Have You Heard It?

"The more I study nature, the more I am amazed at the Creator." 

Louis Pasteur (1822-1895)

Nothing says summer like a garden of flowers!

Every Tuesday morning Jerry has breakfast with the guys down at the local restaurant. They talk about a lot of different things, but last Tuesday I got a chuckle.

"You'll never believe what I heard this morning," Jerry said. "You can hear corn grow!" Well, I admit, I'd never heard that before.

Blooms and colors that take your breath away!

I just had to look it up on the internet to see if it was true. And you know what? It is!

On PHYS.org, the Acoustical Society of America wrote an article dated November 2016, sharing of a scientific experiment to prove this fact: "On a quiet night you can hear the corn grow. It may seem funny, but the University of Nebraska proved it does by attaching microphones to directly record the sounds of corn growing." And this is a big deal.

"Douglas Cook at New York University argues that by listening to corn you can prevent corn stalk failure, a problem scientists have been battling with over the years . . . he is leading a group of plant scientists that have teamed up with engineers and have designed special sensors that expand the sound the corn makes during its formation, helping them pinpoint the moment something goes wrong with its development."

Finding treasures as you drive down a road!

"What man has written man may read; But God fills every root and seed With cryptic words, too strangely set For mortals to decipher yet." 

 Charles Dalmon (1862-1917)

I learned the cracking/popping sound occurs around the V15 growth stage and what you hear is the cell walls of the stalk expanding. And scientists have also discovered that corn grows through breakage, much like your muscles do when you work out; by tearing themselves up, healing, and then growing stronger."

There are videos online where you can experience this for yourself:  https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=can+you+hear+corn+grow&view=detail&mid=192E6EADE8B9687EA9D4192E6EADE8B9687EA9D4&FORM=VIRE

One of the men having breakfast said he'd been in Nebraska and stayed on a farm that had a 1,000 acres growing corn. "It is real," he said. "On quiet nights you can hear the corn grow and the crickets. I heard it."

I guess you're never to old to learn something. A little fact that is making a huge difference in growing corn.

 And the littlest of blooms that delight your sense of beauty!

God never made anything that was nonsense. His creation is magnificent. It's one of those things where you say, "My God is awesome!"

"The best thing is to go from nature's God down to nature; and if you once get to nature's God, and believe him, and love him, it is surprising how easy it is to hear music in the waves, and songs in the wild whisperings of the winds; to see God everywhere in the stones, in the rocks, in the rippling brooks, and hear him everywhere, in the lowing of cattle, in the rolling of thunder, and in the fury of tempests. "Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)

. . . and in the sound of corn growing!

 Enjoy all the beauty from our Master Creator!

Always With You

 This is my friend's deck garden. Kathy has created deck gardens for a few years now and every year I love to imagine sitting on her deck in the early morning. She is a master creator of so many things. Thank you, Kathy, for always cheering my heart!

I love the first verse of the hymn "Still, Still With Thee." I've written it many times in notes to others for it gives a beautiful thought of waking up with Jesus:

"Still, still with Thee--when purple morning breaketh, when the bird wakest and the shadows flee; fairer than morning, lovelier than daylight, dawns the sweet consciousness--I am with Thee!"

The hymn was written by Harriet B. Stowe, 1812-1896. She is most known for her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin which had a strong influence against slavery just before the Civil War, but she wrote about 40 books during her lifetime.

She was inspired one morning while meditating on Psalm 139:17, 18:

"How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
    How vast is the sum of them!Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you."

For the 4th time I've had the joy of seeing a fawn lying down in the woods or on a field.. One time there were two under a tree on someone's lawn. There was a young buck and a doe lying near this one.

Morning is a lovely time to share with God, and I'm fortunate to be an early person. In the summer months I can sit out on the front porch and watch the day wake up. It's a lovely time, sitting in the quiet, being serenaded by the birds and watching the beauty of the sky as the sun awakens it.

"I reflect at night on who you are, O Lord; therefore, I obey your instructions." Psalm 110:55

If you're an evening person, I can just imagine sitting outside and watching the stars shine, and knowing God is there and all is well. To know rest is coming and you'll be protected by the One who is in control of all things.

"Never once since the world began Has the sun ever stopped his shining.

His face very often we could not see, And we grumbled at his inconstancy;

But the clouds were really to blame, not he, For, behind them, he was shining.

And so--behind life's darkest clouds God's love is always shining.

We veil it at times with our faithless fears, And darken our sight with our foolish tears.

But in time the atmosphere always clears, For His love is always shining."

John Oxenham, 1861-1941

Yes, God is with you all through the day, and isn't it a lovely thought.

 Another family I enjoyed while out and about last Saturday morning.

Are You Familiar With Psalm 103?

 Loved seeing this doe and twin fawn early one morning last week.

Every Sunday morning I read Psalm 103.  Charles Spurgeon writes: "There is too much in this Psalm for a thousand pens to write, it is one of those all-comprehending Scriptures which is a Bible in itself, and it might alone almost suffice for the hymn-book of the church . . . This Psalm calls more for devotion than exposition!"

Take a few minutes and read through this psalm. It may just become your thanksgiving to God:

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases;

he redeems my life from the pit and crowns me with love and compassion.

