From my childhood days to the present, I’ve been captivated by the vibrant colors of a sunrise as well as the darkening of the horizon as day yields to sunset.
This past Friday I settled into my blind to enjoy the sights and sounds of Mother Nature, and she rewarded me with the shuffling feet of a covey of quail on fallen leaves, the cawing of crows in a nearby corn field, and to an unsuspecting bobcat who trotted past me, oblivious to my presence.
My contemplative moment was interrupted when my chair suddenly ripped, and I fell to the ground. When I landed on my rump with a bone-rattling thump, I was certain that seismic monitors had sent an earthquake alert to the USGS.
Though I’m on the hefty side, the problem was not my weight, and it was not moths who had the munchies—it was a mouse. A mouse! My solitude had been gnawed away through the turpitude of a ravenous rodent that had devoured the underside of my chair like it was a Thanksgiving feast.
As I was lying on the ground, I thought of the wise words of Jesus: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do not break in nor steal, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:19-21).”
Even though my treasure was fairly new, comfortable, strong and sturdy, it was no match for the teeth of a tiny mouse with the appetite of a Tyrannosaurus Rex.
What about your treasures? Are they fragile, frail, and feeble, or are they decent, distinctive, and dynamic? “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
I’ve never heard the Apostle Paul described as a Master Gardener, but he was an authority on sowing and reaping, and He spoke about it in the 6th chapter of Galatians.
I don’t have any hills in my yard, but I do hear the sound of music. My feathered friends have begun their annual return, and they’re filling the air with their joyful melodies. As they arrive, they’re met by the faithful chickadees and nuthatches who have fed on sunflower seeds and weathered the winter.
Since I live in the land of 
About this time each year, I start looking forward to the return of the brightly colored yellow finches that will gorge themselves at my birdfeeders. They will be joined by other guests, Blue Jays, Robins, and Redheaded woodpeckers.
On this stormy morning, it has occurred to me that a person will never be like a fruitful tree planted by the rivers of water (
A first glance the white flowers in the picture to the left add beauty to the shrubbery; however, the white flowers are actually part of a nuisance vine that clings to the host plant and drains it of its strength.
One of the many features that I love about Kansas is its population; it’s small in number compared to many states. I also have a fond affection for the diverse landscapes of the Flint Hills and the bumper crops of 
When was the last time you paused and counted the many blessing that you have? Have you taken the time to heed the old hymn and “name them one by one?” These are the questions I asked myself after reading Psalm 68:19: “Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation!”
Each year at this time, my interests are directed towards my garden. I visit it often to watch the yellow flowers become tomatoes. I also add a little fertilizer to stimulate the growth of the plants, and put a fence up around the garden to keep the cats out; I don’t like their soul-enriching methodology.
insightbyseymour 