Refreshing

Daily
in Gods Word
Emphasis on

Creatures of
the Bible

Genesis 1:21 - And God created great whales, and every

living creature that moveth, which the waters brought
forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl
after his kind: and God saw that [it was] good.

Job 35:11 - Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the

earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?

Matthew 6:26 - Behold the fowls of the air: for they

sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet
your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much
better than they?

The Ant
November 1
Bible Reading: Proverbs 6:6-15
Key Verse: Verse 6 - Go to the ant, thou sluggard;
consider her ways, and be wise:
Key Words: and be wise
The word ant occurs only twice in the Word of God: in
our text Proverbs 6:6 and again in Proverbs 30:25. In both
cases the ant is made an example of wisdom in providing in
the summer for the needs of the winter.
There are several species of ants. As a matter of fact,
there are over 12,000 species of ants known to man today.
But in all of these species these common factors are the same:
they have no guide, no one to direct them, no overseer, no one
to supervise them, no ruler, no one to organize them. They
instinctively know what to do and they do it. Thats the
reason Solomon said, Go to the ant...consider her ways, and
be wise.
But we, as humans, seem to be just the opposite of the
ant. The ant is wise in its own work and ways, while we tend

to have wisdom for everyone else and none for ourselves. This
reminds me of something I read recently.
All of us might as well swap problems, because we all
know exactly how to solve other peoples problems. I dont
know who said it, but it sure is true. Just tell someone youre
sick and theyll start treating you like youre the patient. Tell
someone youve just spent ten hours underneath the hood of
your car, and theyll tell you how to fix it in less than five
minutes. Talk about a childs disciplinary problem, and theyll
give you the best-kept secret on raising kids even if they
dont have children. Yes, indeed, we could solve all the
worlds troubles if we just rearranged the ownership of our
problems.
We would all do well to heed the Word of God and
consider the ant.

What to do:
Be wise.
Work hard.
Obey the Word.
********************

The Antelope

November 2

Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 14:1-8

Key Verse: Verse 5 The hart, and the roebuck, and
the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg,
and the wild ox, and the chamois.
Key Words: roebuck
While you do not find the name antelope in the
Scripture, you find the animal. Rather than being called an
antelope, it is referred to as the roebuck or gazelle. Its
habitation is found in Upper Egypt, Arabia, and Syria. The
antelope lives by its senses and feelings.

The antelope is an interesting animal. When captured

they are placed in a wooden fenced-in area. The wooden
fence is four feet high. That is all that stands between the
antelope and freedom. When you consider that the antelope
can leap to distances between ten to fifteen feet high and jump
distances of some ten to fifteen yards, you would wonder why
the antelope doesnt simply jump over the fence. The
antelope stands only two to three feet in height and cannot see
over the wooden fence. The antelope also will not jump
unless he can see where he is going to land. They, like many
Christians I know, stay trapped all of their lives because they
live by sight rather than by faith.
So today I challenge you not to be an antelope
Christian, living by sight; but be a Christian who walks by
faith.

What to do:
Live by faith and then you will not be bound
spiritually all of your life.
********************

The Bat

November 3

Bible Reading: Isaiah 2:10-22

Key Verse: Verse 20 In that day a man shall cast
his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they
made each one for himself to worship, to the moles
and to the bats;
Key Words: to the bats
The bat is an unclean creation (Leviticus 11:19); and in
actuality, it is not a bird but a mammal. Its wings have no
feathers; it lives in caverns, tombs, or places of ruin. While it
does consume enormous amounts of insects, it also destroys
fruit and vegetation. So for all the good it does in one area,

the bat is a nuisance in another area. The bat is a picture of

inconsistency.
The New England Journal of Medicine published a
study on dieting conducted by Dr. Kelly D. Brownell at Yale
University. This research was based on thirty-two years of
follow-up study on 5,127 men and women. Dr. Brownell and
his associates discovered it is more hazardous to yo-yo diet
than to stay consistently overweight. The study found that the
risk of dying from heart disease is about 70 percent higher in
those with fluctuating weight than in those whose weight stays
reasonably the same. Spiritual inconsistency is equally
destructive. A consistent diet of worship, Bible study,
evangelism, fellowship, and prayer is far healthier than an
occasional revival feast.
I have found, though, its those who do not
consistently worship, have their Bible study, prayer,
consistently evangelize and fellowship that need revival.
So I challenge you dont be like the bat, but be
consistent in the good you do for Gods glory.

What to do:
Be consistent in your faithful service for God.
********************

The Bee

November 4

Bible Reading: Psalm 118

Key Verse: Verse 12 They compassed me about like
bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in
the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
Key Words: They compassed me about like bees
The writer of Psalm 118 describes his enemies as bees.
In the Holy Land bees only occasionally make their hives in
trees. Usually they are in the clefts of the rocks, almost

inaccessible to man. (See Deuteronomy 32:13 and Psalm

81:16.)
Bees are primarily known for their diligence. Now, I
do not claim to be an expert on bees; but I do know that there
are four kinds of bees that make up each hive. There are
house bees. They clean up the hives and build combs for the
honey. Secondly, there are field bees which collect the pollen.
Thirdly, there is the queen bee which produces other bees.
Then there are the drone bees they cart out all the lazy bees.
But every bee has their job and does it with great diligence.
We, as believers, need to understand, like the bee,
what our real role in life is.
A characteristic incident is told about Dr. Carey, the
pioneer missionary in India, who, before he left this country,
was a shoemaker, or rather, as he himself put it, a cobbler. He
used to go about from village to village preaching, for his soul
was filled with the love of God. One day a friend came to him
and said, Mr. Carey, I want to speak to you very seriously.
Well, said Carey, what is it? The friend replied, By your
going about preaching as you do, you are neglecting your
business. If you only attended to your business more you
would be all right, and would soon get on and prosper; but as
it is you are simply neglecting your business. Neglecting my
business! said Carey, looking at him steadily. My business is
to extend the Kingdom of God. I only cobble shoes to pay
expenses.
Isnt that our business as well?

