Remaining honest
Mirror’s objective vision—
Character’s guardrails
Life’s daily balance
Spotlight upon others’ work—
Self-pride takes backseat
Today’s challenges
Actions held accountable—
Tomorrow strengthened
Photo by Kerry on Pexels.com
Sometimes life prompts us to look into the mirror before we act or speak. Self-reflection can be an effective teacher.
Do you write a daily journal? This inspiring thought comes from my journal, and much of what is written in my journal comes from reading and commenting on other bloggers’ posts. Thanks to many of you for adding so much to my journal.
(Updated December 31)
The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.
The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.
Socrates (death in 399 B.C.) was a Greek philosopher from Athens. He has often been credited with the founding of Western philosophy.
Deserted, severed tree trunk
Shattered by storms long ago
Splitting this giant in two
Forsaken now in its woes
Nature’s hand calling the shots
Drawing dark cards from the deck
Standing alone, slowest death
Trying to salvage this wreck
Deformed snag appears lifeless
Yet, God calls this wildlife tree
Standing proudly, still on watch
Nature’s snack bar waits for free
Living nearby, log still lives
Covered with lichens and moss
Home for God’s smallest creatures
Termites, beetles . . . march across
Jagged stump remains on guard
Below the ground, roots still thrive
Life holds on, another year
Perseverance to survive
Around the dark, scuttled tree
Racing to reach sunlight first
Young saplings growing skyward
Cycle of life, marked to burst
All of the photographs were taken at Chestnut Ridge Metro Park, which is located just outside of Canal Winchester, Ohio. I frequently walk this park during the fall, spring, and summer months with an occasional hike in the wintertime.
Originally published September, 2020.
Photo by Kerry on Pexels.com
Every day nature’s landscape praises the masterful goodness of our Creator.
Do you write a daily journal? This inspiring thought comes from my journal, and much of what is written in my journal comes from reading and commenting on other bloggers’ posts. Thanks to many of you for adding so much to my journal.
(Updated December 30)
If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant.
The spring is a lively emblem of the Resurrection.
Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672) was an English-born poet who lived in the American colonies where her poetry was the first to published in the New World.
From Psalm 25:4-5: “Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all day long.”
Darkness filled with stormy seas
Navigating all alone
Waiting and watching
Jesus witnesses man’s every groan
Better days surely coming
Spring forward, full of grace
Watching and hoping
Jesus shares righteous branch, now embrace
His way leads to higher ground
Bringing mercy’s salvation
Hoping and trusting
Jesus rebuilds faith’s new foundation
Moments of earnest prayer
Transforming grace taking flight
Trusting and praising
Jesus forgives with redemptive light
Faith nourished with comfort’s love
Raising Resurrection’s bridge
No longer waiting
Jesus offers way to heaven’s ridge
From 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10: “For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with Him.”
Photo by Kerry on Pexels.com
Life will bring us encounters with chaos or uncertainty. It is refreshing and encouraging to know that Jesus walks in our midst.
Do you write a daily journal? This inspiring thought comes from my journal, and much of what is written in my journal comes from reading and commenting on other bloggers’ posts. Thanks to many of you for adding so much to my journal.
(Updated December 29)
Stop and think. We’ve no clue as to what will happen one minute from now . . . But our invisible God in His providence, is continually, constantly, and confidently at work.
From Revelation 17:14: “They will wage war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with Him are called and chosen and faithful.”
Charles Swindoll (born 1934) is an American pastor and Christian author.
This informative post will be published on Saturday in place of my regular one. You are invited to participate with the opening question.
How can a person go 25 days without sleep?
(answer found at the end of this post)
One of nature’s most colorful insects is the dragonfly. Here are some quick facts about this species:
As a flying insect, the dragonfly’s body is long and thin. Two sets of clear, veined wings work together as the dragonfly is constantly in flight.
The four wings move independently of each other, and this enables the dragonfly to fly forward or backward. It has the ability to hover much like a helicopter, and it can travel at speeds of up to 35 mph.
With its large eyes, the dragonfly experiences a nearly 360-degree field of vision. Its long legs are not designed for walking, but they become useful in holding its captured prey while in flight.
A dragonfly can consumer large numbers of mosquitoes, easily between 30 and 100 per day. It’s no wonder that dragonfly has been nicknamed the “mosquito hawk.”
The life cycle of the dragonfly begins with a female inserting eggs one-by-one into a cut slit in the stem of a waterplant. By spring or summer, fully-grown naiads will crawl out of the water habitat to mature as adults.
By sleeping at night.
Big Sky Buckeye 