Animals/Nature Archives - Page 15 of 21

Easy as Pie

October 31, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 3 comments

Easy as Pie--Pumpkins From October through December, gaining weight becomes as easy as pie (very easy). We no longer want small summer meals Instead, we desire comfort food … and plenty of it.

Farmers have picked the last of their fruit and vegetables. We find them for sale everywhere. Let the eating begin!

Making pie is not easy.

Of course, many cooks buy pie crusts already made. Some also buy pie mixes. Making those pies is easy. However, making a whole pie takes work … and plenty of it.

Eating pie is easy.

Pumpkin pie is a fall favorite, especially for Thanksgiving. I prefer chocolate, lemon, or pecan.

Easy as pie applies to more than pies.

Anything that requires little work is easy as pie.

However, something easy for you may be hard for me.

You may be a great painter. Not me.
You may understand physics. Not me.
You may be able to fly a plane. Not me.

If I study painting, physics, and flying planes, I will improve. They may never be as easy as pie, but, if I tackle them, they will get easier.

Perhaps this fall and winter we should try to gain more knowledge instead of weight. Physics or pie? Which sounds better to you?

“ Salvation that comes from trusting Christ—which is what we preach—is already within easy reach of each of us; in fact, it is as near as our own hearts and mouths” (Romans 10:8 TLB).

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Snake in the Grass

October 24, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 2 comments

I don’t like to get too close to a snake in the grass.

I’m not afraid of most snakes. They help keep mice away. However, I don’t want snakes to hide in my yard.

A few snakes can kill with their bites. I am afraid of them.

I prefer not having a person who is a snake in the grass near me either.

A snake in the grass cannot be trusted. That person will:

Cheat
Lie
Steal
Hurt others to get what he or she wants

Like a dangerous snake (animal) hiding in the grass, a snake in the grass person tries to hide bad behavior. The person attacks or hurts others when they least expect it.

God offers a better way.

I pray that everyone who tries to trick and hurt others will choose God’s way. Just as God forgives me when I confess my wrongs, God will also forgive them. Sometimes we all need a fresh start.

“Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon” (Isaiah 55:7 NIV).

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Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

Bark Up the Wrong Tree

October 17, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 1 comment

Bark Up the Wrong Tree--Dog standing among trees

Dogs love to chase other animals. Usually they can see or smell them, so they stay on the right path. When those animals run up a tree, dogs stand under the tree and bark.

Occasionally dogs bark up the wrong tree.

They lose sight or smell of the animal they chase. They may stand under a tree and bark as loudly as they can. Yet, all that barking does no good if they bark up the wrong tree.

We can also bark up the wrong tree.

That happens when we:

Make a wrong choice
Follow the wrong path
Listen to the wrong people

We may think we are going the right direction. Yet, we have strayed from our goal.

Sometimes we know we made the wrong decision. Yet, we keep going. We fail to admit our mistake and change. We get comfortable going the wrong way.

To find what we are looking for, we must follow the correct trail.

True for dogs
True for people

When we hit the trail, we want to be sure we are on the right one.

“Listen, my child, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right way” (Psalm 23:19 NET).

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Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

Batten Down the Hatches

October 10, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 5 comments

Storms occur at sea and in our lives.

When we batten down the hatches, we prepare for those storms. We see trouble coming and hard times ahead, so we get ready.

A hatch or hatchway is an opening in a ship’s deck. The ship’s crew covers the hatch when they expect bad weather. Storms at sea can destroy ships and the people on them. Sealing the hatch provides extra protection.

When we expect life problems, we also want to do what we can to protect against them.

Some storms do little damage.

Families may say, “Batten down the hatches. Aunt Mina’s kids are coming.” (I don’t have an Aunt Mina.)
Businesses may say, “Batten down the hatches. We expect poor sales next month.”
Governments may say, “Batten down the hatches. This decision will make some people mad.”

Some storms destroy.

Families may say, “Batten down the hatches. Dad’s drinking and threatening Mom.” (My dad did not drink and never threatened my mom.)
Businesses may say, “Batten down the hatches. We may have to close if sales get any worse.”
Governments may say, “Batten down the hatches. This decision may lead to war.”

Some storms we can prevent. Some we cannot.

We don’t always know when storms are coming. Therefore, we need to stay prepared as much as we can all the time. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

If we cannot prevent storms, we try to survive them. We hang on for dear life to what matters most.

“I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm” (Psalm 55:8 NIV).

Thanks to Carole Fite for the suggestion.

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Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

Reach for the Sky

September 5, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 0 Comment

Reach for the sky--Devil's Tower with the sky above Reach for the sky has two meanings.

A robber tells people to hold their hands in the air by saying, “Reach for the sky.”
We tell people to set high goals by saying, “Reach for the sky.”

We will focus on the second meaning.

