What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Sunday, April 26, 2020

Gaining Strength

 Maybe I need to do a little check up on what's been happening in the past few days. Not really anything all that much, but then again, maybe it is a lot.

One thing we do every day, weather permitting, is take a little ride to a wooded area where we can take a walk. Now that the days are getting longer, we are trying to go twice a day, morning and evening. It really helps us to feel refreshed after being cooped up so much in the house these days.  And the exercise is especially good for us.  (especially me after my surgery...it is helping me to rebuild my strength and I can really tell the difference when we don't get out and walk)

Most every morning I hear a particular bird calling as we take our walks. I look and look up in the trees but I can never see the bird...until this morning:

It is a "Rufus Sided Towhee"  , and if you want to hear him, Listen HERE.

Also, the past few days we have been passing by this Mimosa tree that is in  full bloom alongside the road. This evening I talked my hubby into pulling off the road so I could go take a picture of it. He's a good sport (most of the time) when I say, "Please pull over so I can take a picture!" 

 These trees are another kind of wild tree, some call them a "weed tree" as they can be invasive, but they are so pretty in the spring when they are blooming.  I'm not so fond of their long seed pods that come later, however.

I also talked him into doing something else we haven't done in quite a while...we pulled into the McDonald's Drive-thru (all that is open), and I got a chocolate milkshake with whipped cream on top! The girl on the order speaker asked if I wanted the whipped cream...and of course I said yes!!! If you are going to have a milkshake might as well go whole hog! It was so good. I may talk him into stopping again and get some fries and a burger to go with that milkshake next time!!! That is the only drive-thru we have here in our little town, so you gotta get what you can while you can! (And all that walking is working up an appetite! Gotta keep my strength up, right??)

I just discovered that my blogging friend Gayle over at "Ventures in Photos"  posted a wonderful scripture verse, photograph, and a praise song that I've never heard before in all my years in ministry in churches... and I've never noticed this particular verse in Psalms before either:

Psalm 18:29 
"For by You I can run against a troop, 
By my God I can leap over a wall."

I highly recommend you go over to "Ventures in Photos" and check this out. I think you will enjoy the song as well as her post.

I love the imagery of that little verse...and I think we are all at that point in this social distancing/isolation/pandemic that we are about ready to go and "leap over a wall."   I probably skipped over that verse before because the ones after it are the more "popular verses" of this particular Psalm. But this just proves that we shouldn't skip around in our reading...we might miss a real gem in the process!

Psalm 18:30-33
30. "As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
31.  For who is God, except the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?
32.  It is God who arms me with strength,
and makes my way perfect.
33.  He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
and sets me on my high places."

We had not one but two little deer run along the shore of the pond this morning.
Only managed to get one in the picture.
Maybe we need to be reminded that it IS GOD who arms us with strength...and He does give us the strength to run against our enemies and even leap over a wall that is in our path...but we need the Lord to guide us and we need to remember that He is that shield of protection when we put our trust in Him. Don't go leaping over walls and running against the troops without God giving us the strength and power to do so. Don't try to fight our enemies in our own strength...trust in the Lord! 
And then, He will deliver us from our enemies and lift us up above those who may rise up against us. (Psalm 18:48).

Back to the beginning of Psalm 18:1-3

"I will love You, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust.
My shield and the horn of my salvation, 
my stronghold.
I will call upon the Lord, Who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies."
Amen!



24 comments:

  1. Regarding the Rufus Sided Towhee, we had one in the Bottle Brush tree outside my kitchen window just a few days ago. I didn't know his name so sent Lavender Dreamer an email with his description. She nailed it for me, and now I read that you have seen one, too! Such a pretty creation by our Lord!

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    1. Oh I am so happy for you to have had one of these lovely birds right there in your own Bottle Brush Tree! That is exciting! They must be migrating through right now because I know they don't stay here all the time. We used to have them in Salt Springs in the wooded area outside my kitchen window, but just for a little while and then they'd be gone. Such fun to see these different beauties that God has created!! And I love to hear them sing too. Have a blessed and beautiful day my friend. May God bring other beauties to your window!

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  2. That deer was hard to spot! Loved the bird and his song.

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    1. I know...I was having a hard time focusing as he (they) were running so fast!! So it is a bit of a blur, but at least I got him!! Thank you for popping in for a visit today. Hope you are doing well in your time of "isolation".

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  3. Mimosa trees are enchanting when the blossom, Pamela, and always make me think of plants in prehistoric times, for some reason. And I'm with you about a chocolate shake from McDonald's - how I would love one right about now!
    Thanks, too, for the uplifting verses from Psalm 18.
    Blessings!

