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| Butterfly lunch |
I don't recall having met anyone who is not captivated by
butterflies. These once ‘ugly duckling’ pudgy
caterpillars have been transformed into delicate airborne ballerinas. Their fluttering wings are oft adorned with
magnificent color and patterns. When
graced with one lighting on your finger, they truly captivate your attention
during their up-close meeting. This
light as a feather little creature gives only a little tickle to our skin, so
we have no fear of their touch as we often have with other flying insects. [Side note; I can do a mean wasp dance, but
that is another story!] They are simply
a delight to behold.
With that in mind, specific blooming shrubs, and flowers have
been planted in our yard to attract butterflies and hummingbirds and so we
often get to watch the butterfly show.
The beauty in this picture was alight in our Limelight Hydrangea bush,
so I quietly and slowly approached to get a look and was able to get this
gorgeous creature on camera. But, I
sensed something was wrong when he didn't move, and his legs were facing me
rather than the bush, and seemed to be upside down. I brushed his
wings a bit, and got no response. Poor
little guy. He must have died and fallen
just right into the flower so as to be caught.
It was a pretty picture, but I wondered what happened to him to have
died in this manner. Still intrigued, I
broke off the limb with him still attached and placed them both on a grapevine
wreath under the cover of the back porch, delighted with my new “arrangement”
on the potting table.
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| Butterfly caught unaware |
Later that day, I was amazed to see his wings moving and
called out to my husband to “come see!”
My amazement compounded when I saw why his wings were moving. They were not moving on his power but because
of the spider behind him, who was doing what spiders do – I’ll spare you the
graphic details. I had not seen the
spider hiding in the flower before, and obviously neither did Mr. Butterfly. This spider was camouflaged perfectly to
blend in with the flower, and attacked in a moment when Mr. B thought he was
safely having a peaceful lunch, and so his life ended suddenly and unexpectedly.
If it looks like a flower, and smells like a flower it ought
to be good, right? Although the flower
offered something good, lurking inside was a thief, looking to take a
life. I tend to be like Mr. B, maybe you are too. When all is well, and seems safe and peaceful,
we forget to be on guard, neglecting to consult with God, and instead just
living our lives on our own, oblivious to the dangers around us. That is not the desire of our Father for
us. He wants to lead us beside green
pastures, and quiet waters, guiding us in the paths of righteousness so we will fear no evil. Did you catch that? He does not want you to
be afraid, but we are warned however, to “be on alert”.
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| Look closely to see the spider lying in wait, perfectly camouflaged, for another victim. |
Matthew 24:42 ,44 “Be
on alert for you do not know which day your Lord is coming…for the Son of
Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.”
1 Thessalonians 5:2-6 “ You know full well that the day of the Lord
will come just like a thief in the night.
While they are saying, ‘Peace and safety!” then destruction will come
upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not
escape. But you, brethren, are not in
darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons
of light and sons of day. We are not of
night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.”
Colossians 4:2 “Devote
yourselves to prayer, keeping alert
in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.”
Our Father wants us to know Him, and has given us insight
into His character and many of the things that are to come. I urge you to study
His program manual – The Holy Bible – and seek out the things He wants you to
know so that you will walk in His ways, be aware and not be afraid.
Today my friends, I
pray we will use this day wisely, diligently praying in an attitude of
thanksgiving, conducting ourselves with wisdom, seeking the will of our Father
in every aspect of our lives and constantly bearing in mind the coming day
(ever closer and closer) when He returns for His bride!
I would be very pleased to hear from you today about how you
are watching, waiting and witnessing His hand at work! Will you share your story?
For more faith-filled stories, including a hummingbird I named Oscar ...
You can find Oscar at the following online retailers...
Amazon
You can find Oscar at the following online retailers...
Amazon
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