Jewel # 166 (Feb 19, 2014)

To my dear grandchildren,

The Ant Lion

“Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,

seeking whom he may devour.”

(1 Peter 5:8)

The ant lion looks like a large dragonfly when fully grown.  The name “ant lion” comes from its activity in its larval stage.  As a larva, it eats mostly ants.  An ant caught in its jaws will not be able to escape, because the ant lion has strong jaws, which are the largest part of its body.

The ant lion has an interesting way of catching ants.  It digs a cone shaped pit about two inches deep in sand or loose soil.  It buries itself at the bottom of the pit, leaving only its jaws and part of its head exposed.

An ant coming to this pit is curious and goes to the edge to look inside.  On the rim it loses its footing in the loose sand and falls down the steep side.  It tries to climb back up the sides many times, but the surface is too loose and it finally slides to the bottom.  The ant lion quickly grabs it in its sickle-shaped jaws and eats it.  The ant lion sometimes attracts ants to the pit by throwing sand or little pieces of gravel into the air.  Ant lions are covered in stiff bristles that help them stay in the sand.

We might wonder how this little creature knows how to build its trap and how to attract its victims.  The larva knows how to do this just as soon as it hatches, without having had a lesson.  This is another example of an instinct given by the Creator to enable His creatures to survive through immature periods of their lives.

The ant lion’s methods remind us of our great enemy, Satan, who has many traps set to catch us.  One of these is a natural curiosity on our part to want to explore things of the world that only lead to sin and unhappiness.  The Bible tells us that Satan is the god of this world, and we can never stand up against him in our own power.

However, there is One who is mightier than Satan, the Saviour of all who trust in Him.  “Greater is He that is in you, that he that is in the world:" (1 John 4:4).  He has provided an armour that allows us to stand against this wicked enemy.  Those who know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour are urged to “put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”  This armour includes the “shield of faith,“ the “helmet of salvation,” and the “sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” (See Ephesians 6:11-17.) 

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you are a servant to sin and Satan.  You can escape from his trap only by turning to Christ, confessing that you are a sinner, and accepting Him as your Lord and Saviour.  You will find Him ready and able to release you from Satan’s grasp.

Love you all,

Grandpa  

Jewel # 165 (Feb 10, 2014)

To my dear grandchildren,

The Spider’s Web

“The spider takes hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.” 

(Proverbs 30:28)

To most people spiders are pests, but they do serve a very good purpose - insects are their food supply.  Most kinds of spiders eat great numbers of flies, mosquitoes and other insects.  This is the purpose of their webs - to trap insects in the sticky silk.  But some birds are the spider’s enemy.  They not only eat spiders but steal their webs to weave into their nests for added strength or to make smooth inner linings.  Spider web silk is five times stronger than steel.

There are about 40,000 different kinds of spiders in the world.  Most spin webs, and their webs come in a wide variety of shapes.  Outdoor spiders make the most beautiful webs, which can be seen best in early morning while silvery dew clings to them.  The garden spider stretches its beautiful web between branches of tall plants.  Another, the orb spider’s creation, when covered with dewdrops looks like a splendid display of lovely pearls hanging on drooping strings.

Spider webs are creations no human being could ever duplicate.  Though they vary in size and shape, most have twenty-four or more strands forming circles around a tiny centre (the spider’s home).  These are held at proper distance from each other and strengthened by a numb of “ribs” that look like the spokes of a wheel coming out from the center.  This is all so cleverly done that it looks like a  blueprint had been followed.  But spiders don’t need blueprints, for the Creator has given each one the instinct and ability to make its own web in a God-given pattern and design.

Threads of liquid silk, finer than human hair, flow from several “spinnerets" at the rear of the spider’s abdomen.  The reason for more than one spinneret is so a spider can produce different types of silk for a particular purpose.  The different spinnerets can produce liquid silk in a very thin thread or a thick, wide band, or silk that dries quickly or remains sticky.  Some can even produce a thread that looks like a beaded necklace.

Webs are amazingly strong.  Most can withstand the force of a bumblebee or other large insect flying straight into them, as well as the insect’s frantic struggles to break loose.  Even snakes that get entangled in webs sometimes can’t get away.

The Lord God, the Creator of all things, has given each kind of spider these wonderful capabilities for its special kind of web, and His watchful eye cares for them just as He cares for every living thing.  That includes every boy, girl, man and woman.  A verse from the Bible tells us, “Neither is there any creature that is not seen in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13).  Besides knowing Him as your Creator, do you know Him as your Saviour too?

