Jewel # 207 (March 3, 2015)

“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 Black-Footed Ferret

“Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty;

just and true are Thy ways.”

(Revelation 15:3)

When western prairies of the United States were being settled many years ago, millions of prairie dog homes dotted the plains.  Because these animals were considered pests, they were hunted and poisoned, so that today hardly any are left.

That poisoning also meant the death of a smaller animal - the black-footed ferret.  Not only were they also poisoned but their main food supply was also gone - the prairie dogs.   Now there are also only a few of these ferrets left, mostly in the state of Wyoming where efforts are being made to protect them.

The pretty black-footed ferret is closely related to the weasel, as shown by its slim body, short legs, alert expression and sharp eyes.  About two feet long from nose to tip of tail, it weighs only a pound and a half.  Its fur is mostly  brown, but its raccoon-like face is white with a black streak across its eyes like a bandit’s mask.  It has a black streak all along its back, and the tip of its tail and its feet are also black, the reason for its name. Being close to the ground, its agile body is well hidden in the grass as it skims along at high speed.

The ferret is a fierce nighttime hunter, often attacking animals larger than itself.  An example is prairie dogs.  They often weigh more than twice as much, but although the ferret may get badly wounded, it is rare for them to loose the battle.  When it is over, the ferret drags the heavier creature to its burrow for eating.  Ground squirrels, mice, rabbits and other small animals are also their victims.

Ferrets sometimes use prairie dog burrows as nests where their kits are born in early summer and raised by the mother.  Sometime before fall, each young ferret moves to a solitary burrow were it makes its home and carries back whatever it captures for its own consumption.

In the Lord God’s original creation all things lived peacefully together, but when Adam and Eve brought sin into the world, that perfection was ruined, affecting all living things.  And today, lions, tigers, ferrets, hawks, falcons, sharks and many other creatures still attack and kill one another.

But the Bible gives us cheerful news about a coming day when “the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the  lion shall eat straw like the ox. . . .  They shall not hurt not destroy . . .for the earth shall be full of  the knowledge of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:7-9).

Before that takes place, all who know the Lord Jesus Christ as their own Saviour will have been called to heaven and will look down on this peaceful scene with thankful praise to God for restoring His creation so wonderfully.  Will you be in heaven with those people?

Love you all,

Grandpa

Jewel # 206 (Feb. 17, 2015)

“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 Ways of the Beaver

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things,

and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”

(Revelation 4:11)

Once there were millions of beavers in streams, lakes and ponds throughout Canada and the United States, but to meet demands of fashion, trappers killed them mercilessly for their lovely fur, nearly wiping them out.  Fortunately, the fashion designers changed their designs so that beavers were spared to gradually rebuild their colonies.  Should you be visiting some of the mountain areas of the West or lakes in the North, you might get a glimpse of this fascinating creature.

Water is a prime necessity for the beaver, and God has provided it with adaptability to its wet surroundings.  A full-grown animal will be about 3 1/2 feet long, including a flat tail about five inches wide and a foot long.  This tail is most important; a beaver uses it, along with with its paws, to plaster its home and dams with mud.  Its tail is also a rudder for this excellent, web-footed swimmer and serves as a support while it stands on shore or gnaws on trees and shrubs.  When a beaver slaps that flat tail hard on the water’s surface, the sound is a warning for its companions to seek cover from an enemy coming too close for comfort.

This animal is a remarkable engineer, building watertight dams, some a half mile long, to form ponds.  It also builds a house or lodge as much as eight feet high and thirty feet in diameter.  Several beaver families may live in these lodges and have rooms for storing food for winter and other rooms for raising their young.  Here they are safe from their enemies, for their entrances and exits are all underwater, although the living quarters are always high and dry.

A beaver’s most prominent feature is its teeth, which are large, sharp and strong.  It uses them to cut down trees, which are then used in building dams, homes or for food.  Incidentally, their teeth never stop growing.  To keep them from getting hopelessly long, they must wear them down by gnawing.

The amazing skills of the beaver didn’t come about by trial and error.  God provided them with every feature and ability when He created them.

