Messages of God's Love: 2020

When our children were young, we spent our summer vacations traveling in the western states and camping in the national parks. In those days, black bears roamed freely in the parks until they got to be troublesome or dangerous. When this happened, park rangers would trap them and haul them many miles away to release them in the wild.

We saw signs posted all over the campgrounds warning,

KEEP YOUR FOOD LOCKED

DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!

IN YOUR VEHICLE!

Those that didn't obey the first sign would sometimes come back from a hike to find their coolers open and empty or their tents ripped open and their food gone. Others that thought the bears were cute and forgot that they were dangerous wild animals would often ignore the warning signs and feed the bears by hand! Some ended up with serious bites. Their disobedience had gotten them into trouble.

We live in a sinful world, and the prince of it, Satan, is always waiting to lure us into sin. Proverbs 14:9 tells us, "Fools make a mock at sin." God's Word, the Bible, is full of warnings and instruction on how we should behave in this world. They are meant to help us avoid the dangers and to guide us in the way that a Christian should go. Disobeying God's warnings will lead us into greater danger than those people who disobeyed the park's warnings. The writer of Psalm 119:11 Said, "Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee."

Grizzly bears are more dangerous and are kept away from campgrounds. They are much larger than black bears and have very mean tempers. We once camped in a campground where, just the week before, a grizzly had broken into a tent and killed a young lady. Tents are no longer allowed in that campground. It was in that park that my two oldest children and I took an all-day hike up to Dawson Pass. When we got back to camp, we were told that it had been foolish for us to go so far away from camp. They explained that it was wild blueberry season, and grizzly bears become very upset if you surprise them when they are in the blueberry patches. Most grizzlies will leave if they hear someone coming, but will charge if they are surprised! I know our Lord Jesus was protecting us that day, for we didn't even see a bear.

Now I want to tell you an amusing but dangerous incident that I saw while walking through a campground at Crater Lake. I heard people singing, "Happy Birthday." I turned to see a group sitting at a large picnic table that was loaded with food. In the middle was a large, decorated, birthday cake. The singing had just stopped when a big black bear appeared and promptly invited himself to the party. With the people scurrying, screaming and yelling, the bear calmly climbed onto the table and sat down with his hind legs out in front of him. Then he picked up the birthday cake and proceeded to eat all of it! There he was, the master of the feast, and those who were there to enjoy it could do nothing but watch their food disappear.

And that is the way Satan treats millions of souls in this sinful world. "Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Satan is a tempter and a liar, leading unbelievers deeper into sin and into everlasting punishment if they die in their sins. He doesn't care about that, but God does, and He has provided a Savior for you and me, because He loves us. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Jesus Christ, God's Son, died on Calvary's cross and shed His precious blood for you and me. "Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood . . . be glory and dominion forever and ever" (Revelation 1:5-6).

Won't you accept the finished work of Christ to wash your sins away and be saved from that terrible enemy, Satan, whom Christ defeated at the cross?

Memory Verse: "Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8

Messages of God’s Love 01/05/2020

A Trip to the Zoo

Uncle Tom and Aunt Lisa planned to take little Heather to the zoo on Saturday. “Be sure to be ready at 1:00,” they told her. “We’ll come by in the car then to pick you up.

Heather woke up very early Saturday morning and asked her mother, "Is it time to go to the zoo yet?"

"Oh no!" said Mother. "It's only 8:00."

Heather waited on the front porch all morning, because she wanted to be sure to be ready on time. How happy she was when 1:00 finally came! Uncle Tom and Aunt Lisa took her to the zoo, and what a good time she had watching the lions, tigers, elephants and many other animals and birds too.

A happy time is also coming for those who love the Lord Jesus. It will be much happier than a trip to the zoo, because we are going to heaven to be with our Lord and Savior forever!

Maybe even today all those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior will hear the shout that will call them away to be with Him. Would you be ready to meet Him if He were to come today? Have your sins been washed away in His precious blood?

How sad it would be if you were left behind, because terrible judgments are going to come on this world after the Lord Jesus has taken His people out of it! Run to the Savior today for refuge and safety.

"Watch ... for ye know not what hour your Lord [is coming]" (Matthew 24:42). "Be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man [is coming]" (Matthew 24:44).

Messages of God’s Love 01/05/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: The World Needs Insects

"God . . . [does] great things and unsearchable; marvelous things without number." Job 5:8-9

Many people think insects are something to avoid and that the world would be better without them. But they are an important part of God's creation and do have a useful and necessary role in the world. A study of some of their ways will reveal how the Creator has especially provided for them to be beneficial to people in many parts of the world.

Many desert insects are rarely seen, because they search for food only at night. But in their search they often accomplish useful things. For instance, in some of the dry desert areas, insects are the principal means of pollinating plants and trees. Joshua trees and yucca plants, both with such pretty flowers, are two examples of some that would have died out long ago if their pollen were not transferred from one tree or plant to another by these insects. This is true in many cultivated gardens and orchards as well.

Some insects are also a source of food for birds, toads, lizards, bats and even other insects. An example is a long-legged insect that stands upright on its hind feet, with front legs folded against its body. It is called a praying mantis, because it looks like it is praying. These unusual creatures feed on a wide variety of insects, without doing any harm themselves, and are effective pest controllers, valued by many farmers.

Other examples of helpful insects include bees—the source of honey and wax. Silkworms, too, provide the silk threads to be sewn into pretty blouses or dresses. Silkworms are the larval stage of the bombyx mori moth.

Another insect that is a favorite with crop growers, that is protected by many of them, is the frail lacewing. A pretty little thing with four transparent wings, it is valued by farmers who are pestered with aphids that get onto their plants and do much damage. Lacewings lay their eggs in places where aphids are active. When the larvae hatch, great numbers of aphids are a handy source of food for them. Because of this, wise farmers never intentionally kill any lacewings.

These are only a few of the interesting ways in which a wise Creator has given instincts to helpful little creatures. Those named here are a very small part of the vast number which are examples of His wondrous ways.

Although Adam's sin brought troubled times into the world, yet God in His kindness has provided many reliefs from those troubles. The helpful, little insects are one reminder of His marvelous ways mentioned in our opening Bible verse.

Messages of God’s Love 01/05/2020

Sam the Lizard

Would you like to be friendly with a lizard? Yuck! At least that's what many of us would say! Lizards aren't usually considered to be beautiful or nice to pet, and most of us are happy to stay away from them. But not Joey and John. These two brothers like all of God's creatures and have had ordinary pets like birds, fish and a rabbit, but also some unusual ones like a llama and a lizard!

Joey and John first found the lizard when they came to visit us in Texas. They carefully caught it, put it in a plastic container with holes in the top to let the air in, gave it grass and food, and named it Sam.

"Let it go," we said. "It will just die."

"No way!" the boys said. "We're taking Sam home to Michigan!"

When they left for Michigan, we promptly forgot about Sam the lizard, but Joey and John didn't. Sam was well cared for by his new friends. They gave him food and water and a nice new home—a cage with plastic sides. They didn't always just leave Sam home alone. Once one of the boys even took the lizard to Sunday school! (Sam behaved himself and stayed right on Joey's shoulder the whole time.)

A whole year later, Joey and John and their family came again to visit us. When they got to our house, the boys came in all smiles with news of their trip . . . AND WITH SAM! We had been sure the lizard would die, so we could hardly believe our eyes! After all, who would take care of an ugly lizard for a whole year? Joey and John, that's who!

The boys have learned to be kind to God's creatures, as we hope you are too. And they have also learned that God cared for us when we were "ugly" in our sins. Bad words, lies, pride and other sins made us "unlovely" in God's eyes, but the Bible tells us that "God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Jesus shed His precious blood to wash away those ugly sins and give us eternal life, if we will come to Him, admitting we are sinners.

When Sam the lizard came back to Texas, the two brothers needed someone to look after their pet for about four days since their family was staying in a hotel while they looked for a house to rent. They guessed that lizards might not be welcome in the hotel.

Poor Sam. Suddenly he was left with us, a family who is just a bit squeamish about looking for the type of food a lizard eats—such as insects and worms. I'm sorry to tell you that in those busy four days that we kept Sam, we completely forgot about him and never fed him once! He was, however, none the worse, and when Joey and John once again carried him home, to our relief, they didn't even scold us for our neglect.

Sam would never be really happy though, not even with the good care the boys gave him. Sam was a wild lizard, and what he enjoyed most was freedom. As much as the boys enjoyed Sam, they knew that he would really like to be free to run in the trees and in the grass and to find his own food. So after a few weeks in Texas, the boys took Sam back to the place they had first found him and opened the cage. Sam was free!

Have you ever thought about how much you like to be free? Just try telling any boy that he must stay in a certain chair and not get up, and you'll soon see how much that boy likes to be free. But if you have never come to the Lord Jesus for salvation, then you are not truly free! You are chained with your sins and are not free to enjoy all the good things that God wants to give you. You cannot free yourself from your sins and you cannot stop sinning. The Bible says, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). "If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (John 8:36).

Come to the Lord Jesus today for salvation, and He will set you free from the chains of your sin.

Joey and John still sometimes look for Sam to see if they can get a glimpse of their old pet lizard, but they haven't tried to catch him again. Sam is enjoying being free.

Are you free from your sins?

Memory Verse: "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32

Messages of God’s Love 01/12/2020

The $100 Reward!

Notices were posted everywhere in our town offering a $100 reward for the return of a beloved cat named Sunshine! Somebody had stolen this family pet from its home. I can't imagine how much that cat must have meant to its owners! The reward was then increased to $150 because of a donation made by another person who also must have loved Sunshine. His owners were so upset that they asked people to pray for Sunshine's return! Perhaps the owners knew that James 5:16 says, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

Days turned into weeks, and still there was no sign of Sunshine. Then one day a picture of Sunshine appeared in the newspaper with a headline saying, "Sunshine Is Home!" He had been found miles away in a wooded area. He had been missing for 18 days, had lost 5 pounds, and had an injured eye.

The family thanked those who helped to bring him safely home and also said, "We praise our heavenly Father for looking after Sunshine and bringing him safely home. Thank you so much for your prayers!" This family proved that "our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth" (Psalm 124:8).

Have you ever turned to the Lord Jesus for help? He hears and answers prayers even if it may be for your much-loved pet. But first, He wants to hear you sincerely pray, "Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. Please wash my sins away in Thy precious blood." When you pray a prayer like this, He will wash every sin away and come to live in your heart and help you every day of your life.

Messages of God’s Love 01/12/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: Fierce-Looking Moray Eels

“They that go down to the sea . . . these see the works of the Lord and His wonders in the deep." Psalm 107:23-24

Over 100 species of moray eels live among rocks and corals off the coasts of British Columbia, Canada, south to Mexico, all along the Atlantic coast of North America, as well as parts of Europe.

These eels generally do not exceed a length of five feet. Looking at you with their mouths open showing many long, razor-sharp teeth, they can frighten the bravest of men if they are not aware that moray eels aren't usually a threat, but some can be dangerous and aggressive. Their mouths are always open to breathe.

Moray eels are usually vividly marked or colored. They are an unusual combination of speckled, striped, and freckled, with a large range of colors—chocolate brown, off white, black, sandy yellow, scarlet and blue. One found off the coast of Florida is the green moray—a long, thin, round-bodied variety. Another is well-named speckled, for its whole body is covered with small white dots on a dark background.

Other unusual ones include a brown and white one named slender and another called ribbon, because its body is about the size and shape of a huge snake. It is primarily blue, but its head and a few other parts are orange. Still another, looking much like the speckled but in lighter white and brown shades, is known as the dragon.

Unless threatened or frightened, moray eels usually are not aggressive towards divers who are careful not to get too close or frighten them. One diver tells of a frighteningly close call when trying to spear one in the Pacific Ocean. The moray was coming too fast for him and swam right at him with its mouth wide open. He knew he couldn't outswim it, but surprisingly it didn't attack. Another diver accidentally disturbed a hidden one when swimming around a sunken ship, and his hand reached into an opening that happened to be the home of a small moray. Immediately one of his fingers was caught in its mouth, feeling like it was grabbed by a pair of pliers with needle points. The eel soon withdrew, but not before the sharp teeth left painful cuts the entire length of his finger. A wise swimmer knows that when a moray comes his way with its wide-open mouth showing those long, sharp teeth, it's time to get away!

The opening Bible verses remind us that many people familiar with ocean waters have been impressed with the wonders of God's creation. Another verse tells us, "Thou, art Lord alone; Thou hast made . . . the seas, and all that is therein, and Thou preservest them all" (Nehemiah 9:6).

Do you know Him as more than the God of creation? If you have accepted His beloved Son as your Savior, He is also your Father.

Messages of God’s Love 01/12/2020

The Mailman Saves a Mother's Life

How many of you children live where your mail is delivered to your house? Do you wave to the mailman, and does he have a friendly greeting for you? The mailman in our story was a familiar sight in the neighborhood where he delivered mail. And he always had a friendly word for all those whom he met. He had no thought that one day he was going to save someone’s life!

Stephen Garofalo had delivered mail to the people of Wayne, New Jersey, for 32 years. He was very familiar with the people who lived there. He knew when a family moved away and when a new one moved into town. The neighbors were all used to seeing him deliver their mail on a daily basis and knew that he did his job well.

One day when he was delivering mail, he noticed a familiar 2-year-old boy wandering around outside. He knew this wasn’t normal, and his instinct told him something was wrong. Picking up the little boy, he asked him, “Where is your mommy?” The little boy just pointed to his home. Now the mailman was sure something was wrong! Quickly, he hurried inside to find the mother unconscious on the floor. When he could get no response, he dialed 911 on his phone.

In a few minutes, a medical team arrived and were able to revive the mother. She had suffered an allergic reaction to some new medication that she was taking which caused her to pass out. Because help had arrived so quickly, she was okay and did not even need to go to the hospital. She had nothing but praise and thankfulness for Stephen their mailman. “He’s an amazing man in general,” she said. “You don’t think of him as a mailman; you think of him as another neighbor.” In her mind, Stephen had just saved her life!

The United States Postal Service also agreed. Stephen was later honored by receiving the Life Saving Award. Stephen not only saved her life, but he had also kept her little boy safe. What if he had wandered into the street and gotten hit by a car? Or had gotten lost and disappeared? Stephanie later said, “Every time I see him, he says, ‘How are you doing today?’” She replies, “I say I’m doing good, and thank you very much.” I thank him every day.

Boys and girls, do you know of the love of God who sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sins? God knew that we were unable to help ourselves, just like Stephanie couldn’t help herself. So great was His love and pity towards us that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). God promises that “whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). If you have asked God to forgive your sins and you put your trust in Jesus, you are saved and will one day go to heaven.

Just like Stephanie thanks Stephen every day, we should thank God for His wonderful gift to those of us who believe in Him. In the words of Scripture, we can joyfully say, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

Memory Verse: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15

Messages of God’s Love 01/19/2020

The Broken Shingle

God often uses our everyday experiences to teach us important lessons. This was the case when I was a boy of 10 or 12 and had an afternoon paper route.

It was fun to be able to ride my bike up and down the streets near our home and deliver newspapers to the customers along my route. It was fun to have my own job and get a pay envelope once a month with a little spending money earned all by myself. But it was not fun to come home all soaking wet and have to change into dry clothes after delivering papers in the pouring rain. That didn't happen too often, and plastic bags were always provided to keep the newspapers dry.

Some customers were fussy and had to have their paper always neatly placed on the top step near the door. Others were not so fussy, and I could just toss the paper from my bike as I continued down the street. Sometimes my aim was good, and the paper landed neatly near the door. But sometimes my aim was bad, and then I would have to get off my bike and undo what had happened—like digging the paper out of the bushes.

Once I remember throwing the paper and hitting the side of a house . . . a house sided with asbestos shingles. You can probably guess what happened. I broke a shingle in my carelessness. The problem now was, What should I do? I couldn’t undo the damage. Instead, I carried the worry of that broken shingle as I finished my route and returned home.

Perhaps this is a little like the burden of sin that we carry with us, as we are reminded of the many times we have gone our own way and it has gotten us into trouble. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6). This verse tells us that we don't need to continue carrying our burden of sin, because God has made a way for our burden to be removed. God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, into this world to die in our place and bear the punishment for our sins so that we can go free. What we are not able to do, God has done for us. Now we can simply accept His free salvation and thank Him for it. As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" (John 1:12).

I am happy to say that I didn't have to continue worrying about the broken shingle either. As soon as I got home, I told my dad what I had done. He collected a few tools, and together we went over to the house where I had broken the shingle. He was able to repair the damage so that all was made right once more.

How thankful I was each time I passed that house to see the shingle wasn't still broken. How thankful you will be, too, if you'll talk to the Lord Jesus about your sins; let Him remove your burden of sin and wash your heart clean with His precious blood. The work has all been done by Him. There at Calvary's cross the Lord Jesus suffered, bled and died to set you free. There's nothing more for you to do except to thank Him for paying for your sins.

Messages of God’s Love 01/19/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Desert-Wise Cactus Wren

“Who is like unto the Lord our God, who [dwells] on high, who [humbles] Himself to behold the things . . . in the earth!" Psalm 113:5-6

The cactus wren is about the size of a robin and is the largest member of the wren family. Its brown feathers mottled with white, along with the bright red or orange iris of its eyes, make it a pretty bird.

As its name indicates, the cactus wren lives in the hot deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The Creator has given this bird the ability to thrive in these harsh deserts, and it seems quite content there. It has been given a remarkable instinct to place its nest among the needle-like armor of spiny cholla and other cactus plants. This defense is so good that its enemies (owls, wood rats, ground squirrels and snakes) do not attack it often. The wren is so sure of this protection that it makes no attempt to conceal its nest, which is built only about three feet off the ground.

The straw-colored nests are often as big as a man's head. Shaped like a flask, they are constructed of desert plants, grass and twigs and lined with soft, wooly fibers and feathers. These nests show the God-given skill handed down from one generation to another. When finished with her nest, the female wren builds a landing platform that is surrounded by sharp cactus spikes. This platform permits her to enter a passage, sometimes a foot long, which leads into the nest itself.

However, the male bird does not share this nest. Instead, if he cannot find an abandoned nest to use, he builds another one nearby. He is not as careful about its construction as the female is with hers. The female's nest may be reused year after year, but the male's nest often will fall apart during the first winter's storms.

Cactus wrens are wary creatures, although they do select high perches for singing their lovely songs. However, when searching for food, they prefer to fly close to the ground where they are screened by desert bushes. Most of their food is insects and seeds of desert plants. When hunting, these wise birds know that much food can be found under stones, so they turn these over to catch the insects that live in the coolness underneath. Some of these stones may weigh half as much as the birds do.

Our opening verse tells us of our Creator God who, though mighty, humbles Himself to look after all His creatures. This also includes you, and not only does He care for your needs, but the Bible tells us, "The Lord [searches] all hearts, and [understands] all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek Him, He will be found of thee; but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off forever" (1 Chronicles 28:9).

Are you seeking Him or forsaking Him?

Messages of God’s Love 01/19/2020

The Stormy Flight

Mr. Ward was returning home from a business trip to the West Coast. The plane on which he was flying passed through a line of thunderstorms. The pilot announced to the passengers that the storms were so severe that they would have to change their direction and fly several hundred miles south to avoid them. Even so, the plane was tossed around, and it dropped suddenly several times. This along with lightning flashes all around them caused the trip to be a very frightening one. Mr. Ward, who was a Christian, bowed his head and asked his Savior to keep them safe through the storm. After that he was quite relaxed.

He happened to look at the man just across the aisle from him who was very frightened. He and Mr. Ward began to talk. It didn't take long for Mr. Ward to realize just how terrified the man was. When the man asked Mr. Ward if he were frightened, Mr. Ward simply told him how he had prayed to the Lord Jesus and he knew that he was safe in His hands.

This opened the way for Mr. Ward to tell the man about the love of God for sinners and that the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for sinners. Mr. Ward soon found out that the man was a religious person, but he had never heard of needing to be saved from his sins. Mr. Ward carried a small Bible with him which he pulled out of his pocket. He read verses to the man that explain that we are all sinners and need to have our sins washed away to get to heaven. Then he turned to that wonderful verse, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

After an hour of reading different verses, the man bowed his head and asked Jesus Christ to be his Savior. What a peace and calm came over him, even though they were still flying at 37,000 feet through the blackness of the storm. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear” (Psalm 46:1-2).

A little while later, a stewardess came by and asked if she could speak with Mr. Ward. He went to the back of the plane with her and talked for some time. She told him she had heard him talking to the man, and when the cabin crew was instructed to sit down because of the storm, she had prayed for Mr. Ward and the man. For over an hour she had prayed to the Lord Jesus for the man's salvation. Both she and her husband were Christians, and she rejoiced with Mr. Ward for the opportunity the Lord had given him in the middle of the storm.

That stewardess had just as much a part in leading that man to the Savior as Mr. Ward had. The Lord uses people who can talk to the unsaved, and He uses people who will pray for the unsaved. "I will therefore that men pray everywhere" (1 Timothy 2:8).

Memory Verse: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear.” Psalm 46:1-2

Messages of God’s Love 01/26/2020

The Unforgettable Swing Set

It was time to take our two young children to the doctor for their regular checkups. Dr. Smith was a friendly doctor with children of his own. He knew that a doctor's office can be a scary place for little people. So when he came into the examining room, he first spent some time talking with Sally and Jimmy, so they wouldn't be afraid of him.

We had taken Sally's shoes off. Dr. Smith saw them sitting on the table beside her and told her what nice shoes she had. Then he told her a true story about when he was little.

He said their family was very poor, so poor that he and his brothers and sisters used to wear shoes made out of cardboard. He went on to say that his father didn't have money to buy them toys to play with either. Then he said, "But there was one time I'll never forget."

His father had a very rare type of blood. One day the hospital called his father and told him they had someone very sick who needed this rare type of blood. They asked him if he would come to the hospital to give this very sick person some of his blood.

"Yes," he told them. And he went right over to the hospital to donate some of his blood.

But when he came home he brought a big surprise with him. The hospital had paid him some money because his blood was so rare. He took that money he had received for giving a little of his blood and bought his children a good swing set.

This gift that Dr. Smith's father had bought with the money from donating his own blood was something that had meant so very much to Dr. Smith when he was a child. And that is why he said he would never forget it. It showed him how much his father loved him and his brothers and sisters.

As the doctor was telling this story, it made us think of another loving gift that was bought with blood. God gave His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to shed His blood on Calvary's cross for sinners. Now, Dr. Smith's father only gave a little of his blood, not all of it; he didn't give up his life to buy his children a swing set. But the Bible tells us that "God commendeth [proves] His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

The Lord Jesus was the only man who was perfect and never sinned. And only His blood can wash away sins. There is none other like Him. And because He loves us so much, He gave up that perfect life to pay for our sins which were against Him. "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). The swing set wore out and became useless. But Jesus paid the price for something that will never grow old or wear out—He paid the price to give us everlasting life. If you will come to Him with your sins and believe that His blood was shed for you, the gift of everlasting life is yours! "Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood" (Revelation 1:5). There is nothing else that can buy this gift that is freely offered to you. Will you accept it?

Messages of God’s Love 01/26/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Shepherd and His Sheep - Part 1

“He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom." Isaiah 40:11

The Lord has called those who love Him His sheep and lambs. This is understandable, because these animals always need someone to look after them. If they see a chance to break away, they quickly get into trouble and usually don't get back until the shepherd goes out and saves them. The Lord Jesus does this for all who love Him and know Him as their Good Shepherd.

Most of North America's sheep are raised in Texas, California, Wyoming, South Dakota and Colorado, as well as the provinces of Canada. The largest flocks in the world are in New Zealand, where they often cover hillsides.

These woolly animals are called lambs until they are a year old; then the females are called ewes and the males are called rams. The cries of the lambs sound like they are calling "Ma Ma," and the mother ewe does her best to keep them near her. For the first week, the lambs' only food is their mothers' milk, but soon they start eating grass and hay.

Like cows, sheep have a four-part stomach, which the Creator has provided to enable them to digest their food. They eat so rapidly and swallow so fast that they don't have time to do any chewing. In fact, they can't chew, because their upper jaw has only a thick pad with no teeth, although the lower jaw does have teeth. When they close their mouths around a bunch of grass, they clamp down hard on it and give their heads a strong jerk, and then just swallow the bite. Later the sheep bring the grass up to their mouths for "chewing the cud." Then it passes on to another part of their stomachs.

Large flocks in the western parts of the United States and Canada are watched over by shepherds and their helpful dogs. This is a lonely job with no human visitors for long periods of time. The shepherds live alone in campers in which there may be a refrigerator and a small stove for cooking and warmth when the weather gets chilly.

It would be a poor shepherd who was not kind to his sheep, as well as to the trained dogs that help him. The beginning Bible verse tells us of the Good Shepherd who cares for boys and girls who know Him as their Savior. He thinks of them as His lambs and the older ones as His sheep. And He wants you to be His lamb or sheep, too, if you have not yet accepted the Lord Jesus as your Good Shepherd and learned how He will protect you when Satan tries to harm you. Are you part of the flock He loves so well?

(to be continued)

Messages of God’s Love 01/26/2020

Monkey Overboard!

During World War II, my uncle was in the U.S. Army and was on a U.S. Navy ship in the Pacific Ocean. The ship stopped at a tropical island, and the sailors went ashore. There they found a monkey which they brought back to the ship to be a pet and to provide some entertainment. (Monkeys can be very entertaining.) Soon the ship and the monkey left the island.

No doubt the monkey enjoyed having the run of the ship. However, one day the monkey fell overboard into the Pacific Ocean.

Quickly, one of the sailors threw a life preserver (sometimes called a “life ring”) to the monkey. It landed near the monkey, and all the monkey had to do was to grab hold of it. Then the sailors would pull the monkey back to the ship, using the long rope attached to the life preserver. But, the monkey ignored the life preserver and continued to thrash around in the water as the ship continued to move away. Sadly, as the sailors watched, the poor monkey drowned.

Are you wondering why the ship didn’t stop or at least slow down so they could rescue the monkey?

Because the ship was under orders to keep up with its wartime convoy of ships. No captain was going to stop his ship to save a monkey. But the greatest problem was that the monkey did not have the sense to grab hold of the life preserver. It did not know what a life preserver was or how it could be used to save its life. And so the poor monkey drowned.

Most of us know what life preservers are. I assume that if any of us were in the monkey’s situation, we would make every effort to grab hold of the life preserver! And we would hang on tightly to it until we were safe on the ship!

But there are many, many people very much like this monkey. They swing carelessly through life, unaware of the danger surrounding them. And when they become aware that they are in difficulty, they still do not realize how serious their danger is—that judgment for their sins awaits them! So they ignore the help which is so close to them. It is likely that although the monkey did not like being in the ocean, he did not know that he would soon drown. And that’s exactly what happened . . . he drowned!

Maybe you are like that monkey. You are surrounded by sin, and you are in danger of eternal judgment for your own sins. But for you there is good news! God has seen your need and has sent a Savior into this world just for you—just to meet your need. If you didn’t need a savior, God would not have sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for you. All that poor monkey needed to do was to grab onto that life preserver. And all a sinner has to do is turn to the Lord Jesus Christ who is waiting to save him or her. He’s the One who died to pay for our sins and rose again, and today He is in heaven.

You may pity the monkey, but don’t be like the monkey—don’t make the monkey’s mistake! By faith, lay hold on the Lord Jesus Christ right now! He loves you and died for you on Calvary’s cross, shedding His blood that can wash away every one of your sins. Won’t you accept Him as your Savior right now? You will have the promise of a home in heaven with Him when your life on earth is over.

“God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Memory Verse: “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Messages of God’s Love 2/2/2020

Guaranteed = A Promise!

A little while ago I was talking to a friend about some plastic kitchen items she had bought a number of years ago. They were starting to wear out, and she was complaining about how disappointed she was that they had not lasted as long as she had expected. I tried to explain to her that the products she had bought came with a life-time guarantee—a promise that at any time all she had to do was return the item that was wearing out and she would receive a new one completely free. As long as the wearing out was caused by normal use, the guarantee (or promise) was good for a long as she owned the item. But she would not believe that the promise applied to her items.

“Oh, that can’t possibly apply to me,” she said. “That guarantee may be all right for other people if it breaks right after they buy it, but they certainly won’t give me new ones free. These things are over ten years old!”

I explained to her that the guarantee did not have a time limit, so she could have a free replacement if she would just turn in the worn-out items. Still she would not believe me. So she is stuck with some worn-out things that she will probably have to throw out before long and then have to buy new ones.

You know, as I spoke with her, I thought of how some boys and girls (and men and women, too) treat God’s free offer of salvation. God has provided the salvation at such a high cost to Himself for every lost, guilty sinner. The Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son, died on the cross, and there He bore God’s righteous punishment against sin. Now, because of the high cost of that perfect Sacrifice, God can and does offer to forgive the sins of every person who will believe in His beloved Son. “Through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins” (Acts 13:38). And yet many people still say, “God can’t possibly mean that He can save me. His salvation and forgiveness may work for other people who don’t have a very big pile of sins listed under their name, but He certainly can’t forgive as big a sinner as I am.” And yet, when God says, “WHOSOEVER believeth in Him [the Lord Jesus Christ] should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16), doesn’t that include every single person in this world? Are you doubting or ignoring God’s free offer of mercy and forgiveness simply because Satan (the devil) has convinced you that it really does not apply to you? GOD CANNOT LIE! And when He says His salvation is for WHOSOEVER, that means YOU! “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

Messages of God’s Love 2/2/2020

The Wonders Of God's Creation: The Shepherd and His Sheep - Part 2

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want [lack anything]. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters." Psalm 23:1-2

David, who wrote many of the psalms, could understand how the Lord Jesus is like a shepherd, because he himself had been a shepherd when he was young. He never forgot how dependent he was on the Good Shepherd's watchful care over him day and night. When he was troubled, he told Him all about it and was led "beside the still waters" for rest and comfort.

You will notice the verse doesn't say, "He leadeth me beside the swift waters." No, it is the still waters we need for safety, refreshment and quietness. The Good Shepherd who watches over all who love Him will never lead any into places where the evils of Satan and the world are like wild waters. He leads only into safe and pleasant places.

That's the way it is with sheep and lambs too. There are times when they need the shepherd to lead them to a quiet place beside a gentle stream or pond to drink, lie down and rest before returning to their grazing.

Have you ever rubbed your hand over the woolly coat of a sheep and noticed how much whiter it is down underneath? This shows how the outer part has been soiled by dust and rubbing against brush and tall grass. This makes it necessary for the wool to be washed thoroughly after it is clipped and before it can be used.

Sheep, of course, don't realize they are getting dirty and that their wool is going to need to be washed. Sometimes people think that if they are living "good" lives, their sins aren't serious enough to need washing away before they can enter heaven. But a holy God cannot look on sin, and to reach His lovely, heavenly home, we must first be made clean. But, as the Bible verse says, "Though thou wash thee with nitre [strong cleaner], and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity [sin] is marked before Me, saith the Lord God" (Jeremiah 2:22).

If you have ever tried to "turn over a new leaf" and never again do anything wrong, you know it's impossible. How wonderful it is that the Lord Jesus, while on the cross, took away all the sins of everyone who will admit they are a sinner, repent of their sins and accept Him as Lord and Savior. There is no other way in which you can enter heaven.

It is important to listen to His invitation: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18). Have you accepted that gracious invitation? If so, now you know Him as your own Good Shepherd!

Messages of God’s Love 2/2/2020

Buried Treasure

It was a warm, sunny day in early spring. Mrs. Green was enjoying the smell of damp earth and the sounds of birds chirping, as she dug up a new garden patch in her backyard. As she hummed softly, she thought of what she would plant there: lettuce and peas first, then cucumbers and tomatoes after the danger of frost was past. She would also plant some bright flowers for pretty color all summer.

CLINK! What was that? Her shovel had hit something hard. She bent down to take a closer look. Sifting through the dark brown soil, Mrs. Green uncovered a small metal box inside a plastic bag. It looked like it had been there a long time. Taking the box out of the bag, she gently shook it. Something rattled inside.

Mrs. Green studied this strange box, wondering how it had gotten into her garden. Was someone trying to hide a treasure there?

While He was here on earth, Jesus told His disciples, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt [or ruin things]" (Matthew 6:19). This small metal box had been ruined. The plastic bag had not protected it very well from water, and the metal had rusted. Do you think in the ground was a smart place to hide a treasure?

Jesus goes on to say, "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal" (Matthew 6:20). While we finish our story, think about how we can hide our treasures in heaven.

Carefully, Mrs. Green opened the little box. What she saw inside made her smile. There were two pennies, a nickel, a dirty white rock, a rusty bell on a chain, a tiny ivory dog, a bead and a shell . . . all treasures that would belong to a child.

Mrs. Green remembered a game that her children used to play. They would gather up small treasures and bury them in carefully wrapped packages, to be dug up a year later. They thought it was so much fun to find their special belongings again to see what they looked like after such a long time underground.

One of her daughters, as a little girl, had buried this treasure box quite a few years earlier. She had grown up and moved away, forgetting to dig up that box of special things. Mrs. Green smiled again as she held in her hand that collection of nearly worthless objects that once had been so special to her daughter.

Our never-dying souls are a far more valuable treasure than this box of trinkets. In fact, if we could have anything in this world that we wanted, it wouldn't do us any good if we ended up losing our souls. "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36). This is like storing our treasure on the earth. It will get ruined and we will lose it.

If we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, we can be sure our souls are safe, hidden with Christ in God. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life" (John 3:36). Wouldn't you like to have your soul kept safe in heaven? You may, if you will trust in Jesus today.

MEMORY VERSE: "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36

Messages of God’s Love 2/9/2020

A Pocket Full of Chicken

Marty was having a lot of fun. It was her first visit to southern Mexico and, like most eight-year-olds, she found the new sights and sounds exciting.

The animals were especially interesting. Dogs, chickens and pigs wandered around the small homes and sometimes even came right into the house where Marty and her parents were visiting. She loved to scratch the animals' heads, pet them and try to make friends with them.

One fluffy little yellow chick was especially cute. Marty was delighted when she finally managed to catch it. It was so soft and fluffy, and it snuggled down in her hand as she petted it. She didn't want to put it back down on the dirty ground, so she carefully put it in her skirt pocket.

"Look, Mommie," she called. "I think this baby chick likes me." Sure enough, the little chick had snuggled down in her pocket with only its head showing, looking very contented.

Soon, however, the little chick began to struggle to get free, and Marty reluctantly lifted it out of her pocket and put it down on the ground. Quickly it ran over to join its mother and brothers and sisters who were pecking in the dirt nearby.

For a few minutes all was quiet. Then Marty, with a shudder, called, "Ooh, Mommie. Come and look!"

Mother hurried over to see what she had found. There was Marty holding her skirt pocket open and peering into it with a look of disgust. Inside her pocket were several tiny little bugs squirming around. The poor little chicken had these insects in its fluffy feathers and quite a few of them were left behind in Marty's pocket.

Marty changed her skirt at once, and then her mother got a bucket, soap and hot water and proceeded to wash the dirtied skirt.

That fluffy little chicken looked so cute that it didn't seem possible that it could ever cause any trouble. And sometimes sin is like that. That little lie doesn't seem too bad; in fact, it may have saved you from being punished. Or maybe the time you cheated in school doesn't seem very serious either. You may even have fooled your teacher into giving you a higher grade because of it. But the Bible tells us that "the pleasures of sin" are only "for a season" (Hebrews 11:25).

The Bible warns us that God hates sin and that "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). In fact, sin is so terrible that the only possible way that God could get rid of the stain of sin was to send His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die on the cross and shed His blood so that our sins might be forgiven.

Marty's skirt could be washed with soap and water, but only the blood of the Lord Jesus can wash away the stains of sin from our hearts. "The blood of Jesus Christ His [God's] Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).

Won't you let Him wash your sins away right now? “Now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Messages of God’s Love 2/9/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: What Would We Do Without Wheat?

"Thou shalt not sow thy field with [mixed] seed." Leviticus 19:19

A list of all the seeds planted for food would definitely be very long, for that is the way most plants begin. The Bible speaks of wheat in many places as a type of an outstandingly good seed.

Since wheat is the world's most important grain crop, millions of acres are grown throughout the world. Much is produced in Canada and the United States, especially in the big open areas of the midwestern and western provinces and states. It is quite a sight to look at vast acres of ripening wheat standing golden colored, two to five feet tall, gently swaying in a light breeze. There are two kinds of plantings—winter wheat is planted in the fall where winters are not too severe; the other is spring wheat, which is planted in spring.

Good quality seed is most important, and it must be planted in rich soil, well prepared. This is done usually by huge pieces of planting machinery followed by cultivating and then harvesting equipment.

Wheat kernels are so small it would take about 15,000 to equal just one pound. Have you ever looked closely at one of these tiny kernels? The hard outer covering is called bran, and the tiniest part at the bottom is the germ. This is the part that starts a new plant when the kernel is planted into soil. The entire inner part is given the name endosperm. For whole wheat flour, all parts of the kernel are ground up together and then used for making whole wheat bread, as well as many breakfast cereals. Refined wheat, with the bran left out, is used for making white bread or cake.

Of course, farmers don't normally sell their wheat directly to bakeries or grocery stores. It is usually taken to big cement buildings called grain elevators. These are often placed alongside railroad tracks for wheat storage, and then the wheat is delivered to mills in smaller amounts from there.

A Bible verse tells us, "Except a corn [kernel] of wheat fall into the ground and die [is planted], it abideth alone; but if it die [is planted], it bringeth forth much fruit" (John 12:24). The death of the Lord Jesus on the cross is the most wonderful example of this. Through His death, many, many millions of sinners (much fruit) have been cleansed from their sins and given everlasting life. Heaven will be filled with the great number of people who know Him as their Savior, and we hope every one of you will be included in that happy company.

Many try to make their way to heaven by good deeds, but that would be like mixing seed, as the beginning verse warns. There is only one way to that wonderful, happy place, and that is to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).

Messages of God’s Love 2/9/2020

Runaway Robert

It was late in the evening when I climbed back into my car to go home. Leaving town, I had driven several miles out in lonesome country when I saw a hitchhiker wanting to go my way. He looked rather young, and he had a backpack on his back. I figured he must be trying to get to the campground just beyond the next town, so I stopped to pick him up.

"Where are you heading?" I asked as he settled in the seat next to me. I could see now that he was quite young.

He was quiet for a moment and then said, "I don't know . . . I'm running away from home."

That answer scared me! What should I do with a runaway who was just a young boy? I decided to find out more about why he was running away.

"I believe in the Bible and know the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior," I said to him.

Then he told me his name was Robert and that he was 12 years old. He went on to tell me how mean his Dad was and that he beat him and his mother. Both he and his mother had been planning to run away for a long time. Today when his parents were both gone, he had packed his backpack and left, riding his bike. But it had broken down before he got very far away from their apartment.

So Robert came to my house to spend the night. He first called his mother and told her where he was. She told him that she couldn't come right then, because his dad was home, but she would come the next morning. She would take his dad to work, go home, pack her things and come pick up Robert. Then they would both run away together. At least this is what Robert told me his mother had said.

Sure enough, the next morning about ten o'clock a car pulled into my driveway. However, much to my surprise and Robert's too, both his mother and dad got out of the car!

Based upon what Robert had said about his dad, I expected he would really be upset. Instead, I found them both to be gentle, considerate and kind. I did not get the feeling that either one of them was thinking, "Just wait until you get home! Boy, are you going to get it!" Instead, his dad told me that Robert was having some problems, and they were having difficulty talking to each other.

"I think we need to talk, Robert," he said. "Would you like to stay here, or would you like to come home and we'll talk?"

Robert agreed to go home, so he got into the family car with his sleeping bag, small cast-iron skillet, hunting knife, fishing gear and hiking boots. As they went out the door, his mother said to me, "I can't understand why Robert would want to run away. He has his own room, his own bunk beds, his own stereo, and we love him very much."

There was no doubt that Robert was having problems. He thought his biggest problem was his dad and that running away would solve that problem. Well, it didn't. It only gave him more problems—a broken bike on a dark, lonely highway and no place to go. Maybe the problem was not Robert's dad at all. Maybe the problem was with Robert himself. Perhaps he needed someone else to blame, and that someone was his dad.

Let me ask you a question: "What do you think of God?"

Some people will answer that He is a far-away, hard-to-please God who is just waiting for us to do something wrong so He can punish us.

Is this what you think He is like? If it is, then how can you explain a verse like John 3:16? "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Does this sound like a God who is angry with the people of this world and is just waiting to punish them and send them to hell? No, these are happy words that tell of His wonderful love to this world. How great was His love? Great enough to send the Lord Jesus Christ, His only Son, into this world to die for sinners. We could not ask for greater love than this: "God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

This is the kind and loving God that we have for you—a God who loves you so much He wants you to be with Him in heaven forever. But since all of us are sinners and since sin cannot be in God's presence, we must have our sins washed away. And that is what God's love has provided—a Savior—the Lord Jesus Christ who was punished for the sins of all who will believe in Him. His blood that was shed on the cross has washed away all trace of sin from the record that God keeps. Because we are cleansed, we can spend eternity with our Savior in heaven. Won't you accept Him as your own Savior now?

