Monday Monday~For the Birds!

 Good Monday Morning!  Here's the view from where I'm sitting right now as I try to write this post:

Yes, I have a little "helper", and he's quite taken with the image of the beautiful red Cardinal on my screen. I had to hold him back to keep him from getting a closer look!

This is what he's looking at...the birds have been quite active in our yard this past weekend...

The Bluebirds have also been busy...I do believe there must be babies in the nest by now, as I see Mama and Papa Bluebird come and go to find food for them. That is so exciting! Last year they never did build a nest, and this year we've missed out on watching our Sand Hill Crane family have any babies, so it will be exciting to see if we get to see the baby Bluebirds when they leave the nest. I'll be watching!

On Saturday there was a flock of birds that kept flying from tree to tree and landing in our pine tree, but the sun was so bright behind them I couldn't make out what they were. However, I took a picture of them anyway, and then I had to brighten it up until I could make out the color and markings on these birds...and finally I was able to determine that they were Cedar Waxwings!   HERE is a link to a time several years ago when they came and we were able to enjoy watching them better.  

They normally come in the fall when the hollyberries are ripe and they clean off a tree in no time at all. But now, at this time of year there are no hollyberries or other berries on other bushes yet, so I'm not sure what they were eating. I assume they are migrating back up north now since it is springtime, so if you are used to seeing them where you live further north, be on the lookout for their return! They are such interesting and unusual looking birds!

This is a picture from when they came in November of 2020...when the hollyberries were quite abundant! 

Also on Saturday we noticed way over on the other side of our still very dry "Still Waters Pond" a group of birds gathered at the only puddle of water that remains of the pond...

There are two Great Blue Herons and three white Wood Storks, gathered at this little tiny pool of water to search for whatever food they can find.  

Oh how badly we need rain! The weather report keeps teasing us saying we might get some rain, and then somehow it keeps circumventing our location and we are fortunate if we even get a drop!  Rain is predicted for today and  Oops! It WAS predicted for later today, and I just now looked at my weather app again on my phone, and it's no longer in the forecast! Less than one hour ago it was showing up there, and now they've removed it again! That happened yesterday afternoon as well!

So here is the current revised forecast for this week...There's a couple of days of possibility of rain, but I am not holding my breath! However I will keep praying...

Blackie and I have been spending a little time together on some afternoons sitting in the "Secret/Memorial Garden", watching the birds and enjoying a pleasant breeze in the trees...

He's such a sweet companion...although you have to wonder what's really on his mind when he looks at me with those squinty eyes and perturbed ears..."Oh no! Here she goes again with that camera! Always taking my picture! Good grief, woman! Get a life!" LOL.

Finally he decided to go hide in the azalea bushes and camouflage himself from me and the birds...

Meanwhile I was enjoying watching this Northern Parula enjoying the birdbath!  We don't see them here often, so this was a real treat!

As I walked around the yard I was thrilled to see that all four blossoms on the Hippeastrum plant were blooming.  This link tells the history of when we first discovered this plant blooming in our yard and what a surprise it was.  It always seems to bloom just in time for Easter! 

Much like the Easter Lily, it looks like four trumpets announcing the good news of the Resurrection of our Lord! 

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen!

Luke 24:5-6...

Oh, I am getting ahead of the story for this Holy Week...But even though we remember all the things that Jesus had to suffer during this period of time leading up to His death on the cross...we already know how the story ends...or rather how it begins with giving us all hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ! 

Because He Lives...I can face tomorrow....

Because He Lives Lyrics

God sent His Son, they called him Jesus,

He came to love, heal and forgive;

He lived and died, to buy my pardon,

An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living just because He lives.

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,

And feel the pride, and joy he gives;

But sweeter still the calm assurance,

This child can face uncertain days because He lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living just because He lives.

And then one day I'll cross the river,

I'll fight live's final war with pain;

And then as death gives way to victory,

I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living just because He lives.

Have a blessed Holy Week my friends...

P.S. Thank you for your kind words on my "Palm Sunday" post yesterday. I was a little under the weather, but I am fine today, praise God!! I have to be...it's going to be a busy but wonderful week.

What Easter Means To Me - Updated from Easter 2014

4/20/2019: I's been FIVE years since I originally wrote this post for Easter.  But the message is still the same five years later, and I expect it will always be this way...the closer I get to heaven...the more excited I get...because of what Jesus did for us on Calvary...but especially because of what He did for us on Easter morning...When He came out of the tomb...victorious over death, and ensuring for all believers LIFE EVERLASTING!!  Praise God!!!!    Please read on...

Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
Stained Glass Window-First Presbyterian Church, Ocala, FL.

I originally wrote this post for Easter 2014.  A lot has changed in our lives since then* (For the update on this please click on this link, written 5/25/2014), but even though our son has since passed on to heaven, (May 25, 2014) nothing has really changed in how I view Easter.  It is even more significant and precious to me now, knowing that I have a son waiting for me in heaven someday.  

