Jewel # 363 (May 30, 2019)

Doberman Pinscher

German Shepherd

“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 

Some Helpful Dogs

“They are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving  to slumber.”

(Isaiah 56:10)

George Washington had a beautiful home overlooking the Potomac River where he kept riding horses, a small flock of sheep and some Doberman Pinscher dogs.  The dogs were not just pets; they were also guards of the valuable property.

Dobermans, as well as German Shepherds, are still excellent police dogs.   They are highly intelligent and can be trained for police work.  Some city police departments have as many as two dozen or more for emergency work.

Both kinds of dogs are considered top performers for police work; however, the Dobermans are preferred where summer heat is a problem, since they don’t have thick coats of the German Shepherds.  They are trained by experts while still pups.  When older they are put in the charge of a policeman or guard with whom they will live and develop a strong, friendly bond.  The dogs don’t mix with other people or other dogs and have deep loyalty to their master.

One kind of work for a policeman and his dog is to patrol department stores or the other businesses during night hours.  They go through each floor.  The dog is on a long leash, held by his human partner, and goes behind each counter and mannequin—paying attention only to what may be hidden behind them.

The dog’s keen sense of smell immediately detects a thief who may think he is well hidden.  Moving close to him, the dog growls fiercely with its strong teeth exposed, until his master, sizing up the situation, may command “Watch him!”  The dog will guard the thief while the policeman calls on his short-wave radio for back up help.  If the thief tries to escape, the dog will quickly move in and cause him to change his mind, but will not harm him otherwise.

But this isn’t the only service the dogs do when in these buildings.  As they move from place to place, the dogs sharp sense of hearing and keen sense of smell may lead the policeman to some piece of equipment that is overheating or making and unusual noise.  The intelligent dog seems to sense that something is wrong.  Often the short-wave radio is used again with a request to send help.

The opening Bible verse, describing dumb dogs, is what the Lord says about those who did not return His love in past days, compared with those who did return His love.  Of those who did respond to His love and kindness He said, “Even them will I bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful” (Isaiah 56:7).  And that’s where true joy is found today—in the hearts of those who know Him as their Saviour.  Just as there are helpful dogs and dumb dogs, there are people who return God’s love and those who do not return God’s love.  Which are you?

Love you all - Grandpa

Jewel # 362 (May 24, 2019)

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

Whales Eat Their Fill of Tasty Krill

“God created great whales . . . which the waters brought forth abundantly.”

(Genesis 1:21)

In the cold Antarctic ocean, krill are found in vast numbers. The name krill includes extremely small shrimp, red crabs, tiny lobsters and fish larvae, all averaging about two inches in length and all swimming together in huge schools that often cover several miles.  They are found in all the world’s oceans.

Tiny shrimp make up the greatest part of these groups.  Their eleven pairs of legs are extremely important to them—the five back pairs are shaped like paddles for swimming, and the six front pairs are used for capturing tiny food particles.  To do this, they throw out each leg in a circular motion and draw the food particles into their mouths.

Where do krill come from?  They begin life deep in the ocean as eggs too small to be seen easily.  The larvae hatching from these various kinds of eggs don’t grow to full size for four years.  During this time they don’t look at all like the adults.

It is the grown krill that are hunted, since they are very nutritious and tasty to whales, seals, porpoises and other marine life.  When aware that a hungry enemy is near, sometimes krill wriggle out of their shells.  The empty shells hold their shape, deceiving the hungry enemy.  Then the now-unprotected krill drops deep into the ocean and remains there until a new shell grows to cover it over.

Whales, mainly baleens, living or migrating through this area are krill’s greatest enemy, and one if then can swallow as much as five tons of krill a day.  When gulping a mouthful of krill-filled seawater, the whale traps and crushes the krill by closing its huge mouth.  The seawater squirts out before the whale swallows the remaining krill.

In addition to whales, it is estimated that millions of penguins and seals, as well as numerous kinds of sponges and fish, dispose of many tons of krill each day.  Yet krill continue to reproduce in great numbers.

Isn’t it remarkable how the Creator provides these tiny bits of sea life to meet the food needs of so many larger creatures and yet enables the krill to replenish their numbers year after year?  It is a reminder that He is looking upon all the substance of the sea, earth and sky at all times and is in control of each one.

However, these ocean creatures have only a short life and then cease to exist, whereas every person has his lifetime here on earth and then enters eternity to exist forever.  

Where will your eternity be spent?  If you know the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, it will be in heaven 

with Him and the vast number of others who have accepted Him as their Saviour.  

If not, it will be in an awful place the Bible calls “outer darkness.” 

