Bird Phenomenon

My husband and I have been going out for a walk every morning.  This morning we encountered an unusual phenomenon.  We were surprised to see large groups of hawks or falcons (we took photos and are consulting with the Nebraska Game and Parks) in the tops of trees and sitting on fence posts as far as the eye could see.  We're not talking 10 - 15 in a group, we're talking 30-40 or more in groups.  Bill and I discussed the fact that we've never seen two or more together, let alone that number and there seemed to be a large number of younger birds too.  We were curious if this was a migration pattern that we've simply never witnessed before or if they were flocked in a group because of so many wildfires and range fires in our area this year.  We are anxiously awaiting word from NG&P to find out if this behavior is normal and if so what a privilege to be a part of something we had never witnessed before. 

From a faith perspective - it always amazes me just how creative our God is.  To make such beautiful, graceful creatures and then place them where we can see them and enjoy them is a gift that I appreciate very much.  Thank you God for your creative, giving, loving ways. 

Random Deer

So yesterday the youth group kids were reclining in my front yard after working for two hours around town doing community service projects when theis mule deer comes walking up the street that is directly south of our house and stops briefly in our front yard.  The kids all pointed it out and one young man decided he would try to "cut it off" as it went around the back side of our house where there is a narrow cooridor of grass and trees.  This young man took off running toward the back of the house about the same time the deer decided to take off running toward the back of the house, both coming from opposite directions.  Needless to say the deer had a shorter distance to go and made it past the house long before this young man did and continued into the stand of trees behind the house.  But it was funny to consider that this young man thought he would be able to outrun, much less stop a deer.  Oh the things teenage boys will do for fun. 

Then today Bill and I were out for our walk (went in the early evening, instead of early morning) and as we rounded the corner to walk past the football field we saw the familiar white flag of a whitetail doe.  She slowly and gently bounded across the football field toward a stand of trees that lines the north side of the field.  You could tell she didn't really want to go becuase after all she was enjoying the lush green grass that has been watered and manicured all year long; and she was lingering.  She would bound a few steps, then stop and look back, and she repeated this pattern several times, never quite leaving the field, but closer to the edge just in case we came any closer.  As we got past her and she could tell we were going to "go away"; she stopped, lowered her head and started to graze again - supposed threat dissipated in her mind. 

It is always a surprise to see the deer right in town, but it is a pleasant surprise - and it has been too long since we've had one go through the yard.  I love watching them no matter what speed they are going - but realize that I do have to keep my eyes open and my wits about me so that I don't get run over one of these days. 

As I ponder that thought I'm reminded that we also need to keep our eyes open and our wits about us when it comes to Satan, the enemy of our souls - he would rather just run us over and leave us feeling worthless and abandoned than have us walking around enjoying life and it's many blessings.  Lord, thank you for the insight and lesson through one of your creatures.    

Cardinal Sightings

This past week my sweet husband filled the birdfeeder that sits at the back of the lawn, behind the house.  Our back lawn borders an area that is heavily wooded and has tall grass.  From this area we have seen many creatures, deer, rabbits, a bullsnake, the occassional squirrel and several different bird species.  Yesterday morning my hubby called me to the kitchen window to check out the latest sighting.  At the bird feeder was a female cardinal who was picking out seed and then flying to the tree whose branches hang out over the feeder.  She was taking the seed to two of her almost grown babies.  What a joy to see three of my favorite birds.  It just confirmed that I had been hearing a male cardianl call from the woods all summer long.  The female carried seed to her young several times, then started knocking seed out onto the ground, soon the two fledglings joined her on the ground and all three were eating seed and calling to each other.  Just made my heart sing.  Then about 10 minutes later the bright red male landed on the post that holds the feeders and then started feeding as well.  It was a joy to see the whole family.  I hope they thrive and continue to bless me with an occassional sighting.  Thank you God for all your creatures, and thank you for blessing me with a glimpse of one of my favorites. 

Baby Bunny

The other day my husband and I were setting on the front porch of our home, enjoying the cool breeze; when all of a sudden a baby bunny came hopping up the steps to see us.  I'm sure it was curious about its surroundings but we were surprised by its complete lack of fear.  Then we talked about how all babies, including human have a lack of fear until something or someone teaches them fear.  Thank you baby bunny for the insight and for the unexpected visit.  You made our day!