God puts a responsibility on all mankind to recognize His Son as the Creator of all things.  But more important yet, He has been made known to the world as the Saviour to those who trust in Him or as the Judge to those who refuse Him.  “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36).  How solemn  the warning,“Take heed . . . lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, departing from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12).

Love you all

Grandpa

Jewel # 205 (Feb. 13, 2015)

Alyssa petting an Iguana in Exuma - January 2015

“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,

Iguanas Love the Heat (Part 1)

“Ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee. . . . Who knoweth not 

in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? 

in whose hand is the life of every living thing.” 

(Job 12:7-10)

Many varieties of lizards, Iguanas, chameleons and geckos live in warm areas of the Eastern and Western hemispheres.  Lets take a look at a few closely related ones, including the iguana that makes its home where sunshine is abundant, particularly in desert areas.

While lizards are rather drab and plain looking, iguanas are often colourful.  One is the Fijian crested, a resident of the Fiji islands.  It is large, about three feet long with its tail taking up more than half of that length.  It is coloured in shades of green, usually banded with white stripes around its body and tail.  It has amber eyes and a yellow snout.  It has long, spidery “fingers” on the ends of each leg.  the two center fingers are about twice as long as the other three, but all are equipped with sharp claws to help in climbing trees where it makes its home.  Like many other iguanas, this one eats mostly leaves and flowers, but it will also eat crickets and other insects.  Iguanas use their tail as self-defence. 

Another, the desert iguana, is much smaller and is a native of the American  deserts.  It can stand hotter temperatures than most others, and partly because it is a night worker and is seldom outside during the day.  It nests under fallen branches of Joshua trees and yucca plants.  Desert country is, of course, usually barren except for the Joshua trees, yucca, cacti, sagebrush and creosote bushes.  It is from the creosote bush that this little fellow gets most of his food, by climbing into the bush to eat its flowers and foliage.  This iguana also eats insects.  The Creator has given it a digestive system that takes the moisture from this food to satisfy its thirst in a land where no water may be found.

As we see how these obscure animals are provided for, we recall how the psalmist was impressed with God’s care over all His creatures: “These wait all upon Thee; that Thou mayest  give them their food in due season”(Psalm 104:27).“He gives to the beast his food”(Psalm 147:9).  Iguanas and lizards have no way of knowing their Creator is watching over them, but in the Bible we learn how much He loves and cares for every boy and girl and grown-up.  One verse says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights”(James 1:17).  

Have you ever thanked Him for His many gifts and especially the gift of His Son, 

the Lord Jesus Christ, to be your Saviour?

(To be continued) 

Love you all,

Grandpa  

Jewel # 204 (Feb. 6, 2015)

Alyssa petting an Iguana in Exuma - January 2015

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,

Iguanas Love the Heat (Part 1)

Ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee. . . . Who knoweth not 

in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? 

in whose hand is the life of every living thing.

(Job 12:7-10)

Many varieties of lizards, Iguanas, chameleons and geckos live in warm areas of the Eastern and Western hemispheres.  Lets take a look at a few closely related ones, including the iguana that makes its home where sunshine is abundant, particularly in desert areas.

While lizards are rather drab and plain looking, iguanas are often colourful.  One is the Fijian crested, a resident of the Fiji islands.  It is large, about three feet long with its tail taking up more than half of that length.  It is coloured in shades of green, usually banded with white stripes around its body and tail.  It has amber eyes and a yellow snout.  It has long, spidery "fingers" on the ends of each leg.  the two center fingers are about twice as long as the other three, but all are equipped with sharp claws to help in climbing trees where it makes its home.  Like many other iguanas, this one eats mostly leaves and flowers, but it will also eat crickets and other insects.  Iguanas use their tail as self-defence. 

