Friday Foto Friends: "I Will Send Hornets Before You..."

Hello Friends! Today is Friday Foto Friends day, and I'm a little late in getting on here. 

Hornet's Nest...story to follow

 Fridays are busy for me.  We leave early in the morning to go meet my brother-in-law about an hour + drive away to pick up my mother-in-law for the weekend.  She stays with us Friday-Monday, and then we do the same trip again.  My mother-in-law is 93 years old, and has dementia. Some days are good, but most days are not so good nowadays.  Our weekends are very challenging...but we are glad that we are able to help and are thankful that so far we are able to keep her with us at home.  Not sure how much longer that will last with the way the dementia is progressing here lately...so we take it one day at a time and thank the Lord for the strength He gives us to keep going.

Last night "Hurricane Hermine" passed through our state, and we heard it come roaring through around 3:00 a.m., with lots of rain and wind.  We weren't too sure what to expect when we woke up this morning, but thankfully there was NO significant damage around us.  A few trees down here and there, and lots of puddles, but we are far enough inland that we were pretty well protected from this particular storm.  Thank you, Lord!

So, this afternoon, in between the little "feeder-bands" of fast moving rain-showers that kept popping up when you'd least expect it, even when the sun was shining...I grabbed my camera and attempted to take a quick walk around our neighborhood....and just as I got far enough away to be too far to run back, it started raining again...so my walk-about was short lived and wet.

However, as the rain started to fall I was startled to notice this huge Hornet nest hanging from a tree nearby that I've never noticed before, even though I walk past that spot almost every day!

Yikes! I'm sure glad I didn't run right into this thing!!!!!! Here's a close up showing one of its inhabitants:

Amazing!!! Isn't God's creation always awesome? Even though this would be a rude awakening if I accidentally bumped into it...it is still an outstanding work of art, designed by our Master Designer Himself! This got me to wondering if hornets are ever mentioned in the Bible.  In checking the references for hornets I was surprised to discover that there are three scripture references that talk about the hornet!  For your information they are: Exodus 23:28, Deuteronomy 7:20, and Joshua 24:12.  They all are speaking of the same event from different perspectives, and this time the hornet is actually being used as a tool of God to help the children of Israel to go in and possess the Promised Land.  I recommend that you read these chapters to get the whole story, but listen to this narrative from Deuteronomy 7 regarding God's great love for His chosen people: Deuteronomy 7:8   "But because the Lord loves you,  and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers,  the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand,  and redeemed you from the house of bondage,  from the land of Pharaoh king of Egypt... And then read on down to verses 17-20, where they are told the following: "If you should say in your heart,  'These nations are greater than I;  how can I dispossess them?'   You shall not be afraid of them,  but you shall remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt:  the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs and the wonders,  the mighty hand and the outstretched arm, by which the Lord your God brought you out.   So shall the Lord your God do to all the peoples of whom who are afraid.  Moreover the Lord your God will send the HORNET among them until those  who are left, who hide themselves from you, are destroyed." Wow!!! God actually used the hornet to drive out the Hivite, Canaanites, and the Hittites  as well as several other enemy groups of people from before the children of Israel (see Exodus 23:28, Joshua 23:11-12) so that they could enter in and possess the promised land! Are there times in your life that you wonder if God is aware of your need or your fears?  Do you ever doubt that He could have any possible way to knock down your enemies and open the path before you so that you can move ahead in your life to victory?  I know I've often questioned how God could ever solve my problems and make a way out of what appeared to be no way.  And yet, here today, we see that God can use even a little hornet...a feisty and fierce insect, to drive away whole nations of enemies and "deliver their kings into your hand..." (Deuteronomy 7:24).   Imagine that!!!  If God can do that, and He DID do that, then why should we doubt that He will take care of our needs??? Praise God for His marvelous ways He takes care of His children every day!! Now, fly on over to see what my other friends are sharing today on Friday Foto Friends #43.

Only Believe

Have you ever sung the song, "Only Believe"? 

