One Of God's Perfect Creation... the Hummingbird

This is one of my devotions I get each day... I thought this one particularly interesting and wanted to share... I love hummingbirds, although my favorite bird is the common Garden (House) Wren...


     One of the most fascinating and unique creatures of all creation is the common hummingbird. What is the probability that all of the unique characteristics of the ruby-throated hummingbird, each of which are needed for its survival, developed by some step-by-step evolutionary process? A few of the hummingbird’s incredible abilities are listed below:

1. No other bird can fly forward, backward, upside-down, and straight up like a helicopter.
2. The use of a special fringed tongue to sweep insects out from the inside of flowers. It cannot survive on nectar alone but also needs the protein from eating insects.Without its special tongue it could never catch the insects.
3. The ability to fly 500 miles nonstop over the gulf waters to Mexico. The hummingbird can conserve its strength for long flights by taking a prolonged rest just prior to the flight and making every motion count in flight.
4. The ability to go into a "torpid" condition at night by almost shutting down its metabolism. Because of its incredibly high energy activity, gram for gram, the hummingbird has the greatest energy output of any warm-blooded animal. Yet at night it uses only about one-fifth of its normal energy.
   

The hummingbird is truly a marvel of God’s creativity.

Character Sketches
Volume 2, pages 42-48



Seek the LORD, and his strength:
seek his face evermore.
Remember his marvellous works that he hath done;
his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
Psalm 105:4-5

Spring and Faith

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;" Ecclesiastics 3:1-2

Spring & Faith...

Spring.... is the day I long for through the cold, dreary days of Winter.  Although who could complain this past Winter, if that's even what you want to call it.  I am curious to know what the actual snow fall accumulation was, it certainly couldn't have been very much. 

This Spring allowed us to get some yard work done mush sooner than 'normal' around here~ some that typically wouldn't have even gotten around to until at least April, and that's with good weather.  Neil kept telling me not to get too excited, we would surly get a snow storm any day. I know he's right, but I told him that I have faith that it won't.  Some may call that fruitless faith or even wishful thinking, but I really thought it is was here to stay... but we did get some more snow... and I did even loose one of my David Austin Roses with it... my Graham Thomas... so disappointing.  About four years ago we had that blizzard on Easter Sunday... such is life in Michigan!

Faith is a great thing you know. It helps in times of distress... it keeps you looking forward instead of backward... I truly believe it makes a person a whole lot happier. 

Until next time,
Jean

Bouquets...

So simple yet so elegant, isn't it.
... wild flowers, sweet pea blooms, cleome, queen Anne's lace... whatever you can find...
placed in old glass milk jars, wine bottles, mason jars... whatever you want... that's the charm of it!

Flowers are charming and add happiness and smiles where ever they are... I have met a few people in my day that have actually said they don't like flowers... and I might add, they are grumpy people... afterall anyone who can't find beauty in a flower has to be grumpy, wouldn't you think?

I think of Heaven when I am in my gardens... afterall, 'it all began in a garden'... yes I imagine how beautiful it must have been, and how beautiful it must be now... I believe with all my heart that Heaven will be one big beautiful garden.  God created the earth and all that is on and in it... have you ever looked inside a flower bloosom?  Those who believe in evolution must be so sad inside... to look at the beauty of nature and try to convince themselves that it just happened... it is just so silly to me. 

Yesterday Evan noticed a bumpy toad in the flower bed off the patio... I right quick got a clay pot and put it in there so it would have a home.  Evan, Aaron & I watched it as it backed itself into the dirt and used it's back legs to burrow itself in.  Today Ethan noticed the Baltimore Oriole's in the yard... the orange brightness of there beauty didn't just happen... Nature simply sings out of Gods glory... to hear and understand that song is a blessing and a gift.

Today I planted up a few more of my containers... I planted begonias in some of my pots for the porch tables and kitchen window sill.  Basils in pots on the front porch too... just gotta have basil everywhere.  I have several wheel barrows that I have always planted double petunias in. This year I am doing something different...   In one I decided to scatter zinnia seed... I love zinnias... they just smile at you! In another I planted several nasturtiums.  I am excited to see how they look all full and overflowing.  I have another that I am not sure what I am going to do yet... I am one of those gardeners that will just know when the time is right. 

Today was a great day... hope yours was too!
Until next time,
Jean