Another, the desert iguana, is much smaller and is a native of the American  deserts.  It can stand hotter temperatures than most others, and partly because it is a night worker and is seldom outside during the day.  It nests under fallen branches of Joshua trees and yucca plants.  Desert country is, of course, usually barren except for the Joshua trees, yucca, cacti, sagebrush and creosote bushes.  It is from the creosote bush that this little fellow gets most of his food, by climbing into the bush to eat its flowers and foliage.  This iguana also eats insects.  The Creator has given it a digestive system that takes the moisture from this food to satisfy its thirst in a land where no water may be found.

As we see how these obscure animals are provided for, we recall how the psalmist was impressed with God's care over all His creatures:"These wait all upon Thee; that Thou mayest  give them their food in due season"(Psalm 104:27)."He gives to the beast his food"(Psalm 147:9). Iguanas and lizards have no way of knowing their Creator is watching over them, but in the Bible we learn how much He loves and cares for every boy and girl and grown-up.  One verse says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights"(James 1:17).  

Have you ever thanked Him for His many gifts and especially the gift of His Son, 

the Lord Jesus Christ, to be your Saviour?

(To be continued) 

Love you all,

Grandpa  

Jewel # 203 (Jan. 31, 2015)

"And they shall be Mine, saith the the Lord 

of hosts, in that day when I

make up MY JEWELS.” 

(Malachi 3:17)

To my dear grandchildren,

The Playful Seal

“Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually.

Remember His marvellous works that he hath done.”

(1 Chronicles 16:11-12)

Seals are excellent swimmers and divers and spend most of their time in the water.  They are not as fast as dolphins in water but are more flexible and agile.  They live in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, mostly in cold northern waters, but many migrate thousands of miles south in winter.  Others never go north, but are quite content to remain year-round in warm southern climates.  A few kinds of seals are found in fresh water.

A mother seal usually has just one pup a year, born on land, because it cannot swim until she teaches it.  She nurses the pup for about four months, and during this time she frequently leaves it for several days while she goes after her own food - shrimp, clams, fish and other sea creatures.  At these times, her pup joins hundreds like itself, all temporarily left alone.  When she returns, she barks loudly and several pups may come to her.  But the Creator has given her the ability to single out her own pup by its individual odour and its tiny bark which she recognizes.  Its hunger is soon satisfied.

The Creator has provided seals with nostrils and ear openings which close automatically when they dive or swim underwater.  They also have been given special eyelids to protect there eyes underwater.  Seals can dive over 1,000 feet deep. 

In ice-covered waters, they use their sharp teeth to make air vents in the ice where they poke their heads through for fresh air about every 15 minutes.  They also crawl out of the same hole to rest occasionally.  Sometimes this is dangerous since a hunter or a polar bear may be waiting to catch them.  All seals have a layer of blubber to help keep them warm.  The blubber, which may be an inch to six inches thick, is also a source of energy when they can find no food.  

A seal is graceful in the water, but its travel on land is another story.  It has to lift itself up on its webbed flippers, arch its back and push with hind flippers to move forward in mighty jerks.  This looks awkward, but they can move fast when necessary. 

Seals are quite intelligent and are quick to learn tricks.  They can learn to balance balls on the tips of their noses, leap out of the water on command, jump through fiery hoops and other tricks.  They are always rewarded with a fish treat.

These creatures with such interesting habits are another example of the wonders of God’s creation.  The Bible gives good counsel when it tells us, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).  Be like King David who did not hesitate to say, “I will show forth all Thy marvellous works.  I will be glad and rejoice in Thee” (Psalm 9:1-2). 

I love you all,

Grandpa  

Jewel # 202 (Jan. 21, 2015)

Carson holding a Hermit Crab in the Bahamas a few days ago.

“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 

“Thou art worthy , O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power:

for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they

are and were created.”

(Revelation 4:11)

Millions of Crabs

There are about 4,500 different kinds of saltwater, fresh water and land crabs.  All have flat bodies covered by hard shells, eyestalks, and five pairs of legs covered with pointed shells.  The two front legs are usually equipped with toothed pincers.  Crabs that swim have flattened hind legs that work like paddles.  If a crab losses its claw, the claw grows back. 

