A Mother’s Dedication
Mothers, even across species, are some of the most selfless and dedicated individuals in the world. The hours of sleeplessness, hunger, heartache, apprehension and prayer while caring for their family physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually makes moms everywhere simply extraordinary! And, of course, my Mom is the most extraordinary of all. Happy Mother’s Day to all the dedicated mothers, but this is dedicated to my own Mom! I love you, Mom!
—AdL
Jesus Rose (of Sharon)
“For to this end Christ both died, and ROSE, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.” Romans 14:9
“I am a ROSE of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.” Song of Songs 2:1
I selected this particular image, because Jesus ROSE from the dead, and is often referred to as the ROSE of Sharon. I cannot truly imagine the elation of Mary and the Disciples, after the despair of the two days previous to the Resurrection, but my heart sings with joy that Jesus loved us enough to pay the penalty for our sins, and rose from the grave on the third day as a proof of His dominion over death! He. Is. Alive!
If all that is not Grace enough, Jesus, Who promised we could have Life in Him through His Holy Spirit, commissioned His Holy Spirit to abide, as an Advocate, a Teacher, a Testimony, a Gift, and a Guarantee, within all who believe on Him! I have included only a few of the promises related to His precious Holy Spirit, and I pray you find them as comforting as do I! Praise Jesus, and Happy Easter! —AdL
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another ADVOCATE to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:16-18
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will TEACH you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26
“’When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will TESTIFY about me.’” John 15:26
“’Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the GIFT of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.’” Acts 2:38, 39
“When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit GUARANTEEing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13, 14
Male House Finch Feeding Partner
It took me many hours to capture this shot, especially with good lighting, and a decent background. The male house finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) dotes affectionately upon his mate, and before chicks arrive to change the routine (Isn’t that always the way?), he feeds her quite frequently, even when she is browsing right there next to him. The shot is too perfect not to use, and thus I just had to insert it on a Valentine’s Day post. 
I hope you are blessed with a spouse who is as generous, tender and loving as this little guy…I am! Happy Valentine’s Day!
—AdL
(To purchase any of my photos, visit my photography site: on the 5th Day Photography)
Light of the World
This is another of my experiments with photographing Christmas lights that, for its meretricious quality, seemed more appropriate to New Year’s Eve than Christmas.
The illimitable variety of moods, timbres and expressions of light astonish me. It is no wonder that one of Jesus’ many sobriquets is the Light of the World; He is all things for all people. Despite the spectrum of our heterogeneity He can reach each one of us where we are, and meet every need. Cool, huh?! Happy New Year!
—AdL
(To purchase any of my photos, visit my photography site: on the 5th Day Photography)
Christmas Nebulae
Like people throughout the country, I, too, toured the Christmas lights the more festively-minded decorators generously shared. Being a photographer, I of course, longed to capture some of their luminescent magic, but quickly discovered that a confluence of pinprick dots just was not all that visually appealing. What to do? I decided to try again at a closer range, and when I happened to raise the camera to my eye while it was unfocused, it created a startling effect. It took many trials of shutter speed, aperture and ISO settings, as well as, the best subjects, but I eventually found several configurations that seemed to work. This is one of my favorites for it is pleasingly vibrant, yet has an ethereal gossamer quality. If our inexpensive and insignificant lights can produce such sublime effects, and Jesus is the Light of the world, what do you suppose the lights He created in Heaven might be like? Whether it is coming to Earth as a lowly man to save our souls, or even share with us the beauty of simple Christmas lights, His beauty and Grace are more than I can comprehend or imagine. May He fill you with the beauty of His Presence this Christmas…Merry Christmas to all!
—AdL
Dad bringing home the bac- uh, flying insect. (?)
This Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) father was a dedicated and indefatigable caretaker of his family. He delivered fare-by-air to his three chicks, and sometimes to the wife, too, nearly once a minute. Like many devoted dads, he didn’t shy away from feculence duty either, and kept the chicks and nest tidy. He gained my admiration not only for his superficial beauty, but his audacious courage in protecting his family, and tender ministrations to his wife as she built the nest and brooded their eggs. He regularly fetched her nest-building material, as well as, victuals and other libations. Okay, okay, so I would occasionally spy him hidden from his bride behind a line of bushes, absorbed in a bit of vainglorious preening, but every guy needs some time away from the family, right? He never failed, though, to respond when beckoned, or swoop to the rescue when circumstances were exigent.
I dedicate this post to all the dads out there; we children are just not complete without you in our lives. I love you, Dad, and thanks for all that you’ve endured, all that you’ve bestowed, all that you are!
—AdL
Can You Hear the Delighted Giggle, Too?
This Arizona Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) sow happily tussles, in the warm Sonoran Desert, with her newly above-ground pup. The pups remain underground for their first 33 to 37 days, which is why she seems quite developed here, even though it was her first week outside of the extensive tunnel system in their “town.” (This town happens to be in captivity.) These “towns” can cover as many as 100 acres that are divided into “wards,” which are further subdivided into familial “coteries,” typically consisting of a male, his one to four females, and their offspring of up to two-years of age. They are close-knit families that frequently greet one another with what appears to be a kiss, but are instead gently touching their front teeth together; this is how prairie dogs recognize each other. This seems the perfect day to celebrate families, and particularly moms.
I dedicate this post to my mother, and all the mother’s out there, who know how to tickle us in just the right place, support us at just the perfect time, and pray our hearts and lives back to our Daddy and Savior. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom, and thank you for all that you do and all that you are. I love you!
—AdL
Good Friday
Do you want to be used of God? Do you ever envy Moses, Elijah, John the Baptist, Paul? What about Jonah, Job or Stephen? Approaching it from a different direction, have you ever had to wound somebody? I don’t mean in that, “You really can’t sing,” or, “That plaid makes you look fat,” or “You’re no good at fixing cars,” way. I mean crush them…down deep…where the soul seems almost newly formed with no scaling, no thickening, no scars, no calluses to protect it? Would you do it, could you do it, if God asked it of you? It seems to be just another of those esoteric, philosophical, and ultimately rhetorical questions…but it’s not, because God required it of me nearly a decade ago, and I have only begun to forgive Him for that.
A little background would probably be helpful. For years, family and friends would come to me with their burdens, and through me, as He does through so many others, God would provide comfort and, when He chose to, words of wisdom. I do not, cannot, take credit for this, other than for perhaps making myself available for Him to use in that way. I was always left humbled by His Presence, and incredibly grateful that He would use me at all. But—and there’s always a but, isn’t there—those who would come to me were usually comforted and grateful. It never occurred to me, while I was enjoying, well, adoring, those halcyon days of, in a modern colloquialism, “sharing the love,” that He might someday expect me to mature and grow into offering something more recondite and formidable. Silly, I know, but He was always so gentle and tender with me, I never realized I would eventually need to be weaned from Spiritual Pabulum to meat. (I think I begin to understand why infants are so grumpy during this period.) Read the rest of this entry »
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” Luke 2:1-20
Merry Christmas to all!
—AdL