Friday Foto Friends - Skeletons, Fossils and Butterflies

Welcome to Friday Foto Friends...where we share our favorite photos of the week and a peek into what we've been up to lately!

We had an interesting day visiting the:

with some special friends:

Once we made it past the giant ants, we were totally enthralled with this:

AND THIS:

 Talk about JAWS.....

This a kind of prehistoric sloth bear..(above)..glad I don't have them THIS big here in my neck of the woods!

There was SO much more, but I won't try to include everything here...and besides, I know you are wondering why I mentioned butterflies along with these giant fossil skeletons....

Well, because perhaps the best part of this museum is the "Butterfly Rainforest"....


As we entered the "rainforest", I was overwhelmed with the sight of so many butterflies flitting all around us...so many that it was difficult to keep up with them all.  It was a photographer's dream...if you have a fast camera!  I won't attempt to identify these for you, because I have no clue what they are...if you are a "lepidopterist", perhaps you can share your knowledge with us.  But for those of us who aren't quite that technical...just enjoy!

 This big butterfly was quite attached to our friend's bright red shirt....

 The flora and fauna and waterfalls of this rainforest were absolutely stunning...

 Now this is what I'd call a GIANT moth!!! He is probably larger than a man's hand...

Now, believe it or not, this beautiful blue butterfly that is attached to my hubby's shirt is the same type that was attached to our friend's red shirt above. This is what that butterfly looks like with his wings spread open!  Amazing!!!

My hubby was standing very still while other visitors also took his picture modeling the butterfly on his shirt!  Not sure why the one wing is bent over, but that's just how it was.

I hope you enjoyed this little tour through the rainforest with me.  It truly was magnificent...

So now, what special thoughts can I share with you after this marvelous display of God's beautiful creation? How about Psalm 8:

"O Lord, our Lord,

How excellent is Your name in all the earth,

Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants

You have ordained strength,

because of Your enemies,

That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,

The moon and the stars, 

which You have ordained,

What is man that You are mindful of him,

and the son of man that You visit him?

For You have made him a little

lower than the angels,

and You have crowned him with glory and honor.

You have made him to have dominion

over the works of Your hands;

You have put all things under his feet,

All sheep and oxen--

even the beasts of the field,

the birds of the air,

and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Lord,

How excellent is Your name in all the earth!"

Psalm 8: 1-9

Yes, that is how I feel...after looking at the skeletons of the giant creatures that once roamed the earth before the flood...and the huge jaws of the prehistoric sharks that could swallow a man whole...and then to see the magnificent beauty of the delicate butterflies, so colorful and uniquely designed...and to know that our awesome God created all of these...and He also created you and me...a "little lower than the angels," and He has crowned us with glory and honor...to have dominion over the works of His hands!  And to know that He loves us so much that He was willing to come to earth and die for us so that one day we could be with Him in heaven forever...Wow!  How amazing is that?  

"O Lord, our Lord,

How excellent is Your name in all the earth!"

Thank you for stopping by and visiting today. Now click on the logo below and go back and visit Deb and our friends at Friday Foto Friends and see where's they've been this week!

My "Open Window" Wasn't Really Open - Updated & Reposted

Today is "Throwback Thursday" on Facebook, and "Thankful Thursday" here in blogland.  This will be a combination of the two...a throwback to what I wrote on 11/3/2012...and a message of thankfulness that

"The Lord of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our refuge." 
(Isaiah 46:11)

So here is the original post.  I pray it will be a blessing to you today, almost four years later!

Today started out with a "bang"!  I missed it, but my son and husband heard it loud and clear and tried to hold me back from investigating.  They wanted to spare me the sadness...

