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Category: God’s Creatures

Reminders from the Animals

Reminders from the Animals

I have always been a lover of nature … a lover of God’s creation.  Consequently, I’ve always loved God’s creatures.  I find them fascinating, wonderful, and beautiful in their own right.

I also find God’s animals instructive.  There is much they can teach us!  As I considered sharing a Thanksgiving blog built around God’s animals and the lessons they can impart, it was not surprising to find that the Lord himself used animals to illustrate many things in the Scriptures.

As we prepare to celebrate another Thanksgiving, we can learn a few lessons from God’s creatures.  They offer some great reminders to us humans of the blessings we enjoy.

Mountain Goats Move Us to Appreciate Our Birth

“Do you know when the mountain goats give birth?  Do you watch when the doe bears her fawn?  Do you count the months till they bear?  Do you know the time they give birth?  They crouch down and bring forth their young; their labor pains are ended.  Their young thrive and grow strong in the wilds.” (Job 39:1-4)

All the animals in the world today trace their lineage back to Creation.  Through all those thousands of years God has preserved their species since he created them.  Year after year the animals have bred and given birth, and they are still here today.  What an amazing gift from God!

And when we consider where mountain goats live – along steep cliffs and on treacherous terrain – it’s all the more amazing that they should still be here.  And that they are able to deliver their young in such precarious places.

When was last time we gave thanks that we were born?  It’s not an automatic, you know.  A lot could have happened to keep us from entering this world.

Of course, we have our parents to thank for that.  But also the Lord, for he made it happen.  He gave us life and preserved us already in our mother’s wombs.  He brought us safely into the world … and that’s no small thing!

But more than that.  Our gracious God sustains our lives every single day.  There was no guarantee we would wake up this morning, or that we would make it this far through the day.  Yet here we are.

Our entrance into this world, our very existence, our general health – we tend to take these all for granted.  Yet they are all wonderful gifts from God.

The mountain goats remind us to be thankful for our births … and our lives!

Birds Remind Us That God Provides Food

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  … Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?”  (Matthew 6:25-26)

Not too many of us would do well as a bird. 

Besides the fact that we aren’t very proficient at flying, there’s also this: How would we like waking up in our nest each morning, and not knowing where our food for ourself and our young was going to come from that day?  And yet, this is a daily occurrence for the birds.

As humans, we want our pantries, refrigerators, and freezers full.  And for most of us they are!  If we are lacking something, we probably have the luxury of going to one of multiple stores within a few miles of our house to quickly and easily pick up what we want or need.

Think about our Thanksgiving meal.  There is undoubtedly no question whether we will have food that day, or even what specific foods we will have.  We’ve known for weeks.  For months even!  And that food was probably safely stored away well in advance.

Why can we be so confident about our Thanksgiving meal?  Why are our pantries, refrigerators, and freezers stocked? Why do we have such an abundance of food?  Is it because we are such good planners and providers?  Or because we live in a land of bounty?

No.  It’s because our gracious God provides for us so richly!  He provides so much food that we can’t begin to relate to the birds who gather their food day-by-day … and yet are provided for by the Lord just as richly.

We are so blessed!  God gives us our daily bread … and all the additional edibles we could ever want or need!

The birds remind us to be thankful for the rich abundance of food God gives us.

Foxes Remind Us We Have Homes

Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests … ”  (Matthew 8:20)

God gives all of his creatures a home, and the fox is no exception.

A fox den is typically 30 or more feet in length … and can be as long as even 90 feet.  It has multiple entrances and multiple rooms inside.  It’s a pretty simple, yet very functional, place for a fox to live.

We all have homes too.  They might be large or small, newer or older.  They might be houses, apartments, or condos.  They might not be all that attractive, or they might be quite appealing.  They might have long lists of things that need to be done, or they might not.

It doesn’t matter; we all have a home, and our home is a wonderful gift from God.

How cozy it is for the foxes when they crawl in their den.  And how cozy for us when we walk into our own home. 

We have embedded our personal touches everywhere throughout our homes.  There are the pictures of our loved ones and our many mementos.  In the closets and dressers are our clothes; around the house our possessions.  There is our favorite chair and, in our bedroom, our own bed.

And God gave it all to us, just as he gives the foxes their dens. 

The foxes remind us to be thankful for our homes here on earth.  But even more importantly, for our homes in heaven … which Jesus secured for us by leaving his home in heaven and coming to earth to redeem us so we could one day transition from earth to heaven to be with him in our “forever home.”

Deer/Ibex Demonstrate the Guidance God Gives Us

For who is God besides the Lord?  And who is the Rock except our God?  It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.  He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.  (Psalm 18:31-33)

If you have ever watched a deer in the woods, then you know how nimble they are.  They weave through brushy tangles, step over fallen logs and broken branches, and leap larger obstacles with ease. 

In these verses, David is almost certainly speaking about the Nubian ibex, which are native to Israel.  (The picture at the top of this post is an ibex.)  They scramble up and down mountainsides, and jump from boulder to boulder.  God has made them amazingly sure-footed on the most precarious of perches. 

In the same way as deer and ibex, we have all kinds of obstacles in our paths.  Spiritual challenges.  Health issues.  Monetary concerns.  Relationship struggles.

And yet God promises to guide us through.  That doesn’t mean that he always fixes everything or does things exactly the way we want him to do things.  But he takes us step by step through the low times, around the obstacles, and ultimately into the heights of blessing.

Sometimes we are convinced the path is too long or too steep.  Sometimes we just want to give up.  Yet the Lord stays with us, gives us endurance, guides our steps, and leads us forward and upward.

And then suddenly we realize that God has brought us to the heights.  With his help we’ve overcome; we’ve conquered our challenges.  (We’ll see the ultimate fulfillment of this truth when God guides us into heaven!)

The deer and ibex remind us to be thankful for God’s guidance of our steps through life … and into Life.

Eagles Encourage Us That We Are Secure

Does the eagle soar at your command and build his nest on high?  He dwells on a cliff and stays there at night; a rocky crag is his stronghold.  (Job 39:27-28)

Eagles, of course, build their nests in the highest heights.  In the rocky crags of cliffs or in the tops of the tallest trees.