Love you all,

Grandpa     

Jewel # 164 (Jan 31, 2014)

To my dear grandchildren,

Three Little fish

"Thou Lord hast made . . .  the seas, and all that is therein, 

and Thou preservest them all."

(Nehemiah 9:6)

The six-inch archerfish lives in East Indian waters and is very clever at catching its food.  This little fish waits near the surface of the water until a low-flying insect comes by.  Then it shoots drops of water from its mouth at the insect.  If the water hits the insect, its wings become wet so that it cannot fly.  When it falls into the water, it is eaten by the archerfish.  How did this fish learn to do this?  No practice was necessary, for the Creator gave it this skill when He created the very first archerfish on the fifth day of creation.  The archer fish can jump up to a foot out of the water to catch its prey.

Instead of laying eggs at the bottom of a marshy pond where it lives, the egg hanger fish hangs them on sticky threads suspended from underwater plants.  The female produces one string of this sticky thread for each egg she lays.  With the egg firmly stuck to one end, she attaches the other end over the plant so it can hang down freely.  She continues until there are about 150 all hanging separately in the swampy water.  Then she swims away and does not return.

The eggs don't need her care, for the One "upholding all things by the word of His power" (Hebrews 1:3) watches over them, just as He does when they hatch and swim away. 

The splashing tetra is a three-inch fish found in Brazil and Venezuela.  When the female is ready to lay her eggs, she searches for a bush with leaves hanging over, but not in, the water.  The she jumps up and lays her eggs on a big leaf before dropping back to the water.  Doesn't this seem strange?  Wouldn't you expect the eggs to dry out and die?  That would certainly be true, except that we can see it is another of the wonders of the Lord God who designed such interesting features in His many creatures.

The eggs don't die because both parent stay in the water under the leaf and, with flips of their tails, continually splash water on them.  After three or four days, the little ones hatch and drop into the water.  Then the parents swim away. 

These unusual fish are not able to think of the One who made them and provides for them.  But you can, and God has given you the responsibility to acknowledge Him and thank Him for supplying all your needs.  What is even more important is that He invites you to accept the everlasting life He offers.  The Bible tells us that this new life can only be yours through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who died on Calvary's cross to put away the sins of all who trust in Him.  Have you accepted Him as your Saviour?

Love you all,

Grandpa 

Jewel # 163 (Jan 24, 2014)

To my dear grandchildren.

Multi-Coloured Kingfishers

"Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field,

and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam."

(Genesis 2:19)

There are about 100 species of kingfishers, ranging in size from 6 to 18 inches and divided into two families - the water and the forest.  Many of the forest family never go near water and live on insects, small rodents, snakes and lizards. 

The water kingfishers, which are more common, make their homes in hollow trees or dig burrows in a bank where the young hatch and develop before going outside to learn to fish on their own.  The Creator has given these birds unusual colouring.  Many are quite pretty with high crests on their heads.  For instance, the common, which is the smallest, has colours that change according to the angle of light.  At times it appears sky blue, but as it turns on its perch it becomes a beautiful emerald green, with a variety of colours on its head and throat.

By contrast, the largest is the African giant that is not as brightly coloured as the smaller ones - a speckled gray above and light brown beneath.  The small malachite from Ethiopia has a speckled-gray head topped with a crest of a dozen feathers.  White patches on its head and on its neck blend with a rust-coloured beak and legs.  A soft-orange breast and underparts and pretty purple feathers on its back, wings and tail complete this beauty.

In North America the most commonly seen is the belted, about twelve inches long.  You may have seen one on a branch near a stream, patiently waiting until . . . suddenly it dives headfirst into the water and returns with a fish in its beak.  Incidentally, kingfishers do not spear fish with their beaks as we might think; they grasp them with open beaks.  Kingfishers also eat snails, frogs and crabs. 

Perhaps millions of these birds live in various parts of the world, and people never see most of them.  But there is One who always watches over them.  He has told about His care over lowly sparrows (also true of kingfishers).  In Luke 12:6 He said, "Not one of them is forgotten before God."  Then He adds, "Ye are of more value than many sparrows" (vs 7).  The Lord wrote these words to tell of His love and care over each person in the world and to give His invitation, "Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of Man [Himself] also confess before the angels of God" (vs 8).

