June Caedmon's Blog, page 59
March 24, 2015
Inspired by . . . Oreo Cookie Cows and Hummers
Inspired by . . . Oreo Cookie Cows and Hummers
Last week, in the midst of a rather difficult day, the Hummers returned.
As you see the weather was not the most accommodating, but they are formidable little creatures! The black-chinned hummingbirds are gracing my humble abode once again, and my heart delights!
The ruby-throats will arrive, probably in another month or so, creating a war zone for a time. But they will move on north, to visit some of you, while the black-chins remain. If the Phoebe is my winter JOY, the black-chins are indeed my summer JOY. I never tire of watching them and have been known to burn dinner because I was watching out of the window rather than over the stove!
French Kiss Texture Purple Prose and crackle overlay
But what is a bit of burned food to these tiny miracles! {I think you know my opinion on the matter!}
Something else that happened last week, was that I finally got pictures of the Oreo Cookie Cows! I’ve been trying for three years, quite literally, to get these shots, and while the cows were not as close as I would have liked, I could not wait another moment to share these with you!
What are Oreo Cookies Cows, you ask? Well, see for yourself!
Yes, I am having a bit of fun. As some of you may already know, these are actually Belted Galloway cattle. But I like to call them my Oreo cookie cows, just for fun!
French Kiss texture Impressions
As you see I’ve been playing around with some new {to me} textures and overlays. If you’re interested in textures and fun stuff like that, Leslie offers several as a free download for new members. You can check it out here.
And finally, I’ve been trying for awhile to get a good shot of the sweet chickadees that grace my feeders year-round. They flit about and move so fast, it’s really quite a challenge! But, I finally captured one and had some fun applying a grunge texture, then a blend mode, and then masked out the bird itself.
He’s sitting on a branch of the crepe myrtle tree in my front yard. This was just taken just a few days ago, and today I see that the branches are budding!
“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke
Blessings,
June
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March 23, 2015
Inspired by . . . Life thru My Lens 13:52
Inspired by . . . Life thru My Lens 13:52
When I’m feeling especially sad, I often go outside and talk to the trees.
Actually, I talk to God more than I talk to the trees. God talks back. And, so far, the trees have not. Although, it is possible that they are just speaking a language that I do not yet understand.
Lest you think me completely off my rocker, I was delighted to find talking trees mentioned in the Bible recently when I was pondering some of Jesus’s words in Mark 11 (more on that in another post). Oh, the talking tree? You can find it in Judges 9, if you want to go look it up.
I was blessed in the reading of this quote, from Arabah Joy’s Trust Without Boundaries, earlier this week:
"When we wake up and walk weak,
we need to be men and women who remember the gospel,
a rag-tag band who preaches it to ourselves."
I’ve been walking weak lately, in this season of grief. I have needed to remember the gospel, and preach it to myself. Arabah reminds us that although we have the blood of Eve (fallen humanity) pumping through our veins, the “antidote to being a daughter of Eve is the all-sufficient, perfect blood of Christ. His blood supersedes the blood we inherited from Eve.”
God is speaking Truth to me in this season. Through His word first and foremost, but also through His children, like Arabah, and others. God is awesome like that.
My God-talk is interrupted by the incessant bleating of a goat. I look up and see a small herd, some distance off. Zooming in with my camera I can see one little kid darting to and fro amongst the larger adults. Poor thing, he must have lost his mother. But his bleating brings to mind the words of the prophet Samuel to King Saul in 2 Samuel 15:14.
I think of my own disobedience and wonder if it resounds like the bleating of sheep in the ears of my Lord.
The bleating stops suddenly, and along with the silence a peace settles over my soul.
I remember my Redeemer.
I have been put to death with Christ on His cross,
so that it is no longer I who live,
but it is Christ who lives in me.
This life that I live now, I live by faith in the Son of God,
Who loved me and gave His life for me. Gal 2:19-20
There is no sound of bleating sheep in my Lord’s ear. By the precious blood of Jesus, I have been cleansed of my sin and made right before God. Just as the pear tree has put on a new frock for spring, I am clothed with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. (Col 3:12)
This is the Truth of the gospel. The Truth I must remember today, and every day.
And today, live as one redeemed.
Shalom,
June
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March 19, 2015
Inspired by . . . always near the cross: obedience
Inspired by . . . always near the cross: obedience
Continuing the series.
Obedience
Submission
Faith
Trust
I often ask myself, “Have I done one single thing today because He told me to do it?”
I’m ashamed to say the answer is more often no, than yes. We have all sorts of reasons for doing the things that we do, even the good things, but how often does our motivation come from obedience to His word - from a simply desire to please Him - to obey His command?
