Author Archives: Stu Branston

‘Gray Hair’ photo by Reny Jose on Unsplash. Do you have gray hair or hairs? Rejoice! Your gray hair, according to a scripture found in Proverbs 16:31, is a Crown of Splendor!!! ‘Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.’  Have you ever heard that scripture?  I started getting grayContinue reading “CROWN OF SPLENDOR!!!”

‘Hairy Frogfish’ photo by Richard Zerpe CC BY-SA 2.0. Look at the photo above.  Can you see the frogfish eyes, its mouth, and recognize the lure lying in wait on its head?   This fish is a visual MESS!!!  But the mess serves it well!  This helps it hide in the coral reefs.  It can also change color to match theContinue reading “FROGFISH!”

 ‘Purple Beautyberry Bush’ photo by Derek Ramsey CC BY-SA 2.5.          Last spring, my wife bought a beautyberry bush.  (See photo above.)  We can see it out our dining room window!  The berries are ‘jewel like’ and grow in clusters all over the branches.They look delicious, but unfortunately, although they are edible, they have an astringent taste. (They willContinue reading “BEAUTYBERRY BUSH!!!”

‘Cattail’ photo by Chicago Camera Slinger on Unsplash.   I’ve always been fascinated by cattails!  How about you?  (See photo above).  You grab the soft brown seed head, which looks like a cat’s tail, squish it and out comes an average of 220,000 seeds in a cottony fluff!  Each seed is connected to a fine bristly hair that helps it flyContinue reading “THE CATTAIL!!!”

 ‘Diabolical Ironclad Beetle’ photo by Jen CCO Via Wikimedia. Stand up straight and tall!  You are (by faith), indestructible!  There is a beetle that carries that message to you!  It is called, the ‘Diabolical Ironclad Beetle’!  ‘Diabolical because it is ‘wild, crazy and over-the-top!  It’s a ‘tiny tank on six legs’!  You can run over it with a car andContinue reading “INDESTRUCTIBLE!!!”

Illinois River from Pine Ridge Club House photo by Kris!    My wife and I were staying in a cabin near the Illinois River in Oklahoma.  We decided to explore!  We drove up a hill and came upon a turn off road named Pine Ridge Club House.It wasn’t private, so we climbed the stairs to the deck.  The viewContinue reading “IN HIM!!!”

‘Tree Hopper’ photo by Sam J. England CC BY 3.0. The ‘Treehopper’ species (See photo above), is called both ‘beautiful and bizarre’. There are 3,000 known species of this bug and some are beautiful. It is estimated that there are 10,000 more species yet unidentified! Each species is unique! Some are very beautiful and some,Continue reading “BEAUTIFUL & BIZARRE!”

‘Roger the Waterdog’ photo by Glen Wooldridge! Roger is a water dog! He takes great joy doing what he was made to do, jump in the water and fetch an object (usually game). (See photo above). He has webbed feet and a water resistant coat. I watched him run and jump off the dock atContinue reading “ROGER!”

  Musk Ox photo by Frida Lanniers on Unsplash. ‘But ask the animals, and they will teach you.’  Job 12:7.So will the Musk Ox.  They’ve been in existence since the last Ice Age!Their message has always been the same, ‘let me show you how to defend yourself.’Gather everyone in a circle facing outward like weContinue reading “CIRCLE THE WAGONS!”

Shutterstock image. ‘There are joys that long to be ours.  God sends 10,000 truths which come to us like birds seeking inlet; but we are shut up to them, so they bring us nothing, but sit and sing upon the roof, and then fly away.’The quote above is from the intro to my blog.  ItContinue reading “THE BODY!”

My wife and I found a centipede in our bathroom today!  Hence this post!  We put it back outside where it belongs.  Watch out, they can bite you!  I let it crawl inside a used toilet paper tube to give it transportation to its home.  Centipedes and millipedes are ‘myriapods’ from the Greek word forContinue reading “HENOSIS! (Geek for unity).”

“What big ears you have, grandma! All the better to hear you with, my dear!”Little Red Riding Hood was right!  And so are you if you said the same thing to this ‘Long Eared Jerboa’ pictured above!  It has the longest ears relative to its size in the entire animal kingdom!!! It is a reminderContinue reading “HEAR, HERE!”

  ‘Hornbill Bird’ photo by Lip Kee Yap Singapore CC SA 2.0. God is GOOD!  He has provided us with an abundance of metaphors about how we should live! The Hornbill bird pictured above is another metaphor that shows us what true devotion (with a capital D) looks like!  The male’s devotion to its mate isContinue reading “DEVOTION WITH A CAPITAL ‘D’!”

