Birds

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. – 1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at …

O LORD, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures. Psalm 104:24 NLT “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him …

But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. – Isaiah 40:29, 31 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. – James 4:10 As noted in a recent post, I’ve had the privilege of taking long walks along a cold stream where life in the mountains was transitioning from fall to winter. Numerous salmon were completing their lifecycle by spawning – and dying – in the river and feeder streams. …

A song of ascents. Of David. How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore. Psalm 133:1-3 NIV There are different theories as to why some birds fly in unison – holding tight formations – moving as a single, synchronized unit. If you’ve ever seen this behavior, …

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.  Psalm 34:15 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. Luke 13:34 NLT Robins are widespread across the U.S., and their song is one of the first you’ll hear at the breaking of the day during the summer months. They are in the Thrush family, and their diet consists largely of fruit, insects, and …

How amazing are the deeds of the LORD! All who delight in Him should ponder them. Everything He does reveals His glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails. Psalm 111:2-3 NLT Not long ago I posted a short write-up about the Ruffed Grouse (see Ruffed Grouse and Springtime in the Mountains). I wrote about the drumming ritual which the male grouse performs to attract a female at the onset of nesting season. On an early summer hike, Cosmos the Wonderdog showed me this tiny grouse hidden amongst the fir needles and new plant growth. The chick was probably just a …

Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. … Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.  Psalm 90:10, 12 NIV It is rare that we have two birds fly into our window at the same time. I don’t remember ever having three in unison fly so hard against the glass that all of them knocked themselves woozy. But on a winter day not long ago, that is exactly what happened, …

I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. Psalm 50:11 But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; and the birds of the air, and they will tell you; Job 12:7 The winter wren is a secretive bird which lives in the deep mountains around us. They are really fast, and make for a tough photo opportunity. I have tried to get a good picture for years to no avail. It seems no matter how many times I venture out, I see about one winter wren per year. I’m …

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, just as we hope in You. Psalm 33:18-22 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not …

Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: …

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him… 2 Chronicles 16:9 Not long ago my wife and I had the opportunity to go camping, and do some kayaking on a mountain lake. The wind was against us as we started out, and the waves were a bit rough, but we persevered. By the time the sun was getting near the western horizon, we had traveled a good distance. We had thought the wind would be behind us for our paddle …

Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite. Psalm 147:5 Last summer I got to hike with a retired Brigadier General – no kidding. That’s not something that happens every day with me. In fact, it’s never happened before. As the song says, I’ve (usually!) got friends in low places. On our hike we saw the above pictured bird walking through the brush. I was amazed that my point and shoot camera actually focused on the bird and not a twig thirty yards in front of or behind it. I, being a wildlife biologist, thought it …

Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count. Psalm 40:5 (NASB) When I was in college, many of my cohorts were big into coffee – especially in the mornings. They said they couldn’t get started for the day without one (or several) cups to get things going in their brains. I tried it once, and really liked it. But by the end of that day I realized I could …

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:7 (NLT) The Lord has allowed me to see His beauty and glory in all the various places I’ve been blessed to live. Sometimes I’ve had to look a bit harder to see His handiwork, but it is always there. Fortunately for me, right now I don’t have to look very far at all. In fact, I took this picture not long ago through the sliding glass door by my patio. …