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!

Monday, April 27, 2020

The Bigger Picture

 This morning I was thrilled to see these two hawks sitting on these posts in the pond, enjoying some sunshine and having their morning "tete e tete" ("Noun. tête-à-tête (plural tête-à-têtes) A face-to-face meeting, or private conversation between two people, usually in an intimate setting; a head-to-head. A bench or sofa that allows two people to talk face-to-face. "
per "Wiktionary.org)

They are just chatting away in "hawk talk", looking out over the pond, probably thinking about "what's for breakfast?"

Perhaps she is looking around to see what looks good,  while he waits to hear the "plan".


They really are a cute couple, aren't they? I was enjoying watching them so much...


That I failed to see "The Bigger Picture"....

 While these two cute hawks are enjoying their morning chit chat, look was sitting out there in the middle of the pond, showing off his wings and acting like he was center stage...perhaps singing to the bullfrogs and fishes..."I Did It My Way"....

This is an "Anhinga", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anhinga, "sometimes called snakebirddarterAmerican darter, or water turkey, is a water bird of the warmer parts of the Americas. The word anhinga comes from the Brazilian Tupi language and means devil bird or snake bird. The origin of the name snakebird is apparent when swimming: only the neck appears above water so the bird looks like a snake ready to strike."



Hmm, I never knew about the part where his name means "devil bird or snake bird".  Geepers...Sometimes we really do need to stop and look around at "The Bigger Picture"...and see what is really going on behind the scenes or even out in the open when no one is paying attention!

Even though the Anhinga is no threat to the two hawks sitting there having their morning coffee break...it just goes to show me that while we are sitting here safely in our homes, enjoying our peace and quiet and thinking we know exactly what is going on...there may be a bigger picture that we can't see...perhaps good, or perhaps not so good...depending on how we want to look at it. I do believe there is a LOT going on in this world that we don't understand or see or perhaps don't think it pertains to us.  Perhaps God in His mercy doesn't allow us to see the "big picture" right now because we wouldn't totally understand it all.

The world is in a lot of turmoil right now, and it causes us to have some concerns as well, because we just can't see exactly how God is going to work all these things out for our good (Romans 8:28)

But listen to these verses as you enjoy looking at these lovely pictures of more wildflowers that I saw today as we took a ride:

Romans 8:35
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?"


Romans 8:37
"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

 Romans 8:38-39
38.  "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers,


 Nor things present nor things to come,
39.  Nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, 


shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever."
Psalm 118:1

I hope this calms your fears and concerns as you realize that God IS in control in ALL circumstances, even the ones we cannot see right now...that "bigger picture" that only God can see.
NOTHING can separate us from the love of God...
and He is good...and His mercy endures FOREVER!
Have a blessed day, my friends.
God is in control!

24 comments:

  1. I hope they aren't looking for baby geese! I love the Morning Glories and the pretty yellow flowers!

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    1. I don't know if we are going to have any "baby geese". The geese have been acting strangely lately...no more sitting on the nest, at least not that we can tell, as they both are coming and going more frequently rather than staying put, and there has been no sign of any babies. I'm thinking the nest was a "dud"...false pregnancy or something got the eggs...I don't know, but now we have had the four geese coming and going again, and also the Sand Hill Cranes appear to be moving in and hanging around a lot like maybe THEY are going to set up a nest! I don't know...I can't see on the other side of the island, and that is where they like to hang out during the day. Time will tell. The flowers were another one of those "please stop the car and let me take a picture"...esp. those morning glories> I should have taken a picture of where they were...right alongside the busy highway where they are doing construction to widen the road! I took my life in my hands to get that picture! LOL.

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  2. Amen! I loved this - the bigger picture. God is always working! I like the way that bird just stayed there sunning himself, letting the warmth penetrate his wings. And the two hawks on the posts, what I wouldn't give to know what they might have been 'discussing'!

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    1. Thank you, Cindy. Yes, God IS always working...and He is working for our benefit even in the hardest of times. He has a plan for our good. Yesterday morning was a little chilly, and I do believe the birds were sitting in the sun for a purpose...they needed that extra warmth and the vitamin D! And yes, wouldn't you just love to understand "bird talk"? They chatter back and forth all day long, and they seem to understand each other just fine! They probably think the same things about us! LOL. Have a great day!!

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  3. "perhaps good"

    He makes what the enemy meant for evil into good. Amen.

    I think so too, Pamela. A lot is going on that we don't see! I just have a feeling.

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    1. Yes...I totally agree, Sandi. And yes, God always makes what the enemy meant for evil into our good. We can trust Him to do that. Thank you for your thoughts on this as well!! We just need to stay focused on Jesus. He will see us through no matter what!

