Tag Archives: Serving The Lord

Heaven’s Crowns and Birds With Crowns

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Black Crowned Crane (Balearica pavonina pavonina) (West African) Brevard Zoo by Lee

“The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Revelation 4:10-11 KJV)

Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) ©Wiki

Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) ©Wiki

“And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown,….” (Revelation 14:14 KJV)

White-crowned Sparrow ©WikiC

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” (James 1:12 KJV)

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) by BirdingPix

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) by BirdingPix

“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?”
(1 Thessalonians 2:19 KJV)

Red-crowned Amazon (Amazona viridigenalis) by Daves BirdingPix

Red-crowned Amazon (Amazona viridigenalis) by Daves BirdingPix

“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8 KJV)

Green-crowned Brilliant and Purple-throated Mountain-Gem by Ray

“But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:” (Hebrews 2:6-7 KJV)

Grey-crowned Rosy Finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis) by Ian

Grey-crowned Rosy Finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis) by Ian

“And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” (1 Peter 5:4 KJV)

Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) by Dan

Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) by Dan

With all these birds with crowns, maybe the Lord wants to remind us to think about these verses, and do what they say. Then we will have some crowns to cast at Jesus’ feet when we get to heaven.

And a few more birds with crowns:

See the series about the Heaven’s Foundation, Streets, Beauty

Gideon

The Disappearing Limpkin

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GRU-Aram Limpkin (Aramus guarauna)

Limpkin (Aramus guarauna) by Lee

One of the few birdwatching adventures that Dan and I have had, since my surgery, was to South Lake Howard Nature Park. Earlier in the day, we had gone to two other favorite birding spots, but various activities there prevented us from checking out those birds. Later that day, we decided to try one more time. Grabbed our cameras and went to the little Nature Park. [Winter Haven, FL] There was not much going on there, yet, we were able to watch a Limpkin as he searched for his dinner.

The Limpkin (Aramus guarauna), also called carrao, courlan, and crying bird, is a bird that looks like a large rail but is skeletally closer to cranes. It is the only extant species in the genus Aramus and the Aramidae Family. It is found mostly in wetlands in warm parts of the Americas, from Florida to northern Argentina. It feeds on molluscs, with the diet dominated by apple snails of the genus Pomacea. Its name derives from its seeming limp when it walks. We have written about the Limpkins before, and information can be found the Aramidae – Limpkin Family page. This page also has many other Limpkin photos we have taken.

Limpkin and Dan at South Lake Howard Reserve

Limpkins are active during the day but will also forage at night. Where they are not persecuted they are also very tame and approachable. Even so, they are usually found near cover.  They are not aggressive for the most part, being unconcerned by other species and rarely fighting with members of their own species.

The Lord created the Limpkins with some bold makings, yet, when they are busy searching, they can almost totally disappear from our view. The next few photos show a Limpkin searching and then disappearing. Yes, he IS in those last photos.

As I thought about the Limpkin’s ability to seem to disappear, at first I considered the way the Creator provided a way for it to be camouflaged. Also, there is another analogy that comes to mind.

“He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.” (Psalms 115:13 KJV)

As Christians, we are all given something to do for Our Savior. Many serve in tasks that place them in the open like Preachers, Leaders, Teachers, Ushers, Choir members, etc. There are also many that are behind the scenes serving the Lord through their task. It might be tending to the toddlers and babies, audio and sound helpers, ladies folding letters, and on and on. When these servants are visible, they are very handsome or as pretty as the Limpkins, yet when they are busy, they just seem to disappear. The Lord sees all of our works, no matter where we serve Him.

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Colossians 3:17 KJV)

Wordless Birds

The Rock Ptarmigan – The Crown

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Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) by Daves BirdingPix

Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) by Daves BirdingPix

The Rock Ptarmigan – The Crown ~ by a j mithra

The Rock Ptarmigan is seasonally camouflaged; its feathers moult from white in winter to brown in spring or summer. The breeding male has greyish upper parts with white wings and under parts. In winter, its plumage becomes completely white except for the black tail. It can be distinguished from the winter Willow Ptarmigan (Willow Ptarmigan in North America) by habitat—the Rock Ptarmigan prefers higher elevations and more barren habitat; it is also smaller with a more delicate bill.

Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) ©USFWS

Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) ©USFWS

A bird that is smaller and with more delicate bill prefers higher elevation…

Interesting isn’t it?

It is when we become smaller, subdued and humble that God takes us to higher elevation.

He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. (Psalm 40:2)

The higher elevation maybe more barren and it may have delicate bills but still this bird prefers higher elevation…

Most of us judge ourselves by what we have, failing to understand that in our weakness

“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)

His strength is complete and that is the reason He chooses the weak.
So that His name shall be glorified

  • Not in strength but in weakness’
  • Not in abundance but in want..
  • Not through the wise but through the fools.

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (1 Corinthians 1:27)

Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus Muta) in winter plumage ©WikiC

Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus Muta) in winter plumage ©WikiC

The small population living on Franz Josef Land in the Russian High Arctic, overwinter during the polar night, and survives by feeding on rich vegetation on and underneath high cliffs where seabird colonies are located in summer. The Rock Ptarmigan feeds primarily on birch and willow buds and catkins when available. It will also eat various seeds, leaves, flowers and berries of other plant species. Insects are eaten by the developing young.

Apart from the comb, the male Rock Ptarmigan has no ornaments or displays that are typical for grouses in temperate regions. Studies on other grouses have shown that much variation in comb size and colour exists
between the species, and that the comb is used in courtship display and aggressive interactions between males.

This reminds us of how the colorful garment of Jesus was stripped, torn into twelve pieces and shared among the soldiers right under the cross, even as the Rock was grieving in pain for our sins..

Jesus did not have any ornaments or displays on the cross except the crown of thorns.

He bore not the crown of thorns but bore the brunt of mockery to give us the crown of eternal life isn’t it?

And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” (Matthew 27:29)

Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus Muta) ©Wiki

Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus Muta) ©Wiki

Many studies have shown that there is a strong correlation between the comb size and the level of testosterone in males; one report from 1981 showed that the amount of testosterone is correlated to aggressiveness against other males. The male’s comb has been the focus of studies regarding sexual selection. Studies of a population of male Rock Ptarmigans in Scarpa Lake, Nunavut, have shown that during the first year, mating success among males was influenced by comb size and condition, and bigamous males had larger combs than monogamous males. The correlation to size disappeared after the first year, but the correlation to comb
condition remained.

This is consistent with another study of the same population of L. muta that showed that mating success overall is correlated to comb condition. Exceptions were first-time breeders, in which the size of the comb influenced mating success. The mating success is correlated to comb condition..

There is a strong correlation between the life we live for Christ and the crown that God has kept for us.

  • We need to receive a crown not just to show off but to live eternally with the King..
  • Our King wore a crown of thorns so that His Queen, the Church shall wear the Crown of Life and reign with Him forever and ever.

What kind of a crown would God give us?

Here are a those five crowns that God had kept for us..

God has got an “IMPERISHABLE CROWN” for those who run a faithful, unselfish race, crucifying all their earthly desires and focusing on just the cross.

Did Jesus asked us to carry our cross for this?

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)

“THE CROWN OF JOY” is there for those who bring souls into His kingdom. Working towards standing as a living testimony for others to follow Christ through our selfless Christ-like lifestyle…

Are we working selflessly to bring souls to His kingdom?

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy. (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20)

Here is another crown that awaits us, that is the “THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS”

Are you waiting anxiously for the Lord? In that case you will surely receive this crown, when Jesus, the King returns.

  • How are we waiting?
  • Patiently?
  • Diligently?
  • Anxiously?

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8)

Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus Muta) ©WikiC mother and chick

Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus Muta) ©WikiC mother and chick

There is another crown for us, “THE CROWN OF LIFE”.

It is for those who endure temptations, trials, pain and agony for the sake of the Lord.

  • People around you may live a life of luxury and abundance.
  • But we are called to overcome earthly desires.
  • Do we deserve this crown?

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (James 1:12)

This crown, “THR CROWN OF GLORY” has a long price tag.

Pay and receive. Here is the bill..

The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock.
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (1 Peter 5:1-4)

Now, it’s time for us to switch on our search lights to see what kind of crown do we deserve..

Have a blessed day!
Yours in YESHUA,
a j mithra

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