Jewel # 309 (Jan. 20, 2018)

“And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I

make up MY JEWELS.”

(Malachi 3:17)

To my dear grandchildren

The Silky Anteater 

“Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually.

Remember His marvellous works."

(1 Chronicles 16:11-12)

The silky anteater lives in the forests of southern Mexico and down through Central and South America.  It is very small—only about the size of a squirrel—but has a long, furry tail that makes it look somewhat larger.  Its little body has honey-coloured fur, and it has a rather pretty face, with round, black eyes and a pointed snout ending in a pinkish nose.

In securing its food, composed of termites and ants, teeth would be of no value.  Instead, the Creator has provided it with a pointed nose and a long sticky, tongue which it pokes into the nests of these insects and pulls them out in great quantities.

Besides being smaller than its relatives, the silky anteater is also a tree-climber, whereas the larger anteaters spend their lives on the ground.  To aid in tree climbing, it has been given an extra joint on both hind feet, enabling its toes to bend around a tree branch for a good, strong grip—another provision of the Creator to help its food-searching activities.  It also has a prehensile tail (a grasping tail similar to a monkey’s) which it uses to suspend itself head downward.  Then it can use its strong front claws to tear bark off a tree, where it usually finds food.  This special tail also may work like an extra hand, helping it to hold tightly to a tree.

Silky is a night worker and spends daylight hours curled up in a nest of dry leaves in a hollow tree trunk.  She’ll leave her one tiny baby in this nest while she forages for food.  She nurses the baby for a shot period but then feeds it on digested insects which she regurgitates, until soon the little one is able to scramble around and find its own food.

Because these animals hunt only at night and hide in the daytime, they rarely encounter enemies.  But when they do, they defend themselves by rearing up on hind legs and slashing their opponent with the long, sharp claws of their front feet.

Do you think God takes note of this obscure little creature?  The exceptional provisions for its way of life tell us that He certainly does!  We are further assured by the Bible verse that says, “In whose hand is the life of every living thing” (Job 12:10).  Another verse states, “The eyes of all wait upon Thee; and Thou givest them their food in due season" (Psalm 145:15).

How much greater is His love for you and me!  He not only takes care of our daily needs, 

but also He has prepared a home in heaven for all who will accept His Son, 

the Lord Jesus Christ, as their Saviour.

Have you done this?

Love you all - Grandpa       

Jewel # 308 (Jan. 15, 2018)

“And they shall be Mine, saith, the Lord of hosts, in that day when I

make up My Jewels.”

(Malachi 3:17)

To my dear grandchildren

The Nile Catfish - Camouflage in the Sea

“God does great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.”

(Job 9:10)

Around coral reefs and other areas of the oceans where sunlight penetrates, many fish would be easy targets for larger fish, mammals and birds unless protected in some was. So God has given them camouflage for protection.

An example of this is the ten-inch bright-red sea dragon, living in the red seaweed along Australian shores.  it looks quite similar to the sea horse.  The sea dragon is a poor swimmer and would be devoured quickly by larger fish except that the Creator has given it an interesting disguise.  Not only is it helped by its red colour, but also it has been given wedlock growths all over its oddly shaped body including its head, chin, back and stoic.  This makes it look like a seaplane with new leaves sprouting on it

In South America and the Philippines there are also several small fish that both look and act like leaves of the mangrove tree that grows there.  One fish, almost as thin as a leaf, swims on its side near the surface and moves about as slowly as a drifting leaf while it fins morsels of food here and there.

The Nile Catfish is the only known fish that swims upside down, just the opposite of other fish.  Their backs are light-coloured and bodies are dark—thus they are safely camouflaged.

Flounders, that are common around North American and European shores, can change colour match the bottom the bay as they slowly swing along the bottom.  The same is true of several fish which live around Bermuda.  They can change colour almost instantly when swimming over different coloured parts of the ocean floor.

Sponge crabs look ordinary enough but cover themselves with sea sponge, which, which they cut with their claws to make a oat over their backs.  As the crab grows, the sponge does the same.  Or if the sponge dies, the crab just gets rid of it and cuts another one to fit.

Another variety, the decorator crab, will often cover itself with bits of coral or limestone or certain sea plants.  To other secreters it just looks like seaweed drifting by.

None of these amazing creature arranged for its unusual camouflage not did it happen gradually over a long time.  The Bible, which always tells the truth, says, “God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life” (Genesis 1:20).  Another verse speaking of God, says, “He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. . . . He does great things past finding out” (Job 9:4,10)

It is good to read the Bible every day, and when you do, ask the Lord Jesus to make it all plain and helpful to you.  He will be pleased to have you do this.

Love you all - Grandpa  

Jewel # 307 (Jan. 8th, 2018)

“They shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I 

make up MY JEWELS.”

(Malachi 3:17)

To my dear Grandchildren

The Slippery Eels   (Part 2)

“They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

these see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep.”

(Psalm 107:23-24)

Besides the eels that can be eaten, which we looked at previously, there are many other kinds, some of which are large and vicious.  Lets consider three of these marine eels.

Conger eels and moray eels do not migrate.  Both are found in warm waters off the coast of California, Mexico and parts of Europe.  Even though some are as long as eight feet, they live their entire lives in crevices of rocks or coral deep in the ocean.  They hide there until a victim comes within reach of their jaws, which which have strong, sharp teeth.  These creatures will attack almost anything that is small enough for them to eat.  Underwater divers are often startled by suddenly coming across one one of these eels, but they do not bother humans unless irritated.

In spring, the three-foot-long lamprey eels travel from saltwater to freshwater to lay their eggs.  A pair swims many miles up mountain streams until shallow water is reached.  The male leaves the female and explores the stream bottom.  When he finds a suitable spot, he removes stones from the bottom with his sucking mouth and takes them to the shoreline.  Soon he has exposed a smooth, sandy bottom where the female lays her eggs and the male fertilizes them.  Then they both swim upstream, busily picking up and moving stones around, deliberately stirring up the sand which drifts downstream and covers the eggs.

After hatching, the young eels remain in the stream for four or five years, and then they swim out to the ocean or large lake.  In their new surroundings, each one seeks out a victim—usually a large fish.

The young eel does not have jaws but has a large sucker mouth, armed with sharp teeth and a rough, cutting tongue.  Attaching to the fish’s side with its suction mouth, it uses its sharp teeth and rough tongue to make a wound deep enough for blood to flow.  It will remain attached to the fish sometimes for days, sucking out the blood until the fish dies.  Then it finds another victim.

These repulsive creatures remind us of Satan.  The Bible warns us to beware, lest “through his subtlety. . .your minds should be corrupted” (2 Corinthians 11:3).  It is our sins that make us an easy victim of that evil one, but a gracious God warns us to “flee from the wrath to come” (Matthew 3:7) and turn to the Saviour who "is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him”  (Hebrews 7:25). 

Do you realize that you are a sinner under Satan’s power, and have you accepted the loving invitation to find a shelter in the Saviour?

Love you all - Grandpa