A Closer Look

You have probably seen these countless times....but never looked closely at each one.

We see them together in groups and miss the individual beauty. Yuccas are beautiful together.


Like people, they are more exquisite when seen individually.

Images of Disbelief

From the time I was a teenager, I foresaw images that had flames comprised of demons. I built a fire and shot pix to use as a resource to finally work on my paintings.....do you see what I see? The shoulders? The 2 eyes & flame across the middle of the face?
How about the next one? The mask of "Tragedy" rising from the flame? I have an uncanny ability to see subliminal images...perhaps I knew they were there all along....


Most people find it easy to believe in angels & even ghosts... but, demons? the devil? "Now you're talking just, plain crazy," they say. I say, "Just because you don't believe in something, doesn't mean it can't hurt you." The Bible is clear that the devil exists. Jesus calls him, "The father of all lies". Why wouldn't he have himself caricaturized as a harmless, red, cartoon guy? Angels are perceived as pretty girls in long, white dresses. The Bible repeatedly states they are either messengers or strong & mighty warriors, armed and waiting... waiting for us to ask God to give them power to fight on our behalf. We have to pray. We just have to ask.
I once saw a John Walsh video in which he asked children,"What does a stranger look like"? Even tweens described them as a stereotypical bad guy / villain with pointy teeth & dark, slitted eyes.....Is that true? No, strangers are people we haven't met. Most "successful, bad guys" blend right in, appearing nice and "normal". That is the secret to not getting caught... they fit right in.


Paul writes,"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, & the dead will be raised ...& we shall be changed."(I Cor. 15:52). This is as when we wake from hours of sleep & it seems that only seconds have passed. That doesn't leave room for ghosts. Our adversary, Lucifer, stalks & hunts us. He watches ~ for the right moment & the right means. He knows all of our favorites as well as all of our weaknesses. Demons wouldn't appear to us as a child sees a "bad guy". We would know & avoid them. They may appear as pretty girls in long, flowing dresses or the images of loved ones who have died...or even as balls of light. They would appear harmless, "cool", or even helpful.


So many people are quick to believe in conspiracy theories. The biggest one of all has been documented over thousands of years, by disconnected people from all walks of life & is written off as a fairy tale. That is how he works...disbelief. If we don't believe, than we don't guard our self against it.




An active force of evil IS truly real. I say again:


Just because you don't believe in some-thing, doesn't mean it can't hurt you!

Not of This World

I recently wrote on how someone can become so "drunk with anger" that they lose their self-control. That involved a short burst which resulted in a lost turtle. God was gracious to answer the prayers of a young boy & his mother. More often, we have to wait a lifetime to see the results. Self-control will also crumble in the face of pride, arrogance, selfishness, & so on. Why?

Peter writes: "Be sober, be watchful; because your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brothers in the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, establish, & strengthen you." (I Peter 5:8-10)


Bitterness, resentment, envy, power-struggles, etc. are tools he uses to keep us from our Father & Savior. When people are quick to go on the offensive with me, rather than talking like adults, it is hard not to blast right back. To maintain my cool, I think of something they have apparently not. A still, small voice whispers, "I don't think you know who you are dealing with here! I am a child of God and heir to His Kingdom!!" (Romans 8: 15-17) I have to remind myself that it is not people that I wrestle with, but "...against the authorities, against the powers, against the rulers of darkness in this present age." (Ephesians 6:12) When I focus on this, I so clearly see how such people who cling to power & control are actually being used~ & I empathize. It is then I can pray for them. " I beseech you," writes Paul," to have a walk worthy of the calling for which you were called, with all humility & gentleness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in a bond of peace." (Eph 4:1-3)

I am reminded of something our pastor said recently: "When you stand before Jesus what treasures will you lay at His feet ?" Things in this world seem so long...Tomorrow will mark 21 years since a beloved friend stood before Jesus. It was abrupt & agonizing for us...suddenly, it is 21 years later. Our time here really is more fleeting than it seems. "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Rom. 8:18).


**NOTE: Romans, chapter 8 is so inspiring & hope-filled. I really hope you will find some quiet time & read it through. So many people believe that God casts people into hell. This chapter reminds how much He does to bring us TO Him!!!)

A Few Favorites of Mine

Forest Bling

Insect life is a wonder to watch. Here is a beautiful, jewel-like beetle,over an inch long. There are dragon & damsel flies of all colors & sizes. Beatiful butterflies & moths arrayed in an amazing variety of textures & tones. Multi-colored banana spiders harmlessly adorn the forest with their beautiful webs.



I was able to capture images of both male & female cow-killers. Here is a male. They are hard to shoot as they are so fast.


We watched as cicada killers dug out their prey and dragged them up into the trees.