Tag Archives: Inspiration

Birds of the Bible – Trusting Under The Wing

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Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) young on her wing ©USFWS

Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) young on her wing ©USFWS

The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. (Ruth 2:12 KJV)

While searching for “wing” or “wings” in my e-Sword, I discovered this really great verse. Let’s dig into it.

Searching further using “under” and “wing” here are a few more verses that sort of relate to the verse above:

Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, (Psalms 17:8 KJV)

How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. (Psalms 36:7 KJV)

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. (Psalms 91:4 KJV)

Matthew 23:37 and Luke 13:34 mention being gathered under the wing, but they were not willing. Also, in  we covered. no pun intended, how birds protect their young under their wings and how God protects us. But the verse above seem to imply our trust.

What is being trusted? Boaz is implying that Ruth is trusting in the “LORD God of Israel.” She is from another country, another culture and religious way of life, but has turned her trust over to the LORD. That is something I did personally way back in 1960. I put my trust in the Lord to be my personal Savior. It was the best decision of my life.

Storks Shadowing Baby in Lakeland by Dan

Storks Shadowing Baby in Lakeland by Dan

In the Psalms verses, we can know that the Lord keeps His Eye on His own and we should desire to be the “apple of the eye.” Notice in the other verses that while we are under the wings we are trusting. Who? The Lord or LORD. Why do we trust? Wow! Look around at all the Lord has done just in creation and care of the birds. How about our care? We know through promises all through the Word of God that He cares for us. We know He doesn’t lie or do things for our harm. We also know that He is just and will give judgment when needed.  We could go on and on, but you can also see that the Lord Jesus Christ is “trustworthy.”

Baby Chick Peeping Out From Under His Mom's Wing - ©©

Baby Chick Peeping Out From Under His Mom’s Wing – ©©

We know the birds trust their parents to protect them while they are under their wings. Should we not trust the Savior while we are under His wings?

Here is a quote from the Believer’s Bible Commentary:

“2:4-12 When Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, he asked the identity of the young woman. Learning that she was Naomi’s daughter-in-law, he cordially invited her to continue gleaning in his fields and to share the water provided for his workers. In praising her for the loyal and selfless step that she had taken, Boaz concluded with a little prayer for her:
The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge (v. 12).
Leon Morris comments:

In due course, the prayer was answered through him who uttered it. He recognizes the religious aspect of Ruth’s change of country by saying that she has come to trust (AV) under Yahweh’s wings. The imagery is probably that of a tiny bird struggling under the wings of a foster-mother. It gives a vivid picture of trust and security. . . .

From J. Vernon McGee:

“She had come to trust the Lord God. This is the reason she had left the land of Moab and made that radical decision. She had said that the God of Naomi would be her God. She had turned from idolatry to the living and true God. This woman has come to trust God; she was one of His children. Therefore this is the wonderful testimony that she had there in the land of Israel. And Boaz says, “May a full reward be given to you. May you be recompensed for this decision.”

From Matthew Henry:

“(5.) He (Boaz) prayed for her (Ruth_2:12): The Lord recompense thy work. Her strong affection to the commonwealth of Israel, to which she was by birth an alien, was such a work of the divine grace in her as would certainly be crowned with a full reward by him under whose wings she had come to trust. Note, Those that by faith come under the wings of the divine grace, and have a full complacency and confidence in that grace, may be sure of a full recompense of reward for their so doing. From this expression, the Jews describe a proselyte to be one that is gathered under the wings of the divine majesty.”

From John Gill’s Exposition:

“under whose wings thou art come to trust; whom she professed to be her God, and whom she determined to serve and worship; whose grace and favour she expected, and to whose care and protection she committed herself: the allusion is either to fowls, which cover their young with their wings, and thereby keep them warm and comfortable, and shelter and protect them, see Psa_36:7 or to the wings of the cherubim overshadowing the mercy seat, Exo_25:20 and the phrase is now adopted by the Jews to express proselytism; and so the Targum here,”thou art come to be proselyted, and to be hid under the wings of the Shechinah of his glory,”or his glorious Shechinah.”

