Our church in Lagoa was good to be in after a year away but before we enter I want to look at a flock of Ibis, where one stayed to be photographed! Last year this time I photographed one stork, this time they were much further away in large numbers.
Glossy Ibis was once rare but now is widespread. It is a dark, long-legged bird with a down curved bill. Its real colour is chestnut brown with a lovely shine. It thrives in coastal wetlands as it eats fish, frogs, insects and other acquatic creatures.
Now we will enter our church for the nativity play as it’s four days to Christmas.
Mary holds baby Jesus, Joseph realizes his responsibily to look after them both as he stands by her side. There are the angels, the shepherds, the wisemen. They are all there but it is Jesus we celebrate, the baby that learned to walk, the man who did what His Father asked Him to do, and for this was nailed by the Romans to a tree. He wasn’t on that tree long for He soon rose and now sits on the right hand of God where He speaks for us, covers us with His righteousness and leaves Satan defeated by our choice for Him.
‘ Therefore if any person be in Christ they are a new creature: old things are become new.’ This is Paul speaking to the Corinthians.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Then
‘ Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among people whereby we are saved.’
Paul writing in Acts 4:12.
Our Christ at Christmas.
From Lagoa, the town not by the sea, to Lagos with its enchanting coast. Let us look at a sweep of coast then the plants on an arch with a video of water moving under an arch.
The dark sky filled with rain yet sunshine on the stacks and a few people swimming in the bay.
The greens of these plants can only make one look again and again in admiration. I will find out their names, but not tonight.
Here that arch is but the focus is now on the water, that gentle movement of the sea on a day when it was sunny, then rainy then sunny again.
Our beaitiful world.
Take care,
Roy, Sandy and Bess.