He says that you are much better than the birds. Evolutionist teaches that you are an animal, just higher than the birds. No, you are much better than the birds! Also, Jesus is saying that your Heavenly Father takes care of the birds. They don’t plant or reap a harvest field or gather what they need into barns and yet God takes care of them! When you were born, you didn’t have anything with you and at the end of life you will not take anything with you. All of the things that you need God has provided for you! You have lungs to breathe! In our atmosphere, God has provided oxygen for you to breathe! He also has mixed the air with nitrogen! If He didn’t things would explode in pure oxygen when you tried to cook something on a grill for a picnic! We birds love outside picnics because sometimes we help ourselves to a part of your treats!
Hey, hop on board and come fly with me to new heights! Remember, I am the Golden Eagle and eagles fly pretty high up! I think we are the top bird in God’s Creation. The other day at Fort De Soto there was a ferry that took some people across the waters to one of the small keys. That was like a small island! Well, there was a bird kind of nesting on the ground and I swooped in and that bird made a lot of noise and took off! Because I am one of the top predator birds around. I like to fly in where other species are and watch them scatter! It’s fun. Almost like the tow truck in the field on the Disney movie, Cars! I spread my wings and am able to get some lift and up, up, and away to my Eagle’s nest way up in that tree over there! Yes, there is my life partner. We have been together a few years now. My little ones are throwing a fuss. They are telling me that it’s supper time. I must use my keen sense of sight to find some prey! Oh, I see a small mammal down there… here I go…see ya…
(Not sure if this is what Golden Eagle had in mind, but here is a brave Crow that is about to “hop on board.”)
Crow on Eagles Back ©©
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Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) by Ian
Golden Eagle ©PD
This is the Golden Eagle flying in for another communication. Are you guys keeping your journals? Do you have any bird stories to share with us? Some of you will be heading back to school soon! I need to share another Bible verse with you all!
And I saw an ANGEL standing in the SUN; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls (birds) that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God: that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. (Revelation 19: 17-18)
Kiss the Son (Jesus), lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. BLESSED ARE ALL THEY THAT PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIM (JESUS).” Psalm 2:12
Boy, you don’t what to be on the wrong end of that SUPPER! We don’t what to end up on the bird’s plate! You and I need to treat Jesus Christ the right way! We need to treat His day the right way (Sunday) and , in fact, each and every day the RIGHT way! We need to treat His Word the right way, the BIBLE. Kiss the Son means treating the Son of God with respect and with the worship that He deserves! You and I were created to know and to ENJOY GOD forever! And you know what? Jesus Christ is God, or He could never have come out of the grave on the third day! His Resurrection proves that He is God and He promised to return to this Earth that He made to set up His very own Kingdom!
Black Vultures Looking For A Meal at Saddle Creek
The heat of the sun, and the birds of the sky help to break down dead plants and animals that lie around on the ground. They, along with other critters. act like God’s clean-up crew! And that is a great thing! Eventually, God is going to clean up this old earth! He will get rid of all the unsaved sinners and evil people of the world! PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE TRUSTED JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR OWN PERSONAL SAVIOR, AND THAT YOU ARE TRUSTING HIM FOR SALVATION ALONE! Bye, for now, I have to feed my little ones their supper! Smile: Remember, God loves you!!!
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Russet Sparrow (Passer rutilans) by Nikhil Devasar
In the Bible, the Sparrows are mentioned in 7 verses. Check out these from the NKJV:
Even the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, Where she may lay her young— Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, My King and my God. (Psalms 84:3 NKJV)
I lie awake, And am like a sparrow alone on the housetop. (Psalms 102:7 NKJV)
Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, So a curse without cause shall not alight. (Proverbs 26:2 NKJV)
Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. (Matthew 10:29 NKJV)
Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:31 NKJV)
Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. (Luke 12:6 NKJV)
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12:7 NKJV)
Sparrows are not always thought of very highly. Many people think they are just “little brown birds” and are of no use. But is that what the Scriptures says in those verses? No.
What can you learn from those verses?
The sparrow has found a ____________
The sparrow is found on the __________________
How does the sparrow fly? (see Proverbs 26:2) _______________
Who is aware of or allows a sparrow to fall to the ground? ______________
Are sparrows forgotten by God? ______________
How many sparrows were sold for one copper coin? ________
For two copper coins? ___________
Who is more valuable, you or a sparrow? _____________
We will talk more about Sparrows in the next Bible Birds – Sparrows II. For now, here are a few pictures of different Sparrows around the world.
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Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus 