Jewel # 347 part 2 (Jan. 27, 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  

Kings and Emperors of the Penguins  (Part 2)

God in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

(Job 12:10)

In our last issue we looked at the King penguin.  Now lets's explore the one called the Emperor penguin.  Perhaps both names, King and Emperor, were chosen because these birds are the largest of all penguins.  They stand three to four feet  high and weigh from 40 to 50 pounds.

There are similarities between the two, but also definite differences.  For instance, Emperors do not like grassy or muddy places for homes; they chose only snow or ice in cold Antarctic areas.  Colonies may vary from a few hundred to a million or more.

Another difference is in their colouring. The Emperor’s head is black.  Its sharp, strong beak is greyish, with a red mouth and bill plates (lips).  The yellow of its chest extends partway around its neck, with snow white below the yellow.  Thick, waterproof feathers hide its legs from view.  A solid black coat on the back makes a group standing together look like short men dressed in tuxedos.

They mostly stand when not in water.  Very seldom does one stoop over unless feeding a young chick.  Then the parent bends over to deposit previously eaten and digested seafood in the chick’s mouth.  

They seem to enjoy sliding on snow or ice.  When they come to a long, sloping, smooth place, they get down on their stomachs and use their strong, narrow wings like arms to push off.  At the same time they kick their feet and enjoy a good long slide, like a boy or girl on a sled.

Penguins can swim faster than fish and catch them from behind, using their strong, spike-like beaks.  Sometimes they swim at great depths for 10 or 15 minutes.  If you have tried holding your breath for even one or two minutes, you will realize how wonderfully the Creator has designed them for this purpose.

Mother and father Emperors incubate just one egg each year.  They handle this responsibility differently than the Kings do.  The father takes the first turn, holding the egg on his feet in a warm pouch for two weeks (compared with two months for the father King).  Then the mother, who has been feeding in the ocean, returns to take her two-week turn, and then they switch again.  At the end of about two months the chick hatches, and both parents share in its feeding until it is big enough to care for itself.

As the opening Bible verse indicates, every living thing has been created by God, and He watches over all.  When He gave life and form to each creature, He “saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:21).  Although “evolution” tries to leave God out, how much better to believe the truth—what God tells us in the Bible.

Love you all - Grandpa  

Jewel # 346 part 1 (Jan. 18, 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

Kings and Emperors of the Penguins

“Unto thee it was showed, that thou mightest know that 

the Lord He is God; there is none else beside Him.”

(Deuteronomy 4:35)

There are millions of penguins of many varieties.  Most live in the cold Antarctic regions.  In this and the following issue we will look at two varieties of these birds—the Kings and the Emperors.

Penguins walk with a clumsy waddle.  They stand together in dense crowds, often shrieking noisily at one another.  They cannot fly, but they are excellent swimmers.  Their strong wings act as flippers and, along with their webbed feet, provide power for diving and swimming.  They can dive more than 800 feet deep and stay below as long as 15 minutes.  The Creator who made the salty oceans their homeland, made it possible for them to drink salt water and eat snow since fresh water is hardly ever available.

King penguins avoid ice and snow when possible and prefer small islands in the sub-Arctic with bare or rocky shores.  Great numbers crowd together so tightly that from a distance they look like a pretty carpeted field.

They are brightly coloured.  Their heads are deep brown or black, fringed with red at their necks with a strip of orange and yellow.  Backs and wings are dark blue, contrasted with white bodies.  Orange spots on each side of their head look like brightly coloured earmuffs.

A pair does not make a nest as most birds do.  Instead, when the single egg is laid (on bare ice), the male takes over its care.  He works it into a warm spot between his two feet and covers it with a  soft pouch the Creator has provided for this purpose.  He stands there for nearly two months, without food or water, turning the egg over from time to time.

Amazingly, the female, who has been feeding in the ocean all this time, returns the very day that the baby hatches out.  (How did she know the right time?)  She then takes over feeding the chick with pre-digested food. Meanwhile the male takes to the water, stuffing himself with seafood and returns in two weeks to help out.  From then on the parents follow the two-week, switch-over schedule until the little one can take care of itself.

Here is another example of God’s care over all His creation, far beyond our ability to understand.  The Bible tells us that “known unto God are all His works” (Act 15:18), but nothing compares with the care He shows to every human being.  The Lord Jesus gave His life on the cross to pay for the sins of all who know Him as Saviour. How can we know Him as Saviour?  When a prison keeper asked, “What must I do to be saved?” the answer was, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Act 16:30-31).  

Do you believe on Him and have the eternal life He promises?

(To be continued)

Love you all - Grandpa

Jewel # 345 (Jan. 9, 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

The Cheerful Cardinal

“He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. . . .  By them shall the fowls . . . have their habitation, which sing among the branches.” (Psalm 104:10-12)  

There are so many beautiful birds throughout the world—all part of God’s creation—that it is impossible to select one as being the prettiest.  But somewhere near the top of the list is the lively, cheerful cardinal. 

The male is particularly showy in his bright red feathers with a black, mask-like face and throat and black tips on his wings and tail.  He has a perky, red, feathery crest on top of his head.  The female is also pretty, but her pale brown with reddish tinges is not quite so showy.

Both male and female are cheerful, swift and busy birds.    They have a variety of lovely songs that can be heard long distances through the forests of the eastern United States and as far west as South Dakota and Texas.  They are also welcome residents of Ontario, Manitoba and Nova Scotia and an attractive addition to any neighbourhood fortunate enough to have a pair.  Farmers are happy when they settle nearby, for they eat great quantities of insects and harmful weed seeds.

Although the female’s song is softer than the male’s, it too is clear and cheerful, and both sing throughout the year.  And that’s another nice feature—they don’t migrate.  How striking is the flash of their bright red feathers as they fly over the snow or perch on a snow-covered tree branch to sing a happy song!

In springtime males and females nest in low shrubbery to raise a family—the male winning his mate by bringing her seeds and cracking the hard shell for her.  She seems content to do most of the nest building as long as he feeds her.  The finished nest is lined with soft material, and then a clutch of three or four bluish-white eggs is laid in it, hatching out in about two weeks.  Two to four clutches are produced each year.

The baby cardinals are fed by both parents.  After about ten days, they are ready to take their first flight.  Soon after they fly, the mother leaves them, and the responsibility of teaching them the ways of bird life is left to the father. But he seems to enjoy doing this.

Do you think God cares about cardinals?  Yes, He surely does, for they are His creation and included in this Bible verse: “These wait all upon Thee; that Thou mayest give them their food in due season” (Psalm 104:27).

And how wonderful God’s care over you!  He includes you in another verse that says, “God our Saviour; who will have all people to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3-4).  

Are you one who has been saved by confessing to Him that you are a sinner and accepting the Lord Jesus as your Saviour?

Love you all - Grandpa     

Jewel # 344 (Jan. 2, 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

Turkeys—Wild and Tame

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

Wild turkeys are are large game birds of North America related to pheasants.  The sight of a big turkey displaying its beautifully feathered body, particularly when out in the wild, is something a person is not likely to forget.

Except for one all-white variety, brownish-red is the prominent colour for many of them, blending with blue, tan, brown and orange—and a little white trimming.  These colours are best seen when a male is trying to win a female companion.  He fans out his massive tail feathers to display his beauty.  Then he adds to this display soft gurgles and an occasional loud gobble, which is so loud it can often be heard a mile away.  Male turkeys are called toms, and females are called hens, and chicks are called poults. 

The wild turkey of North America lives as far south as Mexico.  At one time many lived as far north as Maine and southern Ontario.  The natives found them an important source of food, and they were a favourite bird of the pioneer hunters.  By the end of the nineteenth century, the wild turkey had been hunted almost to extinction in much of its original range.  Today it has been reestablished in much of its original range.  In every place, they are a favourite fall game bird for many hunters.  However, turkeys have amazing eyesight and are very stealthy.

Over the years, raising domestic turkeys has become a tremendously big business—at times just a few in a farmer’s backyard or hundreds and even thousands are raised on large turkey farms.  This contributes to an immense market for corn and other grains for these always-hungry birds as they are fattened up for year-round markets.

Most of us look forward to the October, November and December holidays and the roast turkey dinners that represents a big part of them, along with other luscious foods.  After a prayer of thanksgiving to the real provider, the Lord Jesus, the delicious dark and white meat is enjoyed, along with stuffing and tasty vegetables and a piece of apple or pumpkin pie for dessert.  Yum, yum!

The beginning Bible verse is one of many in which the Lord was causing Job to realize that his pride was wrong, in spite of his boasting.  When the Lord finished, Job replied, “I have heard of Thee . . . mine eye seeth Thee: Wherefore I am disgusted with myself and repent” (Job 42:5-6).

It is good for each of us also to be humbled when we think not only of the Lord’s wondrous creation, but also of His great love for us.  He invites us to trust in Him and His finished work on Calvary’s cross and to accept Him as our Lord and Saviour.  Nothing is more important!  What about you?  Is He your Lord and Saviour?

Love you all - Grandpa  

Jewel # 343 (Dec. 21, 2018)

African Flying Squirrel

“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

Africa’s Flying Squirrel

"I will meditate also of all Thy work, and talk of Thy doings. . . . 

Thou art the God that doest wonders.”

(Psalm 77:12,14)

It is easy to see how the African flying squirrel got its name, even though it is not really a squirrel nor does it actually fly.  It lives high in the trees of Africa and is rarely seen, because it is active mostly at night. 

This flying squirrel is about the size of an American gray squirrel with a bushy tail as long as it body.  The Creator gave this pretty little fellow smooth, soft, mole-like fur.  He also supplied it with several special features for its survival.

One of these features is a fold of skin on each side of the body that connects the front and back legs.  When the squirrel stretches out its legs, the folds of skin also stretch to form gliding “wings.”  It seems to be flying, but it is actually gliding.

Because the folds of skin are attached so securely to its body, this squirrel cannot walk or run.  Most of its traveling is done by gliding from one tree to another.  When ready to glide, it lowers its head and pushes off with its hind legs.  Using its busy tail as a rudder, it glides through the air to a lower point on another tree.  Anyone watching this spectacular glide would think it would crash.  But at the last instant, it turns and lands head up, ready to explore the new tree.  This is the way the Lord God created this flying squirrel, and even the young do not have to practice these moves.

This animal has an unusual method of climbing trees.  Like a measuring worm, it grasps the trunk with its front claws, arches its body, and pulls up both hind feet.  Then, with the claws of the hind feet clinging tightly, the front feet let go and move upward.  In spite of this awkward way of climbing, it moves quickly up the tree.  It is helped in its climb by tough scales covered with sharp, hard spikes which are found near where the tail and body are joined.  These spikes dig into the trunk, not only helping the hind legs to hold tightly, but also helping to push the body upward.

God has made a way of life for each of His creatures.  Man, God’s special creation, has been told in the Bible of two ways.  Man is warned in Proverbs 14:12 that“there is a way which seems right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death.”  But in John 14:6, the Lord Jesus is called “the way, the truth, and the life.”  He is also called the “new and living way” by which we can “draw near to God with a true heart in full assurance of faith" (Hebrews 10:20,22).

Which way are you following? 

Love you all - Grandpa

Jewel # 342 (Dec. 11, 2018)

                             

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

Wolves are Tough

"Beware of false teachers . . . in sheep's clothing, 
but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (Matthew 7:15)

It’s often hard to tell one species of wolf from another, because there may be several colours of fur in one pack.  They are rather handsome animals.  Those in Europe are mostly gray in colour, while the North American wolves may be white, gray, brown or black.

Few dogs match them in size.  Some wolves measure as much as six feet from nose to tip of tail and may weigh 150 pounds or more.  They also have longer legs and larger feet than dogs.  Incidentally, the animals called prairie wolves are actually coyotes, but all are part of the dog family.

Large numbers of wolves live in the middle areas of the North American continent and in smaller numbers in almost every other part of the United States and Canada.  There are estimated to be more than six thousand in the state of Alaska, most staying there year-round.  A few are in Glacier National Park, Montana, and some are beginning to show up in other national parks.

All wolves have sharp eyesight along with a keen sense of smell and hearing, so that it is difficult for hunters to get near them.  Wolves can travel for hours at about 20 miles per hour.  They are master hunters and experts at hiding, sometimes pressing against a big rock or the side of a bare hill that matches the colour of their fur.  A person might walk close by and never see a well-hidden wolf.

Wolves have strong family ties and often mate for life.  Pups get lots of attention, not only from both parents but also from others in the pack.  They soon outgrow that time of life and are assigned a place in the pack when hunting or traveling.

Each wolf, regardless of age, is always in its own position in the pack.  The pack leader is never challenged unless seriously injured or getting old, when its time for another leader to take over.  Packs often travel great distances in their search for elk, deer, caribou or occasional bear that is not too big for them to handle.  When on its own, a lone wolf is continually looking for smaller prey, including rabbits, weasels, squirrels, birds and even large insects, frogs and fish.

The Bible often warns about false teachers, as in our opening verse.  They are like vicious wolves, wanting to capture us with their evil ideas.  But the Bible also provides excellent instruction to any who want to turn away from evil:  “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and the good and pure things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

Another verse tells us that “the Word of the Lord endures forever” (1 Peter1:25).

Are you trusting in the Bible’s pure and sure promises?             

Love you all - Grandpa

Jewel # 341 (Dec. 4, 2018)

“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 Frisky Marten

“Who knows not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing.”

(Job 12:9-10)

There are countless beautiful and interesting animals living in the wild, rarely seen because much of their activity is at night or they live in places difficult to reach.

One of these is the marten, living in much of Canada, Alaska and other parts of the United States.  Sometimes it is incorrectly referred to as a sable or fisher-marten, but it is somewhat different than these, although closely related.  This animal’s soft fur is usually greyish-brown above and lighter below.  In past years, hunters trapped them in winter months, when their fur is at its best quality, but this hunting is generally no longer permitted.

The marten is a slim, fur-covered mammal, about two feet long and looks similar to a weasel.  It has a rather pointed face, with large ears and large, alert eyes—provisions of the Creator to enable it to identify sounds quickly and see well when hunting at night.  

It is mostly at home in trees where it can keep up with the liveliest squirrel or chipmunk.  Part of its tree-food comes from birds’ eggs and small birds taken from nests, but it finds other food on the ground as well.  This includes almost all small animals, such as squirrels and mice, snakes and ground birds.  It has a “sweet tooth” and is not afraid to rob a bee-hive, since its thick fur protects it from bee stings.  Unlike the fisher-marten, it will not go into deep water but does catch frogs and fish near the shore.

In late spring, the mother usually gives birth to two or three young in a den, usually made in a hollow log or a tree.  The young are born with a light covering of soft fur and are extremely tiny, weighing only an ounce or so, but they are fully grown in three months.  While growing, they are frisky and full of pep, having harmless fights among themselves.  Later that energy is spent in continual hunting for food or fighting other animals.

Though martens are rarely seen by people, they are always see by their Creator who reminds us in Jeremiah 23:24, “Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him?”  And this Creator, the Lord God, whose eyes are always on them, is the One who provides for them as well, for He cares for all His creatures.  How thankful we should be that He is also watching over each of us.  The Bible assures us of this: “The ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his goings” (Proverbs 5:21).

Is He pleased when He sees the ways of your life each day?          

Love you all - Grandpa