What Easter Means To Me
(Originally written 4/18/2014)

Because I have a precious son standing on the threshold of heaven’s gate, Easter has a lot more significance to me this year.

Fouryears ago we received some shocking news regarding our son...a diagnosis so grim that it struck fear into our hearts and caused us to ask, "Why Lord? What good could possibly come from this assault on our son's body?  We didn't know what kind of plan God had...and as a mother, to be honest, I truly did not want to see our son go through all the suffering and pain of fighting the formidable foe of cancer.  It just didn't seem fair.  But don't stop reading here...

On the day after the crucifixion, Jesus' mother and his disciples were hiding and afraid. They did not understand what was happening, even though Christ had tried over and over again to tell them what was going to take place, but their hearts were broken, their eyes were still blinded by doubt and confusion, and they just couldn't see how anything good could come out of His death.  They did not realize that God had a plan… 

On Easter morning all of God’s creation was waiting...waiting for the Easter sunrise...waiting for God to show them the next part of His plan…not realizing that they would soon hear an angel proclaim the astounding message,

"Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!"

(Luke 24:5-6)

The angel reminded the disciples of what Christ had taught them about His death and resurrection, and then “they remembered His words…” 

Perhaps they then remembered what Jesus told them in John14:19~

“A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me.

Because I live, you will live also.”

And then His words all began to make sense…both to His disciples…and also to me. When Christ said “It is finished” as He died on the cross, death became a conquered foe. That was not the end of the story, but the beginning.   When (and if) my son loses his earthly battle against this vicious cancer, that will not be the end of his story, but the beginning. As he passes over that threshold, heaven’s gate will open wide to receive him joyfully.  Isaiah 25:8 says, “Death is swallowed up in victory!”  “O Death, where is your sting? O death, where is your victory?” (I Corinthians 15:55)

Since “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16), I can stare death in the face and not be afraid of saying goodbye to my son when the time comes. Because of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, my son will also live. And so will I. And so will you.

And that’s what Easter means to me.

Our son Matthew, just a few months before he entered heaven's portals

I just found this video of  a very special  Easter song, "He's Alive!" by Don Francisco, which is sung from the perspective of the Apostle Peter.  I think you may appreciate it.  I remember singing this song back in the late 70's...  "He's Alive! He's Alive! He's Alive and I'm forgiven, heaven's gates are open wide! He's Alive! He's Alive! He's Alive!"    Hallelujah!  That is what Easter is all about!!!

God Has a Plan!

Exodus 14:13 "And Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today.'".... and in verse 14, "The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."

This morning I was reading in my devotions the above verses, and was struck by the powerful message it contained for our present circumstances. Actually, it never ceases to amaze me how God directs my reading to exactly whatever message He has prepared to encourage me for that particular moment.  But that is just how God works...I could read the same passage everyday and it would be fresh and new and pertinent, because that is how God ministers to our hearts. 

Right now all of Christendom is waiting...waiting for Easter sunrise...waiting for the angel to proclaim the astounding message, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!" (Luke 24:5-6)  On this, the day after the crucifixion, Jesus' disciples were hiding and afraid. They did not understand what was happening, even though Christ had tried over and over again to tell them what was going to take place, but their hearts were broken, their eyes were still blinded by doubt and confusion, and they just couldn't see how anything good could come out of His death.  They did not realize that God had a plan!  And oh, what a plan it was! 

Tonight I am where the disciples were over 2000 years ago...we have had some shocking news regarding our son's possible future...a diagnosis that strikes fear into our hearts and causes us to ask, "Why Lord? What good could possibly come from this assault on our son's body?  Hasn't he already had enough health issues? How many more miracles is he allowed to have in his life?"  I don't know what kind of plan God has...and as a mother, to be honest, I really don't want to see our son have to go through all of this.  It just doesn't seem fair.  But don't stop reading here...

In the book of Exodus, God had a marvelous plan to help the children of Israel escape the cruel Egyptians.  The passage above is talking about when God parted the Red Sea and the Israelites crossed over on dry land.  Then, as the Egyptians were pursuing them, the sea closed in on top of them and they were all destroyed, and the children of Israel were safe on the other side...and free from their hundreds of years of slavery.

Exodus 14:30 says, "So the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians.." 

Fast forward about 1450 years, and to the book of Matthew 1:21, which is talking about the birth of Christ,

"and she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.".... God's plan for the salvation not only of the children of Israel, but all of humanity...for all who would believe.

What about our situation?  God has a plan...yes, for our eternal salvation, and also for our lives here on earth...there is nothing that happens in our lives without a purpose and a plan.  We may not always understand at the moment...we may not even like what we have to go through and may feel that it isn't fair...but if we can just wait until Easter morning...if we can just trust God enough to walk dry shod across the Red Sea...if we can stand still and watch...we will see the salvation of the Lord...we will sing with Moses and the children of Israel:

"I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!  The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him..."

Exodus 15:1-2

Okay, Lord,...I will trust You and wait for You...I know You have a plan...