The chorus is probably most familiar...it goes like this:

"Only believe, only believe;

All things are possible, only believe;

Only believe, only believe;

All things are possible, only believe."

This morning in the Bible Fellowship that meets in our home each Sunday we sang this little song; in particular the first and last verses:

"Fear not, little flock,
from the cross to the throne,

From death into life He went for His own;

All power in earth, all power above, 

Is given to Him for the flock of His love.

(chorus)

Fear not, little flock, whatever your lot;

He enters all rooms, 'the doors being shut'.

He never forsakes, He never is gone-

So count on His presence in darkness and dawn.

(Composer: Paul Rader, 1921)

Then we read the following passage from the Bible:

"And after eight days His (Jesus') disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them.  

Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, 

'Peace to you!'

Then He said to Thomas, 

'Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; 

and reach your hand here, and put it into My side.  

Do not be unbelieving, but believing.

And Thomas answered and said to Him, 

'My Lord and my God!'

Jesus said to him, 

'Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed.  

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'"

John 20:26-29 NKJV

Perhaps you've had a week where you found it difficult to believe that anything good could happen for you.  Possibly you've had some setbacks in life, either in health, employment, financial, or other personal issues. I can relate to this. Even in our "little flock" of people who meet with us each week for worship and Bible Study, we've had many serious trials and struggles.  Recently we had to say goodbye to one of our members, who passed away after a prolonged illness. Another has had serious family issues for many months, and today we joyfully learned that God had answered our prayers on her behalf. Still another is having major health concerns and needs a healing touch from God. 

As we read Jesus' encounter with Thomas, a.k.a. "Doubting Thomas", we saw how Jesus was already well aware of Thomas' doubts even without having been present when Thomas expressed his thoughts to the other disciples.  Jesus suddenly appeared to Thomas and the others in a room where they were gathered with the doors already being shut. Jesus appeared...and encouraged Thomas to believe in Him. Thomas fell at His feet and declared Jesus as "My Lord and my God!"

This little episode gave our little flock much hope...hope that Jesus is already aware of our hurts and heartaches and concerns. And peace in knowing that He is already there...ready to show us His nail-scarred hands and the wound in His side that was suffered for us...because He loves us so much He was willing to die for us.  If He was willing to die for us, then how much more is He willing to take care of all our needs...if we will "only believe"?

Sing along with me...

 "Only believe, only believe;

All things are possible, only believe;

Only believe, only believe;

All things are possible, only believe."


Do YOU believe?

Postscript...I kept putting off finishing this post tonight. But God kept pushing me back to the computer and wouldn't let me rest until it was done. Someone needs these words of encouragement to believe tonight. Perhaps it is you? Whoever you are, Jesus is already there...He already knows...and He's standing there in the room with you, asking you to believe.  Just go ahead and let Christ show you His nail scarred hands. He's waiting for you.  Be blessed my friend.  Only Believe...All things ARE possible!

P.S.S.; For previous thoughts on this same topic, click HERE!

Beware of the Little Foxes

"Catch us the foxes, 

The little foxes that spoil the vines,

For our vines have tender grapes."

Song of Solomon 2:15

 Just what ARE the "little foxes that spoil the vines"?

 Little words that cut deep...sarcastic remarks that aren't really  funny and tend to undermine and cause feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and lack of confidence...

Little fears that create instability, jealousy, wariness...

 Little seeds of doubt planted by the enemy of our souls that take root and drive us away from the truth...

Little disruptions to our peace, quiet, calmness of heart... 

Little thoughts that seep into our minds and take up residence in our hearts...

Yes, Beware of the Little Foxes that creep up on us when we least expect them

and take up residence...

and steal away our joy.

Most of all...be careful not to become a "little fox" in someone else's life...

Let us watch what we say and what we do

Lest we spoil another's vine

and steal away their joy.

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; 

and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God."

I John 4:7

These "little foxes" were "captured" on my night cam in my front yard. They look 

pretty harmless...but we must never forget just how sly and devious a "little fox" can be, and be careful not to let them take up residence in our homes. (hearts).