Lightkeeper's Journal

Merry Christmas from the Family

 

Left:  Nikko, the Brown-Headed Nuthatch  

Right:  Duke of Soperton,  the Northern Cardinal (Male)

 

Photography and Thoughts by Curtis and Norma Beaird

 

Diego, the Red-Winged Blackbird (Male)

 

Left: Giorgio, the Pine Warbler (Male)  

Right: Beep-Beep, the Carolina Chickadee

 

Ginger, the Tufted Titmouse

 

Pistol, the Downy Woodpecker, enjoying the Christmas feast!

 

The real reason that we joyfully celebrate Christmas is the birth of God's only Son, born of a virgin, in the town of Bethlehem.  His name is Jesus.

We offer a prayer of thanksgiving unto our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.   

Thank you Lord for Your love and Your blessings that we experience every single day of our lives.  Without You, we would be nothing.  We praise You because You are the Messiah, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace.  

We thank you for Your guidance, Your healing, Your provision, Your protection, Your mercy and Your forgiveness.  We glorify You and pray that we can live our lives each day in a spirit of faith, love, kindness, generosity and thanksgiving, spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and showing Your love to the world.

 

Luke 2: 1 - 14

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree

from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

² (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

³ And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea,

unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem;

(because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

⁵ To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

⁶ And so it was, that, while they were there,

the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,

and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,

keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,

and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not:

for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

¹² And this shall be a sign unto you;

Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host

praising God, and saying,

¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

 

 

Copyright 2013, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.  

 

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Photography by Curtis and Norma Beaird

 

Psalm 100

1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

²  Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing.

³  Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

⁴  Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.

⁵  For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.

 

 

Copyright 2013, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.

 

Celebrating Two Years of Lightkeeper's Journal - We Give Praise to God!

Photography by Curtis and Norma Beaird

Article by Norma Beaird

Today, we celebrate two years as Lightkeeper's Journal.  We want to thank everyone who has visited our blog and photo gallery.  May the Lord continue to bless you and your family. We hope our writing journal and nature photos have, at some point, brightened your day. Instead of writing a long article regarding our two-year celebration, we want to give praise to the Lord for His many blessings.  We offer thanksgiving to God through sharing an inspirational chapter in the Old Testament Book of Psalms.

 

Today, things look a little more bleak in this nation than they did two years ago.  A lot of hard-working folks have lost their jobs and politicians are destroying this country through destructive legislation.  Financial corruption and substance abuse are at an all-time high.  The health care industry seems to be falling apart.  Immorality, unethical behavior and promiscuity have unfortunately increased.  Consequently, many people are very concerned; and even worried, about the future.  However, the Bible gives us hope and we share that hope with you in Psalm 118. 

 

Many people log onto our website to read our poems and it makes our heart leap with joy, having faith that we have offered encouragement in a tough old world.  We love poetry. The most poetic book of the Bible is the Book of Psalms and we want to share with you a beautiful Psalm to encourage, inspire and dispel the fear that the world inflicts on people today. 

The Lord is good; He is faithful and His truth endures.

 

Blessings to you on this beautiful day!  

Psalm 118

O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: because His mercy endureth for ever.

² Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

³ Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

⁴ Let them now that fear the Lord say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

⁵ I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place.

⁶ The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

⁷ The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.

⁸ It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.

⁹ It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.

¹⁰ All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord will I destroy them.

¹¹ They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.

¹² They compassed me about like bees: they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.

¹³ Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the Lord helped me.

¹⁴ The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.

¹⁵ The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.

¹⁶ The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.

¹⁷ I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.

¹⁸ The Lord hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.

¹⁹ Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord:

²⁰ This gate of the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter.

²¹ I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.

²² The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

²³ This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

²⁴ This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

²⁵ Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

²⁶ Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.

²⁷ God is the Lord, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.

²⁸ Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.

²⁹ O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever.

 

 

Copyright 2013, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.