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| Yes, an American Bald Eagle in flight. Nov., 2016. Read on for more information. |
As most of you are aware by now, I've been participating in the July "Photo-a-day Challenge" this month, which was started by our blogging friend
Chrissy T., at One Season to the Next. It has been a fun way to zero in on special photos, kind of like a scavenger hunt. Well, today's challenge is for something 'far away'. I have lots of far away pictures that, with thanks to my handy dandy digital camera with a zoom lens, I can bring things up close.
Today I decided, since it is extremely hot outside and we are under a heat advisory, that I don't want to go outside searching for the best far away photo. Therefore, it's a good excuse to go back in time and find something extra special that was worth revisiting. This post goes back almost 10 years, to November of 2016, when we were in the middle of a very important Presidential election. Don't worry, this is not going to be a political post, but there are references to that event in the original post, and they tie in very well with the subject of the far away photos you will see. So once again, I ask for your indulgence as we travel back in time to see something "far away". It's interesting that this original post was also a part of a weekly photo "challenge" of sorts, our "Friday Foto Friends". We are no longer organized as a weekly meme, but many of us still do this on Fridays.
Original Post written 11/4/2016:
Today our
Friday Foto Friends, via our friend Deb at Breathing in Grace, is celebrating a one year anniversary of this weekly gathering of "photo-genic" friends, sharing our favorite photos of the week with you and the world. Click on the link above to see what others are sharing today.
I only recently joined this pictorial group...and was so happy to become a part of a lovely new family of friends who share more than just pictures. We've become
friends who share our lives with each other with words of faith and encouragement along with our photos...giving each a glimpse into our personal lives and the world as we see it. With my love of photography, and my desire to make new friends as well, it was a win-win blessing!!
The other day I wrote
about our visit with some new friends on Lake George, Florida...and "Walking in the Light of His Countenance". (Click here for that story). The views from our friends' pier and yard were amazing, and I was so excited to share them with you. However, those weren't the
only pictures I was able to capture that day. I hope you will be blessed by these additional views God provided for me to share with you.
When we first stepped out of our vehicle at our friends' lovely lakefront home, I couldn't help but notice a large bird in the tall pine tree just above us. At first, we couldn't tell exactly what it was, and some thought it was perhaps a buzzard. How surprised we were when I zoomed in on him with my camera and discovered that this was actually a juvenile American Bald Eagle! He just hasn't developed his white head feathers yet!!! What an amazing sight! I was excited to see this beautiful young eagle, because I knew that he was just the beginning of even more interesting sights yet to see!! And also, because I had never had the privilege of getting a picture of a juvenile eagle before...so this was another marvelous gift from God!
Well, after our long walk on the pier out to the fishing dock...(yes, it was a very long walk out over the water with no hand rails...but that's another story!)
our friends started fishing...and actually
catching fish:
Hubby and I sat and mostly watched them fishing , because we are not experienced fishermen, and hubby was suffering from some inner ear issues (which almost kept him onshore...but he made it out on the pier in spite of the feeling of being unbalanced).
I
did try to fish, but I was too interested in watching all the activity around us and just couldn't concentrate on sitting still with a fishing pole...
So, while they were catching fish, I was hearing the eagles calling each other in the sky...
and then I noticed that the two eagles landed in a large pine tree back on shore:
Can you see them up there? No? Well, let me zoom in on the tree with my camera...and here is what I saw...
Oh Wow!!!! Isn't that marvelous??? And so, I just had to stand there on the pier and continue taking their pictures
Oh, look at this one! They moved closer to one another, and seem to be having a conversation. Probably talking about the crazy lady standing way down there on the pier watching them...
Then they moved together on the branch and seemed to enjoy being close together...perhaps this is their mating season?
Isn't that sweet????
And then they took off and soared above the lake, back and forth, calling each other and watching us...probably hoping we would give them some of our fish...
In seeking a scripture verse about eagles for this post, of course there was the most well known and beloved verse from Isaiah 40:31
"But those who wait on the Lord
shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint."
During these hectic and stressful days preceding the presidential election...those of us praying for our nation need to remember and heed the promises of this wonderfully encouraging message. If we wait on the Lord...and put our trust in Him...He will renew our strength...give us the wings of eagles to soar above the cares of this old world.
But I found another, perhaps less known set of verses that I found interesting and maybe even more pertinent to our current situation:
"And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying,
'Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob,
and tell the children of Israel: (and perhaps the children of America?)
'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians,
and how I bore you on eagle's wings and brought you to Myself.
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice
and keep My covenant,
then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people;
for all the earth is Mine."
Exodus 19:3-5
Wow!...What a message to America indeed! Oh, how I pray that our people will truly obey the voice of God...and keep His covenant...and remember that we are a special treasure to God. I wonder if this is why the Bald Eagle is our National Bird? Something to think about...
One more set of verses I found that spoke to me about how special the eagle must be to God. In the book of Revelation, chapter four, and particularly verses six through eight, we see a vision of the four living creatures who worship our Creator Who is sitting upon the throne. Verse seven tells us
"The first living creature was like a lion,
the second living creature like a calf,
the third living creature had a face like a man,
and fourth living creature was like a flying eagle."
Verse eight tells us that these four living creatures do not rest day or night, saying:
"Holy, Holy, Holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!"
The Eagle is actually going to be represented in heaven in such a marvelous way...one of the four living creatures chosen by God to be encircling His throne night and day, calling out His praises and worshiping Him without hesitation or rest.
Awesome! Now I really feel blessed by this special visit with the eagles! To think, these magnificent creatures are a part of God's eternal home...calling out day and night
"Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty, Who WAS, and IS, and Is to come!"
I wonder if that is what these eagles were calling to each other as they flew around...and if they were sharing words of encouragement to us to keep looking up to God...don't lose hope...don't grow weary...God is bearing us up on Eagle's Wings...right up to the throne of God!!!
Whoa! How can we be discouraged, when God sends us such powerful messages each day through so many special messengers? I wonder what God might be using to send you words of comfort and hope today? Are you listening and watching for His messengers? They could be soaring right above you right now! Keep your eyes on Him, and He will not fail you.
Do you know this little hymn?
ON EAGLE'S WINGSby Michael Joncas
1. You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord, who abide in his shadow for life, say to the Lord: "My refuge, my rock in whom I trust!"
REFRAIN:
And he will raise you up on eagle's wings,
bear you on the breath of dawn,
make you to shine like the sun,
and hold you in the palm of his hand.
2. The snare of the fowler will never capture you, and famine will bring you no fear: under his wings your refuge, his faithfulness your shield. (REFRAIN)
3. For to his angels he's given a command to guard you in all of your ways; upon their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. (REFRAIN)