Chong Chen, Katsuyuki Uematsu, Katrin Linse & Julia D. Sigwart, CC BY 4.0 There is a rare, extraordinary snail deep in the ocean that is an example for us all!!!It is called the ‘Scaly-Foot Snail, or Volcano Snail. (See photo above).  It lives (and thrives) in deep-sea hydrothermal vents where the water temperature can reach 750Continue reading “EXTRAORDINARY ARMOR!”

Do you realize that your eyes have over two million working parts? That your eye contains around 107 million light sensitive cells?That it contains 7 million cones which help you see color and detail?That is contains 100 million rods which help you see better in the dark?Each eye is connected to the brain by more thanContinue reading “MIRACLE EYE!”

‘Butterfly Cocoon’ photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash.                                             Don’t you hate it when you try to do something good and it backfires!  We are only human!  Thank God we serve a God who doesn’t make mistakes, whose good intentions don’t backfire.Are you one of those people who saw a butterfly trying desperately to release itselfContinue reading “LET GO AND LET GOD!”

 ‘Swans and Babies’ photo by Rakugo, CC BY 2.0. Can you believe that the photo above holds the secret of life???People often ask, ‘What am I doing here?  What is the meaning of life?’This is THE question.‘Swan and Babies’ shows you a simple metaphor!  A baby swan is born with brown or dark gray feathers. Continue reading “SECRET!”

   ‘Gibbon Monkey photo by Charles J. Sharp CC BY-SA 4.0. Did you know that there are animals and critters that live their entire lives in the canopy of trees? They are called arboreal animals!  Each has special adaptations for tree-top-living.  Some, like the gibbon monkey, (See photo above), have extra-long arms that allow them toContinue reading “ARBOREAL PEACE!”

Happy and blessed Easter! Our Savior has risen!!! Enjoy a re-post of one of my favorite posts!   Photo by MRB The Amaryllis Belladonna pictured above, is a perfect, God given metaphor of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!!! Here is a plant that grows a giant cluster of leaves in the early spring. Continue reading “AMARYLLIS BELLADONNA!”

   ‘Dynamite Tree’ on Saint John CC BY 2.0. Did you know there is a tree called ‘The Dynamite Tree?  Referred to on various websites as ‘The most deadly tree in the world’, ‘ A tree built to kill’ and a ‘Tree that wants you dead!’   (See photo above). The tree bark is covered withContinue reading “DYNAMITE!!!”

 ‘Crater Lake Oregon’ photo by Elvis Spaddy on Unsplash.   Isn’t it true that you greatly prefer to look at and swim in beautiful, crystal-clear blue water?  It seems to be a universal preference that’s interesting to think about!  Look at the photo above of Crater Lake in Oregon.  This lake is a ‘Geological Wonder’!  Its’Continue reading “CRYSTAL BLUE WATER!”

  ‘Kiss Your Pet’ photo from PxHere.                               Isn’t God astounding.  He cares for even the smallest, seemingly insignificant things, even your family dog!  (See photo above).  ‘His eye is on the sparrow’, the words of the famous hymn come from Matthew 6:25-26.  Jesus said, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,Continue reading “BLESSING!!!”

‘Snow’ photo by MrB. A Flake and a Smile ‘Snow’, exclaimed the old ladyWith a dried apple faceAnd no teeth A part of usNever grows old It peeks throughThe wrinkled veil A glimpse of whoWe really are.  MRB                                      An old woman got out of her car in the Reasor’s grocery store parking lot, held outContinue reading “SNOW!!! (It’s Snowing in Tulsa)!”

  ‘Devil’s Hole’ photo by USFW is CC 2.0. Can you imagine the joy you would have if you found water in the middle of the Mohave Desert! It’s there in the form of a fissure in the rocks only 6 feet wide and 16 feet long!  This opening leads to a vast cavern overContinue reading “GOD’S OASIS!”

‘Panther Chameleon’ photo from PxHere. I had to include this stupendous Panther Chameleon in my blog, also rightly called a Rainbow Chameleon for its vibrant colors!  (See photo above.). This amazing critter can change its colors in response to its mood, temperature, stress or environment.  They can be vibrant blue, red, green, or orange.  YouContinue reading “IT’S A RAINBOW!!!”

 Photo by Janko Ferlic on Upsplash  God invented birth!  He designed humans to be born in a very specific way.  I believe that if we really think about the whole process of birth, we can ‘hear’ what God is telling us. I believe that He is giving us a tangible example and warning regarding theContinue reading “BIRTH!”