Some people are superstitious when a bird flies into a window.  They proclaim it to be a "bad omen", or a sign that something terrible is going to happen to the inhabitants of that house.  I am not the least bit concerned about bad luck or such dire predictions.  When a bird flies into a window, the only one with "bad luck" was the poor birdie.  Such was the "luck" of one handsome red male cardinal today.  I am sorry to say that "Pamela's Open Window" was not really open, as this unfortunate racing bird discovered.  The impact was sudden and severe. His gravely still supine body laid inertly on my patio. Not a feather ruffled. No overt sign of the impact, but it was obvious he was no longer among the living. 

The Racing Rival...Waiting for the Race to Resume

I did feel sad.  He was so bold and strong and full of life one moment, and totally lifeless the next. He was merrily flying through life, actually in a race with another brightly plumed fellow...who was now perching in the tree just beyond the corner of the house, watching and wondering when his friend would rise up and join him again in their merry flight.

Soon a female cardinal joined him in the tree, but I was unable to capture her picture.  They were both solemnly watching me as I stood over the still figure of their flock mate expressing my own sorrow at his untimely demise.   My son soon arrived with a shovel to take care of the lifeless body of our feathered friend.  I sort of wished I could have one of his beautiful feathers to mark this day, but since they were all still intact I did not feel it would be appropriate to pluck one for my own selfish reasons.  He was carried to his woodsy grave with all his feathers still covering his now rigid body.

I couldn't help but think about how abruptly life as we know it can end.  One minute we are merrily flying through our own little world, racing along with our "flock-mates", and Wham! We get stopped by a Closed Window...whether it be a diagnosis of a serious illness, a horrible accident, the loss of a mate, child, or other precious loved one. It could be an unbelievable storm, fire, flood or other "act of God", wiping away our home and everything familiar and precious in one horrendous disaster. The loss of a job, relationship, marriage, taking captive our ability to trust others and perhaps even our faith in God.  Yes, life can be full of "closed windows" taking us completely by surprise.  How do we cope? Where do we turn?

I can only speak from God's Word and tell you what I know to be true from my own life:

"God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear,

Even though the earth be removed,

and though the mountains be carried

into the midst of the sea;

Though its waters roar and be troubled,

Though the mountains shake with its swelling.

There is a river whose streams

shall make glad the city of God,

The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.

God is in the midst of her,

she shall not be moved;

God shall help her,

just at the break of dawn.

The nations raged,

the kingdoms were moved;

He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

The Lord of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our refuge."

Psalm 46: 1-7

"Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!"

The Lord of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our refuge."

Psalm 46:10-11

When I run into closed doors (or windows), I run directly to my God, Who is my refuge and strength...and Who IS a very present help in trouble.  I do not need to fear when I am knocked down to the ground by the impact of the calamities of this life.  I know that I will be carried safely in the arms of Christ, whether it be to the "open window" of the next round of this race, or whether it be to the portals of heaven...I do not need to fear.  "The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge."

I have been through some deep waters in my life. You don't know about all of it, nor do I need to tell you. Suffice it to say, I know something about God being my refuge and strength.  Perhaps I haven't been through what you have experienced. Your pain may be far greater than anything I could ever imagine.  But I do know that God is far greater than anything or any ONE you could ever imagine. His arms are not shortened by the magnitude of the traumas of your life..."Be Still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"...The One Who is this Exalted God is the same One Who knows your name...He is there for you...He stands ready to be your refuge and strength, and your very present help in trouble.  If you don't know this already, ask Him to show you. He will do it. Just ask.

Fall On My Front Porch...with a Surprise Visitor

No, please DON'T FALL on my front porch!  Just come enjoy FALL, as in AUTUMN, on my front porch!  

Okay, now that I've got your attention...what I am trying to say is, Fall has arrived on my front porch...please come enjoy it with me!  There, does that make more sense?

