Daily Photo Parable

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, February 19, 2026

This outdoor temperature sensor happens to be right next to a Camellia bush. The bushes provide some protection against direct sunlight on the sensor. The louvered shape of the housing also protects the sensor from the elements.

It makes me think about protection in our spiritual lives. Having recently attended a memorial service for a friend, we might wonder what it means to receive God’s protection. We still have troubles in this world that result in sickness and death. I like the following verses.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39

This seems to cover a lot when it says neither death nor life can separate us from the love of God. When we have that assurance that nothing can separate us, we can gather that true sense of protection that Jesus promises.

Certainly, we still want and pray for protection from evil while we live on this Earth. We still want the best for our family and neighbors. But having the knowledge of God’s eternal love gives us freedom to keep our temperature high in reflecting God’s love to others.

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Darren Milam
Wednesday, February 18, 2026

If you live in the Pacific Northwest, you’ve likely noticed how unusually warm the past few weeks have been. Even though winter officially began on December 21 and we are still very much in the heart of the cold season, the mild temperatures are already stirring signs of what’s to come. With this warmth, crocuses—like the one pictured—begin to emerge from their winter dormancy. Soon, their bright colors will start dotting open fields, parks, and flowerbeds.

For anyone familiar with gardening, or flowers in general, spring‑blooming crocuses (members of the iris family) are among the earliest bloomers of the year. They’re remarkably resilient, sometimes pushing up through snow if winter makes a brief return in late February or early March.

Of course, the timing of their arrival depends on location, climate, and the weather. Still, in general, you can count on these flowers to appear year after year. Their emergence is expected.

They remind me of something deeper—our faith, and the only expected arrival that truly matters: the return of Jesus. Do we know the exact day or hour He will return?

Matthew 24:42 answers that question for us, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come”

We don’t know the when or the where, yet we still believe in the arrival. We live with expectation—and that is a good thing.

John records the very words when Jesus addresses the promise.

John 13:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Now that is the true meaning of an “expected arrival.” Just as we can count on the spring‑blooming crocus to appear, we can also trust in the coming of our Heavenly Father. Amen!

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Robert Howson
Monday, February 16, 2026

There are certain inherent dangers in using human behavioral terminology to describe the activities of non-human creatures.  This is especially true if the word is less than precisely defined in the first place.  A great example of this is the word “play”.  What’s the connection between requiring Johnny to practice the piano for half an hour so he can learn to play when he’d rather be outside playing baseball or in his room playing a video game instead?  Or what’s the connection between individuals sitting down to play a game of chess and the Seahawks and 49ers playing for a divisional title?

An example of this is where Crested Guan are described as playfully chasing each other around in circles for a good hour or so, periodically switching roles with the chaser becoming the chasee.  These large gamebirds are believed to be anciently related to the mound builders of Australasia.  An arboreal species, they range from Mexico to the southern parts of Venezuela.  They are social birds which can be quite loud with their high-pitched calls, although it’s not clear to me whether these vocalizations are given when feeling threatened or when playing.  I suppose it could be either.

I like the notion that play should contain a certain amount of randomness; something done simply for the enjoyment it brings.  That, of course, might eliminate piano practice and NFL games, but I still like the idea.  This means when I am asked if I think God ever plays, I can answer with confidence, “Yes.  We call it creation.”  Then again, it does appear like creation required more than a heaping cupful of precision.  Oh well, I guess I should go outside and _______, and leave the creation business to God.

Photo ©2010 and Commentary ©2026 by Chuck Davis
Monday, February 16, 2026

Today’s image was captured near Lincoln City on the Oregon coast. It was just one of a series sea gull images that I captured that day.

Earlier this evening as I contemplated the thought-lesson that I wanted to draw from this photo, I thought of one of my good friends, a former co-worker. Last week he underwent surgery to repair a disc in his back. His recovery has been slow and painful. He is sleeping in a recliner because it is less painful that being in his bed.

I suspect that some who are reading this may also be struggling with pain in their life. I want to share the sentiment that I shared with Jim a few minutes ago. Whatever your circumstance, God is aware, and He is the Master Healer.

“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart” (Psalm 91:4 NIV). Be open to his presence.

I pray that you sense His healing arms hovering over you.

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, February 15, 2026

Some sights just bring an immediate smile, even if I don’t know what’s going on. Such was the case when we walked through a familiar neighborhood cul-de-sac last week and suddenly saw this front door, gift-wrapped in glossy red ribbon.

A For Sale sign had been posted in the front yard for a couple of weeks, and when we walked by in the evenings, the curtains were usually pulled wide open and lights were on, showing minimal, carefully-staged furniture. It looked like a house that had said good-bye to its inhabitants, and was waiting for another family to come make it a home again.

So I not only smiled when I saw this big red bow, I also felt like applauding – this must mean that the house had new owners! The For Sale sign was still out front, but would probably be taken down soon.

However, when we walked by the next day, all the red ribbon was gone, and the For Sale remained. That’s how it still is today. I puzzle over this. Had the ribbon actually been a sign of celebration? If so, was the celebration premature? Or is the house truly sold, and only a few formalities need to be cared for, and then the moving van will arrive?

I will need to wait and see. (Weightier matters occupy my mind, but small surmisings like this lighten the load for me!)

And yes, this makes me think of Jesus.

I think of what is perhaps the best-known “door verse” in Scripture:

Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me. (Revelation 3:20 NRSVA)

This is God, entreating. How He must rejoice every time we open the door and welcome Him in, inviting Him to make our home His own! Our heart responds to His great heart, and we give ourselves to the One who gave everything for us.

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Maylan Schurch
Friday and Sabbath, February 13 and 14, 2026

Earlier this week on a walk, I spotted this delightful bumper sticker. Notice how “ART” is printed to make it stand out? I don’t know who designed this, or how much they’re in tune with the idea that Earth has a Creator whose works emphatically proclaim Him an artist, but this five-letter announcement is one of the truest bumper-sticker statements I’ve ever seen.

Think of how the news, the national priorities, the podcasts, the libraries, the movies would change if everyone truly accepted the idea of a grand Designer!

And like any good art museum, God has gone to great lengths to give us information about His art and how much He loves it and wants us to care for it. Here are some quotes from His “art catalog,” at the link just below:

https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/creation-and-evolution

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, February 12, 2026

It has been fun to go outside this week when it is sunny to listen to bird songs. In winter, the local birds have a lot of cold rainy weather to endure. So when the weather turns nice, they seem to really cut loose with their songs.

Juncos in particular seem to be regulars around here along with Robins. I always marvel at how friendly the Juncos are. They seem to get along with other small birds, and they frequent this bird feeder with a built-in web cam.  The image is fuzzy due to the sun’s rays, but I think it gives the feel of the Junco’s boldness.

That may be a Junco’s superpower. It enters new situations looking for food and cautiously checks things out including people, as long as the people move slowly and show respect for them. So they might have a bit of an advantage for surviving.

This reminds me of the following verses.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5

It seems like ultimately when we love, it makes a lot of things work smoothly that otherwise would fall apart. So maybe we can make love our superpower.