They build their nests in places that are completely exposed to all the elements.  Imagine being on a cliff-side while the snow and sleet are coming down, or in the top of a tree amidst a howling wind and pouring rain.

Yet the eagles feel absolutely secure there.  There in the heights they are closer to God, and further away from predators. 

Unfortunately for us, this world these days feels anything but secure. There are problems upon problems all around us.  Personal problems, as well as societal, national, global, spiritual and moral ones. 

It feels like we are extremely exposed to the elements of the world and the enemies of God.  Storms are raging about and upon our “nest.”

Yet, like the eagles, we are secure because God is in our foundation, our stronghold.  The almighty, all-knowing, loving and gracious God has us wrapped in his protective care.  The ever-present, eternal Lord is always taking care of us.

How wonderful to know that no problem, no predator, no difficulty, and no enemy will ever reach us unless God allows it.  And if God allows it, he is bringing us blessing through the difficulty!  How wonderful to know that the undefeatable, indefatigable God is holding us up … and holding us together. 

The eagles remind us to be thankful for our security in the Lord

Wild Donkeys and Oxen Remind Us of Our Freedom

“Who let the wild donkey go free?  Who untied his ropes?  I gave him the wasteland as his home, the salt flats as his habitat.  He laughs at the commotion in the town; he does not hear a driver’s shout.  He ranges the hills for his pasture and searches for any green thing.”

“Will the wild ox consent to serve you?  Will he stay by your manger at night?  Can you hold him to the furrow with a harness?  Will he till the valleys behind you?  Will you rely on him for his great strength?  Will you leave your heavy work to him?  Can you trust him to bring in your grain and gather it to your threshing floor?”  (Job 39:5-12)

When Job speaks about the “wild” donkeys and oxen, he is talking about the ones who are “free.”  They aren’t tied and trained; they aren’t harnessed or put to work by humans.  They are free.

Free to go where they want to eat.  Free to drink from whatever water they choose, and whenever they choose it.  Free to sleep when they want and wake when they want.  Free to do as they choose.  

This is no small thing!

When was the last time we thanked God for our freedom?  For freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, freedom to vote, freedom from unfair punishments, freedom from oppression, and freedom to bear arms.  For freedom in so many ways and of so many things!

Besides forgiveness and salvation in Jesus – (which, by the way, is spiritual freedom!) – national freedom is one of the greatest blessings God could give to us.  And he HAS given it to us!

The wild (the free!) animals remind us to be thankful to God for our freedoms here in this great country.

Sparrows and Swallows Show Us a Love for God’s House

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty!  My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.  Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young — a place near your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God.  Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.  (Psalm 84:1-4)

The Sons of Korah who wrote this psalm noticed birds nesting in the eaves of the temple. They were literally living near the altar of God.

And the birds rejoiced in going there!  They rejoiced in staying there.  They felt safe there.  They were comfortable and secure there.  Their needs were supplied there.  They were in the presence of God there.

And so it should be for us.  How blessed we are to be able to gather regularly in God’s House around God’s Word and Sacraments!

We rejoice in going there and staying there.  We feel safe there, and are comfortable and secure there.  Our needs are supplied there, because we are in the presence of God there.

In God’s House God heals our hurts.  There he comforts the sad, strengthens the weak, energizes the weary, guides the unsure, inspires the despairing, and gives hope to the hopeless.  There he soothes our souls.

Of course, God does all these things wherever his Word is present.  But God’s Word is always present in God’s House.  Therefore, we are so blessed to be able to gather there

The sparrows and swallows remind us to be thankful for the opportunity to worship God regularly in God’s house

Eagles Teach Us to Trust

Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.  (Isaiah 40:28-31)

Eagles are amazing, majestic birds. 

Have you ever seen an eagle soar high in the air on the air currents?  They can do so at up to 15,000 feet or higher! 

Instead of fighting against the winds high in the air, the eagles simply glide upon them.  They rarely flap their wings when soaring high above the earth.  They simply glide, soar, and float on the winds.  They don’t need to flap their wings; the air currents keep them aloft.

In the same way, God holds us aloft.  Consequently, we probably want to follow the example of the eagles.

Instead of frantically beating our “wings” against the wind to try to get to where we want to go, we would be wise to simply glide on the currents and let the troubles of this life lift us higher by relying upon the Lord.  The prudent thing is to simply trust him to keep us aloft and trust him to blow us where he wants us to go

Obviously, this is easier said than done.  Yet the more we fly through life, God-willing the more we learn to simply let God lift us and carry us.  Trusting in God is far less work, far more relaxing, and a far more productive way to live than relying upon ourselves.

And not only does God lift us above the temporary difficulties we face, but one day he will lift us all the way to heaven.  There we will truly be above and beyond all the troubles of this world.

The eagles remind us to be thankful for God’s loving care, for both today and always.

Calves Urge Us to Be Joyful

But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.  And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.   (Malachi 4:2)

When calves who have been cooped up for a long time in a barn finally get out, they leap and run and frolic. 

And so it should be for us.  We have been freed from unbelief, sin’s penalty, Satan’s power, and spiritual and eternal death. 

Besides these spiritual blessings, we have also been freed from so many things that the rest of the world is burdened with.  We have life, family, food and a home.  We have God’s guidance, and security through the Lord.  We have freedom and the opportunity to gather regularly in worship.

We have a God who cares for us, who loves us, and who saved us.  Therefore, we have hope, confidence, peace, worth, self-esteem, a purpose and a destiny. 

We have everything we could ever need, and so much more.  We have it all because our gracious God has given it all to us … freely and abundantly … through his love.

Which means we have every reason to be leaping with joy at all of God’s blessings!  And not just at Thanksgiving, but every day!

The calves remind us to be thankful, and to be joyful.

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Psalm 148:1, 7-14
Praise the Lord.

… Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and women, old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. And he has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his faithful servants, of Israel, the people close to his heart.

Praise the Lord.