Just what I needed

It has been awhile since I've posted anything....the reasons are numerous and valid.  I have gone through a period of losing ones I love, officiating at multiple funerals for church and community members, and most recently have been packing boxes so we could move my husband to the community where I serve the United Methodist Church.  After two years apart (he stayed in our home town to continue working until retirement) it is good to be in the same house again.  I have to tell you all of this happening at the same time has been very taxing on me physically and emotionally.  I was even starting to grow spiritually weary.  I was in need of some refreshing and recently received that in a most unexpected way, but I have also learned that is usually how my refreshing comes - when I least expect it.  Wednesday morning of last week I was standing at my kitchen sink which faces North.  There is a window above the sink where I can look out to see the wooded area behind my home.  As I was washing dishes and praying; I was asking God to give me the strength I needed for the funeral that I would officiate the next day (this was my fifth funeral in about six weeks).  I had finished the dishes but lingered at the window taking note of the wind rustling the leaves on the tree and the grass in the yard, and noticing the lilacs at the edge of the yard.  I was just about to turn away and go about the rest of the business of the day when a male cardinal flew from a tree at the back of the yard directly at the kitchen window.  It was in that moment, when God sent me the beautiful gift through a bright red bird, that I was refreshed.  You see I love cardinals - I love their call and especially seeing them.  I had been hearing them call back and forth to one another in the wooded area behind my house for weeks, but hadn't seen one yet and kept hoping for a glimpse of the bright red feathers of a male or even the paler feathers of the female, with their orange top knot.  At just the moment I needed it, God sent me a beautiful reminder that He is in control and that through him everything is possible.   God knew just what I needed and gave it to me at just the right time.  Thank you God!  Praise your holy name!

Birds of Prey

Last week Bill and I traveled to Topeka, KS for the joint called clergy session.  That meant we were on the road for 6+ hours.  While we were traveling we started noticing a large number of hawks, they were sitting on road signs, fence posts, and in trees.  We also saw several of them flying through the air scanning the ground for their next meal.  We started counting them, but lost track somewhere after 100 individual sightings.  I love watching birds of prey, they seem to glide effortlessly through the air.  They are an important part of the animal kingdom as they eat mice, rats, snakes and other small mammals; and obviously from the number we saw, and how plump many of them were, there are a lot of little critters for them to eat.  As I pondered what this all meant from a faith perspective I was reminded that we have a God who supplies our every need.  We are told in Matthew 6:26, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"  We are more valuable because we are God's children, made in His image.  As God's children we are showered with many blessings and some times we store up our treasures.  I believe we need to have a financial cushion for emergencies and to provide for our future, but we  should also share with those in need out of our abundance.  Romans 12:13 tells us, "Share with God's people in need.  Practice hospitality."  I pray this week you will know that your Father cares for you, just as He cares for all his creation.  Then because you know God's care, that you will help those in need by sharing out of what you've been blessed to receive.

Funny moments

I do not own any pets.  First of all I am not home much - in fact I'm on the road alot and I don't feel it is fair to own a pet when I'm not around to care for it.  Second, I am allergic to cats and so they are out of the question for me, much to my husband's dismay.  Third, the kind of dog I want really isn't a house dog or even an in town dog, so the only time I would own a dog would be if I were living in the country and that doesn't seem likely any time soon as a Pastor.  Fortunately where I live now I am surrounded by neighbors who own pets, well maybe it's fortunate - there are some nights when the dogs are barking and I'm trying to sleep that it might not be so fortunate.  Anyway - my closest neighbors have three dogs.  Two duschand's and one black lab.  The duschands are so funny - they act all big and tough, especially the male and yet if I approach them they start back peddling quickly.  Too funny to watch.  Then there is the lab, she is a little over a year old and has finally grown into her giant feet.  She is still all puppy though and has no concept of when to slow down or put on the brakes so she won't literally knock you over.  She is a very loving dog, but she is also somewhat of a criminal.  Let me explain:  her owners have showed up at my door on more than one occasion to ask me if whatever item they happen to be holding in their hands or arms belongs to me.  Their black lab loves to come over to the house and carry off all sorts of things.  She's managed to turn over the huge rock that had the spare house key duct taped to the bottom of it and chew off the duct tape and carry the key and key chain home to show her owners.  She carried off two clay snowman luminaries I had on the front porch.  She chewed 9 different holes in a 100 foot extension cord at Christmas time.  She's carried the grill brush off on more than one occasion.  I have found some of the larger landscaping rocks tumbled out into the middle of the yard.  She is just very curious and very strong.  I had to laugh as I watched her one day from the dining room window.  She came up on the back steps and put her head through the rails to once again reach for the grill brush that hangs from a shelf on the side of the grill.  As I mentioned she's snagged that item before.  As I watched her she got the grill brush in her mouth and tried to pull it through the porch railing.  This time however she didn't have the right angle and so the head and handle of the brush kept getting stuck on the rails.  She would set the brush down on the shelf of the grill, cock her head a little, pick it back up in her mouth and try again with no success.  She tried this 5 times that day.  Each time she'd tilt her head a little further one direction or another but she couldn't quite get that darned ole grill brush through the rails this time.  She finally gave up and as she went down the stairs to leave the back porch she was literally shaking her head side to side as we sometimes do in disbelief.  I had to laugh because I could just imagine her thinking to herself; well darn it, I've done that before, why didn't it work this time?  It will be interesting to see what else she decides to "steal" in the future.  Fortunately the neighbors are always willing to bring back whatever it is she takes.  As I considered how this all related to faith it made me realize how Satan works to steal from us.  He steals our joy, our time, our health, our energy.  Unlike the neighbors black lab though, he won't give up.  He will work at it until he has stolen everything he can to make us feel unworthy and unloved and of no value.  On the flip side of that I have to tell you that Jesus will restore all that the enemy tries to take away.  Just like my neighbors who always try to redeem the acts of their black lab, either by returning or replacing the items their dog steals; Jesus will redeem all the acts of our lives that have caused us to sin.  He will restore us to wholeness as his beloved children.  He replaced the need for punishment for our sins with his death upon the cross... he has overcome death and has defeated Satan.  When we call upon the name of Jesus and claim his love in our lives; when we grow in our faith by putting our trust in Jesus; we will leave the enemy walking away like the neighbor's black lab - shaking his head side to side wondering, why getting under our skin didn't work, it's worked in the past.  We can, through Jesus, defeat the enemy.  Thank you Jesus for your redeeming, restoring work in our lives.          

