Joseph's Coat of many Colors

I saw a red bird in my butterfly bush last year.
it didn't look like a cardinal.
It had a red breast and belly;
a totally blue head;
a ring around the eye.
It most assuredly was not a cardinal.

When I searched for him in my bird book,
he proved to be a ‘Painted Bunting’.
He happens to be one of the most beautiful birds
in North America!
(and I had never seen or heard of it)

I didn't get pictures of it last year,
but he visited early one morning a few weeks ago.
Just one sighting.
I happened to be right in front of my window,
with camera in hand -
or I would have missed these quick captures.
I was so excited!

Despite his beautiful plumage,
he is difficult to see.
From the front – this bird looks all red
except for some dark gray at the wings
and the blue head.
But when the other side is revealed –
this small bird is adorned and ‘covered’
with a coat of many colors!

I named him 'JOSEPH'

His other well known name is
"Nonpareil" - meaning "without equal"
(source taken from: National Audubon Society
Field Guide to BIRDS – Eastern Region)

There is none 'equal'
to the ONE TRUE GOD!
NONE!

He is 'Nonpareil'

"And this is the way to have eternal life -
to know you,
the only TRUE God,
and Jesus Christ,
the One you sent to earth"
John 17:3 NLT

Patrina

WATCHMAN

Keep watch and pray,
so that you will not give in to temptation.
The spirit is willing,
but the body is weak !
Matt 26:41 NLT

Short Term Allowances

live in harmony with one another;
be sympathetic,
love as brothers,
be compassionate and humble.
1 Peter 3:8 NIV

It's so hard to identify the hummers.
The perching one is probably
a female Ruby Red throat.
I watched her guard this feeder all day -for days.
The thinner hummer, slightly decurved bill, long neck,
is the ONLY hummer she did not chase off right away.

It was so funny to observe.
She turned her head back and forth
in her active guarding stance
while the other drank

tic toc...tic toc
time is almost up!

Then, in a flash movement,
you can see the other hummer
quickly backing up.
All it took was one LOOK!
time was up!

You Are My Sunshine

The one who rules righteously,

who rules in the fear of God,

is like the light of morning at sunrise,

like a morning without clouds,

like the gleaming of the sun

on new grass after rain. 2 Sam 23:3-4 NLT

Wet Baby

Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
Psalm 51:2 NIV

NASTY

"Your crops will be abundant,
for I will guard them from insects and disease.
Your grapes will not fall from the vine
before they are ripe,"
says the LORD of Heaven's Armies.
Malachi 3:11 NLT

Green Surprise

Dear friends, don’t be surprised
at the fiery trials you are going through,
as if something strange were happening to you.
Instead, be very glad—
for these trials make you partners
with Christ in his suffering,
so that you will have the wonderful joy
of seeing his glory
when it is revealed to all the world.
1 Peter 4:12-13 NLT

Anchored

This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.
It leads us through the curtain
into God's inner sanctuary. Heb 6:19 NLT

... AND THROUGH MINE #1

Light shines on the godly,
and joy on those whose hearts are right.
Psalm 97:11 NLT

A Sunny Sink Full of Dirty Dishes :)

Patrina <")>><

THROUGH YOUR LENS # 1

I like to play around with the camera to see a thing from all angles. I come up with some pretty crazy views. I love color, texture and composition. My eye is attracted to LIGHT. I see it displayed in magnificent ways. Often, the eye is encumbered by the mundane that we fail to see the glory and beauty of simplicity.

I hope to stir up a desire in you to develop a different set of eyes. The 'whole' of something is made up the sum of it parts. The ordinary eye tends to gravitate to the familiar, rather than taking the time to see something from a different perspective. For me, it takes no less time to see the amazing in the mundane, than it does to recognize the familiar.

From time to time I will post some images that don't tell the whole story. I am inviting you to tell me what it is that you see...THROUGH YOUR LENS. Sometimes there will be hidden clues, but you'll have to look for them. I am labeling these... 'through your lens'... with the corresponding number.

After a given time, say 1 week, I will post the whole photo - in the successive post. These will be labeled ... 'and through mine'... with the corresponding number.

This will be fun for me. I hope you find it enjoyable too. It is something that even the kids can participate in. I'm hoping my 4 grandchildren will appreciate the way I see things and be encouraged to look a little deeper.

So, with that said, HERE IS #1












Patrina