Jewel # 107 (March 28, 2012)

"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,

Lost for Seven Years

It certainly was a mystery when a cat named Smoky suddenly reappeared seven years after she had vanished from her owner's backyard!  Denise had held out hope that Smokey would return someday.  Even thought she had moved, she still had the same phone number.  Still, she was quite surprised when she got a call telling her that the Animal Control Service had her long lost pet!

"I don't know where this cat has been for seven years!" said Denise.  The Animal Control Service had used a small identification tattoo on the cat to trace Smokey to her owner.  Smokey is slowly getting reacquainted with her owner and new home.  Denise says it is important to have your pet marked with permanent identification.

I wonder if you have Jesus' identification mark on you, showing that you belong to Him.  God can see it, because He sees that you are covered with the precious blood of His beloved Son.  When the call comes to go to heaven, will you go to be with Jesus? or will you be lost forever?  It all depends on whether or not you have that identification mark.

Thankfully, Smokey wasn't lost forever because of the identification mark on her body that showed she belonged to Denise.  Are your sins covered with the blood of Jesus showing you belong to Him?

"The blood of Jesus Christ God's Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).

"Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered" (Romans 4:7).

I love you all,

Grandpa

Jewel # 106 (March 14, 2012)

"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  

Catch a Bird

"Aren't the birdies pretty, Mommy?" said three-year-old Margaret to her mother one sunny day as they sat together in the yard.  "See, there's some in the grass . . . and see that pretty blue one over there in the tree?  I wish I could catch a bird.  Will you help me catch one, Mommy?" 

"Do you know what my daddy always used to say, Margaret?  If you could put salt on a bird's tail, you could catch it." 

"Did you ever catch one?" asked Margaret.  "No, I never tried," said her mother. "Didn't you even try?" said little Margaret surprised.  "If I could catch a bird, I'd try!"  And with that she ran into the house to get the saltshaker off the kitchen table.

For a long time Margaret chased the birds, trying to put salt on their tails.  Finally she got discouraged and and ran over to her mother in tears.  "They won't stay still long enough for me to put salt on their tails," she sobbed.

Mother scooped Margaret up into her arms and said, "No, that way won't work.  That's just like trying to get to heaven by doing good works, isn't it?  We just aren't able to do good because we are sinners, so we can't get to heaven that way.  It won't work.  We have to trust the Lord Jesus.  He said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.' (John 14:6).  He died for us to wash away all the naughty things that we've done so we can go to heaven and live with Him there forever.  Wasn't that very, very kind of Him?"

Have you admitted to the Lord Jesus that you are a sinner, and have you let Him wash your sins away? Have you ever thanked Him for dying for you? 

 "Not by works of good deeds which we have done, 

but according to His mercy He saved us." 

(Titus 3:5).

Love you all,

Grandpa  

Jewel # 105 (Feb 23, 2012)

"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,

"Proud as a Peacock"

"Gavest Thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?" (Job 39:13) 

The name peacock actually applies only to the male.  The female is a peahen, and together they are called peafowl.  Both of them are very pretty, but it is the male that has the most beauty with his thirty-inch body and five-foot tail.  Each feather over his entire body is patterned with a brilliant iridescent "eye."  He seems to enjoy displaying this beauty by frequent spreading his tail and parading around.

These birds are native to Asian countries but have adapted easily to the many places where they have been taken.  The Bible tells us that King Solomon imported them to Israel, probably to roam in his lovely gardens.  The pharaohs of Egypt also imported them.

There are two main colour types.  One is know as the blue Indian.  It has a metallic blue-green neck and breast, with purplish-blue underparts and a long train of greenish feathers.  The blue Indian is the national bird of India.

The other is called Java green, and it has metallic bronze plumage and a crest of long, straight feathers on its head.  It is the more splendid and stately of the two species, with longer and slimmer legs.  Its face is blue or yellow, and the crest of its head forms a long, straight tuft of fully barbed feathers.

Both types are beautiful, but the blues are more popular because they are even-tempered.  The greens are always fighting among themselves and sometimes attack people.  The females (hens) of both varieties are pretty and almost as large as the cocks, but they  lack the long train of feathers and crowns.

The "eyes" of the feathers on nearly all peacocks appear as a deep purple-green pupil, centered in an orange iris, topped with yellow, lavender and green semicircles.  How faithfully the design follows the pattern given by the Creator when He first placed them on the earth!  Each generation of peacocks repeats the design perfectly.

The only thing that spoils these unusually pretty birds is their voice.  It is disappointing to hear their harsh, rough cries that sound like fighting cats or someone desperately calling for help.

"Proud as a peacock" is a common expression.  Of course, the peacocks do not know about it.  But we who have the Bible to read and follow know that we should not let pride come into our hearts and minds.  One Bible verse states: "The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down; and the Lord alone shall be exalted" (Isaiah 2:11).  May we always remember to be humble and give all praise to Him.

