Mizpah for September 26th

Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin. Romans 6:11

"As the death of Christ was not barely a natural death, a separation of soul and body, but a sacrifice for sin, to destroy the dominion of it, so our dying to sin is the truest conformity to the death of Christ." Sherlock

To live in the reality of that truth. To take upon our lives the death to sin and its power over us. To live free to conform to the image of Christ, to form within His transforming power over sin. Do I dare go forth from this comfortable sac of sin upon which I cling? Dare I cast it aside and take wing into the newness of pure blue sky?

Ask of me

Ask of me, and shall I not fill thy feeder with the freshest sugar and water? Ask of me, and shall I not ward off the ants that torment you?
Ask of me, and shall I not trim back the climbing rose limbs, to make a clear path to the feeder? Ask of me, and shall I not pop each cat that dares attempt to snare you? Ask of me, little hummingbird. Ask of me, says a loving Father above, are you not worth more than the hummingbirds of the fields?

Farewell Friend

It has been about a week now, and the hummingbird family I have so enjoyed watching and photographing through the summer are gone.
Yesterday as dusk, in the front yard, as I sat under the oak, the one hummingbird came and perched. I feel this was the last of the family to depart, perhaps the female hummingbird who would get my attention when the feeders needed filling. The feeders are in the back yard, and ever so often, she would come to the front yard where I was sitting and momentarily hover in front of me, then dart off.
She would also hover against the window where the feeders hang, suspended and looking into the room (perhaps in search of me) I would like to think.
I was able to capture many decent photographs, though I have yet to take the one I feel really sings. I favor the shots where the wings are a blur and they have a somewhat mystical look to them. My favorite time observing was one rainy day when the little hummer sat perched on the climbing rose limb and warded off the rain by rapidly beating her wings and arching her back upward. The water droplets sprayed all about.
The ants and wasps now gorge themselves upon the feeders I have kept full, just in case I have miscalculated, and the hummers do return.
I wish you a safe journey to your winter home. I hope there you find someone who faithfully fills your feeder with just the right three to one ratio you so often reminded me of.

Caress of the Fritillary

Umbriel and Ariel

A most interesting courtship is transpiring around the fields of Florida as the Gulf Fritillaries emerge from their cocoon's. In the heat of day, the female emerges, to hold onto the stem or cocoon, drying out. After about thirty minutes to an hour, a male fritillary flutters up and connects with the newly emerged female, to mate. It must be quite the ordeal for the female, the first sight of blue summer sky, the wings still unable to fly, and here comes her suitor, as she is helpless to escape should she want to. But, it is in her created manner to emerge and repeat within her the cycle that shall bring the butterflies again and again to brighten the meadow.

Love Your Suit

One of my favorite movies. The Silence of the Lambs. Anthony Hopkins made an excellent Hannibal Lecter. This is from the scene where he is about to be transported to Memphis and as the Senator turns, he says to her, Love your suit...

You Called?

The photograph was taken last week at Alligator Lake. When I park next to the Halpatter statue, I usually take off on foot first through this wonderful meadow of mature Live Oaks. One time, two deer walked into the frame under the arching beams. This day, it was as if on cue, the beams appeared, and God was responding to my early morning cry.
For yes, we do not usually walk about in a blank manner. Not only am I focused as much as humanly possible upon the scenery, but also, deeply focused within, in prayer and meditation. It is my large closet to which I often flee. Only this closet is full of wonderful light and scenes surrounding, not musty clothing.

Thy Will be done

Mizpah for September 22nd

Thy Will be done. Matthew 6:10

Father adored! Thy holy will be done,
Low at Thy feet I lie;
Thy loving chastisement I would not shun,
Nor from Thy anger fly.
My heart is weak, but weaned from all beside,
And to Thy will resigned whate'er betide.

Madame Guyon


The Mizpah for today is a photograph of my fathers home place from the far Western corner of the property. This was the side that my father several years ago said would be mine, with the house and middle my sisters, and the side nearest Williston, my brothers.
With the signing of the foreclosure certified letter on Monday, the Nutter Company wanting the full amount for the property, over $250 thousand, it will not be too long before all this is a "foregone" conclusion.
Thus, the poem by Madame Guyon I felt fit right in with the photograph, a low angle of the beauty berries, as low in somberness I stooped to take it. And I question, am I truly resigned and weaned from all else beside the will of God? That is the difficult thing to determine for at times I continue to harbor such strong resentment, and at others, a detached, let it go, let it go attitude.
Thy will be done.

The Master Calls

The Master is come, and calleth for thee. John 11:28.

"I believe that it is when we are most occupied with Christ that we are most useful to others, however conscious we may then be (as of course we shall be more than ever) of our unlikeness to Him. Adelaide Newton.

He is faithful

Mizpah for September 16,2011. The Lord is faithful. 2 Thess. 3:3. "Never be discouraged because good things get on so slowly here; and never fail daily to do that good which lies next to your hand. Do not be in a hurry, but be diligent. Enter into the sublime patience of the Lord." G.MacDonald.

I chose this photograph, taken by evening light at Shands, Melanie ministering to Jordon, to illustrate the quote and  how our family, since 2009, has acutely lived in the sublime patience of the Lord. First my stent and pacemaker in August, Melanie and her H1N1 and ARDS in October, Jordon's collapsed appendix and collapsed lung, the death of my father and on, the loss of our business, the late loss of the job at Sears, we attempt with grace not to grow in discouragement, as yes, it seems ever so slow in coming, the good.
But, when we look upon these trying times, were not they the good? For in them, unlike in the times of wellness, we have clung to the Presence of the Lord in a way we never would have. In that, in the seeking of His face, our diligence has been great gain.

to sea

to sea

by john clare

too scared to die
too ashamed to tell
in the ocean swell
with the high tide
launched the skiff
in the Intercoastal way
old Skippers say
the waves did lift
for you see
under dirt below
where no skiffs go
far from sea
is a horror far grand
for scared sailors
in Boston Whalers
stranded upon
the dry docked ground.

Mizpah for Sept 14

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6
The "house of the Lord" is the only home of all pure and holy beings. It is the safe and happy home of angels. It is the everlasting home of the whole family of the redeemed." Stevenson.

This verse has been driven 'home' to me time and again, each time we journey down to Williston to gather the remains of my fathers late estate.
Years earlier, in 2000, after he sold what we considered our home place in Crawfordville, to move to Williston, we went through this same process. Only this time, after losing the property and home due to a reverse mortgage, we no longer have what we call a home place where everyone can gather at Thanksgiving and other occasions, which we often did over the years.

There is some comfort in knowing that we have an eternal home awaiting, a reunion of grand scale, yet still the sadness we experience upon this earth continues, and will, until that day.