Jewel # 334 (September 25, 2018)

The Round-tailed Ground Squirrel

“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 Round-Tailed Ground Squirrel

“The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

There are over 80 varieties of squirrels throughout the world, and most live in trees.  But today we will look at one that lives on the ground—the round-tailed ground squirrel.

These are quiet little animals that live in the hot, dry deserts where few other animals can survive. Unlike their bushy-tailed cousins, they are plain-looking with long round tails.  Their light brown fur is soft and smooth and kept clean by frequent licking.

As the Lord God has done for all His creatures, the ground squirrels are well-matched for their surroundings.  Their legs are long with feet that have sharp, tough claws.  Special hairy soles on their feet help them move over loose sand.  Equipped like this, their front feet can rapidly dig tunnels a foot deep, with their back feet kicking out the sand that accumulates.

When a hawk, coyote, fox or snake appears, our little friend scurries into the nearest available hole, even if it belongs to another animal.  As it scurries, it lets out sharp squeals, and the whole colony takes shelter.

The young, sometimes a dozen, are born in March or April.  Growing rapidly, they soon leave the underground nest to live on their own in the desert.

At the start of winter, this fat, plump squirrel hibernates in its underground home, curling into a ball with its tail curled over its body.  If you could see one, you might think it was dead.  But this winter sleep of several months, without needing food or water, is the Creator’s way of protecting it when it would otherwise die from the cold and lack of food.  They awaken in the spring and soon pop up from their burrows.  Now thin and hungry, their main interest is finding food, and they soon fatten up on new plant growth.  In fact, they often eat so much that they can barely get back into their burrows.

The Bible tells us we can learn from the animals (See Job 12:7).  The lesson we can learn from this squirrel is to get away quickly from danger and into a hiding place.  King David said, “Thou Lord art my hiding place” (Psalm 32:7).  Yes, He is a secure place of safety from the attacks of Satan, who wants to lead us into danger and trouble by tempting us with things that are not pleasing to God.  The wise instruction of the Bible is this: “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.  Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away” (Proverbs 4:14-15).

The only way we can do this is by knowing the Lord Jesus as our Saviour and looking to Him for help.

Is He your hiding place?            

Love you all - Grandpa 

Jewel # 333 (September 16, 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

Beneficial Blackbirds

“I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are Mine.”

(Psalm 50:11)

Millions of blackbirds are found in parts of Europe, as well as the 15 different kinds found throughout Canada and the United States.  The most numerous and perhaps the prettiest are the red-winged black birds.  They get their name from the male blackbirds, which have shoulder feathers tipped with bright red and yellow.  The rest of their bodies are mostly black.

The eastern red-winged blackbirds live from the Rocky Mountains east to the Atlantic Ocean. The San Diego, Rio Grande and Nevada redwings live west of the Rockies.  

Redwings nest in large groups in swamps, in marshes and in cattails or tall grass.  Nests are usually made of mud, plant fibres and grass, with small twigs woven in.  They are lined with soft material such as moss, soft leaves and feathers.

Farmers like blackbirds, not only because of their pleasant calls, but mainly because they eat weed seeds and many harmful insects.  Some insects they eat are too big to swallow whole, so the bird will hook it on a sharp thorn and dispose of it in smaller bites.

Large flocks often gather in open fields, spreading out to find seeds and insects.  As they all move forward those in the back soon discover that nothing is left for them, and they take off, flying over those in front, landing just ahead of them and finding plenty to eat.  When the others in the back find nothing left, they will fly ahead and begin feeding in a new part of the field.  This goes on until the field has been cleaned.  Then the flock will fly to another feeding area.

In some parts of North America, some redwings migrate in the fall to warm winter climates, while others remain behind.  Those remaining are okay as long as the winter is mild, but, sad to say, many do not survive when severe cold sets in.  It is mostly the females that migrate; the tougher males merely wait for their return in the spring—if they survive until then.

Birds of every kind form an important part of God’s creation, and the Bible often refers to His care over them.  But His love and care for us is far greater.  King David said, “How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God!” (Psalm 139:17).  In another place he said, “Show me Thy ways, O Lord; teach me Thy paths.  Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me: for Thou art the God of my salvation” (Psalm 25:4-5).  He will show His love and kindness to all who pray to Him in that way.

Have you ever asked the Lord to teach you and lead you?

Love you all -  Grandpa

Jewel # 332 (September 8, 2018)

Morpho Butterfly      

Dead-Leaf Butterfly

“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 World of Insects (Part 2)

“God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.”

(1 Corinthians 1:27)

Many books have been written about the unusual features of the world's 600,000 varieties of insects. The beetle that eats cork, glue, mustard plasters and certain medicines is called the drugstore beetle.  Some unusual beetles have unusual names.

There are other unusual insects besides beetles.  One of the most beautiful insects is the morpho butterfly, which is covered with a million tiny, coloured scales on each wing.  Another unusual insect is the water strider that skims over water—its middle legs work like oars, the hind legs act like rudders, and the front legs are free to catch its prey.  It has been given air-filled “shoes” made of hair that allow it to float.

Another resident of ponds is the brown water bug.  The one grasps other water insects in a hug of death while its sharp beak draws out the victim’s blood.  When the female is ready to lay her eggs, she grips her mate tightly and glues the eggs onto his back.  Then she leaves him to incubate them in the sun for many days, until the young hatch.

God has made some insects experts at camouflage.  The ambush bug is so well hidden by its green and yellow colours that it cannot be seen until it moves.  The dead-leaf butterfly is easily seen when flying, but it looks like a dead leaf when resting.  The long-horned grasshopper has wings that look like leaves that have been partly eaten away.  There is one variety of the walking stick which has a green-brown body with red, thorn-like growths that make it look like part of a bramble bush.

Certainly insects are among “the weak things of the world” that confound “the mighty.”  How good to know that "God made . . . everything that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:25).  Each one was given every perfect detail at the moment He created it.

He made a much greater joy when He brought mankind into the world, for He had his heart of love set on each of us even before the world was made!  How sad that many have not responded to that love nor realized that their sins made it necessary for the Saviour to die on Calvary.  There He bore the sins of all who will admit their guilt and put their trust in Him.  How wonderful of God to provide such a way of salvation!

Have you accepted His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as your Saviour?

Love you all - Grandpa