As most of you are aware, I live in Florida...and fall isn't quite the same here in Florida as it is for you folks to our north.  However, that doesn't mean that we don't enjoy fall just as much as you do! Maybe in different ways...but we still enjoy fall...and actually, for us, our fall-like weather stays around a lot longer than it does for most of you!  When you are shoveling snow and scraping ice off your windshields, we are still enjoying the crisp, cool, invigorating days of fall weather!  Our "fall" type weather may still be here in January and February, but we will call it winter like everyone else...and pretend we are suffering when the temps dip down below 40 just so you won't feel too bad.  Ha ha!  Okay, enough gloating...and back to Fall on my front porch.

Here are a few pictures I took a few minutes ago.  The air is a delightful 50 something, the sun is shining brightly, and not a cloud in the sky.  Perfect day for sitting on the front porch.  However, we'd better do it early, because it is predicted to hit 82 degrees today...which is still pretty doggone wonderful!  So come on up on the porch with me...

 I am so pleased that the mums are blooming so brightly.  But with this dry weather I have to water them every day or they wilt...

 Looking back out to the front yard...yes, we live in the forest...and the soil here is mostly sand...so that is what that white stuff is...no, it isn't snow.

 Come on inside with me and we'll get a cup of tea...

And now that you are inside, "Welcome to Our Neck of the Woods...Where life is good...fresh air, star gazing, and quiet spaces"....

Why don't you come in and sit a spell...actually let's go back out on the porch, where it is so perfect to sit and watch nature...

Oh wait!  I interrupt this blissful moment to bring you a news flash!  Woody Woodpecker (Pileated Woodpecker) just came knocking on my front porch right as we were getting comfortable...I kid you not...just this very minute, look who showed up...pecking away at my porch posts...not a good thing...even though he is beautiful to look at...we will have to do something or my porch may become one big pile of sawdust and woodpecker holes...

Even though that is treated lumber...this woodpecker seems to think it is fair game...so, what to do?  If anyone has any great ideas, please let us know.  In the meantime, enjoy the view...but someone please help me figure this out quick!!

Okay, that's all for now, folks...gotta run check in my library books before I get a fine for overdue books...

See y'all later!  I hope you enjoyed "Fall On My Front Porch".  It actually became a lot more exciting than I even planned for!!!! This was NOT a staged event, trust me!

"I Will Call Upon The Lord" -Reposted

This was originally posted on 10/26/2014, just 5 months after the passing of our precious son. Two years later, we are still learning to call upon the Lord during times of distress and heartache...and He has never let us down.  This message encouraged my own heart even as I wrote it at that time. I pray there may be someone (or many) who will be blessed and encouraged by this same message yet today.

Original Post from 10/26/2014:

"I will love You, O Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

My God, my strength, in Whom I will trust;

My shield and the horn of my salvation,

my stronghold.

I will call upon the Lord,

Who is worthy to be praised;

So shall I be saved from my enemies."

Psalm 18: 1-3

"The Lord Lives!

Blessed be my Rock!

Let the God of my salvation be exalted."

Psalm 18:46

Mt. Washington, NH, picture taken October, 2013

Those of you who are familiar with scripture choruses may recognize one in the verses above.  I love it when I start reading from God's Word, and the words of the chosen passage jump out at me and cause me to start singing! Such was the case this morning as I read these powerful verses from Psalm 18.   Sing along with me if you know this little song:

"The Lord liveth,

and blessed be my Rock!

Let the God of my salvation be exalted!

The Lord liveth,

and blessed be my Rock!

And may the God of my salvation be exalted!

I will call upon the Lord,

Who is worthy to be praised...

So shall I be saved from my enemies;

I will call upon the Lord!"

What I really loved about reading these verses today were the several references to the word "Strength".   This past year I chose for my "One Word" for 2014 the word Strengthen.  Click HERE for more about that.   As we are drawing closer to the end of the year, I've been thinking about all the ways that God has indeed "strengthened" me throughout these months. It hasn't been easy.  The exercises (click on link) have been excruciating in most cases. I had no idea just how much I was going to have to endure to grow in strength.   (Click on the links for previous stories that will give you the background for this story).   But I have never been alone in that quest. 

