Shoveler Hen

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2

"You mean I have to put up with that!?" There are those folks in life about whom the saying is true: "They are the grit out of which we are to fashion our pearl." But our great example in this challenge is Jesus. Think of what he had to put up with in his 12 disciples. Remember how transformational his patience and gentleness with them was. Can we dare to do less
Give me strength and patience, O God, that I may be as loving, gentle and patient with others as Jesus was with people during his earthly ministry and you have been with me. In the name of Jesus, my Lord and hero I pray. Amen.

Boy, I have a problem here sometimes. Some people just really get me. So I have to reread this from time to time and remember we all can not be perfect.. :)

God bless..

Shalom,

me

White Ibis

Here's one from today feeding. I snuck up on them and got this one real nice shot.

By the way, I'm no bird photographer, it's just that right now it's all there is to shoot. I head out to meditate and pray. As I walk around birds are the easiest wildlife to shoot and the only things out moving around. :)

dns

White-faced Ibis

The only difference between this one and the Glossy is the red eyes, so says the book.

dns :)

Ibises

Here is a pair of cousins getting ready to hook 'em when I get closer. :)

dns

Great Blue Heron

I like take shot of these guys. They are large and awesome.

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." -- Mark 9:35
Last? Nobody likes to be last. We have a hard enough time settling for second place, much less last place. Jesus reverses the rank. The person who is most important to him is not the person seeking the status and notoriety. The most important person is like Jesus himself: willing to give up rank and status and importance to serve. For Jesus, last means first in service and first in the eyes of God.

Magnificent God my Savior, you have made the world wonderful for me and have given your Son to redeem me. How can I ever thank you or repay you for your grace and kindness? Help me serve others with grace and kindness. Give me eyes to see people as you do; not judging by mere appearances, but valuing, serving, and treating people as Jesus does. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus, the one who washed his disciples' feet. Amen.

God bless,

Shalom

dns

Great Egret

Got a close up of this fellow.

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Immature Ibis

Very nice bird, feeding along with the Great Egret.

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Double-crested Cormorant

Caught this guy napping in a tree over the marsh.

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Immature Red-wing Blackbird

These young ones are out and about all over the refuge.

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship him in spirit and in truth. -- John 4:24

Genuine worship is a gift. Since God is spirit, since he is holy, we cannot fully approach him without the gift and blessing of his Holy Spirit. As Christians who received his Spirit when we were baptized into Christ and born of God, we can now speak to him and worship him Spirit to Spirit.
Abba Father, by the gift of your Spirit I come to you as your child. Thank you so much for giving me your Spirit so that I can approach you with confidence and know you hear the concerns of my heart. Please accept the worship of my heart, of my words, and of my actions. May the things I do each day bring you glory. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

God bless,

Shalom.

dns

Mourning Dove

Hiding out.

Hooded Merganser

A closer look at these guys. ( More down the page.)

dns

Red Wing

Real pretty bird, bright colors.

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things. -- Philippians 4:8

Our actions follow our thoughts like a heat seeking missile follows the exhaust of a jet fighter's engine. So in a day when so much around us trains us to find the negative in life, we must aggressively think and pursue the character, the qualities, and the things of God's goodness.

Holy and Magnificent God, thank you for being better than anything my world can offer me. Thank you for calling me to a higher standard than the world accepts. Thank you for giving me the promise of a better future than any human can imagine. Thank you for giving me a high calling to live up to you. In Jesus' holy name I pray. Amen.

Prisie God!! God bless

Shalom,

dns

Ibis

Didn't see the crayfish in its mouth until I got the picture up loaded. Was a nice dinner for the guy and surprise for me.. :)

dns

Greater Scaup

In a real hurry to get away. :)

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Pied-billed Grebe

There are a lot of these little guys at the refuge. They like to dive for cover when they first see you. But they are not real scared of humans as long as you keep in your vehicle.

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Red Belly Woodpecker

This little guy was hiding from me, but did look to see where I was and gave me this shot.

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Ring-Neck Duck

This pretty pair has been hanging out at the refuge with several friends. There almost a dozen altogether around the marsh.

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Hooded Merganser

This pretty pair of ducks were feeding away when I eased to the edge of the slough. I saw them at about 75 yards, which was too far to get any good shots. I snuck around to get closer. I had to move very slowly and quietly. The little birds were sounding the alarm and it made the pair nervous. They swam away from me still feeding. I stood in some weeds next to a tree and started shooting. They slowly worked their way back towards me. When they got to within about 30 feet some little birds started sounding the alarm again and they swam away.