My all time favorite photo showing this:

Under His Wings - (Dove - photographer unknown)

Under His Wings – by Ric Seet

Other Articles to check out:

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Oriental White-eye – The Grace Seeker..

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Oriental White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus) ©WikiC

Oriental White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus) ©WikiC

Oriental White-eye – The Grace Seeker.. ~ by a j mithra

The Oriental White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus) is a small passerine bird in the white-eye family.

It is a resident breeder in open woodland in tropical Asia, east from the Indian Subcontinent to Southeast Asia, extending to Indonesia and Malaysia. They forage in small groups, feeding on nectar and small insects.

They are easily identified by the distinctive white eye-ring and overall yellowish upperparts. Several populations of this widespread species are named subspecies and some have distinctive variations in the extent and shades of yellows in their plumage.

This bird is small (about 8–9 cm long) with yellowish olive upper parts, a white eye ring, yellow throat and vent. The belly is whitish grey but may have yellow in some subspecies. The sexes look similar.

If we are called Christians, we need to look like Christ..

  • But, do we look like Christ or do people see Christ in us and through us?

We have just stepped into a new year, where many of us would have taken resolutions to eat less, quit smoking, stop watching porn stuff and maybe a resolution to stop taking resolutions…

  • But have we ever taken a resolution to walk like Christ, to talk like Christ and be like Christ?

People around us are watching us and expecting us to show Christ. You know?

Now is the time to take a resolution to be like Christ isn’t it?

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:27)

Japanese White-eye (Zosterops japonicus) by W Kwong

Japanese White-eye (Zosterops japonicus) by W Kwong

The species is widespread and is part of a superspecies complex that includes Zosterops japonicus, Zosterops meyeni and possibly others. The species is found in a wide range of habitats from scrub to moist forest.

They sometimes occur on mangrove areas such as in the Karachi area. and on islands they may lead a more insectivorous life. They are somewhat rare only in the drier desert regions of western India. A feral population was detected in San Diego, California in the 1980’s and subsequently eradicated.

These white-eyes are sociable, forming flocks which only separate on the approach of the breeding season. They are highly arboreal and only rarely descend to the ground.

God too expects us to be highly arboreal (living in a tree)..

  • Adam tried to live on the tree of life but was chased away from God’s presence..
  • We have a tree, the CROSS TREE, where Christ – the Vine hung to make us more like Him..
  • Now is the time to check if we are Arboreal?

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

The breeding season is February to September but April is the peak breeding season and the compact cup nest is a placed like a hammock on the fork of a branch. The nest is made of cobwebs, lichens and plant fibre.
The nest is built in about 4 days and the two pale blue eggs are laid within a couple of days of each other. The eggs hatch in about 10 days. Both sexes take care of brooding the chicks which fledge in about 10 days Though mainly insectivorous, the Oriental White-eye will also eat nectar and fruits of various kinds.

They call frequently as they forage and the usual contact call is a soft nasal cheer.

They pollinate flower when they visit them for flower insects (such asthrips) and possibly nectar that form their diet. The forehead is sometimes coloured by pollen leading to mistaken identifications.

  • Do we visit Rose of Sharon and the Lilly of the valley every day and help in pollination?
  • If yes, why is that people are not able to witness pollen grains (Word of God) on most of our foreheads?

Therefore shall you lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. (Deuteronomy 11:18)

When nesting, they may mob palm squirrels but being small birds they are usually on the defensive. Their predators include bats (esp. Megaderma lyra) and birds such as the White-throated Kingfisher. Like some other white-eyes, they sometimes steal nest material from the nests of other birds Cases of interspecific feeding have been noted with white-eyes feeding the chicks of a Paradise Flycatcher.

They have been observed bathing in dew accumulated on leaves.

  • Do we remember, Israelites collected manna covered with the morning dew?

Which means feasting of Manna at dawn increases His grace in our life isn’t it? His grace is like early morning dew, this is what the Bible says right?