MEMORY VERSE: "God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

Messages of God’s Love 2/16/2020

"You've Come to the Wrong Place"

My dad works for a dealer of heavy equipment. His job is to send out and receive big machines, as well as to keep the large storage area in order. Every day he talks with truck drivers bringing machines into the lot or picking up a machine for someone. Sometimes he also talks with truck drivers who have misread their directions and have come to the wrong place. Thankfully, Dad is kind enough to direct the drivers to the right place, and some of the drivers are glad for his help. But for some reason, others do not like his help. They get angry and insist that they are in the right place!

Do you realize that each of us is traveling to one of two places ... heaven or hell? Which one are you traveling to?

Because we are all sinners, God must punish sin. But God loves us and has given us the Bible that tells us how we can have all our sins washed away and make us ready to go to heaven when we die, instead of that awful place of punishment.

There is only one way to heaven, and God’s directions are simple! Tell Him you are sorry for your sins and that you want His Son Jesus to wash away all your sins. It is called “salvation,” and it is a free gift!

“Repent ... and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

Messages of God’s Love 2/16/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Octopus

“The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works.” Psalm 145:9

In spite of its frightful appearance, the octopus is usually a very timid creature and will not attack a person unless he tries to invade its home. There are more than 150 varieties of octopuses. Some are less than an inch across, others are 30 feet or more from the tip of one outstretched tentacle to the tip of an opposite outstretched tentacle, but most are only about three feet across.

This odd resident of the ocean has a body with a large, dome-shaped head, containing not only its brain, but also its stomach and other organs. These are covered by a membrane called a mantle. It has huge, human-like eyes behind its mouth and a strong, parrot-type beak. Eight snake-like tentacles stretch out from its body, each having on its underside about one hundred suction cups that attach themselves with a vise-like grip onto anything. The eight tentacles also act as feet to move along the ocean floor and as hands to pull up and over an underwater rock.

A large opening in the mantle is always moving, sucking water over its gills and out through a siphon. This siphon can be pointed in any direction to provide jet propulsion. It also squirts inky fluid to make a “smoke screen” when pursued. Attached to the octopus’s skin are little bags of pigment. When these bags are held open, various colors are exposed, which the octopus can change to appear striped, mottled or a solid color, to match its surroundings. How wonderfully the Creator has designed this creature for its way of life deep in the ocean!

The octopus does have enemies—squid, whales and large eels. As a result, it hunts at night. In the daytime it hides in a cave where it piles old shells and rocks by the entrance.

Do you think God sees these octopuses deep on the ocean floor? He certainly does. The Bible tells us, “Thy way is in the sea, and Thy path in the great waters” (Psalm 77:19). God sees and cares for everything He has created, and He never takes His eye off them.

But He has a special care for you and me whom He has created “in His own image” (Genesis 1:27). We are the only creatures invited to come to Him in faith. His Word assures us that “the Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He [knows] them that trust in Him” (Nahum 1:7).

If you have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, you may say as the Apostle Paul did, “I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

Messages of God’s Love 2/16/2020

Moving Day for Olga

Olga, the 2000-pound walrus at Brookfield Zoo, was 26 years old. She had lived in the same pool (her home at the zoo) for most of that time. After all those years, the cement in Olga's pool was crumbling from all the salt in the water. (Walruses live in salt water. Those not in zoos live in the salty Arctic Ocean.) So a new home had to be built for her. What a big job it was to build a home large enough and then to move all 2000 pounds of her to her new home!

The moving date was set. Olga's new home was only about one-quarter mile away. She would have about nine times more space than she had in her old home. For 14 months the zookeepers had been getting her ready for the move. It took that long for Olga to get used to the 15-by-8-foot transport container in which she was to be moved . . . and when the day came, it took an 80-ton crane to lift her and a truck to move her!

When Olga arrived at her new pool, the zookeepers used fresh fish to coax her out of the transport container. And because she loves to eat, it wasn't long until she was in the water eating the fish. It was confusing for her at first as she inspected her new home. The zookeeper even had to command her to "stay" as she seemed to want to get out of her new pool. But soon she was happy to be back in the water, and it wasn't long before she was up to her old tricks of whistling, waving and blowing kisses to the visitors watching her.

Those of us who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our own Savior have our "moving date" coming up very soon. The Lord Jesus is coming to take us to our new home in heaven! All is ready for us. He said, "I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:2-3). He hasn't told us the exact date; it will be a surprise. But our "moving date" is set, and He has given us a promise about it: "Yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry" (Hebrews 10:37). So we know there is just a little while left. That could be a few more months, a few more weeks, a few more days, or maybe only a few more minutes!

Are you going with us?

Then the Lord Jesus tells us something about the actual "move." "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain [that's us] shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). So He is going to call us up to meet Him in the air, and then He will take us the rest of the way to heaven with Him. I can hardly wait!

But how about you?

Then in 1 Corinthians 15:52 where He tells us more about it, He says how quickly it is all going to happen—"in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye"! You need to be ready to go right now, because there won't be time to get ready then—we'll be gone, and you’ll be left behind!

Are you ready to go?

If you are still in your sins, you aren't ready; you'll be left behind for God's judgment! You need to believe that the Lord Jesus died on the cross for your sins, and

He will forgive you. That's all it takes to be ready to go. Don't wait any longer! Hurry! Today could be "moving day"!

"Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of Man [the Lord Jesus] cometh at an hour when ye think not" (Luke 12:40).

Jesus may come in the morning,

Jesus may come at noon,

Jesus may come in the evening,

For He is coming soon.

MEMORY VERSE: "Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not." Luke 12:40

Messages of God’s Love 2/23/2020

Jiggles Needs a Bath

Jiggles is a small dog who works and plays on our farm. She is also our pet.

One summer evening when I was fixing supper, there was a “click, click” on the patio door. Jiggles was tapping on the glass door with her toenails. I knew what she was saying: “I want in, please!” I was busy, so I didn’t open the door right away. But Jiggles really wanted in, so she knocked again by jumping up against the glass, bumping it with all four feet at once—-ka-thump, ka-thump: “Hey, open up . . . I want in!”

Stop for a minute and listen. Do you hear someone knocking on the door of your heart? It’s Jesus knocking! He tells us in Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock.” He wants you to let Him in. He loves you very much and wants to wash your sins away so He can have fellowship with you and then take you to live with Him in heaven. Will you open the door of your heart and let Him come in?

I went to open the door, but what I saw was a very, very dirty Jiggles who had been in some very dirty place. I told her, “No way are you coming in the house! You are as dirty as a pig! You need a bath first.” Jiggles likes to sit in my chair and share it with me, and sometimes she hops up on the bed. If I let her come in the way she was, in no time everything would be dirty!

In John 14:2, God tells us that He has a house in heaven, but in Revelation 21:27 He tells us that nothing can enter His house that would spoil it—no dirty sins. We must have our sins washed away before we can enter His home. And only one thing can wash us clean: “The blood of Jesus Christ [God’s] Son [cleanses] us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

Jiggles needed a bath, and only after she was scrubbed clean was she welcomed into the house. And if you will come to Jesus and let Him wash you clean from all your sins, He will welcome you with open arms into His home in heaven when your life here on earth is over.

Messages of God’s Love 2/23/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: A Spectacular Beauty

"Of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever." Romans 11:36

There are over 40 species of birds called quetzals in the tropical parts of the world. The one named mocinno trogon is probably the most beautiful of all. It lives in Mexico and Central America and is the national bird of Guatemala. Here are some interesting facts about this beautiful bird.

Its short body is only about a foot long, but the long tail feathers form a train about three feet long. Head, chest, back and tail feathers are all beautiful emerald green, and the under parts of its body are bright red. The only additional colors are the few white feathers in the tail, a soft-yellow, short, pointed beak, and maroon legs and toes. Seeing one perched on the limb of a tree is quite a display, but seeing one flying or gliding under the trees is a really beautiful sight!

This bird's food includes insects, which they dart out to catch in the air, and also spiders, berries and fruit, including a small wild avocado that it devours whole. When its normal food is hard to find, it may substitute small lizards, snails and frogs.

The male puts on a spectacular show when trying to interest a female. He repeatedly flies straight up in the air as much as 150 feet, then swoops gracefully down to display his gorgeous colors.

Nests are usually high in the trunk of a dead tree. Both birds peck out a hole with their sharp beaks and claws. They take turns incubating from two to four bright-blue eggs for two to three weeks. Chicks are born without down or feathers and are totally helpless. Until they grow enough feathers to fly and can hunt for themselves, both parents feed them with predigested food held in their wide-open beaks. The baby birds greedily peck it out.

adly, these lovely birds are facing many problems. Besides natural enemies, which include the weasel-like tayra, monkeys and snakes, hunters often kill them for their feathers. But the worst hazard is the fact that loggers have cut down the forests where they live. However, a few national parks have been established for them and other wildlife, and this should protect many of them.

These spectacular birds are certainly one of the wonders of God's creation and remind us that "He hath done all things well" (Mark 7:37). This includes a Bible promise to those who know the Lord Jesus as their Savior: "It shall be well with them that fear God" (Ecclesiastes 8:12).

He does care for the quetzals out in the tropical forests, but those people who love Him know much more of His love and care over them every moment of their lives. Are you aware of His care?

Messages of God’s Love 2/23/2020

What Saved the Bird?

"Tell me a story, please, Uncle Ed," said Mark as he lay in bed. Mark was recovering from the flu and had been in bed for two days. His Uncle Ed, who lived in the same town, had come over to cheer him up.

Uncle Ed had just returned from South America and had lots of wonderful things to talk about. He liked children, and they all liked him and the stories he told.

"I'll tell you a snake story," Uncle Ed replied.

"One beautiful morning I started on a day's hike into the jungle. I carried a small lunch and a gun for protection. I had been hiking for several hours when I found a nice shady spot beside a stream. I sat down on the trunk of a fallen tree to rest and eat my lunch. It was a beautiful tropical day. The jungle was beautiful with color and full of life. The quietness was broken only by the music of the birds and the humming of countless busy insects.

"While resting there, I noticed a bird fluttering around in a tree near where I was sitting. As I watched, the fluttering of the bird increased. It was noticeable that this mother bird was upset about something. I slowly walked closer to see what was bothering her. There was her nest, but why was she so upset?

"Looking around, I quickly understood her problem. Slithering slowly towards the tree was one of the most poisonous snakes in South America. Its small eyes were focused on the nest as its forked tongue flicked out and in.

"I was getting ready to shoot the snake when I saw a strange thing happen. The father bird flew away, returning moments later with a small twig covered with leaves in his beak. Perching near the nest, he laid the twig carefully across it, covering the nest and the mother bird who was now sitting on the nest. Then he flew to the top of the tree and quietly waited.

"The snake moved closer and closer. He twisted himself around the trunk and climbed up the tree. Then, gliding along the branch, he came close to the nest. His small eyes watched the nest, his tongue flicked several times, and then . . . " Uncle Ed paused.

"Oh! What happened, Uncle Ed?" cried Mark anxiously.

"The snake suddenly jerked his head back as if he had been hit with something. Then he turned around, slithered back down the tree, and disappeared in the long grass.

"Curious to see what had caused this reaction by the snake, I climbed up the tree and examined the small leafy twig still covering the mother bird and her babies. Not finding anything unusual, I gently removed the twig and carried it home with me. I showed it to a native friend and told him the whole story. He told me that the twig came from a bush which was poisonous to the snake and which they are never known to touch. The bird had used it to protect his family from the snake."

In the Bible Satan is called "that old serpent" or snake. Satan wants to destroy not only boys and girls, but men and women as well. He is a powerful enemy, and none of us can fight against him. The bird could not fight against the snake. Instead, he found a twig that would give protection. In the same way we are no match for Satan. But Christ is the One who can give us perfect protection from Satan. It was on a tree, the cross of Calvary, that He died for sinners. "His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). Are you as wise as the bird that protected its nest? Are you protected by the blood of the Lord Jesus shed on Calvary’s tree?

Isn't it wonderful that God should teach the bird which tree would give protection from the snake? And isn't it wonderful that He has provided the cross for our protection from Satan? There that great work was finished by our Lord Jesus for those who would trust in Him. It is the most remarkable fact in the whole universe that "the Son of God . . . loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20. This salvation is for "whosoever will." Will you?

"Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:17).

MEMORY VERSE: "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Revelation 22:17

Messages of God’s Love 3/1/2020

Mary Jones Had a Wish

This true story took place in the country of Wales in 1802. It’s about a young girl and how, with God’s help, her wish came true.

Once a school finally opened near her home, Mary Jones quickly learned to read at age 10. Neither of her parents could read, so there was no Bible in their home. She walked two miles to a neighbor’s house every Saturday so she could read their Bible and study her Sunday school lesson. Mary’s wish was to have a Bible of her very own in her own language. But money was scarce and so were Welsh Bibles. Mary worked for six years to earn enough money to buy her own Bible. Finally the day arrived when she had the money she needed to purchase one.

At age 15, Mary walked 25 miles across the rugged countryside to the town of Bala to buy what she wanted most—a Welsh Bible of her very own. When she arrived at the place where Mr. Charles lived, the man who sold the Bibles, he had several copies of the Welsh Bible, but he sadly told her they had been promised to others. However, when he saw how brokenhearted and tearful Mary was, he handed her one of the copies. Mary’s prayers had been answered, and she walked the 25 miles back home with her precious treasure.

Soon her amazing story of working and saving her money for six years, then walking 25 miles to buy her Bible, caused the story to be translated into many languages. This opened the way for the Scriptures to be shared with people around the world.

Do you have a Bible of your very own? Do you read it every day?

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Messages of God’s Love 3/1/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: Life in a Monsoon

“He that [forms] the mountains, and [creates] the wind, and [declares] unto man what is His thought . . . The Lord, The God of hosts, is His name.” Amos 4:13

In North America and other parts of the world, hurricanes or tornados accompanied by heavy rains are never welcome. But monsoons, which take place every year, are welcomed in parts of Africa, India, southern China and some islands above Australia.

What is a monsoon and why is it welcome? It is a very strong wind that blows regularly in definite seasons in those countries. It is caused by large differences in temperature between land and sea air. This difference occurs because land heats and cools faster than water. Cooler air always rushes in over warmer areas. This causes a wind. A summer monsoon is usually accompanied by rain. It is called a wet monsoon. A winter monsoon is called a dry monsoon.

Without the monsoons, these land areas would be too hot and dry for growing crops to support people, animals or birds. Planting crops would be useless, because there is no other water available for irrigation. So it is not difficult to see why the people in those areas welcome the monsoons with their great supply of rain. The people hold great celebrations right out in the heavy rain. Some go into their fields in the rain, plowing them up so the water will soak in.

During a monsoon, the streets of many towns look more like rivers, stopping all traffic for many days. Some may try to get through on bicycles, but they usually find the water too deep and swift to pedal, and then they have to push their bikes through.

Knowing just when the monsoon will come, wise farmers prepare the dry soil and plant seeds beforehand, and people do the same in some home gardens. When we think how hard they work, hoping for rain, it is not difficult to understand why they celebrate when it does arrive.

But there are many places where care needs to be taken. Airplanes can’t fly in a monsoon, and the ocean becomes so rough with huge waves that fishermen offshore head home quickly. Those big waves also crash against heavy walls built to protect property, and many fish are often washed over top, which the people collect later.

It is the Creator’s provision that sends the welcome rain each year, for without it the hot sunshine would dry everything up, and there would be no local food. We hope many of the people of those lands have heard about the Lord Jesus and thank Him for His care over them. We know that many Christians do tell them about the true, living God who loves them. What a change from their stone or wooden idols which they worship fearfully. Do you know this living, loving God and His Son, Jesus, who died for you?

Messages of God’s Love 3/1/2020

Mother Duck and the Seven Ducklings

Dear Children,

Gramma and I have been very busy working in the garden, but I really must take time to write this letter to tell you about the wild mother duck and her seven ducklings. They were hatched out in the marsh behind our house, not far from where a snapping turtle lives who thought he just might catch one or two of those ducklings for a tasty dinner!

The other morning Gramma and I had just finished weeding the garden. It was warm, and we decided to take a rest from our work and were sitting in the kitchen, looking out over the pond to see if there were any wild ducks or geese out there. Well now, what we did see we were not too happy about. Just 20 feet from the edge of the pond sat a very large snapping turtle!

Snapping turtles can be dangerous. They have strong, sharp-edged jaws that are good for capturing food. They swim along under the surface of the water and catch any unsuspecting or careless frogs, fish or even ducklings! They catch a duckling by its leg and drag it underwater until it drowns, and then they eat it.

Doesn't this remind us of our enemy, Satan? He is very clever at laying traps for anyone who is not wise to his ways. You know, the Bible says that it is a sin to lie, it is a sin to steal, and it is a sin to use bad language. One of Satan's favorite traps is to whisper into the ears of boys and girls something like this: "It's ok . . . go ahead and do it . . . no one can see you . . . no one will ever know anything about it." But the Word of God says in Proverbs 15:3, "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good." Dear boys and girls, don't let Satan lead you into this trap of thinking that God cannot see what you do or hear what you say. Satan is a real danger to you, like that snapping turtle cruising around the pond.

Just then Gramma and I saw something else that was rather upsetting. Here came Momma Duck leading her seven baby ducklings right to the pond! “OH, NO!” We could just imagine what the snapping turtle was thinking: Here comes my dinner right to me!

Up to the bank came Momma Duck, leading her seven babies. When she reached the top of the bank, she stopped dead in her tracks! She had spotted her deadly enemy, Mr. Snapping Turtle! She didn't move, and somehow she must have told her babies not to come any farther, because they stayed right behind her.

Gramma was getting a little worried about those baby ducklings and said to me, "Should we go chase that snapping turtle out of there?"

"No," I said, "I don't think we should. We would be scaring the ducks and the turtle at the same time. Let's watch and see how Momma Duck handles this problem."

Gramma and I were very surprised at what happened next. Mr. Turtle very slowly crawled over to the west side of the pond and slid down the bank into the water. Hiding just under the surface, he swam out from that side of the pond and waited for Momma Duck and her family to swim by. He was completely out of the ducks' sight.

But Momma Duck was wise! She was watching the turtle all the while. She stayed where she was for ten minutes, then she turned to the other side of the pond from where the turtle was and walked along the shore. She waddled down the bank and into the water, swam out a little, then turned and waited for her babies to catch up. They followed her in...one, two, three, four, five, six . . . uh, oh, where is number seven? Had the turtle already gotten one?

No, Mr. Turtle is on the other side of the pond, still hiding underwater, just waiting for them to swim by. But Momma Duck knows he's over there, so she and the six ducklings are waiting for number seven. Finally, here he comes! But why did he take so long? We don't know. He may have found a water spider or some other kind of bug to play with and did not realize the danger he was in. Gramma and I were very glad that Momma Duck did not swim away and leave number seven behind.

Now then, how did Momma Duck and the ducklings get past Mr. Snapping Turtle? She stayed very close to the east side of the pond, as far away from him as possible. Then at the entrance of the pond, she wiggled through a narrow passage in the tall reeds, then out into the creek, with all seven ducklings right behind her.

Hooray! Momma Duck and the ducklings made it! And Mr. Snapping Turtle was left behind, still hungry.

Needless to say, Gramma and I were very happy for wise Momma Duck and her family who were now safely out in the creek where that snapping turtle could not catch them. But, boys and girls, Satan is just like that vicious snapping turtle, trying to catch anyone he can and stop them from getting into heaven! He would rather have you with himself in that terrible lake of fire! Oh, do not listen to his lies! Be wise and come to the Lord Jesus who loves you and died for you so that you can live with Him in the safety of heaven.

Lots of love,

Gramma and Grampa

MEMORY VERSE: The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3

Messages of God’s Love 3/8/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation The Mighty Elephant

"Behold now a mighty animal, which I made ... . He [eats] grass as an ox.... His bones are like bars of iron.... The shady trees cover him.... He [drinks] up a river.... His nose [pierces] through snares." Job 40:15-24

Except for whales, African elephants are the largest creatures on earth. They may weigh five or six tons.

When a baby elephant is born, the excited herd groups around the mother to protect her, and one of the females becomes an "auntie" to help with the baby. The 250-pound baby cannot walk immediately after it is born. It has to be helped to its feet over and over again, until it can stand alone. It grows to full size in about 20 years and may live to be 60 years old or more.

The elephant is a friendly and curious animal. It eats leaves, grass, roots, water plants, and other vegetation. Sometimes it will shake a fruit tree and eat the fruit that falls to the ground. Each day an adult eats at least 400 pounds of food and drinks 50 gallons of water. The Lord God placed them where there is plenty of food for them to eat.

The elephant’s ivory tusks are often several feet long and may weigh 200 pounds or more. God compensated for the weight of the tusks by lightening the head bones with numerous air pockets. The tusks can push heavy objects out of the way, dig for roots and even become weapons when the elephant is angry.

An elephant's trunk is an amazing structure. It has 2500 muscles and is actually a stretched-out nose and lip. With it the elephant can pluck a single blade of grass, uproot a large tree, and pick up water, dust or mud to spray on itself when it is hot or bothered by insects. The trunk is also used as a trumpet to call its companions. When needed, it becomes a weapon and sometimes is used for spanking a baby.

When the elephant is angry, its ears stand out threateningly, but the Creator has also given them a more practical use. Perspiring like most other animals does not cool an elephant. Instead, it cools itself by waving these big ears back and forth. An entire herd doing this is an impressive sight.

The elephant not only follows its God-given instincts, but it is also very intelligent. However, no matter how smart these and other creatures are, it is only man to whom God has given a never-dying soul: "[Man's] spirit shall return unto God who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12:7). A person will either go to heaven or hell, depending on what that person's decision is concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible tell us, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36).

Which group are you in?

Messages of God’s Love 3/8/2020

Breakfast by the Sea

Some of us may find that fishing is fun, but for these seven men it had been a business. They were fishermen by trade. When Peter said, I’m going fishing, they all answered, We are going with you.

Years had passed since these seven disciples of Jesus had dropped their fishing nets into the sea, but they quickly remembered how to do it. They remembered that it was easier to get a good catch of fish at night. However, in the morning their nets were empty.

Why weren’t they able to catch even one fish by morning? Because Jesus was not with them. And if Jesus is not with you, you have an emptiness too. You can try doubly hard, but you can’t fill that empty place with anything you can do. The wonderful truth is that Jesus Himself is the only One who can fill that empty place in your life, and He is ready to be your Savior right now!

The seven fishermen worked hard all night in the dark and hoped for a good catch, but in all those hours, nothing swam into their net . . . not even one fish! That meant they had no fish to sell and nothing for breakfast. What a big disappointment!

But Jesus was not far away. When morning came, He stood on the shore and called to them, Children, have you caught any meat [fish]? And they had to answer, No.

Jesus said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship and you will catch some. And they did catch fish . . . their net was full!

This same Jesus calls to you wherever you are right now. Will you be as quick to obey Him as those disciples were? Jesus has all power, and He is quick to answer. He does not promise you fish with fins and scales, but He promises eternal life. However, those seven fishermen had to obey before they got His answer. And do you know what you have to do? Read John 3:16 and see! Read Acts 16:31 and see! Have you obeyed what Jesus has told you to do? If so, He has filled that empty place in your life . . . your net is full!

Peter did not know who was talking to them on the shore. John told him, It is the Lord! When Peter heard that, he put on his coat and jumped into the water. He thought it was the fastest way to get to Jesus. We don’t know if he waded in or swam to shore, but he wanted to be with Him!

The disciples had a huge catch of fish, and they dragged the full net to shore and counted them. There were 153 fish! . . . Plenty to sell and plenty to eat!

But what were fish compared with having Jesus with them? He was the risen Savior who had already died and was buried and rose again the third day. It was those same hands with the nail wounds that already had prepared a fire of hot coals on the shore, with fish already cooking, and He had bread for them too. The fish they had caught in their net were good, but perhaps Jesus was showing them that He could provide for them. His way is perfect. We should never, never doubt Him.

John calls himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 21:20). But he doesn’t say, “He loves me best.” Maybe for a while Peter had forgotten that Jesus loved him, but the Savior’s love was just as real for Peter, and it is real for you too. It was Paul who said, “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20), and he also called himself the chief of sinners. Our sins don’t make Jesus not love us!

How much does God love us? He loves us so much that He gave His only begotten Son to die for us. That’s a lot of love! If you come to Jesus because you need Him—because there is no one else to save sinners and because you believe His promise—then you’ll find that He loves YOU, just as truly as He loved John.

You may read this story for yourself in John 21.

MEMORY VERSE: “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Messages of God’s Love 3/15/2020

Daisy on the Loose

On the outskirts of our city there are two large dairy farms. The Marysville farm is farther out the north end near the Naskwaak Valley. The other is a Holstein dairy farm, about four miles away and closer to the city.

One evening, the Holstein dairy farm brought their cows in for milking, and as they counted them, a strange cow followed the herd into the barn. This strange young cow, that we’ll call Daisy, was very frisky, so the farmer penned her in, hoping to find her owner. However, in a few minutes Daisy jumped over the pen and ran out into the open field to freedom.

A few days later, Daisy was sighted trotting around a large store parking lot and running back and forth across the streets. The news of this frisky cow on the loose appeared in the newspaper and on the news, so everyone knew about the roaming cow.

The police took up the chase in hopes of capturing Daisy. Daisy’s real owner from the Marysville farm told the police that they could shoot her on sight. She was too wild and was a danger to the public.

However, it is a month later now and Daisy is still free. She can eat grass wherever she pleases, close to the woods like a deer. She seems to enjoy being wild. She doesn’t know that death could be in her near future.

You and I have hearts that love to be free to do whatever we want, without having to obey anybody. But like Daisy, death could be in the near future for any one of us; we don’t know what will happen tomorrow. The Bible warns, “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1). And for anyone who doesn’t know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, death means the loss of a Savior’s love and forgiveness and an eternity of everlasting punishment in outer darkness.

Each one of us is described in this Bible verse: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). Are you willing to let Jesus find you, bring you back to His loving arms, and wash away your sins? He is looking for you, not to harm you, but to save you, because He loves you so much.

“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

Messages of God’s Love 3/15/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Seldom-Seen Desman

“The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.” Psalm 111:2

In remote mountain streams of Spain and France, there is a mysterious little animal whose body is no longer than a man’s hand, and its rope-like tail is the same length. The desman lives a very secretive life and is rarely seen by anyone. It is well hidden—not only living in places that are difficult to reach, but also because it sleeps during the day, hidden in a rocky nest beside a stream. It spends the dark hours of night underwater in the fast-flowing stream.

This strange creature resembles a mole. It has thick, yellowish-gray fur which, when wet, stands out in long, arrow-like pointers. The skin, where exposed, is rough and looks like rows of small, dark, round beads pressed lightly together. It long snout, brown on the end, has two large rubbery nostrils. Each foot has leathery soles with five long, white claws. The claws are used to pull itself along the creek bottom, as well as for loosening rocks under which it usually finds food.

The desman has eyes but does not seem to use them for finding its way around or in hunting food. Instead, it relies on a sensitive nose to smell out it’s underwater food of water bugs, worms and other insects and their larvae. Its nose seems to be its greatest helper, not only in finding food, but since it is so sensitive, it warns of rocks and other obstacles in the dark waters. This animal can stay underwater for a long time, occasionally poking that useful nose through the surface for a breath of air.

Its life pattern of hunting underwater at night includes the ability to hide on a dark rock when threatened. When really frightened, it darts through the water so fast that it is almost impossible to get a good look at it even if a strong light is used.

The desman and its mate hunt for their food in only a small area of the mountain stream close to their daytime home. They are most active in winter, eating as much as possible to keep warm. Their bodies develop rather fat stomachs through the winter months.

It is not likely that any of us will ever see a desman, but there is One, the Creator of all living things, who is watching over each and every one of them. He gave them these amazing instincts and the ability to live in such an unusual way. A Bible verse tells us this: “The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works. All Thy works shall praise Thee, O Lord” (Psalm 145:9-10). Do you thank and praise Him for His love and tender mercies to you?

Messages of God’s Love 3/15/2020

A Story About a Lost Ring

Eight-year-old Heather and nine-year-old Emily lived on a farm in Michigan. They had Christian parents who brought them up in the fear of the Lord. They also went to Sunday school every week where they learned more about the Lord Jesus and His love for sinners. They learned that they were sinners who needed to trust on the Lord Jesus who died on Calvary’s cross to pay for their sins. Then we become a part of the family of God. This is called being saved. Those of us who are saved should want to please Him. One way is by obeying our parents. "Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord" (Colossians 3:20).

School was out for the summer, and the girls found many things to do on the farm. A favorite pastime was to bring their dolls and doll furniture to the empty corn crib and set up a playhouse. This kept them busy for hours. Then there were the rabbits and their cuddly baby bunnies to play with. The farm was lots of fun.

One hot morning in August the girls seemed bored with their usual outdoor activities and wandered into the kitchen where Mother was busy fixing dinner. Dinner on the farm was a busy time for Mother. It had to be ready on time since Dad brought in his hired helpers for the meal.

Mother was busy rolling out pie crusts for blueberry and peach pies. The girls spied her gold wedding ring on the windowsill above the sink. Immediately Heather had an idea. "Mom, can we wear your ring for a little while?"

"No," was Mother's firm response. "It will slip off your fingers. It is too large and heavy and will get lost."

"But we will be very careful with it," explained Heather. "Can't we have it for only five minutes?"

"Please," added Emily. "We will only run around the house three times outside."

Their pleadings continued until Mother, anxious to get them out of the kitchen, finally agreed, but she said they could not take it outdoors, and only five minutes for each girl. Gleefully, they took the prized possession and left the kitchen.

Heather clasped the ring tightly in her hand and put her hand in her apron pocket, saying, "I won't ever let go of it. It will be safe in my pocket." Out the door they went, taking the ring along, disobeying Mother's strict orders to stay indoors with it!

When the two girls went out the door, where Mother couldn't see them, who should they discover sitting on the grass waiting for them to come out to play but the Graham children, their school friends who lived down the road. Immediately the ring and their promise to Mother were both forgotten. For an hour they had great fun. It was seldom that the girls got to play with other children.

Soon Mr. Graham finished his farm business with Dad and stopped by the house to pick up his children who were having a great time romping on the lawn and swinging in the old elm tree with Heather and Emily. "Goodbye, and please come back soon," the two girls called to them as the Graham car drove down the road.

Then, suddenly, Emily and Heather remembered Mother's ring. It wasn't in Heather's pocket anymore! How could the girls face Mother now? A Bible verse both girls had learned must have flashed across their young minds: "Be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23).

"We'll pray and ask the Lord to help us find it," both girls agreed. Up to their room they hurried, closed the door and knelt down beside their beds. Back down the stairs they nearly flew. There wasn't much time left now until dinner.

They combed the grass, searching carefully, but they did not find the ring.

The Lord did not help them to find the ring. Can you guess why? Perhaps it was because the girls were disobedient on two counts: first, for going outside against Mother's orders, and second, for not bringing the ring back when the time was up.

What sad results come into our lives when we disobey our parents and even as grown-ups when we disobey God's Word, the Bible. Disobeying at any age is sin.

That ring was never found in their mother's lifetime, but many years later the ring was discovered by a granddaughter who lived on the same farm with her parents. Emily and Heather are now both grandmothers and often tell this story to their grandchildren, hoping it will be used of the Lord Jesus to speak to their young hearts about how important it is to obey their parents all the time!

MEMORY VERSE: “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23

Messages of God’s Love 3/22/2020

Matches!

One little match can start a big fire, but Mike wasn't worried about that. He just wanted to start a little fire, one he could sit by and enjoy in the pine forest near his house. He had used up at least a couple of packs of matches trying to start the fire before his mother caught him. He was reaching up into the little blue jar on the fireplace mantle to get another pack when she walked into the living room.

Deciding to find out what he had been doing with the matches, she discovered a pile of pine needles that he was trying to burn. Thankfully, in gathering the pine needles, he had also gathered some wet pine needles and dirt. That was why the pile wouldn't burn, which probably prevented the whole pine forest from going up in flames.

Matches are like sin. One little match could have started a fire that might have burned down the whole pine forest, and one little sin can start a bad habit that could ruin your whole life. The Lord Jesus not only wants to save you from your sins and the punishment you deserve in hell, but also from the terribly destructive power of sin in your life right now. If you have already trusted Jesus as your Savior but have allowed some sin in your life, tell Him about it. He promises that "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:7).

Messages of God’s Love 3/22/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: Palm Trees-Another of God's Gifts

"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord.... For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters ... neither shall [he] cease from yielding fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8

The Bible often speaks of palm trees. Exodus 15:27 tells us that when the Israelites were thirsty and weary in the desert, "they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten [70] palm trees" where they enjoyed a good rest. Another occasion is found in John 12:12-13, telling of "much people ... when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet Him."

Palms grow throughout the tropics and other places where there is abundant sunshine and it is warm year-round. Varieties include cabbage palms, sagos, palmettos and the well-known date and coconut palms. An oasis of palms around a well of water is always a welcome sight in the desert. They also add beauty to many ocean islands, leaning over the shoreline. The Creator has so formed them that they stand firm in the strongest winds, fronds (leaves) trailing in the wind and their flexible trunks bending gracefully. Coconuts float and are often carried on ocean waves to distant shores, where they take root and soon add beauty and supply food to yet another place.

It is easy to see why palm trees are considered one of the Creator's great gifts to mankind, providing daily food for millions, as well as timber, fuel and a long list of useful things. Soap and candles are made from coconuts and sugar from the tree's sap. The fruit of some is dried into starch, used in puddings, and parts of the fronds are made into clothing.

Date palms provide one of the most reliable foods for people in many places. Large date palm groves grow in the southern United States. Their fruit appeals to the appetites of those who like their sweet and nourishing quality. They also are used in cookies, breads and cakes, as well as candies.

As we speak of the wonderful fruit coming from so many of these palms, we are reminded that we are told in God's Word to be "fruitful" in our lives, just as our opening verse states. Another verse in Colossians 1:10 says, "Walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work." Also in Luke 6:43-44, "A good tree bringeth not forth corrupt [bad] fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit."

What kind of fruit shows itself in your life? When a Christian really wants to please the Lord and be helpful to people around him, the Lord will always help him or her to do so, when such a desire is told to Him in prayer. Is this something you do?

Messages of God’s Love 3/22/2020

Show and Tell

Do you have “Show and Tell” in your class at school? Every Thursday afternoon Mrs. Miller, Michael’s teacher, would remind the class: “If any of you has a special treasure you would like to share with the class, bring it to school tomorrow, and you may show it to the whole class and tell us about it.”

The children brought things like a special rock or a souvenir from summer vacation. Some brought their favorite stuffed animals and even favorite photographs to share with the class.

One Thursday afternoon in early February, Mrs. Miller made the usual “Show and Tell” announcement to the class. Michael decided he had something he wanted to bring the next day. His dad had found something really neat in a trash pile by the side of the road a few months ago.

On Friday morning he set off for school, lugging his treasure and looking forward to sharing it with the class. Finally his turn came. “Michael,” said Mrs. Miller, “what do you have to show us today?”

Michael walked to the front of the room and faced the class. Pulling his treasure out of the sack he had carried it in, he held it up for everyone to see. “Look at what my dad found in the trash,” he announced. “Does anybody know what it is?”

There was a moment of silence as the children stared at the strange object. Mrs. Miller was staring too, but she was not puzzled as to what it was—-she knew what it was and she was horrified!

“Michael,” she said, quickly walking over to him and cupping her hands under his hands, “I want you to very gently lay that hand grenade in my hands . . . thank you. Now please go back to your seat.”

Michael obeyed, but he sure couldn’t figure out why Mrs. Miller was upset and reacting this way. After all, his dad had said the old grenade was just a dud and couldn’t hurt anybody. He quickly told her what his dad had said.

Mrs. Miller very carefully and gently set the hand grenade on her desk. She still seemed upset and kind of scared as she stood between the hand grenade and the children. She seemed uncertain what to do next.

Not wanting to leave the children alone, she finally said to Anita who sat closest to the door, “Anita, please quietly get up and slowly open the door. Good. Now I want you to quickly walk to the principal’s office and ask him to call the police and tell them that I think we have a ‘live’ hand grenade in our classroom.”

The children were really frightened now, and while Anita was gone to the office, Mrs. Miller did some explaining. She told them she wasn’t sure the hand grenade was safe and that as long as they stayed still and quiet, they would be all right. But if anyone were to accidentally bump the grenade, it might explode, and then many of them could be killed or seriously wounded.

Why do you suppose Mrs. Miller frightened the class like that? Why didn’t she just let Michael pass the grenade around for everyone to handle and look at? It was because she knew the danger they were all in, and she loved the boys and girls enough to warn them of the danger and to try to protect them.

Maybe someone has frightened you too. Perhaps your mom or dad or Sunday school teacher has told you that you have sinned and that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). They have warned you that God cannot allow one sin into heaven, and since “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23), that includes you. Why do they tell you these scary things? It is because they love you, and they want you to learn how to get rid of those sins so that you can be in heaven with the Lord Jesus who loves you even more.

The police soon came to Michael’s classroom and said that the grenade really was a dangerous, “live” one! They ordered the children and Mrs. Miller to quietly leave the room and go to the playground. Soon the bomb-disposal squad arrived. Using their special equipment, they carried the hand grenade to a safe place far away from people and exploded it harmlessly. Michael and his classmates were safe!

It took special men with special equipment to remove the danger to Michael and his school friends. And it took One Special Man in one very special way to remove my sins by taking all the punishment that I deserved. The Lord Jesus Christ had to die on the cross of Calvary and shed His blood so that my sins could be taken away. Now He tells us that “whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:15). Isn’t that good news! He loves us so much that He died so that your sins and my sins and the sins of every sinner who will trust in Him can be forever washed away.

My sins are gone, and I am ready to go to be with the Lord Jesus in heaven. Are you safe from the judgment to come? Are your sins gone?

MEMORY VERSE: “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Messages of God’s Love 3/29/2020

Robby's Seed

On the last day of school in June, Robby's teacher gave each child a different kind of seed to plant in his yard at home. Robby took his home and planted it, but it was a long time before he knew what kind of plant grew from his seed.

In September, the children brought what they had grown to school with them. Tracy had a big red flower. Mike had a tomato. But Robby told his teacher that his plant was still growing in his yard and he still didn't know what kind it was.

"Wait a few more weeks," his teacher said, "and you will soon find out."

How happy Robby was a few weeks later to discover that it was a pumpkin vine! Later on his mother made some delicious pumpkin pies out of the pumpkins he picked.

Every Christian boy and girl is planting seeds during his life. I don't mean real seeds like Robby planted. We are planting seeds of love, honesty, kindness, hate, lying or unkindness. What kind of seeds are you planting? What you plant in your "garden" you will harvest later. If you have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, ask Him to help you plant seeds of love, honesty and kindness. You will collect love, truthfulness and kindness in return, and He will give you a reward in heaven too.

"Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Galatians 6:7).

Messages of God’s Love 3/29/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: Wild Pigs-Ugh!

"Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods." Deuteronomy 11:16

Wild pigs have a variety of names—boars, razorbacks, or just plain hogs or pigs. However, they were not always wild. Years ago some escaped from their farm homes and easily adapted to living in the wild.

There were no pigs in Hawaii until someone imported a number of tame ones. Some of these escaped into the nearby forests and shorelines. Today they have become Hawaii's worst pest. Among other things, they destroy beautiful tree ferns by gnawing into the stems for food. Another plant they eat is the banana-poke, spreading the seeds around, making it an added problem because it chokes out other native plants.

Both California and North Carolina have thousands of these black, fat, short-legged animals with pointed snouts and bare tails. Many other North American areas have similar problems with them, all resulting from imported tame pigs escaping into the wild years ago. Hunters shoot them by the thousands. But it is impossible to keep ahead of them since the sows give birth to about six babies twice a year.

The wild pigs' food includes acorns, hazelnuts, chestnuts and berries, hoggishly depriving many birds, deer, bears and other wild creatures of what they need. Another disadvantage is that these creatures do not hibernate in the winter, but rain, snow and freezing weather seem to make them hungrier. With part of their regular food not available, they strip bark off many trees, looking for hidden insects. This results in ruining some forested areas.

As if these traits are not bad enough, they love to change a forest pond or part of a shallow stream into a filthy mud hole as they wallow and get covered with mud. These areas soon become polluted and foul smelling due to all the filth. This attracts flies and other insects that carry some of the disease-laden filth to farmyards, homes, parks and other public areas, harming not only farm animals and birds, but people as well.

These vicious, unpleasant beasts are an example of what sin has brought into the world, for when God created them, they were not this way. This reminds us that Satan tempted Adam and Eve to sin against God, and Satan is still trying to keep people from responding to God's love. Read the warning in our opening Bible verse.

Our loving God wants us to turn from our sinful ways and look to His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for the sins of all who will come to Him. The Bible tells us this: "We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7). Have you come to Him with your sins?

Messages of God’s Love 3/29/2020

Buttons Lets Loose!

One summer day, Brandon was playing in the backyard with his younger brother Eric. One game they liked to play was "pirates." Since Brandon was older, he was in command. He gave the order to Eric, "Sailor, climb the mast and untie the rope!"