  ‘Wrap Around Spider’ photo by Zleng. CC BY 2.0. What do you do to protect yourself and your family?  We can learn something from the ‘Wrap Around Spider’ who goes to extremes to protect itself!  (See photo above).  Its underside is concave which allows it to wrap itself around a twig so tightly that noContinue reading “WRAP AROUND!”

 ‘Marble Berry’ photo by Tim Harris CC BY 4.0. Have you ever seen such a beautiful, shiny berry?  (See photo above).  Actually, the marble berry, found in the forested regions of Africa, is ‘the brightest natural object in the world’!  (My Modern Net).  Its iridescent blue color is created from spirally stacked cellulose microfibers inContinue reading “MARBLE BERRY!”

‘Gardenia Bush’ photo by David J. Stang CC BY-SA 4.0. You smell good!!!             IF! If you are a Christian!  ‘For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved and in them that perish.’  2 Corinthians 2:15. KJV. Definition: Savor: to enjoy or appreciate something pleasant completely!And we thought GardeniasContinue reading “SWEET SAVOR!”

‘Pangolin’ photo by John Singh A.J.T. WWF India and CC BY-SA 4.0.                               (See photo above!)  I’d never seen anything like this prehistoric critter!It has a lot of tricks up its sleeve!  It has muscles that can turn each scale separately, pointing the sharp edge of the scale toward a would-be predator.  It can rollContinue reading “PANGOLIN FACINATION!!!”

Did you ever wonder why the leaves of trees turn such beautiful colors in the Fall? Photo by Ricardo Gomez on Unsplash. The leaves are experiencing death and it’s beautiful.The tree itself lives to see another day. So it is with us!  Our outer self, our physical body will die, but our spirit will liveContinue reading “The Sting of Death!”

  ‘Artichoke’ photo from PxHere Do you love artichokes like I do?  (See photo above).  You boil or steam them and peel the layers, dipping them in melted butter or mayonnaise and scraping the meat off the leaf with your teeth.   Layer after layer, it just keeps getting better.  Finally, you reach the center, the heartContinue reading “THE ARTICHOKE YOU!!!”

    ‘Bombardier Beetle’ photo by xpda, own work, CC BY-SA 4.0. The proof of the existence of God is in its rear end???  The Bombardier Beetle is found worldwide with the exception of Antarctica.  Its habitat includes moist woodlands, grasslands and leaf litter.  (Have any of that in your backyard?)  Then chances are they’ve moved in.  If you find one orContinue reading “BOMBARDIER BEETLE!!!”

  ‘The Hope Diamond’ photo by Jyothis at Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0. ‘Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.’  Actually, the message they contain is a far better friend!Diamonds are extremely rare!  And extremely beautiful.  You can blame the People of India for first discovering and mining diamonds 6000 years ago! Diamonds are formed deep in the earth from carbon under intense heatContinue reading “DIAMONDS!!!!!”

  ‘School of Goldband Fusilier’ photo by Broken Inglory CC BY-SA 3.0. Well, at least it is underwater!  Have you ever seen a school of fish?  It is beautiful and mesmerizing to watch!  A school of fish is a group of fish of the same species that swim tightly together in the same direction, in a highly synchronized manner.  This processContinue reading “SCHOOL’S OPEN!”

                                       ‘Wombat’ photo by Charles J. Sharp.  CC BY-SA 4.0. What animal excretes cubed poop, defends itself with its butt, has a rear facing pouch, never has to go to the dentist and can run as fast as you can?   You guessed it!  The Wombat!!The wombat is native to Australia.  It weighs 60-80 pounds and lives in burrows.  It is anContinue reading “WOMBAT!!!”

‘The Happiest Animal on Earth!’   ‘Quokka’ photo by Albert F. Vontz on Unsplash.  Did you know that according to the WWF Australia (World Wildlife Fund) there are 20,000 selfies with Quokka on Instagram?  (#quokkaspiration.)  Celebrities like Matt Damon travel all the way to Australia, just to get a selfie!  Why?  Because they wear a permanent smile and areContinue reading “THE QUOKKA!!!”

‘Sand Dunes’ Death Valley photo by Tuxyso.  Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0. Jesus uses rock and sand from The Book of Nature in a metaphor to emphasize the value of building your life on the solid foundation of God’s word!  He says,  ‘Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like aContinue reading “SAND!”