Hermit crabs use all kinds of empty shells for their homes.  They sometimes carry poisonous sea anemones on their backs as protection from enemies.  The anemone shares the crab’s food by reaching its tentacles into the crab’s mouth when it is feeding.  Its poison normally would kill the crab, but when they live together it does not harm the crab.  Only God could make this possible!

In somewhat the same way the cowboy crab of Hawaii carries an anemone in each of its two front claws to frighten its enemies.  It often joins the anemones in eating the food killed by their poison.

One called the sponge crab cuts out a piece of sponge just the right size and places it over its back as a disguise.  It uses a special pair of legs God gave it for this clever trick.

Mole crabs bury themselves in the sand, leaving only their mouth parts and eyestalks exposed.  Large numbers of them live together catching food this way from outgoing waves.

Ghost crabs, the colour of sand, blend with the seashore and live in burrows on the beach.  They leave their burrows at night to explore for food and scurry back at dawn.  Hiding in their burrows for the day, they close the openings behind them so cleverly that no one would guess they were there.  During summer they store food for use when going underground in the fall.  They do not appear again until spring and come out dressed in new shells.

Land crabs in the Samoan Islands live among rocks in the hills.  Every October and November, exactly four days before the last quarter of the new moon, they travel down to the ocean in great numbers.  Instead of going around rocks, tree stumps, and even houses, they march in a straight line, crawling right over them.

Do you think the Lord their Creator, cares about crabs?  We know He does for the Bible tells us “all things were created by Him, and for Him: and He is before  all things, and by Him all things are provided for” (Colossians 1:16-17).

He also has created you and me, and His care and love are over us at all times.  He invites us to learn about Himself through His holy Word, the Bible, and accept His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Saviour.  Have you obeyed the Bible verse that says, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth” (Ecclesiastes 12:1)?  

Love you all,

Grandpa

Jewel # 201 (Jan. 7, 2015)

             

“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 Gentle Eider Duck

“He shall cover thee with His feathers, and 

under His wings shalt thou trust.”

(Psalm 91:4)

People who live in Iceland, and many other northern islands, are well acquainted with the eider duck, a sea duck.  These birds are seen each May and June when large numbers migrate there to nest and raise their young.  These pretty, marbled-brown birds, which weigh about five pounds, have gentle dispositions.  They live entirely on seafood while in the breeding grounds.  Their large webbed feet propel these excellent divers through the water to the bottom where they find crabs, mussels and oysters to eat.

On these far-northern islands, there are no trees, swamps or brush in which to build nests - only level ground.  But in May and June, great areas are covered with short, green grasses, in which these ducks are able to hide their nests.  Because there are so many ducks present at one time, they nest close together.  During the four weeks of incubating her eggs, the mother duck never eats and only leaves her nest for a short time each morning to take a bath.

The Creator has provided the eider duck with warm feathers and down to preserve it from the intense cold of the northern climate.  After laying her eggs, often in the same nest year after year, the female plucks a large quantity of this warm, feathery down from her body to make a blanket to cover the eggs.  This down blanket keeps the eggs warm when she leaves for her morning bath.  Isn’t it wonderful how the Lord God, the Creator, has given the mother duck the instinct for this?

There is always a market for this duck’s soft down, for it has better insulating quality than any man-made fibers.  It is called “eiderdown” and is used to fill pillows and make warm comforters.  It is also used in linings of jackets and other outdoor clothing.

The mother duck is very gentle and allows men to lift her off the nest and remove the down.  After she is replaced on the nest, she plucks more down from her breast to make a new covering for her eggs.  During the nesting season, she allows this to happen twice but will desert her nest and its eggs if it’s done a third time.  The down is so light that it takes three dozen nests to produce a pound of down!

The opening Bible verse likens the Lord’s care over His own to that of birds such as the eider duck.  But His love and care are far greater than that of the most loving bird.  He says,“I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee”(Jeremiah 31:3).  He has fully shown this love by giving His life on Calvary’s cross to wash away the sins of all who will accept Him as Saviour.

Are you sheltered“under His wings"? 

Love you all,

Grandpa