Category: Animals

  • The Standoff

    We live in a suite in the home of one of our sons and his  family. Their cats, our “grandcats,” Leeloo and Vader, often come down to visit.

    The grandcats love sitting in our living room to watch the birds come and go at the feeder. Periodically, they get to see an exciting bonus, one of the pair of squirrels will visit the feeder. I recently snapped a shot of Leeloo and the gray Squirrel. Leeloo was almost beside herself in active hunt mode, hunkered down, tail twitching and making excited sounds.

    The squirrel, on the other hand, was curious. She moved to watch from different spots, some closer, others further away, and checked the cat out from all angles.

    The closed windows ensured a standoff. The Cat couldn’t get out, and the squirrel didn’t have to run away. It was fun to watch.

    There is a view out there that is prevalent even in many Christian circles in which the battle between good and evil, God and the devil, is some sort of a cosmic standoff. It’s misguided thinking.

    Satan has power, but no more than God permits. Satan is a created being; God is the omnipotent creator. The battle belongs to the Lord and always has.

    It can be hard to remember that at times because the world seems increasingly dark, and evil seems to be on the rise.

    Do not be deceived, dear friends.

    Satan and his minions will face final judgment.  Sinners will be judged and separated into those destined for glory with the Lord and those set apart for eternal torment. It’s only by the Lord’s mercy and grace that any of us will make it through the great judgement.

    Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11-15

    Satan is no more able to defeat the Lord than Leeloo was able to break through the widows and get at the squirrel.

    Hold fast against the rising tide of darkness, the last days are coming, and our ultimate victory is assured, guaranteed by God Himself.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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  • Squirreled Away

    Store up God’s Word in your heart.

    Grey Squirrel

    We often get a pair of squirrels visiting the feeder in our  backyard. They never come together, but we frequently see them as a pair elsewhere. The male is jet black and the female is gray.

    She’s the tamest of the pair and will often stay around if I talk to her or move slowly. On the other hand, as soon as I’m near, he takes off like a shot.

    We often see squirrels on our walks in the various local area parks, and I like to take pictures of them. This one was used to being fed and was quite determined to get us to give him a treat. He failed, but I did get to photograph him.

    Thinking of squirrels brought to mind the old expression “Squirreling away.” One dictionary defines this verb as: “to stash or hide; to hoard, collect, save, or accumulate; to create a reserve, stash, or hoard of some supply, so as to recall a squirrel’s burying of nuts.”

    Most of us squirrel away something. We might save a little cash away for a rainy day. Perhaps we have a secret stash of a favorite treat for one of “those” days.

    The bible speaks of us squirreling something away, although it doesn’t use that term

    I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11 ESV

    For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Hebrews 8:10 ESV

    And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 2 Corinthians 3:3 ESV

    I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. Psalm 40:8 ESV

    God’s truth, love, and Spirit are squirreled away in our hearts.

    We strengthen those hiding places through regular prayer, worship, and fellowship. We entrench them further by reading and memorizing His Word.

    If you found yourself in a situation where the Bible was not handy or available at all, how much could you bring to mind?

    Read the Word and commit it to memory, Squirrel away His truth in your heart.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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