Eric asked, "What mast?"

Brandon pointed to the heavy pole that the clothes line was tied to and stated, "That mast, sailor."

"But it's too big for me to climb," explained Eric.

Brandon answered, "Okay, I'll climb it myself and get the rope down—-if you'll let me tie you up like you're my prisoner."

Eric said, “Okay.”

Brandon got the clothes line down. Then, beginning at Eric's feet he started coiling the rope around him. It was a long rope, and he kept wrapping it around Eric until it almost reached his head. Brandon had just finished tying the last knot when he noticed something scary . . . Buttons was loose again!

Now Buttons was his sisters' pony, and Brandon was scared of him. If you didn't know Buttons, you would think he was a cute, gentle pony. But Brandon had already been bitten by Buttons once. And he wouldn't get close to Buttons unless his father was with him.

This time Buttons wasn't very close, and Brandon had enough time to run to the house and up the back steps to the porch where Buttons couldn't get him. But as soon as he got to the top of the steps, he remembered, Eric! He had left his little brother lying on the grass, tied up with all that rope, and Eric couldn't move!

Brandon was terrified of Buttons, but the thought of what that pony would do to Eric was too much for him. It didn't matter if he died trying: He must save his brother!

Brandon ran back to the spot where Eric lay tied. At first he tried to untie him, but that was taking too long. Brandon picked up his brother with a strength that surprised him and carried Eric to the porch. Buttons reached them just as Brandon hurried up the steps with Eric. They barely escaped!

Brandon had tied up Eric really well with all that rope and many knots. It took a lot of work to finally get him untied, but at least they were safe.

Boys and girls, do you know that our sins wrap around and around our hearts and we never can get free from them by ourselves. Jesus the Savior is the only one who can free us from our sins.

One time Jesus was in a house, and four men carried a very sick man to Jesus for help. There were so many people around the house that they couldn't get through the door. So these men climbed up on top of the house, broke up the roof and let down their sick friend, bed and all, right in front of Jesus.

Do you know what the Lord Jesus said to the sick man? He said, "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee . . . .Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house" (Mark 2:3-12). And the man was healed, but more important than that, his sins were forgiven!

We each need our sins forgiven too, just like that sick man in the Bible. If you want your sins forgiven, come to Jesus by faith, believing that He shed His blood on Calvary's cross to wash your sins away. He loves you and will set you free.

"In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7).

Memory Verse:

‘In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:7

Messages of God’s Love 4/5/2020

The Shoeshine Boy's Question

A man stopped to have his shoes polished by a shoeshine boy. The boy had his equipment handy and had offered to shine the man’s shoes for a couple of dollars. While the boy's hands were busy with the job, he said to the man, "Mister, do you love God?"

Perhaps no one had ever asked the man such a question before, and he was not pleased. "What difference does it make to you whether I love God or not?" he asked the boy.

"Lots of difference. If you love God you will be able to pray that my mother and I will get a new place to live. The house where we are now is gonna be torn down, and we have no place to go. I heard yesterday that God answers prayers for people who love Him. Now I'm asking everybody, and I can't find anyone who loves God!"

The man seemed bothered by the conversation, and he said, "Ask somebody else. In this city full of churches, you'll find someone who loves God."

At the end of the day, the boy was totally discouraged. In the whole day, I haven't found one person who loves God, he thought. But one of his shoeshine customers directed him to Steve, who was a real Christian believer.

Steve brought his Bible and had a good chat with the boy. "God so loved the world," Steve read, "that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Steve explained to the boy about the God who loved him so much that He sent His only Son to die for him. The boy began to understand that his new friend loved God because God loved him first. Steve explained that you can't stir up love to God in your own heart. It grows in your heart in answer to the great love God has for you. One way God has shown us His love is that even though we are sinners, Christ died for us. The Son of God gave Himself for me. When you think of that, you can only love Him back!

"Thank you, sir," said the shoeshine boy. "Now I think I know God well enough to ask Him myself."

Steve said he heard the boy pray in simple trust. And our faithful, loving God delights to answer prayer. A few days later, the shoeshine boy and his mother were happily settled in a new place to live.

"Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us" (1 John 3:16). "We love Him, because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19).

Messages of God’s Love 4/5/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: Traveling With the Earth

"The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath He established the heavens" (Proverbs 3:19). "He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing" (Job 26:7).

Years ago men thought the earth was held up by a great elephant, standing on the back of a huge turtle. Others thought there was a mythological god who balanced the starry sky on his shoulders. (They didn't explain what the turtle or the god would stand on!) Scientists today laugh at those ideas, but still don't understand how the earth, weighing six-thousand-million, million, million tons can "float" through space, or what keeps it in motion in its precisely kept schedules. But King Solomon knew the earth and heavens were created by the Lord God, and Job knew thousands of years ago that only God could "hang the earth upon nothing."

Man has built airplanes that fly across the Atlantic Ocean at a speed of about 1,000 mph. But what is that compared to the speed you are traveling every moment of the day and night? Did you know that every 24 hours the earth makes a complete revolution on its axis and takes you on a 25,000-mile trip at more than 1,000 mph? Furthermore, that is only part of the journey you are on, for the earth also travels in its orbit around the sun at a speed of 66,000 mph. This makes 65 mph in a car seem rather slow, doesn't it?

Even these figures don't tell the whole story, for our entire galaxy of several billion stars is moving through space at 43,000 mph. Adding these figures together, we discover that at times we are racing through space at a speed of more than 100,000 mph! While we are doing this (without feeling any motion that makes us aware of such terrific speed), countless stars are passing through the heavens as well.

Who started all this motion, and how is it all kept in perfect order? God alone could create, put in motion, and keep all in perfect order, "upholding all things by the word of His power" (Hebrews 1:3).

But, as the result of sin coming into the world, there is judgment coming when "the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (2 Peter 3:10). Thankfully, those who know Christ as their Savior will be taken from this world into the safety of heaven before this destruction takes place. It is said of Abraham and other faithful people of Bible times that they "confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth" and that they looked for a better country—a heavenly country (Hebrews 11:13-16). Heaven can be your place of safety too, if you will come to Christ who "is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him" (Hebrews 7:25).

Messages of God’s Love 4/5/2020

The Little Furnace Cleaner

I was working in the kitchen one summer evening while my husband David was working at his desk in the living room. Our 1-1/2-year-old son, Brian, was playing and dividing his time between both of us.

Suddenly I became aware that Brian seemed rather quiet. I looked around for him where he had been sitting on the floor playing with his toys in the hallway, but he was not there. "David, is Brian in there with you?" I called.

"No, I thought he was with you," was his answer.

I called Brian, but there was no answer. I called again much louder, and this time he answered, but he sounded so strange. My first thought was that perhaps he was playing hide-and-seek, but my instincts told me that something was wrong. I was becoming concerned!

A 1-1/2-year-old little boy or girl cannot get along without his parents for very long. If he becomes separated from them, he is lost and needs to be found quickly!

A 7- or 8-year-old child or a 20-25-year-old person can be lost too, but I don't mean lost from their parents. In the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ, speaking of Himself as the Son of Man, said, "The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). Who was He seeking that was lost? It also says in 2 Corinthians 4:3, "If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost." The lost are people who have not accepted the gospel. It is "hid" from them because they have refused to believe it.

Brian was lost and that was serious. Yet when his mother called him, he answered. By answering, she could follow his voice and find him.

The Lord Jesus is calling you. Have you heard His voice? He says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock" (Revelation 3:20). This is the gentle knocking of the Lord Jesus at your heart's door. He wants your attention. He is calling you! Won't you answer?

I walked into the hall where Brian had been playing. Beside his toys, the large grate that covers the cold air return to the furnace was pushed off to the side. Anxiously, I kneeled down beside the hole and called Brian's name again. This time his answer came clearly, and it was coming up from the cold air return!

"David," I shrieked, "Brian's fallen down into the furnace!" We both hurried down the basement steps as fast as we could. Terrifying thoughts were running through my head. A drop that far could mean broken bones—or worse.

Down in the basement by the furnace, I called Brian once more and heard him answer, "Mommy!" from inside. David quickly pulled the handle to lift the panel off the side of the furnace.

There was Brian, sitting on top of the blower motor. Under him were two furnace filters which had been ripped out of place on his way down. He was sitting there with a look of wonder on his dirty little face, but as soon as he saw us, he broke into a big smile.

Have you seen that you are a helpless sinner and turned to the only One who can save you—the Lord Jesus? On the cross He was punished for the sins of all who would accept Him as their Savior.

Brian was completely helpless inside the furnace, except for calling, "Mommy!" As a sinner you are helpless, too, but you can call to the Lord Jesus. "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). He loves you and is patiently waiting for you simply to trust in Him as your Savior. Won't you do that right now?

David carefully lifted Brian off the motor. He was so dusty and dirty that it was hard to tell the color of his clothes. We checked him from head to toe and found nothing wrong—-no broken bones or even scratches—just lots of dirt. He certainly needed a bath.

How easy it would be if we could simply take a bath and have our sins washed away. But God says, "Though thou wash thee . . . and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity [sin] is marked before Me" (Jeremiah 2:22). There is only one way we can be saved from our sins, and that plan of salvation was completed by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Don't wait any longer—time is short! Accept the Lord Jesus as your Savior right now. You might not have the opportunity tomorrow. "Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).

MEMORY VERSE: "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13

Messages of God’s Love 4/12/2020

The Ring

One day six-year-old Matthew asked his mother, “Where did God come from?”

“It is really hard to understand,” she answered, “but maybe this will help.” She took off her wedding ring, handed it to him and asked, “Where does this ring begin and where does it end?”

Matthew turned the ring over and over in his hands and finally answered, “There isn’t any starting place or stopping place.”

Then his mother explained, “It is exactly the same way with God—-there was no beginning to God, and there will be no end to God. He always has been living in heaven, and He always will be living in heaven.”

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made” (John 1:1-3).

Messages of God’s Love 4/12/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: Rubber From Trees

“God said, Let the earth bring forth . . . the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind . . . and it was so.” Genesis 1:11

We are so used to rubber in many forms, particularly the tires on cars, airplanes, bicycles and other vehicles, that it’s hard to think of times—-a hundred years or more ago—-when there was not much of it around. But today rubber is a very important item throughout the world.

What is known as pure India rubber is sometimes called gum elastic, as well as a technical name pronounced “coochook.” Much of it comes from rubber vines in India and Africa, as well as from large rubber trees in South America, particularly in the forests of Brazil.

The method of getting rubber from the trees is interesting. In some ways it is quite similar to that used to draw sweet maple sap from trees in northeastern United States and Canada.

For many years, great quantities of pure milk-white latex, which is made into rubber, have been coaxed from these trees by workers called “rubber tappers.” Without seriously harming the trees, workmen with sharp, curved knives reach high up the bare part of the trunk and cut shallow circles into the thin bark, slanting them downward. At selected spots, they attach buckets into which the latex drips after winding downward in the tapered grooves. These buckets are carefully watched to make sure they don’t overflow and waste any of the precious liquid.

The pails of latex are taken to a shed and emptied into a large vat for heat-treating and partial drying. Soon a workman brings a big roller with a bare wooden handle on which he carefully pours the treated latex. He slowly rotates this, and when it gets to a proper thickness, he takes it to another area where it is fully dried and stripped from the roller. Then it is flattened into smooth sheets about two or three feet wide and five or six feet long. This then is packaged and shipped to rubber factories, some in South America but mostly to the United States and Europe.

Rubber trees continue producing latex for many years. People who own groves of rubber trees and properly work them have discovered that they make more money per acre producing rubber than by cutting down the trees and using the land for farming. That makes many people happy, because cutting down trees in Brazil over the years has meant destroying many forested areas and depriving some of the world’s most beautiful birds and animals of their homelands.

The opening Bible verse reminds us that the world itself and all things in it or on it were created by God and that He well knew the benefits His creation would bring to people all over the world. There is another Bible verse that has an important message for children and young people about their Creator. Read it in Ecclesiastes 12:1.

Messages of God’s Love 4/12/2020

Lost at Sea!

The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest ocean in the world and covers about one fifth of the world’s surface. This is where Louis Jordan found himself when he left South Carolina on a fishing trip on January 23, 2015. He told his family that he was going out into the open sea to sail and catch fish. He had just spent months sanding and painting his 1950s-era, single-masted sailboat, which was 35 feet long.

His family was used to him going out on long fishing trips, but when they did not hear from him in a week, they began to worry. Some of the nights were very cold! But when his mother’s birthday passed and they still hadn’t heard from him, they were certain that something had happened to their son. On January 29, they let the Coast Guard know that their son was missing. Then another week went by. They confirmed with the Coast Guard that their son was still missing.

The Coast Guard did their very best to find Louis. They sent alerts for sailors and others to be on the lookout for Louis and his sailboat from New Jersey to Miami, Florida. On February 8, they began to fly over the ocean and kept hunting for Louis for the next 10 days before having to abandon their efforts. A 35-foot sailboat is very difficult to spot in such a large ocean as the Atlantic! (To give you some idea of how hard it is, try to imagine searching for a floating toothpick in a large lake. Your chances of finding it would be very, very slim!)

As the weeks and then months went by, his family and friends began to give up hope that Louis was still alive. Some of his friends even mourned his death! The family decided to wait until Easter when they were all together to decide whether to have a funeral for Louis or not. They were beginning to lose hope that they would ever see him alive again, even though they had been praying for his safe return.

In the meantime, Louis was adrift 200 miles out in the Atlantic Ocean. Though he had spent many days fishing in the Intercoastal Waterways, he had no experience in navigating the open ocean. Shortly after going out to sea, he got caught in a rough storm. His sailboat was no match for the storm. It capsized, snapping off its mast, and water destroyed all of its electronics. He could no longer communicate. He later told his family that the boat capsized two more times, causing him to do a lot of bailing in order to keep the boat afloat.

He survived by carefully rationing the food that he had on the boat and by catching fish with a hand net, which he had to eat raw. He drank a pint of water a day and collected rain water when he could.

Finally, on day 66, he was spotted by a cargo ship, the “Houston Express.” They saw Louis on the front of his boat, standing up there waving his arms, and they turned that huge ship around. The Coast Guard sent a helicopter to airlift Louis to land and reunite him with his family.

While on the helicopter, Louis showed them two things that he said had kept him going—a well-used Bible, which he had read through several times, and a blanket that had sheltered him from the sun and weather.

His family’s worry and fear for Louis’ life was turned to sudden joy and gladness. Boys and girls, this story is a picture of ourselves! We were all born hopelessly lost in our willful sins and in need of a Savior. We all need rescuing, just as Louis did! The Bible tells us that “the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Because Jesus died for our sins on the cross, when we put our faith and trust in Him, He promises to give us eternal life. Just as there was joy in Louis’ family when he returned home safely, “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke 15:10).

Boys and girls, has all heaven rejoiced because you have repented of your sins and put your trust in the Lord Jesus?

MEMORY VERSE: “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:10

Messages of God’s Love 4/19/2020

Come in Anytime!

The children were putting up signs on their bedroom doors. One was a printed sign from the variety store. It was red with white letters and said, “PRIVATE PROPERTY ... KEEP OUT!” Another sign was written with pencil on white paper, and it said, “DO NOT ENTER WITHOUT KNOCKING.” Another sign simply said, “THE GIRLS’ ROOM.”

When little Joey saw the other children making their signs, he said, “Mommy, I want to make a sign too.”

“What do you want your sign to say?” she asked.

“I want it to say, ‘YOU MAY COME IN ANYTIME YOU WANT TO.’”

Wasn’t that a nice friendly sign? Signs like these show us the feelings that different boys and girls have toward others and toward God. Some people seem to be wearing a sign that says, “KEEP OUT! PRIVATE! MY HEART IS MY OWN TO DO WITH AS I PLEASE!” They forget that God made them and that they must answer to Him for everything they think and do.

Others keep the Lord Jesus knocking on their door while they are trying to clean things up inside. They forget that to be happy in God’s presence, their sins must be washed away. Only God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, can do that. If anyone will come to Him as a sinner, he will wash away their sins. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son [cleanses] us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

He is knocking at your heart’s door right now. Won’t you let Him in? He loves you and would like you to answer his knock with little Joey’s sign: “COME IN ANYTIME!”

“Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will [eat] with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).

Messages of God’s Love 4/19/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: We All Know the Crow

“I know all the fowls of the mountains; and the wild beasts of the field are Mine.” Psalm 50:11

It almost seems that a crow doesn’t know how to do anything quietly. Instead, he seems to want everyone to know that he’s around. Parrots can make a lot of noise, but crows are able to outdo them. Crows’ raucous calls are heard in just about every part of the world, except New Zealand where they do not live.

Actually, crows are included among those birds that can be helpful. Among other things, they have a never-ending appetite for insects and will also dispose of small roadkill. They also eat young birds and eggs. Farmers do not like crows because they pull up sprouting corn and eat it. Farmers and gardeners try, without much success, to scare the crows away with scarecrows placed in their gardens. The farmers are much happier to see them eating grasshoppers, locusts, caterpillars and other pests. Scientists have estimated that a crow will eat nineteen bushels of insects in a single season.

Crows are large, fearless birds, about 18 or 19 inches long. They usually winter in the United States or farther south. Those in the eastern part of North America are larger than those in the western part.

They build bulky nests in just about any kind of tree, usually quite high. But some choose to build them down among the low bushes of a swamp or shore of a pond or lake. Nests usually consist of twigs and bark, with a lining of grass, moss, or other soft material. Four to six eggs are laid in the early summer and incubated for 18 days. The baby crows are cared for by both parents and are taught how to collect food as soon as they can fly. The training will take a month or so before they can venture out on their own.

Many a person, trying to take an afternoon nap or lying in bed in the early morning before time to get up, knows what a nuisance a crow’s coarse “caw-caw” can be, especially if there are several calling back and forth at the same time. But the calls can mean “look out” to their companions when danger is nearby. They often encounter dreaded enemies such as hawks, owls, eagles, raccoons and dogs.

If caught young, crows make good pets. They are very intelligent birds and can be taught a number of tricks, as well as how to imitate sounds and talk as clearly as parrots do.

The Bible does not mention crows, but it speaks of ravens, which are closely related. As the beginning Bible verse tells us, the Lord God, their Creator, knows every bird throughout the world and also cares for them. Do you know Him as your Savior as well as your Creator?

Messages of God’s Love 4/19/2020

Jungle Password

During World War II, Lieutenant Jack Richards was shot down in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. His plane sank almost as soon as it hit the water. Rolling over on his back, he floated for some time in his rubber suit, thankful that he had escaped without being injured. But for all he knew, he might be in enemy territory. Anyway, he knew he was stranded.

Darkness began to creep over the ocean, and Jack could just make out the wooded outlines of an island. He decided to swim to it. But distances were confusing, and he wondered if he could swim that far. Overhead he could see the star of the Southern Cross. Thoughts of home raced through his mind as he swam on. Ahead he could see the island dimly outlined by the moonlight. Jack prayed for strength and help, talking to the Lord Jesus Christ, that blessed One whom he loved and who was his Savior.

It was after midnight when he reached the shore. He crawled into a cave and thanked the Lord Jesus for helping him. Exhausted and hungry, he soon fell asleep.

In the morning, he wakened to see the sun through the fringe of bushes. What would he find on the island? Well, he could soon know! Emerging from his “hotel room,” he looked around. Everything was still; the island was thick with trees and other brush.

Carefully, he slipped along through the cover of the brush, feeling that he was being watched, but seeing no one. Toward noon he saw an open space ahead and approached more slowly. Then a bend in the path exposed a small building that looked like a little church. Throwing caution to the wind, Jack broke from cover and ran. He lifted the latch, and the door swung open. Sure enough, it was a little church building! Kneeling down, he gave thanks to God for saving his life and asked Him for further help and safety. Rising, he went back outside, closing the door behind him. He was startled to see at the edge of the clearing a large group of natives—men, women and children.

Connecting them in his mind with the little church building, Jack began to greet them with words and smiles and motions, only to be met with a stony silence. Puzzled to know what else to do since they did not understand English, he began to sing. He first tried “Amazing Grace,” but there was no response from the natives. He tried another hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” but the result was the same. Again he spoke to them, but there was not the slightest response. The natives watched every move he made. They did not seem to be hostile, just curious.

He decided to try one more song. He began a favorite childhood hymn that everyone knows, “Jesus Loves Me.” Instantly those faces came to life with big smiles. By the time the first verse was finished, Jack was almost overwhelmed by their friendliness. They soon brought him food and drink, and the next day they helped him return to his camp.

God’s care of Jack brought him to a place where he could be rescued by those who also loved his Savior. Although they could not speak the same language, their hearts were the same, because of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Have you boys and girls figured out what the “jungle password” was?

MEMORY VERSE: “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered” (Romans 4:7).

Messages of God’s Love 4/26/2020

Left Behind!

I was having such a nice nap! Both of my parents had come to get me up, but I was still so sleepy that I really didn’t want to get out of bed. When I finally did get up, the house was quiet. I walked around and checked the other beds and my baby sister’s crib. Everything was empty. No one was in the yard either. I was only six years old, and I was scared!

Jesus is coming soon to take to heaven all who have accepted Him as their Savior. I know that Jesus has washed my sins away, and so I’m not going to be left behind when He comes. But I don’t want you to be left behind either. It will be worse than being scared without your family. Those who are left behind will be punished for their sins. There will be no second chance then!

I was sitting on the couch unhappily wondering what to do when the phone rang. Then I was so happy when I answered it, because it was Daddy! He told me that no one had noticed that I hadn’t gotten into the van with all the rest of my brothers and sisters. But someone was coming back to pick me up. Daddy told me a Bible verse to help me, and I wasn’t so scared anymore. Soon I was picked up and taken to be with my family. I was so glad because it’s scary to be left behind!

Jesus doesn’t want you to be left behind when He comes. He has told you in His letter, the Bible, how much He loves you and wants you to be with Him. “I go to prepare a place for you ... . I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3). All you need to do is tell Jesus you are sorry for your sins and that you want Him to wash them away. Then you will never be left behind! When Jesus comes to take His people to heaven, you will go too. And there you can stay forever!

Messages of God’s Love 4/26/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: Are There Really Any Good Bugs?

“Ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee . . . or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee.” Job 12:7-8

The answer to our question about good bugs is a definite YES! There are many kinds of insects that are beneficial. And one way in which they do good is by killing and eating certain other insects that are harmful. Much of this we are not aware of, because it goes on so quietly and in places we are not likely to visit.

One good insect is called the mealybug destroyer. It makes its home in certain plants and trees where mealybugs do lots of damage by boring into plant stems. It eats the sap that is as important to the plant as blood is to an animal. The mealybug destroyer does a tremendous amount of good.

Another good one in the garden is the lacewing. This is a pretty little green creature with delicate lace-like wings and a pair of long “feelers” located in front of brilliant eyes. Possibly some of us have killed these with insect spray without realizing they are good helpers. They eat countless destructive aphids and other harmful bugs.

A little wasp by the name of El Formosa has a special appetite for whiteflies, which are harmful insects that do tremendous damage to all kinds of plants and trees. Some garden stores sell these beneficial wasps when whiteflies are particularly troublesome, and gardeners use large quantities of them to help fight these pests.

Ladybugs are probably known by most of us as good helpers in gardens. We should be careful to treat them kindly, and be thankful if you see some on your plants and flowers.

While many snails are harmful in gardens, there are some helpful ones. One of these is the Decollate variety, marked with a pretty corkscrew tail. Its principal food is the harmful common garden snail.

Then there is the praying mantis that feeds on many harmful insects and a beetle by the name of seven-spot that eats aphids. Many farmers purchase them in large quantities from garden stores every year.

Of course, we all know the value of honey from bees and silk threads from silkworms. Altogether there are more than 600 “good bugs” that farmers and plant nurseries use to help fight a continual war against harmful bugs.

These harmful insects remind us of what sin has brought into the world. The good insects speak of the Creator’s wisdom in providing ways to overcome the bad. It should make us think of the love and grace of God in providing a way for boys, girls and grown-ups to overcome their sins. God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, into the world to bear the sins of all who will trust in Him as their Savior through His death on Calvary’s cross.

Have you let Him wash away your sins?

Messages of God’s Love 4/26/2020

A Case of Mistaken Identity

It was fun to watch our collie, Thane, playing with our white male Pekin duck. When Thane came close to the pond, the duck would fly out of the water directly at the dog, trying to protect the female ducks. Thane would dance around the duck, sometimes taking the duck’s head or wing in his mouth, but never harming it. It was a game with him, lasting about ten minutes before the duck got tired and went back in the water. This game was played two or three times a week.

One day we got a call from a lady whose husband ran the livestock sale barn, which was about three quarters of a mile from our house. She said that our dog had killed some of her ducks. I didn’t think that our Thane was guilty, mostly because of his gentleness with our duck. I told her this, but she insisted it was our dog. She claimed that she had followed the collie for a few blocks, and he was heading towards our place.

Since she was so upset, whether she was right or wrong, as a Christian, I felt I must keep peace with these people. So I drove over there with Thane in the car, and her husband said, “Yes, he is the dog we saw chasing our ducks.” I asked what it would cost to replace the ducks, and he said he guessed it would be $20. I paid him the money and told him that if the dog bothered his ducks again, he had the right to shoot him as a danger to his ducks.

From that time on, we kept Thane chained up, and we heard nothing from the duck owners for some time. Then one day the phone rang, and the voice on the other end said, “My husband just shot your dog. Come and pick him up!”

I replied, “It is not my dog, because he is chained out in the yard and I am looking at him right now.”

There was a long silence on the other end, and then she stammered, “Well, it must be that other collie down on Main Street.” That was the last word we heard of the killer collie.

Proverbs 13:15 tells us, “The way of transgressors [sinners] is hard.” The Main Street collie that paid with his life for his bad deeds proved this. The way of the transgressor is the way of every person who has not had his or her sins washed away in the precious blood of Christ. God’s Word plainly tells us, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Yes, I paid for the bad deeds of a dog that was not mine, and someone else paid a great price for the sins that were not His own. Christ Jesus was sinless, and He willingly went to Calvary’s cross to pay the price for the sins of every person who will accept Him as Savior. “He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities [sins]: the chastisement [punishment] of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). This verse tells us that God placed our sins on His Son on the cross and punished Him in our place. Those who believe in His finished work can now have peace with God because their sins are gone forever. If you will not personally accept what He did for you, you will have to pay for your sins yourself.

Do you suppose that there will be any mistaken identity of believers by the Lord Jesus? This is what He says: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish” (John 10:27-28). What a wonderful promise, that our sins have been completely paid for – forever!

Are you one of His own? Have you accepted personally that Christ Jesus’ work and death on the cross was for your sins?

MEMORY VERSE: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish.” John 10:27-28

Messages of God’s Love 5/3/2020

My Fast Bike Ride

I loved my bike! It was really cool. And I liked to show off on it a little bit too.

One summer evening I’d been at Bible Study with my family. When it was over, I thought, I’m gonna take a short cut and get home before my dad does. So I hopped on my bike and pedaled as fast as I could. Sure enough, I beat him home!

I proudly stood my bike up in front of the porch where everyone would be sure to see it when they drove up. Then I sat down and waited. And I waited some more. Then I began to get worried. I knew I wasn’t that much faster than my dad. I got on my bike and rode back to where we’d had the Bible Study. No one was there!

Now I was really worried. On my bike again, I hurried home. When I got there, they weren’t there either. I threw my bike down, and then I crumpled on the grass and cried my heart out. I thought Jesus must have come back and taken all my family with Him to heaven, and I was left behind. I kept telling myself I knew I should have asked Jesus to save me. Why didn’t I do it long ago like Mom and Dad had said?

My family still didn’t come home, and I couldn’t stop crying. I was sure it was too late for me to be saved now, but I didn’t know what else to do, so I began to pray really hard. I said, “Dear Lord Jesus, I know You love me and died for me. If it’s not too late,” I sobbed, “and if You haven’t come yet to take all the saved people to heaven, please save me now. I know I’ve often been bad, but please, please forgive me.” Then I just lay on the grass and cried and cried.

I can’t tell you how happy I was when our van drove into our driveway and the other kids came tumbling out, shouting, “Hey, Danny, you missed a trip to the ice cream store, and we all got big ice cream cones!”

But, you know what? I didn’t care. The Lord Jesus hadn’t come yet after all, and now I was SAVED! I felt so clean inside and so happy! I kept thanking the Lord Jesus over and over. And I have been thanking Him ever since, because I know He loves me and died for me and keeps me and provides for me every day of my life. What an awesome Savior I have!

Is He your Savior? Are you ready for when He calls all the saved people to go live with Him in heaven? Or will you be left behind? “Except ye repent, ye shall . . . perish” (Luke 13:3).

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:5).

Messages of God’s Love 5/3/2020

Weasels Are Cute but Have Bad Tempers: (Part 1)

“Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Hebrews 4:13

As springtime comes to North America, thousands of baby weasels are born in underground dens, hollow logs and other hideaways. Each nest will have from three to ten or more young ones, so tiny that two dozen together would scarcely weigh a pound.

The Creator has arranged their birth in early spring so they can learn to care for themselves during the warm days that follow. Before they can be independent, they need the care of both parents since it will be about a month before their eyes open. During this time, the mother stays close by and nurses them. Then for another month, both parents bring solid food and begin taking them outside to teach them how to survive. When they are about four months old, the little weasels are on their own.

There are many varieties of weasels throughout the world, inhabiting forests, meadows and grasslands. All have beautiful fur, but underneath that fur is a fierce nature, making them a threat to small rodents and birds. Actually, they are part of a family that includes badgers, otters, ferrets, minks and skunks.

Weasels are always on the go and full of curiosity, bounding over the ground with snarls, hisses and fearsome noises as they search for prey. Often they squeeze into burrows when their noses tell them there’s a meal down there. Although they are small enough to hold in a man’s hand, they are not afraid of larger creatures, some going after marmots, woodchucks and even rabbits—all much larger than themselves. One of their worst offenses is breaking into chicken coops and killing chickens, which, of course, makes them unpopular with many farmers.

But in spite of these practices, they are a delightful example of the wonders of God’s creation with their pretty coloring, bright eyes, large ears and black noses. Because of the quality of their fur, people hunt them, especially in the winter when their fur is thick and luxurious. Most of them change color in the different seasons, from a beautiful brown in summer to pure white in winter—a provision of the Creator to camouflage them from their enemies.

Our opening verse reminds us that God is always aware of all His creatures. We may be sure that if weasels could, they would thank Him for such wonderful care. But God did not make us like weasels—we can read God’s Word, the Bible, and know His special care over us. Everyone is happy who can agree with the words of Psalm 33:21: “Our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name.” Is that trust and happiness yours?

(to be continued)

Messages of God’s Love 5/3/2020

The Strangely-Moving Tennis Racket

Mrs. Andrews loved her cats. Yes, she loved all 28 of them! She had a name for each one and she also had a special shed in the back of her property where she called them all in every evening and made sure they were all accounted for and fed and watered properly.

Late one afternoon, Mrs. Andrews went out to do her daily routine. As she entered the shed and started counting cats, the door swung shut behind her and ... latched! Mrs. Andrews was shut inside her shed, which was quite a ways from the house. She knew there was no way anyone could hear her even if she shouted her very loudest. “Oh bother!” she said to herself and any cats who might be interested. “Of all times not to have my cell phone with me!” Mrs. Andrews knew that her family would eventually wonder where she was as dinner was to be served in a couple of hours.

Children, are you like Mrs. Andrews—but you are shut out from God? You know He loves you very much! He even sent the Lord Jesus, His Son, to die on the cross for your sins so that you would never be shut out of heaven. We find many verses in the Bible that say we have the privilege of calling to Jesus. He promises to always hear us and will save us from our sins when we ask Him. Or if we do belong to Him, He will help us in whatever or wherever we have a need. “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me” (Psalm 50:15). “In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and He heard me” (Psalm 120:1).

Mrs. Andrews looked around the shed and found a tennis racket. She looked and saw with relief that there were a couple inches of space under the shed door. Mrs. Andrews stuck the tennis racket out under the door and, holding the handle, she moved it back and forth, hoping that someone in her family might come looking for her in the backyard. Seeing this strange sight would definitely get their attention!

It worked! Mr. Andrews had come home, seen that the car was there, but his wife wasn’t! When searching the house from top to bottom didn’t find her, he had gone outside looking. As he approached the shed, sure enough, the moving tennis racket caught his attention! Smiling, he unlatched the door and let his wife out! Mrs. Andrews had been stuck in the shed for 2½ hours! She was very thankful that it was the time of year when it wasn’t very cold outside.

Yes, children, you too have Someone who loves you and is searching for you. His name is Jesus. As He knocks on your heart’s door, will you let Him in? He says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).

MEMORY VERSE: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).

Messages of God’s Love 5/10/2020

The Lighthouse Story

What is a lighthouse for? Alice could have told you since she lived in one off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.

It was strong and tall and lonely, out in the wild winds and stormy waves of the North Atlantic Ocean. There were no wires from the mainland to bring electric power, but there was a generator. Alice’s father made sure that the beam of light from the lighthouse was bright and steady from dusk till dawn, even in the worst of weather.

I have seen pretty lighthouses built for decoration, inviting people to come and admire them, but Alice’s home was not like that.

“What is a real lighthouse for, Alice?”

Her answer: “It doesn’t say, ‘Come’; it says, ‘Don’t come!’ I remember the day when my dad saw a ship coming straight for our lighthouse. It seemed like the captain wanted to visit us, but Dad knew that was not the message of the lighthouse.

“My dad had a big voice. He had shouted above the roar of Atlantic storms ever since he was a young man, so he put a big megaphone to his mouth to make his voice go straight out to sea. I heard him shout with all his might, ‘ROCKS! ROCKS!’”

Now, why would the lighthouse keeper want to spoil the captain’s plans? For the same reason we are giving you this story today. The captain’s ship was headed for disaster on the rocks, and the end of following your own way is death and eternal hell. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Are you listening?

The captain was listening. He checked his speed at once, but he did not know which way to turn. “Again my dad’s voice roared through the megaphone, ‘HARD TO STARBOARD!’”

And for you who do not know which way to turn, it is not enough to only tell you that you are on your way to a lost eternity, but we want to tell you the way to be saved from disaster. “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3). In Him is salvation and eternal life. We don’t shout “Lost!” without telling you about the Savior of the lost. Are you listening?

The captain listened and obeyed, and the boat changed direction as quickly as it could respond. There was no wreck that day.

Alice said, “Wasn’t it good that my father was watching?”

Yes, it was a life-saver for that crew. It seems they had misunderstood the purpose of the lighthouse.

Perhaps you are missing the purpose of the gospel message and just thinking it is something to entertain you. Not at all! The message of God’s Word is a warning and a new direction from sin to the Savior—from a lost eternity to God’s home in heaven. Listen and obey! Why should you wreck your life now and forever?

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36).

Messages of God’s Love 5/10/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: Weasels Are Cute but Have Bad Tempers - (Part 2)

"Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways." Revelation 15:3

The three most common weasels in North America are the least, the short-tailed and the long-tailed. The least is the smallest of all, weighing just a few ounces when fully grown and seldom more than six inches long plus a one-inch stubby tail. It is quite pretty—its back is a light brown, changing to white at its throat and underneath parts. During winter, those in the far north turn completely white, but those in the south become a spotted brown mixed with the white. These are provisions of the Creator to conceal them from enemies.

This little one is a real help to mankind, because its appetite for mice and other small, destructive animals helps to keep these under control. Mice are its main food and are easily caught; this weasel is so small it can follow them through any hole.

The short-tailed is often called an ermine. This one is twice the size of the least. During summer, it is a soft brown along the back and sides and creamy white underneath. Strangely, it is the only one with brown feet. When it turns all white in winter, it is hunted for its beautiful fur.

The ermine also hunts mice, rats, moles, squirrels, birds and snakes. The Creator has given it instincts to make rooms in its burrow for storing food for cold winter days.

The long-tailed is the largest of all, measuring up to eighteen inches long, plus a black-tipped tail another nine inches long. Even so, the males weigh only about a pound and the females even less. This one makes its home throughout North America, except for hot desert areas.

The long-tailed hunts day and night for its food and is a great climber, often chasing its prey out to the end of a tree branch. It is the fiercest of the three and will even attack a dog or a man if cornered.

Bold hunters themselves, all weasels have numerous enemies, including hawks, owls, foxes, wildcats and coyotes. But with their thin bodies and speed, they usually escape by diving into a nearby burrow, a narrow crevice, or under a pile of brush.

All these animals are unaware of God's care, and He does not hold them accountable. However, every human has been given an intellect and a conscience, and God has given us the Bible for a guide. We are told: "Let them . . . commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator" (1 Peter 4:19). This means we should not only trust our earthly lives to Him, but also, most importantly, accept Him as our Savior to have eternal life safe in Him. Have you done this?

Messages of God’s Love 5/10/2020

The Flat Tire

“WHAT IS THAT?” we asked each other in alarm.

My husband Alex and I had been breezing along the road in central Illinois in our old car. We were returning to our home near Chicago from a summer spent at a university in the central part of the state, and the car was packed full. We were driving through farming country, with ripening fields of corn on every side. We saw very few cars and not many houses. Having the road nearly to ourselves was really nice ... until we heard that sudden, thumping noise under our car that startled us!

One look quickly told us that the tire was past repairing. Alex is no mechanic, but he could change a tire. However, out here in the country, changing a tire on the side of the road was not a good idea, especially since our trunk was jammed full—suitcases, food, kitchen stuff—the whole car was really packed! Well, we had no choice but to unload the trunk to get to the spare tire. We were thankful to the Lord that this happened by one of the few houses around.

No one seemed to be home at the house as we started to unload the trunk in the home’s gravel driveway. We finally got down to the spare tire to discover, “Oh, no! . . . The spare tire is flat too!” It certainly wasn’t going to be of any help!

Soon after we made the disappointing discovery of the spare tire also being flat, we were going to make a wonderful discovery about the faithfulness and constant care of our Father God. We were many miles from any help, and we did not have a cell phone. No one knew about our problem, and there was no way to tell anyone or call for help.

Did I say, “No one knew”? That was far from true. There was Someone who had been watching over us every step of the way. Our Father in heaven was soon to show us that we certainly did matter much more to Him than a fallen sparrow. He had once said that He notices even when a sparrow falls to the ground. Isn’t that amazing? He even knows how many hairs are on each of our heads! So He certainly knew about our problem of a flat tire and a flat spare tire too! “He [cares] for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Do you know Him as your loving Father and Friend? It is wonderful to have Someone to care for you who has all power in heaven and in earth!

There had been at least one vehicle that had passed us as we sat on the side of the road. Something, or someone, made the driver come back to see if we needed help. Amazingly, this was not just any old car or truck we saw pulling up beside us on that gravel driveway. It was a tire-repair truck!

“What an amazing coincidence,” someone might say. No, we who know God as our Father know better. We are in His care day and night, and He has all we need for every emergency, big or small.

The truck driver kindly fixed the flat spare tire, helped put it on, and then directed us where to go to buy four new tires. “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He [knows] them that trust in Him” (Nahum 1:7).

What a loving, caring God we have. Do you know Him as your loving Father?

MEMORY VERSE: “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.” Nahum 1:7

Messages of God’s Love 5/17/2020

Left Behind!

Going out with Dad and my grandparents was always fun. One evening I was the only one of us kids able to go with them to the gospel meeting. I had been ready in plenty of time, but just as I was going out the door, I remembered that I had to go get something special for my friend James.

I raced upstairs to my room and rummaged through my drawer till I found a special marble. Then I leaped down the stairs two at a time, but when I got to the bottom, I found my little brother Nathan locking the front door.

“Let me out!” I said. “I’m going to be late!”

“For what?” asked Nathan. “Dad’s already gone.”

“Mom!” I yelled. “Has Dad left already?”

“Why yes, Cliff,” said Mom. “I’m sorry, but you’ve missed him. I didn’t know you were upstairs.”

I plodded up the stairs to my room. I felt pretty sad to have been too late . . . and all for a marble.

Have you ever thought that someday you might be left behind . . . not just from an evening with your dad, but from heaven? The Bible says, “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of Man [Jesus] cometh at an hour when ye think not” (Luke 12:40). To be ready to go to heaven, you must be clean from all your sins, and Jesus will do this for you right now. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). All you need to do is admit to Jesus that you have sinned and that you want Him to wash you in His cleansing blood.

Once Jesus has washed away your sins, you don’t need to be afraid that He might leave you behind. And we can trust Him also to keep His promise to take us with Him to heaven. He will never leave anyone behind who has trusted Him, as my dad left me.

And I was left behind because of a marble. Are you letting something very small keep you from coming to Jesus? If you are left behind when Jesus comes, you will never have another chance to go with Him. But my story has a happier ending.

Just as I reached the top of the stairs, the door bell rang three times—the family signal. I ran down the stairs, unlocked the door, and there stood Dad!

“You came back!” I shouted.

“Yes,” said Dad as we both hurried out to the family van. Dad explained, “We stopped to pick up a neighbor, and when I called out, ‘Cliff, could you run to the door and see if he’s ready?’ Grandpa answered, ‘Cliff? . . . he’s not here!’ Then I realized you had been left behind.”

