When Israel and America claim that this war is God’s will, remember that Jesus said that peacemakers are the children of God, not the warmongers.

It was beautiful late this afternoon in Florida.

More street art from Bangkok.

No. 2

#Thailand #Bangkok #street #streetart #art #photography #streetphotography #photographersofbluesky #fujifilm #fujifilmxe5

“The Israelites wanted a king like other nations so God let them have one even though it wasn’t his best for them. The church has insisted on fabricating “offices” (a word that’s not in the Greek anywhere in the New Testament) out of servant-type words that Paul used for fellow laborers,

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Morning Prayer: Loving God, may Your Spirit strengthen our resolve today to not give up hope for our world and in our lives...
~ hope for peace and reconciliation in our world
~ hope for our lives in the midst of challenges
~ hope for wisdom for decisions we need to make
Amen

The Gift of Inner Disarmament Daily Lenten Reflection - March 1 - Jeremiah 31:2-7

The Gift of Inner Disarmament open.substack.com/pub/scottwag... - Today's Daily Lenten Reflection - March 1 - Jeremiah 31 - What does it look like to practice inner disarmament and let go of bitterness, vengeance, and the pain we often project on to others?

A male Pileated Woodpecker launches from one tree to head to another.

The female of the local Red-tailed Hawk couple. She is taking a break after an unsuccessful hunt; she dove into the marsh but came up empty.

Good night, Mr. Jeremy!

The coffee bar at Starbucks, with workers behind the bar eagerly going about their business of making coffees and a few customers standing at the bar.

I'm hanging out at Starbucks after a visit with my neurologist. He confirmed I do still have a brain. He said most of it is still working. That's good news, I think.

A blue and white Bluejay is standing on a gravel pathway. 📷 Dreamcatcher

Bluejay

Bluer that blue...

the time is finally here
joy, peace and love appear...
#Christmas

Close-up of a male Pileated Woodpecker. Males have a red cheek stripe, while females have a black cheek stripe.

The trumpeting call of a Sandhill Crane hanging in the air. I heard a Sandhill Crane pair calling down the trail and wondered if I could see their call in the current conditions.I quickly tootled over to the Cranes, working to get an angle of where their call could be seen

Evening Prayer - Christmas Eve: Loving God, on this Christmas Eve, may our hearts make room for Your coming and Your being born. May we recognize how different our world could be if Your governance and reign were allowed to prevail. On this night, may we ponder and pray. Amen.

“When we reach the time of Mary’s visit with Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, we find the two women praising God and Mary delivering a song for the ages, while the man remains silent. The man, a righteous priest, was silenced, while God gave Mary utterance, recorded in scripture,

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Morning Prayer: Loving God, grant us Your grace necessary for us to live with patience in this day...
• patience with the unknown
• patience with our healing
• patience with unexpected change
• patience with frustrations
• patience with ourselves
Grant us grace.
Amen

Blue Jays having a bit of a scrum in the snow.

A male Pileated Woodpecker checks a spot in the bark for tasty ants.

Evening Prayer: Loving God, we welcome Your calming Presence at the end of this day. We welcome Your comforting Spirit as we seek rest. We welcome Your assuring grace as we think about the uncertainties. We welcome Your healing mercy for those in need of wholeness and hope. Amen.

A male Eastern Bluebird about to dine on a berry. I believe this a Greenbrier plant, but I could be off on that.

The giggles that filled the air when I took Rebecca outside last night to show her our house, all lit up with soft white Christmas lights. It's the first time we've ever done outdoor lights for Christmas, and she thoroughly loved it.

A tan female Finch is perched on a small branch with a white berry in her mouth. There are twigs and branches all around. The background is blurry branches and blue sky.

Female Finch

Savoring that last bite...

Morning Prayer: Loving God, lead us into those places where deeper reflection and awareness can take place. Slow us down inwardly so we can pay attention to where You are present in our life and active in our world. Be our Light and hope in the darkness that surrounds us. Amen.

Thus, if a storm tried to cross, before it got there, it would fall apart. It’s due to something called the Coriolis Force (caused by Earth’s rotation and its changing circumference at latitude) which increases north and south, but is zero at zero degrees. Image via NOAA.

On this LAST DAY OF HURRICANE SEASON, an interesting fact.
Did you know no tropical cyclone has ever crossed the Equator!? That’s because it’s physically impossible. Storms need “spin” to develop and survive. But at the Equator there is zero spin… 1/

Red berries on a bush of branches and twigs. The background is blurry brown.

Impressions
Flood my mind
Memories
Of a time long past
Feelings
From so many angles
Gratitude
That all are tied
To you...

Enjoy Sunday with this Lively gray sky 🤍☁️
and snowy ❄️🌲 pine tree branch straight from my balcony!
Monochromatic is the new Confetti! 🎉😂🌞
#photography #Nature #Snow #Sky #Tree #PineTree #Monochromatic #EastCoastKin #WestCoastKin #Canada #Toronto #Ontario #BlackAndWhite #Art

Here’s my Advent playlist.
open.spotify.com/playlist/3UH...

Advent Reflections and Devotionals Recommendations for Pastors, Scholars, and Bible Nerds

Happy Advent! Are you reading something this season? Here are some recommendations. Leave a comment with your favorite Advent devotionals.

open.substack.com/pub/nijaykgu...