“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?”Job 12:7-9

We can learn from the birds!

Day by day our feathered friends on the Quiet Side of the Great Lake can live beside each other in harmony. Why can’t we the triumph of God’s Creation manage to do the same?

When it comes to water birds on the Quiet Side of the Great Lake everyone knows their place.

The water birds along our shores include, Caspian Terns, Oyster Catchers, Egrets of all sizes, white-faced Grey Herons, Pelicans, Royal Spoonbills, Black Swans, Pied Stilts, Masked Lapwings, Seagulls, numerous species of ducks, Darters and Cormorants. Occasionally we see massive hordes of Australasian Coots and flocks of Avocets.

Each year we see the migratory Bar-Tailed Godwits who fly down to Australia and New Zealand from Alaska. Travelling approximately 11,000 kilometres flying continuously over the ocean over a seven-day period, they demonstrate amazing feats of strength. Their bodies are created with special features that allow them to do this.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/09/070913-longest-flight.html

While the list of bird species on the Great Lake is lengthy, all manage to forage for food around each other and in total harmony.

We humans could take a leaf out of their book.

” As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.” Proverbs 27:19. We can only surmise our feathered friends are tolerant and patient.

Brian and Simmons and Jeremy Bouma in their book “Grace and Hope” remind us:[As God’s children we should] “bless those in need; .. breathe words as ‘beautiful gifts’ that are encouraging and gracious; .. ‘be kind a nd affectionate toward one another’; and ..lovingly forgive each other out of the depths of Christ’s own love he has for us.”

Simmons, Brian; Bouma, Jeremy (2015-02-16). Grace and Hope: A 40-Day Devotional for Lent and Easter (The Passion Translation) (pp. 88-89). BroadStreet Publishing Group LLC.

These examples of harmonious living are endless, I have photo files full of them.  It never fails to intrigue me.

Aren’t God’s created creatures amazing?

Enjoy your day!

Blessings,

Marilyn

BENEATH THE SHELTER OF HIS WINGS

The Quiet Side of the Great Lake is a home to hundreds of swans. They often spend their nights close into shore along a stretch of the lake just a little way from our house. About a hundred may be there early in the morning when I arise. Their soft bugling, trumpeting and crooning sounds can be heard as they interact with one another. They are very pleasant sounds and in accordance with their gracefulness. We are truly blessed.

In most cases swans mate for life and are wonderful parents.

Occasionally these beautiful Australian black swans give birth on our side of the lake. It is so exciting when we see a little clutch of cygnets with their parents.

Swans are warm-blooded just as we are and cygnets need to be protected from extreme exposure to heat and cold. Water temperature is a lot lower than the temperature of the cygnet’s body and they tend to lose heat rapidly when swimming in cold water. The little ones easily become tired and fatigued so mum will stop swimming and lower her tail into the water in a flat shape. The cygnet then climbs on and makes its way between her wings to the position behind her neck. Here it can see all that is going on and if it wants can huddle down between mum’s wings where they are totally covered while they warm up and rest.

When in the nest she shelters them from the heat with her wings like a sun-shade.

These beautiful birds with their great wings brings to mind these words from Psalm 91: 1-4

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
He is my God, and I trust Him. For He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings.”

 Isn’t it great to know our God loves us so much, when things go pear-shape he will protect us and walk beside us through the storm. He provides a place of refuge and safety. When we cry out for His help, He will wrap us in His feathers and hold us fast beneath the shelter of His wings!

Blessings,

Marilyn

Reference: cited: http://www.swanlife.com/cygnets-first-two-weeks.html 18/4/2016

Photos are the property of the writer.

Take time to smell the flowers!

I love taking photos of flowers. They are all so different. The hues of some are so vibrant, while others are so delicate. So I suddenly had to find out why.

There’s something about writing a blog – every time  you do, you learn something.

ProFlowers web site describes it like this:

“Bright colors or dull colors are fixed in the genetics of a flower. Flowers that are bright in color are meant to attract birds, bees and other insects in order to help the plants reproduce.

 If the plant calls for pollination, the bright flower and sweet pollen will coax birds, bees and insects to land on it. As these animals eat the sugar or honey, some of the pollen with stick to their feet. When they land on another flower some of that pollen will spread and voila! Pollination occurs.

 If reproduction through pollination is done by way of wind and air – the pigments of the plant will be inconspicuous and dull with bad tasting fruit. “http://www.proflowers.com/blog/how-flowers-get-their-color

Wow!  Now some of you may see this as simple evolution.

But the Book of Romans I:20 in the Bible says this: ^“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”

When I read how intelligently the dynamics of nature is balanced, I cannot help but see God. The more we delve into the biodiversity of our world, the more a higher power of intelligent engineering becomes obvious. Our God, the One True God is truly amazing!

Isaiah 55:8-9 says this: “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts”.

I can’t but praise God with the words of the Psalmist:

 “The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard.
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world.”

(Psalm 19:1-4) NLT

Follow the link below for an inspirational message.

http://www.123greetings.com/encouragement_and_inspiration/poetry/take_time_to_smell_the_flowers.html

Blessings,

Marilyn

Yes, it’s that time of year again.

The last book I published on Amazon.com was entitled “Showdown in the Umbrella Tree”. Probably a confusing title, but on the Quiet Side of the Great Lake where all my stories are set, we have an umbrella tree which sits on my neighbour’s fence-line and is right beside my back balcony (see cover below)

Once or twice a year the umbrella tree grows long spikes of red buds filled with sugary nectar. The brilliantly coloured Rainbow Lorikeets love this nectar and they come into the area to feast on it. The buds seem to be best around three to four o’clock in the afternoon.

It’s amazing that every bird has to sit in the one place! If you look closely there are eight lorikeets on this frond. Believe me they don’t hesitate to knock each other off!

The interesting thing is there are also some locals who love the nectar, and they don’t care much to share it. The little grey Noisy Miner birds who are native to our area and who are not related in any way to the brown Indian Myna birds are also nectar lovers

So the problem arises when the Noisy Miners who keep a steady eye on the progress of the red buds all year become inundated with Rainbow Lorikeets who have just dropped in for a feast and a good time.

Noisy Miner spying!

A game begins with the two different species chasing each other out of the tree. The lorikeets are all about fun and togetherness, playfully pushing and shoving. They are extremely noisy as they eat and play and get so excited that they don’t just push out the little “Noisies”, they even push each other out of the tree. With the lorikeets it’s “anything goes!”

It can get quite raucous in the tree as the lorikeets move in and the Noisy Miners object to their presence. The Noisies are less about fun and more strategic as they begin to attack in a bunch screeching. They can be headache material and get rid of the opposition by wearing them down. There is no “Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” Luke 6:31 NLT. But then again they are only birds.

And while it is highly entertaining watching them it also helps me realise that in the higher order of mankind at times we can be just as careless, thoughtlessly , jostling for positions at work and play at the expense of  others.

Let’s this week make a concerted effort to “love one another” as Jesus told us to (John 13:34). To “treat others as we wish they would treat us”. Let’s be encouragers not discouragers, let us share not be selfish , may we help not hinder, love not hate. Let us bear fruit! Remember for those who love God, it will be “by their fruits you will know them.” (Matthew 7:20)

Blessings,

Marilyn