Be Vigilant!!

 The visitors to our "Still Waters Pond" keep coming.  It is such fun to watch and see who or what will show up next.  Now here, this lone Canadian Goose is swimming around, but he is not really alone. His mate is out there somewhere, possibly sitting on her nest, and he is keeping a close watch over her lest some predator come and try to sneak up on her.

 One of these things is not like the other....Note the goose is vigilantly standing guard on the lower right. But note also that Sand Hill Crane is over there on the left by himself, checking things out around the little island. The goose stood his ground until the crane went away.

And no, you aren't seeing double...here's Mr. and Mrs. Canadian Goose out for a swim together:

 But wait! Now there are four of them! That other "interloper" couple showed up today and dared to come up on our shore to try and get some of the bird seed on the ground. Our "resident couple" played "King of the Mountain" and wouldn't let them come all the way up, so they had to be content eating the grass along the shore...

Everyone was happily doing their own thing...(I love how somehow I managed to get a reflection of the American flag, which is actually on the front porch, and I was looking through the window of the back porch, and the flag reflected on the window. Pretty cool!) But anyway, the geese were minding their own business, enjoying eating and not really bothering each other,

 When suddenly a neighborhood stray cat came sneaking up on them from out of nowhere...(it happened too quickly for me to get a picture)  And then they all flew away:

 Thankfully the cat was not able to get close to the geese, but it sure caused a lot of honking and flapping of wings and off they went...

And then later, who do we see but TWO Sand Hill Cranes on the shore!  I think the word is out that the beaches are open again in Florida! But at least they are maintaining their appropriate social distancing.

On a more serious note, seeing  that cat sneaking up on those geese today made me think about the verses we read in our morning devotions:

"God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,

that He may exalt you in due time,

casting all your care upon Him, 

for He cares for you.

Be sober, be vigilant; 

because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion,

seeking whom he may devour.

Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings 

are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

But may the God of all grace,

Who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus,

after you have suffered a while,

perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever.

Amen."

I Peter 5:5b-11

Seems like some appropriate words for us today in our current situation.  We are all going through the same kinds of "suffering" around the world these days, and for some it is becoming truly unbearable. Not only are many very sick and possibly dying, but there are many who are watching their livelihood slipping away and they have bills to pay and children to feed and businesses that are closing up...and people are getting weary of the struggle and the waiting for it to be safe to come back out of "hiding".   God is encouraging us here to cast all our cares upon Him, because He does care about our every need...physical, emotional, financial...whatever it may be. Don't give in to the devil...he's looking for the weak ones who are getting weary...and wants to drag us into his traps.  Resist the devil...and look unto Jesus...Who is working all things together for our good, to perfect us, establish, strengthen and settle us.  He will not fail us...so don't lose hope and give up too soon. Stay vigilant and hold your ground like that goose. God will carry us through to victory.  Amen!!

Have a blessed evening my friends and a peaceful Sunday tomorrow. Praying you will be able to set aside some time for worship and study of God's Word on the Lord's Day.  So thankful for our pastors who are working diligently to prepare messages to be seen /heard over the internet or radio or whatever way possible. Praying it won't be long before we can enjoy sweet fellowship again, but until then, "Be Sober, Be Vigilant! And Cast your cares upon the Lord, for He careth for you."