I didn't do a Friday Foto Friends for today because I posted my Thursday post so late last night and it had plenty of pictures, so I didn't think I needed another post today. But then I took a little walk about the house this afternoon when I went out to get the mail and couldn't help but take a few pictures. I always carry my camera and/or my cell phone with me when I go outside, because we just never know what will show up that I need to capture on film! (I guess there really isn't such a thing a "film" anymore, is there? It's all digital...nothing to wind, develop and print...which can be a good thing, but also a sad thing, as some day there will be no pictures left for anyone to see because the computer pictures will become obsolete with new technology...but hopefully that is something I won't be around to worry about.)
So, all that being said, here's what I saw outside today:
These first two photos were taken this morning. They aren't very clear because of the low light, but I wanted you to see the three different kinds of water birds out on Still Waters Pond at the same time:
In the background are the two Sand Hill Cranes, over against the tan grasses. You can also see their reflections in the water if you look carefully.
On the "sand bar" (more like a mud bog) is the Great Blue Heron standing.
And in the water in front are the cute little Ring Necked Ducks, doing their daily routine of bobbing up and down for food. They are diving ducks and they seem to have so much fun even though for them it is diving for food and it their daily work.
Here's a closer look at the ducks. They always stay in a group like this and seem to take turns diving under and popping up for air. It seems like a game, but to them it is serious business.
Now, this afternoon it was supposed to rain, and it did finally, but before it started raining here's what I saw on Still Waters Pond...The Great Blue Heron again, perfectly still, waiting for the right catch:
He rarely moves an inch and stays perfectly still, until he sees his prey and then he is so quick the poor fish or frog or whatever never knew what hit him!
The Sand Hill Cranes are still out there this afternoon as well, which is unusual. They normally fly out for the day and come back in the evening, but today they seemed to stay right there all day. I don't know if they are nesting this year or not...it seems like I always see them together, and if they were nesting one would be gone sitting on the nest and the other would be coming and going and gathering food...so time will tell...
Meanwhile, up on shore, the neighborhood cat was taking a cat nap. She likes to lay there and pretend she's sleeping, but she usually has one eye open, watching the bird feeders. The birds don't like it when she's there, but after a while she'll go away and the birds will come back to the feeders.
All this time the Great Blue Heron is still standing there perfectly still...
Maybe the fish aren't biting today...
Or maybe I should have said the heron isn't biting today! LOL. Anyway, shortly thereafter the skies grew darker and the rains started pouring down. I didn't get any pictures, but I was listening to the rain on the roof and it sounded like heaven to me. We need it so much.
I Kings 18:41-45
The Drought Ends
41 "Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.”
42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees,
43 and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.”
So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.”
44 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”
45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain."
The curse was over...God sent an "abundance of rain"...a blessing for the people of Israel...and a message for us today...when we are in a dry spell in our lives...whether it be physical or spiritual...we need to pray for God's restoration of our land...our hearts, our souls, our bodies, and then listen for "the sound of abundance of rain"...God wants to bless us, but we often need to repent of whatever is holding us back...it could just be pure unbelief...lack of faith, weariness from trying to carry the load too long...frustration from not seeing our dreams come true or our prayers answered the way we think they should be...confess our doubts and fears and weariness...and ask God to forgive us for our unbelief, and then listen for the sound of abundance of rain...it will come, in God's time, which is always perfect timing.
Mark 9:23-24
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
Hear my prayer, oh Lord!
Amen.