As Dad slid behind the wheel and I buckled my seat belt, I thought to myself, I’m glad I got to go along tonight, but now I know what it’s like to get left behind. I sure hope none of my friends will be left behind when Jesus comes!

And so I’ve written this story, hoping that you’ll be sure to be ready. Are you?

Messages of God’s Love 5/17/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Mischievous Raccoon

“God Himself . . . formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited.” Isaiah 45:18

In the fading evening light, a family of raccoons come cautiously out of the woods. Their masked faces make them look like little burglars, which they often are. Tonight they head for a tree loaded with ripe plums. The kits remain on the ground while the parents climb up and begin shaking branches, causing a shower of plums to fall. Then the whole family enjoys the dinner.

The fruit dinner is a real treat. Raccoons eat mostly frogs, crayfish, turtle eggs and clams taken out of shallow waters. Birds’ eggs are also a favorite, especially chicken eggs. Sweet corn is another special treat. Raccoons stripping ears from the stalks have ruined many cornfields.

Although raccoons weigh only about 25 pounds, dogs are often surprised at a raccoon’s fighting ability. It will not hesitate to attack a dog two or three times its own size. When being chased by a dog, it is clever at escaping. It will wade in water, run along fence tops, climb trees, backtrack and leap down a hillside all to break the scent trail the dog is following. Occasionally a raccoon may let a dog chase it into a lake. Then it will grab the dog by its neck and force its head under water until the dog drowns.

In spite of its sometimes nasty nature, a raccoon is a pretty animal. It has a fox-like face with a black mask around jet-black eyes, erect ears, a black, button nose with whiskers, and a bushy, ringed tail. It is also very smart and soon discovers how to open latches on chicken coops, pry off garbage can lids, unscrew bottle caps, and even open refrigerators if given the chance.

This animal is another of the wonders of God’s creation. He has given it many life-sustaining instincts and also an intelligence that allows it to learn things necessary for its survival. It is found both in the woods of the United States and Canada and in the deserts of Mexico and South America. Its life reminds us of the verse in the Bible: “The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works. . . . The eyes of all wait upon Thee, and Thou givest them their [food] in due season. Thou openest Thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing” (Psalm 145:9, 15-16).

We think of these provisions of the Creator in connection with every creature, but it is also good to remember this prayer that should be in the heart of every boy and girl: “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. . . . O satisfy us early with Thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:12,14).

Messages of God’s Love 5/17/2020

Rescued From an Icy Death

Winter can be a lot of fun for boys and girls, but it can also be very dangerous. The story that we have to tell you today took place several years ago in southern Utah, where the winters are quite cold with lots of snow. It is the story of an 8-year-old boy who was rescued by a very brave man, even though the rescue was extremely risky and difficult.

It was Christmas Day, shortly after 5:00 in the evening. A group of children were playing near a large pond that was iced over when a dog belonging to one of the boys ran off across the pond. As children will do without thinking, the boy chased after his dog and ended up falling through the ice into the freezing pond water. Another boy saw what happened and went out onto the ice to try to lift his friend out of the water. But he couldn’t do it!

The children ran for help! Rescue people were called to the pond. One of the first to arrive was a sheriff’s deputy, Sergeant Aaron Thomas. Realizing that the boy had been in the water for some time and that his chances of survival were growing less by the minute, he decided to try to rescue the boy before the “dive team” arrived.

Cutting a path through the ice with his hands, he started to walk out to where they thought the boy was. A woman pointed out where she had last seen his hand sticking out of the water, which was about 25 feet from shore. As the water became deeper and the ice became thicker, Sergeant Thomas had to stand on top of the ice and jump on it to break it up. It was hard work, but he was unwilling to give up! With another man helping, they managed to punch their way through the ice to where the boy had last been seen.

With his head barely above the ice and standing on his tip toes, Sergeant Thomas felt under the water for the boy. He knew how to search because he had been on a search-and-rescue team before. Moving his hands in an up-and-down pattern, he searched the area where they had broken out the ice. Minutes went by, and he was getting desperate as time was running out. Finally, he felt the boy under the water and was able to pull him out! In his own words, Sergeant Thomas said, “I felt relief just to make it back to shore!”

The boy was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. Though he was unconscious when he was pulled out of the water, by the next day he was awake and doing well, even answering questions. Sergeant Thomas also had to be treated for hypothermia (this means he was dangerously cold), and also for cuts and bruises from breaking up the ice. Even though he needed a few stitches and suffered some nerve damage, he would make a full recovery.

Boys and girls, this is just a little picture of what God has done for us. Sergeant Thomas was willing to risk his life to save an 8-year-old boy, because the boy would have drowned without his help. God saw that we were helpless in our sins and could do nothing to save ourselves. It is not possible for us to carry even one sin into heaven’s sinless glory. The Bible tells us that God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

This is why the Bible says that “when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). It cost the Lord Jesus His life to die on the cross for our sins, in order to provide a free salvation for us, if we will accept it. When we tell God we are sorry for our sins and put our trust in Jesus’ death for us on the cross, we are forgiven and made fit for heaven. God promises to give us eternal life! “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).

Boys and girls, do each of you know for sure that you have eternal life?

MEMORY VERSE: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).

Messages of God’s Love 5/24/2020

Luke Didn't Wait!

The Robert family had traveled to Northern California and met a family of their relatives in the Red Woods for a week of camping. The other family they were camping with had their own two children with them plus Luke, a 5-year-old neighbor. Luke was riding with the Robert family getting to know their children, as the two families had decided to drive over to see the ocean.

While driving along, Mr. Robert asked Luke if he had ever been to Sunday school.

“No,” answered Luke.

“Well,” said Mr. Robert, “have you ever heard of the Lord Jesus?”

“No,” Luke said again.

“The Lord Jesus is God’s Son who came down from heaven,” explained Mr. Robert. “He lived a perfect life and then died on the cross to wash away your sins, if you will let Him.”

“Oh, my daddy has that cross at our house,” remembered Luke. “He has one of those that hangs on a wall.”

Then eight-year-old Stephen spoke up and said, “You know, Luke, the Lord Jesus had nails put into His hands and His feet when He was put on the cross. And He died for you, and He’s coming again real soon, so don’t you want to ask Him to save you?”

“Yes, I will tonight,” answered Luke.

Stephen quickly added, “But He might come now, so don’t you want to ask Him right now?”

And Luke said, “Yes, I will right now.” And so he bowed his head, and right there as they were traveling, he asked the Lord Jesus to wash away his sins in His blood that was shed on Calvary’s cross.

But what about YOU? If the Lord Jesus should come right now, would you be left behind in your sins? Why not bow your head right now where you are, like five-year-old Luke did, and tell the Lord Jesus you are a sinner and want Him to wash away your sins. Then you will be sure that you belong to Him! You will be happy knowing that if He should come from heaven with a shout today, you would go up to meet Him and be with Him in heaven for all eternity!

“Behold, NOW is the accepted time: behold, NOW is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Messages of God’s Love 5/24/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Musical Cricket

“God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and everything that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:25

For its small size, the male cricket is a very noisy insect whose chirps can be heard a mile away on a quiet night. These sounds are made in much the same way as a musician playing a violin. The upper surface of each wing is equipped with a scraper. This is drawn over the lower part of the wing that has a hundred or more rough cross-ridges. By moving its wings, the chirp sound is made. This “music” is the way the Creator designed crickets to “talk” with one another.

Toward the end of summer, the female cricket makes a hole in the soil about an inch deep and deposits about 300 little, banana-shaped eggs. The young crickets hatch the following spring and immediately begin searching for dead insects or tender plants to eat.

As the young cricket grows, its outer skeleton splits open and drops off. This is called molting, and it is repeated sometimes a dozen times. When the final molt takes place, the wings and other parts of the body are fully developed. The common, black or field cricket is about an inch long when it emerges from its final molt. It has two long antennae at the front of its head that act as feelers. The cricket is able to fly but seldom does, preferring to move over the ground by jumping, like its cousin the grasshopper. Mature crickets (which do not live through the winter) live a short but busy life, eating a variety of things. They prefer tender, juicy plants, often doing great damage to farmers’ crops. However, they also move into houses and other buildings, eating clothing and bookbindings.

In cold weather crickets chirp less, and in hot weather they chirp more. Do you know what the temperature is? They say that if you count the chirps for 15 seconds and then add 40, you will have the temperature in Fahrenheit degrees. Try it sometime.

Crickets represent part of God’s creation and have their place among all that He has made. He has not only provided special features for their way of life, but He also watches over them, providing for all their needs.

What does the Bible say about His care over you? Acts 17:24-25 says, “God that made the world and all things therein . . . [gives] to all [people] life, and breath, and all things.” Then in Romans 8:31-32 These wonderful words appear: “If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

Have you ever thanked Him for His wonderful gifts to you?

Messages of God’s Love 5/24/2020

Teddy's Disaster

Teddy and Candy were two lively Cocker Spaniel dogs that lived on a farm in Manitoba, Canada. They were well fed, got lots of exercise and had a shed to live in during the cold winter. Both dogs grew thick coats of hair during the winter which helped protect them from the cold.

The two dogs would often spend the day roaming through the fields and pasture near their home, but they usually returned home before the day was over . . . at least in time for supper!

One cold Saturday in December when the temperature was only about 20 degrees, Teddy and Candy wandered off. Later that afternoon, Candy came home alone. She seemed troubled and restless. As she rubbed against farmer Smith’s legs, she almost acted as if she were trying to tell him something, but, of course, she was not able to. Because of the bitter cold weather, the Smith family was very concerned about Teddy when he did not come home. They were sure he could not survive the whole night with the temperature getting even colder.

Teddy did not show up all the next day nor the next. The Smiths had just about given up hope that Teddy would ever return. By the third morning, they felt sure he must have died. How surprised they were, when just a few hours later Teddy came hobbling into the yard on three legs. One of his hind legs was very sore. Farmer Smith did not have to guess where Teddy had been since a note was attached to his collar. It read, “GO HOME FIDO. LEAVE FOX TRAPS ALONE.” Poor Teddy had been caught in a neighbor’s fox trap for over three days, out in the cold without food or water!

Do you know that you also are caught in a trap, unless you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior? It’s not a fox trap, but the trap of sin. Satan has set these traps and has caught you! But just as there was a way out of the trap for Teddy, there is a way for each sinner to be released from Satan’s trap of sin. In Acts 26:18, the Bible tells us that if we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, we will be turned from dark-ness to the light, and from the power of Satan’s trap unto God and receive forgiveness of sins. We will no longer be caught in Satan’s trap!

The Smiths were very thankful that their neighbor had released Teddy from the fox trap, and how thankful we who are saved should be for our being released from Satan’s trap. But the Lord Jesus Christ not only saves us from our sins; He also cares for us. And someday soon, He will take each of His own home to heaven. We don’t have to find our own way home like Teddy did. The Lord Jesus said, “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3).

Teddy needed some special care for a few days and a little extra food, but it wasn’t long until he was running around the farm again. Because Teddy is a dog, he was not able to thank the Smiths or their neighbor, but have you ever thanked the Lord Jesus Christ for saving you? We each should sing the lines of this little song every day:

“Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul;

Thank You, Lord, for making me whole;

Thank You, Lord, for giving to me

Thy great salvation, so full and free.

MEMORY VERSE: “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:3

Messages of God’s Love 5/31/2020

Drivers Dive for Dollars

Almost every week or so, the Chicago area expressways are littered with unusual things that have fallen out of trucks. Frozen green beans, shampoo, orange juice, hamburger, even crates of live chickens have been some of the things accidently dumped on the roadways by trailer trucks involved in accidents. One time a load of cattle somehow got loose and roamed over the expressway, stopping traffic until the police got them rounded up and back in the trailer. But nothing caused as much excitement as when two bags of money spilled out onto the Stevenson Expressway. The two bags rolled out of an armored truck, split open and sent $167,000 blowing loose on the pavement!

Cars began slamming on their brakes in the middle of the expressway, and 50 or 60 motorists jumped out of their cars and began grabbing up the money. Some of them even got into fights over the money. Drivers were seen getting back into their cars and trucks with their arms filled with bundles of money. Others scrambled on their hands and knees, gathering up loose bills. Within minutes, the expressway was completely blocked in both directions. Police reported that it took half an hour to get the traffic moving again. One police officer said, “It’s too bad someone didn’t have a movie camera out there. You could have seen human nature at its worst!”

In Proverbs 15:3 we are told, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Most of the people were able to get away with the money they had gathered up (stolen) without being identified by the police. BUT ... God was watching! Another verse in Genesis 16:13 tells us, “Thou God seest me.” Even if the police are never able to find the drivers who picked up the money and kept it, God knows right where they are, even now, and exactly how much money they stole.

Not many of us will ever be faced with the temptation of gathering up money from a roadway. But are we able to pass the “little” temptations, like a cookie or a piece of candy that is not ours? In God’s eyes, whether it’s 100 dollars that is taken or just one small piece of candy, it is still SIN! First Timothy 6:11 warns us to “flee [or, run away from] these things.” How good to know, if we have accepted the Lord Jesus as our Savior, that He will help us to “flee” sin. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

Messages of God’s Love 5/31/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: Insect-Eating Plants

"I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember Thy wonders." Psalm 77:11

Many animals, birds and insects eat plants, but did you know there are some plants that eat insects? This is truly remarkable, because plants cannot travel from one place to another to capture their food, and they do not have eyes or ears to help.

One example of an insect-eating plant is the sundew that grows in certain swamps. The name comes from drops of sticky fluid on its leaves that glitter in sunlight like drops of dew. The leaves are also covered with small hairs. If an insect lands on these hairs, the sticky fluid traps it. Immediately all the hairs near that spot fold in around the insect and hold it captive. The plant then absorbs its prey into its system, and the hairs go back in place to wait for another victim.

The butterwort has fleshy leaves that produce a sticky substance. When an insect lands on a leaf, the edges curl in and trap it. The insect dies and is digested by the plant.

The pitcher plant has pitcher-shaped leaves that form a trap for insects. The lower edges of its leaves fold together to form a tube. The top edges are open and allow rainwater to collect in the bottom of the tube. The pitcher produces a sweet juice on the inside that attracts insects. It also grows bristly hairs at the top of the pitcher that all point downward. Once an insect lands in search of the sweet juice, it passes over these hairs pointing downward that prevent it from crawling back out. The insect eventually falls into the rainwater at the bottom and drowns. In time, the plant digests the insect.

One insect we would like to see trapped by this plant is the mosquito. But the female can fly down into the pitcher, lay her eggs in the liquid and then fly back out safely. After the larvae hatch and grow, the new adult mosquitoes escape the same way.

A certain wasp in parts of the South bites a hole in the bottom of the pitcher, allowing the rainwater to drain out. Then it crawls through the hole, making its nest inside without harm. How did the wasp learn this trick? Only the Creator God could give it this knowledge.

These unusual plants certainly have no intelligence to figure out ways of capturing food. Only God could provide food for these plants.

We are reminded that the devil also has many traps in which he catches those who are not careful. If we know the Lord Jesus as our Savior and walk close to Him, He is able to protect us from evil. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Messages of God’s Love 5/31/2020

The Unusual Babysitter

Dear Children,

Hello again from Grampa. I’m going to share a story with all of you about a mother cat, her kittens and a hen.

“Boy, Grampa, that’s a funny group!”

Yes, it sure is, but let me tell you how they all get along together. Oh . . . by the way . . . Gramma and I hope that all you children get along happily together. Tell the truth now. No fighting? No arguing? No telling lies? You know, God our Father expects us to obey Him and not do those things that He has told us not to do. In Joshua 24:24 it says, “The people said unto Joshua, the Lord our God will we serve, and His voice will we obey.” Those are very serious words, aren’t they, children?

“Yes, Grampa, they are, and sometimes it’s hard to do.”

Well, children, it is hard to do, but ask the Lord Jesus to help you. With His help, you can do it! Now then, this story takes place away up north where it is very cold with lots of snow, and the temperature can go as low as 40 degrees below zero! Now that is really, really cold!

There were five kittens born to this mother cat in the big barn where she lived along with other animals, including some chickens. When this mother cat had these kittens, there was still lots of snow outside, and it was very cold. The mother cat had to leave her kittens at times to get something to eat . . . maybe catch a mouse or two. So the kittens were left alone in the barn.

Now, it just so happened that a mother hen saw these kittens and heard them mewing. They were cold with their mother gone. So the hen came over, spread her wings over the kittens, and kept them nice and warm. When the mother cat came back, the hen lifted her wings and let the kittens out so they could crawl back to their mother to keep warm and be fed.

Each time the mother cat left, the hen would come over and cover the kittens with her wings. This went on until the weather warmed up outside. Then the mother hen knew that the kittens did not need her anymore.

Wasn’t that kind of the hen to help the mother cat? She protected those kittens from the cold and kept them from freezing to death.

“Yes, Grampa, it sure was kind. God can make animals do anything He wants!”

Yes, children, our God can do anything. God used a huge fish to swallow Jonah. God used a dove to bring a leaf to Noah, to let him know that it was safe to leave the ark. God used a donkey to speak to Balaam. And God also used two bears to punish some children who were making fun of Elisha.

We hope that you children never make fun of anyone. That hurts people. When the Lord Jesus saw Peter sinking in the water, He didn’t laugh at him. When Peter shouted out, “LORD, SAVE ME!” the Lord stretched out His hand and saved Peter.

Have you ever asked the Lord Jesus to save you from your sins? A man in the Bible shouted out, “WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?” The answer was, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

And so, dear children, these barnyard animals and birds sure give us a good example in caring for each other in times of need. Here are two Bible verses I want you to remember: “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us” (Ephesians 5:1-2). Lots of love to all you children,

Gramma and Grampa

MEMORY VERSE: “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children, and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us.” Ephesians 5:1-2

Messages of God’s Love 6/7/2020

Beautiful Colors

Matthew and Angie came in from playing outside and said, “Mommy, we have decided blue and green are God’s favorite colors, because He made so much of them.”

When we look around outside, we can see that they were right. There is the blue sky overhead and the green grass and trees everywhere.

The blue sky reminds us of heaven where the Lord Jesus is waiting to take His own children (those who have accepted Him as their Savior). He said, “I go to prepare a place for you ... .I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3).

Green trees, plants and grass remind us of growing. The way children grow is by eating the good food their mothers prepare for them. The good food for growing and learning more about Jesus is the Word of God, the Bible, which we should read every day. Memorizing verses from the Bible helps us to think of them as we work and play. (Matthew and Angie were thinking about the Lord Jesus as they played outside. Can you remember why?) “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee” (Psalm 119:11). Yes, knowing what God has said in His Word can keep us from sinning.

There are other pretty colors too. Red reminds us of Jesus’ blood shed on the cross for us. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

The yellow of the warm sunshine reminds us of God’s love that was shown when He gave up His only Son, Jesus, and His loving care over us every day. “We love Him, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

Let’s not leave out white. Some of us see lots of beautiful white snow in winter. White snow covers over the plants and leaves that have died. This reminds us that the Lord Jesus wants to remove our dark sins and make us white as snow. “Come now ... saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18).

Can you remember what each of the five colors reminds us of?

Messages of God’s Love 6/7/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Durable Coyote

“He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.” Psalm 147:9

Coyotes are often mistaken for wolves or large dogs. Although they weigh only about thirty pounds, their long, thick, gray fur makes them look larger. At times they are noisy, and if you hear a pack of them howling on a moonlit night, it is something you will always remember.

Coyotes live throughout Mexico, the United States and southern Canada. Some make their homes on the prairies where there is a good supply of gophers, field mice, ground squirrels, small birds and insects. But coyotes are also plentiful in deserts, seashores, forested hills and even close to cities. Besides being meat eaters, they eat berries and fruits.

The Creator has made coyotes very clever. Trappers are amazed at their ability to steal bait from traps without getting caught in them. They will also quietly watch other animals or large birds hunting . . . then steal the food from them. When chasing rabbits, they work cleverly in teams. One chases a rabbit until it tires, then another takes over, and sometimes a third helps out. The rabbit can outrun them, but it becomes exhausted and is finally captured.

Unfortunately, coyotes do kill sheep and chickens and are hunted and poisoned for this reason. But it has been noted that when no coyotes are around, packrats, mice, gophers and other rodents multiply and do serious damage to crops and other property. As a result, it has been decided that coyotes do more good than harm, and they are no longer completely killed off.

A pair of coyotes is usually loyal to each other for a lifetime. Once a year they raise from five or six to as many as fifteen pups. These are hidden in a den on a hillside, under a big rock, or underneath a stump. The pups are playful but trained to obey their parents instantly. They are taught to stay close to the den under their parents’ watchful care until they are given hunting lessons when about two months old.

These interesting animals usually hunt at night and hide in daylight in places where they are almost impossible to find. They often watch campers and hikers without their being aware of it. Normally coyotes do not bother people and try to avoid them.

Many of God’s creatures live by their superior strength or swiftness, but He has enabled this animal to survive and prosper by giving it a sharp intellect and cleverness. Since He cares for the coyote this much, the Bible assures us He cares for you even more: “Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Also, in Jeremiah 31:3 the Lord tells us, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.”

Have you accepted the Savior’s love and care?

Messages of God’s Love 6/7/2020

A Loon and an Eagle

As the weather turned colder and colder one winter, a small lake in New Brunswick was freezing fast. A man on the shore could see that a loon, which is a water bird, seemed to be stranded in the middle of the lake in a small area where there was still open water.

Now a loon needs a long stretch of water in which to lift out of the water and begin to fly. However, the open water on this lake was fast becoming frozen. Every day more ice was forming, and the loon’s area of open water was becoming smaller and smaller.

Nearby, an eagle was closely watching the loon, apparently waiting for the bird to be completely stranded. It looked like an easy meal or two for the eagle, since an escape for the loon was looking very hopeless.

The kind man who had been watching the stranded loon tried again and again to save the bird. For 12 days, the man attempted to save the loon, but the loon fought against being rescued. And with each passing day, the area of open water was becoming smaller and smaller as more ice formed. And so the eagle still waited and watched the loon.

Have you ever stopped to realize that if you are playing a waiting game with your sins, you are in increasing danger—your days are numbered? Just as that kind man wanted to rescue the bird, there is a kind, loving Savior who wants to rescue sinners from the punishment for their sins. The Bible tells us that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). But like the loon, are you resisting the only One who can rescue you from the danger that is approaching? When you hear about the Savior who loves you and died for you, how many times have you said in your heart, I’m doing okay; just leave me alone! And another opportunity passes . . . and more ice forms.

Finally, the ice on the lake became thick enough to hold the weight of the man. Then he was able to get close enough to toss a nylon net over the loon. He wrapped the net securely around the bird and took the loon to a large body of open water where he released it. The last he saw of the loon, it was bobbing up and down on the waves, floating farther and farther away from shore. The rescued bird was free and safe at last from the hungry eagle.

What joy the Lord Jesus would have if you would give up your ideas to try to save yourself from your sins and allow the wonderful message of salvation to enter your heart and save you. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6). “Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:15).

MEMORY VERSE: “Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:15).

Messages of God’s Love 6/14/2020

Grandma Forgot

While Robby was still opening the door, he hollered happily, “Hi, Grandma, it’s hobby class day!”

“Sure is,” I answered, “but it’s only 11:00, and it doesn’t start until 2:00. You have to play for a while and eat lunch before we go.”

But Robby was only four years old, so at 11:05 he asked, “How long is it till hobby class?” At 11:10 he asked, “Is it time for hobby class yet?” At 11:15 he asked, “When is hobby class going to start?”

By 12:00 I was tired of reminding him that we had to wait until 2:00, so I told him I would give him a prize if he didn’t ask again. It worked. He didn’t ask, and hobby class time finally came.

The children had fun painting “sun catchers” to decorate their windows at home. Then after everyone had a yummy cupcake and some juice, we sang choruses, and Henry spoke to us about God and the sun.

Henry told us that in the beginning God created the sun (Genesis 1). In the Book of Joshua in the Bible, God, who controls the sun, made it stand still so His people could have an extra-long day to win a victory over their enemies (Joshua 10). In Matthew, Mark and Luke, we read how God darkened the sun so it could not shine at all for three hours while He punished His own beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, for the sins of all who will believe (Matthew 27). Then in Acts we were told how God made a light shine even brighter than the sun—so bright that it blinded Saul of Tarsus when he was on his way to gather up the Christians to throw them into prison (Acts 9). The last thing Henry told us about the sun was that in heaven we won’t need it, because the Lord Himself will be the light there (Revelation 22).

Then hobby class was over. Robby’s mommy and daddy took him home. I went home to my house, and both of us forgot about Robby’s prize.

I hadn’t been home very long before the telephone rang. When I answered, a little voice said, “Grandma?”

“Yes?”

“Grandma, you forgot my prize.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Robby,” I answered. “But I’ll tell you what. When you come to Sunday school tomorrow, I’ll give it to you then. Will that be okay?”

“Yes, that will be okay, Grandma.” Robby said thoughtfully. Then he added, “But you better write it down in case you forget.”

God never forgets His children or any promises He has made to them. He says, “I [will] not forget thee ... .I have [engraved] thee upon the palms of My hands” (Isaiah 49:15-16). There are many things in God’s Word, the Bible, that He would like us to think about and remember, too. I wonder if we pay close attention to what He tells us in the Bible so we’ll never forget.

Here is one verse that tells us something God wants us to remember: “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). This would be an easy verse to memorize.

Messages of God’s Love 6/14/2020

Wonders of God's Creation: The Twinkling Firefly

“Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world.” Acts 15:18

The firefly is a beetle that is fascinating to all of us. Seeing their little lights flashing on for a second or two on warm summer evenings is an interesting experience. They are also sometimes called lightning bugs. Many children like to catch some in a jar, so they can watch them up close as they turn their lights on and off. In some tropical areas, there are large firefly species, and people keep them in bottles to use for light.

Scientists would like to duplicate this kind of heatless light, because it is much more efficient than electricity. They know how the light is produced, but the chemical reactions, one set to turn on the light and another set to turn off the light, are so complex that man has not been able to use them. We should not be surprised at this, because it is a very special reaction created for these insects by God their Creator.

The firefly begins life in the ground; even its eggs have a glow to them. Before it is ready to fly, it develops into a glowworm. You may have seen these shining as they crawl around looking for food.

There is another illuminated insect found in some caves in New Zealand. This little fly, while still in the worm stage, gathers in groups of several thousand on the ceilings of caves and glows in the darkness. After attaching itself to the roof of the cave, a two-foot-long string drops from its mouth with small, sticky balls on it. It waits in the darkness with its taillight glowing, until it feels a victim struggling to get loose from one of the sticky balls. Pulling it up, it eats the victim along with the string. Then it lets down a new string.

There are over 500,000 species of insects throughout the world, and God has made each one different. This variety speaks of His handiwork and never-tiring care over them. All these little creatures, as we see them today, are the same as they were the day they were created thousands of years ago. God designed each one to reproduce after its kind. Furthermore, they always obey His laws without question, and by doing so, every need is provided for.

These lighted creatures remind us that the Lord Jesus was announced as the true Light of the world. God has given His people a special kind of light that He also wants displayed. His Word, the Bible, says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

It is only when we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior by faith that He brings us “out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). Then we can please Him in our activities and shine out for Him.

Messages of God’s Love 6/14/2020

The Flat Tire

“WHAT IS THAT?” we asked each other in alarm.

“What an amazing coincidence,” someone might say. No, we who know God as our Father know better. We are in His care day and night, and He has all we need for every emergency, big or small.

What a loving, caring God we have. Do you know Him as your loving Father?

MEMORY VERSE: “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.” Nahum 1:7

Messages of God’s Love 6/21/2020

Kevin and the Moose

Nine-year-old Kevin was on a vacation with his younger brother Calvin and their parents. They were visiting Yellowstone National Park in the state of Wyoming. They were so excited to finally see some of the sights they had heard so much about!

Old Faithful, the geyser, was so fun to watch. It erupts every 44 minutes to 2 hours. Then there were the bubbling pools of water. They were interesting to watch, but the boys and their parents had to be careful to stay on the path, because the water is so hot it would scald you if it touched you. And, of course, everyone always hopes to see a bear wandering around. One thing they did see was lots of bison. They are big animals that look like buffalo, and they have horns. The park rangers asked that everyone stay in their cars and not take any chances of getting too close to one.

Kevin had his dad’s old camera, which he was excited about. His dad had gotten a new one and asked Kevin if he would like his old one. He sure would like to have it! This was perfect to take on this trip.

As the family slowly made their way through the park, they came to a place where they saw a moose, about 200 feet away downhill from them. Kevin was excited because he had never seen a live moose before. His dad gave him a strong word of warning ... “Do not under any circumstances get close to that moose! They can be very dangerous and will attack if they feel threatened!” Kevin assured his dad he wouldn’t get near the moose and climbed out of the car with his “new” camera.

His dad was busy trying to figure out how to work his new camera and wasn’t paying attention to where Kevin was going. Kevin, in the meantime, was looking through his camera lens focusing on the moose. He kept getting closer and closer to the moose, not realizing how close he was, because the camera lens made the moose look farther away than it was.

Suddenly, in the lens, Kevin saw the moose come towards him. He put down his camera and to his horror saw that he was only a very few yards away from the moose! He started to run uphill and, to his relief, saw a row of young trees. He ran to the other side of them. The moose charged at him, but the width of its antlers was wider than the trees and so the antlers stopped him. This only made Mr. Moose even more angry, and he went to the end of the tree line and came to the side that Kevin was on. Kevin quickly ran to the other side of the trees, and once again the moose charged, but the antlers again stopped him from getting to Kevin. So again the moose ran around to the other side and tried again to charge Kevin.

Children, the Bible tells us that we also have an enemy who wants to harm us. Satan is after each of us, wanting to destroy our lives in whatever way he can. In 1 Peter 5:8 it says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” How wonderful to have a refuge in the Lord Jesus who is able to keep us from such an enemy.

About this time, Kevin’s dad happened to look up from his camera and saw the danger his son was in. He wasn’t sure just what to do, but he ran down the hill a little and yelled, which somehow got the moose to be a bit unsure about taking on two humans! The moose decided to leave Kevin alone.

WOW, THAT WAS CLOSE! Kevin’s dad had some serious words with him about obeying his parents. Kevin had accepted the Lord Jesus as his Savior, and he had more than once been asked to memorize the two short verses found in Ephesians 6:1-2: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother.” It was a sober Kevin who got back into the family car and thought of what could have happened. How good the Lord was that, in spite of Kevin’s disobedience, he was spared from a horrible injury or even death.

We would encourage all our young readers or listeners today to obey your parents in the Lord. You may not always agree with your parents or understand what they tell you to do or not to do, but the Lord Jesus says that you should obey them anyway.

MEMORY VERSE: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother.” Ephesians 6:1-2

Messages of God’s Love 6/21/2020

The Painful Mistake

The dishwasher had been finished rinsing the dishes for about 15 minutes when I walked from the well-lit living room into the dark kitchen. The light from the living room gave me just enough light to see to open the dishwasher door.

That’s strange, I thought, I don’t remember putting any orange plasticware in here. But there on the bottom of the dishwasher lay a ring of what looked like dull orange plastic. I reached down to pick it up, and instantly I knew what it was—the electric drying element that was still hot! My skin stuck to it for a second or two, welded there by the intense heat. If only I would have turned on the light, I never would have made that terribly painful mistake!

Darkness is scary! Anyone walking around in a dark room might bump into things or even trip and fall. And anyone working in a dark room can easily make mistakes. But there is another kind of darkness that is even more scary, and it covers the whole world! This darkness is caused by sin. And since we are living in this world, each one of us has to walk and work in this evil darkness. But there is a light that we can have so we won’t trip or make awful mistakes. That light is the Lord Jesus Christ who loves us. He tells us in the Bible in John 12:46, “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide [remain] in darkness.” He is telling us that those who will come to Him, admitting their sin and believing that He died on the cross to wash them from their sins, will no longer walk in the darkness of this world. He is the light for us to follow, and the scariness is gone! He will guide us the rest of our lives.

I had two very badly burned fingers because I had not bothered to turn on the light. I jumped around the house with the pain, spraying on this and rubbing on that, but nothing helped. Then I remembered I had frozen some small plastic jars of water. I grabbed one out of the freezer and clutched it tightly. It took the terrible burning out of my fingers and stopped the blisters from growing larger. A few hours later I went to bed, still clutching a jar of ice.

My fingers are better now, and I hope I’ll always remember to work in the light. But when we sin, it’s not so easy to recover. Please don’t reach out for things in this sin-darkened world without first coming into the light. The Lord Jesus says, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). Will you accept Him as your Savior and let Him light your way? He will never lead you in a wrong path.

“God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). “The Lord my God will enlighten [light up] my darkness” (Psalm 18:28).

Messages of God’s Love 6/21/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: Lonesome Kakapos

“God created . . . every winged fowl after his kind. . . . And God blessed them, saying . . . let fowl multiply in the earth.” Genesis 1:21-22

The kakapos of New Zealand are heavy birds, weighing up to six pounds. They cannot fly, they make nests in holes dug in the ground, and they feed mostly on seeds of plants. These birds are related to parrots, and because they do most of their feeding at night, they are also called the owl parrot.

Their enemies include dogs, rats, cats and other animals, as well as hunters who not only collect their pretty olive-colored feathers, but consider them a nice addition to the dinner table.

The kakapo’s call is unusual. Wanting to attract a mate, a male fills his breast with air and, after a bob or two of his head, lets out a loud, booming call, very much like someone blowing a blast of air across the top of a large bottle.

According to a recent article, there are only 147 kakapos left in the world. Years ago, well-meaning people imported some new animals that promptly found the kakapos very tasty and have continued to kill them ever since. As a result, when a male bird tries to attract a female with his booming call, there are seldom any answers. Because of increasing scarcity, few nests now have eggs in them or little ones to take over when the older ones will all be gone.

Strangely, although this unusual bird has fairly large wings, it only uses them in an extreme emergency. Explorers visiting their area reported that walking through a forest they suddenly saw a big kakapo perched high in a tree. As they tried to get close to it, it spotted them. Instead of flying away, as others birds would do, it dropped to the ground, never once opening its wings to break the fall, and then scooted off on foot through the brush.

It is interesting that since these birds do not use their wings, the only way they can get up into a tree is to claw their way up the trunk, using their strong toes and beaks to get from branch to branch.

The Creator included these beautiful birds in the vast number of other kinds and instructed, “Let fowl multiply in the earth.” He not only created them, but He also provided ample food and nesting places for them as well.

We can see how most bird species have multiplied in abundance over the centuries. However, because of man’s carelessness, some, like this lovely bird, seem destined to completely disappear before long. Let’s always do what we can to protect birds and other creatures that were put on the earth so long ago and that the Creator looks upon with pleasure. The Bible really tells us to do this in Isaiah 65:18: “Be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create.”

Messages of God’s Love 6/21/2020

Stay on the Bus!

“Stay on the bus!” were the last words the school bus driver had said as he stepped out into the whirling blizzard. Almost immediately he was out of sight, and the children on the bus were alone. “I’ll be able to follow the fence line back to the last crossroad,” he had explained to them. “There is a small store there where I can call for help. I’ll be okay, and you will be too, but you must stay on the bus!”

The blizzard had hit suddenly with almost no warning in this farming area of Canada. It was snowing hard when the busload left school, but that wasn’t unusual in this part of the country. However, soon after they got out of town, the full fury of the blizzard had made driving farther impossible. When the driver had pulled over to the side of the road, the bus had gotten stuck. Even with the help of the bigger boys, no amount of pushing could move it. The only thing left to do was to go for help.

Being alone on the bus was fun for the children for a while . . . that is, until it got cold. The bus driver had shown Mark, a high school junior, how to start the engine to run the heater. He did this when it got really cold, but he was being careful so they wouldn’t run out of gas.

Hour after hour passed with no one coming to their rescue. Some of the younger children got scared after it got dark and started to cry. The older ones tried to calm their fears by telling stories and singing songs to get their minds off the problem. But when it got to be nine o’clock, and there still was no sign of help, even the older children were beginning to worry. And by then everybody was hungry and thirsty. It had been a long time since lunch.

However, they had not been forgotten. It was just that this was the worst blizzard in many years. Although the driver had finally gotten back to the store, he discovered the phone was out of order, so he couldn’t call for help.

There were many worried mothers and fathers who had called the school and then the police when the bus did not arrive. But since no one knew where the bus was, no one could help.

Neither the police nor the parents could help the children since they didn’t know where they were. But there is Someone who knows not only where you are this very minute, but He also knows everything about you. He can see what you are doing and knows what you are thinking right now. This Person is God. When He looks down from heaven at you, what does He see? Does He see a boy or a girl still having their sins unforgiven? He does if you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. The Bible says this about the sinner: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). Is that what He sees when He looks at you? If so, there is a way this can all be changed. The Lord Jesus wants you to believe in Him, to accept Him as your Savior, and then to know that your sins are all forgiven. All this is possible because of what the Lord Jesus has done for sinners like you and me. He loves sinners so much that He was punished on the cross for all who would trust Him. His blood shed there can wash away all your sins. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). If you will ask the Lord Jesus to wash away your sins, then you will not have to be punished for them since He already took your punishment.

It was the bus driver waiting in the store who first heard the noise of the powerful snowplow above the roar of the storm. He ran out to the plow and told the men driving it exactly where the bus was stranded.

“I’m glad you heard the plow,” the snowplow driver said, “because in this storm we can’t find a thing! Come with us to make sure we find the bus. We have blankets and food.”

The snowplow moved slowly down the road to where the bus was stuck. Even the plow kept getting stuck and had to keep backing up and lunging forward to break through the drifts. Finally, the almost-hidden shape of the bus at the side of the road could be seen. If the bus driver had not been with the plow to point out the bus, they probably would have passed it.

It was a happy bunch of children who welcomed the driver back. He passed out the food and blankets, and soon they were all feeling better. “We will still have to wait out the storm here on the bus,” he explained to them, “but now we will wait together.”

It was a long night for the children, but at least they had something to eat and could keep warm and protected in the bus until they were picked up.

The Lord Jesus Christ has promised never to leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). These are wonderful promises. They can be yours if you’ll accept Him now as your very own Savior.

“The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

MEMORY VERSE: “The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

Messages of God’s Love 6/28/2020

Three Precious Promises

Take an A and a K, put an S in between,

And a marvelous blessing at once will be seen;

For ’tis “ASK, and it shall be given unto you”;

’Tis thus Jesus speaks, and His Word’s always true.

Between an S and a K, put two E’s straightaway,

And a wonderful promise you’ll have for today;

For the Lord is so kind, He says, “SEEK, and you’ll find,”

And the blessing He’ll give is what just suits His mind.

Between two lovely K’s, place an N, O and C,

And a rich mine of wealth at once you will see;

For the Savior says, “KNOCK,” and the door opens wide;

Faith’s key does unlock, and Christ’s Word must abide.

Then “ASK,” “SEEK,” and “KNOCK,” for this is God’s way,

And sure are His blessings, which ne’er pass away.

Messages of God’s Love 6/28/2020

Wonders of God's Creation: A Ferocious Caterpillar

“God made ... everything that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:25

Caterpillars are usually considered a pest in gardens, and they can be quite destructive. On the island of Hawaii there are several species of one known as a “fighter caterpillar.” It comes equipped with sharp claws and strong jaws, making its meals out of insects flying or crawling within its reach. These caterpillars are only about an inch long and are camouflaged to look like a colored leaf or a twig on which they are waiting. From there they quickly reach out to catch their prey.

Examined closely, they resemble a miniature, spike-covered golden fist with six fingers, each of which is equipped with a needle-like spear. They reach out so fast with these that if a person is not watching closely, he will miss the action and wonder how that insect ever got into the caterpillar’s claw.

These well-armored creatures are the larvae of an unusual Hawaiian butterfly which lays eggs on leaves, two or three at a time, where they hatch out looking like little worms. These larvae go through some molting stages, finally spinning cocoons around their bodies and later emerging as pretty butterflies. It is before the cocoon is formed that this vicious way of life takes place.

While in the larval stage, they are sometimes referred to as “earth measurers,” because of their looping way of moving about, like some other caterpillars do. To do this, with their hind legs they first firmly grasp the surface on which they lie, then stretch out full length before changing the grip from back to front. The back then moves forward in a horseshoe-like loop, gets another grip on the surface, and the process is repeated over and over. If an insect gets in the way, it is either eaten or knocked out of the way with the “looper’s” tough head.

At times, instead of going forward, one will move down to a lower spot by anchoring a spider-like thread, which it ejects at the starting point, and then dropping away, it ejects as much thread as is needed to reach the desired spot. Then it resumes activity in a normal way.

We might wonder why the Creator made such awkward bits of life, but they have a definite place as part of His creation. Caterpillars are always mentioned in the Bible in connection with God’s judgment against evil. This is a solemn reminder that, in a future day, those who have not accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior will be brought into terrible judgment.

However, those who know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior will never face that judgment, because they have trusted the only One who could and did bear that judgment for them. His promise to these is eternal life in the splendors of heaven.

Which group are you in?

Messages of God’s Love 6/28/2020

If Your Enemy Hungers, Feed Him!

