Old Friend

At the beach today I walked from the pier to the jetties. When I got there I saw this one headed out to sea. I ran this boat close to 3 years in Mexico. She was the Big Orange XXI then and was painted orange and white. She is 218 feet long and 43 feet wide. Draws 13 feet of water when loaded. Has Electro-Motive GM engines like those in train engines. Brings back a lot of memories. Mexico was my 2nd home for almost 12 years.

God bless,

dns

Headed out to sea

So many times I've been the one headed out. Was a hollow feeling at times. When the seas are a little rough, you are with a strange crew, or just taking off headed for a new port. I always asked God to place His hand on the shoulder of the one at the helm. Let us have a safe trip and speedy return.

God bless,

dns

The gift

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." -- Luke 2:11

Praise God.

Another Christmas Day gone by. It was nice to be able to celebrate the birth of our Lord by singing praises to Him. By sharing the love He has shown us we are able to enjoy the gift even more. The gratification of knowing we have made someone feel loved even not knowing who that someone is, is truly special. Those who don't know the real meaning of Christmas thinking it to be something it's not are missing sharing God through Jesus. It's not a pagan cover-up. It's not a cultural celebration. It is a joyous time for those who accept Jesus as the Lord and want to thank God for His love in coming to save us.

These pictures are a gift from My Father today as I walked through His world. To see these awesome creatures and be able to photograph them. Knowing that He placed something special there for me and the joy I got with taking these photos. That is what Christmas is all about. Joy, Peace, and mostly Love. If you don't celebrate Christmas for whatever reason, you are missing something real special and a special opportunity to share Jesus. My church family know what I'm about here. God bless you..

Shalom,

dns

The coyote

Curious of me following into the weeds.

Christmas Day

Pose by the big boy.

Merry Christmas

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her first born, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. -- Luke 2:6-7

Jesus entered our world in the most normal of ways for a child: the time came, his mother gave birth, he was wrapped in soft cloth, and he was placed in a crib. Only this was the Son of God who was born. His crib was a corncrib where animals ate. His room was a stable. It wasn’t just normal; it was common, even below average conditions for his birth. Can you imagine? The Holy God who created everything enters our world as a baby to share our way of life as one of us. Why? He loves us and wants us to come home to him. Incredible! Incredible story. Incredible love. Incredible God!

O LORD God Almighty, how can I ever show you how much the gift of your Son means to me? I am struck with wonder and joy that you should love me in this incredible way. Please accept my praise and adoration for both you and your Son. Praise to you, loving Father, for your indescribable gift! In Jesus' name. Amen.

May God bless you and yours this Christmas season.
Praise our Heavenly Father for His love in sending to us His son.

May God's Favor and the Grace of our Lord be with you in the coming year.

May the Shalom of Jesus Christ be with us all.

dns

Fly Catcher

Now this guy looks like a fly catcher. So many different birds. Whew and there are those who believe it just happened? Poof a single cell split and there were 1000's of bird species. :))) I hate to be the bearer of bad news but single cell organism's can't mutate. :( Thus nothing is here just by chance. God the creator placed them here for us to enjoy. Awesome aint it???

God bless.

Little Warbler

Looks to be a Wilson Warbler. It was fluttering along beside me in the weeds. I kept trying to get a shot, but it was too fast. Then it got a bit of dinner and paused to eat. I got a dozen or so of it eating this ant. Very nice..

The Eagle

Finally got a nice picture of this guy. Walked up pretty close.

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. -- Acts 2:21

Call on the name of the Lord! Proclaim him as your risen Lord! Share with him in baptism as the first Christians did. Have God add you to his holy people. Know that Jesus will save you from the corruption that plagues our world and so many of our lives. You see, God sent Jesus to save, redeem, restore, and bless. Share in the joy of that salvation. Don't wait! Today is the day of salvation! Share in it. Rejoice in it. Pass it on to others. Christ our King has come to bring His salvation to all!
Father, thank you for sending Jesus the first time to die for my sins! Thank you for sending Jesus into my heart to comfort and to strengthen me and to work on my life! Thank you most of all for my salvation. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

God bless..

Shalom.

Merry Christmas.

dns

Robin

When I was a kid Robins were easy to get close to. I had a hard time getting close to this one. They stayed hid pretty well.

Sparrow

Some of these little critters are very hard identify. This cutie was watching me and let me take it's picture a few time before going on it way.

Pleated Woodpecker

Saw this beautiful fellow today while out walking in the woods.

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" --which means, "God with us."

-- Matthew 1:22-23
God had repeatedly promised it. Men, women, and angels had long anticipated it. Now, in Jesus, it happens. God is with us. Jesus is Immanuel. We live on a visited planet, touched by the very presence of God among us. And it was just as the prophets of old had said.

LORD God, my heavenly Father, thank you for keeping your promises, especially when it was so incredibly costly for you to do so. I want to know you better, O God, not just as someone I study, but as someone I encounter in my daily life. Please make your presence known as I seek you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

God bless.

Enjoy a Merry Christmas with Christ our Savior.

Shalom,

dns

Warbler

I believe this some type of Warbler, but the red on it's head has me confused. The beck and coloring are very close to the Warbler.

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Not real good, bad backlighting, but pretty bird.

Another Landing

Sandhill cranes coming for a landing.

Sandhill crane

Coming in for a landing. There was a large flock of these out today. They are very loud birds and when flying around are loud and because of their size cool to watch.

Still running

Saw the shrimper in the background. Thought it made a nice scene.

If Darwin was...

... right this is type of critter I'd expect to see..

Shrimper

Coming over the bridge I shot this. Liked the effect.

Seascape

Mouth of the Brazos river.

Little Blue Herons

Staying out of the cold wind. These little blues aren't seen much around these parts.

