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  When God Gives You The Silent Treatment (Praying Through Unanswered Prayers) About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachtani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46 As Jesus hung on the cross for our sins, darkness covered the land. John was the  only  disciple of the 11, along with four women, who risked everything to show up in the middle of Jesus’ suffering. The scene stood in stark contrast to the day Jesus’ earthly ministry had begun three years earlier. When Jesus was baptized, the heavens opened and the Spirit of God descended like a dove upon Him. God’s voice could be heard saying, “This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him.” But on Good Friday, no one heard God’s voice. Jesus cried out from His cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Jesus was in the center of His purpose, fulfilling God’s perfect plan, when He felt the  most  forsaken and alone. Remember, Jesus did...

  "What is Palm Sunday?" Palm Sunday is the day we celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, one week before His resurrection (Matthew 21:1–11). As Jesus entered the holy city, He neared the culmination of a long journey toward Golgotha. He had come to save the lost (Luke 19:10), and now was the time—this was the place—to secure that salvation. Palm Sunday marked the start of what is often called “Passion Week,” the final seven days of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Palm Sunday began with Jesus and His disciples traveling over the Mount of Olives. The Lord sent two disciples ahead into the village of Bethphage to find an animal to ride. They found the unbroken donkey and the colt, just as Jesus had said they would (Luke 19:29–30). When they untied the donkey, the owners began to question them. The disciples responded with the answer Jesus had provided: “The Lord needs it” (Luke 19:31–34). Amazingly, the owners were satisfied with that answer and let the disciples go. “...

  The Hood Merganser Photo by Cheryl H “Hooded” is something of an understatement for this extravagantly crested little duck. Adult males are a sight to behold, with sharp black-and-white patterns set off by chestnut flanks. They are black above, with a white breast and rich chestnut flanks. The black head has a large white patch that varies in size when the crest is raised or lowered, but is always prominent. Females get their own distinctive elegance from their cinnamon crest, dark eyes and long, slender yellow bill. Females and immatures are gray and brown, with warm tawny-cinnamon tones on the head. Hooded Mergansers are small ducks with a thin bill and a fan-shaped, collapsible crest that makes the head look oversized and oblong. In flight, the wings are thin and the tail is relatively long and rounded. Hooded Mergansers are fairly common on small ponds and rivers, where they dive for fish, crayfish, and other food, seizing it in their thin, serrated bills. They nest in tr...

  Owls Owls are nocturnal birds of prey with over 200 species. They have large heads, silent flight, and sharp talons. They hunt mammals, insects, and birds, found worldwide except polar regions. Like hawks and eagles, owls are called raptors, or birds of prey, which means they use sharp talons and curved bills to hunt, kill, and eat other animals. It is considered good to have owls around your house because they act as natural pest control, primarily preying on rodents like mice and rats, which can significantly reduce their population in your yard and surrounding areas; making them beneficial for gardeners and homeowners alike. Owls can symbolize wisdom, intuition, and the pursuit of knowledge. They can also represent a connection to the spiritual world. However, the meaning of owls can vary depending on the culture and the situation. Photo on the left was taken at the Audubon Center for Birds of  Prey in Maitland, Florida; photo on...

  Happy New Year!  Wow! This year went by fast! Can you believe we will be ringing in 2025 in just a few hours???   “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV   Spend some time in the coming days reflecting on 2024… Where did you find moments of joy? How did you grow? Where did you see the fingerprints of God? How was God faithful? What were your biggest wins?   After reflecting on the past, it's time to get on with the new!   “Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.” Habakkuk 2:2 NKJV   “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19 ESV   May this New Year bring you lots of joy, happiness, good health,...

  Thanksgiving has been held on the fourth Thursday in November since 1941, which means that the date of the holiday shifts each year. The earliest Thanksgiving can occur is November 22; the latest is November 28. President Roosevelt changed Thanksgiving from the fourth Thursday to the third Thursday in November in 1939. However, this was not a very popular move. Native Americans in North America celebrated harvest festivals for centuries before a Thanksgiving federal holiday was formally established in the United States. Colonial services for these festivals date back to the late 16th century. The autumnal feasts celebrated the harvest of crops after a season of bountiful growth. The first national Thanksgiving celebration was observed in  honor of the creation of the new United States Constitution ! In 1789, President George Washington  issued a proclamation  designating November 26 of that year as a “Day of Public Thanksgiving” to re...