It was 1978, and Victor Pavlov lived in the Soviet Union. He was a young man who had finished high school with very high grades, as he was a very smart student. He had gone to the University to finish his mechanical engineering degree and had passed all the exams and finals. Now he was ready to graduate once again with very high grades.

Victor knew the Lord Jesus as his Savior, and it was not easy to live in the Soviet Union under the Communist party. His government did not love God or the Lord Jesus, which made it very hard for Christians to live in their country. He and his siblings were often made fun of through their school years by the other children they went to school with. The teachers too were not always very nice. So now Victor was ready to receive his diploma in mechanical engineering from the University.

Right before graduation, the head of the engineering department, Mrs. Koval, asked Victor to come into her office. She knew he was a Christian, and she had a very hard question to ask him.

“Victor, I have here on my desk an application that I am asking you to sign that would make you join the Communist party. If you refuse to sign it, then I will refuse to give you your engineering degree that you have worked so hard to get.”

What a decision to have to make, and on such short notice! But it didn’t take long, and Victor knew his answer.

“Mrs. Koval, I cannot sign that application. Even if you won’t give me my degree, I will not sign it.”

“Very well, Victor,” she said. “You have made your decision. Goodbye!”

It was with a heavy heart Victor walked home and told his family this sad and unfair news. But they committed it all to God, their heavenly Father who loves His own and promises to provide for His children.

Matthew 6:33-34 says, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.”

The Lord took care of Victor. He worked for the railroad, and later he had a good welding job. After a time, he was given five or six ovens that were going to be discarded. He was able to refurbish them, and then he started a bakery. Today that bakery is still going—a thriving business with 50 employees and 30 stores!

One winter day a few years after starting his bakery business, Victor was in his delivery truck making his rounds to deliver his bread. The morning was dark gray, and the roads were not nice. It had snowed and then rained, making it very slippery for the pedestrians to walk on. As Victor neared a crosswalk, his heart went out to an older lady who was slipping and sliding on the ice as she hung onto her grocery bags while crossing the street. In that day, cars would hardly stop, and they would just honk and make it harder for the walkers. Victor stopped his truck right in the middle of the road and went over to the older lady, took her arm and walked her over to the passenger side of his van and helped the lady climb in.

As the lady looked up into Victor’s face to thank him for the ride, she said, “I feel I have seen you before.”

“Yes, I believe you have,” Victor said as he helped the lady climb in. “Aren’t you Mrs. Koval?”

“Yes, I am,” she said.

“I am Victor Pavlov. I believe you were my instructor at the University.”

“Oh, Victor! Here you are being so kind to me after what I did to you! Now I know there is truly a living God in heaven! Communism is a fake. I am very lonely, cold and hungry. I have very little money, and I may get my apartment taken away from me any day.”

Victor drove her the five blocks to her apartment, and then he handed her a few loaves of fresh bread. She hugged him and thanked him once again for his kindness he had shown to her, even after her unkindness to him.

Yes, children, the Bible teaches us in Romans 12:20-21, “If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Isn’t that nice? That’s how the Lord Jesus wants you to treat kids at school or in your neighborhood who are not always nice to you. Do something nice for them. That will make the Lord Jesus happy, and it will make you happy too.

MEMORY VERSE: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21

Messages of God’s Love 7/5/2020

A Gift for Daddy

One evening little Jenny whispered to her mother, “I’m going to buy Daddy a present for his birthday.”

Her mother smiled and said, “That’s fine, Jenny, but where will you get the money to buy it?”

“Oh, I know Daddy will give it to me,” Jenny answered.

Wasn’t that a good answer? Jenny knew that she could go to her father for the money and that he would love to get a gift from her. This is also true of us as God’s children. Everything we have is what God our Father has given to us. He knows that what we give back to Him in love is what we have first received from Him. He thinks of the love behind the gift, just like Jenny’s father would.

“All things come [from] Thee, and of Thine own have we given [to] Thee” (1 Chronicles 29:14).

Messages of God’s Love 7/5/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Lively Tarsier

“Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world.” Acts 15:18

The alert and lively tarsier lives in the East Indies and the Philippines. It is small, ranging from 10 to 15 inches long, including its long, thin tail. Living in trees, it uses this tail as an extra support when clinging to a branch and also to help keep its balance when leaping from tree to tree. Its fur is brownish-gray except around its mouth, chin, nose and between the eyes, where it is usually yellow or light orange.

Seen face-on, it is an amusing and lovable little creature. Its eyes look like a big pair of goggles, and the spread of its mouth is a pleasant grin. A button nose sits above its small mouth and chin, and its rather large ears stand rigidly erect.

This long-legged little fellow belongs to the primate family and is about the size of a large squirrel. The second and third toes on each of its hind feet have sharp, long claws, and both front feet and hind feet are cushioned underneath with non-skid ridges. These help it to get a good grip on tree trunks and branches. Incidentally, its long, hind legs help make it a champion jumper among animals its size; it can leap as high as four feet and as far as six feet in distance.

One outstanding feature is the tarsier’s large, owl-like eyes, which are close together. The pupils are about three times as large as those of other animals its size and are surrounded by dark rings. These eyes are in many ways its most valuable possession, for it is a night worker. The Creator has wisely provided it with most remarkable vision to help in its nighttime search for insects, snakes and small lizards, which make up its diet.

In addition to good eyesight, the tarsier’s head can turn around so far that it can see behind itself without moving its body. The Creator also gave it very sensitive hearing. Its large ears can twist individually in various directions–one this way and the other that way—when trying to identify a sound. As for itself, it moves quietly through the darkness and, wherever possible, keeps well hidden among tree leaves.

The Bible tells us to be glad and rejoice in that which God has created. The more our attention is drawn to the wonders of His creation, including these little tarsiers, the more we are impressed with the truth of the opening Bible verse. It is good to think about this as we see the various forms of life all around us, for each one represents a part of God’s creation. How happy we can be to know Him, not only as our Creator, but more importantly as our Savior too.

Messages of God’s Love 7/5/2020

How to Catch an Armadillo

When I was a boy, I made my first visit to my uncle’s ranch in Texas. It was an interesting car trip, but a long one. I was so glad when somebody finally said, “There’s Uncle Arthur’s ranch!”

It looked pretty much like many other ranches we had passed that day—-a group of buildings and fences in dusty, central Texas. But soon the family was gathered around our car, and how glad we were to get out and stretch ourselves and greet loved ones again!

While we were still standing by the car, I was surprised to see an armadillo quietly walking across the driveway, right in front of us. Where we lived, I had seen armadillos only in zoos, and I did not remember having ever been so close to one before! When I expressed my surprise, my uncle said, “You can catch him if you want to, John.”

Having never before caught any wild animal that large, much less an armadillo, I wasn’t so sure that I could catch it, and I wasn’t so sure that I even wanted to catch it. However, because the others encouraged me to try, I began to run after the armadillo. Then he began to run. He ran and I ran. Finally, he ran into a hole in the ground at the base of a tree, and I thought I had lost him. But, then he stopped, with his tail mostly outside the hole and in plain sight. The armadillo had chosen a hole which was not deep enough to really hide all of him.

So, I took hold of the end of the armadillo’s tail and carefully lifted him up by his tail. I carried him back to where the rest of the family were still standing on the driveway. The armadillo did not struggle. He hung quietly from my hand, head down, while some of us carefully looked him over. Then I slowly let him down on the driveway, and he ran off in a hurry.

Not only was I surprised that I had caught an armadillo on my first day in Texas, but I was also surprised at how dumb that silly armadillo seemed to be. It seemed to me then, and it has seemed to me ever since, that if I were an armadillo and was being chased, I would want to run into a deeper hole!

Now, I am not saying that you may or should expect to catch an armadillo this way, but I want you to understand how much this armadillo reminds me of so many people we may know very well.

It seems that this armadillo felt safe in the shallow hole that he had chosen. It probably hid me from his sight, but that did not hide him from my sight. How many people are like him! They seem to think that since they can’t see God or don’t see God, then God cannot or does not see them. But they are so wrong—and they will be caught!

The Bible tells us, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). God sees inside us—He even knows our motives: “All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13). And He pays attention to what He sees: “Though thou wash thee with nitre [cleanser], and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity [sin] is marked before me, saith the LORD GOD” (Jeremiah 2:22).

But God also looks for something else: “When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13). “It is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul” (Leviticus 17:11). “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to shed His blood on the cross, to remove your sin from the sight of God, and to make you fit for Him to see with pleasure forever in heaven. Won’t you trust Jesus right now?

MEMORY VERSE: “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3

Messages of God’s Love 7/12/2020

I Can't Get It Clean!

“I thought these stains would come right out,” I said to myself, as I rubbed the wet cotton ball vigorously over the stained shirt I was trying to clean. But nothing happened.

“Now what should I do? I just have to get these stains out of this new white shirt I’ve worn only once,” I said, still talking to myself. Then I looked at the bottle beside me. It was labeled, “White Vinegar.” I had forgotten that I had transferred the vinegar into a bottle the same size and shape as my bleach bottle, and I had placed it on the shelf right beside the bleach. I had been using vinegar instead of bleach to try to remove the stains, and it didn’t work.

I took the bleach bottle down, and in less than a minute those bad stains were gone. I was very happy.

But let me tell you about my stains of sin being removed in less time than that! Some years ago, I knelt down beside my bed one night and confessed to God that I was stained with sins, and I accepted His offer of cleansing by the blood of His Son, Jesus. And immediately all my stains of sin were gone! How could such a wonderful cleansing happen in such a short time? It was because the work needed for my cleansing and yours was finished long ago on Calvary’s cross when the Lord Jesus paid the penalty for sin. All I needed to do was to come to Him for His cleansing power, because “the blood of Jesus Christ [God’s Son] cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

Vinegar is no substitute for bleach to remove stains out of clothing, and there is no substitute for the precious blood of Jesus to remove your sins. “Unto Him [Jesus] that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5).

Messages of God’s Love 7/12/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Bald Eagle

“ A great eagle with great wings, long-winged . . . took the highest branch of the cedar.” Ezekiel 17:3

Many people consider the bald eagle to be the most beautiful and impressive of all birds. Fully grown, it stands three feet high, weighs about ten pounds, and has a wingspan of six to eight feet. A mature eagle has a dark-brown body with white feathers on its head, neck and tail. Its eyes, sharp-hooked beak and legs are bright yellow.

The Creator designed this bird for its special place in His creation. It has exceptional beauty, whether sitting in a tree or circling high in the air. Its eyes can spot a mouse a mile away or a fish far below. Its main food is fish, but it also eats mice, gophers, rabbits, snakes, birds and dead animals. Spotting prey, it may circle down swiftly or make a direct dive at a speed of 100 miles per hour, stopping suddenly as its curved talons grab its victim.

Spotting an osprey or fish hawk flying with a fish, an eagle may swoop down and frighten it into dropping its food. Then the eagle dives down and catches the prize for itself. Often while looking for food, it will perch on a dead tree high on a bluff, just as they did in Bible days when the Lord asked Job, “Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? She dwelleth and abideth on . . . the strong place. From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off” (Job 39:27-29).

Eagles keep the same mate for life. Their nest, called an aerie, is usually in the top of a high tree near water. They use the same aerie every year and add new material to it, so many old aeries are as large as 20 feet deep and 9 feet across. Only one or two white eggs are laid each year and take about 40 days to hatch.

The eaglets live on food brought to them by their parents. If both eaglets are healthy, they gain strength by playing tug-of-war with sticks or having little battles. They first learn to fly by hovering over the nest, but when 11 or 12 weeks old, they leave the nest. If one is afraid to fly, the mother may push it out, then swoop below and allow it to rest on her back when it gets tired. The Lord spoke of this concerning His people Israel:

“As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the Lord alone did lead [them]” (Deuteronomy 32:11-12).

Another Bible verse says, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles” (Isaiah 40:31). If the Lord Jesus Christ is your Savior, you will find Him always able and willing to give you the strength needed for your Christian life.

Messages of God’s Love 7/12/2020

Climbing to Eagles' Cap

Do you enjoy backpacking? I know some people who love it! They collect all their equipment—sleeping bag, extra clothing in case the weather turns cold, food, a few cooking and eating utensils, camera, water purifier and their Bibles. They load it all into backpacks that strap over their shoulders, and they’re off!

The backpackers I know were heading up through the Wallowa Wilderness to a mountaintop called the Eagle’s Cap. They were full of energy and eager to hike to the spot partway up the mountain where they had chosen to camp for the night.

When the hikers first put on their backpacks, the packs felt light, and the hikers could forget they were carrying them. But as they climbed, their loads felt heavier and heavier, and those straps began to dig into their shoulders. By the time they had reached their overnight camping spot, every one of them was very glad to take off that pack. IT FELT SO HEAVY!

That’s sometimes how our sins feel. When we are young, we tell lies, do something mean, or disobey our parents—and our consciences bother us. But then we forget about those sins for a while. As time goes on, however, our packs of sin become heavier and heavier as we add more and more sins to them.

You and I don’t have to go on carrying our heavy packs of sin any longer. The Lord Jesus Christ is waiting to lift those packs off us. He invites us to bring them to Him: “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Tell Him about your sins and that you are sorry you committed them, and He will gladly remove them forever and give you rest! He is the only one who can, because He bore the punishment on Calvary’s cross for the sins of anyone who comes to Him and is truly sorry for them. “Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). Then you’ll be able to walk the rest of the path of life with the Lord Jesus. He will be your guide and provider until He takes you safely to heaven to be with Himself forever.

After lunch, some of the backpackers just wanted to stretch out and rest or nap, but there were a few who were still eager to press on and climb to the top. They left their heavy backpacks behind and only took a few snacks, water filters and cameras. The climbing was hard, but they were rewarded with a wonderful view when they reached the top.

Up there they found a tightly covered metal box nestled in the snow. Of course, they were curious. When they opened it, they discovered several notebooks full of names of those people who had climbed the mountain before them. Every notebook was full. There was only a little space on the back cover of one where they could write their names—proof that they had actually made it to the top.

God has a book full of names too. It’s called the “Lamb’s book of life,” and in it are written the names of every person whose sins have been removed forever by the Lord Jesus. Those names are proof that they belong to Him. Is your name written in His book? If not, one day you will stand before the throne of Almighty God and be judged for your sins. While there’s still time to have Him write your name in that book, won’t you come to Jesus and confess that you are a guilty sinner and accept Him as your very own Savior? “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).

MEMORY VERSE: “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15)

Messages of God’s Love 7/19/2020

My Coat Is Not Me!

A Christian tried to tell an old man who had suffered a lot in life that God loved him and had sent His Son to die for him. Instead of making the old man happy, he became very angry and said he was completely turned off by people who called themselves Christians. He brought up the bad conduct of some he knew and wanted nothing to do with people who called themselves “Christians.”

“Okay, let me ask you one question then,” the Christian said to him. “Suppose that I stole your coat and put it on. Then I went and robbed a bank. The police saw me escape and recognized your coat. What would you say when they came to accuse you of the robbery?”

The old man thought a while and then answered, “I would deny it for the simple reason that my coat is not ME!”

“Well then,” the Christian replied, “just because some call themselves Christians is no proof that they really are. Jesus said, ‘Every tree is known by [its] own fruit’ (Luke 6:44), and if the fruit in a person’s life shows that he is anything but a Christian, then we have good reason to doubt that he is one. The Lord knows all who are really His own. The Bible says, ‘The Lord [knows] them that are His. And, let everyone that [names] the name of Christ depart from iniquity’ (2 Timothy 2:19). While we may fool others and even ourselves, we will never fool God.”

This same old man later asked the Christian how he could be saved. The Christian explained that he must confess to God that he is a sinner and accept that Jesus died for his sins on the cross. The old man bowed his head and trusted his life to Christ. Then he embraced the visitor and thanked him for taking an interest in him. He pointed a finger to the sky as he said, “You wear His coat very well!”

Messages of God’s Love 7/19/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: Unusual Tree Frogs

“God created great whales, and every living creature that [moves].” Genesis 1:21

There are so many varieties of frogs and toads throughout the world that it would take volumes of books to tell about all of them. Among them are several hundred kinds of tree frogs. They live mostly in North, Central and South America and Australia. Their sizes range from less than an inch to four or five inches long, and they all eat insects.

One of these is named “red-eyed.” If you saw its huge, crimson, round, bulging eyes with their coal-black pupils, you would agree it was well-named. In contrast to its red eyes, it is green over its back and the front of its legs. It has nimble feet with three toes and a blue-spotted yellow stomach. A close relative has similar eyes and a green back, but its stomach and sides are orange and white. Its legs are a combination of green, yellow and red, with long, deep-orange toes.

Another odd little fellow is the Cuban tree frog, which is a drab tan color with huge speckled eyes and coal-black pupils. Its wide mouth seems to be in a perpetual grin, but also suggests the ability to make a meal of a smaller frog.

A very unusual one in Central America has the long name spatulate nose tree frog. A dark brown top and legs are mixed with darker brown speckles and a gray-white stomach. It gets its name because an upper part of its lips protrudes way beyond the mouth itself. (Spatulate means “knife-like.”) Perhaps the Creator arranged it that way to help it reach into narrow spots where insects are often found.

While tree frogs will at times visit ponds or streams looking for food, they are called tree frogs because they spend much of their lives in trees. Some live in the very tops of giant trees and never come down. Their bony feet have sticky pads that never fail to grip the branches tightly. Some have been seen clinging to big leaves and playfully swinging in the wind. Tree frogs usually choose trees that have large, smooth, cup-shaped leaves holding rainwater, in which the female lays hundreds of eggs. If one leaf is not big enough for her, she joins two or three together, making a larger home for the little tadpoles when they hatch. Some tree frogs lay their eggs in ponds.

Did the Lord God actually create these unusual little creatures? Indeed He did, as the opening Bible verse says. Another verse assures us that “all things were created by Him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist [or subsist]” (Colossians 1:16-17).

You would find it interesting to study other tree frogs. Almost without exception, they all have pretty patterns that only the Creator could design.

Messages of God’s Love 7/19/2020

Joey

Phil, the animal warden, found the little dog wandering down a road. When he gently approached the pup, the dog got scared and ran up an embankment and onto the railroad tracks. Phil saw a freight train barreling toward them in the distance, so he tried his best to get a leash on the pup. Instead, all he got was bitten fingers, while the little dog scampered away down the middle of the tracks.

Phil couldn’t catch him in time. He stood to the side and watched in horror as the 60-car freight train passed over the little dog. He could only think that what he would find would be a mangled little body. But when the train finally passed, somehow, the little dog was still alive!

An injured, helpless animal is heartbreaking and makes us want to help them in any way we can. Even more heartbreaking is an injured, helpless person. And as the Lord Jesus looked down and saw sinners, injured and helpless in their sins, it broke His heart. He loved us and knew He was the only one who could save us. He said to God His Father, “Here am I; send Me” (Isaiah 6:8).

And Phil was the only one who could save the little dog. As he bent over the pup, he was amazed to find that not only was the little fellow alive, but because of his small size and his huddling down in the center of the tracks, none of the dog’s injuries were life threatening. The little dog had lost his tail, part of an ear, and the fur and skin on his back. When Phil picked him up, he said the dog cuddled right up to him. He took the dog to an animal clinic nearby where doctors treated the dog’s injuries.

A day or so later, a kind lady read the story in the newspaper of the little dog that survived after being run over by a train. She called the animal clinic and found that no owner had claimed the dog or even inquired about him. Sadly, he was an abandoned dog; he had no home and no owner.

When the Lord Jesus saw our abandoned, sinful condition, His love for us would not let Him just turn away. He came down here to earth to show us how much He loves us and to save us. His life of love and kindness led Him to Calvary’s cross where He not only took the punishment for any sinner who will accept His loving offer of forgiveness for their sins, but He died for each one of us. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

Kathy, the kind lady, went over to see the little dog with no tail, and to her joy, he went right over to her and cuddled up next to her. It was love at first sight for both of them. And now the little dog has a new home and a new name—-Joey. But best of all, he has a new owner who loves him just the way he is, and she is taking good care of him.

Is Joey enjoying Kathy’s love and care? Kathy says Joey wants to be around her all the time and spends a lot of time on her lap.

And one day soon, those of us who have accepted the Lord Jesus as our Savior will go to our new home in heaven where we will live with our kind and loving Savior forever. And there is something else very special. The Bible also tells us that He has a new name for each one of us who belongs to Him. He’ll give us those names when we are up there with Him. Meanwhile, we can enjoy His loving care over us right now and spend time learning more about Him from the Bible.

Will you accept the Lord Jesus’ loving offer of forgiveness for your sins and happiness in His home forever? Then you can thankfully say from your heart, “The Son of God . . . loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

MEMORY VERSE: “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Messages of God’s Love 7/26/2020

Tree Climbers

Have you ever climbed a tree? I watched Eddie climb our tree. He loves to do this just for fun, and he can scramble up fairly quickly.

It reminded me of a man in the Bible who once climbed a tree. His name was Zacchaeus, and he was a short little man. He climbed a tree for a different reason than Eddie does. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, who was coming along the road in the middle of a crowd of people.

But when Jesus came by the tree where Zacchaeus was sitting, He looked up at him and said, “Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house.” And he did just what Jesus told him to do.

Zacchaeus was a sinner, just like you and me. But before the day was over, Jesus said to him that salvation had come to him. This meant that Jesus had forgiven all his sins and someday he would go to heaven to live with Jesus.

Boys and girls, Jesus knows all about your sins, but He wants you to come to Him. He is calling you just like He called Zacchaeus. He loves you and wants to come into your heart and live with you until He takes you home to heaven. Won’t you tell Him right now that you are a sinner and would like Him to be your Savior? He wants to forgive your sins, just like He forgave Zacchaeus’s sins. “I [Jesus] will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:34).

Messages of God’s Love 7/26/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: Don't Argue With a Jaguar

“Every beast of the forest is Mine. . . . And the wild beasts of the field are Mine.” Psalm 50:10-11

A jaguar can easily be mistaken for a leopard since the brownish-yellow fur of each, covered with black spots, is so similar. But there are some differences. The adult jaguar is larger, and many of the circular spots covering its body have a darker black spot in the center, while those of the leopard are solid. Some South American jaguars are almost coal black.

The jaguar, up to eight feet long including its 2½-foot tail, may weigh up to 290 pounds. The huge mouth in its large head has strong, sharp teeth and a long tongue covered with tiny rasps that help get the last bit of flesh off the bones of its victims. Out of that mouth also comes a frightening roar. This ferocious cat is the most feared animal in Mexico, Central and South America.

Huge, well-padded paws have fearsome claws that, like a house cat’s, remain hidden in the toes but are extended as fierce weapons when fighting or catching prey. However, in spite of this fearful feature, it is a handsome animal with small, erect ears, beautiful eyes and large shoulders.

The jaguar is not afraid of water, jumping into a stream or pond to catch its prey, which might be a fish, turtle or even a small crocodile. Normally it stalks the animals in high grass or brush—seeing, but not being seen—silently creeping closer and then suddenly pouncing on its victim—a deer, peccary, armadillo, tapir or other animal. Its muscular legs and large shoulders provide plenty of strength to drag even a heavy victim a mile or so away, where it may hide a part of the kill to eat another day.

A jaguar prefers to live alone except when raising its family of two or three cubs. It often travels many miles a day hunting for food. When not on the move, it likes to stretch out on a tree limb or a smooth, shaded rock. Being master of the rainforest, it has no fear of attack, except by hunters.

The Bible does not mention the jaguar, but the Lord, wanting His people to change their bad ways, said, “Their heart was exalted, therefore have they forgotten Me ... .As a leopard by the way will I observe them” (Hosea 13:6-7). This means that while they forgot Him, yet, like an unseen leopard (or like our unseen jaguar), He was watching everything they did. Farther on in the chapter He adds, “In Me is thine help” (vs. 9).

Have you forgotten Him and are you careless in your ways? Oh, how lovingly He invites you to confess it to Him and accept Him as your Savior before it is too late! If you have not done this, won’t you do it right now while there is still time?

Messages of God’s Love 7/26/2020

The Old Woman

One sunny Saturday, Mac and Meg’s father took them with him to the beach where he was going to mend his nets. Their father, Cecil, was a salmon fisherman, and sometimes his nets would get damaged or tangled with seaweed. He would spread his nets out very carefully on the beach, then clean them and mend any holes. This would take several hours. This was a time of fun for Mac and Meg to play on the beach.

Out at the point of the cove, there was a rock formation known to everyone as “The Old Woman.” The fishermen had named this rock, because when they were returning home through the mists, it looked very much like an old woman standing there to welcome them. As soon as they arrived at the beach, Mac would say to Meg, “Race you to “The Old Woman”! Away they would fly, leaping from rock to rock, being careful not to jump on any slippery ones. After tagging “The Old Woman,” they would again race back to the beach.

This beach was a rocky one, not a beautiful, smooth, sandy one like many of you might be familiar with. The rocks were all different sizes and colors. Many of them were very smooth and had different colors and patterns running through them. You know, dear boys and girls, that God took great pleasure in making all the different designs in the rocks. The Bible tells us that “He hath made everything beautiful in his time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Mac and Meg would search for rocks with special markings to take home with them.

Then when the tide was out, they would search the tidal pools in the rocks for sea creatures. They would find little crabs, which they could pull up by putting a stick in the pool. Sometimes they would find a starfish, a sea anemone or sea urchin. There were lots of barnacles too. All these little creatures would live in the pools until the tide came back in and covered them up again. Mac and Meg returned home after a fun day at the beach never thinking that it would not always be the same.

“The Old Woman” was a sentinel that had stood for generations of fishermen. Many years later, a terrible storm struck that coast. Huge waves rolled in and right up over the cliffs to the edge of the people’s homes! Great damage was done to the beach, and when the fishermen looked out at their cove the next morning, they noticed some-thing looked very different. “The Old Woman” rock was gone without a trace, and the point was completely flat! The sentinel that had welcomed them and their parents and grandparents home was gone forever!

This reminds us that there is One who never changes: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Have you put your trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation? John 10:28 says, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” There may be things or people that you are counting on to always be there for you, but we know that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only one who will never let us down. “He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defense; I shall not be moved” (Psalm 62:6).

MEMORY VERSE:

“I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” John 10:28

Messages of God’s Love 8/2/2020

Juicy Strawberries

It was summertime, and Mac and Meg (who were about 7 and 6 years old) were visiting their uncle’s farm. It was a very interesting place. There were pigs and chickens to feed, working horses, and there were cows to milk. There was a well with a cover on it, and their aunt would keep her milk, cream and butter in the well to keep them cool. There were many different and fun things to do on the farm, like riding on the hay wagon, learning how to milk a cow, feeding the pigs and watching them scramble for the food! They lived by the river, and sometimes their aunt would take them rowing in the cove.

Their uncle grew strawberries for the market. They would have strawberries for breakfast with their cereal, strawberries with milk and sugar for dessert at lunch, and often a delicious strawberry shortcake for supper! Mac and Meg loved the juicy strawberries and never got tired of eating them.

One evening Mac suggested to Meg that it would be fun to sneak a box of strawberries upstairs at bedtime and have a nice juicy bedtime snack. Mac got the strawberries, and they had just gone upstairs to get ready for bed when Aunt Georgie appeared. She had noticed Mac sneaking off with the strawberries! There was also Someone else who saw them. Maybe you can guess who that was.

Do you know that the Bible says, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3)? And another verse says, “Be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23). The Bible also tells us that God is keeping a record of all our works (that includes our sins)—they are all recorded in His book. God loves us and sent His Son to die on the cross for us. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). When we come to Jesus and trust Him to wash our sins away, God writes “forgiven” across the record of all our sins.

Aunt Georgie took the box of strawberries and the children were scolded for their naughtiness. Mac and Meg were quite young, but they knew they were doing wrong. I am happy to tell you that both Mac and Meg asked the Lord Jesus to wash away their sins and have been happily trusting the Lord for many long years.

Don’t wait, dear children. Come to the Lord Jesus now before it is too late! “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Messages of God’s Love 8/2/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: Unseen Helpers

“By Him were all things created, that are in heaven [the sky], and that are in earth, visible and invisible.” Colossians 1:16

There are a great number of creatures that, unseen by most people, are very helpful to us. Worms, for instance, munch their way through the soil day and night, fertilizing it and making openings for water and nitrogen to reach plant roots. Bats fly unseen through dark nights, feeding on great numbers of mosquitoes and other insects.

There are also other forms of life not visible without a microscope—billions and billions of microorganisms. One of these is bacteria, without which we could not survive! Some bacteria cause a chemical change called fermentation. These special helpers are essential in making alcohol, bread, cheese, buttermilk, yogurt and many more food items. Bacteria that live in the digestive tracts of man and animals help in the digestion of certain foods.

Bacteria are also very important and useful to man in other ways. Certain of these helpers cause decay of dead animal and vegetable matter, dissolving this matter into plant food in the soil and gases in the atmosphere. Even oil spilled on the ground or in a lake is dissolved by bacteria in time. Their activity is most important in garbage dumps where tons of waste material are discarded every day. If it were not for the bacterial process of decay, the earth would become covered with dead material, and all living things would gradually die out. Even in the mining of copper, zinc, uranium and gold, it wouldn’t be possible to make metal out of the ore without these tiny assistants.

No matter how clever scientists are, they could never produce such microscopic forms of life that do such a vast number of helpful things and without which we could not exist. These invisible forms of life didn’t just happen to be in the world by chance. No, they were planned! Our beginning Bible verse explains that they are on the earth because the Lord God, the Master Designer and Creator of everything, has placed them here as helpers for every kind of life. They serve us in many ways, helping each one of us in our daily lives. God alone has made these invisible forms of life, and they will continue in their unseen activities while the world lasts.

When we think of bacteria and other wonders of God’s creation, may we proclaim with the psalmist, “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture” (Psalm 95:6-7).

He will be pleased with your worship and thanksgiving after you have accepted His Son, the Lord Jesus, as your Savior. He loves you and has said, “[He or she] that [comes] to me I will in no [way] cast out” (John 6:37).

Messages of God’s Love 8/2/2020

Violet - A Seeing-Eye Donkey

Robbin and Cory lived on a farm in Green Forest, Arkansas. They took good care of the horses and cows on their farm, because they loved animals. One day, Robbin saw a blind cow for sale on Facebook. Wanting to give that blind cow Molly a good home with the proper care that she needed, she purchased her and brought her home to the farm.

But Robbin soon realized that Molly needed much more care than she was able to give her. She was totally dependent upon humans, and even though she was in her own pasture, she couldn’t find the watering hole or feed bin. Because of this, Molly was injuring herself and would not survive unless she got help! Clearly, Robbin needed to do something!

They put Molly into the pasture with the other cows, hoping the cows would befriend her and teach her where to go for food and water. But no, the other cows were not able or willing to help Molly! This was causing Molly to become even more nervous and anxious. Finally, a friend suggested that Robbin adopt a donkey.

We know that dogs can help blind people to get around, but who would think that a donkey would help blind animals to survive? Yet in many places of the world, donkeys are used to guide and protect other animals, such as sheep. Soon Robbin found a miniature donkey named Violet, which she brought home to the farm. Cory also came up with the great idea of putting a bell around Violet’s neck before releasing her and Molly into a fenced area together.

Thankfully, their idea worked! Violet showed Molly where the feed bins and watering hole were and also led her through the gates. Whenever Molly became anxious or stressed, all she had to do was listen for Violet’s bell and run to her for help and guidance. Molly and Violet soon became inseparable friends.

We were all born blind as to our need of a Savior, and we are helpless in our sins. The Bible tells us, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). Because of our willful sin, Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Jesus willingly died on the cross to save us. When we realize our great need of a Savior and trust Jesus to forgive our sins, He not only forgives us, but He becomes our Good Shepherd! It is then that He lovingly and faithfully leads and guides us in the way that we should go.

Robbin and Cory saw how well Violet cared for Molly and wondered if she would be able and willing to help another blind animal. Cory’s favorite 18-year-old horse, Raz, had become blind over a period of time due to equine glaucoma. Raz was confused and totally unable to find his way around.

So they put Raz in with Violet and Molly. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before Violet was guiding Raz around the pasture, showing him where the food and water and gates were. The sound of Violet’s bell gave Molly and Raz the confidence they needed to get around by themselves. Now these three animals do everything together and have become the best of friends! It’s quite the picture to see Violet, the miniature donkey, guiding blind Molly, the cow, and blind Raz, the horse!

The dear Lord Jesus will accept all who come to Him. It does not matter how old you are, how many sins you have committed, what race or nationality you are, or what kind of sin you’ve done. When we accept Him as our Good Shepherd, we too can hear His voice. Through His Word, the Bible, He tells us how to live for Him and serve Him. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand” (John 10:27-28).

Do you know the Good Shepherd’s voice? Do you have eternal life that only He can give?

MEMORY VERSE: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27

Messages of God’s Love 8/9/2020

Hippo Hunt

The men on the mission station in Africa were planning to go on a hippo hunt. They asked us women if we would like to join them. A couple of us said, “Yes, we certainly would.”

We were to be gone several days, since the hippos lived by a river quite a distance away. It was to be a journey through the jungle on a narrow, dusty path, single file.

After reaching the river, we selected a site not too far from where the hippos were living. We set up camp and ate supper. Then we went to bed.

Early the next morning we started off, the men with guns and the carriers with spears. Each person had to walk quietly so the hippos would not hear us. It wasn’t too long until a hippo was spotted.

If you have ever seen a hippopotamus in the zoo, you know how very large they are. A full-grown hippo may weigh as much as 5,000 pounds. Its legs are short, but it can run faster than a person.

One of the men got close enough to the hippo in the water and shot it with his rifle. After making sure it was dead, a native tied a rope to one of its legs, and they all pulled the hippo up the river right to the camp where we had stayed.

A very busy day followed. Many sharp knives removed the skin and cut up the meat. We had never seen such a pile of meat! There was enough to give to the people living in nearby villages.

The villagers came with knives to help and were given their portions. They were happy and thankful. That provided another opportunity to tell them that the God who sends the sunshine and rain to make their crops grow also sent His Son to save them from their sins.

We were glad to also tell them of His great love and kindness in helping to supply our need for food.

Even though very few of us have to hunt for our food, we should still be thankful for all that God provides for us. We sometimes forget that all our blessings have been supplied by a God who loves us. His love is so great that He sent His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for sinners like you and me. On the cross the Lord Jesus was punished so that those of us who believe in Him can be forgiven and go to heaven. He died so that we can have everlasting life. His blood can wash us clean from every stain of sin, if we accept Him as our Savior. Is He your Savior? Won’t you accept Him now?

“God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Messages of God’s Love 8/9/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Miracle of the Honeybee

“Eat thou honey, because it is good; and . . . sweet to thy taste: so shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul.” Proverbs 24:13-14

The honeybee is much too interesting to describe in one article. Today we will look at its specially-designed body structure.

Bees have six legs, and each pair has a special purpose. The front pair is specially adapted to clean off the insect’s antennae or wipe pollen off its face, mouth and large eyes. The hinged middle pair is used to pack pollen into the collecting baskets on the hind legs. In addition to carrying these baskets, the hind pair work with the middle pair to tamp the pollen into pellets, which are used in the hive. Each leg also has sharp tips for walking over rough surfaces, and cushions between the tips give a grip on smooth surfaces.

Two flexible antennae on the front of the bee are covered with thousands of tiny plates. These give the bee sensitivity to touch and also a keen sense of smell. Then there are the two specially designed wings that enable the bee to carry heavy loads of nectar and pollen for long distances. When flying, the front and back wings attach to each other by hooks, which then make one large, strong pair of wings. However, to enter small flowers or the hive cells, these wings separate, fold down and overlap. Incidentally, a bee flies with its wings moving in a figure eight pattern, which allows it to move up or down, backward or forward, or hover like a hummingbird.

A bee has five eyes—-three small ones in a triangle on top of its head, and a large compound eye on each side of the head. The compound eyes, with many smaller plates called facets, somehow pick up the sun’s rays and act as a compass wherever the bee may be at any time.

The bee has a wonderful “chemical factory” inside. This changes the nectar it gathers into honey. The same organs produce beeswax too.

No other insect has a tongue designed like a bee’s that penetrates into deep pockets of flowers. The body shape and structure are also designed to carry pollen from one plant to another. The bee is God’s chief pollinator of flowers.

Proverbs 15:24 says, “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” How happy life would be if we all used pleasant words with as much energy as bees use in gathering their honey. But it is only by knowing the Lord Jesus as our Savior that we have a new nature, which delights in pleasant words and helpful works. Proverbs 22:17-18 tells us, “Apply thine heart unto My knowledge. For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.”

Messages of God’s Love 8/9/2020

Amy's Swim

Amy had a happy smile on her face as she skipped along holding her mother’s hand. It had been a hot August week. Every day Amy had begged, “Mother, can’t I please go swimming?” Every day the answer had been the same: “Wait until Daddy has a day off work so that he can stay with the baby, and then I’ll take you.”

Now at last the day had arrived, and Mother and Amy were on their way to the pool. Amy had learned to swim the summer before. Now that she was seven years old, she felt sure she was big enough to swim in the deep end of the pool with the older children.

When they arrived at the pool, they found it crowded with children. They all were laughing, splashing and shouting as they enjoyed the cool water. Amy was quick to join in and soon was running out to the end of the diving board, jumping off and paddling back to the side of the pool. Mother sat near the side of the pool and looked up from her knitting with a smile each time Amy shouted, “Watch me this time, Mother!”

After a while Amy began to get tired, but she did not want to quit just yet. “Just a few more times,” she promised herself, “and then I’ll quit.”

At last she realized she would have to stop and rest for a while, but first she wanted one last jump. Out to the end of the diving board she trotted, took a big jump, splashed into the water, and began paddling very slowly to the side.

Suddenly, Amy knew she was in danger! She was just too tired to swim any longer, and she began to sink. She knew what she should do; she should call for help. Mother was sitting right by the side of the pool, and the lifeguard with his whistle around his neck was sitting up on his platform, ready to help anyone in trouble. Still, Amy did not call for help. Do you know why? She was afraid that if she called for help, her mother or the lifeguard would pull her out of the water and say, “You’re too little to be in this deep water! Go back to the shallow end of the pool with the little children.” She was afraid they would laugh at her and spoil her fun, so she struggled and thrashed around in the water until she began to sink down, down, down, to the bottom of the pool.

Boys and girls, would you be as foolish as Amy was? I hope you would be wise enough to call for help if you were drowning. However, you might be even more foolish than Amy for another reason.

The Bible tells us that “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23) and that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). You know that you are sinking deeper and deeper in sin, but you are still struggling to save yourself, not willing to call for help to the only One who is able to save you. The Bible tells us, too, that “Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3) and that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). Have you called upon His name? Have you told the Lord Jesus that you know you are a sinner and asked Him to save you? Or, like Amy, are you afraid that your friends or even your family might laugh at you or make fun of you? Do not put it off! Call upon the Lord Jesus today while you still have the chance.

Amy slowly rose to the surface again, still struggling and still stubbornly refusing to call for help . . . but someone was watching. Mother looked over to see what Amy was doing and saw her head and thrashing arms just above the surface of the water. Dropping her knitting, Mother shouted to a big girl who was in the water near Amy, “Please grab that little girl and bring her over here!” Quickly the big girl grabbed Amy by her hair and towed her over to where Mother was waiting. Mother thanked the big girl very much as she pulled Amy out of the water and hugged her tightly. Mother’s watchful care and the strong arm of the older girl had saved Amy’s life!

Amy nearly drowned because she would not admit she needed help. I hope you boys and girls will not be that foolish. Admit that you are a sinner, and call on the Lord Jesus today. He promises, “Call upon Me . . . I will deliver thee” (Psalm 50:15).

MEMORY VERSE: “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3

Messages of God’s Love 8/16/2020

Chasing Butterflies

When Rita was a little girl, she and her family lived near a little town in southern Mexico. Rita’s father was a rancher and grew wheat, corn, garbanzo beans and other vegetables on their ranch at the foot of high, tree-covered mountains. Colorful birds were common around Rita’s home, and the rainy season brought many brilliant flowers and insects.

One day while Rita and her brothers were weeding a field for their father, some huge butterflies appeared. They were bright blue, green, red and yellow. Some were as big as a grown-up’s hand!

The weeding was forgotten as the children chased the butterflies through the field. They would almost catch one, but then it would flutter away. Sometimes one landed on one of the children’s hands before it darted off. But when this exciting play was over, all Rita and her brothers had were empty hands and weeding to finish!

Are you chasing after something that you think will make you happy? A new toy? An exciting vacation? Fancy clothes? A special friend? Lots of money? If you got what you wanted, would your happiness last? No. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 11:25 that the pleasures of this sinful world only last a very short time.

The only thing that can really satisfy your heart is knowing that your sins are washed away with the blood of the Lord Jesus, who loves you and died on the cross to save you. Come to Him today for salvation, and you will find happiness that will last forever. “Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he” (Proverbs 16:20). “Happy is that people, whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 144:15).

Messages of God’s Love 8/16/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Bad-Tempered Camel

“The multitude of camels . . . [and] the dromedaries . . . shall come. . . . [Their riders] shall show forth the praises of the Lord.” Isaiah 60.6

A camel is not a pretty animal, nor is it known for its good behavior. It is one of the most awkward of all domestic animals and among the most difficult to manage. It has several bad habits, such as biting people or animals and spitting on strangers. Still, this animal is very useful to desert dwellers, where it is known as “the ship of the desert.”