Will you chose heaven?

Love you all - Grandpa   

Jewel # 361 (May 11, 2019)

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

Friendly Sheep Dogs

“Be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create.”

(Isaiah 65:18) 

Different species of dogs are used in herding flocks of sheep.  Without using dogs, raising the wooly animals would often be impossible.  These dogs are generally all called “sheep dogs” regardless of what species they are.

Years ago in many pasture-lands of America located close to mountains or forests, a serious problem developed with coyotes killing great numbers of lambs and sheep.   Rarely could the sheep dogs they used then stop the coyotes for fear of their own lives, and owners and shepherds didn’t know what to do about it.

In searching for an answer, they heard that in parts of Europe where wolves were killing sheep, the problem had been solved by using “guardian dogs” that could live right with the flocks and protect them.  In the country of Yugoslavia, flocks of sheep were accompanied by dogs that looked almost like the sheep themselves, both in size and the colour of their fur.  More searching found the same answer in other parts of Europe, although the dogs were not all the same kind.  There are at least four different kinds, and maybe more in other countries.

Some of the dogs were brought to America and put in with flocks of troubled sheep.  It was soon observed that these European dogs did not behave like the usual American sheep dogs.  They were very friendly with their wooly companions, walked and slept among them, and worked their way through the flocks without frightening them or causing them to run off.

At nighttime the coyotes learned something too.  These dogs were not afraid of them but chased them away and even killed them if they got into a fight. The owners and shepherds happily discovered that their loss of sheep to coyotes was greatly reduced.  Ever since then guard dogs have been used in large numbers wherever there are coyotes.

It is interesting how friendly these dogs are with the sheep.  This is due partly to the fact that from the time they are puppies they live with the sheep, look very much like the sheep, and grow up apparently thinking they are all one family.  They lie down together and rub against each other in a friendly way, and the dogs will even lick the sheep on the mouth, just like a kiss.

This is another example of the wonders of God's creation.  The dogs’ protective ways over the sheep remind us of the Bibles warning to us about Satan.  He is likened to a wolf who is seeking to catch sheep (people) and harm them.

But the Lord Jesus Himself assures us: "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck then out of My hand” (John 10:27-28).

Do you know Jesus as your Good Shepherd?

Love you all - Grandpa       

Jewel # 360 (May 1, 2019)

Golden Lion Tamarins

Cotton Top Tamarins

“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

Tamarins in Danger

“God said, Let the earth bring forth the . . . beast of the earth 
after his kind: and it was so .” (Genesis 1:24)

Tamarins, natives of South America, are part of the monkey family.  Let’s look at two species that are in danger of disappearing, because the forests in which they live are being cut down or burned.

One is the cotton-top (called pinche by the people of Colombia where they live).  Its soft-gray, gentle face is emphasized by a large, upright mane of pure white hair, dropping over an orange-brown collar.  The rest of its body is entirely white.

Another, the golden lion of Brazil, is now one of the rarest animals on earth, with only about one thousand living in the vanishing forests.  It is about two feet long, including its tail, and weighs only about one and a half pounds.  It looks almost too fragile to live in the wild, but it thrives there.

Thick, orange-red, velvety hair frames its pretty face with its pleading eyes, small nose and large, square mouth.  It prefers thick bushy areas under tall trees, this also supplies many of the insects it eats.  Wild bananas and other fruits are favourites too.

At times tamarins make their homes in hollowed-out trees, where the mother, with two little ones, teaches them to make their own way in the forest.  It is amazing to see her leading her little ones over branches or along a vine stretched between trees.

The father brings up the rear and keeps an eye on the youngsters as well.  Coming to the end of a vine, one by one they leap to nearby tree branches, the little ones jumping successfully without any training.

It is usual for young tamarins to stay close to their parents for quite a while and help take care of baby brothers and sisters.  Surprisingly, the otherwise gentle females are often quarrelsome with one another (even sisters and mothers and growing daughters), until a father moves in and quiets things down.

Recently some of the golden lions have been taken to zoos in the United States where large numbers of babies have been born.  Many of these have been taken back to Brazil and placed in more natural homes, where they seem to be thriving under the watchful eyes of forest officials.  Efforts are being made to save the remaining forests of Brazil, which would also help increase the tamarin population.

Does God, their Creator, know about these tamarins?  He certainly does.  A Bible verse assures us, “The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all HIs works" (Psalm 145:9).  It is also written, “His eyes are upon the ways of man, and He sees all His goings” (Job 34:21).  

What does God see when He looks on your ways?   

Love you all - Grandpa