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Light in the Darkness!

Light in the Darkness!

The other evening while sitting on our small lakeside patio and reveling in the quiet and calming view, I was delighted to realize I was in the presence of a number of fireflies … their beacons beaming brightly.

What an amazing insect!  Amazing, but actually quite common.  At least in more rural, lower-light areas.

Fireflies – also referred to as lightening bugs – are beetles that use bioluminescence during twilight to attract mates or, in some species, prey.  There are actually over 2,000 firefly species worldwide, existing on every continent except Antarctica.  They are a diverse group of insects that inhabit various habitats.  Their preferred habitats are temperate and tropical fields, forests and wetlands.  Though fireflies are also found in more arid areas, most species thrive in warm, humid conditions ideal for their visibility.

The glowing beetles …

“… have a short lifespan characterized by distinct life stages. Adult fireflies typically live only long enough to mate and lay eggs, often not requiring food during this phase. While adults live a mere two months, their larvae can exist for about one to two years before reaching adulthood. During the larval stage, which is where they spend approximately 95% of their lives, fireflies predominantly dwell underground, maturing through winter and spring.”

“Fireflies exhibit varied diets based on their life stages; larvae predominantly prey on soft-bodied insects like snails, slugs, and worms, while adults tend to consume nectar and pollen, with some species skipping feeding altogether.” (https://blog.entomologist.net)

In the United States, adult fireflies will emerge from the ground in the spring and summer, depending on the species of bug and the location of the state (the southern states seeing them earlier).  Of course, the best time to see their bioluminescent flashes are at dusk and dawn, when they are trying to display their charm to potential mates.

I’ve never thought of it quite this way before, but we are the fireflies – the lightening bugs – of the world. 

About himself, Jesus stated, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

About us, he said, “You are the light of the world.  A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

Why do we have spiritual light?  Because of Jesus, our Savior!  We are loved, forgiven, saved and resided in by Jesus, the Light of the World. 

What do we do with the light of Jesus living in us?  We let it shine! 

There are actually some interesting parallels between physical lightening bugs and spiritual ones.  (You and me!)

  • Both beam lights that stand out in the dark. Fireflies in literal darkness; Christians in spiritual darkness.  The deeper the darkness, the brighter their light appears and the more obvious it is.

  • Both fireflies and believers are created by God to shine.

  • Both only have a brief time to shine.

  • With both, their lights attract others – fireflies to physical results; Christians to spiritual ones.

  • Sadly, the numbers of both the literal and the spiritual “fireflies” are diminishing due to environmental (and spiritual) factors.

  • As my children discovered many years ago while we were visiting the Midwest, lightning bugs put into jars end up dying – their lights being extinguished. Neither physical nor spiritual fireflies are intended by God to be put in or under containers. Rather, it is God’s intention they shine freely and brightly.

Watching a firefly display at dusk is mesmerizing.  Lights of faith in spiritual darkness also catch attention, and may be the first step in turning someone’s attention to the Savior. 

So, brothers and sisters in the Lord, let your lights shine! 

More than that.  Beam brightly and boldly!

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The Benefits of Being Selective

The Benefits of Being Selective

I love to watch the birds.

Our God was so creative in his creating process!  Like every aspect of God’s animal kingdom, birds come in multiple sizes and shapes – most with distinctive features and coloration. 

Some diehard bird watchers chase after the birds, going wherever they need to go to hopefully see different species.  I prefer to bring the birds to me.  Of course, the best way to do that is to hang a bird feeder or feeders in a conveniently observed place.

I have two feeders in easy view from our front windows.  One is an oriole feeder with a very specific food unique to drawing in the black and orange birds.  (Grape jelly!) 

The other is a traditional platform feeder with cages on each end for seed blocks, which the woodpeckers like to peck at.  (I thoroughly enjoy watching them!)  In the main part of the feeder, I pour the seed in from the top, and it spills out on both sides of the platform.

The frustration I ran into with the main feeder was that the birds I really don’t care to feed or watch, (especially grackles and red-wing blackbirds), would bully the rest of the birds away while they gorged themselves.  I’d fill the feeder with common birdseed one day and gangs of those piggy black birds would have it completely cleaned out by the next!

One Sunday afternoon my brother-in-law and my nephew stopped over to fish off our dock.  Not only did we catch a few fish and have a great conversation, but my brother-in-law (an avid bird feeder himself) clued me in to safflower seeds.

I had seen bags of safflower seeds for sale in the birding sections of local stores, but I didn’t really know much about it.  After our talk on the dock, I did some quick research on it.  Turns out that grackles and blackbirds don’t like safflower seed!  Squirrels either!

However, cardinals, bluejays, finches, grossbeaks, and chickadees – some of my favorite birds – love them! 

How did I never hear about this before?

So I purchased my first bag of safflower seed and began to mix it in with the regular seed.  Sure enough, the black birds still came, but they pushed the safflower seeds out of the feeder.  After the typical seed was gone, so largely were the bullies.  But the cardinals and finches still came to eat the leftover safflower seeds!

It didn’t take long until I transitioned completely to the new seed. Now I don’t get nearly the quantity of birds at my feeder, but the visual quality of the those who come, and the frequency of their visits, has improved significantly.

It occurred to me that there is a spiritual application to this.  Simply stated, the things that we choose to “feed” our hearts and minds will correlate with what we see in our spiritual lives.

If we are primarily feeding on the usual “seed” that the world ingests, our hearts, minds and lives will probably be rather common – looking much like the rest of the world.  By the same token, if our spiritual diet is elevated to a higher level, so also will our spiritual well-being.

Stated differently, the more we focus on worldly things (wealth, possessions, position, power, success, and etc.), the more worldly we will be tempted to become.  The more we focus on spiritual things (God’s Word, God’s love, God’s forgiveness and salvation, God’s promises, God’s blessings – both now and forever, and etc.), the more Godly we will become, and the more spiritually stunning we will appear.

Being selective in what we feed the birds can provide great dividends.  Being selective in what we feed ourselves can provide even greater ones!  And much more important ones!

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Better Days Are Coming

Better Days Are Coming

I grew up in Michigan.  After over 30 years away, I’m now living in Michigan again … and it’s clear that some things remain unchanged. 

Well do I remember seeing the first robins in the spring as a boy, and how happy they made me!  Winter was passing; summer was on the way!

On the heels of a fairly rough winter, I spotted my first robin on our lawn this past week.  And once again the familiar joy filled me.

I wasn’t the only one to notice.  Some at church brought it up as well.  “I saw a robin!” one said.  “I did too!” replied another.  They clearly felt the same happiness.  Better days are coming!

The presence of robins has often been the focus of poems. Emily Dickinson wrote:

The robin is the one
That interrupts the morn
With hurried, few, express reports
When March is scarcely on.

 The robin is the one
That overflows the noon
With her cherubic quantity,
An April but begun.

William Allingham wrote about robins’ presence in late fall after other birds have fled to warmer climes.  With slight modification, the first verse of his poem, Robin Redbreast, also applies to their presence in late winter or early spring before other birds have returned:

Good-bye, good-bye to [Winter!]
For [Winter’s] nearly done;
The garden smiling faintly,
Cool breezes in the sun;
Our Thrushes now are silent,
Our Swallows flown away, —
But Robin’s here, in coat of brown,
With ruddy breast-knot gay.
Robin, Robin Redbreast,
O Robin dear!
Robin singing sweetly
In the [beginning] of the year.

Many believe that robins migrate south just like other birds – only leaving later and returning earlier.  According to birders, that is partially accurate.  Some robins do indeed fly to warmer areas and some don’t. However, all robins become more mobile in the winter months.

Those who remain north gather in flocks of hundreds or even thousands of birds.  Those flocks become nomadic, constantly moving in search of food.  Normally their diet focuses on worms and insects.  But in the cold months they transition from consuming protein-rich invertebrates to eating vitamin-rich winter fruits and berries provided by junipers, hollies, crabapples, and hawthorns.

Which birds fly south and which stay – and why – is undetermined by experts.  Gender may play a role, with males more likely to remain than females in northern areas. The possible reason?  It offers an obvious territorial advantage to the typically territorial birds, allowing those males early access to the best breeding grounds after the snow melts.  But even the male robins that fly south tend to return several weeks sooner than the females to claim their “space.”

Regardless of whether the robins we notice in our yards have returned from the south or wintered locally, when we see them we know summer is on the way.  And that brings us joy!

Currently, we are in the church season of Lent, when we remember all the torment and anguish Jesus endured to make holy atonement for our transgression and to secure our salvation. The season tends to be sobering – a time of repentance and reflection.  It’s a good and necessary time, but it’s also a bit bitter – rather like winter.

But better days are coming!  Easter is on the way!

Jesus’ resurrection always predominates every church season … every Sunday … every single day … for Christians.  But the morning we celebrate Jesus walking out of his tomb is like no other morning.  Easter is rather like spring.  It’s a time of new life, profound joy, and certain hope.  Consequently, it’s a morning of celebration.

Friends, the robins returning don’t only reassure us that spring is on the way.  They also remind us that Easter is too!  And that is cause for great joy.

“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior …” (Micah 7:7).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

1 Peter 3
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! 

In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 

6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title and start typing.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.  OR simply comment you want to follow and I can add you!

Camouflage Christians?

Camouflage Christians?

I tried to find an answer, but I couldn’t.  Apparently, one actually can’t find everything online. 

I asked the internet to provide the percentage of animals that rely upon some form of camouflage.  No answer was provided.  Lots of information on camouflage, but no percentages.

Therefore, I will provide my best guess and speculate that at least 90 percent of creatures in the animal kingdom are endowed by God with some form of “blending in.”  And that guess may very well be on the low side.

Whether mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, or insect … almost every creature has some natural coloration that helps hide it.  Both predator and prey have life-and-death reasons to be difficult to detect.

The National Geographic website provides this concise definition: 

“Camouflage … is a defense or tactic that organisms use to disguise their appearance, usually to blend in with their surroundings. Organisms use camouflage to mask their location, identity, and movement. This allows prey to avoid predators, and for predators to sneak up on prey.”

Technically, there are four different types of camouflage in the animal kingdom.  AnimalSpot.net describes them:

  1. Cryptic coloration: It is the most familiar type of camouflage where the color of the animal’s body blends with the environment they live. E.g., chameleons, whose green bodies make them merge into their green surroundings.

  2. Disruptive coloration: In this form the contrasting patterns on the animal’s body, break their outline creating an illusory effect. This helps them merge with the environment well. E.g., jaguar, lions.

  3. Self-decoration: This process is mostly used by invertebrates who adorn themselves with many things found in their habitats, like algae, leaves, and mosses, to escape their natural enemies. E.g., sea urchins and sloths.

  4. Disguise: Animals disguise themselves in their surroundings by taking the shape, texture, or color of the inanimate objects around them. E.g., a stick insect looks like a twig or stick, making it hard for its enemies to spot them on a forest floor.

Of course, human hunters also utilize camouflage – all four kinds, to some degree – in their quest for game.  As do soldiers in the field, where blending into their environment can be critical to the success of their mission … not to mention their personal welfare.

Sometimes it’s important for humans to blend in; sometimes it’s crucial we don’t.  When it comes to our lives in this world, God wants us as his followers … (His redeemed!  His children!) … to stand out from the rest!

And here’s the challenge: what our Lord specifically states he desires from us is specifically opposite to what our sinful nature desires.  We are much more comfortable – we actually feel much “safer” – when we blend in with those around us.  That way we aren’t so easily noticed.

But God doesn’t want camouflaged Christians.

Jesus urges us to be “the light of the world” … shining openly and brightly before others so “that they may see [our] good deeds and glorify [our] Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

Similarly, the Holy Spirit moves Paul to write, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Live as children of light  (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.  Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:8-10).

This is much easier acknowledged than accomplished.

Why do we live for Jesus … openly and obviously … even though this means we will stand out?  Even though it will probably bring us some negative attention?  Perhaps even outright persecution?

Not just because the Lord tells us to do so.  But especially because of what the Lord has done for us!

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:1-2).

Or as Peter reminded persecuted Christians in his first letter: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10).

How good and gracious is our God!  How much Jesus suffered for us because he was different!  How much he accomplished for us through his suffering!  He is our motivation to be blatantly open about our allegiance!

No, our goal is not to hide from the world … but to guide the world to their Savior.  And blending in doesn’t allow us to be very effective beacons in the darkness.  So, with God’s help, we shine brightly for him!

That makes us un-camouflaged Christians!

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Mark 8
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

John 15
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. 

2 Corinthians 5
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Galatians 1:10
 10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 2
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 

1 Peter 2
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

1 Peter 3
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 

17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 

1 Peter 4
4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 

1 John 2
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

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He Didn’t Need to Do It

He Didn’t Need to Do It

I love God’s creation.  I am awestruck that our creative creating God formed so much variety in the plant and animal world!  And everything has its place in the balance of nature. 

But while I’m intrigued by its unique characteristics, I admit that snapping turtles don’t command a great deal of my appreciation.  Beige leathery skin camouflaged a dull green on top, and covered with a dull green shell.  A snake-like head with small, beady eyes and protruding nostrils, and a snake-like tail covered with armored ridges.  Long claws protrude from its thick, stumpy legs.

Not only are they ugly, but they can be nasty too.  And especially when they are out of the water, where they feel more vulnerable. 

Generally slow in movement, they can bite astonishingly quickly.  And their bites pack a powerful PSI (pounds per square inch)!  To put it in perspective, humans have a PSI of about 162, most dogs about 200-250, while an alligator snapping turtle can exert an astonishing 1,000 pounds per square inch with its bite!

That’s powerful enough to crush bones, sever fingers, and, as proven in an experiment, cut through a wooden broomstick!  Thankfully, they aren’t generally aggressive in water, where they usually hang out.

I recognize that snapping turtles have their place in God’s creation, but I admit that I wouldn’t go out of my way to see one and certainly not to assist one.

So imagine my surprise recently when I witnessed a young man ushering a snapper across busy McEwan Street here in Clare!

As the locals know, McEwan is essentially “main street” into and out of the city.  It consists of 2 lanes going in both directions, with a turn lane in the middle. (5 lanes altogether.)  Furthermore, the street can get frantically busy, and especially along “hamburger hill” … a stretch just off the freeway packed with restaurants.

Restaurant alley seems an unlikely place for a turtle to decide to cross the street.  Presumably it was a female searching for a suitable place to lay her eggs, and there doesn’t seem to be much habitat in that area for such a thing.  Nevertheless, that’s where she was methodically making her way across the 5 lanes of speeding vehicles.

It could very well have been a mortal mistake on her part.  Except for her benevolent guardian who walked beside her.

He wore no bright clothes; no fluorescent orange or yellow.  He was in drab, every-day clothes that really didn’t allow him to stand out much.  What DID stand out about him was that he was standing out in the middle of a busy street, waving his arms at oncoming traffic!

“What in the world is he doing?” I initially wondered.  Then I saw the turtle.

I don’t know how long that slow trek lasted, but I’m confident that young man stayed with the turtle for the duration.  He didn’t need to do that, but he did.

It occurred to me that this is what our Savior did and does for us.

We are every bit as ugly – spiritually – as that turtle.  Every bit as undeserving.  Every bit as foolish.  Every bit as undesirable.  Yet Jesus desired that we be with him now and forever.

So he stretched out his arms and died for us.  Our sins are atoned for; our salvation secured through him.  He didn’t need to do that, but he did.

And he still walks beside us through the dangers and difficulties of this life!

What a thought.  We are slowly ambulating through circumstances that beset us, imminent destruction surrounding us … and Jesus walks beside us, keeping us safe.  He doesn’t need to do that either, but he does.

“Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;  though lofty, he sees them from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble,  you preserve my life.  You stretch out your hand …; with your right hand you save me” (Psalm 138:6-7).

Thanks be to our God and Savior, who didn’t need to do what he did and does, but who did it and does it anyway! 

How awesome is our God!  How unimaginable his love!  And how comforting his presence.

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Always Soaring, Always Seeing

Always Soaring, Always Seeing

I saw my first wild bald eagle many years ago when we lived in the north end of Tacoma.  One day I was in our backyard when it glided over me.  The sight was thrilling then, and I still remember it clearly. 

Since then I’ve seen many eagles, sometimes quite close.  A few times I’ve actually witnessed them plucking trout out of a lake with their strong talons.  (Once ironically while I was fishing and catching nothing!)  Now I’m actually privileged to see them fairly regularly over the lake behind our house.

They are majestic birds; so inspiring that they were named the national bird of the United States of America. 

Yet it wasn’t that long ago that bald eagles were at risk of disappearing altogether from the contiguous states.  Just 30 years ago, bald eagles were on the US government’s list of endangered species.  However, with special protection, the birds have made a wonderful recovery.  In 1995, they were transferred from the US endangered species list to the threatened species list.  By 2007 their numbers were strong enough that they graduated even from the “threatened” designation.

The bald eagle derives its name from the white feathered heads of the mature adults.  The bodies of adult birds in the lower states are typically 2 ½ to 3 ½ feet, their wingspans usually from 6 to 7 ½ feet, and their weight from 6 ½ to almost 14 pounds.  Alaskan bald eagles of both genders are even larger!  In an interesting twist in the animal world, the females are typically 25 percent larger than the males. 

Eagles can fly as high as 15,000 feet above the earth, and as fast as 65 miles per hour.  Though their preference is to soar lazily on rising thermals, if diving for food, they can reach the astonishing speed of 200 miles per hour!

Bald eagles’ diet consists primarily of fish, therefore they reside near large bodies of water with abundant food supplies and large, tall trees nearby.  Eagles are the apex predators in the avian world.  As birds of prey, they have strong, muscular legs and powerful talons to snatch their meals, and large, heavy, hooked beaks ideally equipped for ripping the flesh off their meals. 

Normally the birds will swoop down and pluck their prey on the fly.  (A necessary thing since most of their prey resides in water!)  They will occasionally take larger animals down, but then will either feed on it at the location or take pieces back to its nest.  However, they can fly bearing a greater weight than their own.  For example, one bald eagle was documented as flying with a 15 pound mule deer fawn!

Bald eagles are also known for their huge nests, or eyries.  They are usually 5-6 feet wide and 3-4 feet deep, but their homes can be as much as 8 feet wide and 13 feet deep and weigh up to a ton.  It usually takes several months to build an eyrie, and the nests are often reused (or continually used) and built larger over time.

All of which I find fascinating.  Yet the aspect of eagles (and hawks, for that matter) which astounds me the most is their incredible vision.  Perfect vision for humans is 20/20.  An eagle’s vision is 20/4 … or five times sharper than ours.  Translated, that means that what we can see clearly at 20 feet can be seen by an eagle with the same clarity at 100 feet.  (A hawk’s vision is actually 8 times sharper than ours!)  An eagle’s eyesight allows them to spot prey from over a mile away!

Besides that, eagles are also able to see ultraviolet light, which means that even the urine of small mammals can be spotted in the ultraviolet range from extreme distances!  This, of course, is a significant advantage for the birds of prey, and an extreme disadvantage for the prey itself.

There are a number of reasons for the eagle’s exceptional vision.  An eagle’s eyes are packed with visual cells in the rods and cones of its retina.  In fact, an eye of an eagle is quite large, weighing even more than the eagle’s brain.  In addition, the positioning of the eyes on an eagle provides it with a 340-degree field of vision, (as compared to a human’s 180-degree range). 

All of which, of course, points to the wisdom and workings of the Creator.

That same Creator – the Almighty Lord who gifted eagles with incredible vision – possesses a far greater vision than any of his creations.  The Bible states that the Lord “views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens” (Job 28:24).  Furthermore, “his eyes are on the ways of mortals; he sees their every step” (Job 34:21). 

But more significantly, “The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good” (Proverbs 15:3).

This is incredibly important for us to recognize, and incredibly comforting when we do.  Especially as we consider all the applications of this truth.  Here are just a few:

No human can foresee the difficulties and challenges that tomorrow may bring, but the Lord does.  And he also sees the solutions!

No one can be prepared for the many uncertainties of life.  Except the Lord, that is.  There are no uncertainties for him because he sees and knows all, so he is always completely prepared.

Feeling all alone?  God has his eyes on you and is with you constantly.

Emotionally exhausted?  The Lord knows your thoughts and your needs, and will minister to you in the most loving way.

Caught up in hardships and don’t understand why?  God sees your struggles, and also understands why you need to endure them.  (Which is why he allowed them in the first place.)  And, as already pointed out, he also always sees the answers.

God’s people are often moved by love to serve God in various ways, as well as do little acts of kindness to others.  Those never go unnoticed by the Lord, and they bring him joy. Meanwhile the wicked live for themselves.  God sees that too.

No matter how devious or deceptive individuals or organizations may be in their efforts to bring hardship to God’s people or undermine God’s church, the Lord sees their plans.  Nothing will happen with their schemes unless the Lord allows it for his own good purposes.

Concerned about the many sins on your record?  Your Savior has your every single mistake identified and has paid for every single sin in full.  He hasn’t missed a one.

Like an eagle, our God is always souring over us and always seeing everything that impacts us, and he’s constantly intervening in the most loving fashion.

The psalmist beautifully summarizes God’s all-encompassing vision, and what that means to each of us.  “From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth …  But the eyes of the LORD are [especially!] on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them … [Therefore] we wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.  In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name” (Psalm 33:13-14, 18-21).

With our “vision” being limited in so many ways, it certainly is wonderful to know that our God’s sight is unlimited!

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Consider the Birds

Consider the Birds

It’s been a busy week, so I’m sharing a post I wrote way back when.  Folks seemed to enjoy it then; I pray they do again.

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The birds at our place have it pretty cushy.  We have multiple bird houses hanging from the eaves on the north side of our house.  There are also three different styles of bird feeders – all regularly stocked – in the back yard.  A birdbath is another provided amenity.  In addition, there is an abundance of trees and bushes for the birds to perch in.  Plus, we don’t own a cat, and we do own a large dog who effectively keeps cats away, but who ignores the birds.

Consequently, we have a fair share of birds flitting about our place.  We regularly notice Turtle Doves (not Mourning Doves, but Turtle Doves!) and various types of Blue Jays pecking up seed on the ground.  Towhees, Northern Flickers and Varied Thrushes are sometimes seen clinging to the feeders.  Grosbeaks make appearances now and then, as do Finches and even occasionally Goldfinches.  Chickadees and Juncos are regulars.  But the most common diners at our seed dinners, by far, are the sparrows.  They are also the boarders at our bird hotels, so it’s natural that they would be the most frequently sighted. 

But then, that’s what I expected when I started catering to the birds.  After all, sparrows are everywhere, right?  As a matter of fact, there are at least 35 types of sparrow species in North America, with 15 of the species living in most areas of the nation. There are sparrows everywhere.  They are the epitome of commonplace. 

Actually the sparrow population is declining somewhat.  No one is quite sure why, although there are many theories.  Nevertheless, house sparrows are still probably the most abundant bird in the United States, with a population estimated as high as 400 million. (Which averages out to 1.2 sparrows for every person in the nation.)  Declining or not, that’s a lot of birds! 

Realize that sparrows are found around the world.  I couldn’t find an estimate on what that number might be.  But if 400 million live in the United States, well … yeah, it must be a HUGE number. 

With that in mind, consider Jesus’ words:  “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?  Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows”  (Luke 12:6-7).

Not one of the 400 million sparrows in our nation are forgotten by God.  Nor does one fall to the ground unless the Lord allows it (Matthew 10:29).  The same is true for the sparrows around the world, however many billions of birds that might be.  Now that’s absolutely astounding!