He satisfies my desires with good things, so that my youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

He made known his way to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;

he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; 

the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.

But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him,

and his righteousness with their children's children--

with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.

Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.

Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.

Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, O my soul."

Peek a boo, I see you!

"The Pulpit Commentaries" says this about Psalm 103: "A Psalm of joy and thanksgiving for God's manifold mercies, especially for his loving kindness in forgiving sin and transgression passing into adoration of him upon his heavenly throne, and a call on all creation to praise him." Kay

Christian Ladies Network talks about giving thanks: "Isn't the Lord good? We are so prone to take His blessings and benefits for granted. He does so much for us and sometimes we forget to  thank Him . . . We teach our children to say thank you. Shouldn't we practice what we preach and say thanks to our Heavenly Father for all He does for us? . . .  Others may remember what we have done in the past, but Jesus not only forgives, but He forgets. He never remembers confessed and forgiven sin . . . This is one thing I am glad the Lord does remember. We are dust! We are not perfect. We make mistakes because we are human . . . Sounds like we need to take time out just to bless the Lord and thank Him for all His goodness to us . . . He deserves our praise. He is worthy of our praise! When we enter into prayer that is the first thing we need to do, then we can bring our petitions to Him, knowing that He will answer according to His pleasure."

There is so much to be thankful for. My friend, Kathy, sent me the book "Hearts In Fire" authored by The Voice of the Martyrs. It was a difficult book to read. We know persecution is being brutally enforced around the world, and things don't look so great in our little world of America. But God is still in control and everything that is happening is according to His time and His purpose.

Bless the Lord, my friend! He is worthy of our praise!

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

 

I'm thankful for the joy of being able to see His wildlife in nature! There's that little one!

What's Really Important

"Prayer does not enable us to do a greater work for God. Prayer is a greater work for God."

Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847)

An early drive in the fog gave me this opportunity.

Many years ago a friend asked me if I would type a collection of poems that her grandfather, P. J. Wolz, wrote. He was not famous . . . just an average person who worked hard and was trustworthy. He lived his life for God.

Of all the poems he wrote, my eyes and heart stayed with a simple two line poem. I call on it frequently to remind me of what's really important as we walk with God.

"How wonderful, at evening, to be able to say,

What a day! Lord. What a day! Because I could pray."

His simple words summed it up right nicely. But how often do I take advantage of this invited invitation from God? I'd say, not often enough.

"Never wait for a fitter time or place to talk to Him. To wait til you go to church or to your room is to make Him wait. He will listen as you walk."

George MacDonald (1824-1905) 

Was a joy to watch this fawn out back last evening.

On The Hunt

"I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station through which God speaks to us every hour if we will only tune in."

George Washington Carver (c. 1864-1943) 

 

 Would you like to go for a ride with me this morning? All the snaps on this post were taken on my early morning drive today. Not my best work, but it was a fun morning anyhow.

As everyone surely knows by now, summer is fawn hunting month for me. All summer long I go out in the early morning to find fawn to take pictures of. I've been doing it for many years and never tire of the joy and thrill I experience seeing them.

My excitement truly doubled last year when I had my own fawn in our backyard. I took 900 snaps last summer. (I know, what was I thinking?) Last week we saw the first one for 2019, and we may have two sets of fawn to enjoy this year.

Why did they have to stand in front of the ugly shed with junk in it! The two little ones are still fairly small.

I had two favorite places to snap fawn in Maryland, and I miss them terribly. It's where I saw my first fawn nursing, and captured the smallest fawn I'd ever seen. Those are truly favorite snaps! I also found my first fawn lying down in the woods at that location.

It was slow going when we moved to PA. I soon realized finding fawn to snap, or any deer, was going to be harder. There is so much wooded land, and there are 50% less people and vehicles. So the deer arn't as use to being around people and they run quicker around here--too quick for me to snap. But I am getting a few snaps, with the help of my own backyard.

Can barely see the eyes on the little one, but it's there nonetheless.

June can be frustrating because fawn are still small, and mom keeps them hidden, so I don't see many. But when I do it's pure delight.

This morning when I left, July 1st, I had on earmuffs, gloves with finger tips open, and a winter scarf! It was in the 50's and riding around with both the driver and passenger windows down can get a little chilly.

You can just see the ears of the little one far right. Doesn't anyone mow around here?

There is very little traffic out that early in the morning so I virtually have the roads to myself. I drive these country roads 10 to 20 miles an hour so I have time to stop when I see a deer and try to get a snap off. A few vehicles are on the road then, and several times they stop to make sure I'm ok.

Although deer move fast, I'm amazed at how many I've been able to find that just watch me and don't run. The road I was on this morning gave me a number of opportunities to take a picture. I am so happy when this happens!

I did get a few snaps of the second fawn's face, but not quite clear enough to share.

I'm realizing that my snaps are not as sharp as they use to be. I may be getting a little shakier in keeping the camera still. Age does that to you. But I'd much rather blame it on the camera. It is suppose to focus after all.

Imagine driving along country roads in the early morning enveloped with God's creation. It's a special time for me. I try and forget everything and just enjoy nature as God created it.

I wonder what he was telling her?

"The more I study nature, the more I am amazed at the Creator."

Louis Pasteur (1822-1895)