Red Egret

This is an awesome creature.

...that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven

and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that

Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

-- Philippians 2:10-11

I love the fact that I do each day what everyone will one day do: bow before the majesty and proclaim the Lordship of Jesus Christ to honor the Father's glory. How wonderful it is to be able to make that proclamation because of grace rather than in fear at the end of a life that has been spent in what is rebellion, denial, and waste.

Father, I do praise you for the truth about Jesus that will one day be realized fully by everyone who has ever lived. May my life display that truth in the way I treat people today. May my lips suitably proclaim that truth so others can know Jesus as Lord today.

In Jesus' name. Amen.
God bless..

Shalom

dns

Bottoms Up..

:) Saw these guys fishing this afternoon. :)

Langtree Texas

I liked this in black and white. It is a stones throw away from the Jersey Lilly. (Do you see the mocking bird?)

Bad Day

This poor fellow got hung up and was fighting hard to get out while I watched. I left it alone with hopes it would get free. Due to safety concerns (mine) I decided it best I let it work itself out

On The Road

Down the long lonely road. This is the Texas High Bridge crossing the Devil's river.

The train

West Texas train. California to all points East..

Do you know a Judas?

And even as he said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a mob that was armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent out by the leading priests and other leaders of the people. Judas had given them a prearranged signal: "you'll know which one to arrest when I go over and give him the kiss of greeting." So Judas came straight to Jesus. "Greetings, Teacher!" he exclaimed and gave him the kiss. Jesus said, "My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for." Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.
-- Matthew 26:47-50 (NLT)
Betrayed in the garden of prayer. Betrayed by a kiss. Betrayed by a friend. Unfortunately, betrayal in God's family did not end with Judas. Have you been betrayed by someone you thought was a friend in Christ? Have you been undercut by someone who was supposed to be a loyal confidant? Have you been wounded in what is supposed to be a place of spiritual safety? If you have, you know the wounds a friend can leave when he or she no longer is a friend! You know the pain of Gethsemane. But if this is your story, remember it is also Jesus' story. For you, for us, the story of Matthew's Gospel finishes with a powerful two-point message. First, watch Jesus as he is betrayed, denied, and forsaken by his most beloved friends. He is a pioneer for us on how to handle the agony of betrayal and abandonment. Second, speak honestly to Jesus about your wounds and hurts. He knows and understands not only because he is Divine, but also because he has been in our world with real human skin and longs to comfort and help you and me in our times of heartbreak.
Almighty God, please help me never be the one who abandons a brother or sister in Christ in their time of greatest need. I know I can fall because I have fallen to other weaknesses at other times. And Father, help me to forgive those who have wounded and abandoned me in my times of crisis. Cleanse my heart of bitterness and resentment so that I can be more like Jesus, who was abandoned so that I would never ever be completely forgotten, forsaken, or alone. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
For me this lesson for today hits home. I have been strugguling with a betrayal of a friend. Even though he is not a believer, he is a friend. The feelings and thoughts that accompany such a time are deep. It is not the betrayal so much as these mind games Satin is playing. I just want to forget and move on, but Satin keeps playing the game. So this message reaches the deepest part of my soul with a prayer of release.
Praise God,
shalom
dns

Birds as art

I am reading/studying a book with the title "Birds as art". The author of the book is a big time bird photographer who has written several books as well as writes for some of the photo magazines I take. The book has been very helpful with illustrating the correct manner in photographing these awesome beautiful creatures.

dns

Here's looking at you

In the book Morris talks about having them look right down the barrel of the lens. I try to get several of those with every bird, but they don't always work.

dns

Starling

These little ladies are very bashful. Now I've been watching them and fly with Redwing Blackbirds. According to the book this is a Starling, but it could be a female redwing too. Some of the critters are so close in looks an autopsy is the only way to know for sure.. :)

dns

Turkey Vulture

I've been trying to get a good shot of one these guys for a long time. I can never get close enough or I find the black buzzards. They winter here so will be around for a few months now. They are larger than the Black Vulture.

dns

Hawk

In the book Hawks look very similar. I do believe this is a Krider's because the closest picture in the book shows the head to be the same color. Very beautiful and powerful birds.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. -- 2 Peter 3:18

God bless,

Shalom.

dns

Louisiana Heron

I was shooting this a simi-silhouette. There is still some detail in the bird, but it is a silhouette. I waited a while for it to show itself. It flew into the weeds when I came up. Shortly it re-emerged to hunt some more. It has a small fish in it's mouth.

dns

Loggerhead Strike

This is a pretty little guy. They sit along the fence line and out in the open in brushes and trees.

dns

Caracara

There were a couple of these flying around today. I walked up fairly close to this one, but needed to get closer. The sky and light were real bad as you can see, but the bird did come out fairly well.

Grebe

This little fellow is another who can be bashful. They will tolerate you after a little while if you sit still and wait. They can be very interesting to watch. I have shot them while feeding and have seen them bring up crayfish almost as large as they are then gulp them down. They have young in the spring here at the refuge. They stay almost year round. They were gone for about 3 months during hottest part of the summer.

Ring Neck

A nice pair swimming around for me.

The copyright on these is to keep the thieves at bay. I don't like having to do it, but I don't spend the time and money to shoot these to have someone else exploit m work. :)

Red Head

This guy looks like he is smiling for the camera.

Another of God's beautiful little creatures.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved--and that by God.

-- Philippians 1:27-28
I will fear no man..

Praise God.

Shalom.

dns

Ruddy Duck

Another really pretty duck. This one is small and I have only seen one so far.

Green Heron

These are very shy birds. They are just now returning to the refuge after being gone for the summer. Hard to see, look close in the brush are for them to fly into the weeds.