The Arabian camel, sometimes called a dromedary, has only one hump, but the Bactrian species has two. These humps serve a very useful purpose. When the animal is well fed, the humps store fat and stand erect and firm. As it travels across the desert without food for several days, the camel can absorb the nourishment stored in these humps. Then the humps shrink and become flabby. But when the camel feeds again, the humps resume their proper shape.

Camels can go without water for days or even months, depending upon the time of year. They need less water in cooler months but will drink five gallons a day in hot weather. They also get some moisture from their food.

There are many ways the Lord has made special provisions for this large animal. Each foot has two wide, smooth, hard pads so it can walk easily on hot sand. At rest periods, it folds its front legs, dropping its forepart to the sand. Then it folds its long hind legs, and the whole body drops down. Its knees and chest, which would be painfully scraped by the sand in the process, have been given thick, hard pads for protection.

During sandstorms, men cover their faces with cloths to survive, whereas a camel needs no special care. An extra eyelid, heavy eyebrows and long lashes protect its eyes, while its large nostrils automatically close to narrow slits to keep the sand out.

The special needs of this peculiar animal were all provided for from the very beginning by an all-wise Creator. Without this care, they would never have survived in the harsh deserts.

As we think about how the camel’s special needs have been taken care of, it is a reminder that God has made a promise to those who love Him. To those who trust in His Son, the Lord Jesus, He has promised to “supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). This assures us that there is no limit to what He can do for every boy and girl, man and woman.

He delights in all His creatures, but to mankind He has made special provisions, not only for this world, but also for the world to come. He has given the promise of eternal life in heaven to all who accept His Son as Lord and Savior.

Have you accepted this wonderful gift?

Messages of God’s Love 8/16/2020

The Adopted Kitten

“Mew, mew, mew, mew.” Brian and Lisa ran to the spot where they heard the cries of a tiny kitten. There, all alone, they found a tiny ball of gray and white fur with baby-blue eyes just beginning to open. The little kitten was very hungry and lost. Apparently the mother barn cat had moved her litter away from the curious eyes and hands of the children, but this little baby had been left behind.

That evening the little kitten traveled to the city home of the family and was fed with an eyedropper. It eagerly licked the milk from the dropper, but it took a long time until the kitten’s tummy was full, even with all the family taking turns feeding it. This little kitten had one great need—a mother to feed and care for it.

Then Brian’s friend, Matthew, came over and said that their cat had a new litter of kittens. Maybe, just maybe, their mother cat would take care of Brian and Lisa’s little kitten until it was old enough to eat regular cat food.

The three of them ran across the street with the little kitten to see if Matthew’s mother cat would accept a strange kitten in her box. The little kitten was placed on the floor where mama kitty was drinking a bowl of milk. She looked at the mewing kitten and moved right over and began cleaning it with her tongue. When mama kitty had finished, the children put the kitten into the box with the other kittens, mama kitty climbed in and settled down, and they all began to eat hungrily. The mother cat began to clean all her babies again, including the newly adopted one.

The three children watching mama kitty accept the lost kitten describes a perfect picture of how lost and helpless you and I are in our sins. “Ye were without Christ . . . strangers . . . having no hope, and without God” (Ephesians 2:12). When we cry, “I’m lost; I’m helpless and need a Savior,” no matter how weak our cry, God hears us. He reaches out in love and adopts us into His family, making us one of His very own children. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1). When we receive Christ as our Savior, we are “washed . . . from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5). “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

The little kitten could not feed itself and could not save its own life, and you and I are not able to save our own souls. There is no list of good things that we can do to save ourselves. The little kitten could not pay for its adoption, and neither can we pay for ours. The kitten could only drink and live, and we can only believe and live. “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet [helpless] sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

MEMORY VERSE: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” 1 John 3:1

Messages of God’s Love 8/23/2020

A Love Story

Jeff and Grace had been married for many years and loved each other very much, but they had no children. One year, when they were quite old, Jeff decided on a very special birthday present for Grace. In the fall of the year, he waited until his wife went out on an errand, and then he hurried out to their yard and planted crocus bulbs in the grass. All fall, until the ground was frozen, he continued to work on his surprise whenever Grace was gone. Tulip, daffodil and crocus bulbs disappeared into the ground as he planted them all over the yard.

Jeff’s health began to fail that winter. He was told by his doctor that he had cancer. He said very little about it and accepted it as allowed of the Lord. He always kept a smile on his face. As the winter days drifted by, he sometimes would look over to his dear wife and say, “You have a nice surprise coming on your birthday.” But he would not tell her what it was. How he looked forward to her birthday in the spring. He kept watching eagerly as spring showers turned the grass green, and then little by little tiny leaves opened on the trees. And then, yes — in the grass the crocuses were coming up!

One bright, sunny day he took Grace by the hand and led her out into the yard to see a beautiful multicolored lawn and garden. All those colorful flower faces were turned up to the sun. “Happy birthday, dear,” he said.

Tears ran down Grace’s face as she said, “This is the most beautiful birthday gift I have ever had.”

Jeff’s health got worse very rapidly that spring. One day he had to be taken to the hospital. He became so ill that they had to move him to a different hospital for treatment. He was taken there by helicopter. As they flew over the city, Jeff spoke to the pilot and told him that soon his soul was going through the sky to be with his Lord and Savior. Jeff wasn’t afraid to die because he completely trusted the One who said, “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine” (Isaiah 43:1).

Jeff has gone to be with the Lord Jesus in heaven now, and Grace is alone. As she waits for the time when they will be together in heaven, she has her special birthday present every spring when those crocuses, tulips and daffodils bloom. It is just as if Jeff were there with her, saying, “Happy birthday, dear!” And what a comfort that has been to her.

Our heavenly Father has not left us without hope either. In John 14:2 The Lord Jesus says to us, “I go to prepare a place for you.” Then in verse 3 He says, “That where I am, there ye may be also.” We are patiently waiting for Him to come for us, and while we wait we are told to “comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18). The crocuses are such a comfort to Grace, and so is the Lord’s promise to us.

Messages of God’s Love 8/23/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: Who Likes Dust?

“The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” Genesis 2:7

Your answer to the question, “Who likes dust?” will probably be, “Not I.” But dust does have many good things about it, helping us realize that nothing of God’s creation has been put in the world without His best purposes for us.

You may know that dust is always around you, even if you do not see it. A man usually waits for clear weather to wash his car. When he is finished, he is pleased to see how nice the car looks. But even if it is parked in a closed garage for two or three days, he will discover that dust has again settled on it.

His wife may have dusted the house and gotten everything bright and clean. But in a few days she has to do it all over again, even though the doors and windows have been closed most of the time.

The dust experienced by this man and his wife may not be visible in the air unless a strong wind is blowing. However, where a bright shaft of sunlight comes through a window, dust particles can be seen whirling and dancing in the sunlight. Yes, dust is always there, day and night.

What benefits does dust give us? A great many. For example, the beauty of the sky is visible only because of dust in the air. It is only because of sunlight shining through dusty air that the sky appears blue and those beautiful sunsets show up.

Without dust there would be no rain, for every drop is formed around a tiny speck of dust before it can leave the cloud. The same is true of every snowflake and piece of hail. Without dust particles we would perhaps just experience huge deluges of water instead of gentle rains. Also, the brilliant flash of a shooting star entering the earth’s atmosphere is at its brightest when encountering dust particles.

Let’s consider the beginning Bible verse that tells of the relationship of man to dust. It does not mean that God made man into an existing statue of dusty dirt, but that He formed him out of the “dust” or soil. After Adam sinned, he was then told, “Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Genesis 3:19).

This explains what, in time, becomes of our bodies after death. But something else also happens with those who have accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior. The Bible tells us their spirits go immediately to heaven and someday, very soon, will be united with changed bodies that will never die.

Will that be true of you? The Bible says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). If you have not yet accepted Him as your Savior, will you do that right now?

Messages of God’s Love 8/23/2020

A Language for People Who Are Deaf

Samantha’s parents had moved to the town of Newton, Massachusetts, shortly before she was born. It wasn’t long before they realized that their new little girl could not hear and was totally deaf. In order to “talk” to her, they decided to learn the language of the deaf. The language is called ASL and stands for American Sign Language. Instead of speaking with your tongue and lips, the deaf use their hands and fingers, along with facial expressions to speak to each other. Using your hands to talk is called “signing.”

Imagine being born into a silent world where you could not hear someone tell you, “I love you.” You would not be able to hear the sound of laughter or music, or the sounds of birds singing in the trees. Even though you could see, smell and touch things around you, everything would be completely quiet! Those of us who can hear find this hard to imagine, but this is what it was like for Samantha.

How happy her parents would have been if a doctor could have restored Samantha’s hearing! Our one and only Great Physician, the Lord Jesus, healed many deaf people when He walked on this earth. People were so amazed that they said, “He hath done all things well: He maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak” (Mark 7:37).

Even though Samantha’s parents could hear, like you and I can hear, they wanted to be able to share things with their daughter. This is why many people that can hear learn ASL. It takes a lot of time, effort and memorizing, but it is worth it! In fact, 9 out of 10 children who are born deaf are born to parents that can hear. It is very important for the parents and children to learn ASL as soon as possible.

Samantha was a friendly, outgoing girl. When her parents would take her for a walk around town, the neighbors were drawn to her friendly smile and wanted to talk with her. But they were discouraged because they didn’t understand her language, even though Samantha tried hard to communicate with them. What could be done about it?

A few neighbors decided to learn ASL so they could “talk” to Samantha in her language. Others heard of it and decided they wanted to learn it too — until 40 neighbors were learning Samantha’s language! What an amazing act of compassion and kindness these neighbors showed for a little girl who could not hear! No one could question that they loved her and cared about her!

Samantha was so happy! Now she had many people to “talk” with. One of the first things she “signed” to them was the word “friend.” Because her neighbors wanted to learn her language, it made her look forward to her classes in sign language. She was very eager to learn!

Jesus also used the word “friend.” He said to His followers, “I have called you friends” (John 15:15), and He also called one of those that hated Him and wanted to kill Him “friend” (Matthew 26:50).

There are many verses in God’s Word that speak of kindness and love. We are told to love one another and to treat each other with love and respect. Here is a good verse for all of us to remember. “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous” (1 Peter 3:8). Do others around us see our love for each other?

Memory Verse:

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”John 15:13

Messages of God’s Love 8/30/2020

The Ox Knows His Owner

Farmer Goodrich took me with him when he went out to call his bull in from the field. When we came to the pasture, there wasn’t a bull or any other animal in sight. It was a very long stretch of pasture, going downhill for quite a distance, and at the bottom was a lot of brush and small trees.

With a high-pitched voice, Mr. Goodrich began making the strangest moo calls that I have ever heard. He mooooooed over and over again. Seemingly out of nowhere, out of the brush and up the hill, a large bull and two cows came running. They came right to Mr. Goodrich as though they were saying, “Here we are. What do you want?”

Not being from the country, this was all quite interesting to me. As I watched, it reminded me of a verse from the Bible that says, “The ox [knows] his owner, and the ass his master’s crib [stall]” (Isaiah 1:3). Watching the animals obey as they came running to their master’s call was a lesson for me.

And you know, boys and girls, the Lord Jesus is calling to you. What is He saying? Just simply, “Come unto Me.” COME TO ME! Have you come to Jesus? Do you know Him? If you haven’t come to Him yet, won’t you listen to His voice and come right now? Just tell Him that you have heard Him say, “Come unto Me,” and that you want to come to Him to have your sins washed away. Won’t you do that right now?

“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Messages of God’s Love 8/30/2020

Wonders of God's Creation: How Many Bones in Your Body?

Fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are Thy works.” Psalm 139:14

Your body has more than 200 bones (not counting teeth). You may think your bones are hard and solid, but they contain about 25% water and 30% organic matter, plus important minerals such as phosphate, magnesium, iron and salts. Bones form the framework of your body, storing these minerals and distributing them in just the right amounts to help keep every part of your body healthy.

Your bones also have blood vessels, nerves and marrow inside of them — all extremely important. Many of these bones are quite porous to keep them light yet still strong. What a wonderful designer and provider our Creator is!

The pituitary gland, located at the base of the skull, controls the growth of the bones as well as other organs and functions in the body. Without its controlling hormones, one arm might be longer than the other, legs would not match, and fingers and toes would grow to different sizes and lengths.

Did you ever stop to think that your hand, with its nineteen bones, is far superior to the “hands” of animals or birds? Your four, flexible fingers and thumb make it possible to firmly grasp, pull or push objects and to operate mechanical and musical instruments. Just think how your eight wrist bones provide strength and enable you to bend your hands backward, forward or sideways. And how wonderful the thumb is! Just try tying a knot or using a hammer, a saw, a needle or a pair of scissors without it.

Your feet are another display of the Creator’s wisdom. Ankle bones extend backward to form the heel, while others go forward to make the sole and toes. This arrangement helps you to keep your balance. The arch of your foot, which is flexible and strong, absorbs the pounding that takes place when walking or running. If it were not designed this way, the rest of your body could not stand the shock. Incidentally, the muscles in your back also automatically keep you in balance, but if your back, legs and feet were not provided with proper bones, you would not be able to stand at all.

These are just a few of the ways our bodies remind us of how the Lord God has provided for us. The psalmist said, “How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!” (Psalm 139:17).

Our thoughts toward the Lord Jesus should certainly be full of thanksgiving. It was His great love that made Him die on the cross so that, through faith in Him, we might have our sins forgiven. The invitation to us is, “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker” (Psalm 95:6). Have you ever stopped to think of His great love and thanked Him for it?

Messages of God’s Love 8/30/2020

Pretty Kitty in Prison

Robby got his new cat on a Saturday. Her name was Pretty Kitty. She was a big gray cat with a white stomach and white paws. And she was a good mouser! (That means she was really good at
catching mice.)

The family needed a cat like that because the old house they had just moved into had not been lived in for five years — except by mice. A few snakes had made their nests under the house too, along with a family of skunks.

That same day Robby’s dad and uncle crawled under the house to check the plumbing and to clean out any creatures living under there. When the men had finished their work, they crawled back out and then sealed up all the openings to be sure no more snakes, skunks or mice could get in.

In the afternoon, Robby couldn’t find his new cat. “She likely ran away,” said his dad. “Full-grown cats are often unhappy to move from the home where they are used to living.”

And she didn’t come back all day Sunday or Monday.

Monday evening Robby was still thinking about Pretty Kitty. Dad was busy laying a new floor in the kitchen. Half of the new boards were laid, and the old boards were loosened, ready to take out. Mom had made good beef stew, and the family sat down right on the floor to enjoy a picnic-style supper.

Before they gave thanks for the food, Robby said, “We could ask the Lord Jesus to make Pretty Kitty come back home,
couldn’t we?”

“Yes we could,” said Dad. “God says, ‘Ask, and ye shall receive’” (John 16:24). So they all prayed together for Pretty Kitty. No sooner had Dad said, “Amen,” than they heard a faint “meow.”

“Where did that ‘meow’ come from?” asked Robby excitedly. “It sounds like it came from right under us.” Robby jumped up and lifted one of the loose floor boards. There was a hole under it just big enough to put his hand through. He got some beef stew on his hand and wiggled his fingers under the floor. Pretty Kitty came over to that good smell, and she soon squeezed through the hole into the kitchen. She had gone under the house when the men were working, but she hadn’t followed them out, so she had been sealed into the crawl space for three days and needed someone to help her escape.

Being sinners, we do things that are wrong. Just as Pretty Kitty got sealed under the floor, our sins seal us into the darkness of evil. But the Lord Jesus can bring us out into the light. He said, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). And when He brings us into the light, He feeds us too, for He is “the living bread which came down from heaven” (John 6:51).

Pretty Kitty needed freedom and food, and we do too! We need freedom from our sins, and God can give it to us because Christ died on the cross for sins. When our sins have been washed away in Jesus’ precious blood, we need food from the Bible to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We can have that food by reading the Word of God, the Bible, every day. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).

Pretty Kitty was very anxious to get out from under the house and have something to eat. Are you anxious to be set free from your sins and to learn about the Savior from the Bible?

Messages of God’s Love 9/6/2020

School Friends

When I was in high school, I often studied in the cafeteria before classes started. One morning while sitting alone at one of the tables, Ed, a student friend, sat down beside me. Right away he started asking me questions about how to be saved. He knew that I carried a small Bible with me.

I was happy to read several verses to him. I started with Acts 16:30-31: “What must I do to be saved? ... Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Then I read Romans 10:9: “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

While Ed carefully listened to those and other Bible verses, four or five other students known to both of us came over. They began teasing Ed and even tried to distract him by stuffing some prickly holly leaves down his back. Undisturbed, Ed listened closely as I explained the way of salvation as plainly as I could. Tears filled his eyes, not from the prickly holly, but as a result of God’s Holy Spirit working in Ed, showing him that he was a sinner and that he needed a Savior. He soon saw that it was only the Lord Jesus Christ and His work on the cross that could give him salvation. He understood and accepted God’s love in giving His Son as the Savior for sinners — for Ed himself. Now he had passed from Satan’s darkness into the light of God’s love and grace. Ed’s face lit up with a smile, and his tormentors left.

The first period bell rang, but Ed had already heard the gospel bell just a few minutes before. He was now saved from his sins, and he had a new life in Christ Jesus.

Boys and girls, let me ask you a question. Have you heard the good news that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15)? Will you meet Ed and me in heaven along with all the others who have accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior? Have you admitted to God from your heart that you are a sinner and told Him that you want your sins washed away in the precious blood of Christ? That simple step in faith is all that is needed. Won’t you do it now?

Messages of God’s Love 9/6/2020

Wonders of God's Creation: Kaibab Squirrels Are Different

“God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind ... and God saw that it was good.”Genesis 1:25

Some time ago we considered some of the squirrels, including the ground and flying species, but we don’t want to overlook the unusual Kaibab squirrels. These live on the bluffs overlooking the Grand Canyon of Arizona.

The Kaibabs, or tassel-eared squirrels, have some features and habits quite different from those in other parts of North America. Their unusually long hair provides pretty coloring and warmth. Their faces and ears are black, speckled with white, and they have a deep-red band running the length of their brown backs and almost pure-white tails.

These squirrels have been called “prisoners of geography.” This is because the areas surrounding them for miles are mostly desert, and the deep Grand Canyon with the Colorado River running through it all form natural boundaries that keep them in an area from which they cannot escape, nor can other squirrels come to join them. But the Creator had His own purpose in keeping them separate and has well provided for their every need.

There are an estimated 20,000 Kaibab squirrels, making their homes in the pretty pine forests growing on the northern rim of the canyon, high above the river. Visitors enjoy watching them scramble about the trees and tall grass.

Their diet includes twigs, pinecone seeds, mushrooms, toadstools and other fungi, as well as plants and other seeds. Someone watching closely estimated that one squirrel alone seemed to eat about a thousand pinecone seeds (which are very small) in one day.

These particular squirrels don’t store food for winter as most other squirrels do, but during the winter months they find nourishment in chewing the tender ends of new growth on pine tree branches. Another reliable winter food for them is a fungus that grows on the roots of the trees and is easily found when a squirrel scrapes away the ever-present layer of fallen leaves and pine needles. This fungus satisfies their hunger with its good taste and rich nourishment.

The Creator has wisely provided these little animals with an instinct to move to a different territory every year or so. Thus a region that has fed great numbers of them is given time to renew its particular section of forest.

Thousands of visitors go to the Grand Canyon every season, and those touring the north rim find much pleasure in discovering the pretty pine trees sheltering such great numbers of these cute little squirrels. We hope many of the visitors realize that, besides the magnificent Grand Canyon, the little Kaibab squirrels living there are another example of the wonders of God’s creation!

Messages of God’s Love 9/6/2020

The Forest Fire Story

BAD NEWS! After a long, hot summer with very little rain, the radio crackled its report: “Forest fire near Chalk River, Ontario!”

Mr. Clookie wasted no time! In two minutes he had his truck loaded with spades and flamethrowers and 20 young men from the forestry station. They roared down the highway in the direction of the thin column of smoke.

They might have included a jug or two of drinking water, but Mr. Clookie was not very considerate of his men. As they rounded a corner, all the equipment slid one way, and on the next corner, it all slid the other way. His men jumped nimbly from side to side to save their bones, while he stepped on the gas.

The column of smoke spread into an ugly gray wall before them, colored with leaping flames. When the truck stopped, the men went instantly to work. Using flamethrowers to start a long, new line of fire, they beat their fire toward the oncoming flames in hopes that the two fires would meet and burn each other out for lack of fuel.

It was an excellent plan, BUT IT DIDN’T WORK!

The oncoming flames leaped over the burn-out area where they were working, trapping the 20 men in a ring of fire and blinding smoke with no exit in sight. Mr. Clookie quickly moved the truck to a safe distance.

You have never been in such a position, have you? Be careful! You are in that very position right now if you are a sinner still in your sins, because “our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29). Please stop and think of this before you read any more of this story.

For the trapped men, there was one way of escape, and only one. One of the men found that the ring of fire was not closed in one spot only! He didn’t need a second invitation — he quickly stepped out to safety.

What next? He stood there and shouted, “THIS WAY! ... THIS WAY!” with every ounce of strength he had. And as he coughed and shouted and coughed and shouted, one by one the men followed him to safety. Then each joined his coughing shouts to those still trapped, until 19 voices shouted the good news, and the twentieth man came safely through that one way of escape. The fire burned on, but the men were saved — all of them.

Are you listening? Do you hear our call, telling you that we know the One who is the way, the truth and the life? There is no one to save you but Jesus. There is no other way but Him. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6). Why not come to Him right now?

There was no jug of water for those tired, thirsty men to drink from, but they were too thirsty to care. They lay down flat on their stomachs and drank from a pool of standing water nearby. Thankfully, nobody got sick.

If you are saved from God’s judgment against your sins through the precious blood of His only Son who died for you, then we have more good news. He knows that our hearts thirst to know more about that One who gave up His life for us, and He has promised, “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst” (John 4:14). Nothing else will take away that thirst! God’s Word is always true, and we who are drinking of His living water are proving that His promise is true. He gives everlasting life, now and forever. “The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14).

Messages of God’s Love 9/13/2020

Saved Twice Was Not Enough

One day a young boy named Philip was swimming in his wealthy parents’ swimming pool in England. He got into trouble in the water and was struggling to keep from drowning. He would have gone under if it had not been for Alex, the gardener’s son, who heard his cries for help. Alex jumped in and rescued Philip. The boy’s parents were so grateful they asked the gardener and his wife how they could repay their son Alex. The parents said that Alex wished desperately that he could have an education, because he very much wanted to become a doctor. Philip’s grateful family arranged for Alex to continue his education. As the years passed, the young man did indeed become a doctor.

Philip also grew up and became an important figure in politics. But one day he lay critically ill in a hospital. No medicine helped, and it seemed he would certainly die. Dr. Alex was called in. He and a fellow researcher had just discovered an amazing substance that was powerful in curing certain cases of the same illness. Dr. Alex prescribed this medicine to the sick man. To the amazement and relief of everyone, Philip recovered. He said to Dr. Alex, “It is not often that a man’s life has been saved twice by the same person!”

But saved twice was not enough. Dr. Alex had saved Philip’s life twice, but he could not save Alex’s soul. While the body will sooner or later die, decay and disappear, the soul will live on to spend eternity in one of two places — with Christ in heaven or to be separated from God and lost forever.

The Lord Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Every one of us must make the decision to accept or reject what Christ has done for us. He died in our place on the cross as the sin bearer, and all we have to do is come to Him, confessing that we are sinners and want Him to forgive our sins and save us. Will you believe the gracious words He spoke when He said, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no [way] cast out” (John 6:37)?

We hope Philip came to Jesus and had the experience of being saved three times — twice by Alex in this life on earth and once by Jesus for everlasting life
in heaven.

Messages of God’s Love 9/13/2020

Wonders of God's Creation: A Living Bomb

“God made ... everything that creepeth upon the earth after his kind.” Genesis 1:25

A strange beetle called the bombardier beetle baffles scientists. It bombs its enemies with a bad-smelling, boiling-hot fluid that it shoots out by an explosion inside its body. Scientists know what chemicals make up this fluid, but they cannot figure out how the beetle controls its exploding.

The bombardier has two chambers inside its body where the chemicals it manufactures are stored. It also has another part where it mixes them. Before mixing, it adds a third chemical called an “inhibitor.” This mixes with the first two chemicals to keep them from exploding. These mixed chemicals are stored in its body until needed.

As long as the inhibitor is present, the “bomb” cannot go off. But this little insect, in one of the many wonders of God’s creation, can “explode” this bomb whenever it wants. The beetle makes sure it is in front of its enemy. Then it forces the chemical mixture into a final chamber where a liquid from another part of its body is present. This liquid overcomes, or inactivates, the inhibitor, causing the whole mixture to explode with a definite “bang.” It is discharged through a special nozzle in this chamber with considerable force. It either kills its enemy or chases it away. It is so well equipped with ammunition that it can explode this mixture 10 to 20 times before running out. Then, within a day, its tanks refill.

How did this beetle get its storage tanks? When did it learn about making the chemicals and how to mix them without blowing up itself? Who taught it how to make the explosion at the right time? Could we believe the theory of some who claim that these things just happened? Or could we believe that the beetle added one part at a time over millions of years? No. Such teaching is not only unreasonable, but it is also contrary to God’s Word, the Bible. It can easily be seen that any bombardier beetle that did not have all its functions working together correctly would destroy itself before it could make necessary changes.

The Lord God, the divine Creator, designed the bombardier beetle and made it complete with its amazing features when He first placed it on the earth. Scripture tells us, “Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He” (Psalm 135:6). All His wonderful works show the pleasure He had in creating them. The many varieties also show us His unlimited power and wisdom.

But we should pay attention to another Bible verse that says, “Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding” (Psalm 119:73). When the Lord God made mankind, He had a special purpose in mind. It is His delight to give understanding to every person concerning His love. God gives everlasting life to all who love His Son and trust in Him as the Savior of sinners.

Messages of God’s Love 9/13/2020

Almost Swept Out to Sea!

It was a beautiful sunny day in summer so Meg and Lil headed for the beach. The salmon fishing season was over and boats were being painted, repaired and stored for the next season. On this lovely afternoon, the beach was mostly deserted. The sun shining on the water made it look like sparkling diamonds, so Meg and Lil thought it would be fun to row to the other side of the creek and back again. Meg’s father’s punt was stored on the beach. (A punt is a deep, sturdy rowboat used by fishermen to ferry nets, supplies and fish between their boats and the shore.) The girls had just hauled the punt to the water’s edge when a fisherman came by. He told the girls that the tide had turned and that a strong current was running out into the bay. He warned the girls that it would be dangerous to row then.

No doubt many of our young readers have been to the beach and built a beautiful sand castle only to have the tide come in and wash it all away. The tide by your favorite beach may only vary a few feet or so, but the tide in the Bay of Fundy where Meg and Lil lived varied 26 feet! (Ask your parents to give you some idea of how high that is. It is probably higher than your house!)

At high tide, the creek would be full of water, and at low tide there would be no water at all. Only the fishing boats would be sitting in the mud! The creek looked pretty full of water to Meg and Lil, so they thought they surely had time for a little row. They started to row across, but when they got out into the channel, the pull of the receding tide was so strong they couldn’t cross it. It turned the punt and started pulling them out to sea. They realized too late that they should have obeyed the kind warning of the fisherman.

The Bible also warns us that the love of the things of this world will take us far from God: “Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts” (Hebrews 4:7). Another verse says, “Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live” (Isaiah 55:3). “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). Are you one of His sheep? If not, come to Jesus today. He doesn’t want you to perish but to turn to Him and be saved.

Meg and Lil knew they would be in serious trouble in a small rowboat out in the middle of the bay. They pulled on the oars with all their strength and managed to break out of the current and turn back toward the beach. Trembling and thankful, they pulled the punt back up onto the beach where they found it.

The Lord was watching over them that day in spite of their foolish actions. The Lord is watching over you, too, and is sending you this message. He wants to deliver you from a lost eternity. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Memory Verse:

“Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live.”Isaiah 55:3

Messages of God’s Love 9/20/2020

Bows' New Home

Emily was really concerned. This was the third day of watching the little stray dog wander around her neighborhood. It was also the third day in a row of very cold weather. Emily decided she just had to bring that poor little dog inside.

It wasn’t much of a job to catch the dog, as he was just as eager to get inside as Emily was to bring him into the house. But what a shock she got when she picked him up! His fur was dirty, tangled and full of burrs. The dog could not stay in Emily’s house in that condition, so she carried him to the basement and headed for the laundry tub.

It took plenty of soap and warm water and a sharp pair of scissors before the dog was clean and free of burrs. As Emily finished up, she was surprised to see that he was a white dog, rather than the dirty brown one she had carried in.

Each one of us was at one time wandering around in need of someone to save us, just like this dirty, ragged little dog. That Someone we need is the Lord Jesus Christ who loves us. The little dog needed a good bath, and our hearts need to be washed clean of sin. First John 1:7 tells us, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Without that clean heart, we never would be fit for His home in heaven.

When Emily saw that he was a white dog, she remembered that the school crossing guard at the corner had told her that one of the school boys had lost a white dog. Emily waited until she knew the children would be getting out of school. Then she walked down to the corner to talk to the guard about the dog. The guard spotted the boy who had lost his dog, but when they talked to him, he said he had found his dog earlier that week.

Poor Emily, she had been so sure that the little white dog belonged to that boy — now she had to decide what to do with the dog. She lived with her brother Joe, and while she walked home, she decided she would talk to him about what she should do with the dog. Maybe he could come up with an idea.

Well, it didn’t take Joe long to make a decision: “We’ll keep him.” And that’s just what they did. Emily tied a big bow around the neck of the little white dog to celebrate that he was now part of the family. Then Joe suggested, “Let’s call him Bows!”

How very kind of Emily and Joe to give Bows a home and take good care of him and love the little dog! Have you ever thought of God’s kindness and love in preparing a home for those who have accepted His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as their Savior? “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3). “I go to prepare a place for you. ... I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3). In love, God sent the Lord Jesus Christ to die on the cross to make a way for us to become part of His family and be accepted in His home in heaven. Are you part of His family and on your way to His home? You are if you have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior!

Messages of God’s Love 9/20/2020

Wonders of God's Creation: The Snail Kite

“He [sends] the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. ... By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation.”Psalm 104:10-12

Although snail kites are found in Cuba and parts of South America, the only place in North America where they are found is in Florida, on the shores of Lake Okeechobee and a few other freshwater marshes. These birds are part of the hawk family and are an endangered species. They were first given the name Everglade kite, but the more descriptive name of snail kite was eventually substituted as their eating habits were discovered.

These birds look much like crows; all feathers are slate black with their wings having a bluish sheen. Tails have a white band with white underparts. Their only other coloring is orange-red on their legs and feet, facial skin, and orange-red eyes with black pupils.

They usually make very crude nests in driftwood and twigs, where the female lays two or three light-gray eggs, speckled with dark-brown spots. Occasionally nests are also made in tall reeds at the water’s edge. Because these birds are rare, in some areas bird watchers have provided nesting spots in large wire containers, a foot or so off the ground, where eggs can be laid. Chicks hatched in these are in less danger from snakes and other creatures that would harm them.

The female’s feathers are lighter in color than her mate’s, helping her to be more concealed from enemies. This is a kind provision of the Creator, giving her protection when unable to defend herself while sitting on the nest.

The snail kite’s unusual name comes from its main food source — a freshwater snail, with the uncommon name “apple snail,” that is abundant in certain lakes and marshes.

You may wonder if they eat the snails shells and all. No. The Creator has provided them with strong, hooked beaks. The sharp upper half has just the right curve to reach inside the snail shell. After lifting the snail out of the water, the kite slides its beak inside the shell far enough to cut the muscle that anchors the snail to its home. In just a few seconds, the bird has swallowed a tasty treat or perhaps it will carry it back to its nest.

Adult birds usually eat only snails and may eat fifty in one day. However, if they have a poor snail catch, they may substitute small turtles, snakes, fish or large insects.

These birds, like all others, are a part of the Lord God’s wondrous creation, and He watches over them with loving care. But His love for you and me is much greater, as He has declared: “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3). Have you thanked Him for His loving-kindness to you?

Messages of God’s Love 9/20/2020

The Missing Lunch Box

“Mrs. Garcia, I can’t find my lunch box,” said little Lilianna to her kindergarten teacher. “What do you mean you can’t find it?” asked her teacher. “Did you look in your cubby where you put it this morning when you came to school?” “Yes, Mrs. Garcia, but it’s not there!” Mrs. Garcia went over to the cubby where Lilianna’s things were kept. Lilianna was right—her lunch was not there. “Well,” said Mrs. Garcia to the sad little girl, “let’s go up and down all the rows of desks where the children are eating their lunches, and you tell me if you see yours. Perhaps someone took yours by mistake.”

So, Lilianna and her teacher went together ... up and down the rows of 26 desks, carefully looking at each lunchbox. She asked Lilianna to look very carefully and tell her if she recognized her own. “No, no, no.” After the last “no” it was an even more unhappy Lilianna who realized she had no lunch to eat!

Lilianna and her teacher went back to the cubbies, and yes, there was one lunch box left, but it was not in Liliana’s cubby. Mrs. Garcia turned to the class and asked them all to look up and see if they recognized it. No one claimed it. “Well,” said Mrs. Garcia, “I have no idea what happened to your lunch box, but since this one is left, you just eat what is in it today so you have some lunch, okay?”

So Lilianna went to her desk with the lunch box that was not hers and opened it. The first thing she picked up was a sandwich, so she took it out of the wrapper and started to eat it. But wait ... what was this sandwich made of? She took it apart and saw that it only had a strange green paste on the bread ... spinach paste! Yuck! No wonder the real owner didn’t want to eat their own sandwich! They must have figured any other lunch would be better than this one!

Lilianna and her teacher never did find out who had taken her lunch that day. Years later when Lilianna was telling the story, she was laughing. It sounded very funny now, but it wasn’t at all funny then!

Children, whoever took Lilianna’s lunch box that day did a good job of hiding it and they got to eat a much better lunch than their own. They seemed to get away with it, didn’t they? But did they really? There is a Bible verse found in Genesis 16:13 that says, “Thou God seest me.” Another verse says, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). Yes, children, God was watching that day, and He saw exactly what happened. Every one of us will have to answer to God for stealing, lies, cheating and other sins that we do. But we have very good news! The Lord Jesus died on the cross for all those sins, and they can all be taken away because of the precious blood He gave to wash away all our sins. If you haven’t done so yet, why not make this the day you accept Him as your Savior? Not only does He want to be your Savior, but He wants to be your very best Friend too!

O be careful little hands what you do,

For the Father up above is looking down in love,

So, be careful little hands what you do.

Memory Verse: “O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou ... art acquainted with all my ways.” Psalm 139:1,3

Messages of God’s Love 9/27/2020

Our New Pet

“Come see our new pet,” we say to our friends, and then we show them our large, plastic owl with big, life-like eyes. This new “pet” at our house has a strange purpose. You see, large owls are natural enemies of crows. So this plastic owl is supposed to scare crows away from the area and to keep them from building a nest in our tall pine tree. The strange thing is that it really works!

Of course, God cares about crows as much as all the other birds, so we must treat them kindly. God tells us in Matthew 10:29, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father [knowing].” If God cares that much about all the little sparrows, just think of how much He cares and loves boys and girls and wants them to be saved! He assures each one of us in Luke 12:7, “Ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

When my husband first put the plastic owl outside, there was a crow nearby. He was a very curious crow. He jumped up to the top of a nearby roof and scrambled along the top edge until he came to the point nearest to where the owl was being placed. The crow scolded my husband over and over again, wagging his head back and forth. He seemed to be telling us that he did not like our new pet, and he began to alert all the crows in the area. We could see them flying away, high in the sky.

After an hour or two, we bring the plastic owl inside and then wait a day or two before we put it out again. But in the meantime, if we see a crow hanging around, the plastic owl goes back outside to send the crow on its way. We say the owl is worth its weight in gold, because it is doing a good job of fooling the crows and scaring them off, even though it isn’t a real owl.

Are some of you boys and girls fooling your parents or Sunday school teacher into thinking that you have accepted the Lord Jesus as your Savior when you really haven’t? Deep down in your heart, you know if you are only pretending, and the Lord Jesus knows too. If you have not told Him that you are a sinner and that you want Him to wash away your sins in His precious blood, then you aren’t really saved at all. You are just like our plastic owl—a fake!

Our owl is fooling the crows for the time being, but eventually the crows will figure out that it isn’t real. And if you are fooling people into thinking that you belong to the Lord Jesus, eventually your parents, friends and Sunday school teacher will find out that you are only pretending. But the Lord Jesus already knows what’s in your heart. He tells us in John 10:27-28. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” Boys and girls who have accepted Him as their Savior want to follow Him and please Him.

Are you truly saved? Or are you pretending?

Messages of God’s Love 9/27/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Human Brain - Part 1

"Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?" Job 38:36

Every part of the human body is a remarkable example of God's handiwork, but the three-pound brain is the most marvelous part of all. Because the brain is so important, the Creator designed a fluid cushion around it and then further protects it with a strong, one-quarter-inch-thick skull. Our brain is the most amazing of all the wonders of the world, and no one fully understands how it functions. Within its small space, it can hold more information than all the books in the largest library in the world.

Nearly every action of the body is connected with the brain. You cannot wiggle your toe until the nerve center in your brain sends out the right signal, nor can you read and understand this page without the brain's amazing processing system. The brain is something like an electrical control center. Various parts of the body continually send information to the brain which then makes the proper connections. Immediately, messages are sent to the brain cells responsible for whatever job is needed. From the billions of nerve fibers available, that section of the brain picks out the right ones to do whatever is required.

Suppose you have something in one of your eyes. Immediately a message is sent to the brain. The part of the brain that controls the eyes immediately goes to work, sending electrical messages to the proper nerve fibers. Some of these then send instructions to the tear glands of the eye to supply moisture for washing out the speck, and another message goes to the eyelids to blink when the tears flow.

How about when you get a plate of food? Cells in your brain send a message to your eyes to look at it. More brain cells tell you to pick up a knife and fork. Others make your arm carry the food to your mouth, and still others instruct your mouth to accept the food and chew it. There is no delay in this process, and you don't even have to think about it.

When you are born, you have about one hundred billion brain cells. Scientists now believe that more neurons are formed throughout your life. Only God could design all this equipment to fit into such a small space and arrange for its functioning throughout a person's lifetime. We should thank Him often for the wonderful and amazing way He has created each of us! The words of King David are good words for us to say as well: "Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn Thy commandments" (Psalm 119:73).

(to be continued)

Messages of God’s Love 9/27/2020

I Knew You'd Come

In the wilderness of northern Canada where large fir trees grow thick and the winds howl on winter nights, there were two cabins in the woods about a mile apart. In the two cabins lived two nine-year-old boys, one named Jean and the other named Pierre. Jean's mother and father were Christians, and Jean, too, had accepted the Lord Jesus as his own Savior when he was younger. They read the Bible together each morning after breakfast and prayed around their big table. Pierre only had his father, as his mother had left some years before. Pierre's father had never asked the Lord Jesus to be his Savior, and he would often come home drunk. As you can see, Pierre's little home was not as happy as Jean's. However, the two boys were good friends since there was no other family for miles around.

One afternoon in early spring, Jean walked the mile-long path through the woods to Pierre's cabin. He knocked on the door, but there was no answer. "Pierre?" he called, giving the door a little push. It opened, but no one was inside. So Jean thought he would just wait in the cabin for his friend to come home...it probably wouldn't be long.

The afternoon hours went by quickly as Jean played in the cabin. Finally, he looked up at the window and was surprised to see the sun already low behind the fir trees. The March wind blew hard through the cracks between the logs, and the boy shivered. When he pulled at the door, he could feel the force of the wind push it wide open.

Jean stepped outside, wondering if he should walk home alone in the dusk. His father had often warned him not to go out after dark alone. Cougars and lynx roamed that part of the woods looking for food. As he stood there deciding what to do, he heard a rustling in the bushes at the edge of the clearing. He looked and saw two cougars pacing there...watching him! Tears of panic filled his eyes as he quickly ran back into the cabin and pushed the door shut behind him. However, to add to his terror, he found the door latch had loosened and the door would not close tightly. He leaned up against it and prayed to his Savior, the Lord Jesus, that He would save him from these wild animals.

Do you know Jean's Savior? He says in the Bible, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee" (Psalm 50:15).

As bad as poor Jean's situation was, there is a worse danger in store for anyone who still has not accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior. That danger is an awful place called hell, where all who do not have their sins forgiven will spend eternity. Turn to the Savior to have your sins forgiven right now—before it is too late!

Just down the path from where this was happening, Jean's father was returning home from checking a trap line. Coming to the clearing of the first cabin, he thought he heard a boy crying. "That's strange," he thought. "Why would Pierre's father have left him alone?" He passed the clearing to go on his way home when something made him go back—something was not right.

