Black Swallowtail Butterfly
The nights are cooling off a little, but it is still warm during the day. So the butterflies aren’t completely gone yet.
Moth on Duranta
Neither are the moths (I don’t know what kind this one is, but it is neat looking). And the closeup of the Duranta does show the blue color well.
Monarch Butterfly
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 ESV
And then, everything else beautiful.
Evening Mist
My wife, Sharon, took this photo earlier this evening. We had a wonderful, unexpected rain shower. After it moved on, it left behind this mist over the peanut field across the road.
Mist or fog can obscure our view of the landscape, but it also has a beauty of its own. In this case, the beauty is not only visual, but in the reminder of the much needed rain shower that God had blessed us with.
When our vision is obscured, we should remember our blessings and what we’re looking for, and, especially, what we will eventually see.
“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 ESV
Tibouchina bush
Here’s one that’s not usually from around here – but it’s adapted wonderfully. As I understand it, it’s more of a tropical or semi-tropical plant. So, the winters are cold enough in south Georgia that it dies back to the ground each year.
But, it comes back in the spring and forms a perfectly shaped bush with beautiful flowers. It continues to bloom for several months. In the picture below you can see the blooms, and the many buds that will follow behind.
Tibouchina flowers
Yet another example of being strangers in a strange land and blooming where you’re planted!
“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.” Hebrews 11:13 ESV
And, we who are blessed with faith, by grace, have received the things promised. Yet, even though, like the saints of old written about in Hebrews 11, we are still strangers and exiles on the earth, we are called to spread the blessings where we are.
Sunflower and Butterfly Bush
Since I’m approaching the one year anniversary of my blog, and this month’s theme for the ChristianWriters.com blogchain is “Discovery”, I’m taking the opportunity to note a few things I’ve discovered along the way. They’re in no particular order, and presented as relating to life, not just blogging.
One blogging tip often given is to include a photograph. Over time, I noticed that blogs with photos do tend to get your attention quickly. Although I don’t think I have a special talent, I adopted the advice. When I did, I discovered I paid more attention to the intricacies and wonders of God’s creation. So, don’t just follow the cliche and stop and smell the roses:
1. We should stop and view the world around us as if looking for a great photograph that says: “Look what our God created and blessed me with!”
“Views” are good – meaning someone at least stopped by your blog – but, you don’t know if they read it or just moved on. “Likes” are better and actually pretty neat. I take all that I get (naively, for a few I realize) as meaning someone did read the post, liked it and took the time to click the button.
But, I’ve discovered that the best of all are the real (non-spam) comments. The commenter read the post and thought about it enough to reply with an additional aspect, a word of thanks or a question. It also means they opened themselves up to possibly get a reply back – ie: open communication.
2. We build relationships by communicating. We should take the time and effort to do just that – with others around us and with God – that’s the best of all.
Some blogs have thousands of followers, and get thousands of “likes”. I’m nowhere near that level. At times, the low numbers of views, likes and comments can be discouraging and make me wonder if it’s worth it. Then, I get a comment to the effect of “Thank you, Bill. That’s just what I needed to read today”. And, then I can thank God, and rediscover that He has a purpose for me, and that day it was to write those specific words.
3. We should look for opportunities God gives us to write or say just the right words for someone each day. And, on the other side, when someone writes or says the right words for us, we need to let them know and encourage them.
4. In most things in life, especially relationships, it’s not how much or how many, but how deep.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14 ESV
Please check out the other “discovery” blogs on the appropriate dates in the list on the right.
I Was Thinking the Other Day About... 