Knowing what God wants us to do is not hard. He has not kept His will a secret. He has carefully preserved not only His precepts, but the very words uttered from our Savior’s mouth!
The LORD has told us what is good.
What He requires of us is this: to do what is just,
to show constant love,
and to live in humble fellowship with our God. Mic 6:8
WWJD?
Open your Bible and therein you shall find the answer!
The law of the LORD is perfect; it gives new strength.
The commands of the LORD are trustworthy, giving wisdom to those who lack it.
The laws of the LORD are right, and those who obey them are happy.
The commands of the LORD are just and give understanding to the mind. Psa 19:7-8
Not only do we have His word, but as believers we have the Holy Spirit. A counselor to guide us and make clear the things of God.
We have not received this world's spirit; instead,
we have received the Spirit sent by God,
so that we may know all that God has given us. 1Co 2:12
The cross offends the disobedient. They do not desire it’s favor or acceptance. They scoff and turn away.
So then, if we do not do the good we know we should do, we are guilty of sin. Jas 4:17
When presented with a choice, it is almost always easier not to obey. So how can we guard against this temptation?
How can young people keep their lives pure?
By obeying Your commands. With all my heart I try to serve You;
keep me from disobeying Your commandments.
I keep your law in my heart, so that I will not sin against You. Psa 119:9-11
God gives us everything we need to obey - and grace when we fail.
Examine me, O God, and know my mind; test me, and discover my thoughts.
F
ind out if there is any evil in me and guide me in the everlasting way. Psa 139:23-24
Our desire to obey is like a fragrant oil, like the dew of Mt. Hermon falling on the ground beneath the cross.
Forgive me, most gracious Lord and Father, if this day I have done or said anything to increase the pain of the world.
Pardon the unkind word, the impatient gesture, the hard and selfish deed, the failure to show sympathy and
kindly help where I had the opportunity, but missed it; and enable me so to live that I may daily
do something to lessen the tide of human sorrow and add to the sum of human happiness.
Prayer to Do Good ~ F.B. Meyer England, 1847-1929
Blessings,
June
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March 17, 2015
Inspired by . . . Blessings ‘o the Irish
Inspired by . . . Blessings ‘o the Irish
In celebration of St Patrick’s Day, I thought I’d share with you a wee bit ‘o green lichen and some heartfelt Irish blessings and prayers.
May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.
May you see God's light on the path ahead
When the road you walk is dark.
May you always hear,
Even in your hour of sorrow,
The gentle singing of the lark.
When times are hard may hardness
Never turn your heart to stone,
May you always remember
when the shadows fall—
You do not walk alone.
Christ be with me
Christ before me
Christ behind me
Christ in me
Christ beneath me
Christ above me
Christ on my right
Christ on my left
Christ where I lie
Christ where I sit
Christ where I arise
Christ in the heart of every man
who thinks of me
Christ in the mouth of every man
who speaks of me
Christ in every eye that sees me
Christ in every ear that hears me
Salvation is of the Lord.
~ from St Patrick’s breastplate
Textured with kk_belize
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Blessings,
June
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March 16, 2015
Inspired by . . . Life thru My Lens 12:52
Inspired by . . . Life thru My Lens 12:52
I don’t know about you, but I sit at a desk most of the day. My “work” is done in front of a computer screen. Almost every day, without fail, as the hands on the clock dance toward the number three, my body goes in - to - slowwww mottttiooon. I need a boost. {Or a siesta, but that is usually not a option} My boost is usually a cuppa - tea of coffee depending.
Some days though, I forgo the cuppa and step outside.
This day there is a sweet song coming from the cedar tree in the front yard. The air is pungent with pine, and I take a deep breath and listen. My next thought is sharing this special moment with you, so I slip back inside for my camera. Songbirds in trees are a bit like needles in haystacks. The only saving grace is when they move, but this one flies before I can spot him.
The Phoebe laughs and poses for a picture. He’s not shy.
There’s that sweet song again. Now he’s in the big oak tree. I grin - chasing songbirds might be nearly as fun as chasing butterflies.
As I cross the yard a different song comes to my ear.
The little wren is proudly telling the world he’s found his mate - - and a nesting place.
Under the big oak I strain to spot the silhouette of a bird against a bright spring sky. My gaze drifts above the limbs to the wild blue. Two tiny silhouettes soar just below the clouds. They soar because they can, and I feel my spirit soar up to meet them.
Back on earth, the songbird flies again, but not far. This time his movement aids my sight and I spot him amongst the dying leaves.
Can you see him?
Suddenly a mockingbird swoops into a nearby tree, sounding an alarm. I look behind me and see that I have a shadow. Not the best bird watching companion.