Jesus adds an interesting side-note in this discussion as well.  God even knows the number of hairs on our heads!  (For the average person, that would fall somewhere between 100 – 150 thousand strands!)  Now consider that according to Worldometer, our nation’s population on the day of this posting is 335,464,557.  That’s a whole lot of follicles for the Lord to keep track of, just in the United States alone!  But still, God’s got the exact count.

Let’s take this concept even further.  A while back two scientists decided to estimate the total number of birds on the planet.  The number they came up with was 200 to 400 billion individual birds.  Compared to almost 8 billion people on earth, this amounts to about 25 to 50 birds per person.  And not one of those birds is forgotten or falls without God’s direction either. 

Same goes for all the animals.  And all the insects.  And all the fish.  And all the people!

The point of sharing all these mind-boggling numbers is not to convince you that God’s got too much to handle.  Quite the opposite!  Rather the point is to demonstrate how magnificent our God is!  This keeping track of the sparrows … and everything else … is routine stuff for the Lord. 

Jesus makes the same point.  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?”  (Matthew 6:25-26).

One of my most dearly loved things is the sound of birds chirping in the quiet of the morning.  Whether home or away, a person can be confident that if he or she is outside, or can hear the outside, then they will hear the birds greet the morning with song. 

The sparrows are constantly chirping.  They are always fed and housed by the Lord, and their very existence is sustained by Him. They have nothing to worry about, so they don’t.  Instead, the sparrows praise the Lord, their Provider, incessantly. 

Consider the birds.  There is much we can learn from them!

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Oddly Elegant

Oddly Elegant

Is there any animal more gangly-looking than a giraffe?   Yet the long-legged, long-necked creature appears almost regal.  There’s an odd elegance to it.  (If you’ve ever seen giraffes in person, you understand; they command one’s attention!)

Giraffes are not your every-day sort of animal. The ancient Romans were fascinated by giraffes, calling them “camel-leopards” because of their body structure and colorization.  The Chinese emperor Yongle, when presented with a giraffe as a gift in the early 1400s, regarded it as a qulin (a mythical creature along the lines of a unicorn). 

The lanky creature still intrigues viewers today.

Giraffes are the tallest land-dwelling animal.  A mature male giraffe stands an astounding 15-19 feet tall, while females reach an almost as impressive 13-16 feet.  Their necks comprise half of their height (as much as almost 8 feet!) while their long legs contribute up to another 6 feet.  Just their tails alone can stretch to 8 feet long!  Males typically weigh between 2,000 and 4,000 pounds; females between 1,200 and 2,500.

These herbivores reach these impressive dimensions by eating primarily acacia leaves, buds and twigs.  But they ingest a lot of it – approximately 75 pounds per day!  Their long, dexterous tongues (18 inches!) are highly efficient at wrapping around potential food, delicately plucking it off limbs and delivering it into their mouths.  After grinding the greenery in their palate, the leaves are swallowed for processing in their complex stomach, and then passed all the way back up the neck for further chewing.

Giraffes gain 70% of their moisture from the foliage they eat, so they typically only drink once every several days.  If need be, they can go without water for as long as three weeks.  When they do drink, they must splay their front legs at a 45 degree angle to reach the water with their mouths.

Their coats consist of patches of orange, chestnut, brown or nearly black, surrounded by white or cream-colored borders.  This camouflage pattern can hide the animals well in the mixed light and shade of savannah woodlands, something especially important for the newborns.  Both males and females have 5 inch cartilage “horns” called ossicones on their heads – the females’ ossicones displaying tufts of hair on top while the ones on bulls are bald.

Giraffes are social creatures, residing in herds for both comfort and safety.  A gathering of giraffes is referred to with the descriptive and appropriate term “tower.”

Full-grown giraffes have few predators beyond lions and humans.  Their excellent vision and elevated sight-plane assist in avoiding danger, and their long, powerful legs brandishing dinner-plate sized hooves (12 inches in diameter!) prove effective at dissuading most aggressors.  However, the young face a 25-50% mortality rate in the first months of their lives due to leopards, lions and hyenas – despite their mothers’ best efforts to defend them.

The calves are born via a headfirst drop of five feet from their standing mommas.  (Imagine that!)  Amazingly, they are rarely hurt in the process.  When born their necks are significantly shorter in proportion than they will be as adults, but newborns still stand about 6 feet tall and weigh up to 150 pounds!  In 20 minutes the calves are standing; within an hour they are able to walk; in a day run.  In just a year giraffe calves can measure 10 feet tall.

The stature of a giraffe is obviously impressive.  A less evident but perhaps even more astonishing feature is the circulatory system in the creatures – their great height necessitating special traits in order to enable basic function.  Their two-foot, 25 pound hearts must generate an extraordinary amount of blood pressure to maintain blood flow to the brain that resides eight feet above. 

Yet this would be a major complication whenever the animal lowers its head, causing excess blood flow to the brain, were it not for a complex network of arteries and veins that prevents it.  Meanwhile, as excess blood is blocked from the head, a series of valves in the neck ensure that blood is also flowing through the veins from the head back to the heart, even with the head down, (countering the pull of gravity!).  In the same way, as it raises its head again, blood vessels constrict and push blood into the brain, keeping the animal from fainting.  (How incredible!)

Another remarkable trait of giraffes is how little they sleep.  They can function with only five to thirty minute’s sleep in a 24-hour period, though they typically sleep several hours.  (Even that amount being scant.)  They will rest lying down, especially at night, but can also sleep standing.  When in a deep sleep, they will bend their necks backward and rest their heads on their hips or thighs.

Giraffes have only two gaits: walking and galloping.  When running, they can sprint about 37 miles per hour, and can sustain 31 mph for over a mile … their necks moving backward and forward in rhythm to maintain balance.

Originally the species populated over twenty African nations.  Now they are extinct in seven.  They are primarily found in East Africa; though Southern Africa boasts some.  The largest concentration of giraffes is found in national parks and reserves.  Typical life span of a giraffe in the wild is about 25 years; they can live longer in captivity.

