Jewel # 92 (August 21, 2011)

  

      

"And they shall be mine, saith the 

Lord of Hosts, in that day when 

 I make MY JEWELS." 

(Malachi 3:17)

To my dear grandchildren,

Cheerful Ovenbirds

"The glory of the Lord shall endure forever: the Lord shall rejoice in His works"(Psalm 104:31).

Ovenbirds were not named because they are baked in ovens, but because their nests look like an old-fashioned baker's oven.  There are many varieties of ovenbirds throughout North and South America.  In North America they are found only east of the Rocky Mountains.  They are all noted for their lovely songs, especially when a bright moon lit night brings them out to sing in groups. 

Bird watchers admire their unusual oven-like nests.  However, it takes much searching to find one since they are well hidden.  The nests look like ovens or igloos and are constructed with twig-supported mud or clay, with a small opening on the side.  Usually they are built right on the ground, up against a fallen tree and near a pile of brush or leaves.  They are so well hidden that a person may walk right past one and never see it.

When a male ovenbird wants to attract  a mate, he puts on quite a display.   With wings and tail spread out, he hops around with his head bobbing up and down excitedly.  If a female is impressed, they are soon busy building a nest.  This is done very carefully.  As it progresses, if they are not pleased with any part, they will remove that section and do it over.

After the eggs are hatched, the mother carefully protects her chicks.  When she leaves them for any reason, she stays close to the ground to avoid letting the nest be discovered, running like a mouse for a good distance before taking to the air.  When she returns, she does the same.

South American ovenbirds are found in the northern part of the continent, some in deserts, some on ocean shores and others in mountains as high as 16,000 feet above sea level.  These usually make their nests somewhat differently from their North American relatives, although following an oven-like pattern.  One variety seems to prefer being near people and even makes its nests in plain sight.  They are often build snugly on top of a fence post or tree stump.

Who taught these unusual birds to build such elaborate nests and how to raise and protect their young?  Who gave them such sweet songs?  Of course it was the Lord God, their Creator, of whom the Bible says, "O Lord, how manifold [what varieties] are Thy works!  In wisdom hast Thou made them all" (Psalm 104:24).  None of the birds or animals is aware that they are always watched over by their Creator, but we who experience His daily love and care to us should always thank Him.  The psalmist declared, "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men" (Psalm 107:8)! 

Have you ever thanked Him for His love and care?

Love

Grandpa  

Jewel # 91 (August 8, 2011)

"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,

Two Big Rabbits

"I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.  The beast of the field shall honour Me" (Isaiah 43:19-20)

In desert country, you may not have to travel far before seeing a jackrabbit.  It may be sitting up on its hind legs watching you, or it may be leaping away in a zig-zag course to get out of sight.

The jackrabbit has big ears, yet all species do not have the same size ears.  Those in Australia have enormous ears.  They provide a keen sense of hearing and also act as "coolers" by giving off body heat in the intense heat of that land.  The ears of jackrabbits in Canada and the United States are much shorter, since they live in colder areas and need to conserve heat in the cooler seasons.  How wise our Creator was to help these active animals to be comfortable no matter where they live.

The jackrabbit has a keen sense of sight.  Its eyes see forward, sideways and even behind.  This, along with its keen sense of hearing, helps keep it alert to the threats of enemies.  Its great hind legs enable it to make leaps and bounds at speeds up to forty-five miles an hour.  It can also jump five feet in the air while leaping five or ten feet in distance.

The snowshoe rabbit is a cousin of the desert jackrabbit.  This species can live comfortably in a cold climate.  It has long, strong hind legs like its relatives of the south, but its ears are much shorter, since it needs to conserve its body heat in that climate.

A very special feature the Creator gave this rabbit is the "snow shoes" it wears in winter.   Its feet, about twice the size of a jackrabbit's, have toes spread wide apart.  As winter approaches, long hairs grow between the toes, forming a pad.  This permits it to walk on top of the snow and easily leap through it in ten-foot jumps.

In addition, God gives it a white winter coat in exchange for the brown one of summer.  When sitting still on the snow, it is almost invisible.  Towards spring as the snow melts and rocks and brown soil begin to appear among patches of white snow, this rabbit's white coat changes to a mottled one, helping it to blend with the ground.  When all the snow is gone, its coat returns to brown again for the summer.

These animals do not stop to think about God's care over them or the special features He gave them when they were created.  God's care over us is very real too, and we should think about not only His care, but His great love for us.  For those who know that love and have found salvation through faith in His Son Jesus Christ and His death on Calvary, He encourages each one to "Cast all your care upon Him; for He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).