To "confess the Lord before men" means to confess Him as your Lord and Saviour before others.  When this is done with a true heart, not only will He tell the angels you are His, but your name will also be written in the Book of Life and will never be removed.  Have the angels been told your name?  Is it written in God's Book of Life?  

Love you all,

Grandpa

Jewel # 162 (Jan 11, 2014)

To my dear grandchildren.

North America's Flying Squirrels (Part 2) 

"This also cometh forth from the Lord . . . 

wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working."

(Isaiah 28:29)

The outstanding feature that makes flying squirrels different from their most common relatives is their amazing ability to travel considerable distances through the air.  Although they appear to be flying, they are actually gliding, which in itself is outstanding.

On the underpart of their bodies is a loose flap of furry skin on each side, not easily seen when they are scampering up a tree trunk or along a branch.  Each flap is attached to the front leg and stretches back to where it is attached to the hind leg.  This forms a "kite" that enables the squirrel to glide from one tree to another or safely parachute to the ground from a high point.

How do they do this?  A flight begins high in a tree with the squirrel first bobbing its head in every direction, apparently sizing things up before taking off.  Then it makes the leap with all four legs spread out as far apart as possible stretching the loose skin into a tight kite.  Its target will usually be a lower point on the trunk of another tree, sometimes as far as one hundred feet away, but usually closer.  Gliding through the air, its flat tail acts like a rudder to keep it on course and then is lifted straight up to act as a brake just as it lands.

It always lands in an upright position with the claws of all four feet gripping the tree's surface tightly.  It immediately scoots around to the other side of the tree before venturing farther, an instinct the Creator has given it to preserve it from an owl or other enemy that might have seen it land.  

Nests are usually a hole in a dead tree trunk, sometimes one abandoned by a former owner and freshened up with leaves, moss or feathers. There the mother will raise up to half a dozen little ones, caring tenderly for them for a few weeks before introducing them to the pleasures of gliding.  Her first task is to take them gliding, one by one.  She grasps a baby's loose skin in her mouth while it holds on upside down with its legs wrapped around her neck.  Don't you imagine that's quite a thrill for the little one?  It is not long before they venture forth on their own without need of gliding lessons, for the Creator has given them a natural instinct for it.  

In the coming happy time when those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour will be in heaven with Him, they will exclaim: "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasures they are and were created" (Revelation 4:11).

Will you be there? 

Love you all,

Grandpa

Jewel # 161 (Jan 8, 2014)

(The Northern Flying Squirrel)

(The Northern Flying Squirrel)

To my dear grandchildren,

North American Flying Squirrels - Part 1

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

(Isaiah 65:18)

While there are many flying squirrels in lands south of the equator, there are only two look-alike varieties in North America.  The northern lives mostly in Canada and is about the size of a common gray squirrel.  The southern is slightly smaller and lives in the forests of the eastern United States.

Their name in Latin means "gray mouse that flies," and because of their amazing movements through the air, in some places they are known as "fairy diddles."  Actually, a more realistic name would be "gliding squirrels," for they do not actually fly but, as we will explain in the next article, they have special bodies which enable them to make gliding leaps between trees.  A flying squirrel can typically glide up to 150 feet. 

Unlike the gray and red squirrels which are active during the day time and which are familiar to most of us, both of the North American "flyers" are active at night.  This is why they are seldom seen, and people are often unaware that they are in the neighbourhood.     

These squirrels do not hibernate, but if the weather gets unusually cold, a dozen or more will keep warm by snuggling together in a nest.  Once the weather warms up, they resume their activities.

These closely related animals are alike in many ways.  They all tend to have grayish-brown  backs and white underparts.  Their pretty fur is thick and silky, and their chins have long whiskers.  They all have flat tails nearly equal in length to their bodies, large ears, and big black eyes.  It is plain to see how the Creator wisely provided these features to help them in their manner of nighttime activity.

They are playful creatures, chasing each other from tree to tree or scampering up the trunk, accompanied by loud squeals.  When gathering nuts, they sometimes stop their work and bat some around, apparently just for the fun of it.  In fact, seeing their different playful ways, they seem to be one of of the few animals that get much pleasure out of all that the Creator has done for them.  They don't seem to take life seriously and have been seen exchanging what appear to be kisses with their companions.  However, on rare occasions when they become irritated, one might be spotted stamping its feet like a spoiled little child or lying on its back kicking its feet in the air as if to pummel a real or imagined enemy.