  • Without His grace it is unlikely for us to survive..

It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Oriental White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus) ©WikiC

Oriental White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus) ©WikiC

Although not strong fliers, they are capable of dispersing in winds and storms to new areas including offshore islands. Though these birds are not strong fliers, they still are able to disperse in wind and storm..

  • When we are weak , we need to remember that God uses the weak and the weary..
  • When you face a storm is life, just think of these birds and disperse in the storm…
  • For God always makes us lie down in green pastures and leads us beside still waters..
  • What storm is for others will be still waters for you and me, cos our Lord is our good Shepherd!

Apostle Paul had a thorn in His flesh, you know what God said?

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Lets seek for His bountiful grace each dawn to fly high above troubled waters..

Have a grace filled day!

Yours in YESHUA,
a j mithra

Lee’s Addition:

Read more from a j mitha

The White-eyes are in the Zosteropidae – White-eyes Family.

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Birds in Christmas Hymns – I Wonder As I Wander (Re-post)

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Crane Migration over Israel

Crane Migration over Israel

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7)

John Jacob Niles, 1933  – Collector of the music

Music – I Wonder as I Wander, Appalachian carol by Carl Rütti (1949 – )

Birds in Christmas Hymns

I Wonder As I Wander

I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die.
For poor on’ry people like you and like I…
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.

When Mary birthed Jesus ’twas in a cow’s stall,
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
But high from God’s heaven a star’s light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God’s angels in heav’n for to sing,
He surely could have it, ’cause he was the King.

Mallards flying off by Ian

Mallards flying off by Ian

John Jacob Niles (Dates B-D) Collected by John Jacob Niles in Murphy, NC in July 1933 from a young traveling evangelist Annie Morgan. According to Niles, he asked her to sing the song repeatedly until he had memorized it. It was published in his 1934 Songs of the Hill-Folk. Written in a minor key, it’s qualities of pensiveness make it one of today’s most popular carols.

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More Birds in Hymns

See ~ Sharing The Gospel

Wordless Birds

Most information from The Hymns and Carols of Christmas – I Wonder As I Wander

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Birds of the Bible – Eyes and Birds

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Birds on Shore of Tampa Bay

Birds on Shore of Tampa Bay – 11/23/12 by Lee

As many of you know I have just gone through eye surgery this last Thursday. (Prayer for Eye Surgery) Today, Monday, I am getting clearer vision daily, but my activities are still limited. I was able to attend church last evening and even went out afterwards with our friends. The Doctor said it was “his easiest surgery of the day and every thing went just like it should.” (I was his last patient) also told me I was his “best patient of the day.” When he walk out I told the nurses that were with me that he probably tell all his patients that. They told me that they had never heard him say that to anyone.

I told you all of that to thank you for your prayers for my Doctor and for my nervousness. Both were answered mightily. The Lord helped direct his hand and since I had to be awake, helped me stay still. They can’t put you out because you must have your eyes open. My eye was numbed, but I saw part of what was going on.

Well, guess where my mind went yesterday? I started wondering how many times “eye” and some “bird” showed up in the same verse. With enlarged type, my search found around 20 verses. Some of my upcoming Birds of the Bible blogs will investigate these verses. In fact, some have already been written. (These are just a few of them)

Birds of the Bible – Vulture Eyesight – Job 28:7

When I Consider! – Turkey Vulture – Job 28:7

Birds of the Bible – Hawks – Job 28:7 and 39:26-30

Birds of the Bible – God’s Providence To His Creatures

The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. (Psalms 145:15 KJV)

Birds of the Bible – Eagles and Riches 

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)

There are more and will be covered later.

Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, (Psalms 17:8 KJV)

Interesting verses, but not directly related to birds:

He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? (Psalms 94:9 KJV) (Our Creator)

The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. (Proverbs 20:12 KJV)

Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. (Psalms 119:18 KJV)

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) (How?)

This is just a sampling. There are over 600 verses which have “Eye” in it. I enjoy using my “e-Sword” search and compare modes. Makes for some interesting topics to study from God’s Word.