Love

Grandpa  

Jewel # 90 (July 27, 2011)

"And thy shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts,

in that day when I make up MY JEWELS."

(Malachi 3:17)

To my dear grandchildren,

Three Willful Cows

It had been a difficult day for three cows named Bessy, Daisy and June. They had been purchased by the Browns at an auction that had been a very confusing and noisy place.  Then they were taken by truck to a strange, new pasture where they were unloaded and left alone.  The Browns had supplied food and water for the three cows in safety of the new pasture , but because the cows were still scared and edgy, they jumped over the fence.

Were they looking for their old pasture?  If so, they didn't find it.  Instead, they were now in a wooded area where wild animals roamed and where there was no easy source of food and water.  There was something else in the woods that would be frightening to any animal - HUNTERS.  Gunshots would terrify any animal!

It didn't take the Browns long to discover that their cows were gone, and they began to look for then.  The family wore bright orange vests so the hunters would know they weren't deer moving through the woods.  Every now and then the Browns spotted the three cows, but they would run when anyone moved close to them.  They were lost in a dangerous area and didn't know it.

This world is a dangerous place in which to live, and you may not know it.  It has all kinds of dangerous attractions that lure sinners like you and me deeper into sin.  Like the three cows lost in the woods, we sinners are lost in this evil world and away from our loving God who wants to save us.  He gave His own Son, the Lord Jesus, to die on the cross for sinners so we could be saved from our sins and have a happy home in heaven when life here on earth is over.  Are you willing to let the Lord Jesus save you?  He says, "Come unto Me, all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

After some time of wandering the three cows found another fenced-in  pasture where there were other cows grazing peacefully.  The three lost cows broke through the fence and began grazing with the other cows in the new pasture.  It was a peaceful and safe place, and they were finished running away.

When the farmer came to feed his cattle, he found the three cows that he had never seen before.  Soon the Browns learned that Bessy, Daisy and June were in this farmer's pasture.  With the farmer's permission, they left the three in the pasture in the company of the other cows for several weeks before they took them home to their own peaceful pasture.  This time they were calm and home to stay.

God has wonderful things prepared for you in His happy, peaceful home in heaven, if you are willing to stop running away and receive His Son Jesus as your very own Saviour.  Jesus paid the awful price for the sins of each person who will come to Him, admitting that he is a sinner and needs his his sins forgiven.  He will joyfully make you one of His very own children and will lovingly provide all that you need down here on earth.  When it is time, He will take you home to heaven where all danger and sadness will be over forever.  There is absolutely nothing that can be better than that!

"As many as received Him, to then gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name."

(John 1:12)

Love,

 Grandpa    

  

Jewel # 89 (July 12, 2011)

    

    

"And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up MY JEWELS."

(Malachi 3:17)

The Ways of Woodpeckers

Thou hast made . . . the earth, and all things that are 

therein . . . and Thou preservest them all."

(Nehemiah 9:6)

Woodpeckers are pretty birds with barred or spotted black and white or brown and black feathers.  Males may have red or yellow markings on their heads.  Some, like the pileated and ivory-billed varieties, have beautiful tufts of feathers forming crowns on their heads.

Most of their hole drilling is to reach beetles, grubs and other insects inside tree trunks.  They have an amazing ability to hear these insects chewing the wood, and a hole is drilled at that spot.  The bird's tongue darts in to spear the insect.

Their tongues are one of the features setting these birds apart from other birds.  While most have tongues attached in their mouths, woodpeckers have tongues attached to thin, flexible bones passing over the skull and coiling up behind it.  God made them this way because a woodpecker needs to reach far back in the hole to catch the insect.  If its tongue were attached to its mouth, it would not be long enough, so one that stretches out far was provided by a wise Creator.  The tongues of woodpeckers are also specially designed in other ways.  The flicker has a long, sticky tongue.  Any ant, beetle or grub touched by it cannot escape.  Other varieties have barbs on the end to pierce the insect and pull it out.   The sapsucker drills most of its holes in just the outer layers of live trees.  These holes form little wells where sweet sap collects.  The end of its tongue has a brush, helping it to lap up the syrup.

The acorn woodpecker drills holes in trees, fence posts or utility poles and then stuffs one acorn in each hole.  Often hundreds and even thousands of these storage "cupboards" are made to assure it has plenty to eat in winter.

Woodpeckers are very beneficial to mankind, eating millions of harmful insects.  Without their help, many trees would die from the attacks of insects.  Thus they are another example of God's ways of keeping a necessary balance among all things in His creation.

Where do you think these remarkable birds learned how to capture insects hidden inside tree trunks?  Where did they receive the specially designed features of their bodies?  The Creator gave these abilities and features to them when He placed them on the earth.  The Bible reminds us, "in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind" (Job 12:10).

