GOD in my garden

Amazing Silkworms

Posted on May 11, 2021 by merrylbethelhouse

The life-cycle of the Silkworm is a fascinating journey! This is a précis in photographs.

For the complete Blog “Amazing Silkworms”, visit http://amazingsilkworms.blogspot.com/?m=0

11/05/2021

From the east to the west

Posted on May 4, 2021May 5, 2021 by merrylbethelhouse

Two photos taken a couple of minutes apart: 7.25am- the beautiful eastern sky as the sun rose in its brilliance, and turning 180 degrees, at 7.27am – the moon descending in the western sky.

How far has God, by His Grace, removed our sins from us once we have asked His forgiveness?

04/05/2021

The Other Garden Shed – Woodturning

Posted on April 27, 2021 by merrylbethelhouse

Clock, bowl and temperature guage made from beautiful Redwood gifted by a neighbor.

27/04/2021

The vine and the branches

Posted on April 20, 2021 by merrylbethelhouse

35 year old Wisteria vine

Lovely display of Wisteria flowers in Spring.

The trunk of the old Wisteria. The plant Is an incredibly resilient and prolific grower.

Energetic growth, tho, can result in out of control vines twisting woodwork and getting into the eaves of the house if left unattended.

Autumn leaves are happening now in our part of the world.

After only one day, the pruned branch is starting to shrivel, as it’s no longer receiving nutrients from the main vine.

For the Christian, who believes in and follows Jesus Christ, the object lesson of the vine and the branches Is clear. It is crucial to growth and development in Christ to remain in Christ, receiving Life from Him.

Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

““I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

Abide in Me, and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

John‬ ‭15:1-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/114/jhn.15.1-8.nkjv

20/04/2021

Baby possum, “I see you!”

Posted on April 13, 2021April 15, 2021 by merrylbethelhouse

A baby brushtail possum found his way into our garden, (Victoria, Australia)

I left him in peace after our photoshoot. Not long after tho, a large possum was spotted hurtling along the overhead wires in baby’s direction…. hopefully it was mum to the rescue.

13/04/2021

Sunset… and a visitor

Posted on April 6, 2021April 6, 2021 by merrylbethelhouse

Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia

06/04/2021

Easter bloom and Easter Grace ….

Posted on March 30, 2021March 30, 2021 by merrylbethelhouse

Just opening over recent days, the beautiful Bromeliad Aechmea fasciata …

Fully open. This photo was taken two years ago. The plant hasn’t flowered again until now.

Easter Grace is encapsulated in this moving song “Carried to the Table”, by Leeland Mooring.

A special song inspired by the Biblical account of King David and Mephibosheth, leading to God’s Grace in bringing us, broken people, to His Table of Redeeming provision. (Video-13 years ago).

A recent rendition. (2 years ago). When asked about the story behind “Carried to the Table”, Leeland said, “One of the evangelists [my family] traveled with for two years had a message that spoke about that story of Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel. His message moved me so much that I fell in love with that story and couldn’t get it out of my head. He related [the story] in the message to how God carries us to the table. Things I can’t get out of my head, I make songs out of them. I sat in my room and prayed to God about it. I worked on [the song] two days and finally finished it.”^[4] Ref. Wikipedia

A testimony of God’s amazing Grace. (1 year ago.)

Recording by Leeland. (9 years ago.)

Here is the account of King David and Mephibosheth if you would like to read it:

“Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, “ Are you Ziba?” He said, “At your service!” Then the king said, “ Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet.” So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.” Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar. Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, “Mephibosheth?” And he answered, “Here is your servant!” So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.” Then he bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?” And the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread at my table always.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do.” “As for Mephibosheth,” said the king, “he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons.” Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth. So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.”
‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭9:1-13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

30/03/2021

Silver Gull – ever hopeful…

Posted on March 23, 2021 by merrylbethelhouse

Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia – a nice break from the garden…

The Silver Gull eyes off the goodies held by the Australian Pacific Gull…

The plumage of the Australian Pacific Gull changes to the white chest and black wings of the adult after about four years.

This dark brown plumage indicates he is about one year old.

He might be only a youngster but he’s not sharing!

In any case, the fish skeleton is not very palatable.

No worries… there’s plenty more in the ocean.

Video: courtship of Australian Pacific Gull:

23/03/2021

Incy Wincy Spider – Macro photoshoot

Posted on March 16, 2021 by merrylbethelhouse

Over two days, I watched as these amazing tiny creatures, no bigger than a pinhead, did ‘what spiders do’. How did they know what to do? And who provided the beautiful silk thread created within their tiny bodies?

The orange tree was their home. Amazingly, it is quite likely they are the progeny of the St. Andrew’s Cross Spider pictured below, featured in a blog six weeks ago “Guest in the Orange Tree”.

Female St Andrew’s Cross Spider. Possibly the mother, photographed six weeks earlier in the same tree.

Trust you enjoy The Incy Wincy Spider Photoshoot…..

Day one…

Glancing at the tree you would hardly notice them.

They were in a close “huddle”, scores of them! At a guess the actual size of the “huddle” was around one and a half centimetres in diameter. The “huddle” was suspended on a web of fine silk thread.

A little blow of air and the tiny spiders moved slightly and then tucked back into their “huddle”.

The camera moved the branches a little, and more activity followed…

Perfect baby St. Andrew’s Cross Spiders.

Many times magnified. At a guess, the actual size of each baby spider was only about two millimetres.

In just a few hours some appeared to have grown darker…

Then they began to explore a little further afield…

The little spiders became quite adventurous in the afternoon sunlight!

Day two, about 2pm….

The next day was a beautiful, mild sunny day. Surprisingly though, the baby spiders had gone back to their safe “huddle” in the orange tree.

Macro of a St Andrew’s Cross baby spider.

However, about half an hour later, a very gentle breeze began to blow. To my amazement, the little spiders started trapezing on their silk thread and allowing the breeze to carry them to another location.

They moved constantly, and using the breeze, dispersed along their extended silk threads. It was almost impossible to focus with the macro lens.

The next day, they were gone, at least, they were nowhere in sight.

Perhaps the Gospel song “Somebody Bigger Than You and I”, expresses the emotions that rise when we witness such amazing miracles In our world. Elvis Presley sings it well! Enjoy.