The first few verses printed at the beginning of this post will tell you WHO has been with me, 

and WHO has actually been my strength, 

my Rock, my Fortress, my Deliverer...

Yes, it has been my GOD, My Saviour,

who has been my Strength...and in HIM I will trust. 

He has been my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!

So, since I've endured so much this past year, am I now some amazing strong woman, full of wonderful powers and strength beyond belief?  Well, no, I'd hardly say that.  It seems like when we get through one "feat of strengthening", it is oftentimes the building block upon which new challenges will be sent our way. We are never intended in this life to rest upon our laurels of great accomplishments of strength. We are strengthened for a purpose. It could be that God wants us to use our experiences to help others when they face the calamities and heartaches of their lives. It may be that we are strengthened so that we can learn just how dependent upon God we really are... so that we will know beyond a shadow of doubt exactly WHO it was who lifted us up when we were so weak we could not stand on our own.

"In my distress I called upon the Lord,

and cried out to my God;

He heard my voice from His temple,

And my cry came before Him,

even to His ears."

Psalm 18:6

My dear friend, I don't know what challenges you are currently facing, or will face in the upcoming months.  But I do know One Who stands ready to be your "strength...your rock, your fortress and deliverer".  If you do not already know this wonderful God and Savior, I pray that you will take the time to get to know Him now, while things are good...don't wait until the hard times come to call out to Him in your distress...seek His face now...call upon the Lord "Who is worthy to be praised..." and I can assure you He will answer you. He wants to be there for you in the good times as well as the difficult days.  Then you will be able to sing this little song along with me:

"The Lord liveth,

and blessed be my Rock!

Let the God of my salvation be exalted!

The Lord liveth,

and blessed be my Rock!

And may the God of my salvation be exalted!

I will call upon the Lord,

Who is worthy to be praised...

So shall I be saved from my enemies;

I will call upon the Lord!"

"It Is No Secret!" - Reposted

This is a repost of a blog that I wrote about this same time last year.  Somehow, it seems good to repeat it again this year.


Original Post written 10/24/2015:
I'm not alluding to the song, "It Is No Secret What God can do..."  even though that is a wonderful old song and certainly true.  But what has been impressed on my mind lately has to do with darkness and light...hidden and revealed. Read on~

Luke 12:2-3

"For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.  Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops."

Luke 8:16-17

"No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.  For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light."

Proverbs 28:13

 "He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy."

Photo via Internet

I started this post a couple of weeks ago, and then just let it sit on the back burner and simmer a while. Not sure if I am ready to tackle it again or not.  It is a deep subject. Maybe I should just let God's Word speak for itself. I certainly cannot do it any better than that.  God's Word encourages me to press on:

Isaiah 58:1

"Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins."

Isaiah 55:6-7:

"Seek the Lord while He may be found,

Call upon Him while He is near.

Let the wicked forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man his thoughts;

Let him return to the Lord,

And He will have mercy on him;

And to our God,

For He will abundantly pardon." 

Isaiah 58:6-9

"Is this not the fast that I have chosen:

To loose the bonds of wickedness,

to undo the heavy burdens,

to let the oppressed go free,

And that you break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,

And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;

When you see the naked, that you cover him,

and not hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then your light shall break forth like the morning,

Your healing shall spring forth speedily,

And your righteousness shall go before you;  

The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard, 

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; 

You shall cry, 

and He will say, 'Here I am.'" 

Isaiah 55:10-11

"For as the rain comes down,

and the snow from heaven,

and do not return there,

but water the earth,

and make it bring forth and bud,

that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

So shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth;

It shall not return to Me void,

But it shall accomplish what I please,

and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."

Isaiah 55:12~

"For you shall go out with joy,

And be led out with peace;

The mountains and the hills

Shall break forth into singing before you..."

So be it, Lord, I pray, even as You have spoken.

Amen.