This also reminds us that we share in His blessings too.  We are responsible not only to enjoy them, but also to acknowledge that He is "the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:6).  He invites us to believe on Him, the only Saviour of sinners, for everlasting life.  "He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life life" (John 5:24). 

 Do you have everlasting life? 

Love,

Grandpa

Jewel # 88 (June 27, 2011)

                             

"And they shall be Mine saith the Lord 

of hosts, in that day when I 

make up MY JEWELS."

(Malachi 3:17)

Hachiko and the Shibuya Station

The Shibuya Train Station, outside Tokyo, Japan, is one of the busiest train stations in the world.  Daily hundreds of thousands of people pass through the station doors on their way to and from work.  Outside the main door, on a raised flower bed is a life-size bronze statue of an Akita dog - a sturdy type of large, long-haired Japanese dog.  The statue of the dog is situated so that his eyes are looking directly at the doors.  The bronze on the top of the statue has been polished to a bright sheen by passersby running their hands over the metal.  

If you had visited the station about 90 years ago, in the 1920s, instead of the statue you might have seen a dog of real flesh and blood sitting in the exact same spot.  He would have been patiently waiting for his master to step out of the station.  The dog's name was Hachiko, and here is the remarkable story of the dog and his master.

Dr. Ueno was the Professor of Agriculture at the University of Tokyo in Japan.  In the morning, when Dr. Ueno would leave for work, Hachiko, his dog, would walk with him to the station and watch him go through the doors to board the train.  After the train pulled out of the station, the dog would turn around and walk home.  there were far fewer people back in the 1920s, and the roads were not as congested with cars.  Then in the evening, a little bit before the train was due to return to the station, Hachiko, who had an uncanny sense of time, would leave home and walk back to the train station to await his master's arrival.  The dog would position himself near the flower bed in order to keep a vigilant eye on the double doors of the station.  When the dog saw his master, he would jump for joy, prance up to Dr. Ueno, and give him a hearty welcome.  Then the two, happy to be together, would stroll home.

One morning, Dr. Ueno said good bye to the dog at the station, never suspecting it would be for the last time.  Later in the day, while teaching at the University, he suffered a major stroke and suddenly died.  Hachiko had no way of understanding his master had passed away, and he went to meet him at the train station.  When his owner didn't show up, the dog continued to wait for him at the train station through the long night.  Relatives of Dr. Ueno found the dog at the station the next morning and brought him home with them to care for him.  They lived several miles away  in a different neighbourhood.  They meant well; however, Hachiko was not happy with his new home and soon ran away.  He made his way back to the station where he felt it was his duty to wait for his master's return on the train.  Day after day, he waited at Shibuya Station, searching the faces of people coming out of the doors, hoping to see the one he loved.  It was a routine the dog would invariably follow every day for remainder of his life.   

For the next nine years, Hachiko took up his post near the flower bed to await his master's return.  The dog's heavy fur protected him in the rain, sleet, snow, and every type of weather.  Friendly shopkeepers, knowing the loyalty and faithfulness of the dog, were happy to provide him with food and water.  Hachiko was a young dog when Dr. Ueno died, and he lived to an old age for a dog, yet he never missed a day watching for his master's return.

Commuters who saw the dog every day watching the doors of the station could not help but admire his loyalty.  When Hachiko grew old, these people took up a collection of money to have a statue made to commemorate the dog that they had come to admire.  The bronze statue that stands outside the station doors today honours Hachiko for his steadfast faithfulness.

Loyalty is a character trait that is highly admired wherever it is found.  We desire friends and family to show loyalty, and we find bitter disappointment when it is lacking.  Perhaps the worst disappointment is when we find it lacking in ourselves.

Would you like a friend who is faithful and true, who loves you and would never let you down?  Of course you would, and I know One for you.  His loyalty far exceeds all others.  In undying loyalty to the human race, He came to earth and gave His life at Calvary's cross.  His name is the Lord Jesus Christ, and although you may be a stranger to Him, He is no stranger to you.  He knows all about you, from the inner workings of your heart to the number of hairs on your head.  He knows your every need and is willing to help in every situation.

The greatest need we have is due to the fact we have sinned and earned the wages of death.  Sin has left a crimson stain on each one of us.  The Lord Jesus shed His precious blood to wash away the stain of sin for all those who believe."The blood of Jesus Christ His [God's] Son cleans us us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).  "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; thought they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18).