I found it amazing how God's little creatures look out for each other. I was under the trees for over 1/2 an hour standing perfectly still. The little birds quieted down and all was nice. I shot lots of pictures, but as soon as the ducks got too close the little guys started squawking again. Once they started swimming away I eased back into the brush, but they caught site of my movement and flew off. Awesome experience and photo op.

God bless.

dns.

Wilson's Snipe

This little guy was very hard to see in the weeds. I could catch a little movement to locate it.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." -- Matthew 7:7-8

Ask! So often we're afraid to ask for help because we have to admit we don't have the answers. Seek! Effort and interest and perseverance are necessary and that's sometimes hard. Knock! In an era of door bells, this is a forgotten action. But God wants us to use the A.S.K. principle and bring our hearts before him. So let's don't just whine, complain, desire, and want. Let's A.S.K. our Father and seek his glory.

Waiting Father, I am sorry that so often you only hear my whines and complaints and concerns. You have been so generous with your love. Help me to keep my heart set on you and your will today as I ask you to minister to the things on my heart. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.
God bless,

Shalom

dns

Fulvous Whistling Duck

This is the first of these I have seen. It is a diver duck. I got some nice shots of it doing it's jump up, head down dive. I'll get some on my web site soon.

dns

GI Joe

Found this abandoned jeep at the beach. Looks like poor old GI Joe had a bad day.

:) dns

Goose in flight

I like the direct shot of this guy. I was just about level with it as it flew by.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life. -- Philippians 2:14-16

Stars. They've always been a source of constant hope for God's people. "Your descendants will be like the stars," God told Abraham. "When I see the stars, what is man that you are mindful of him?" the Psalms ask. The Wise men from the East followed a star to Jesus. Luke reminds us that Jesus was a star of morning light come to us from heaven to shine on those in darkness. And now, we're stars. God's points of light in the dark sky of the universe. So let's make today a day where our light shines God's glory to a dark world around us.
Almighty God, the incredible expanse of your universe, with its billions of stars, exceeds my limited comprehension. But I thank you for calling me to be a place of light in the dark world around me and I pledge to shine your light today in the lives of all those I might. Through the name of the Bright and Morning Star I pray. Amen.

God bless.

Shalom

dns

Geese in flight

The geese are out at the refuge by the thousands. After the fire burned off several thousand acres, they have come in to feed. It rained last night so winter grass should start spouting now.

dns

Looking East

The sun setting in the West, this was the looking East just before the moon rose.

Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." -- John 8:31-32

There are few things more coveted than freedom. People die for it. People pray for it. People strive for it. True freedom comes from knowing truth. Knowing truth ultimately comes by living in obedience to Jesus. Truth is not just something you think about or believe. Truth is something you do, you live. Jesus' teaching often ends with the exclamation: Blessed are you who do these things! Only by doing will we ever know the truth that liberates us.

To the only true God be glory, honor, power and praise. Father I seek not only your presence in my daily life, but also your pleasure in the choices I make. Please teach me more of your truth as I pledge to live today in obedience to your word and your will. Through Jesus the living Word I pray. Amen.
God bless.

Shalom.

dns

Sunset 01/14

Watching the sunset at Bryan Beach..

Full-moon

Yesterday evening rising of the full moon at Bryan Beach.

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Idaho

After working a year in Mexico in 1996, I took a trip around the USA. I drove from Texas to Maryland, to Washington state. It was about 12,000 miles, 9 weeks, and 70+ rolls of film. I went to the beach in Delaware and Washington making the trip from coast to coast to coast. Awesome adventure and a once in a lifetime trip.

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Palenque

In Chiapis, Mexico lies this ruins from the Mayan era of around 1,200 bc to 1,200 ad. Of the 1/2 dozen ruins I've been to this is the most scenic. It is an awesome site to see. Since I was last there, there has been a lot of work done on the buildings to clean them up. I liked it as it is here, but those who are just now seeing them won't know the difference.

dns

Old photos and memories..

This is the volcano Pico between Veracruz and Mexico City. I went driving down some real back roads to get some shots of it. This was taken in 1996, the last time I drove down to Mexico. Using a copy stand I have been shooting these old photos getting them digital and on CDs. Someday I hope I can afford to do the negatives with a scanner. Until then...

dns

Hidden

God has given many of His creatures ways to hide themselves from predators. Their abilities change with species. Some think this just happened. :) It just happened that there are so many different species of different animal groups. Funny how these amazing creatures could have Just Happened? As I walk around I listen to the sounds in the forrest. The birds calling out my presents. When I stand still for a little while, the calls return to their normal songs. I walk real slow and look towards sounds that are different. I hear the squirrels claws on the tree bark and locate it hiding from me. I have been taking as many photos as I am able of these guys as they hide from me. Can you see them in the picture? I also have been looking for the natural camouflaged animals and will work up a page in my web site for them all.