When we look at the sky, it seems so far away.

The clouds float high above us.
Birds fly into it.
Children pretend to touch it.
Yet, how can we reach it?

When we look at goals, they may also appear far away.

Some goals seem greater than our ability.
Other people succeed while we fail.
We sometimes do nothing more than dream of what we want to do.

Far away does not mean impossible.

In spite of challenges, we can reach the sky. In spite of challenges, we can reach our goals. Yet, how do we do that?

We reach goals, like most of life, one step at a time. We may never get as far as we hope. Yet, we will get closer than if we never tried. Remember, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

If we try, we may surprise ourselves. In addition to reaching our goals, we could go far beyond them.

“Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies” (Psalm 36:5 NIV).

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Win by a Nose

August 29, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 2 comments

To win by a nose means we barely win.

There is little difference between the winner and loser.

In horse racing, a horse often wins by a nose. Whether the first horse wins by a nose or a great distance, its owner gets the prize. The losers may win another day.

We may or may not run a physical race. Yet, we all compete for prizes:

Jobs
Grades
Gifts
Awards

Sometimes we win by a lot. Occasionally we win by a nose, barely getting the prize. Other times we lose.

We all like to win.

Yet, losing can teach us important lessons too:

Stay humble
Try harder next time
Share the joy of other people

Remember: The greatest prize in life is the gift of Jesus’ love, free to all.

“I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us” (Philippians 3:14 TLB).

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Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

Green Thumb

July 4, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 1 comment

My friend Carolyn’s husband has a green thumb.

Tim grows beautiful flowers, shrubs, trees, and other plants. His flower garden amazes me. In the middle of his garden stands an American flag. The flag serves as a symbol of the freedom we celebrate each July 4.

My thumb is definitely not green.

Most of my plants get sick and die. Therefore, I grow flowers that require little or no care.

In spite of my lack of talent, I admire the beauty of other people’s plants.

I may not know the plants’ names.
I may not be able to grow them.
However, I can enjoy them.

I am thankful for people with a green thumb. I am also thankful I don’t need a green thumb to be used in other ways.

God gives each of us our own special talents.

Like Tim’s flowers, we are all different. Yet, we can all be beautiful in our own way.

Some people work well with numbers.
Others work well with people.
Some are great planners.

Whatever our talents, green thumb or not, let’s bloom where we are planted.

“Then God said, ‘Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.’ And it was so” (Genesis 1:11 NIV).

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Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth

June 6, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 0 Comment

**The right response for any gift is Thank you.**

We never want to act ungrateful. So, don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

Some people can tell a horse’s age by looking in its mouth. Checking a gift horse’s age is rude. So is inspecting any gift for problems. We might do that later when the gift giver is not with us. But don’t do it in the giver’s presence.

Remember a gift is a gift.

We don’t earn it. Therefore,

Be thankful for any gift.
Don’t compare it to other people’s gifts.
Don’t act like you wish for more.
Don’t worry about what it costs.
Keep an attitude of gratitude.

A gift’s price matters less than our love and concern for one another.

Give freely.
Express thanks often.
Focus on feelings, not finances.

“Always be thankful” (Colossians 3:15 NIV).

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Hit the Hay

May 2, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 4 comments

Hit the Hay, morgueFile Years ago, people made mattresses from sacks stuffed with hay or straw. When it was time to go to bed, they would say:

“It’s time to hit the hay.”
or
“It’s time to hit the sack.”

My parents expected us to rise and shine early in the morning. They also wanted us to hit the hay early in the evening. They believed we needed a good night’s sleep to do our best. It prepared us for the next day’s plans.

A test
A long trip
A hard day’s work

Therefore, we received at least eight hours of sleep. We awoke rested and ready for that day’s tasks. Medical evidence supports the wisdom of this habit.

Unfortunately, many of us ignore sleep’s importance. We stay too busy. We fill our lives with too much activity.

School
Work
Clubs
Sports
Television
Internet

We have to do part of these. Many we choose instead of sleep. Think what we could gain from less activity and more rest. Try it.

Turn off the noise.
Let muscles relax and eyes close.
Enjoy the peace and quiet.

We might be surprised how much better we feel, think, and act.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NIV).

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Photo courtesy of morgueFile.

A Drop in the Bucket

April 11, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 2 comments

A little bit of anything does not seem enough to make a difference. It is just a drop in the bucket. A drop in the ocean has the same meaning.

To understand this expression better, try carrying a bucket full of water. Then lift a bucket with one drop of water. We often think that one drop makes no difference or little difference. It is such a small part of the whole.

Compared to the greatness of God, we are like a drop in the bucket. God’s power, goodness, and love overflow like a waterfall.

A Drop in the Bucket At the same time, God loves each one of us and can use us for good. Working together, like many drops of water, we make a great difference in our world.