Coming to the clearing once more, Jean's father gasped when he saw two hungry cougars, one circling the cabin and one with his paw on the door, ready to push it open with his powerful foreleg. The startled man grabbed his shotgun and aimed at the one by the door. With one shot the cougar fell backwards, dead. The other, confused and furious, ran circles around its mate and then charged Jean's father. Again, a shot rang out through the woods, and the second cougar fell heavily against the man, knocking him down. But Jean's father was not hurt, and he thanked the Lord Jesus for helping him to kill both animals with only two shots. Now he rushed to the cabin. His heart froze—there was his own son bursting through the doorway!

The next moment the man was hugging his own little boy as Jean's arms wrapped around his father's neck. Who can tell the thoughts in that father's heart when he discovered that it was not Pierre, but his own Jean whom he had saved.

"Thank God I came!" he said.

"Daddy, I knew you'd come," his son replied, still trembling.

How wonderful is the faith and trust of a little child. May we have that kind of faith as well—the faith that calls on God and waits for Him! Any who have put their trust in Him will never be disappointed.

Being just a boy, Jean could not understand how much his father loved him. We cannot understand how much God loves us, either. But we do know that He loves us so much that He sent His only Son into this world to die to save us and bring us home to Himself. He is going to fill heaven with sons and daughters who have accepted His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as their Savior. He wants us there so He can shower His love on us for all eternity.

This may be your last chance to accept the gospel. The Lord Jesus is coming soon, and punishment is near for those who refuse God's salvation. Satan, as a roaring lion, is going about seeking those he may devour. The Lord Jesus is still willing and able to save any who call to Him. "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13).

Memory verse: “He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him.” Psalm 91:15+

Messages of God’s Love 10/4/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: More About the Brain - Part 2

"God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7

The brain has three main parts. The cerebrum is the largest one. It is divided into two halves and is connected by two to three hundred million nerve fibers. Most of its surface is deeply folded so that its approximately four hundred square inches can fit into a small space at the top of the head. The cerebrum contains what is commonly called "gray matter." This is where the brain receives messages from various parts of the body and distributes them to the proper cells.

There are "silent" areas in the front part of the cerebrum which do not connect to body parts. This is where thinking, affection, pity, knowledge, memory and other non-active processes are generated.

Another part of the brain is the cerebellum, which is under the back part of the cerebrum. Here is where control is maintained over the body's muscles. Also from this part of the brain, the skills of a musician, doctor, artist, athlete and other voluntary physical activities originate.

The third section is known as the medulla oblongata. It is shaped like a bulb at the top of the spinal column. This is where control is maintained over involuntary actions—breathing, heartbeat, blood circulation, digestion and other vital body processes. This is also the area that regulates emergency action such as fright, running, fighting or any activity that places a strain on the heart or lungs.

The brain is connected to the all-important spinal cord and is protected by the skull. The skull has been designed with a large hole at its base which fits snugly to the top of the spine. Through this hole, the nerve cord descends from the brain to reach all vital parts of the body. The Creator has seen to it that they are all well protected.

How does the brain produce thoughts? What actually is the mind? No one knows except the One who has created us. The brain is certainly a superb creation with no supervision needed on our part to keep it functioning.

But, sadly, we do not always use our brains as we should. The prophet Jeremiah declared: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). However, if we know the Lord Jesus as our Savior, He has given us a new nature and He loves to see our hearts and minds using that nature to please Him by walking in right paths.

"Teach me Thy way, O Lord; I will walk in Thy truth: unite my heart to fear Thy name" (Psalm 86:11) is a good daily prayer.

Messages of God’s Love 10/4/2020

God's Wonderful Light

Have you ever been in a very dark place where it would be dangerous to take even one step without first getting a light? I have! It was a cave, deep under the earth, where I was taking a tour with a group of other people. We all had lights with us. But once we got very deep down under the earth, where no light from the sun could reach us, our guide told us to turn off our flashlights. The darkness was so thick that I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face! I could also hear running water, and I knew I could fall into it if I tried to walk. It was so nice when our guide told us to turn our flashlights back on!

Do you like to be in a dark room where everything is a mess? I don’t. When you can’t see where you’re going in such a place, it would be easy to get hurt, just like in that cave I visited. Long ago, this whole world was completely covered with darkness and it was a terrible mess. Water covered the whole surface of the land. Nothing could live here. There were no people, no beautiful trees, no houses, no animals. But God, who is very good, came to this chaotic place and began a very good work. What is the first thing you would do in such a place? I know I would want to turn on a light! And the very first thing God did for this messed-up earth was to say, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). God is so powerful that He only has to say something, and whatever He says, happens! The next part of that sentence in the Bible says, “And there was light.” Now that God had made light, there was one good thing in this big messy world. God saw that light and saw that it was good. Light is a good thing, isn’t it? When it is dark outside and the sun comes up in the morning, it’s like a big light gets turned on, and you can see things clearly again. We all should say “thank you” to God every day for this first good thing that He made!

After this, God divided between light and darkness. That way, half of the 24-hour day would be light. He called that part Day. And half of the day would be dark, and He called that Night. God didn’t want His good gift of light to mix with darkness. That wouldn’t make sense, would it? Then there wouldn’t be any clear light at all!

There are people and places in this world that are in a certain kind of darkness, because they don’t want God. If you are a Christian, God wants to keep you safe from things that belong to that dark part of the world that is far from God. He wants you to stay close to Him, so that you can be safe and happy in His good light, because He loves you so much.

But He also loves those people who are in darkness, and so He wants you to shine for Him if you know Him. You can be like a light in the darkness if you tell others about Jesus. Then maybe they will want to live in God’s wonderful light too!

Memory verse: “Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.” Ephesians 5:8

Messages of God’s Love 10/11/2020

Caught by the Bait

The spot where we were camping in Oregon was delightful! The rugged coastline with its rocky cliffs and little tide pools, filling with water as each wave crashed against the shore, lured me out early every morning. There were so many unusual shells to collect and interesting things to watch.

As I made my way along the rocky ledges, the sea gulls would swoop and dive and squawk at me. But this morning one of the gulls didn’t fly away as I approached. As I came nearer I could see it was flapping its wings but didn’t take off. It wasn’t until I was right beside it that I saw a trickle of blood running down from its beak and a fishing line coming from its mouth into the water. A fisherman must have left his fishing rod unattended. The gull had swallowed the bait, and the bait had a hook inside that caught in the gull’s mouth. When it tried to free itself, the rod slipped into the water and caught on submerged rocks.

How many times Satan sets out attractive bait and we get caught. For bait to work, it must always look like something good to the animal the trapper wants to catch. Satan is a master trapper. He’s been working at it ever since he trapped Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. There’s no way we can outsmart him. He knows just what bait will attract us and lure us into sin, and he never lets us see the hook hidden inside the bait. The only way we can be safe is to be kept by the power of God. We must trust the Lord Jesus first to wash away our sins, and then to keep us from Satan’s baits.

I tried to take the hook out of the gull’s mouth, but it started pecking and fighting me. “If you keep biting me like that, I’m just going to leave you here to die,” I told the gull.

The Lord Jesus tries to show us His love in many ways so He can save us from our sins, but if we keep fighting against Him, someday He may stop trying to win our hearts to Himself. He tells us that “now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Finally, I was able to get the hook out, and then I lifted the bird up onto a big rock, but he just sat there. Maybe he’s too weak now to fly, I thought sadly. It kept looking out to sea and then looking back at me. I reached up and gently smoothed its feathers. It wasn’t frightened of me now. As I continued to pet the bird, it actually seemed to appreciate it.

Then another sea gull came. It circled above us several times. Then it gave a loud cry, and the injured gull stretched its wings and followed the one who had called it.

As I stood there gazing after the two birds, it made me think of that day when our Lord Jesus is going to “descend [come down] from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

Are you ready for when He comes? Are your sins washed away so that you will be included? Or will you be left behind?

Messages of God’s Love 10/11/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: Pretty but Deadly!

“Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11

The sea anemone, living on the bottom of the ocean in certain places, is not a plant but an unusual sea animal. It can move slowly, but it usually anchors itself to a rock and stays there. Its "flowers," though pretty, are equipped with tiny poisonous threads that wrap around the unfortunate fish that swims too close. These poisonous threads paralyze the fish, and then the tentacles slowly drag the fish into the anemone’s hidden mouth, which means the end of the fish.

But there are a few fish that are not bothered by the anemone and can swim around its tentacles without fear. These fish eat the pieces of fish that fall out of the anemone's mouth, as well as catching other little fish that come close to the anemone before it can catch them.

One of the fish immune to the poison of the anemone is the little clown fish, a very pretty, brightly-colored fish decorated with a few wide white stripes. When not eating, it often snuggles down for a rest on the colorful tentacles of the sea anemone, which don't affect it.

Another fish that is immune to the sea anemone's poison is the damselfish, which is a favorite food of some larger fish. When pursued, the damselfish will dash into the "petals" of the anemone. It has been known to even dive through the anemone's mouth into its stomach without any harm and soon finds its way back out. No one can explain how it can do this without being killed, but it is an amazing example of the Creator's ways with what He has created. The Bible says of the Creator, "All things are possible unto Thee" (Mark 14:36).

Messages of God’s Love 10/11/2020

Easton's Hero

Five-year-old Easton was very excited and could hardly wait to go to school the next day. It would be “Dress as Your Favorite Person Day,” and there was no question in his mind who he wanted to dress like!

The school that Easton went to had hired an armed security guard, and Easton admired him from the very first day that he met him. When the children asked him why he carried a gun, he told them that it was to protect them from anything that would try to hurt them.

The first day that Easton met Officer Cross, he came home and told his mother, “Officer Cross keeps us safe from the bad guys, Mommy. He makes me feel safe.” Officer Cross not only loves his job, but he also loves the children, giving them high-fives and hugs. Easton considered him his hero and so he wanted to dress just like him.

With his mother’s help, Easton was able to dress like a miniature version of Officer Cross. He proudly wore a bright yellow shirt just like his hero’s, only instead of “SECURITY,” Easton’s said “JUNIOR SECURITY.”

Easton was delighted with his look-alike outfit and couldn’t wait to get to his school on the special day. Officer Cross was waiting outside when the children arrived, and when he saw Easton’s outfit, he instantly knew what it meant. Officer Cross was thrilled and touched, and he said, “Just the fact that he shows his appreciation, and he hugs me when he sees me every morning – it really makes my day.”

Easton and Officer Cross made sure that they had their picture taken together. They both stood straight and tall, and, along with the yellow shirts, they wore big smiles on their faces! Easton loves Officer Cross very much! Clearly, Easton also trusts him and does not hesitate to show his appreciation and admiration for him. He is happy to tell anyone who will listen to him about his protector and friend!

The Bible tells us of One who is the greatest Protector of all. His name is Jesus and He is the Son of God. Jesus says of His sheep (those who trust in Him), “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one” (John 10:28-30). Boys and girls, this is the best security that anyone could possibly have!

When we come to Jesus in faith, we know from these verses that we have eternal life. We cannot see the Lord Jesus like Easton could see Officer Cross. But we can still open our hearts to Jesus in prayer and trust in Him. He died on the cross and shed His precious blood for our sins. When we are sorry for our sins and trust in the work that Jesus did on the cross to pay for them, we become one of Jesus’ sheep. Then no one, not even Satan, can take away our salvation or our place in heaven! Jesus is our strong protector!

Memory Verse: “Then said Jesus ... I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.” John 10:7-8

Messages of God’s Love 10/18/2020

The Bag of Candy

John had just come home from the store where he had bought a bag of delicious candy. How good it looked! He popped one in his mouth, then set the bag on the kitchen table and ran outside to play.

Soon John's little brother, Steve, came into the kitchen. He saw the bag sitting on the table. He looked inside the bag and then looked around to see if anyone was watching. Nope, there was no one around. He quickly took the bag to his bedroom and closed the door.

Now, where will I eat it? he wondered. Then he had an idea. He crawled under the bed covers and started eating the candy.

Boys and girls, do you know that there is One who is watching you every minute? There is no place you can go where you can hide from God, not even under the bed covers! The Bible says, "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good" (Proverbs 15:3). Have you ever taken any candy that wasn't yours or maybe some money or something else from your brother or sister? Or maybe it was a cookie out of the cookie jar. Perhaps no one else knows about that secret sin. But the Lord Jesus knows about it. And it makes Him sad when you sin, but He still loves you. He wants you to confess to Him that you are a sinner and, if you aren’t yet His child, to believe that He took the punishment on the cross for all of your sins.

Soon John came back into the kitchen from playing and noticed his bag of candy was gone. He looked around for it and then yelled, "Hey, where's my candy?"

His mother came into the kitchen, and they both began looking around for the missing bag. She happened to notice that Steve's bedroom door was closed. She decided to check it out.

She knocked and then went into the room with John right behind her. What do you think they saw? A great big bump under the bed covers! Pulling back the covers, she found a very guilty-looking little boy. "Be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23).

Steve gave back what was left of the candy, then he had to be punished for stealing.

The Bible says that "stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he [knows] not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell" (Proverbs 9:17-18). Your sins will take you to hell unless you come to Jesus and confess to Him that you are a sinner and let Him wash your sins away. "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many" (Hebrews 9:27-28).

Will you come to Jesus right now?

Messages of God’s Love 10/18/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: The So-Called Flying Lemur - Part 1

"These wait all upon Thee; that Thou mayest give them their meat in due season. That Thou givest them they gather: Thou openest Thine hand, they are filled with good." Psalm 104:27-28.

Although called a flying lemur, the cat-sized animal we will learn about today is not really part of the lemur family, but is properly called a colugo. It lives in the forests of southeast Asia where it spends most of its life high in the trees. It is a pretty animal with brownish gray fur, or light brown spotted with white. As the Creator has done for so many animals and birds, the colugo has been provided with good coloring for concealment in the trees.

Colugos are night workers. Resting in daylight, some curl up in holes in tree trunks, and others hang from branches or big palm leaves, gripping them firmly with sharp, curved claws. They never seem to have to drink water, securing all the moisture they need either from their food or by licking rainwater from leaves.

The colugo has a long tail and, like some monkeys, it can curl it tightly around a tree limb so it can use both hands while eating leaves or fruit, or it keeps it safe while asleep.

This is the largest of all "flying" mammals. Its long, slender, flexible underbody is covered by loose skin that stretches tight when its legs are spread apart, providing a flat, kite-like area. In this way they travel from tree to tree, gliding swiftly as much as 200 feet. Of course, they cannot actually fly, but they appear to as they make frequent trips between trees. In gliding they always land lower on the tree they are going to than the point from which they take off. Since they have to be able to climb trunks and cling to branches, the Creator has given them strong legs and sharp claws.

While gliding through the air, the colugo's tail acts as a rudder as it leans its body from one side to another to keep a true course. When preparing to land, its tail lifts high, acting as a brake; at the same time, it raises the front of its body so it comes in for a perfect landing.

Females have just one baby a year. A short while after birth the baby learns to cling to the soft silky fur under its mother's stomach and to hang on tightly, upside down, when she glides between trees.

These rather cute animals live in a warm climate and do not need to store food as some others do. They seem happy, rarely fighting, innocently unaware of the way their Creator, the Lord God, cares for them. But boys and girls, as well as adults, are taught in the Bible that He is the loving provider to us of every good and perfect gift. Above all, He has given the gift of the Lord Jesus as Savior to any who will believe on Him. Animals cannot give thanks, but we have no excuse for not doing so, as the Bible verse says: "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20). It is good to remember to give thanks to God!

To be continued

Messages of God’s Love 10/18/2020

A Daring Rescue

Have you ever been camping alone in the wilderness ... real wilderness, with no one else around for miles? Robert was a young man who chose to live alone in the wilds of northern British Columbia in Canada for several years. He lived in a small cabin while he panned for gold, trying to earn enough money to go to college.

One morning he set out for a walk to the nearby creek. As he walked along, Robert's ear caught the sound of distressed moans. He headed toward the sound, which came from an area of dangerous quicksand. There he found a moose hopelessly stuck in the slimy mud. She was still alive, but only her head and shoulders were above the muck, and she was exhausted from struggling. It would be only a short time before she disappeared under the quicksand that was sucking her down.

This moose was in real trouble, and she knew it. Sometimes we boys and girls and grown-ups do not know that we are sinking in something more serious than quicksand. Our problem is hopeless too, for "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). We need a Savior just as the moose needed someone to save her.

Robert loved animals. The moose is one of the largest and strongest animals in the forest, but even a moose cannot get out of quicksand. Robert knew what he had to do to save her.

He turned and ran back to his cabin for a strong rope. He lassoed the moose around her neck and tied the other end of the rope to a tree. Then he cut a thick branch to use to twist the rope between the moose and the tree. Each time he turned the branch it would shorten the rope and tug on the moose. As the rope tightened around the moose's neck, she kicked and rolled and splashed. Robert continued to twist the rope, and finally the moose had one foot on solid ground. His idea was working, and eventually the muddy giant was free again.

A moose can weigh up to 1,000 pounds, and Robert was not a big man. The rescue had cost him a great deal of effort, as well as getting him rather muddy. But to be able to offer boys and girls salvation from their sins, the Lord Jesus had to die. Without the Lord Jesus, we all will die, because we cannot pay for our own sins. “When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6). He had to go to the cross of Calvary and shed His blood to pay for our sins. "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).

If the Lord Jesus has rescued you from your sins, have you ever thanked Him for what He did? The moose certainly was not thankful to Robert for her rescue. When she felt firm ground under her feet, she snorted and charged at him, for she was a very angry moose. Robert expected this since she could not understand that he had saved her life.

However, Robert's job was not finished. The rope was still around the moose's neck and around the tree. How was Robert going to get that rope off a very angry moose?

Staying a little farther away then the length of the rope, Robert ran in circles around the tree. As the moose ran after him, the rope wound around the tree and got shorter and shorter. Suddenly the moose was jerked to a stop because all of the rope was wrapped around the tree! She had been running so fast that she actually crashed against the tree and fell down. Now she was more frightened than angry. Quickly Robert ran to the moose and cut the rope off her neck. The moose loped off into the woods free, but still not understanding what had happened.

Robert's love of wild animals made him feel that it was worth all his efforts, even though he had risked his life. The moose was only an animal and could not understand what had happened, nor could it thank him. But it is sad to see children who know the Lord Jesus as their Savior go off in their own way when they know that He has died to save them. He loves to hear us thank Him and wants us to live for Him. "He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again" (2 Corinthians 5:15).

Is the Lord Jesus your Savior? Have you thanked Him, and are you living to please Him?

MEMORY VERSE: “He died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again" (2 Corinthians 5:15).

Messages of God’s Love 10/25/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation True Flying (Gliding) Lemurs of Australia (Part 2)

"Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created." Revelation 4:11.

In the previous issue we learned of an interesting animal in southeast Asia, incorrectly named the flying lemur, because it is not a lemur at all. It is correctly called a colugo.

Australia is the home of most of the true flying (gliding) lemurs of which there are at least five varieties. These are, for the most part, cute little animals with soft, pretty fur.

The largest of the lemurs (three feet long) is called the greater glider. These are usually golden brown or cinnamon-red set off with a pretty white throat and underparts. Its inquisitive face is topped with widespread ears and large brown eyes. It has a pink button nose and a long furry tail with a feather-duster tip. The tail acts as a rudder as the lemur spreads its legs and glides through the air—steering and keeping it on course. It glides from one tree to another—sometimes as much as 300 feet, dodging branches along the way. Like pandas, they mostly eat leaves from certain eucalyptus trees.

The feather-tailed glider is the smallest of all of the lemurs. It has only about a three-inch body and a tail of the same length. This little fellow is very tidy and keeps itself clean by wetting its hands to clean its snout, ears and whole face with long strokes. Whiskers are cleaned by sliding them through its moistened hands. All of the members of the feather-tailed group, both large and small, take long rest periods during the hottest time of the year, living off accumulated fat in their tails.

Another small lemur is called the yellow-bellied glider. It is interesting because of the bubbly whistling noise it makes while gliding through the air.

In addition, there are the sugar and squirrel gliders, neatly clothed in gray fur edged in white with black on their underparts. They are very active gliders, but cannot glide as far as the "greater" species. Both the sugar and squirrel lemurs live primarily on nectar found in eucalyptus blossoms, which they lick out with their tongues. However, they like other food, too, including large and small insects and fruits.

Some animals, like the sloth, are extremely lazy and do not keep themselves clean. Others, like the wolverine, have mean tempers and like to ruin people's property and make a terrible mess of it. It almost seems as if they insult the One who created and cares for them. But these lively lemurs, with good habits and clean ways, cause us to think of the Lord God's special pleasure in creating and watching over them, as the above Bible verse expresses so well. We can take pleasure, too, in seeing the wise and loving hand of the Creator in all He has done and is doing.

Another group of lemurs will be discussed in the next issue.

Messages of God’s Love 10/25/2020

A Wild Ride in a Storm

Some years ago, Southern California was hit with strong rain storms caused by high winds coming in off the ocean. These came, one closely following the other, until a total of thirteen inches of rain had fallen.

One of the areas that received the greatest damage was the Santa Monica mountains and adjoining districts. These border the Pacific Ocean northwest of Los Angeles. Here steep canyons, which are usually dry or have just a quiet stream flowing through them, became raging torrents, wiping out roads, destroying whole communities, individual homes and cars. Worst of all, 24 lives were lost, mostly in these mud and debris-filled raging streams. It would seem that God was reminding people how weak and helpless they really are and that the things of this world are not going to last forever.

As the fury of the storm increased, one resident, Joshua Patlack, concerned about the water eroding the bank below his home, decided to do something about it. Knowing his ordinary clothing would immediately become soaking wet in the rain, he put on a wet suit (a wool-lined, waterproof suit worn by skin divers and surfboarders). Approaching the edge of the violent stream, he discovered a big log which was backing the water up toward his house. He and a friend worked to loosen the log to clear the area. Just as their efforts were successful and the log floated free again, Josh lost his footing and fell into the raging stream.

Grabbing the log they had worked so hard to free, he hung on for dear life! He was able to scramble onto it and was taken on a wild ride down the canyon, eventually ending up in the Pacific Ocean. Josh, who had gotten bruised and scraped in his wild ride, was still alive and thankful to have the log to hang onto.

Meanwhile, his friend immediately contacted the police and Coast Guard and told them about Josh's accident. Through the rest of the afternoon, search and rescue teams flew over the area, but they were unable to find any sign of Josh. When darkness came, the search was called off.

This story reminds me of people who refuse Christ, wishing to force any thought of Him out of their lives, just as Josh wanted to move the log to get rid of it. But just as the discarded log was the means of saving Josh's life, so many have found the Lord Jesus Christ ready and willing to save them.

Through the long night Josh hung onto that log. Although he was a strong swimmer, he knew that only by hanging onto the log was he going to survive.

As morning came, the rescue flights started again, but with little hope of finding him. They followed the trail of debris that had washed from the canyon far out into the ocean. Finally, nearly 17 hours after he fell into the stream, Josh was spotted by a helicopter crew and lifted to safety.

Josh's survival was due to the wet suit he wore that kept him warm and the log that kept him afloat. There is a terrible storm of judgment that will soon fall on this sinful world. Before this storm comes, the Savior is going to call to heaven all who trust in Him. Are you prepared? Do you have on the right "garment"? If you are not clothed with the garment of salvation (see Isaiah 61:10) and are not standing on the Rock, which is Christ (see 1 Corinthians 10:4), then you are not prepared to meet God. Don't wait any longer! Accept the Lord Jesus now as your own Savior.

"Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts" (Hebrews 4:7).

"Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Memory Verse: “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord ... for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation.” Isaiah 61:10

Messages of God’s Love 11/1/2020

The Unusual Juice

Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were a long way from home visiting Mrs. Taylor’s brother, Brent, and his family. One day, Brent suggested that they go visit the historic downtown a little way from their home. There were all sorts of interesting shops in that town. One shop had different kinds of soaps, while another one had quite a variety of candy. Almost anything sweet you could wish for was in that store!

As they walked along the old cobblestone road and were about to enter another fascinating shop, Mr. Taylor was stopped by a lady outside the store and was handed a pretty little bottle-shaped foil package—quite small but prettily decorated with flowers. “Here is a sample of some juice,” said the lady, or so Mr. Taylor thought.

Mr. Taylor went into the store and found his wife and handed her the little foil bottle. “Here is a sample of some juice a lady handed to me, so I thought I would give it to you,” he told his wife.

“Oh thank you! What a neat idea! I have never seen samples handed out this way before,” said Mrs. Taylor as she opened the package. She squeezed some of the contents on her tongue and right away noticed how thick it was. Then she smacked her lips trying to figure out the taste. “Oh!” she suddenly cried out. “This tastes like lotion!” Right away she found a Kleenex and spit out the rest of what was in her mouth. Her brother Brent saw the whole episode and laughed and laughed! Once the lotion was out of Mrs. Taylor’s mouth, they all ended up having a good laugh.

Children, this story reminds me of something I heard years ago. Now first let me tell you that Mr. Taylor loves his wife very much and it was an honest mistake. But someone once said that Satan likes to give us a delicious-looking slice of cake with a little piece of glass hidden in it. Do you understand what that means? It means that there are many things you see in this world that look like lots of fun, but, in reality, they are very harmful for you. The activity might look really fun, but wait! Does it please the Lord Jesus? The Bible talks of the “pleasures of sin for a season” in Hebrews 11:25. In this verse, the Lord is telling us that there are activities and other things that really could be fun but in the end are very harmful for you to do.

Children, you have been bought with a price—the precious blood of Christ! You belong to Him and He has a right to tell you what to do and what not to do. And, like Mr. Taylor loves his wife, Jesus loves you very much. Unlike Mr. Taylor, He will never make a mistake and will never cause you harm by what He tells you to do. You can trust Him!

Messages of God’s Love 11/1/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: More About Lemurs Part 3

"Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth?" Jeremiah 23:24.

The interesting animals we will learn about today are found only in the deep forests of Madagascar and are not the same as those called flying lemurs in Australia, discussed in our last issue.

The species from Madagascar comes in a variety of sizes, the largest being the indri which has a two-foot-long body with a stubby tail. The smallest is the mouse lemur, just four inches or so, plus a tail of the same length. It weighs only about two ounces and could easily be mistaken for a mouse.

Another large one is the red-ruffed, which is slightly smaller than the indri. Its silky fur is a rich reddish-orange with contrasting white patches, black face, hands and feet. Its life is spent high in the trees, walking along the branches and making unusually great leaps between trees. The red-ruffed mother parks her little one on a branch while she looks for food, but other lemur mothers take their little ones with them, clinging tightly to her fur as she travels.

The mongoose lemur, about half the size of the indri, is a pretty combination of white, tan and gray and has unusually strong, flexible hands for gripping branches. The brown, about the same size except for a longer tail, is brown all over except for its black face and tail.

One that breaks the rules and spends most of its time on the ground is the ring-tailed variety, getting its name because of its long full tail, boldly marked with black and white rings.

Most varieties have slender bodies and narrow, pointed snouts with eyes that can see on the darkest night. Leaves of trees, fruit, berries, insects, flowers, bark and tree gum represent the average food choices of these appealing animals.

For safety, all lemurs go after their food at night and, as mentioned, God has given them extra-special night vision to take care of this. If they could ever stop to think about it, no doubt they would consider themselves to be well hidden and difficult to see. But there is One who sees them as well in the dark as in the daylight—the One who is their Creator and of whom it is said: "Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee." Psalm 139:12.

They have no way of knowing they are always looked on by One who cares for them. But we know from the Bible that the Lord God not only always sees us, but is "beholding the evil and the good" (Proverbs 15:3). This should make us stop to think about what our behavior means to Him at all times, and to ask His help in finding more ways to please Him.

Messages of God’s Love 11/1/2020

Trapped!

Mr. McCain was in trouble! He kept some of the equipment for his cleaning business in a storage unit. One morning he went to this unit to get some things that he needed for work. As he approached the gate, he put in a code that opened it and drove to his unit. But when he came back to the gate on his way out, instead of the sensor realizing he was there and opening the gate . . . nothing happened!

Mr. McCain got out of his van and shook the gate, but it wouldn’t move. Then he climbed over the gate and put in the code he had used to get in. Still, the gate would not open!

It was only 8:00 in the morning, and he knew the office wouldn’t open for another hour. So he decided to walk over to the office to see if there was a sign that gave him a number to call. It was only the number for the closed office, but he decided to call it anyway. As he listened to the end of the recorded message, he heard a cell phone number given to use in case of an emergency. Mr. McCain called this number, but no one answered. He waited about 3 minutes and called again. This time he got a text message: “I can’t talk right now!” Oh great, he thought to himself. Then he decided to call again so the lady would know this was fairly urgent.

Finally, she answered. Mr. McCain told her the situation he was in. The news she told him was not good! She explained to him that she was at the airport and was about to get on a plane! The thought of leaving his van on the other side of the gate until the lady got back from her trip didn’t make Mr. McCain feel very happy. It seemed that his van was trapped!

Children, do you understand that you are also trapped? The Bible tells us we are born in sin, and so we all need a Savior who can rescue us! The Lord Jesus is that Savior. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). Thankfully, God never sends us a message saying He can’t listen to our prayers right now or that He is too busy! First of all, we need to call upon Him to be saved from being trapped in our sins. The good news is that “whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). Once we are saved, there are many other verses in the Bible that encourage us to call on Him and promise that He will answer us: “Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live” (Psalm 116:2). The Lord Jesus is so happy when we call to Him! He loves to hear our voices and answer our needs.

Getting back to Mr. McCain ... the lady said she would make a quick call to the girl who was supposed to come in at 9:00. She would encourage her to come as soon as possible and let Mr. McCain out. Disappointed, he got ready to wait for a while. He had just gotten back in his van when the lady called back again—she had had an idea! She asked him to once again enter his code and see if that worked to lift up the gate. IT DID! Soon Mr. McCain was on his way and so thankful to be on the other side of that gate!

Children, will you make today be the day you call to the Lord Jesus? He is waiting to hear you right now!

MEMORY VERSE: “Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee.” Psalm 86:5

Messages of God’s Love 11/8/2020

Mike Couldn't Swim!

One hot summer day, Peter and Mike took a raft and headed for their favorite water hole. It was a pond that had been formed by damming part of a curve of a river. There had been a lot of rain and the pond was full. Peter and Mike weren't concerned about anything as they shoved off from shore to explore the pond. They were having a great time out in the middle of the pond, when suddenly they realized they could not control their raft. The rain-swollen river had overflowed the dam, and the pond, they now realized, was part of the swollen, rushing river. The current was carrying their raft away from their friendly pond to the danger of a flooded river! Children, do you know that if you have not accepted the Lord Jesus as your Savior, you are in danger far worse than Peter and Mike? We are getting very close to the time when the Lord Jesus will come to take those who love Him safely home to heaven. The Bible warns that the people left here in the world will be carried into a period of time that will become terrible and difficult, far worse than anything this world has ever seen.

Peter realized they could not pole their raft back to shore because of the strong current. Their only way back to shore was to swim. He said, "Mike, we gotta swim for shore or we'll never make it!" and then dove into the water to swim with all his might.

Peter did not know it, but Mike could not swim! Mike knew he would soon be in real trouble if he stayed on the raft, but he also knew he could easily drown if he jumped off. What a decision Mike had to make! He decided to jump off the raft.

As the water closed over his head and the current dragged him to the bottom of the pond, he was sure he was going to drown. But when he touched bottom, he knew which way to head for the shore. It was not far away, so he frantically crawled along the bottom of the pond as fast as he could.

Peter swam safely to shore. He did not know where Mike was, but as he crawled out of the water, Mike crawled out about the same time. Peter thought Mike had been swimming to shore just as he had!

Mike did not tell Peter for many years what had really happened. There are boys and girls just like Mike who don't want their parents or friends to know that they have never really accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior. They sing the songs at Sunday school and they say their prayers at night, but they have never trusted the Lord Jesus to wash away their sins.

Mike had a choice to reach safety—ride the raft or jump off. Both choices were dangerous. But there is only one way to go to heaven, and it is completely safe. The Lord Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man [comes] unto the Father, but by Me" (John 14:6). Won't you come to that loving Father today, by believing that the Lord Jesus suffered for your sins on the cross? "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13).

Messages of God’s Love 11/8/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Tailless Chimpanzee

"The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof." Psalm 50:1

Chimpanzees (which are usually called chimps) are members of the ape family, which also includes gorillas and orangutans, all living in central Africa. Almost all zoos have some chimps, and sometimes they teach them clever tricks to amuse visitors.

In the rain forests they communicate by grunts, hoots and calls, sometimes so loud they can be heard more than a mile away. They usually band together in groups of 40 or more. Old males sleep alone at night, but join the groups in the daily search for fruit and other food. All like to groom one another, sometimes kissing and holding hands. When they are friendly, they grin with their teeth covered by their lips, but when they are angry, their lips are pressed tightly together.

Chimps have small, round heads topped with large ears. Faces, ears, hands and feet are a bare pink, but the rest of their body is covered with thick, dark-brown hair. Mature chimps are two to four feet tall and weigh from 50 to well over 100 pounds. Some live as long as 40 years.

They can stand upright for only a very short time. When they walk they drop down on all fours, stooping over with their arms dropping to the ground with closed fists. This is in contrast to human beings with whom standing or walking in an erect, upright position was established when they were created by the Lord God. Chimps and gorillas may look somewhat like humans, but there is no relationship at all. Each was created in its own pattern. Mankind alone was given "a living soul," which goes on into eternity.

Mother chimps have just one baby at a time, and so are able to give it lots of attention. While she moves from place to place, the baby clings to her back or sometimes hangs underneath, grasping the hair on her stomach. The little ones play, climb trees and wrestle with one another while the mothers are busy.

When large amounts of food are available, a group may invite others to join them by loud barking. Groups often work together, and farmers find it difficult to keep them out of their orchards because chimps always post a sentry to warn when anyone approaches.

The loving care of the Creator for these and all creatures is so nicely stated in the Bible verses: "O Lord, Thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is Thy loving-kindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings" (Psalm 36:6-7).

As these verses indicate, although He cares for all creatures, it is only mankind that can know His love and His goodness which not only provide for daily needs, but have given us a Savior. If we place our trust in Him, we are assured of an eternity in heaven. Have you placed your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ?

Messages of God’s Love 11/8/2020

Ouch!

Brook and her best friend Jenna had just finished a picnic lunch on the back porch of Jenna’s house. It was a breezy, bright summer day and they were trying to think of new things to do in the spacious yard. They were tired of the swings and the jungle gym, but they were supposed to stay around the house until Brook’s mother came to pick her up. Close to the back fence, Brook noticed a perfect climbing tree. How could she have missed it before? Tall and shady, the tree stood with low, level branches that seemed to beckon the girls invitingly as if to say, “Come and climb up here!” Brook was the first one to grab the lowest branch and hoist herself up into the tree. By the time she was on the next level up, Jenna, who was at her heels on a lower branch, heard a loud cry of pain from her friend.

“This tree is full of thorns, Jenna! Why didn’t you tell me? I think my hand is bleeding!” sobbed Brook.

“Oh no! I didn’t know it had thorns...I’ve never tried to climb it before,” said Jenna sympathetically. “Let’s get down carefully and go get a Band-Aid.”

Did you ever wonder why some plants, even beautiful ones, like roses, have thorns? Maybe you have tried to pick a flower that you thought would help make a nice bouquet for someone but got pricked with a thorn instead. The Bible explains why there are thorns and thistles on many growing things. The third chapter of Genesis tells the story of how the first man, Adam, and his wife, Eve, brought sorrow into a world that had been perfect, by disobeying God’s command. Because of this first sin, they would have to work hard to grow plants from the ground because it was now cursed, and weeds and thorns would make the work of growing food very difficult!

As beautiful as the creation is, we are reminded almost every day of the fact that sin has marred it, not only affecting plants and animals, but every one of us as well. Just like Adam and Eve, we all have come short of the glory of God by saying and doing things that God calls sin, things we are ashamed of. And just like the thorn that hurt Brook, sin hurts us and reminds us that we live in a world that is far from the perfect one God made.

Back to the girls in our story ... now the trick was to get down and out of the tree without getting another painful prick by a nasty thorn. You can imagine how slowly and carefully Brook lowered herself to the next branch below. But now it was Jenna’s turn to cry out as she also tried to descend...there was a ripping sound as Jenna’s shirt sleeve tore on another thorn that also scraped her arm. Now she was caught by the thorn pulling at her shirt! Carefully, Brook got her balance and gently loosened her friend’s shirt from the sharp thorn.

Since we are all “caught” by the same sin nature we inherited from Adam and Eve, we are not able to really help anyone else get freed from sin. But we can tell them about the One who can truly free us from sin’s awful consequences. That One is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, who wore a crown of thorns for you and me and suffered the shame and agony of the cross when He took our sins upon Himself over 2000 years ago. He did this because of His great love for us!

“Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24).

Memory Verse: “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

Messages of God’s Love 11/15/2020

Mike Takes Off

Four-year-old Mike overheard his mother tell Patty, his older sister, that there was money on the table to buy some hot dogs. "Will you please run to the store for me?" she asked. "Daddy will be home in an hour, and I haven't started dinner yet."

Mike thought to himself, I know where the store is. I can do it. So he took the money from the table and ran off all alone. He really thought that he was doing the right thing and was happy that he could be Mother's helper.

It had been warm when Mike had played outside earlier in the day. But now the wind was growing stronger, and as he walked and skipped to the store he started getting cold.

Mike was only gone a few minutes when Mother wondered where he was. She went all through the house calling and looking for him. "Mike, Mike!" she called out the door several times. Then she asked Patty to look around for him before she went to the store. She called him too, but there was no answer. No one had seen Mike leave, so no one knew where he was. Mother was worried. Where could he have gone? She decided to call the police.

"Are you lost, little boy?" a gentle voice asked Mike.

He looked up into the face of a kind lady and started to cry. "I can't find my mommy," he sobbed, "and I'm cold."

The lady picked up little Mike and held him securely as she walked down the street to the nearest phone. She called the police and told them about Mike. They thought he was probably the same little boy that they were looking for. Soon a police car came to take Mike home, and it was not long until he was safe with his parents again.

The first thing Mike said when he got home was, "Look, Mommy, I got the hot dogs!" Sure enough, he had brought a bag home with him, and in it was a package of hot dogs and the change from the money.

Now Mother figured out what he had done. "Couldn't you find your way home?" Mother asked holding him tightly.

"No, I couldn't find our street, and I walked and walked," explained Mike.

Poor Mike. He had turned the wrong direction after coming out of the store. He had been going the wrong way! Mike had been lost. He had walked on and on, trying to find his own way home, but couldn't. He needed someone to help him, to show him the way. The lady who found him knew just what to do to get Mike back home.

The Bible tells us that "the Son of Man [the Lord Jesus Christ] is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). It also tells us that we have all turned to our own way. Each of us is a sinner and going away from God. We are lost and cannot find our own way back to Him. It is sin that keeps us away. We are lost—lost in sin.

But God sent His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into the world to save the lost. God says you need a Savior. Little Mike admitted that he was lost. We know he was glad to accept the kind lady's help. He did not tell her to go away or say that he would find his own way home. Will you admit that you are lost and accept the Lord Jesus as your Savior? God cannot accept you with your sins, but the Lord Jesus Christ shed His blood to wash away sins. Accept Him as your Savior, so that when this life is over, He will take you to His home in heaven forever.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

Messages of God’s Love 11/15/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Fierce-Looking Lobster

"Behold, God is great, and we know Him not. ... Behold, He spreadeth His light upon [the earth], and covereth the bottom of the sea." Job 36:26,30.

Lobsters are weird-looking creatures of the sea which are easily recognized by their armor plate, big flat tail, spindly legs and immense pincers. Dark colored (they don't turn red until cooked), they blend in with the ocean floor. Eyes, with thousands of facets, are on top of two stalks, and two wire-like antennae that detect food or danger extend in front of them. Their brain is only the size of the head of a pin! They do not have ears, but listen through the sensitive hairs on their legs.

Five pairs of legs carry on most of the work. The first pair are also enormous pinchers which look too big for their body. The heavy crusher and cutters of these are for defense, but also are used to crush shells of clams, oysters and other shellfish to get at the meaty parts. The large tail has four pairs of swimmerets, providing power for swimming or scooting away backwards when frightened.

Male lobsters are cranky and hostile. It is not unusual for them to lose a claw or leg, which amazingly grows back eventually, but until then the lobster looks lopsided.

A lobster never stops growing and reaches 35 pounds or more if it lives long enough. But its armor-like shell doesn't grow with it. Every summer all parts of the shell break open; the occupant then slowly backs out and discards it. Without its shell it is defenseless and hides under a rock or piece of seaweed while its body swells about one-third larger. Then a shell begins to develop again, and before long it ventures out in its new suit of armor.

The female lays thousands of eggs each year, carrying them safely under her large tail for several weeks before releasing them. Hatching from its egg about a year later, each larva floats around in the ocean currents, sometimes traveling great distances before changing into a two-inch transparent body without a shell. It is then very vulnerable to attack by other sea creatures that are looking for such tender morsels. If it escapes all of them and grows to maturity, then it may become a victim of a lobster trap and wind up on someone's supper table.

