Western Flora

WESTERN FLORA (already saw the fauna)

The picture above is a desert cactus in Sedona, Arizona.  There is a lot of this type of cactus growing along the hills at the Chapel of the Holy Cross.  It looks like the flowers are just beginning to bloom.   Prickly little fellows with unspoken warnings to keep your distance.

     Here we have some regular cattails, similar to what we'd see back east.  I especially like the way
     they show up against the red rock of the visitor center at Red Rock State Park in Sedona.  The
            center just seemed to blend right in with the surrounding red rocks.  Really nice!

    This gives us an overall view of a desert botanical garden in St. George, Utah.  Although the land
     is dry and rocky, a variety of hardy plants (like yucca) grow with a minimum of moisture.

     I think this cactus is called a prickly pear.  It's definitely prickly, with tiny needles you could
     almost use for weapons.  The red fruit/flower is pretty and I believe animals use them for food.

     This bright golden flower is called a Rubber Rabbitbrush flower. These were in Zion National
       Park. It's a common western shrub and we saw these cheerful blooms in a number of places.

     This fruit hangs from a tree in an orchard at Capitol Reef National Park, Utah.  It's kind of
        surprising to find fruit orchards in desert areas, but this valley is quite productive.

      Red leaves in Flagstaff, Arizona (on October 1), remind us that it's fall after all.  With
      Flagstaff's elevation of nearly 7,000 feet, autumn comes to that town earlier than it does
      back east. In fact, a few days later, it snowed in Flagstaff.  I'm glad we were safely
                                          in Sedona, at only 4,000 feet.

     I'm ending with these delicate, wispy pink flowers growing in black cinder volcanic soil at
     Sunset Crater Monument in Arizona.  It's a picture of fragile beauty surviving in hard,
     difficult conditions.  I'm reminded of our fragile lives surviving in often hard, difficult
     conditions.  In Isaiah 35:1, God says, "And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose."

All the beauty of the flowers, leaves, cactus - can be considered as part of this verse in Luke 12:27:  "Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?"

 Thank you God for the beautiful flora and fauna - and for taking care of our every need!

Birds & Bees - and Critters Too

BIRDS & BEES - AND CRITTERS TOO

Some of the wildlife we came across on our western trip.  Our first little furry friend is
a chipmunk who lives among the red sandstone rocks in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah.

Cows were plentiful along portions of the highway - called "Free Range" areas in Utah. 
Seems the cattle are free to roam from here to yon and driver beware.

One of Edgar Allen Poe's friends, "Quote the Raven, Nevermore!" This fine feathered
friend was a really big guy and unafraid of visitors - in Bryce Canyon.

We just saw the bird, now it's time for the Bee.  This little honey was busy doing his
thing on a beautiful white flower - I think perhaps a morning glory - in Zion.

I spotted this wasp at the ruins of Montezuma Castle.  The strange thing about him was
that he was actually moving rocks with his head and front legs, and some of the rocks
were bigger than I'd expect those thin legs to handle.  It was a strange sight.

                        Some cool verses from the Holy Bible on the subject:

  God says, "I know every bird in the mountain and the insects in the fields are mine"
                                              Psalm 50:11 NIV

   "And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its
    kind and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind.  And God saw
    that it was good."        Genesis 1:25

   "Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap...and God feeds them. Of how
    much more value are you than the birds?"  Luke 12:24
 
  "Praise the Lord from the earth...beasts and all cattle; creeping things and flying
    fowl; Kings of the earth and all peoples...Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for His name alone is exalted"  Psalm 148:7-14

Unity

UNITY

This morning while I was doing my Bible study, I noticed lots of bird activity at the bird feeders outside my window.  The picture above is from an earlier date, but there was similar activity this morning.  As I watched, a finch, chickadee, Carolina wren, female cardinal and tufted titmouse were all on the feeders at the same time.  I was struck by the thought that they were all flitting about in harmony as they were being fed by God through us (we provided the seed).  It was a pleasing sight.

It made me think how we, as Christians, gather together at our churches and are fed by God through the pastor who shares a message from God - and how important harmony is among the brethren (and sistern too).  Jesus prays in John 17:21 "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent me."  I think such harmony among believers is a pleasing sight to our heavenly Father.

Indeed, in 1 John 3, the apostle tells us, "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren." Further in chapter 4, he admonishes, "And this commandment we have from Him; that he who loves God must love his brother also."

As I noticed the differences in each bird - size, color, personality - I thought how different each person within the body of Christ is, and how we need to show grace to one another in our differences, working together in unity of Spirit to accomplish God's work in our little corner of the world.  It's not always easy, but by God's grace, it can be done - has he not said so?  God's grace is amazing and it spreads across all manner of His creation.  "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God" Ephesians 2:8. 

While birds may sometimes feed together in harmony, there is no love among them for one another.  Love is a human trait and should most particularly be a Christian trait.  God doesn't just suggest we should love one another because it would be a good idea to do so.  He actually commands us to love one another and to live in unity.  Paul writes, "...keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" Ephesians 4:3. 

Thank you God for the love and grace you show us every day. Help us to show love and grace to others as well.

Yee-Ha - Still Out West

YEE-HA - STILL OUT WEST

 

 

    This is a small town called Mexican Hat, Utah.  Love the name!  As you look down the
    road you can see a long, dark building - that was our hotel, the San Juan Inn.  It's perched
    just above the river with a bridge span across, and surrounded by red sandstone rock.  This
    is truly Native American territory - namely the Navajo, who now prefer to be called "Dini."

The town of Sedona is tucked in a valley between beautiful towering red and white mountains of rock.  It's a busy, tourist town with lots of shopping and way too many "crystal" stores where the rocks supposedly have "powers."  They claim to have spiritual vortexes as well.  I don't believe it.
Here's something I do believe God says:  "'For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed,
but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,' says the
Lord, who has mercy on you" Isaiah 54:10

      There is this beautiful chapel practically carved into the rock.  It's the Chapel of the
      Transfiguration.  It's quite a climb up the hillside (a paved road) to get up there, but
      great views and a nice, quiet place to pray and meditate on our amazing Father.

    I'll end this post with one of my favorite pictures that I took while in Sedona.  Although I
    captured many great places, this one looks so much like a painting that I'm partial to it.
    I think it was the cloud on the distant rock that did the trick.  This is an old fruit packing
    house built by Walter Jordan in 1946.  We toured his house and buildings.  What a
    wonderful place to live!  It is truly a beautiful, peaceful spot and we enjoyed our visit.

    Isaiah 52:7:  "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news,
    who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation,
    who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!"