To Tend And Watch Over It

Every spring and summer I love to see how much more the trees and plants in my yard have grown. When we first moved into the house, the yard was nothing but dirt and weeds. Now it is a beautiful garden!

"The Lord God place the man in the Garden of Eden

to tend and watch over it."

Genesis 2:15 (NLT)

To All He Has Made

Whenever I visited Michaels in the last few months, this center piece always caught my eye. I love to see animals in nature and thought it would be nice to have this arrangement in my house. However, it was too costly, so I just enjoyed looking at there. Then a few days ago when I was in Michaels once again, the manager spotted me staring at it. She came up to me and said, "You can have it for sixty-percent off the original price."  I couldn't believe it! I now have this lovely arrangement in my home as a reminder how good the Lord is to all He has made.

"The Lord is good to all;

He has compassion on all He has made."

Psalm 145:9 (NIV)

All My Fountains Are In You

Jesus is the source of all life and all light.

"For with You is the fountain of life;

in Your light we see light."

Psalm 36:9 (NIV)

Jesus is the source of all our joy!

"As they make music they will sing,

'All my fountains are in You.'"

Psalm 87:7 (NIV)

Searching Treasures In God's Word

When I was in Sanibel Island, I loved searching the beach for find treasures of shells and sea life.

I love doing the same with God's Word. His Word is the greatest treasure of all! Searching the Scriptures daily to find treasures of God's wisdom and comfort provides me with immeasurable joy and comfort.

"Your Word I have treasured in my heart,

that I may not sin against You."

Psalm 119:11 (NASB)

God says in His Word, all those who search for Him will indeed find Him.

"I love all who love Me.

Those who search

will surely fine Me."

Proverbs 8:17 (NLT)

Choose Your Friends Carefully

There are many Christians today who don't really know God at all. They continually sin and don't spend much time thinking about what is right and wrong. Instead they spend their time with bad company corrupting their good character.

"And if there is no resurrection,

'Let's feast and drink,

for tomorrow we die!'

Don't be fooled by those who say such things,

for 'bad company corrupts good character.'

Think carefully about what is right,

and stop sinning.

For to your shame I say that some of you 

don't know God at all."
1 Corinthains 15:32b-34 (NLT)

The righteous chooses their friends carefully. The wicked will only lead them astray.

"The righteous choose their friends carefully,

but the way of the wicked leads them astray."

Proverbs 12:26 (NIV)

The Wonderfulness Of Living In Harmony

The Canadian Geese family of a whopping twenty-four members! are doing fine. I saw them today on my morning walk.

The twenty-two goslings are so much bigger now.

I love to see a family together living in harmony!

 "How wonderful and pleasant it is 

when brothers live together in harmony!"

Psalm 133:1 (NLT)

When You Suffer For What Is Right

Recently, I had to stand up for what is right. Even though I was scared and my first instinct was to run away, I couldn't. I knew people were being hurt. However, it was still very hard to do and I suffered for it. There were times, I wondered, "Where is God?" and "Is this even worth it." I can now answer those questions.

For seven years I have been seeing an Eye Specialist because of ocular hypertension. My eye pressures were very high, always between 23 to 26 mmHg, even with Timoptic drops. Therefore, I was at high risk for glaucoma. However, recently I went for my yearly tests and saw my Eye Specialist again two days ago for the results. Because I have been under a great deal of stress, I expected the worse. That wasn't the case. When the Eye Specialist came into my room, he excitedly announced with surprise, "I have great news! Your eyes are perfectly healthy, no signs of glaucoma, and your pressures in both eyes are exactly 15mmHg."

 At first I couldn't believe what he said, so I repeated, "Exactly fifteen in both eyes!" 

The Eye Specialist responded, "Yup!" 

"Wow!" I thought. "Praise God! What a miracle! I have had ocular hypertension in my eyes for seven years with great concern to doctors, but now God healed me in the midst of my suffering.

It is true. When we suffer for what is right, God is right there with us and blesses us!

"But even if you should suffer for what is right,

you are blessed.

'Do not fear their threats;

do not be frightened.'"

1 Peter 3:14 (NIV

Seek And Set

If we seek God with all our hearts and set our minds on what the Spirit of God desires, we will not stray from His commands and will live in accordance with the Spirit.

