Wayne

“When we reach the time of Mary’s visit with Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, we find the two women praising God and Mary delivering a song for the ages, while the man remains silent. The man, a righteous priest, was silenced, while God gave Mary utterance, recorded in scripture,

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Morning Prayer: Loving God, grant us Your grace necessary for us to live with patience in this day...
• patience with the unknown
• patience with our healing
• patience with unexpected change
• patience with frustrations
• patience with ourselves
Grant us grace.
Amen

Blue Jays having a bit of a scrum in the snow.

A male Pileated Woodpecker checks a spot in the bark for tasty ants.

Evening Prayer: Loving God, we welcome Your calming Presence at the end of this day. We welcome Your comforting Spirit as we seek rest. We welcome Your assuring grace as we think about the uncertainties. We welcome Your healing mercy for those in need of wholeness and hope. Amen.

A male Eastern Bluebird about to dine on a berry. I believe this a Greenbrier plant, but I could be off on that.

The giggles that filled the air when I took Rebecca outside last night to show her our house, all lit up with soft white Christmas lights. It's the first time we've ever done outdoor lights for Christmas, and she thoroughly loved it.

A tan female Finch is perched on a small branch with a white berry in her mouth. There are twigs and branches all around. The background is blurry branches and blue sky.

Female Finch

Savoring that last bite...

Morning Prayer: Loving God, lead us into those places where deeper reflection and awareness can take place. Slow us down inwardly so we can pay attention to where You are present in our life and active in our world. Be our Light and hope in the darkness that surrounds us. Amen.

Thus, if a storm tried to cross, before it got there, it would fall apart. It’s due to something called the Coriolis Force (caused by Earth’s rotation and its changing circumference at latitude) which increases north and south, but is zero at zero degrees. Image via NOAA.

On this LAST DAY OF HURRICANE SEASON, an interesting fact.
Did you know no tropical cyclone has ever crossed the Equator!? That’s because it’s physically impossible. Storms need “spin” to develop and survive. But at the Equator there is zero spin… 1/

Red berries on a bush of branches and twigs. The background is blurry brown.

Impressions
Flood my mind
Memories
Of a time long past
Feelings
From so many angles
Gratitude
That all are tied
To you...

Enjoy Sunday with this Lively gray sky 🤍☁️
and snowy ❄️🌲 pine tree branch straight from my balcony!
Monochromatic is the new Confetti! 🎉😂🌞
#photography #Nature #Snow #Sky #Tree #PineTree #Monochromatic #EastCoastKin #WestCoastKin #Canada #Toronto #Ontario #BlackAndWhite #Art

Here’s my Advent playlist.
open.spotify.com/playlist/3UH...

Advent Reflections and Devotionals Recommendations for Pastors, Scholars, and Bible Nerds

Happy Advent! Are you reading something this season? Here are some recommendations. Leave a comment with your favorite Advent devotionals.

open.substack.com/pub/nijaykgu...

Good morning Jesus. Almost ready for church. No wait a minute. We are church. It’s not where and when we gather. It’s identity. Thank You for Ekklesia. I am called out for Your purpose. Not mine or anyone else’s. I’m ready to shine Your love anytime, anywhere. Welcome to church!✌🏼

A red male Cardinal is sensual through a bunch of intersecting twigs and branches.

Male Cardinal

Through the maze...

Red and green leaves glowing from the sunlight.

Nature's stained glass...

A blue and white Bluejay is perched on a branch. The background is blurry tan and green.

Bluejay

A moment of bird zen...

Good morning Jesus. Psalm 118 says with Yahweh on my side, what can people do to me? You also said don’t fear people. When I, by faith, know I am whole and complete in You, what can anyone do to me? I am who You say I am, not what “they” say, think or do! Hello new creature.✌🏼

Morning Prayer 🌄 Loving God, as we experience the changing of seasons around us, may Your Spirit guide us through the changing of seasons within us. Be with us in the transitions of life and help us to know what we need to shed and what we can embrace. Grant us Your wisdom. Amen.

“But what goes out of the mouth comes from the heart. And that’s what contaminates a person in God’s sight.”

~Jesus

“Nothing is hidden that won’t be exposed. Nor is anything concealed that won’t be made known and brought to the light.”

~Jesus

“Evil may appear to have the day, but it is God who has the eternity. Our trust is not in what we see now but in the faithful love of the One who holds all history.”

~Henri Nouwen

A black-necked stilt leans forward to dip its beak in the water.

Stilts pretty much by definition have #SkinnyLegs. #BirdOftheDay #birds #photography

And you are very very good at it.

Good night Jesus. One of the most rewarding things about disciple-making is to see truth begin to take root in someone. The body language shift. The peaceful but surprised look of realization. Got to experience that again today. It never gets old seeing You make all things new!✌🏼

“Christians should take a stronger stand in favor of the weak rather than considering first the possible right of the strong."

~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Morning Prayer 🌄 Loving God, we give thanks for celebrations that remind us of the gift of life and the gift of friends. May we welcome the moments of celebration and receive the gifts life offers us. Help us to steward our lives in such a way that honors its giftedness. Amen.

A people who refuse to despise one another are immune to authoritarians because an authoritarian’s power depends on certain groups of people despising other groups of people.

This is why there’s so much power in Jesus’ words, “love your enemies.”

It is an act of resistance.