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  4. Thank you Pamela...Have a beautiful day friend.

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    1. Thank you...same to you...keep typing...you are almost there!

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  5. We may not be able to see the Big Picture, Pamela, but we can rest assured that God does. Your photos are stunning! Years ago, Danny got a great photo of an Anhinga when we were at Hilton Head. He was just strutting around the hotel grounds without a fear in the world! Could we learn a lesson from that? :)
    Blessings!

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    1. Yes,I believe we can...we may not be able to "strut" in this current situation, at least not outwardly like the Anhinga, but we can "strut" inwardly, knowing that God is in control, and we really don't need to have any fear at all. Praise God!

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  6. I wonder what those hawks are thinking when they look at us, do we fascinate them as much as they fascinate us? Just pondering. I don't know if I want to know the big picture of everything. It might be to overwhelming, don't want to stick my head in the sand, however, maybe there are some things I'm better off not knowing. I'll depend on God to bring things to me as He sees fit. That is where our hope is anyway, in Him. Remembering these song lyrics as I type....in Christ alone my hope is found He is my light, my strength, my song. This Cornerstone, this solid ground
    firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

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    1. Amen! I totally agree with you, Mary. Christ alone is our hope, light, strength, and song...and He is the Cornerstone..."sent for sinners to atone"...Our trust needs to be totally in Him, because He will see us through no matter what comes our way. As for the hawks...they probably are whispering to each other "there's that crazy woman with the camera again! Let's pretend we're talking about something so she'll think we're cute and take our picture..." LOL.

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  7. Yes, God is in control. I am aware of a woman at church who lost her son in a car wreck this past weekend.This is just one of the personal issues she faces at this time. Ican only pray for her. I can't share with anyone else what was told to me by another woman. God has to be in total control of all this issues for this woman.

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    1. Oh, I am SO very sorry about the woman who lost her son. How very tragic. Praying that God will comfort and keep her and draw her very close unto Himself during these difficult times. Only God knows just what the "bigger picture" is in her life, and may she find rest and peace in Christ alone.

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  8. Yes, it is always a comfort when we can give our trials and fears to God. He does know the beginning, the middle and how it all ends. Praise God!! Pam, I knew the Anhinga as a snake bird before I new their real name! I love watching them dive and then dry their feathers. Thank you for always showing us the beauty around us how it relates right back to scripture. xoxox

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    1. Aren't God's creatures so amazing? He creates each one with its own special purpose and plan for its place in this world. And guess what? He does the same thing with each of us...we each have our own special purpose and place and plan in this world...and He is right there with us taking care of every detail. We are so blessed to be His own special creation. Thank you for your thoughts and comments.

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  9. Beautiful pictures and encouraging scripture! Thank you!

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    1. Thank you Jan. I am so thankful for how God puts these things together!!

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  10. Thank you for your uplifting posts. I love seeing the birds and flowers, but it is the words from Scripture that give the true peace.

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    1. Amen to that!! God's Word brings us the peace we need in this crazy world today. Where would we be without Him? I don't even want to think about it. Thank you for visiting!! I loved going on that ride with you!! :)

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  11. What a beautiful scene of the two hawks and anhinga that you captured Pamela! I am amazed at how the Lord teaches us such important lessons through nature. I know there is a bigger picture that HE sees, and I always pray for the Lord to give me His wisdom and knowledge in life situations. So many times we react with our human reasoning, but in His great plan, our human resolve of the situation would only worsen it, but His plan and ways are always the best. Thank you for sharing the sweet picture from the Lord, and the beautiful pictures! I especially loved the morning glory flowers, such a vibrant color! Many blessings to you sweet friend!

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    1. You are so right, Marilyn. When we react in our own "human reasoning" we often mess things up. It is so much better if we can wait on the Lord to guide us and show us each step to take before we jump into action without thinking. I love it when the Lord gives us these kinds of pictures to help us see things from His perspective. Have a blessed and beautiful day, my friend.

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  12. Pam, you really have a gift for drawing a spiritual application out of nature scenes. I was really drawn in with this story of the two hawks and the Anhinga. Very well done, girlfriend!

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    1. Bless you, Barbara! I love how God puts these things together. When I start to write, I put the pictures on the blank page, and then it is like God provides the words to go with them as I progress down the page. Sometimes I have to rearrange them a bit to fit, and sometimes I run outside and take another picture while I am writing because I see something that God has sent me in the middle of it...and that is how it goes...it is totally between God and me for you and all. That's how He does it, and I give Him the glory! Thank you for visiting and enjoying it with me!!

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Thank you for visiting here today. I would love for you to sign my guestbook and let me know you stopped by. I always enjoy reading your comments and words of encouragement! May you be blessed as you go on your way. Please come back and visit again soon.