Again, thank you for your prayers. I still have several weeks of recovery ahead of me, so please remember me in your prayers as you think about it. Prayer is felt when it is being answered.

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Is Eagle’s Weight Our Weight?

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Steller's Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) by Lee at NA

Steller’s Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) by Lee at NA

Is Eagle’s Weight Our Weight? ~ by a j mithra

The strike force
of the eagle’s talon
is as powerful
as twice the force
of a rifle bullet…

Pound for pound,
an eagle’s wing
is much more stronger
than the wing of an airplane.
An eagle can kill
a young deer
and fly away with it.
These are some of the
amazing facts
about the Eagle..

We all want to fly high
like an Eagle..
Isn’t it?

We wouldn’t mind
waiting for a bus
or wait in a que
at a Cinema theatre,
or wait for a long time
in a bank..
But,
do we really take time
to wait at the feet
of the LORD?

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)

Have a Blessed day!

Your’s in YESHUA,
a j mithra

Please visit us at: Crosstree

ajmithra21

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Fly Light…

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Mallards flying off by Ian

Mallards flying off by Ian

Fly Light… ~ by a j mithra

Do birds carry
heavy or light luggage
when they fly?
Never,
cos,
they know that
its easier to fly light
without excess weight…

Though we wait
on the LORD,
we still are not able to
fly high over the storm..

Why?
Is it cos
we carry all the junk like

  • fears and tears,

and,

  • anger and pain?

LETS FLY LIGHT
FOR THE LIGHT…

Therefore seeing we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily ensnare us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1)

Have a Blessed day!

Your’s in YESHUA,
a j mithra

Please visit us at: Crosstree

ajmithra21

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Bar-tailed Godwit’s Self – Control..

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Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) by Nikhil Devasar

Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) by Nikhil Devasar

Bar-tailed Godwit’s Self – Control.. ~ by a j mithra

With the help of satellite tracking,
researchers found that,
Bar-tailed Godwits made
the longest non-stop flight
of any bird…

A female bar-tailed Godwit,
flew nonstop for eight days
and covered 7,242 miles
from Alaska to New Zealand….

These birds use
the air’s low pressure
to help them migrate
and they take advantage
of the 500 to 800 miles
of strong tailwinds
of the low pressure..

Many a time,
when we face low pressure
in life,

  • we feel down and out,
  • weak and weary,
  • distracted and disturbed

all along our life’s journey….

All because,
we don’t have the
fruit of self-control..

We also fail to realize that the low pressure
is the launching pad
on our quest to top…

Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) by Ian

Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) by Ian

Look at the price this little bird had paid
to do what no one else could do!

  • She didn’t eat or drink,
  • she didn’t shop or sleep

during her journey..
GOD paid a priceless price
for all our sins..
But,
what price are we going to pay
to reach our destiny?

  • This bird neither slept
  • nor supped for eight long days..

Do we have that self-control,

  • to fast at least once a week?
  • to keep wake all night
  • and pray for at least once a month?

GOD IS IN NEED OF PEOPLE TO STAND AT THE GAP
AND PLEAD FOR ALL THOSE DYING SOULS..
HELLOOOOO….
IS ANYONE LISTENING?

And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they [do it] to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. (1Corinthians 9:25 (A S V))

Have a blessed day!

Yours in YESHUA,
a j mithra

Please visit us at:
Crosstree

ajmithra21

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Birds of the Bible – God Blessed Them

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Osprey Family by Phillip Simmons

And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”
(Genesis 1:22 NKJV)

And God H430 blessed H1288 them, saying, H559 Be fruitful, H6509 and multiply, H7235 and fill H4390 (H853) the waters H4325 in the seas, H3220 and let fowl H5775 multiply H7235 in the earth. H776 (Genesis 1:22 KJV+)

I have written before on this verse, but really never looked into this aspect of it. I knew He had told them to multiply and be fruitful, but I missed the “blessing” part. The Lord didn’t just create the birds and then leave them on their own. He cared about them and “blessed” them. Below is the definition of Strong’s Hebrew word and then Thayer’s Greek word for Blessing or Blessed.

