Make Believe Reality - July 27, 2007

What is a peacock doing at the River Park? I found him admiring his reflection in the chrome wheel of a parked car. He was out of place, one of a kind and kind of in love with his own image? Some religious folk are like this, apart from the church, out alone with their own ideas of what truth is, admiring their own version of truth, and self centered.

Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Wild peas growing at the park, enhanced by my version of reality. I suppose this is called art.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me..

I liked this different view of a dragonfly, looking up at him on a tree leaf. It may well be that pictures of tiny winged fairies, came from looking at a dragonfly and a little imagination. You see how easy it is to stray from truth?

Psa 90:9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.

Psa 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away

The Jack Rabbit was sitting in the road, but not with the runners. He saw the runners and jumped into the Blackberry bushes. They did not know that he had been there. I put him back where he was. I suppose that could be called enhancing reality?

2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

2 Tim 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2 Tim 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
2 Tim 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

2 Tim 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Young Mallards - July 23, 2007

A flock or a brood of Mallard ducks were hatched in the pond. They learned to stay together for protection.

Eccl 4:11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

Eccl 4:12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

There are 12 of them, so close that they look like one. There were 12 apostles that Jesus sent forth. They were known as the twelve.

Mat 10:2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
Mat 10:3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
Mat 10:4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.




After our unusual July rain the pond surface was cleared of all the scummy algae and moss. The ducks enjoy foraging together and seemed to not fear me approaching them. They are still young and have not faced the perils of the world. Just like our children, when together they are secure, but sent out into the world there are dangers.

Deu 1:21 Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.

Young, innocent and beautiful, in a safe place. In the winter, many take off and fly south, by instinct. Will these return for a reunion and nest their young here?

Isa 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you.

Isa 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Isa 35:6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

Isa 35:7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

Isa 35:8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

Isa 35:9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:

Isa 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Strange July Rain - July 21, 2007

Cumulus clouds gather at the end of an unusual July day of rain.

Exo 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

Exo 13:22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

Rays of sunshine, remind us of the light of God that illumines our walk.

1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

What a blessed refreshing, after days as high as 112 degrees.

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Acts 3:20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

Acts 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Many see things in clouds, some claim that they are miracles, but when we see Jesus we will know he is real and on time.

Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

The Ugly Duck - July 17, 2007

The Muscovy Drake is rugged and unusual looking. You might call him beautiful, because God makes all things beautiful. He is a unique creation of God.

2 Sam 14:24 And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face.
2 Sam 14:25 But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.



A Pekin duck is a breed of domesticated duck used primarily for egg and meat production. Bred from the Mallard in China, nine ducks were imported to the United States in 1873. It is the most popular commercial duck breed in the United States. These are pretty, and it is interesting that they came from the wild Mallard ducks.

Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
A Muscovy swims with the Mallards.

Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Eph 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh
Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Spider - July 16, 2007

It was an hour long walk in the hot sun yesterday with a macro lens. There was almost nothing from the walk until I returned to the car. A little spider was on the chrome piece near the windshield, admiring his face full of eyes in the dim chrome mirror.

1 Cor 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

1 Cor 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

1 Cor 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

1 Cor 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

After lunch today I found this Praying Mantis on the top of a green weed, blowing in the wind. I held the weed to steady it to make this picture; Jesus could have held back the wind. All was green, the bug didn't like my camera 2 inches from him, so he flew away.

James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

James 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

On my walk at the park yesterday I saw this Western Salsify or Goatsbeard, we call it the California Dandelion. The puff of seeds are a ball from 2 to 4 inches wide.

1 Cor 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

1 Cor 5:2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.


This morning's walk in the park and a bee on the button plant flower. It looks like a bursting firework.

Dan 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Recycled Rejects - July 13, 2007

One deer stands fast, while the others flee in fear. Rejects can be chosen and have courage when God comes into their life. Remember Jesus too was rejected.

Mat 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

Many ducks are on the move on this January day.

Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

A little color added to the patient Wood ducks who roost on the tree in early winter mornings.

Jer 31:28 And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the LORD.

Warm gold color adds depth to the pond reflections.

Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Surviving the Heat - July 10, 2007

It has been 110 degrees, day after day in July. The doe has found a shady spot to rest, not far from a pond.

Psa 121:5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

Psa 121:6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
Psa 121:7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
Psa 121:8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
The button bush grows in the heat, near the ponds. The seeds are eaten by numerous water birds and the fragrant flowers are a favorite nectar source for butterflies. This name was new to me.

Gen 8:20 And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
Gen 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
Gen 8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.


The tarweed is a sticky plant with a pungent odor. The flower resembles a tiny sunflower. They are not edible and often stick to the legs of cattle. The resins from the dried plant have been used to treat poison oak.

Psa 115:4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
Psa 115:5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
Psa 115:6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
Psa 115:7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
Psa 115:8 They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.


Water is needed and the beavers swim and splash in the early morning. I included a verse:

Isa 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Near a pond a the ducks gather. The female Mallards, interbreed with the domestic ducks. You can see the difference in their bills. There are variations, but they are still ducks. There is no evolution, it is a false belief, not science.

1 Tim 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
1 Tim 6:21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.