Glorious Day

My husband Bill travels every week to the two churches he serves about and hour and 45 minutes north of where we live.  To get to them he has to go past a large lake and for the last few weeks he's been calling me to give me updates on the wildlife he sees on the trip.  The last three weeks he's been able to add Eagles to the list of the things he normally tells me - you know deer, coyote, hawk, owl.  Part of the reason for the Eagles is the season.  Right now it is winter and the ice is frozen on the majority of the lake, with a few areas of open water.  Waterfowl are also present on the lake at this time although in reduced numbers because of the cold temps.  Today my husband suggested we take the time to drive to the lake and look around and see if we could spot any eagles.  I was more than ready to take him up on his offer since I love catching a glimpse of these majestic birds and since I'm a amateur photographer as well.  Besides the temperatures were predicted to be in the 40's today and who wouldn't want to be out in the middle of winter on a 40 degree day?!  We live near the Middle Loup in the Sand hills region of Nebraska and Merritt Reservoir was our destination.  On the journey North this morning we spotted several deer and witnessed one doe that cleared a barbed wire fence by at least a good three feet.  That was amazing in and of itself, but then we had our first eagle sighting.  The bird was in a tree near the North Loup River which is approximately half way between our starting point and our final destination.  When we were about 4 miles south of Merritt, Bill pointed to a tree where we had previously spotted a huge nest and guessed that it might be an eagle nest and we were pleasantly surprised to see a pair of eagles, one sitting on the nest and its mate sitting on a branch in the same tree but out far enough to have a good view of all the surroundings.  To say I was excited is an understatement.  Then we came around a curve in the road beside the lake and spotted two more eagles out on the ice.  We had to stop at the trading post and purchase a park permit to get any closer to the water, but it was worth every penny.  Not only did we spot 7 more eagles, but we were able to follow bobcat tracks in the sand, listen to the lake groan and gurgle as the ice heaved several times while we were there due to those warmer temps.  And we got to see an ice jamb phenomenon in one of the bay's.  With the sun hitting the many different jagged edges of ice, it was quite a spectacular view.  We also saw two porcupines in that same bay, just a little further down from us.  We kept our distance, but honestly I'm not sure they were even aware of our presence.  They were just out doing what we were, enjoying some sunshine and fresh air.  We pulled into one of the camping areas and found enough downed wood to start a fire in a fire pit and enjoyed the lunch I had packed.  What a delightful and glorious day for so many reasons.  The most important for me next to spending time with my husband, was seeing God's hand at work.  Every time I am outdoors and look around me I'm am filled with awe at how creative our God is.  He is the one who set the seasons in place when he created the sun and moon and the stars.  He is the one who gave us light when he separated the light from the darkness and called one day and one night.  He is the one who created all the creatures and the plants that we were able to see today.  Thank you Lord for the gifts of sight, hearing, and smell so I could experience the Glorious Day you had in store for me today.