The Bend in the Road

Tonight as I headed down our road for my evening walk I was captivated by the sight before me: 

The further I walked, the more brilliantly the light shone around the bend in the road. I was drawn toward this light and mesmerized by its glowing entreaty.

The refrain kept coming into my mind,

"When you come to the bend in the road",

and so many thoughts persisted as if God were giving me a special message...for me, perhaps...

but also possibly for you.

I am not a poet, so I won't even attempt to write in rhyme or verse.  

And actually, I discovered that Helen Steiner Rice has already written such a lovely poem about this very subject...so I will include that for you at the end of this.

Have you ever come to a place in your life where you felt like you had come to a roadblock...a dead end...a point of no return?  Perhaps a loss of job, financial security, home, marriage, spouse, parent, child, or friendship has left you feeling alone, empty and uncertain about your future...and all you can see is darkness and sorrow ahead.  

Believe it or not, we've all been there at different times in our lives. I've been there...perhaps more often than I'd like to admit or remember. We may each be affected differently by whatever our circumstance may be.  Some may respond with extreme fear and anxiety while others may react in anger and be unable to forgive or reconcile themselves to their changed position in life. There may even be those who respond with an attitude of accelerated activity and charge ahead recklessly without appearing to care at all about themselves or others around them. Others may be so caught up in grief that they cannot even begin to overcome the deep sorrow that engulfs their very souls. 

Regardless of how you appear to respond to the disappointments and challenges that life throws in your pathway, we can all agree that these kinds of events change our lives drastically from the outside in...and from the inside out.  Nothing will ever be the same again.  In some cases that is a bad thing...and perhaps in other cases, it could actually be a good thing. Obviously, that depends upon the severity of the situation as well as the condition of the heart and soul of the one traversing this journey.

What was impressing me about this vision of the bend in the road tonight was the divine light shining forth, beckoning me to continue on in my journey.  Not to give up or give in to defeat, fear, anxiety, sorrow, or even complacency, but to persevere and stay strong in my faith in the One Who was already walking before me, just around the bend,  shining His love-light toward me, guiding my pathway and keeping me headed in the right direction.

"Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel;

Who makes a way in the sea and a path through the mighty waters...

'Do not remember the former things,

nor consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing,

Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it?

I will even make a road in the wilderness

and rivers in the desert.'"

Isaiah 43:14, 16, 18-19

"And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. 

He will be with you,

He will not leave you nor forsake you;

do not fear nor be dismayed."

Deuteronomy 31:8

Needless to say, this little walk tonight had a profound effect on my heart and mind. I couldn't wait to get back home and start putting these thoughts down on "paper" before they drowned in the sea of too many distractions and pressures waiting to overcome me when I got back home. It is my hope that anyone reading this will stop and realize that you are not alone in your present "bend in the road" of life.  That is all that it is...a bend...not an end.  Read what Helen Steiner Rice wrote and be encouraged and blessed...

The End Of The Road Is But A Bend In The Road

by Helen Steiner Rice

When we feel we have nothing left to give
And we are sure that the "song has ended"--
When our day seems over and the shadows fall
And the darkness of night has descended,

Where can we go to find the strength
To valiantly keep on trying,
Where can we find the hand that will dry
The tears that the heart is crying--

There's but one place to go and that is to God
And, dropping all pretense and pride,
We can pour out our problem without restraint
And gain strength with Him at our side--

And together we stand at life's crossroads
And view what we think is the end,
But God has a much bigger vision
And he tells us it's only a bend--

For the road goes on and is smoother,
And the "pause in the song" is a "rest,"
And the part that's unsung and unfinished
Is the sweetest and richest and best--

So rest and relax and grow stronger,
Let go and let God share your load,
Your work is not finished or ended,
You've just come to "a bend in the road."

There really isn't anything else for me to say, except keep moving forward, my friend. God is with you...He's already waiting for you, just around the bend.