"I seek You with all my heart;

do not let me stray from your commands."

Psalm 119:10 (NIV)

 "Those who live according to the sinful nature 

have their minds set on what that nature desires,

but those who live in accordance with the Spirit

have their minds set on what the Spirit desires."

Romans 8:5 (NIV)

But if we seek worldly things and set our minds on what our sinful nature desires, we will stray from God's commands, and  live in accordance to our sinful nature. To live a Christ-like life, we must seek God and set our minds on Him.

Pride Produces Prevarication

Pride leads to disgrace, dishonesty, evilness, and hypocrisy. Whereas humility leads to wisdom, honesty, goodness, and faithfulness.

"Pride leads to disgrace,

but with humility comes wisdom.

Honesty guides good people;

dishonesty destroys treacherous people."

Proverbs 11:2-3 (NIV)

I Will Be With You

When I went for a walk yesterday, I spotted an adult muskrat enjoying a mid-day swim.

"When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

and when yo pass through the rivers,

they will not sweep over you."

Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)

So Much More

Even though we may sometimes feel we are nothing more than a common household fly in a world filled with so many people, God sees each of us differently. He makes us so much more of our worthiness and gives us so much attention.

"What is mankind 

that You make so much of them,

that You give them so much attention."

Job 7:17 (NIV)

All The Earth

American Coots have red eyes, a bright white beak, a black body, and a small patch of red on the forehead.

These birds are very vocal.  This one grunted, croaked and squawked continuously. 

He is part of God's earth, making a joyful noise to the Lord.

"Make a joyful noise to the Lord,

all the earth!"

Psalm 100:1 (ESV)

God Makes The Grass Grow

When we were visiting the Edmonton Valley Zoo a few weeks ago to see all the new construction going on there, my son Tim took this cute video of a turtle.

God makes the grass and plants Godgrow on the earth to feed so many of His wonderful creations.

"He makes grass grow for the cattle,

and plants for people to cultivate---

bringing forth food from the earth."

Psalm 104:14 (NIV)

A Bull, Ram Or Bird

Recently I took some pictures of a male Feral Pigeon on top of a roof on a neighbour's house. He was very pretty, but I was glad he wasn't on top of my house. They make a mess!

It is interesting to note that pigeons were often used in the Old Testament to serve as lesser sin offerings to God, and also by those who could not afford the more expensive animals for the sin and burnt offerings.

"But if you cannot afford to bring a sheep,

you may bring to the Lord

two turtle doves or two young pigeons

as the penalty for your sin.

One of the birds will be for a sin offering,

and the other for a burnt offering."

Leviticus 5:7 (NLT)

In God's eyes, one offering, whether it be a bull, ram or bird, wasn't better than another. God's was mainly concerned about the people's hearts and their obedience to Him to live a righteous life. When they sinned, God wanted to see repentance because repentance brings His forgiveness and purifies the heart.

Sing, Shout Or Make Noise Joyfully

Yesterday, when I went for my morning walk, I spotted a male Yellow-headed Blackbird on top of a tree.

As I was admiring the physical appearance of this bird, he let out a horrible noise! It sounded like he was in agony. (I know I certainly was listening to him.)

These birds obviously can't sing! But I guess if he is happy making those noises, that is all what matters.

When God's creation sings or shouts to the Lord, we are to do it joyfully. God doesn't care what it sounds like. He only cares that the singing, shouting, or making of noise comes from a joyful heart.

"Come, let us sing to the Lord!

Let us shout joyfully

to the Rock of our salvation."

Psalm 95:1 (NLT)

A Father Tells His Sons

This morning when I went for a walk, I spotted a mother Red Fox resting in the grass as she watched her two cubs play.

 "Train up a child in the way he should go.

Even when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Proverbs 22:6 (NASB)

"Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently,

so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen

and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life;

but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.

Deuteronomy 4:9 (NASB)

"You shall teach them to your sons,

talking to them when you sit in your house

and when you walk along the road

and when you lie down and when you rise up."

Deuteronomy 11:19 (NASB)

"We will not conceal them from their children.

But tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord.

And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done."

Psalm 78:4 (NASB)

"One generation shall praise Your works to another,

and shall declare Your might acts."

Psalm 145:4 (NASB)

"It is the living who give thanks to You,

as I do today.

A father tells his sons about Your faithfulness."