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    1. Yes, the mimosa blossom reminds me of a little ballerina tutu. I can just see the little fairy ballerinas swaying back and forth in the breeze!! Probably these trees were here in prehistoric times. Their long seed pods tend to embed themselves in the ground and spread them around in places where you really don't want them to grow! I think I need another milkshake. I wonder if I can talk him into it again... LOL. Glad you were able to visit and that God blessed you with His Word. Amen!

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  4. Ugh, no photo of the milkshake? (grin and laughing)

    I had to go back and look for the deer, grin. I hope you have a lovely week, my friend.

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    1. I know! I thought of that picture too late. The milkshake was already gone. Next time I will remember. LOL. Yes, the deer was hard to spot. I had to snap fast as they were running ever so quickly and there was no time to focus. I thought about you with this verse about "leaping over the wall". I can just see you doing that. So I am praying for you. Smiles and Hearts. And blessings.

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  5. Wonderful post, Pamela! I loved your good reminder from Psalm 18 about not facing these things in our own strength, but trusting God to guide and protect us. Well said!

    The bird, flowers and deer were a blessing to see also. One evening last week, we saw a group of five deer in a field. We actually had to stop the car because we weren't sure if they would try and cross the road in front of us. But they turned and ran the other way, thankfully!

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    1. Thank you so much for visiting. Yes, Psalm 18 is such a good reminder for us, especially now. How would we be able to endure these things without His help? I am glad you enjoyed the pictures. Oh, I am so glad you saw the five deer in time. They can be so unpredictable when they see the headlights of a vehicle. We have some places where we ride down here that you have to really be careful as they are ready to leap out in front of you without warning. And where there is one, there is most likely another. So we just need to be on guard. God bless you today and have a wonderful week!

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  6. Excellent verses. I have so been enjoying the birds singing this year. When I take the dog out for a walk, it's a wonder I don't trip over her as I'm constantly looking up trying to see the birds that I'm hearing.

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    1. I think we are all more in tune with nature thee days because there isn't as much traffic noise, and we are listening more for God's little messengers as we walk about. I love that they are always singing their praises to God their Creator as they go about their day. We should all take a lesson from the birds! Have a blessed week.

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  7. Hello Pamela!! I enjoyed listening to that bird's sweet song. I have 4 little sparrows that visit our bird feeder, I love watching them. I also love reading from Psalm, so much love to be found there.

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    1. Aren't God's little fine feathered friends really special? I believe He sends them to brighten our days. We just need to be alert and aware of the blessing they are bringing. Yes, Psalm 18 is filled with some powerful messages of God's strength for us. We are so blessed to have such a Strong refuge to strengthen and protect us!

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  8. I always learn something new from your posts, either about nature or about a Bible verse... or both as in today's post!! Thank you! xoxox

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    1. Thank you, Terri. I am always learning something new too, and so I love to share it with others. I think we are never too old to learn something new...and God is always wanting us to learn especially from His Word...and also from His little blessings around us in nature. They brighten our days and give us joy!! Have a blessed week.

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  9. Good to hear that you are gaining strength. Now you have me craving a milkshake and fries.Thankfully, I am too tired to go out tonight, so that craving will have to wait. I appreciate the verses you quote. With God we can win.

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    1. Amen! We are victorious through Christ! Sorry about the "craving" of the milkshake and fries. I don't normally eat McDonald's food unless I have no other choice, but these days even that sounds good to me, just to be able to "go out to eat", even if it is a drive thru! LOL. Thank you for visiting. Blessings to you.

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  10. Love all the pictures. We have us some singing birds too and the funny thing was that two oldest grands was awakened by them on Friday morning while having a sleepover at my house but they didn't think their singing was too pretty. LOL! Hugs an blessings, Cindy

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    1. Ha Ha! We never do like to be awakened from our sleep, but if we are,hearing birds singing would be my favorite way to wake up! Kids just don't appreciate the good things yet!!! Give them time! LOL!

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  11. When you get those fries, enjoy some of them for me. I have been yearning for some.

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    1. I will let you know when I do. I haven't done it yet...I really don't eat fries very often. I have to be in the mood, and have no other choices! LOL.

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  12. Hi Pam, I checked out the song and call of the Towhee using your link and yep, that's exactly the call I heard. Wish it would come back.

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    1. I know what you mean...they seem to be a bit of an elusive bird. They don't stay around in one place for very long it seems. But maybe that is why they are so special when we do get to hear and see them. Thank you for letting me know that even though we are many miles apart, we are seeing and hearing the same kind of bird! I like that! Have a blessed day!!

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