When a sinner believes on the Lord Jesus, the stain of sin on his soul is totally cleansed away, and their debt of punishment is completely paid.  All who believe in Him receive the gift of eternal life."The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

Dr. Ueno didn't know he was going to die that last day he boarded the train.  And none of us can say for certain when our last day will be either.  Once this life is over, it will forever be too late to trust in the Saviour.  This is why it is so urgent for souls to hear the gospel message and believe while they can.  We re not guaranteed a long life or even another day.  Right now is the time to believe in Christ, and be saved, because tomorrow may never come .

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Won't you consider the great truth of the gospel and put your faith in Jesus Christ today that you might be saved?  No one can compare to the Lord Jesus Christ in love, loyalty and faithfulness - no one.  Men may disappoint, but the blessed Saviour never!

Love

Grandpa

                     Picture of Dr. Ueno          Statute of Hachko

                      

Jewel # 87 (June 16, 2011)

    

   

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,

Charlie's Bad Choices

Charlie, a boy of about 12, usually kept out of trouble.  He was raised in a Christian home where the Bible was read.  He loved the Lord Jesus, and, in fact, he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour when he was just six years old.

Charlie loved to play football and baseball with his school buddies.  They often played the game of marbles in the schoolyard too.  Boys did that many years ago.  Long before computers and video games were around.  Where his family lived, the backyard of their house was right next to the school yard, so he often found his way there for some of the pickup games going on.

Another game the boys often played was handball.  They played it up against the back wall of the school.

One afternoon in the summer, a few boys were playing handball, and Charlie was just standing by, watching.  After the boys got tired of the game, some of them picked up stones and started throwing them at the school windows.  And you know what happened next . . . some of the windows got broken!

Charlie was standing back from the group, just watching what the boys were doing.  But a neighbour saw what was happening and phoned the police.

After they had broken some of the windows, the boys ran from the schoolyard, and Charlie went home.  However, it wasn't very long before a police car stopped at his house.  Someone had reported that Charlie was with the boys who broke the windows.  Now he was in big trouble!  Make no mistake; Charlie had not thrown even one stone.  But he was with the boys who were throwing them!

He had to learn a hard lesson that his dad and mom drilled into him, reminding him of the Bible  verses in Proverbs 4:14-15:  "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."

The big lesson that Charlie had to learn was to walk away from his friends who were doing things that he knew were wrong and go home when the boys first started throwing stones at the school building.

Boys and girls, you probably can guess that Charlie has never forgotten that lesson, and he has never forgotten that verse either.  It is a good verse for each one of you to always remember and follow.

Love,

Grandpa    

Jewel # 86 (May 30, 2011)

                   

"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 Always-Hungry Grasshopper

"The locusts went up over all the land of Egypt . . . and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees."  (Exodus 10:14-15)

People who live where there are  grasshoppers know about these insects.  Even if you can't see then, you know they are there by the noise they make.  Actually, the noise is not made with their mouths but by rubbing their wings with their hind legs.

A grasshopper is a most unusual creature.  Its head has two long antennae extending forward and curving upward.  Its head, shoulders and other body parts are protected with tough armour.  It has wings that fold smoothly along its back and extend past its large hind legs. 

Locusts are similar to grasshoppers, but that name usually refers to those species that migrate in great swarms and are very destructive to crops, as told in Bible accounts such as the opening verse.  But grasshoppers of the Western world can also be very destructive, as farmers in Canada and the United States will tell you.

In late summer, a female digs a hole in the ground with her ovipositor and fills the hole with foam.  Then she lays as many as 120 eggs in the hole and covers the opening with soil.  The eggs hatch the following spring, and the newborn grasshoppers look like the adults except that they have no wings.  They immediately begin feeding on tender vegetation and grow so rapidly that they soon shed their armour skins.  This is called molting.  They molt five or six times before they reach full size.  Their wings grow to full size during the last molt.

A grasshopper has six legs.  The hinged back legs have strong thigh muscles that power its long leaps.  It can leap about twenty times as far as the length of its own body.  These powerful legs also push it off to fly.

The Creator has not only provided them with the ability to leap or fly away from enemies (ever try to catch one?), but he has also given them excellent camouflage among the green and brown vegetation they eat.

Perhaps grasshoppers are given to us as a solemn lesson, speaking of those who are destructive, creating nothing good in themselves and trying to spoil the truth of God's goodness.  There are many people who fit this description today, and the Bible warns us about them: "There are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers . . . teaching things which they ought not" (Titus 1:10-11).

How can we keep from being deceived?  Those who do not know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour will most easily fall into the snares of such deceivers.  But if you have put your trust in Him, a good answer is also provided: "[Build] up yourselves on your most holy faith . . . keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" (Jude 20-21).

Love 

Grandpa