‘The Red – Lipped Bat Fish photo by Rein Ketelaals CC BY-SA 2.0. The Red – Lipped Bat Fish is one weird, amazing fish!  Look at those bright red lips!!  According to Ocean Conservancy, ‘scientists aren’t totally sure why they have their signature red mouth’!  They certainly got my attention and perhaps that is their purpose because withinContinue reading “THE RED-LIPPED BAT FISH!”

                  ‘What a Pain’ photo by MRB. It’s called the ‘curse’ in England.  The derivation of the word ‘curse’ is probably from a misreading of the Genesis account regarding what God said to Eve in response to her disobedience in the Garden of Eden; To the woman he said, ‘I will make your pains in childbearing veryContinue reading “FOR WOMEN ONLY!”

  ‘Ruby Beach Washington’ by Landscapes in The West is Public Domain 1.0. Ocean waves crashing on the rocks are mesmerizing.  Relentless in their pursuit of the rocks.  Constant, like your own breathing or heartbeat.  I was blessed to grow up in Seattle with access to places like ‘Ruby Beach’ shown in the photo above.  It features ‘seaContinue reading “WONDERFULLY MADE!!”

   ‘Joshua Tree’ photo by William Garrett on PxHere. CC BY 2.0. The Joshua Tree is not really a tree!  It is rumored that it was named by 19th century Mormon’s who thought the outstretched branches of the tree led them through the desert just like Joshua in the bible was led by God.  ‘After the deathContinue reading “JOSHUA TREE!”

‘Shark’ photo by Gerald Schombs on Upsplash. The OMINIOUS great white shark can weigh more than 5000 pounds!!! Did you know that it can never stop moving?  It is part of a species known as ‘obligate ram- ventilators’.  If it stops moving, water will not be forced into its gills, and it will die! What a lesson for us!  In the wordsContinue reading “KEEP MOVING!”

Photo by MRB. The Amaryllis Belladonna pictured above, growing in my backyard is a perfect, God given metaphor of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!!! I decided to re-post Amaryllis Belladonna, one of my favorite and most meaningful devos on this Easter day of 2025. Enjoy and rejoice on this special day for HeContinue reading “AMARYLLIS BELLADONNA!”

Hedgehog’ photo by Ratapan Anantaw on Unsplash                                                                                                    Hedgehogs ‘self- anoint’!!!  These adorable, cute, loveable? little animals weigh 2-3 pounds and are only 7-9 inches long.  Their little bodies hold up to 6000 quills!  If disturbed or frightened, the hedgehog curls into a tight ball with the spines sticking out in all directions.  They have a muscle that runsContinue reading “SELF-ANOINTED!”

     ‘House Fly’ by vd-photography on Unsplash. Don’t you just love houseflies?  WRONG!!!  Buzzing around your head, getting on your food and (almost) wrecking your picnic.  And all the time you are thinking about where they came from.  My wife and I attended a country church for a time.  They invited us to a church potluck picnic at aContinue reading “LOVE THOSE FLIES?”

 Blackberries by J. Bower is licensed under CC BY- NC-ND 2.0 To get to the prize, you have to endure the thorns! Black Berries are everywhere in Seattle!  (See photo above.)  As Ann Dornfield from KUOW wrote, ‘In Seattle, blackberries are as much a part of the view as the Puget Sound. I mean, there isContinue reading “THE PRIZE!”

 Tongue photo by form on PxHere.   Your tongue is quite the explorer!  It can find a single eyelash in your mouth or find some irritating new chip or hole in your teeth and drive you crazy!  That is because, according to the ‘National Library of Medicine’, ‘the tip of the tongue is the part of the bodyContinue reading “THE EXPLORER!”

‘Redwood Trees’ photo by Victoria Palicios on Unsplash The redwood tree is the tallest tree on earth.  Your local coast redwood tree can grow to 300 feet or more, yet its root system is only 6 to 12 feet deep.  Redwoods create the strength to withstand powerful winds and floods by extending their roots more than 50Continue reading “THOSE MAGNIFICENT REDWOODS!”

Photo by MRB.Since Tulsa is covered with a beautiful layer of snow, I decided to repost ‘Snow’!!! A Flake and a Smile (A poem by MRB). ‘Snow’, exclaimed the old lady With a dried apple faceAnd no teeth A part of us Never grows old It peeks through The wrinkled veilA glimpse of whoWe really are.                                An old woman got out of herContinue reading “SNOW!”

Dandelion photo by MRB Most everyone loves light.  They are thankful for it.  Light brings life to this physical world.  Without light, there would be no life.  Plants know this!  You’ve seen them bend around a corner, desperate to reach the light like the dandelions above.   What’s the first thing you do when you enter a dark room?  You turn onContinue reading “LIGHT!”