"The Son of God, who loved us, and gave Himself for us" (Galatians 2:20).

Love you all

Grandpa        

Jewel # 104 (Feb 12, 2012)

"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 Greedy Pigeon

Every day a pigeon came to our feeder.  It was always alone and always stayed for a long time eating birdseed.  It wasn't satisfied with the seeds on the ground but would fly up to the feeder, hang onto it and flap its wings to spill the seeds out onto the ground.  Then it flew down to the ground again to pick up every seed it could find.  This was certainly a greedy pigeon, and this routine went on for many days.  Sometimes one of us would walk slowly to the place where all the seed had fallen, and eventually the pigeon would fly away.

Proverbs 15:27 tells us something about being greedy,because people can be greedy too.  It says, "He that is greedy of gain troubles his own house."  Another word for greedy is selfish, and we all have known selfish people.  Selfish boys or girls always want to be first in line or want to have the best of everything.  Sometimes they will push and shove others out of the way to get what they want, and some won't share.  Do you like people like that?  Probably not.  Because other boys and girls don't want to be around them, greedy or selfish children make trouble for themselves.  That's what the last part of the verse means when it says "troubles his own house." 

And that's what the greedy pigeon was doing.  One day I saw it being very bold and very greedy.  Then I had to run some errands and was away for a few hours.  When I came back home, I could see a very large bird in the yard by the feeder.  When I looked closely, I discovered it was a hawk and on the ground around the hawk were feathers - pigeon feathers!  That hawk was just finishing a pigeon dinner.  The greedy pigeon spent so much time eating seeds on the ground that it didn't look around to make sure there were no enemies nearby, and it got caught.  Its greediness made trouble for itself.

This is a lesson not only for children, but for grown-ups too.  It's easier to learn not to be greedy or selfish when we are young.   Usually parents and teachers will remind us when we are being greedy or selfish.  The Bible has another good verse that will help us to be fair and nice to everybody.  "Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32).  That will make you happy, and that will make the Lord Jesus happy too. 

Love you all,

Grandpa  

Jewel # 103 (Feb 1, 2012)

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

in that day when I make up

MY JEWLS."

(Malachi 3:17)

To my dear Grandchildren

The High Leaping Impala

"Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9).

South Africa has a great variety of animals; some are hunters and vicious and others are gentle and harmless. Among this second group are several closely related antelopes such as the gazelles, klipspringers, springboks and impalas.  The impala is a beautiful animal.  Its velvety coat is a soft brown colour over its head, neck, back and legs, but plain white on its underparts and another patch of white under its stubby tail.  Its nimble legs are long and slender but surprisingly strong, and for a good reason, as we will see.

This timid animal is only about three feet high and weighs between 100 and 150 pounds.  Males have V-shaped horns, beginning with a short backward slant and then straightening upward a total length of two or three feet.  These horns are indeed a part of the Creator's display of beauty on this animal.  They look like an artist might have carved them.

The impala is quite content with the food supply of the prairie - herbs, bushes, shrubs and the most important and nourishing Savannah grass.  But there is the constant threat of a lion or other prowling hunter.  When an impala becomes aware of an enemy, it barks an alarm, and in a flash the whole herd scatters in various directions.  This is where their slender, strong legs are so valuable, as they run for safety in a series of dashes and long-distance jumps as high as ten feet and as far as thirty feet in single, graceful leaps - a beautiful sight.

When bounding away from danger in these great leaps, the front feet are in the air on the first bound.  When the hindquarters come up, the white patch under their tail becomes a signal to others that danger is present and its time for them also to get moving.  The lion, presuming it is well hidden, seems to be surprised at the swift action and gets confused as to which impala to chase.  When it hesitates, sometimes they all escape.

The Creator has also provided another means of warning through tick birds that frequently ride on an impala's back.  These birds not only rid the animal of pesky insects but also give their own warning when they see danger approaching.

The Creator's care over these gentle animals should remind us that His care over us is even more tender.  He invites you to prove His wonderful love, as the writer of Psalm 147:11 expresses it so well: "The Lord takes pleasure in them that fear [respect and love] Him, in those that hope in His mercy."  Has He ever had the pleasure of hearing you thank Him for His love? 

Love

Grandpa    

Jewel # 102 (Jan 20, 2012)

"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 Unusual Opossum

"Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him" (Psalm 33:8).

What is this strange creature coming down the forest trail that looks like a miniature gray trolley car loaded with passenger all hanging on the outside?  It turns out to be a mother opossum (often called possum), carrying eight babies who are clinging to her back and her long, bare tail that she arches over her back.  The mother opossum is very careful about her big family.

