Insect Masquerade

I walked out onto my front porch and noticed what looked like a green leaf clinging to the brick.  On closer examination, it turned out to be an insect called a Katydid, or Bush cricket.  It's amazing how much this little fellow resembles a green leaf with legs.  He even has a brown spot on the top of him that looks like a bad place on the leaf.  He's quite the masquerader!

I just love seeing the vast variety in nature that God created.  How on earth could anyone ever believe these things happened by chance!  Below is a picture of another unique fellow who very much blends in with his background:

This "twig" as it looks like is actually called a Stick insect.  It's camouflage is about the best I've ever seen in nature.  I stared into this glass enclosure at the Durham Life Science Center and I had a very hard time distinguishing the insects from the twigs.  Our God is very clever!

Here is one of my favorite of the insects at the Life Science Center.  It's an Owl Moth, one of many in the Butterfly Room.  What looks like a big eye emblazoned on his wing must surely scare off some of its predators.  The "eye" is certainly a startling piece of its anatomy.

All of these insects are works of art, created by the Master Creator.  I thank Him for the great variety and beauty and even humor that He uses in His creations.

All of nature offers spiritual applications/messages and I can't end this without pulling out a message for us today.  As I view these insects and note the way they look like something other than what they are, I'm reminded how Satan (and his hoard of demons, as well) so frequently make themselves look like something other than what they are.  Scripture warns of this, saying, "For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light" 2 Corinthians 11:14.  Talk about camouflage!

Scripture tells us in many places how Satan and his cohorts "deceive the whole world" Revelation 12:9.  Just as these insects are out to deceive in order to devour their prey, so the enemy of our souls deceives in order to devour our very souls, or if we're Christians and he can't devour our souls, he'll do all he can to devour our peace and purpose.

Remember how subtle the enemy can be and beware.  Stay close to the Lord God and ask Him to help you recognize the enemy when he approaches you incognito.  So that in the power of the Holy Spirit you might be able to say as Jesus said, "Get thee behind me, Satan!  For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men" Mark 8:33.

The Storm

THE STORM

The scene in the photo above looks peaceful and inviting.  It's the view looking down my son's driveway last November (10 months ago).  He lives about 15 miles from the coastline of North Carolina where Hurricane Florence made a roaring visit last week.  Florence was uninvited and she stayed way too long.  She wrecked havoc in her path as evidenced by the following picture that shows my son's yard a few days after the storm and after crews had come to help clean up the mess.

 

You might say, surely that is not the same place!  It's a slightly different angle, but it's the same front yard.  It kind of looks like a war zone with all the piled up tree trunk remnants and missing trees. 

 

 

 

Here's a picture of one of the large pine trees that toppled - just missing falling on the house (although it did snag a corner of the roof and portion of the carport).  My son lost about a dozen trees in the front and back yards, but God kept his family and his house safe.

 

I'm reminded of an old hymn written by Mosie Lister, called, 'Til the Storm Passes By.  Here are a few of the lyrics of the song:

 

   In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face,

   While the storms howl above me, and there's no hiding place.

   'Mid the crash of the thunder, precious Lord, hear my cry,

   "Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by."

 

The song ends with these meaningful words:  "Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of thy hand; keep me safe 'til the storm passes by."

 

So much of what happens in nature offers a picture of things that happen in our lives.  Storms are not only physical swirls of wind and rain and thunder, they are also what happen in our lives when tragedy strikes and difficulties roar into our lives.  The physical devastation that occurs after a storm like a hurricane can mirror the devastation that happens in human lives when horrible events visit our peaceful existence.

 

There is sorrow and heartache, pain and suffering happening in every corner of our world every minute of every day.  It's enough to "make a grown man cry" as the saying goes.  And the second verse of the aforementioned song gives a clue to the enemies work:  "Many times Satan whispered, 'There is no use to try, for there's no end of sorrow, there's no hope by and by.'"  Does that sound familiar?  No doubt the enemy has whispered that very thing into your ear/heart at some point in your life.  Just remember, Satan is a liar and the father of lies, so whatever he's whispering in your ear, you may know it's wrong.

 

Yes, there's sorrow all around us, but that is what happens in a sinful world.  When sorrow strikes and a storm roars into your life, don't despair and don't give up (as Satan would have you do).  There is always hope, because there is always God -- in control and all around us.  God offers hope, comfort, guidance on that storm strewn path, and His love to get us through it.

 

Remember those last words of the song and know that God will indeed keep you in the hollow of His great and loving hand, and He will keep you safe 'til the storm passes by.

 

And - I praise and thank God for keeping my dear son, his dear wife, and my two sweet precious grandchildren safe in the midst of that powerful storm.  Our God is all-powerful and so merciful!

 

 

 

 

 

 

   



Black Birds

BLACK BIRDS

Black birds at our feeder could symbolize sin and its insatiable pull in our lives.  Shoo it away and before you know it, it's baa--ck.  Although this is a photo of a Raven sculpture in Loveland, Colorado, black birds crowd around our feeder when we put certain types of seeds in them. 

If you use cheap seed - symbolizing careless habits -- it actually draws them to the feeder.  Before you know it, flocks are descending on your life, scaring away the gentle songbirds and devouring time and talent, peace and purpose. There are numerous warnings in God's Word about how we should live our lives, here are a few:

--"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil" Ephesians 5:15-16
--"I say then: walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" Galatians 5:16
--"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men; according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ" Colossians 2:8
--"Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin" James 4:17.

There are times, however, that even when we put the best seed in our feeders, flocks of black birds will still descend and try to take over the feeding stations.  When that happens, we have to be careful what type of seed and what type of feeders we leave hanging on the pole.  It all comes down to being careful and using the elements wisely. 

The same is true in our spiritual life.  Even times when we are living close to the Lord, the enemy will swoop down and try to take over.  Thankfully, our Lord is still in control and if we are careful to follow the steps He gives in His Word (read all of Ephesians 6), He has promised to scatter the enemy and give us victory.  "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" Ephesians 6:10-11.