Time to head back inside. The Phoebe leads the way, calling me home.
There is one more blessing to behold before my adventure ends . . . a familiar sound, and there! by the feeders!
I just love the little whiskers on his chin, don’t you?
I hope you’ve been as blessed as I was by this little adventure.
What have you seen through your lens this week?
Blessings,
June
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March 11, 2015
Inspired by . . . the rhythm of the rain
Inspired by . . . the rhythm of the rain
On Monday, Laura was writing about kids grumbling because of one less hour of sleep. I wasn’t grumbling about that, but I hadn’t been too keen on waking to another grey day and rain. The rest of Laura’s post convicted me and I realized that my recent attitude about the weather had been raining on my JOY parade.
I needed to stop the sin of discontentment that was eroding my JOY. I needed to get into the rhythm of the rain.
Sin. I know it’s not a word that any of us like to use when referring to our own behavior. But there it is. Call it what you like, but I know in my spirit that my grumblings and discontentment about the weather is sin. Plain.and.simple.
C.H. Spurgeon warned of thinking lightly of sin. And during this time of Lent when there is an added focus on self-examination, we might be tempted to say, “Is it not a little one?”
Do not the little foxes spoil the grapes?
Will not continual drippings wear away stones?
Sometimes we know what we are doing, or that the attitude we have is wrong, but need some added incentive to do something about it. We may even confess our sin, but not be repentant {turn away and go in the other direction}. I mean, why shouldn’t I be grumpy about the rain? It’s producing gobs of mud, washing out our roads, keeping me inside these four walls, the list of excuses goes on.
Keith Potter says, “our confession will be thin and hollow unless we understand how great and holy God is. We are forever underestimating the seriousness of sin and its effects, making us unlike God and unfit for His good fellowship.”
How do we understand how great and holy God is? By reading His word.
This rain, it has a rhythm, just like everything else in life. And if I want to be in the right rhythm with the rain, and with God, I need to know and understand what God’s word says.
So what does God’s word say about rain?
Except for the flood, which was clearly not a good thing for those living on earth at the time, nearly every reference to God sending the rain is a blessing.
A blessing.
After reading through over 100 verses about rain I was feeling just a little bit of what Job must have felt when God spoke to him out of the whirlwind.
Who are you to question my wisdom with your ignorant, empty words?
Now stand up straight and answer the questions I ask you.
Were you there when I made the world? If you know so much, tell me about it. Job 38:2-4
Here’s the deal, it doesn’t matter if I see the rain as a blessing or not. God doesn’t make mistakes.
I want to be humble enough, patient enough, and faithful enough to trust Him.
Rain or shine, cold air or warm, grey skies or blue.
How about you?
Blessings,
June
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March 9, 2015
Inspired by . . . Life thru My Lens 11:52
Inspired by . . . Life thru My Lens 11:52
While most of the country is shoulder-deep snow, we’ve been sloshing and sliding about in rain, mud and ICE. As far as that goes, I think I prefer the snow, although both can be equally beautiful.
I wonder if the air plants can breathe when they’re covered in ice? I’ve felt like thin sheets have been covering my lungs these past weeks. Cold, sun-less days weigh heavily on my spirit. I force myself to go out in the cold, seeking beauty. Seeking Him.
ice crystals textured with kk_poetic exclusion blend mode
I know a lot of what I’m feeling is the grief, but still, the weather hasn’t helped. But God’s been calling me.
A gentle whisper, deep in my soul.
Mary Geisen describes it perfectly in her Weekend Brew post, “A low whisper that floats in on the wings of morning.”
He’s reminding me that He can be found inside these four walls, too. He’s here in the face of an orchid, still blooming after a month of grief. His voice calls me to turn off the world and shelter with Him.
As much as I want to think I need the warmth of the sun and the wide spaces of nature to nourish my soul, He’s reminding me that the Son is always with me. Inside these four walls where the grey light filters in from a sunless day, in the darkness of my grief - - the Son is here.
The city has no need of the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God shines on it, and the Lamb is its lamp. (Rev 21:23)
I know He’s calling me to a deeper trust, a deeper faith. My hesitancy comes from knowing that the deepening doesn’t come without scars.
Ice Crystals textured with kk_littlethings exclusion blend mode
But experience and His word remind me I can trust Him with my scars, because He first bore scars for me. That’s a hard concept to wrap my mind around sometimes. What He did for me. For you.
But it’s real, it’s true and it deserves a response.
So that’s my world and my
lens this week - what’s yours?
Going deeper,
June
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March 8, 2015
Inspired by . . . the Gadarenes
Inspired by . . . the Gadarenes
More than two thousand pigs were dead.
