homeschool - Finding God Daily

Finding God in Hummingbirds

November 19, 2012 by Finding God Daily Leave a Comment

In the article, “The Secret Lives of Hummingbirds” (Fall, 2012 issue of National Parks magazine), author Kelly Bastone describes some fascinating details about these tiny aerialists. After reading the article I realized I was finding God in hummingbirds.

This species should be the most scrutinized creatures on Earth. They swoop backwards, straight up and down, and even side to side at speeds of 30 miles per hour. (See the phenomenal video below. Amazing videography captured the movement of hummingbirds.)

“They’re the only birds that truly hover, their tiny wings beating up to 220 times a second. But migratory details about hummingbird populations still remain a mystery,” according to Bastone, “In 2002, the Hummingbird Monitoring Network (HMN) started a coordinated program to track the birds’ comings and goings and better understand this continental phenomenon.”

Dennis Dreves, writing on the website AnswersinGenesis.org, shares that in Romans 1:20 in the Bible it says:

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse”—if they do not believe.

Job 12:7 and 9 says:

But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; . . .Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?

Dreves says:

“The hummingbird is a very good example of the evidence for God as Creator . . . all the hummingbird’s features would have to work perfectly from the beginning for it to have survived—long bill, special tongue, unique rapid wing-beat—in order to be able to gather its highly efficient energy food. The migratory behavior—energy storage, flight endurance, long distance navigation—must also have been perfect from the beginning so the adults could reach their nesting grounds and return with their young. I cannot doubt the hand of God the Creator in the design of this remarkable creature. Truly the hummingbird is ‘God’s tiny miracle.’

Finding God in hummingbirds seems easy enough when we consider all these amazing and compact characteristics.

Enjoy this informative and incredible YouTube video from filmmaker Ann Prum who describes the “breakthrough science and latest technologies that allowed her and the crew to reveal incredible new insights about these aerial athletes.”

©Karen O’Connor. Karen is an author, writing mentor, and frequent contributor to the Finding God Daily blog. Visit Karen on the web at www.karenoconnor.com, on Facebook or follow on Twitter: @karenoconnor

Filed Under: Science Tagged With: finding God, homeschool, hummingbirds, Karen O'Connor, science

Find God in the Work of Clara Barton and the Red Cross

October 11, 2012 by Finding God Daily 1 Comment

By Karen O’Connor:

Clara Barton Image from Wikipedia

Clara Barton, the ‘angel of the battlefield,’ as many referred to the founder of the Red Cross, was a woman ahead of her time.

When Clara saw a need, she did what she could to meet it as soon possible. For example, even her home outside Washington, DC, was run primarily as a warehouse, with shelves, closets, and other storage spaces to hold supplies for the Red Cross.

She was always prepared for the calls for help that followed disasters. This selfless life-style and point of view makes it easy to find God in the work of Clara Barton and the Red Cross.

Her work started during the Civil War. Clara asked permission of the War Department to go directly to the battlefield, to bring much needed medical supplies to the wounded soldiers. No unmarried woman had ever done such a thing.

It was out of the question—at first. But Clara Barton did not take no for an answer. She pursued her goal until she received a yes from Colonel Daniel Rucker. Equipped with six wagons loaded with food, medicine, blankets, water, and other supplies, Clara Barton was bound to serve her country. And that’s what she did.

Then in 1877, after observing the Red Cross in Geneva, Switzerland, she wrote to Louis Appia, head of the Red Cross in that city, asking for permission to start the American Red Cross. In accord with her own deep desire to help others in need and Christ’s command to take care of our brothers and sisters, Clara Barton sacrificed personal comfort to bring healing and comfort to others.

Although she did not identify herself as a person who trusted Christ as Savior, she does stand as a role model for volunteerism. How many of us would go to the battlefields as she did, risking our own lives to comfort and heal others?

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 7:12 the Bible).

Enjoy this informative and inspiring YouTube video on Clara Barton and the Red Cross.

©Karen O’Connor. Karen is an author, writing mentor, and frequent contributor to the Finding God Daily blog. Visit Karen on the web at www.karenoconnor.com, on Facebook or follow on Twitter: @karenoconnor

Filed Under: In History Tagged With: Civil War, Clara Barton, history, homeschool, Karen O-Connor, Red Cross

Finding God in the Eye of Africa

February 28, 2012 by Finding God Daily Leave a Comment

By Dianne E. Butts:

Photo of the Richat Structure from Wikipedia and the NASA Earth Observatory

This large circular formation in the western Sahara Desert might have some people finding God in the Eye of Africa.

Also known as the Richat Structure, and to some as the Eye of the Sahara, the Eye of Africa is a formation more than 30 miles in diameter. It was not discovered until astronauts saw it in early space missions. It is located in central Mauritania near Ouadane.

Because it is so symmetrically circular, it was first thought to be an impression from a meteorite strike. However scientists now believe the formation is a natural upheaval of the land revealed by erosion. According to the article accompanying the above photo, the Eye of Africa became a landmark for space shuttle crews.

While the Eye of Africa may be staring into space from earth, we know that the eyes of God watch over the happenings on earth from heaven. Second Chronicles 16:9 tells us:

“The eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

When God looks down from heaven on you, will He find your heart fully committed to him? If you answer yes, it’s possible you’re finding God in the Eye of Africa.

©Dianne E. Butts. Dianne is a freelance writer, screenwriter, and author of the book Deliver Me. You can visit Dianne at www.DianneEButts.com and on Twitter as @DianneEButts.

Enjoy this lovely video, Earth as Art in 1080p , showing earth’s geographical wonders in landsat images (satellite views). This includes the Richat Structure (from 1:36 to the 2:00 mark) from SpaceRip. Also see details about the photo used in this post, plus other shots from space, at the NASA Earth Observatory.