Female opossums are the only wild animals in North America that have pouches (like kangaroos).  Although the most common one grows to about the size of a house cat, baby opossums are no bigger that a bumblebee when they are born.  Within two minutes they smell their mother's milk located in her pouch in the outer skin of her abdomen and climb in, remaining there for two to three moths.  Then for a few more months they are given piggy-back rides while their mother introduces them to other foods - fruits, nuts, insects, fish, frogs and earth worms.  They mostly hunt for food at night.

One thing the mother doesn't have to teach them is how to "play possum."  This is an instinct the Creator gave them when He first placed them on the earth, and it is carried on from generation to generation.  When danger threatens, instead of trying to run away, they fall into unconsciousness and their bodies become stiff, their jaws drop open and saliva foams around the mouth, their teeth are bared, and their eyes are closed or half open.  They look just like a dead animal and even give off a dead animal odour.

A fox or coyote might come up to one, but the opossum is usually left alone because the attacker is not interested in dead meat.  Opposums remain this way for forty minutes to four hours before returning to consciousness and continuing their normal lives.  Isn't it wonderful how the Creator has given them this protection?  

As we consider the various habits God has given all His creatures, we are amazed.  One important provision He has given each of us is an intelligence to understand His precious Word, the Bible.  It is there we find that He loves us, and He knows all about us.  We also find that we are lost sinners.  Yet His desire is that we might live forever in His heavenly home, although we cannot go there with our sins.

Does the Bible provide a remedy for us?  Yes.  In Titus 2:13-14 we read of "the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all sin."  If we admit to Him that we are sinners and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ who died to save us from our sins, God will then accept us as His very own sons and daughters forever and ever.  How important it is to do this right now!     

Love you,

Grandpa

Jewel # 101 (Jan 6, 2012)

"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,

Whooooo is the Smartest?

Uncle Bob asked the children in Sunday School a question:  "Who do you think is the smartest - a mouse, an owl or Uncle Bob?" Two of the children thought Uncle Bob was the smartest.  One thought that maybe it was the owl. (Perhaps that child had heard about "wise old owls.")  The rest couldn't seem to decide who might be the smartest.  Then Uncle Bob said, "The story I'm going to tell you only took a few seconds to actually happen, and I can't tell it to you nearly that fast."  Here is his story,

One night well after dark, I was driving down a country road that had no streetlights.  Of course, my headlights were on, and soon I began to see little mice darting this way and that across the road.  Then one little mouse started running right towards my car!  Is that mouse crazy? I wondered.  Doesn't he know that this car could squish him in an instant?  You stupid mouse, I thought. Are you trying to attack me?  You better get out of my lane!

I had slowed down, but the mouse was still running right toward the headlights.  I'm going to hit him for sure!  Maybe I better run right over him and kill him: other wise the wheel will just injure him.  So I moved the car over a little so the wheel would line up with the mouse, when all of a sudden,  WHAM!  A huge owl crashed into the front of the car.  Feathers were everywhere!  I stopped the car but left the headlights on and got out.  The little mouse was safe and unharmed under the car, but the owl was dead.  Then I understood what I had not seen before.  To answer the question "Who is the smartest?"it was the mouse!  That mouse knew all about the owl that was chasing it.  If the owl caught the mouse, he would be the owl's dinner, so he raced toward the headlights for safety.

Maybe you boys and girls have learned about owls.  They fly and hunt in the darkness of night.  Our Creator God has given them amazing night vision and hearing and they fly almost silently.  He designed them to be creatures of the night, and they don't like the light.  Mice are one of their favorite foods since they scurry about at night.

Now our Creator God has given the little mice certain instincts to know that owls are their enemy and that they don't like light.  That little mouse racing towards the beam of the headlights was running to the safety of the light!  The mouse just made it, but the owl, intent on catching the mouse, couldn't change direction quickly enough to miss the moving car and its headlights.  There is a lesson here for all of us. Satan, our enemy, has the power of darkness in this world.  John 3:19 says, 

"Men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."  

As sinners, we are under Satan's power and loving the darkness of this world that leads us away from God and His love for sinners.  But God loves us too much to leave us in sin and darkness, and so He sent His Son Jesus to save us from Satan's power.  When Jesus died on the cross and then rose from the dead, He won the victory over Satan and sin and darkness!  And now He says to you and me, 

"I am the light of the world: he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12).

You and I no longer have to be under Satan's power if we will turn to the Lord Jesus to be cleansed from our sins and walk with Him in the light.

 "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, 

and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:5,7). 

That was a pretty smart little mouse that ran to the light.  And will you be a smart boy or girl and follow the Lord Jesus, walking with Him in the light?  Jesus said,

"I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not live in darkness" (John 12:46). 

Are you walking with Jesus in the light?

I Love you,

Grandpa