In many Bible verses, the wonders of the Lord God's creation are spoken of, such as the words of King David: "I will praise Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth all Thy marvelous works" (Psalm 9:1).  There is real joy for all who, like King David, do this with their whole heart.  Do you?  (To be continued)  

Love you all,

Grandpa 

Jewel # 160 (Dec 31, 2013)

To all my dear grandchildren,

Grandpa and Johnny Rescue a Deer

Johnny lived half a mile from his grandparents' house.  On Saturday mornings, he sometimes would go over to their house to eat breakfast and maybe help a little with the chores.  They lived in the country, and often deer would roam through their yards.  

One Saturday morning in the spring, Johnny was sitting at the breakfast table eating a big stack of pancakes with Grandpa.  Looking out the window, he saw a deer nervously pacing back and forth in the front yard.

"Look, Grandpa, something must be wrong with that deer.  She keeps walking over the same spot," Johnny said.

Grandpa watched the deer.  Then he wiped his mouth with his napkin and said, "Johnny, let's get our coats on and go out and take a look."

In a few minutes they were out the door and walking towards the deer.  Usually deer are very nervous around people and quickly run off when they come near.  This deer ran only a few feet and then quickly turned around, almost like she was being tugged by a rope.  However, Johnny and Grandpa didn't see any wire or rope or anything the deer could be tangled up in.

A few days before, the utility company had dug a short, deep trench to check the wiring in the front yard.  The hole they dug was a couple of feet wide, a few feet long, and maybe four or five feet deep.  Grandpa got suspicious that something in the trench was troubling the deer.  He walked over to the hole and looked down.  Yes, he was right.  He understood that it was the mama deer's troubled heart-strings that held her to the spot so she didn't run away.

"Johnny, come look at this," Grandpa said.

Johnny peered over the edge of the hole and said, "Wow, it's a baby deer.  Grandpa!  Look at all those pretty white spots on its back.  But it doesn't walk very good.  Do you think it's hurt?"

"No," Grandpa said.  "The fawn is just scared.  it looks to be only a few weeks old."

"Can we help it, Grandpa?  Can we?" asked Johnny eagerly.

Grandpa scratched his chin and thought for a second.  "I think so.  This is what we'll do.  I will grab you by by the ankles and lower you head first into the hole.  You grab the little fawn and when you get a good hold on it, I will pull you both out of the hole and we'll return the little thing to its mama."

"It sounds like a good plan, Grandpa . . . I'll do it."

Have you ever considered that sin is like a hole that traps us once we fall into it?  The sides of the hole are so steep that we need help to get out of it.  The only one who can help sinners is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of sinners.  He came to earth and went to the cross where He gave His life for us.  After His death, He was buried in a tomb and then God raised Him from the grave.  He is now alive in heaven.  He did all this because He loves us and wanted to make a way for you and me to be saved from our sins.      

Johnny really cared about that baby deer and was anxious to save it.  He lay down next to the hole, and his grandpa grabbed him by the ankles and slowly lowered him down into the hole.  The fawn tried to get away from Johnny, but in the hole he didn't have room to escape.  Grandpa never let go of Johnny's ankles, and Johnny grabbed the deer by the scruff of the neck.

"See if you can wrap your arms around its belly, Johnny," Grandpa advised.

In a second Johnny had his arms wrapped around the deer.  Its fur felt soft to him, and he could feel its little heart thumping.  Once the bay deer was in Johnny's arms, it hardly struggled at all.  Grandpa pulled them both up and out of the hole, and Johnny set the baby deer down on the ground.  Almost immediately the little fawn saw its mama and ran to her side.  The mama deer and her baby ran off into the woods.

"Good job, Johnny!"  Grandpa said. Both Johnny and his  grandpa were happy they could help the little fawn and that it was back with its mama.

When boys, girls and grown-ups believe that the Lord Jesus died on the cross for their sins, He lifts them out of the hole of sin and forgives all their sins and says, "Their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more" (Hebrews 8:12).  I am so glad that the Lord Jesus lifts sinners out of the deep hole of sin and forgives them.  He did it for me, and He can and wants to do it for you too.  Won't you believe that what He did on the cross was for you?  Then someday soon He will bring you to His happy home in heaven.  

"He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay,

 and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings." 

(Psalm 40:2)

Love you all,

Grandpa