Isaiah 38:19 (NASB)

May All Who Search For You

"But may all who search for You

be filled with joy and gladness in you.

May those who love Your salvation

repeatedly shout, "The Lord is great!"

Psalm 40:16 (NLT)

The Crushed Spirit

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;

He rescues those whose spirits are crushed."

Psalm 34:18 (NLT)

Suffering For Christ

When we suffer for standing up for Christ and His Word, we will naturally feel weary and weak afterwards.

But we must remind ourselves that even though our body and mind may feel weak and tired from the struggle, God sees us as strong in Him. We stood up and fought for Christ's righteousness, when we could have turned around and ran away. We may have battle wounds to endure, but it is more important we have God.

"That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses,

and in the insults, hardships, persecutions,

and troubles that I suffer for Christ.

For when I am weak,

then I am strong."

2 Corinthians 12:10 (NLT)

Like Paul, it is always a great honour to serve our King, no matter what the outcome is.

Let Us Kneel

"Come, let us worship and bow down.

Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker."

Psalm 95:6 (NLT)

The Beauty Of Confession

Many people wrongly think the concealment of their sin prevents lost and failure, but the reality is the concealment of their sin causes loss and failure. It is only when we confess and turn away from our sins, we will receive the wonderful mercy and blessings of God.

"People who conceal their sins 

will not prosper,

but if they confess

and turn from them,

they will receive mercy."

Proverbs 28:13 (NLT)

Believe Me

Just like God locked the door to Noah's ark, He will also lock the door to the marriage feast to all those who did not or only halfheartedly give their lives to Him. Once the door is locked, it will be too late. No amount of crying or pleading will cause God to change His mind. Therefore, we must always be ready and keep watch!

"But while they were gone to buy oil,

the Bridegroom came.

Then those who were ready

went in with Him to the marriage feast,

and the door was locked.

Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned,

they stood outside, calling,

 'Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!

But He called back, 'Believe Me, I don't know you!'

So you, too, must keep watch!

For you do not know the day or hour

of My return."

Matthew 25:10-13 (NLT)

The Light You Think You Have

Be very careful not to deem false religion as light when in reality it is thick darkness. A person cannot serve two masters. If a person serves God and the world, his/her religion is false. God requires the whole heart, and He will not share it.

'Your eye is a lamp

that provides light for your body.

When your eye is good,

your whole body is filled with light.

But when your eye is bad,

your whole body is filled with darkness.

And if the light you think you have is actually darkness,

how deep that darkness is!"

Let My Soul Be At Rest Again

"Let my soul be at rest again,

for the Lord has been good to me."

Psalm 116:7 (NLT)

Beyond Comprehension

Today when I went for my morning walk, I spotted for the first time a Red-necked Grebe.

An interesting fact about Red-necked Grebes is they ingest large quantities of their own feathers and also feed them to their young. However, the function of the feathers in their stomachs is unknown,only god knows.

"How great is our Lord!

His power is absolute!

His understanding is beyond comprehension!"

Psalm 147:5 (NLT)

Finding A Treasure

"The man who finds a wife finds a treasure,

and he receives favour from the Lord."

Proverbs 18:22 (NLT)

I Will Give You Rest

"Come to Me, all of you

 who are weary and carry heavy burdens,

and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you.

Let me teach you,

because I am humble and gentle at heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For My yoke is easy to bear,

and the burden I give you is light."

Matthew 11:28-29 (NLT)

Careless Fishing Causes Injury

"A righteous man has regard

for the life of his animal."

Proverbs 12:10 (NASB)

Today I called a Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officer to help an injured goose with four goslings. She has a fish hook stuck in her right leg causing her to walk with great difficulty. Her right wing is also tangled up with the fishing line, preventing her from be able to fly.

What A Quiver Full!

This family of geese has twenty-two! Yes, twenty-two goslings.

"Come out of the ark,

you and your wife

and yours sons and their wives.

Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you —

the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground —

so they can multiply on the earth

and be fruitful and increase in number on it."

Genesis 8:16-17 (NIV)

Everything God Created Is Good

Dandelions are out in full bloom. We hate them in our yards, but they sure look beautiful out in the fields.

Dandelions are also very nutritious for geese to eat.

"For everything God created is good."

Timothy 4:4a (NIV)