Jesus had cost the Gadarenes a lot of money, and was disrupting their lives. They begged Him to leave. (Mark 5)
They would rather have a mad man in their midst than a merciful one. At least the mad man had been confined to the tombs. This Jesus, the One the evil spirits obeyed? they couldn’t control Him.
Do you ever feel like the people of Gadara?
Like maybe following this Jesus is costing too much and you didn’t sign up for this?
If you feel this way, perhaps you haven’t surrendered all. Perhaps there is something you’ve held back, hoping He wouldn’t see or ask for it.
You say, 'I am rich and well off; I have all I need.' But you do not know how miserable and pitiful you are! You are poor, naked, and blind. I advise you, then, to buy gold from me, pure gold, in order to be rich. Buy also white clothing to dress yourself and cover up your shameful nakedness. Buy also some ointment to put on your eyes, so that you may see. (Rev 3:17-18)
Take a lesson from the Gadarenes. They saw only what Jesus cost them. They were loth to quit either their sins or their swine. They chose rather to abandon their Savior. If they would but part with their sins, Jesus had both life and happiness for them.
You will show me the path of life;
in Your presence is the fullness of JOY,
at Your right hand are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:11)
The mad man knew this, he had experienced the redeeming power of Jesus first hand. He longed to follow His Savior. But Jesus had other plans for him, for He would not completely abandon the Gadarenes to the demons who roamed their hills. (Job 1:7; Psalm 16:10)
Gadara - Um Keis Today - Source
As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had had the demons begged Him, "Let me go with you!" But Jesus would not let him. Instead, He told him, "Go back home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how kind He has been to you." So the man left and went all through the Ten Towns, telling what Jesus had done for him. And all who heard it were amazed.
(Mar 5:18-20)
And He hasn’t abandon you either. You may be hiding from Him, but He’s calling you out.
That evening they heard the LORD God walking in the garden, and they hid from Him among the trees.
But the LORD God called out to the man, "Where are you?" (Gen 3:8-9)
Whether your demons are one, or many, Jesus has the power to remove them - the power to make you FREE.
Release.
Let go.
Open the door.
Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if any hear My voice and open the door,
I will come into their house and eat with them, and they will eat with Me. (Rev 3:20)
Shalom,
June
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March 6, 2015
Inspired by . . . a poem
Inspired by . . . a poem
Crouch in darkness
pass through waters
walk through fire
Jehovah-shammah
The blind see
paths are made known
crooked places made straight
Jehovah-jireh
A Presence in the valley
no fear of evil
comfort in discipline
Jehovah-raah
Trust in the Word
light and salvation
strength of my life
Jehovah-mekoddishkem
Dad’s Christmas cactus, which only ever blooms at Christmas, is blooming again.
However grieved your heart may be over personal circumstances, or worldly atrocities
listen for His voice, and let HOPE bloom anew.
Because Sunday is coming,
and spring is, too.
Blessings,
June
Image textured with Mona’s earth texture.
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March 2, 2015
Inspired by . . . Life thru My Lens 9:52
Inspired by . . . Life thru My Lens 9:52
This was supposed to be Life thru My Lens 8:52, but often sometimes life doesn’t happen according to our plan. My love’s birthday was last week, so Monday and Tuesday were consumed with preparations. His gift, an aquarium, took some planning - and some rearranging of the furniture! Said aquarium is happily bubbling along, awaiting LIFE.
Believe it or not, a week ago we were enjoying 75 degree weather and SUN. These pictures prove it, even though we’ve been in the 30’s and 40’s under a mask of grey and freezing rain since then. The sun will come out tomorrow? Not likely. We’re looking at this for another week, although with warmer temps. A friend of mine suggested that all the rain we’ve had this winter will make for a good wildflower season. Her words ignite a spark of HOPE. I hope these images do the same in the hearts of those of you who are still several feet under WHITE. Enjoy.
"Honor the space between no longer and not yet." ~Nancy Levin
The quintessential early bird, this American Robin was found digging for worms under a bench in Fredericksburg, Texas.
This gateway at Wildseed Farms beckons young and old explorers alike. I was hoping to find a feathered friend or two on the other side, but alas, the feeders were empty.
kk_0216magic
Even in the winter there is beauty to be found here. I was disappointed to see that they let their ponds go during the off season. Last time I was here they were teaming with frogs and fish.
Now they are overcome with another, lower, form of life.
A pair of salt marsh moths enjoying the rosemary.
I noticed this weathervane as we were leaving the farm . . .
. . . and we were greeted by this fellow when we arrived home.
Blessings,
June
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