God bless,

Shalom,

dns

Deer hiding

Can you find the deer?

Hog Face

Out walking the marsh I saw a flock of vultures feeding on something. Curious I went to see what it was. They had taken care of a young hog. This head was laying there and looked pretty cool. I like how it sets into the dried mud background. ( Hope no one gets grossed out by this part of nature.)

dns

Wren

Another look at the Wren. It let me walk up real close today. Seemed relaxed with me shooting.

Sandhill Crane Sunset

These cranes were heading to roost for the night.

Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. -- Amos 5:14-15

A whole bunch of folks claim that God is on their side. In reality, the important question is whether we are on God's side! That's determined more by what we seek and do rather than what we think and say. God longs to be with us, but he will not sacrifice his character to extend us cheap grace -- a grace that does not call us to be like him and live with Jesus as our Lord. He's looking for believers who put their character where their mouths are and work to bring goodness to their world, culture, and legal systems.

Most Holy God, your righteousness and holiness are beyond me. I know that my best efforts are only vain attempts to attain them. Yet I long, dear Father, to be more like you in every way that it is humanly possible. Let me know of your presence with me as I seek after you, your character, and your goodness in my life. Teach me to be revolted by the things you call evil. In the name of Jesus the Righteous One I pray. Amen.

The Buck

This guy was up the creek when I spotted him. Just above his left shoulder in the tree looks like a fly catcher of some sort.

me...

A Hog in the bush

This hog and some friends were in the weeds. They ran when I came up, but this one was looking to see what was up.

dns

Wren

Sneak shot of a little fellow who keeps well out of sight.

dns

The Bird

At Sargent Beach I shot this Great Egret as it flew over that jackup rig just off the beach. Didn't see it until I got home and uploaded it. Looks pretty cool to me. :)

dns

Wren

Been looking to a picture of this little ghost for awhile. They like to keep hidden in the brush, but this guy was curious with me sitting under a tree watching his actions. :)

dns

The Light

The true Light was coming into the world. This is the true. Light that gives light to all people.

-- John 1:9 (ERV)
The True Light was coming into the world to save all the world. He was going to shine for all people: men and women, slaves and free, Jew and Gentile (Gal. 3:26-29). Since Jesus is the true light, since he died for our sins and saved us,and since we are his disciples, we need to ask ourselves one crucial question: "What are we -- what am I -- doing to make sure that everyone gets to know Jesus, God's true Light for everyone?" Let's be a part of letting the world know that God sent his Son to save them! (John3:16-17)

O Father, give me a bigger heart for those that I don't know. Use me to share Jesus with those outside my cultural comfort zone. Give me a greater sensitivity to those around me so that they can experience your love and welcoming grace because of the way I treat them. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Shalom,

God Bless,

dns

Cardinal

Before being chased out of the woods I got this guy having a snack.

dns

Lots of smoke

The smoke was blowing offshore. (see the fire below)

From Sergeant

Shot this from Sergeant in Matagorda County.

The big fire

Some may have seen this wildfire on the news last night. It started as a controlled burn and got away from them as the winds picked up. I was out in the woods shooting and a couple of guys came and asked me to leave. They get real paranoid at these fires. I was a long way from it and wind was blowing it away from me. Anyway I went around it taking pictures. The sun was lighting up the plums of smoke real nice.

dns

A flock of geese

These were sitting close to side of the road so I pulled over for some shots. The light was bad, but I did some good shots. This was one of the last ones. I got out and walked to the fence and they flew up for me. :)

dns

Geese II

Another shot of the flock.

Digital Art

This photo is of a cross above a gate at Alamo Village. The moon was still out that morning so I took the shot with the moon just over the cross. The moon was in focus, but the cross wasn't. I was going to delete the photo then I got this insight to work it up like this. It came out real nice with the wood grain coming out.

God bless.

Shalom,

dns

Pee Wee

Little bitty birdie, not sure the species. But a little cutie.

Little Blue Heron

This fellow felt photogenic that day.

A Gull

Looking at a highres shot, the bird's eyes are very sharp and clear. I like them most in this shot because of their color. :)

dns