Strong – H1288

בּרך
bârak
baw-rak’
A primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason): – X abundantly, X altogether, X at all, blaspheme, bless, congratulate, curse, X greatly, X indeed, kneel (down), praise, salute, X still, thank.

Thayer – G2127

εὐλογέω
eulogeō
Thayer Definition:
1) to praise, celebrate with praises
2) to invoke blessings
3) to consecrate a thing with solemn prayers
3a) to ask God’s blessing on a thing
3b) pray God to bless it to one’s use
3c) pronounce a consecratory blessing on
4) of God
4a) to cause to prosper, to make happy, to bestow blessings on
4b) favoured of God, blessed
Part of Speech: verb

Let’s see what some of the commentaries have to say about the birds being blessed by God:

(Chuck Smith) – “But we get the more complex life forms that sort of are a little independent. They’re not rooted, they’re not grounded, they are mobile, and the various cycles that God has created, the whole process is just so marvelous indeed. The water, teeming with life, and then the air, and the many, many kinds of birds and the variety of birds that God has created. And those instinctive abilities in the birds!

American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica) at National Aviary by Lee

American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica) at National Aviary by Lee

I’m always fascinated by that little bird in Hawaii that goes up into the Aleutian chain in order to mate. During the summer, they take off from Hawaii and they fly all the way up into Alaska where they mate. They build their nests, they lay the eggs, they hatch their young. And then with the coming of winter, they don’t want to spend winter in Alaska — and who can blame them. And you have to almost envy them, spending their winters in Hawaii. They take off over the thousands of miles without suitcases, without spare gas tanks, without compasses or navigational equipment. And they come and fly right into Hawaii, sometimes they get into severe storms, one-hundred, two-hundred mile an hour winds that blow them off course, but somehow they find their way right in. You say, “oh, they remember the way they flew out.”

How do they reckon? Some think they have some kind of device that tunes on the magnetic field of the earth. I don’t know. But, really, they’re not following the same path, so that argument’s sort of shot down, because, really, the parents decide to leave for Hawaii before the kids are able to fly that far. So, the parents fly off to Hawaii, leaving their kids in Alaska! But, it doesn’t seem to matter, cause a couple of weeks later, their kids take off and they fly right to Hawaii. Never been there before, yet somehow, God has built into this little bird that kind of instinct; and that’s a bird brain. And it’s not a very big kind of a computer. Talk about microsystems!

Oh, the wisdom of God, the wisdom of God. How thrilling to be able to see the design in nature, all testifying of the wisdom of the God that I serve. I’m so glad that I serve Him. I’m so glad that I know Him. Such a glorious God, so wise; all of these created life forms. Now, He created also the mammals, the great whales. He created the animals, the domesticated-type animals, all after their own kind.

And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.”

American Robin (Turdus migratorius) in nest by Ray

American Robin (Turdus migratorius) in nest by Ray

(John Gill) – “Genesis 1:22

And God blessed them,…. With a power to procreate their kind, and continue their species, as it is interpreted in the next clause, saying, be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas: and these creatures do multiply exceedingly, and vast quantities there are of them in the mighty waters, though the consumption of some sorts of them is very great. Our English word “fish” is derived from the Hebrew word פוש, “fush”, which signifies to multiply and increase:

and let fowl multiply in the earth; as they did, and continue to do to this day.”

(Matthew Henry) – “2. The blessing of them, in order to their continuance. Life is a wasting thing. Its strength is not the strength of stones. It is a candle that will burn out, if it be not first blown out; and therefore the wise Creator not only made the individuals, but provided for the propagation of the several kinds; God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful and multiply, Gen_1:22. God will bless his own works, and not forsake them; and what he does shall be for a perpetuity, Ecc_3:14. The power of God’s providence preserves all things, as at first his creating power produced them. Fruitfulness is the effect of God’s blessing and must be ascribed to it; the multiplying of the fish and fowl, from year to year, is still the fruit of this blessing. Well, let us give to God the glory of the continuance of these creatures to this day for the benefit of man. See Job_12:7, Job_12:9. It is a pity that fishing and fowling, recreations innocent in themselves, should ever be abused to divert any from God and their duty, while they are capable of being improved to lead us to the contemplation of the wisdom, power, and goodness, of him that made all these things, and to engage us to stand in awe of him, as the fish and fowl do of us.”