Not surprisingly, giraffes are the celebrities of the evolutionists, who propose that the animals were forced to stretch and grow longer necks and legs over time as tropical forests reverted to more open savannahs.  The argument goes that the giraffes “needed” the extra length to reach the most luxurious browse in the tops of trees to survive, so over countless years of reaching, their necks and legs evolved. 

Yet, as Wikipedia records, the early fossil records demonstrate that “the elongation of the neck appears to have started early in the giraffe lineage.”  Well, of course that’s what the fossil records show!  Because that’s how the Creator, in his unrivaled creativity, created them on Day Six of Creation!  (Along with all of their other remarkable special features or “adaptations,” as biologists call them).

In fact, the wonders of the animal called a giraffe denounce as foolishness any other conclusion than that the Lord made them with all their unique and astounding features and in all their oddly elegant splendor. 

How imaginative is our God!  How wondrous are his works!   How blessed are we to recognize this, and how natural then is our praise.

The psalmist had it right:  “Praise the LORD. I will extol the LORD with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly. Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate” (Psalm 111:1-4).

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Genesis 1:24-25
And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

If you enjoyed this post on one of God’s amazing creatures, you may also enjoy some past posts on this site about other animals.  To access them, simply find the “categories” window in the side bar, (it’s the final one), and click on “God’s Creatures.”  If the sidebar doesn’t appear on your device, go to the top of the post and click on “comments,” then scroll down.

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Silently Observing; Actively Intervening

Silently Observing; Actively Intervening

We have a rat problem in our backyard.  (Don’t judge; you almost certainly have rats in your yard and neighborhood too, no matter how nice it may be!)

The typical Norway rat can (and does) live anywhere.  They love to burrow under things, and any pile or structure that can provide shelter is readily used.  Furthermore, a female rat will often birth from 4 to 6 litters per year, typically producing about 50 babies annually.  But in ideal conditions she can give birth to even more litters and more ratlets, and have up to 150 pups (or more!) over the course of that year.  Those offspring are fending for themselves in just 3 weeks!  So yes, we can be confident that we all have a rat problem.

At our place we have a large garage in the backyard, and our neighbors all around also have outdoor structures.  There are rat holes under every one of them.  The reason multiple tunnels lead under our backyard fences is because we have an active bird feeding station there.  There is always plenty of seed that falls to the ground under the feeders, and the birds don’t peck it all up.  The vermin are glad to glean what is left over.

I love watching the birds; I hate feeding the rats.  (But unfortunately, a person can’t do one without doing the other.)

Consequently, it is common to see the nasty rodents under the feeders at night.  And the bolder ones even during the day!  I have trapped them, poisoned them, and shot them with my pump BB gun.  (I would use larger weapons, but we live in the city.)  Our dog has even taken a few out.  But it’s a losing battle.

However, the tide may be turning. 

The other evening, my daughter was in the backyard with our golden retriever, and she was startled to see the silhouette of a large owl perched on our basketball backboard in the dark.  The owl just stared at her as she snapped its picture, (see the photo above), before finally retreating to some nearby evergreens.

It appears that our nocturnal visitor was a barred owl.  (Also known as a striped owl or hoot owl.)  Barred owls earn their name from the obvious strips on their belly feathers.  They are one of the larger owls, growing as tall as two feet, and are actually considered an invasive species here on the west coast.  They prefer residing and hunting in mature forests, but there one sat in the backyard of a residential area of South Tacoma.

Barred owls will eat pretty much anything that moves, but their preferred main course happens to be small mammals (such as rats!).  Their keen night-vision and silent flight make them formidable predators for scurrying rodents.  From its perch on the basketball backboard, that owl could see virtually the entire backyard … including under the birdfeeders.  I wonder how many nights it has quietly nestled there hunting, and how many rats it has taken out?  We certainly haven’t been seeing as many of the disgusting critters lately.  Perhaps Mr. or Mrs. Owl has snagged multiple meals there recently?

Just as we all have physical rats in our yards, so we all have spiritual rats in our lives.

Those vermin show themselves in many different ways.  They scurry through our lives in every sort of sin and deposit their stinking feces in every aspect of our lives – in our relationships with both God and people, in our perspectives, in our foolish decisions, in our selfish actions, and in our hasty and hurtful speech.  They burrow into our minds through worries, fears, frustrations, discontent and struggling self-esteem.  Nothing is unaffected by their presence.

Try as we might and do what we will, those spiritual rats seem to thrive.  Our sinful natures make for prime habitat for spiritual rodents.

The Lord observed our predicament, was disturbed at our dilemma, and was determined to get involved.  “The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice.  He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene [for us]; so his own arm achieved [our] salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him” (Isaiah 59:15-16).

Our Savior swooped silently in and actively intervened.  In unfathomable love, he spread his “wings” wide on the cross to win full atonement for our multiple mistakes.  It cost him dearly, but he paid the price gladly, and he paid the price fully.  And though he died, Satan and the grave could not contain him.

That same Savior sees the havoc the spiritual vermin propagate in our hearts, minds, bodies and lives.  His heart grieves at the pain and problems they bring to his people.  And he still isn’t content to simply silently observe.  

Our Lord who loves us continues to actively intervene on our behalf.  And he is the ultimate predator.  For the sake of this metaphor, Jesus is the silent but deadly effective owl.  (The Bible goes stronger by describing him as the “Lion of Judah” who triumphs – Rev. 5:5.) 

As his people walk in his Word and look to him in faith, he swoops in to pluck off those spiritual rats plaguing them.  Not always and not all of them, but at just the right time, the ones that absolutely need to be removed.  (Unfortunately, never in this world will we be totally free from oppressing vermin.)  But how wonderful when yet another problem is remedied by our Redeemer’s flashing talons!

Which is why Moses, after the Lord miraculously brought the Israelites safely through the Red Sea, sang this song, “The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.  He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.  The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name” (Exodus 15:2-3).

A barred owl, and a loving Savior – both silently observing and actively intervening.  Both incredibly effective!  Both wonderfully comforting!

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.