The result is that not many have a chance of growing up. No doubt this is why the Creator provided the female with the ability to produce so many eggs. Those that manage to escape all the hazards can live as many as 50 years, but few do.

Some might think God would not be concerned about lobsters on the ocean floor, but the light of His vision goes even to "the bottom of the sea" (see the above verse), and He does watch over all He has created. Just hear what else the Bible says about this: "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest [visible] in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do" (Hebrews 4:13). This includes each one of us. Have you ever thanked Him for His care over you? But more importantly, have you thanked Him for offering you salvation through faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ?

Messages of God’s Love 11/15/2020

The Great Chicago Fire

It was October 8, 1871. The city of Chicago, Illinois, had not seen much rain in the past three months. It had gotten only one inch since July 4. The city was as dry as a pile of kindling. No one is sure how, but on that fateful day in October a huge fire started. One story says it started in the barn of a lady named Mrs. O’Leary. She had gone to her barn that evening to milk her cow. The cow perhaps kicked the lantern over that she had been holding and the straw caught fire, then the barn, and finally the fire jumped to the shed next to the barn. Because of such dry conditions on top of a strong wind that was blowing that night (Chicago is known as “The Windy City”), the fire spread very rapidly. Most of the houses and buildings at that time in Chicago were made of wood, as well as the sidewalks and roads, so there was good fuel for the fire, to be sure.

Have you ever seen a picture of horse-drawn fire engines? They look quite a bit different than the fire engines we have today, don’t they? At this time they had only 17 of these in Chicago and that was nowhere near enough to fight such a big fire. The wind was so strong that the fire even jumped over the Chicago River two times. Little pieces of burning wood and debris were caught by the wind and carried to tar roofs and other objects, causing the fire to spread farther and farther. Then the pipes that carried the water into the city went dry. People could only run for safety as the city almost all went up in flames.

Thankfully, it started to rain the next evening. There were probably many people praying and asking God to send the rain, don’t you think? Also, the fire had started to slow down a little before the rain began.

In the end they found that the fire had ruined an area over three miles long and about ¾ mile wide. It destroyed many roads, sidewalks, lampposts and buildings. Many people were left homeless and it is thought that as many as three hundred people died because of the fire.

I am sure there were many thankful people who at least still had each other after the fire, but many had lost loved ones, as well as all they owned.

Children, this story makes me think of another terrible fire that is ahead for all who refuse to bow their knees and hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a very sad verse found in the book of Revelation that tells us: “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15). Thankfully, this won’t be where everyone goes, because the Bible tells us in John 3:16 that God loved the world so much, that He gave His only Son to die for us, so that whoever believes on Him will not have to go into that awful fire, but instead will have everlasting life. Yes, God has provided a very simple way so that you can be forgiven of all your sins and be ready to go to heaven when you die. It is by simply receiving God’s wonderful gift of His Son, believing that the Lord Jesus died for you. Oh children! Come to the Lord Jesus right NOW before it is forever too late! He loves you very much and He is waiting for you to come.

Memory verse: “Who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” Luke 3:7

Messages of God’s Love 11/22/2020

The Gate Bit Grandma!

One winter Grandpa and I had the joy of living near our granddaughters in California, far away from our home. The Lord miraculously provided a nice little cottage in that busy state for us to live in. This cottage had a locked gate on its property. Every time I went somewhere I had to unlock and open the gate, drive my car out and then close and lock the gate behind me. One day as I left, I was in more of a hurry than usual and was not paying close attention to what I was doing. That day I was walking in front of the gate, pulling it closed behind me. All of a sudden, the bottom bar of the big, heavy, iron gate bit the back of my heel, really hard! Ouch! Did that hurt! It hurt for days!

I learned right then that never again should I walk in front of that heavy gate, and I learned the lesson well. I never pulled the gate behind me again. From then on, I always pushed the gate in front of me to stay out of harm’s way.

As I drove away in pain, I got thinking about my life as a follower of the Lord Jesus, and I learned an important lesson from the gate incident. We all have enemies that want to ruin our lives if we're not depending on the Lord Jesus to help us and if we’re not watching out for them. One of those enemies is the world, which tempts us with things that seem very desirable and beautiful, but instead are very dangerous. Another enemy is found right inside our own bodies, which the Bible calls the flesh. It has desires that can be very strong, including hatred, lying and anger, which, if we give in to them, will harm our lives. The last enemy is the devil. He is always looking for someone to tempt who isn’t watchful, to make him or her fall into sin. The Word of God warns us to live every moment of every day with a serious and watchful mind, because if we're not careful, these enemies will steal our joy, kill our testimony for Jesus and destroy any fruit we could produce for God's glory. As the Bible tells us about one of those enemies, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

Messages of God’s Love 11/22/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: How Many Moons Are There? - Part 1

“There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars.” 1 Corinthians 15:41

One nice thing about the darkness of night is that the stars can be seen then. Sunshine flooding the land is wonderful to see and enjoy, but you can’t gaze at the sun on a clear day without hurting your eyes. But the beauty of a full moon and the beauty of the stars can be looked at with no harm to the eyes at all. Almost everyone enjoys looking at the loveliness of a bright, full moon rising in the east, often with a radiant glow, crossing the sky and eventually disappearing in the west.

What an awesome, yet beautiful sight rewards the stargazer, and if using a telescope or binoculars, each point of light becomes increasingly more interesting. The psalmist, perhaps lying on his back in a grassy field at night, expressed his wonder at it all, saying, "The heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalm 19:1). This should be the conclusion of anyone who gives serious thought to the beauty of these amazing lights shining through the endless heavens.

The moon at night appears to be the largest object in this display because it is so close to us, but it is actually a very small part of the heavens. However, it is well worth our study, particularly when we learn that God has placed it in exactly the right spot over the earth to be of the greatest benefit to all life on this planet. Not only does it give welcome light at night, but it is also the principal means of producing and controlling ocean tides. Its force (along with wind) keeps the waters in constant motion, supplying oxygen to the oceans' creatures as well as preventing the oceans from becoming stagnant, harmful and foul smelling. How carefully the Creator designed this wonderful arrangement and has kept this balance all the years since He brought it into being! "Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?" (Job 11:7).

Astronauts have visited the moon, walked on it, photographed mountains higher than Mt. Everest, and closely examined craters of long-extinct volcanoes. They found just what was anticipated—a large globe about one-fourth the earth's size, located 238,900 miles away from us, with no life, air, water, grass, trees, rivers, lakes or oceans. As expected, it proved to be a "dead body" in space, but placed by the Lord God in just the exact spot to most benefit the earth.

Thankfully, we do not need a telescope to find the Savior! He has said, "I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me" (Proverbs 8:17). Another Bible verse says, "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near" (Isaiah 55:6). Make sure you have done this while you still can.

Are there other moons? Yes, many, many more. We will look at them in the next issue.

Messages of God’s Love 11/22/2020

The Trail of Sugar

“Ma’am, Ma’am!” There was urgency in the voice that Mrs. Beckett was hearing.

It was Mrs. Beckett’s grocery shopping day. She was at her favorite grocery store, going up and down the aisles getting everything on her list. The aisle with sugar and flour had been one stop. She had been thankful to be able to just pick up the bag of sugar and set it down in the seat where you could place a child. Since her children were all grown up, she could set the sack of sugar there, where it was easier to put a heavier item. Mrs. Beckett had continued up and down a few more aisles. Now she was at the deli. She had just put a rotisserie chicken in her cart when she heard that voice and saw an employee come running towards her looking rather distraught.

“Oh ma’am! Your sugar!” Mrs. Beckett had a questioning look on her face as she looked down at her sack of sugar and wondered what the trouble was. Oh my! Her sack of sugar was emptying out into a little white mountain right under the cart! Apparently, when she had picked up the sack of sugar and placed it in that convenient seat, a piece of metal on the cart had caught the paper bag and torn a little hole in it. Mrs. Beckett didn’t know it, but there was a clear trail of sugar that had followed her wherever she had gone! Up one aisle and down the next all the way to the deli! With embarrassment she gave her torn sack of sugar to the helpful employee, retraced her steps and got a new sack of sugar. This time she was very careful about how she placed that sugar in her cart! Another lady in the sugar aisle laughed about how someone had made a trail of sugar all over the store. Mrs. Beckett just smiled and hoped her face wasn’t too red as she made her way to the register to pay for her purchases.

Children, the most important decision you will ever make in your life is to receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior. But Mrs. Beckett’s embarrassing experience reminds me of something else that is found in a verse in the last book of the Bible called Revelation. The book of Revelation talks about the end of this earth and what will happen on earth and in heaven after the Lord Jesus calls His people up to be with Him forever. Revelation 14:13 mentions something very important that will be true after we die. “Their works do follow them.” This means that after we are in heaven, what we did for the Lord Jesus when we were on earth will still be remembered.

Right now, if all the things you have ever done were made into a trail that all could see, would you be embarrassed, like Mrs. Beckett was about her trail of sugar? Or would you be happy that you tried to please the Lord Jesus during your life, no matter how young or old you are? It’s something worth thinking about, isn’t it?

Memory verse: “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.” Revelation 14:13

Messages of God’s Love 11/29/2020

Ugly Flowers

One day, as I walked down the long driveway near my house, I enjoyed the beautiful flowers growing in a large garden off to the side. There were big pink “hibiscus” flowers, smaller orange Mexican sunflowers, and dainty yellow zinnias, all with different shades of green leaves, on a background of red-brown wood chips. I enjoyed the living bouquet that day as I walked past, but the beauty was not to last long. The next day when I walked past, there were no pretty colors to greet me. All of those flowers, which had been beautiful pink, orange, yellow, and green just the day before, had turned to an ugly brown. The once cheerful-looking plants were now wilted and not pleasant to see. A frost had come in the night.

Just as the frost came to my flowers, death is coming to each of us. The Bible tells us that no matter how full of life and beauty we are now, eventually we will all die. Man’s life is “as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass” (1 Peter 1:24). We don’t know when our time will come. It could be many years from now, or it could be only minutes away.

When you die, will you be ready to face God? If not, the Bible tells us that “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). After we die, God will judge each of us for every sin that we have committed. No one will be able to plead innocent, because we have all sinned (Romans 3:23); your conscience can tell you that. Because God is holy, He cannot ignore our sins and let us into heaven; sin must be punished. God’s punishment for sin is death—not just physical death, but eternal death in the lake of fire. However, because God is loving, He has also provided a way to escape.

God’s way for you to escape judgment was prepared long before you were born when He sent His Son Jesus to die on a cross. Jesus rose from the dead, after taking the punishment for sin, so that now all we have to do is turn to God and away from our sin, accepting the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. If you are not ready to meet God, then now is the time to prepare.

Messages of God’s Love 11/29/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation How Many Moons Are There? - Part 2

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork." Psalm 19:1

Reference to "the planetary system" means the nine heavenly bodies (including our earth) that are grouped around the sun and held in their individual orbits by its great gravitational pull. The sun maintains this control because it is 700 times more massive than all the planets and their moons put together. But it is, of course, the Creator who has arranged this grouping and has kept its force operating since they were first created—"upholding all things by the word of His power" (Hebrews 1:3).

In outer space there are many, many unidentified moons, but it is only those of our planetary system that are familiar to astronomers. In the language of these experts, planets are satellites of the sun, and moons are satellites of the planets.

There are more than 200 moons in our solar system alone, including the moon that is so familiar to us. Most planets have their own moons. Mars has 2, Neptune has 14, Uranus has 27, Jupiter has 79 and Saturn has a total of 82. Earth's moon is just average in size. Some planets’ moons are smaller than Earth's, and some are almost twice as large. Many, like ours, are covered with mountains, plains and valleys. Some look like huge snowballs with icy coverings, while others have volcanoes erupting on them. They are all interesting examples of the wonders of God's creation.

Each moon follows its own orbit, century after century, keeping its exact position over its planet, never crashing into the planet or other moons. But the most extraordinary thing is that some moons circle their planets clockwise and others circle their planets counterclockwise! The planets all orbit around the sun in a counterclockwise direction. Seven planets also rotate on their axis in a counterclockwise direction. But Venus (which, incidentally, does not have a moon) and Uranus rotate on their axis in a clockwise direction.

Most moons travel the same direction as their planets, but not all. Triton—one of Neptune's moons—travels clockwise, but its companion moons travel the opposite way. But strangest of all are the many moons of Jupiter—some move around it in counterclockwise motion, but the others travel the opposite direction! Did the Creator make a mistake? No. If it had been a mistake, they would have crashed into each other long ago. We do not know why He made this interesting arrangement, but we do know He took pleasure in doing so, and that He has each of them under His control. "His work is perfect" (Deuteronomy 32:4).

These marvelous wonders of the heavens should certainly cause the serious thinker to conclude that there is a Master Designer. Are you letting Him be the Guide and Protector of your present life? Have you made Him your Savior to take care of your eternal life? He is worthy of your trust.

Messages of God’s Love 11/29/2020

Hidden by the Lord

Mac Greenly lived in Alaska quite a few years ago. Mac was a new Christian, and he was delighted when the Lord caused him to meet a missionary there by the name of Everett Baker. Not only did Everett love the Lord Jesus and have much of the Word of God memorized, but he also loved to give out gospel tracts. Everett traveled up and down the Yukon and other rivers where the Eskimos had settled. He entered the villages shouting, “Mail, mail, mail from heaven!” and the people gathered and eagerly accepted the tracts he gave them. During the winter months he traveled with his sled and team of dogs over the hard snow, but in the summer, he travelled on the rivers by kayak.

One day Everett asked Mac if he could get him permission to give out tracts on the military base where Mac worked, where at least 2,000 servicemen were stationed.

“Oh, I don’t think so, Everett,” Mac replied. “The base is under such high security all the time that I can’t imagine it would ever be allowed!”

“Would you try?” Everett asked. So, Mac promised he would.

The next day he asked the security officer. “I wouldn’t be able to say anything about that. You’ll have to see the Commander,” he answered. Mac was very nervous, but he went to the Commanding Officer.

“What do you want?” the officer asked roughly.

“I’d like to ask permission for a friend of mine to come to the base and give out gospel tracks to the servicemen,” answered Mac.

“What kind of stuff have you got there?” asked the officer.

Mac showed him a few tracts and he read a couple of them while Mac waited nervously. Then, “I think this would be good for the boys,” he said. What a wonderful answer to prayer!

Mac went off with a happy heart and the next morning, bright and early, he went to Everett’s house to pick him up. Everett brought along his big Husky dog with its saddlebags stuffed full of tracts. Emblazoned on the saddlebags in large gold letters on an orange background were the words, “God is light. 1 John 1:5” on one bag and “God is love. 1 John 4:16” on the other. Mac took Everett to the mess hall, and the last he saw of Everett that morning he was going up the long line of men waiting for their food, talking a little with each one and giving every man a tract that would bring him the message of God’s amazing love that wanted to save them from going to hell.

When Mac had finished his day’s work, he went looking for Everett. He soon found him with his dog, and they all got into his car.

When Mac returned to the base after a happy evening with Everett and his wife, he was instantly surrounded by security officers. “Where’s that man you brought here this morning?” they demanded. “We’ve been looking for him all day! He’s been in every area of the base—even in the highest security hangars. He could have been shot half a dozen times over. What was he doing here anyway?”

Mac gave each of them a couple of tracts. “He was giving these out to the men. The Commanding Officer gave him permission. I didn’t have any trouble finding him with that big dog and those saddlebags with ‘God is light and God is love’ on them in such big, bright letters.” “Oh, go on!” they said.

In Psalm 119:114, King David said of the Lord, “Thou art my hiding place.” Everett Baker could say that too! Children, can you say that the Lord is your hiding place? Do you know Him as your very own Savior and best Friend? If so, then He is your hiding place as well.

Memory verse: “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in Thy word.” Psalm 119:114

Messages of God’s Love 12/6/2020

Tangled in Seaweed

One summer, our Dad was hired to fix up a nice home on a small island. The whole family was invited to stay in the house for a few weeks while he was working on it. This was a real treat for us kids! We enjoyed swimming and boating in the saltwater of the protected bay.

One afternoon, after working hard in the heat, Dad said, “I’m going to swim across the channel and back again.” The channel wasn’t all that wide and Dad was a strong swimmer, so we were not worried about him. We watched him dive in and start swimming toward the mainland.

It wasn’t until he returned, much later than we expected, that we heard his story. When he had gotten about halfway across, his feet got caught in a large bed of seaweed and he wasn’t able to untangle them. The tide was moving out and Dad got very tired trying to kick free and reach the shore.

As he felt himself getting weaker out there in the seaweed, a verse from the Bible suddenly came to his mind: “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them” (Psalm 34:7). “Only the Lord can help me,” he thought.

Right after that, Dad's legs came untangled from the knotted mass of seaweed and he was able to swim the rest of the way across the channel! He was exhausted, and he knew he’d better not try to swim back, so he walked quite a way down the beach to the bridge to cross back over to the island. That explained why it took him so long to return home.

Dad sat down and told the family his story, making sure to give God thanks for helping him out of his trouble. He said that when he arrived at the far shore and looked back, there was a little boat passing through the same spot where he had been tangled up. He was confident they would have rescued him if he had still been there, but it made him happy to think of how the Lord had delivered him as soon as he cried out to Him in his heart.

Dad reminded his family that when we memorize verses, they are hidden in our hearts, and the Holy Spirit brings them to our mind when we need them most. He is a strong Helper that you can cry out to in any problem. “In the day of my trouble I will call upon Thee: for Thou wilt answer me” (Psalm 86:7).

If you haven’t asked the Lord Jesus to save you, you can do that now, too. “What must I do to be saved?...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:30-31).

Messages of God’s Love 12/6/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: Those Pesky Rats! Part 1

"Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee." Psalm 139:12

In past issues we have considered many animals and birds that are attractive and interesting and have helpful habits. But that is not true of all creatures even though all are a part of God's creation. Among those that are not helpful or attractive we must include rats, which outnumber human beings on the earth. It is no wonder there are so many since a mother rat can have as many as 80 babies in one year! When these are only three or four months old they begin raising families of their own. If all of these rats lived, there would be millions of descendants in two or three years, just starting from one pair! But the Creator does not allow this to happen.

Rats are related to mice and are similar in many ways except for size. Although seldom seen in daylight, many make their homes in houses, barns and other buildings, because being near humans means there will be plenty of food and shelter available. They also like to get aboard ships and this carries them around the world, which is how unwanted, disease-infested rats got into the Americas in the first place. If you have ever seen large ships docked, you might have noticed that many are tied to docks by big ropes which pass through round metal plates. The purpose of those shields is to keep rats and mice from climbing up the ropes, but some still manage to get aboard.

There isn’t much good that comes from rats. Not only do they spread diseases, but they also consume great quantities of food—one rat alone can eat 25 pounds of grain or corn in a year's time, taking it from farmers' fields, storage bins and kitchen pantries. Multiply this by billions of them and it gives you an idea of how much food they consume that might have been put to good use for hungry people. In fact, they are the cause of famines in many places. In addition to grains and seeds, many are fond of nuts, fruit, eggs, fish, vegetables, chickens and many other kinds of food. They will go after almost anything edible, often also ruining food they don’t eat.

Perhaps rats are allowed to be so plentiful and such a nuisance to provide us with a solemn lesson. They remind us of that which is destructive, doing nothing good, and bringing harm to others. What a contrast this is to what the Bible says should be the character of those who love the Lord: "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works" (Ephesians 2:8,10).

When we think about His desire that we should do good works, our daily prayer should be, "Show me Thy ways, O Lord; teach me Thy paths" (Psalm 25:4).

(to be continued)

Messages of God’s Love 12/6/2020

The Little Pocket Doll

When I was young, I lived next door to a girl named Vicky, who became my friend. I loved to go to Vicky’s big, beautiful house to play, because Vicky had a very large collection of dolls...dolls of all sizes, colors and shapes, with lots of pretty clothes and a big dollhouse to “live” in. There was one little doll that I always looked for to play with...she was about 4 inches tall with smooth red hair and she wore a little blue dress and had tiny shoes and socks. I always felt sad that I had to put her back when it was time to go home. One day, a bad thought popped into my head. “Why not slip the doll into my pocket when it’s time to leave? Vicky has so many dolls she will never notice it is missing.” The more I thought about this, the more determined I was to do it. Have you ever had a thought pop into your head to do something wrong, a thing that the Bible calls “sin”? When that happens, you always have a choice to follow through with the thought by acting on it, or to say “no” to sin. But it is far easier to say “no” if we do it right away. What do you think I did?

The doll fit nicely in my pocket and didn’t stick out, so when it was time for me to go home, I left with the doll hidden in my pocket. I remember I didn’t feel very comfortable saying good-bye to Vicky’s older sisters, who were babysitting us at the time. When I got home, I looked at the little doll but I didn’t feel as happy as I thought I would be to have it. In fact, that night I could not get to sleep for a long time. Finally, I decided what to do. In the morning I would bring the doll back to my friend Vicky. But I would not tell her I had taken it. I was too ashamed. I would just sneak it back into her dollhouse. At last I fell asleep.

The next morning, I quickly finished my breakfast and asked if I could go next door. But on the way, I had another wrong thought. What I had done bothered me so much I didn’t want to follow through with my plan to return the doll. And I didn’t want to always see the doll and remember how I had stolen it. Behind Vicky’s house was a big field of tall grass that was part of an empty lot. Instead of going to Vicky’s house and ringing the doorbell, I carried the little doll in my pocket over to that field. Taking a deep breath and with my cheeks burning, I threw the doll into the tall grass as far as I could. Then I went back home.

Boys and girls, I want you to know that I didn’t know Jesus as my Savior back then. I was still a sinner. It was a sin to want the doll that didn’t belong to me, and it was a sin to steal it. Those sins stayed buried in my conscience for many years before I came to know that Jesus loved me and died for me so that I could be forgiven for those sins and many others. If only I had known the wonderful truth back then when I was a young girl that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9), I could have been forgiven right then.

Throwing that little doll into the field did not get rid of my guilt, but thankfully, it says in God’s wonderful book, the Bible: “Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19). Because Jesus took the punishment I deserved upon Himself when He suffered and died on the cross, I am forgiven. What peace He gives us when we confess our sins!

MEMORY VERSE: “Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:19

Messages of God’s Love 12/13/2020

Fighting Rabbits

My sister and I were in the barn one day just starting to feed our family’s rabbits and give them water, when suddenly we heard a litter of young rabbits on the other side of the barn begin screeching loudly. Stopping what we were doing, Joy and I rushed over to see what was happening. To our dismay, the rabbits were chasing each other around and around inside the cage, biting each other whenever they got the chance. We could see they still had plenty of water, food, and sticks to gnaw. What a surprise! Shouldn’t they be happy?

Sadly, human beings often act like those rabbits. We have more than enough to meet our needs and make us happy, but still we are not thankful. Many times, unthankfulness leads to other sins (that often hurt others); yet, no matter how much or how little our unthankfulness shows to others, it is in our hearts. We cannot ignore the fact that because unthankfulness is sin, we are sinners. Thankfully, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). When He died on the cross and rose again, He took our punishment. The Bible tells us, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). Once we are saved, God no longer sees us as sinners. This should make us very thankful!

Messages of God’s Love 12/13/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: Those Pesky Rats! Part 2

"Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth?" Jeremiah 23:24

In spite of their bad traits, rats are clever little animals, and many of their abilities show how the Creator has given them special skills. There are hundreds of species of them, all doing their mischief mostly in the dark. But, as mentioned in the above Bible verse, there is One who sees them in spite of the darkness just as He sees each of us every moment of our lives. He is "beholding the evil and the good," as another Bible verse says.

Nearly all rats have a sharply pointed nose, beady eyes, small rounded ears, long whiskers which help them feel their way around in the dark and long scaly tails. Best known is the brown or Norway rat which is quite common in America. It is about 16 inches long, including its tail. In the springtime these frequently dig burrows with separate living and eating areas, all connected by tunnels leading outside. With the first frost they move into the lower parts of buildings where people soon become aware of them, under floors, inside walls, in cellars and even in sewers.

The brown rats in China and Russia are larger and fiercer than those in America, and their burrows frequently undermine buildings, causing them to collapse. In addition to the brown or Norway rat, another common one is the black or roof rat which is smaller and darker than the Norway rat. It gets its name because it prefers to nest in the upper stories and attics of buildings and sometimes in trees. Although called black, it is really a gray-black color on top and much lighter on the underparts. It is a great climber and jumper and scampers rapidly up trees, drain pipes and cables, as well as brick and concrete walls. Some prefer an outdoor life and make their nests in rocks or bushes as well as in burrows.

If you have rats or mice in your home, you know what a nuisance they can be, not only in the way they eat, but also by keeping people awake at night and leaving their tell-tale tracks around. They make us think of the Bible verse, "one sinner [destroys] much good" (Ecclesiastes 9:18), because all of them spoil more than they eat. They will even chew up books, leather goods and clothing, as well as being pests to farmers by raiding chicken coops to get at the eggs and young chicks. As mentioned in last week's account, they raise large families and a small number moving onto any property can soon become a major problem.

In the next issue we will consider the Creator's purpose in making them part of His creation. Meanwhile, let us remember the Bible verse, "I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by My great power and by My outstretched arm" (Jeremiah 27:5). He has a purpose for everything He has created even though we may not always easily see it.

(to be continued)

Messages of God’s Love 12/13/2020

Over Niagara Falls

Most of you have heard of Niagara Falls, formed by the Niagara River as it flows from Lake Erie into Lake Ontario. Every minute more than 40 billion gallons of water flow over a drop of more than 175 feet. There are many thrilling stories connected with Niagara Falls. Several men walked across it on tightropes. Some tried to go over the falls in barrels, balloons and other things. Most of them lost their lives, but today's story is about someone who went over the falls and lived.

Seven-year-old Roger Woodward lived in Niagara Falls, New York, with his parents and his 17-year-old sister Deanne. Saturday, July 9, 1960, is a date that he will always remember. A good friend of his family, Jim Honeycutt, invited Roger and his sister to go for a boat ride on the Niagara River above the falls. As they set off from Grand Island in a boat powered by a small outboard motor, Roger's father called out to him, "Remember to wear your life jacket!" It was a warm day, and later on Roger wanted to take his life jacket off, but Jim, remembering Roger's father's warning, insisted that he keep it on.

For some reason Jim decided to go under the Grand Island bridge and into the turbulent waters below it. They were all enjoying the ride, and Roger asked for permission to steer the boat. Downstream they could see the mist rising from the falls. A few moments later the noise of the motor changed abruptly to a squeal. They had struck a shoal, broken the shear pin, and suddenly had no power. Jim, who was an experienced boatman, immediately told Deanne to put on the only other life jacket in the boat. Then he seized the oars and began to pull furiously for the American shore of the river. But the current was too strong, and they were quickly swept into the rapids on the Canadian side, passing Goat Island.

Suddenly a large wave capsized the boat, and all three were thrown into the water. Deanne tried to hold onto the boat but could not. Although she was not a strong swimmer, she desperately tried to swim to shore. A crowd had gathered on the shore, and a bus driver named John Hayes saw what was happening. He climbed over the guardrail, and by reaching as far as he could, was just able to grasp Deanne's hand. Another man, named John Quatrocchi, helped pull her to safety when she was only 15 feet from the brink of the falls. "My brother! What's happened to my brother?" she cried. Having seen him go over the falls, Quatrocchi could only say, "Pray for him." With tears streaming from her eyes, Deanne dropped to her knees and prayed.

But what about Jim Honeycutt and Roger? As they were swept along in the water, Jim said to Roger, "Don't be scared—I'll hold you!" But the powerful current tore them apart, and along with the boat they were swept over the falls.

For more than 100 years a passenger boat called The Maid of the Mist has taken tourists up the river below the falls to give them a close-up look at the great waterfall. On this particular day, Captain Clifford Keech of The Maid of the Mist had taken the boat to within 200 feet of the falls, as close as he dared to go. He was about to turn his boat around when someone shouted, "Man overboard!" Keech spotted Roger in his red life jacket about 50 feet away and threw out a life ring on a rope. After several attempts Roger was able to fling himself across the life ring on his belly. Moments later he was pulled to safety. Immediately he asked, "My sister! Where's my sister?"

John Quatrocchi, who watched Roger's rescue from the observation deck above, told Deanne that her prayers had been answered. Her brother had been rescued.

Both Deanne and Roger were taken to the hospital, but they had only a few bruises and were quickly released. Several days later Jim Honeycutt's body was found. He had evidently been killed instantly on the rocks at the base of the falls.

What saved both Roger and Deanne from a terrible death? Although the help of others meant a lot, it was really their life vests that saved them. How thankful they were that they had obeyed their father! But you and I need more than a life vest to save us from eternal judgment. Roger and Deanne were saved from certain death, but God has provided a way for us to have eternal salvation. The Lord Jesus Christ has died and shed His blood so that you and I can have our sins washed away. Through faith in Him we can have eternal life and be safe from coming judgment. John 5:24 says, "He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

But this is not the end of the story about Roger Woodward. For many years after that eventful day, he wondered why God had spared his life. People would sometimes tell him that Somebody must have been watching over him and that Somebody must have something special planned for him. Roger continued to ask himself why he was here and where he was going. No one was able to give him satisfactory answers.

Then in 1980, 20 years after his experience, a friend invited him to attend a gospel meeting. There he heard about the Lord Jesus and how He came into the world to save sinners. That very evening he knelt down beside his friend and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior.

Ten years later, in 1990, and 30 years after his miraculous escape, he returned to Niagara Falls to preach the gospel. "For the first time in my life I knew what God's purpose was in saving me 30 years ago," he said. "Something happened 30 years ago that was very, very special. I lived. Why? So that I could live again...so that others would come to the saving knowledge of Christ and have the gift of eternal life."

Roger Woodward's experience was unique. No other human has ever gone over Niagara Falls in only a life jacket and lived. Probably no one will ever do it again. But God's way of salvation is for all. "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), but God's Word also says, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). Accept the Lord Jesus as your Savior today, as Roger did, and know that you are saved for all eternity!

MEMORY VERSE: "He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24

Messages of God’s Love 12/20/2020

God Answers Prayer

On July 31, 1976, the state of Colorado was in the middle of celebrating the country’s bicentennial. It had been 200 years since the United States had gotten their independence from England. It was evening and the area not far from Estes Park had received between 12 and 14 inches of rain in just 24 hours. Ed and Kenny Renner were on the other side of the Big Thompson River from the motel their parents owned, when a terrible flash flood struck. First, they saw the bridge over to the motel get washed out. Then they watched in fascination as water rose rapidly in the parking lot of the motel and floated all the cars down the river as if they were in a big, watery traffic jam.

A complete feeling of helplessness came over the boys as they watched the water continue to rise across the front of the motel from across the river. The rushing stream was now just below the windowsill of the first floor. There was still flickering candlelight in the living quarters where their mother and a girl named Tammy were staying. Then the water rose to about halfway up the windows, all went dark, and they thought it was all over for their mom and Tammy. All they could do was stand there as if paralyzed and pray to God for a miracle. As they continued to watch, the water rose above the tops of the windows and doors on the bottom floor.

It wasn’t until later that they found out that at the very moment they were praying, their prayers were being answered! The boys’ mom had checked in a couple with two teenage children from Georgia just before this nightmare had started. She had asked the father, Mr. Stanson, to invite his wife and family inside while he registered for the room, to get them out of the downpour. Only minutes after his family had entered the motel office, they watched their camper float away.

Mr. Stanson had the presence of mind to desperately tear a hole in the ceiling with the aid of only a butcher knife and an old hammer—the only tools available at the moment. He managed to quickly make a hole all the way through the ceiling, the ceiling tile, a double floor and a double layer of carpet, into the unit on the second floor. It was just large enough for Mr. Stanson to push their mom through, her cat Misty, Tammy and her dog, and his own family. The water was up to his neck before he too was pulled to safety.

Later, when the water had gone down far enough, Ed and Kenny worked their way across the river to the motel. There on the mountain behind the motel they found their mother and Tammy and several others who had escaped from the second floor of the building. Yes, God had answered their prayers. He is indeed a God who answers!

Children, perhaps you have heard the story of Noah and the ark, found in Genesis 6-8. That was not a flash flood but a terrible flood that destroyed the whole world! God provided a way to be saved from the flood by getting into a huge boat called an ark that Noah had spent 100 years building! We read in the Bible that Noah was a preacher of righteousness, but did anyone respond to his preaching? Oh, what a sad story! Not even one person beside Noah and his family believed God, entered that boat and was saved from that awful flood. The day arrived when Noah’s message was never heard again, because “the Lord shut him in.” Yes, God shut the door of the ark and then there was no way to open it. Perhaps as the rain came pouring down and the flood waters kept rising, there were people pounding at the door of the ark, wanting to get in. But it was too late because God had shut the door!

Oh, children, we beg you to come to the Lord Jesus before it is too late. In John 10:9 it says, “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” Come to the Lord Jesus, God’s door to eternal salvation! Come while there is still time... before the door is shut forever!

Memory Verse: “They that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” Matthew 25:10

Messages of God’s Love 12/20/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: Those Pesky Rats! - Part 3

"The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof." Psalm 50:1

In preceding issues, we have mentioned rats in many places of the world. One species that lives in Australia is known as the stick-nest rat because it makes its home out of great piles of sticks, sometimes three feet high and as much as four feet wide. In windy areas they place stones on top to hold it all together. The instincts God has given them taught them to do this.

Another that lives in Australia is the water rat, which has partially webbed feet. It doesn't bother people much, relying more on fish, frogs, water birds and shellfish for food. Its strong jaws can break most shells. However, if some are too tough, it lays them out in the hot sun, which soon causes them to open, and the rat then eats the exposed food.

Part of the damage done by rats is due to their constant gnawing—chewing on books, furniture, walls, lead pipes, plastics and even electrical wires (on which they sometimes electrocute themselves). The reason for all this is not so much to eat what they gnaw on, but because their front teeth keep growing just like a beaver's do, and if these teeth were not worn down by constant gnawing, they would grow too big for their mouths.

All rats seem clever in avoiding poisons and traps, but their numbers are partly controlled by such means. In addition, they are a prey for dogs and cats, foxes, coyotes, weasels, hawks, owls, snakes and other animals and birds. If this were not the case, their numbers would soon overrun the world.

Do you wonder why God allows these rodents to thrive, multiply and be such spoilers? One reason definitely is that they provide a much-needed food supply for the other creatures mentioned above. Another reason might be to remind us that sin is responsible for all the evil throughout the world, just as rats and mice are present in all lands. These undesirable little animals come under the term "unclean" as defined in the Bible (Leviticus 11:27-29). God's people in Bible times were instructed to avoid them. This tells us that God is not pleased when a person is involved with evil things. If tempted by evil things, the Bible instructs us to "enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away" (Proverbs 4:14-15). These are two important verses for all of us.

The time is coming (known as the millennium) when these animals will no longer be filthy or destructive, but instead a happy part of God's creation. Those who now love the Lord Jesus and know Him as their Savior will be taken before then into heaven where sin can never come, and they will look down on a cleansed earth, rejoicing that it, too, is enjoying the light of His love and goodness. Will you be included with those in heaven?

Messages of God’s Love 12/20/2020

The Spinning Door

One day when I was quite young, my family and I went to the library. It had two doors—a regular door that you pulled or pushed open, and one made up of several glass panels, with separate compartments large enough for a person to stand in. To get past the second door I described, you still had to push, but you walked in a semicircle instead of straight in.

On the day of my story, however, I did not know that. What I did know was that the “spinning door” looked like lots of fun. My mom and brother stepped in, and the door started turning. (I thought that was because it was self-propelled.) Then it was my turn. I stepped in, with the door still spinning. The fun had just begun! That’s when my shoe got stuck under the door and it stopped moving. I guess I have to push, I finally understood. Now, I could hardly wait to get out; I was excited to see what I thought was the exit. Then, BANG! My head hit thick glass, and I discovered that I had not reached the opening at all.

I finally did get out, but I had a lot more respect for that door, and I realized that looks can be deceiving. Something that seems fun can actually be dangerous or hurtful!

In a more serious way, sin sometimes looks fun. However, it isn’t long before we find out that it actually gets us in trouble, and with sin come consequences and danger.

God hates sin and must punish it. Unless our sins are paid for, we will have to take the punishment for all the wrong we have ever done, forever, in a place called hell. The good news is that God loves us! He doesn’t want anyone to go to hell, so He sent His own Son to take the punishment for our sins, if we will simply receive His wonderful gift of love. We who believe on the Lord Jesus will not have to suffer our own punishment in hell for all eternity, but can go to live with Him in a wonderful place called heaven when we die. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Messages of God’s Love 12/27/2020

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Seldom Seen Grouse

"By Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth ... all things were created by Him, and for Him." Colossians 1:16

The grouse is mainly a North American bird, although there are many of them in Europe and Asia also. For the most part they are forest birds, but some prefer the open plains and sagebrush country. In the United States and Canada there are ten species which include the prairie, blue, sage, sharp-tailed, Canadian spruce and ruffed.

While there is quite a difference in sizes, they are all similar in appearance, and most of them build well-hidden nests on the ground, in low bushes or concealed places under logs. Their food is also much the same, including seeds, berries, insects and land snails in summer. In winter they live on leaves, catkins and buds.

Camera-carrying hikers or hunters discover that the grouse is hard to find. When the bird is aware of a person approaching, it immediately dashes behind a tree or into the brush where it is well hidden with the color of its feathers blending so well with the ground or brush. Sometimes if a grouse is aware of a person coming too close, it will fly from the ground with such a rush that a hunter is usually too startled to take a shot. Although unable to fly any great distance in this rushed flight, a grouse will land where it is well hidden, and the hiker or hunter doesn't have a chance of seeing it a second time.

When a fox or coyote approaches, a mother grouse will signal her brood of 10 to 15 chicks by a sharp call to scatter to safe hiding places and lie perfectly still. Then she attracts the animal's attention to herself by flying up to a tree branch where she waits out of reach until it gives up and leaves the area. Only then will the mother hen drop to the ground and call her little ones out of hiding.

Although they are shy birds, the males display amazing patterns of "drumming," strutting and dancing when trying to attract a mate, causing a lot of noise that can be heard for a long way.

The grouse, so well equipped for its life in the wild, is another example of the care our Creator took in providing for the needs of each creature. But His greatest care and love is shown to people. He has written to each person who will listen: "I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee" (Jeremiah 31:3). Have you accepted that love by receiving Him as your Savior?

Messages of God’s Love 12/27/2020

Messages of God's Love: 2020

Table of Contents

The Bear That Came to the Party

A Trip to the Zoo

The Wonders of God's Creation: The World Needs Insects

Sam the Lizard

The $100 Reward!

The Wonders of God's Creation: Fierce-Looking Moray Eels

The Mailman Saves a Mother's Life

The Broken Shingle

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Desert-Wise Cactus Wren

The Stormy Flight

The Unforgettable Swing Set

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Shepherd and His Sheep - Part 1

Monkey Overboard!

Guaranteed = A Promise!

The Wonders Of God's Creation: The Shepherd and His Sheep - Part 2

Buried Treasure

A Pocket Full of Chicken

The Wonders of God's Creation: What Would We Do Without Wheat?

Runaway Robert

"You've Come to the Wrong Place"

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Octopus

Moving Day for Olga

Jiggles Needs a Bath

The Wonders of God's Creation: A Spectacular Beauty

What Saved the Bird?

Mary Jones Had a Wish

The Wonders of God's Creation: Life in a Monsoon

Mother Duck and the Seven Ducklings

The Wonders of God's Creation The Mighty Elephant

Breakfast by the Sea

Daisy on the Loose

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Seldom-Seen Desman

A Story About a Lost Ring

Matches!

The Wonders of God's Creation: Palm Trees-Another of God's Gifts

Show and Tell

Robby's Seed

The Wonders of God's Creation: Wild Pigs-Ugh!

Buttons Lets Loose!

The Shoeshine Boy's Question

The Wonders of God's Creation: Traveling With the Earth

The Little Furnace Cleaner

The Ring

The Wonders of God's Creation: Rubber From Trees

Lost at Sea!

Come in Anytime!

The Wonders of God's Creation: We All Know the Crow

Jungle Password

Left Behind!

The Wonders of God's Creation: Are There Really Any Good Bugs?

A Case of Mistaken Identity

My Fast Bike Ride

Weasels Are Cute but Have Bad Tempers: (Part 1)

The Strangely-Moving Tennis Racket

The Lighthouse Story

The Wonders of God's Creation: Weasels Are Cute but Have Bad Tempers - (Part 2)

The Flat Tire

Left Behind!

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Mischievous Raccoon

Rescued From an Icy Death

Luke Didn't Wait!

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Musical Cricket

Teddy's Disaster

Drivers Dive for Dollars

The Wonders of God's Creation: Insect-Eating Plants

The Unusual Babysitter

Beautiful Colors

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Durable Coyote

A Loon and an Eagle

Grandma Forgot

Wonders of God's Creation: The Twinkling Firefly

The Flat Tire

Kevin and the Moose

The Painful Mistake

The Wonders of God's Creation: Lonesome Kakapos

Stay on the Bus!

Three Precious Promises

Wonders of God's Creation: A Ferocious Caterpillar