(Haydock Commentary) – “Genesis 1:22

Blessed them, or enabled them to produce others. — Multiply: the immense numbers and variety of fishes and fowls is truly astonishing.”

(K & D) – “As animated beings, the water animals and fowls are endowed, through the divine blessing, with the power to be fruitful and multiply. The word of blessing was the actual communication of the capacity to propagate and increase in numbers.”

(John Wesley) – “Observe, 2, The blessing of them in order to their continuance. Life is a wasting thing, its strength is not the strength of stones; therefore the wise Creator not only made the individuals, but provided for the propagating of the several species, Gen_1:22. God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply – Fruitfullness is the effect of God’s blessing, and must be ascribed to it; the multiplying of the fish and fowl from year to year, is still the fruit of this blessing here.”

Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) ©©Flickr

Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) ©©Flickr

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! (Psalms 107:31 KJV)

The Lord not only blessed the birds, but provided them with the instinct and DNA to be able to reproduce and adapt to the changing conditions. Those that have not been able or suffered disasters be they natural or man-made have become extinct. The “kinds” have produced great varieties (over 10,400 species) that we enjoy as we study and view the different families. While He blessed the birds, in turn, we are blessed because we are able to enjoy the vast variety of these avian creations. Praise the Lord!

Birds of the Bible

Birds of the World

Bird of the Week

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Stop flying solo…

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Cape Barren Goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae) by Ian

Cape Barren Goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae) by Ian

Stop flying solo… ~ by a j mithra

The linear flight formations of migratory birds are called echelons.
The V and the J structures are typical and are the most readily recognized flock echelons…

There are two well-supported and complementary explanations for why birds fly in formation.

  • One is to conserve energy by taking advantage of the upwash vortex fields created by the wings of the birds in front.
  • The other is to facilitate orientation and communication among the birds.

These explanations have been backed by a variety of studies..
We as believers are on a journey, migrating to heaven..
How much energy do we conserve?

Crane Migration over Israel

Crane Migration over Israel

First of all,

  • do we migrate in groups
  • or are we on a selfish solo flight

to heaven?
Unless we communicate with fellow believers we will not be able to migrate as a group
and unless we migrate as a group we will not be able to conserve energy..
Cos, GOD’s presence is mightier in corporate worship…

After all, GOD said that

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20 KJV)

Lets stop solo flight and start migrating as a crowd…..

Your’s in YESHUA,
a j mithra

Please visit us at:

Crosstree

ajmithra21

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American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) by Lee

White Pelicans on the Wing at Circle B Bar Reserve by Lee

Why do geese fly in a V shape?

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Birds of the Bible – Shelter in the Storm

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Under His Wings - ( Male Pink-necked Green Pigeon by Rik Seet)

Under His Wings – ( Male Pink-necked Green Pigeon by Rik Seet)

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by. (Psalms 57:1 NKJV)

In our devotions this morning, we read Psalm 57. The first verse caught my attention because of the shelter from the wings of a bird. Also, I just received again the above picture in an e-mail. Only about the 30th time I have received it. Apparently it is as precious to others as it is to me.

With the Hurricane – Superstorm Sandy just passing by the last few days, this is a good time to remember to put and keep our trust in the Lord.

The beginning of that verse has this title attached: “To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” a Michtam of David When He Fled from Saul into the Cave.” David was trying to hide from Saul, just as those up north have been trying to hide from that storm.

“David took refuge under the shelter of God’s wings. He stood “steadfast,” a term indicating firmness, certainty, and determination (v.7). His faith was not blown about by the wind. He clung tenaciously to God. That is why today’s psalm spends more time on the character off God than on the writer’s circumstances.’ (Today in the Word, Day 16, Psalms)

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise. (Psalms 57:7 NKJV)

Another quote, “the prayer (vv 1-4) emphasizes God’s character. He is merciful, protecting, caring, just, and faithful. The enemy may be “ravenous beasts,” but the psalmist can hide beneath His wings as a chick hides beneath a mother bird.”

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by. I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me. He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth His mercy and His truth. My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.  (Psalms 57:1-4 NKJV)

Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) babies ©WikiC (Lukasz_Lukasik)

Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) babies ©WikiC (Lukasz_Lukasik)

Verses 5 and 11 “focuses our attention on God’s chief attribute–His glory and worthiness to be worshiped”

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth. (Psalms 57:5 NKJV)

Our prayers and thoughts are with those going through this storm. We have been there in the midst of hurricanes before (Andrew, Charlie, Jean, Frances and those that passed near) and we know it is hard, but there is always a peace that only the Lord can give to get you through. Look to Him.

Wordless Birds

Birds of the Bible

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Birds of the Bible – Sorry For Their Creation?

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Rose-Crowned Fruit-Dove by Birdway

Rose-Crowned Fruit-Dove by Birdway

Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (Genesis 6:5-8 NKJV)

Now that is an interesting passage from Scripture. Does God change His Mind? I don’t believe He does, but let’s look see what some of the Commentary writers have to say. The bolding mine.

White-fronted Bee-eater (Merops bullockoides) by Africaddict

White-fronted Bee-eater (Merops bullockoides) by Africaddict

(Believer’s Bible Commentary) – “6:6, 7 The Lord’s sorrow does not indicate an arbitrary change of mind, though it seems that way to man. Rather, it indicates a different attitude on God’s part in response to some change in man’s behavior. Because He is holy, He must react against sin.”

(Barnes – this is long but interesting) – Gen_6:7 – I will wipe away man from the face of the soil. – The resolve is made to sweep away the existing race of man. Heretofore, individuals had departed this life. Adam himself had long since paid the debt of nature. These solemn testimonies to the universal doom had not made any salutary or lasting impression on the survivors. But now a general and violent destruction is to overtake the whole race – a standing monument of the divine wrath against sin, to all future generations of the only family saved.
From man to cattle, creeper and fowl of the sky. – These classes of animated nature being mingled up with man are involved in the same ruin with him. This is of a piece with the curse laid upon the serpent, which was the unconscious organ of the tempter. It is an instance of a law which runs through the whole course of nature, as we observe that it is the method of the divine government to allow for the time the suffering inflicted on an inferior animal, or even on a fellow-creature, by selfish passion. It has an appearance to some minds of harshness and unfairness. But we must remember that these animated creatures are not moral, and, therefore, the violent termination of their organic life is not a punishment; that the pain incidental to this, being apart from guilt, is in itself a beneficial provision for the conservation of life; and that it was not intended that the life of animals should be perpetual. The return of the land to a state of desolation by the destruction of animal and vegetable life, however, has its lesson for man, for whom ultimately all of this beauty and fertility were designed, and from whom it is now withdrawn, along with all the glories it foreshadows, as part of the punishment of his guilt. The tenant has become unworthy of the tabernacle, and accordingly he is dispossessed, and it is taken down and removed.

Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) by S Slayton

Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna) by S Slayton

(Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown) – Genesis 6:5-6 – God saw it … repented … grieved — God cannot change (Malachi_3:6; James_1:17); but, by language suited to our nature and experience, He is described as about to alter His visible procedure towards mankind – from being merciful and long-suffering, He was about to show Himself a God of judgment; and, as that impious race had filled up the measure of their iniquities, He was about to introduce a terrible display of His justice (Ecc_8:11).

(Matthew Henry) – 4. Even the brute-creatures were to be involved in this destruction – Beasts, and creeping things, and the fowls of the air. These were made for man, and therefore must be destroyed with man; for it follows: It repenteth me that I have made them; for the end of their creation also was frustrated. They were made that man might serve and honour God with them; and therefore were destroyed because he had served his lusts with them, and made them subject to vanity. 5. God took up this resolution concerning man after his Spirit had been long striving with him in vain. None are ruined by the justice of God but those that hate to be reformed by the grace of God.

Lilac-breasted Roller (Coracias caudatus) by Africaddict

Lilac-breasted Roller (Coracias caudatus) by Africaddict

(Guzik) – “b. The Lord was sorry that He had made man . . . He was grieved in His heart: God’s sorrow at man, and the grief in His heart, are striking. This does not mean that creation was out of control, nor does it mean that God hoped for something better but was unable to achieve it. God knew all along that this was how things would turn out, but our text tells us loud and clear that as God sees His plan for the ages unfold, it affects Him. God is not unfeeling in the face of human sin and rebellion.”

(Wesley) – “Genesis 6:7 – I will destroy man – The original word is very significant. I will wipe off man from off the earth; as dirt is wiped off from a place which should be clean, and thrown to the dunghill. Or, I will blot out man from the earth, as those lines are blotted out of a book which displease the author, or as the name of a citizen is blotted out of the rolls of the freemen when he is disfranchised. Both man and beast the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air – These were made for man, and therefore must be destroyed with man. It repenteth me that I have made them – For the end of their creation also was frustrated: they were made that man might serve and honour God with them and therefore were destroyed, because he had served his lusts with them, and made them subject to vanity.

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) w young ©USFWS

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) w young ©USFWS

These are just some of the remarks from the Commentaries that I have on my e-Sword program, which I use often. My understanding is that God had created both man and beasts/birds. They were suppose to serve Him and use the birds in His service also. After the fall, (Genesis 3) that is when things changed. Man continued sinned more and more until it was continually night and day – “24/7”. Apparently, they even used the creatures and birds in evil ways. Enough was enough and God had reached the end of his long suffering and had to use justice. Because of His Love, he could not let things continue. Gospel Presentation

Now we see such beautiful birds and wonder how much impressive were they like in their unfallen state. I am so thankful that God saved Noah’s family and at least 2 of each animal and 7 pairs of each of the birds. We see some glimpse of what they must have been like. We also, unfortunately, see the results of the curse on many of our avian friends.

More Birds of the Bible

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Bluebird Fathers – Protective and Teachers

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Bluebird Fathers – Protective and Teachers ~ From Creation Moments (Re-post)

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) by S Slayton

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) by S Slayton

PROTECTIVE, TEACHING FATHERS

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  (Ephesians 6:4)

The first scientific studies that showed essential differences between males and females were not well received by some. Many Christians have resisted the teachings that men and women are by nature the same. Christians have traditionally understood the Bible to teach that males and females each have essential, honorable, but different roles to play.

Unfortunately, many Christians have been unsure how to describe those roles. As we study the scriptural portrayal of the family, especially in Ephesians chapter 5, a picture begins to emerge. All the scriptural examples of motherhood and fatherhood can be distilled into one basic idea. What we call a healthy maternal instinct and a healthy desire on the part of the male to protect and prevent danger are only two sides of the same coin.

An example of what this means was recently discovered in bluebirds. Scientists have found that bluebird fathers offer their nestling daughters twice as much food as their sons. Of course, the sons are never allowed to go hungry. Scientists were puzzled by this until someone suggested that by doing this, father bluebird was teaching his daughters, by example, how to select a mate. Female bluebirds are very fussy about selecting a mate. One of the most important things they look for in a mate is the ability to provide plenty of food for the next generation.

In an age of declining parenting skills, it’s good to be reminded that our Creator has given human parents instruction in His Word.

Prayer:
Dear Father, I thank You that You are a perfect Father. Fill Christian parents among us with love and patience. Most of all, fill them with the instruction of Your Word so that they may teach their children about You in both word and deed. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Notes:
K.A. Facklemann. 1992. “Bluebird Fathers Favor Pink Over Blue.” Science News, Jan. 4, p. 7.

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