What to do:
Carry out Gods business like the bees with great
diligence.
********************

The Camel
Bible Reading: Ephesians 5:22-37

November 5

Key Verse: Verse 26 That he might sanctify and

cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Key Words: the washing of water by the word
The camel is said to be one of the most useful of the
domestic animals of the East.
The camel is often more than eight feet in height and
possesses great strength and endurance. It has a broad foot
which enables it to walk over sandy surfaces without sinking.
It has provision in its stomach for storing water which
enables it to travel for days without drinking.
Now, I believe that there is a spiritual lesson here. The
Word of God is referred to as water (Ephesians 5:26). While
the water of the Word cleanses, it also satisfies thirst (John 4).
When we travel through the dry places of life, it would
do us all well to be filled with the water of Gods Word.
Anatoli Shcharansky, a dissident Soviet Jew, kissed his
wife goodbye as she left Russia for freedom in Israel. His
parting words to her were, Ill see you soon in Jerusalem.
But Anatoli was detained and finally imprisoned. Their
reunion in Jerusalem would not only be postponed, it might
never occur. During long years in Russian prisons and work
camps Anatoli was stripped of his personal belongings. His
only possession was a miniature copy of the Psalms. Once
during his imprisonment, his refusal to release the book to the
authorities cost him 130 days in solitary confinement. Finally,
twelve years after parting with his wife, he was offered
freedom.
In February 1986, as the world watched,
Shcharansky was allowed to walk away from Russian guards
toward those who would take him to Jerusalem. But in the
final moments of captivity, the guards tried again to confiscate
the Psalms book. Anatoli threw himself face down in the
snow and refused to walk on to freedom without it. Those
words had kept him alive during imprisonment. He would
not go on to freedom without them.
The Word of God can keep you through the dry places
of life.

What to do:
Let the Word of God flow in you, through you, and
out of you.
********************

The Dog

November 6

Bible Reading: Matthew 15:10-28

Key Verse: Verse 26 But he answered and said, It is
not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to
dogs.
Key Words: and to cast it to dogs
The dog in the Scriptures is usually referred to as an
unclean animal.
The dog consumes other dead animals (Exodus
22:31).
The dog also consumes human flesh (I Kings
14:11).
Drinks human blood (I Kings 22:38).
Consumes its own vomit (Proverbs 26:11).
They are a nuisance (Psalm 59:6).
They are creatures of filthy habits (II Peter
2:22).
Jesus referred to Gentiles as dogs (Matthew
15:26).
As you can see during Bible times, dogs did not have
a sterling reputation. I guess you could say dogs were not
mans best friend, but were certainly one of their worst
enemies.
I have noticed that as a believer the world is like the
dog: consuming and very much the enemy of Christianity;
but yet while we are not to love the world, we are to love those
who are of this world even though they see me as the enemy.
Reminds me of a story I read by Mary Marty.
A holy man was engaged in his morning meditation
under a tree whose roots stretched out over the riverbank.

During his meditation he noticed that the river was rising, and
a scorpion caught in the roots was about to drown. He
crawled out on the roots and reached down to free the
scorpion, but every time he did so, the scorpion struck back at
him. An observer came along and said to the holy man, Dont
you know thats a scorpion, and its in the nature of a scorpion
to want to sting? To which the holy man replied, That may
well be, but it is my nature to save, and must I change my
nature because the scorpion does not change its nature?
While there are dogs in the world, we are not to be like
them.
What to do:
Love everyone witness to all have a testimony
for God for all to see.

The Cattle
November 7

Bible Reading: Psalm 50

Key Verse: Verse 10 For every beast of the forest is

mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
Key Words: and the cattle upon a thousand hills

The word cattle in the Bible comes from one of two

words: behemah meaning a beast, or mikneh meaning
possession. The word mikneh not only means cattle but also
signifies horses, donkeys, sheep, and goats. But cattle were
symbolic of ones wealth and possessions.
God not only owns the cattle on a thousand hills, as
someone has well said, he owns the hills as well.
From the standpoint of material wealth, Americans
have difficulty realizing how rich we are. Going through a
little mental exercise suggested by Robert Heilbroner can help
us to count our blessings, however. Imagine doing the
following, and you will see how daily life is for as many as a
billion people in the world.

1. Take out all the furniture in your home except for one
table and a couple of chairs. Use blanket and pads for
beds.
2. Take away all of your clothing except for your oldest
dress or suit, shirt or blouse. Leave only one pair of
shoes.
3. Empty the pantry and the refrigerator except for a
small bag of flour, some sugar and salt, a few potatoes,
some onions, and a dish of dried beans.
4. Dismantle the bathroom, shut off the running water,
and remove all the electrical wiring in your house.
5. Take away the house itself and move the family into
the tool shed.
6. Place your house in a shantytown.
7. Cancel all subscriptions to newspapers, magazines,
and book clubs. This is no great loss because now
none of you can read anyway.
8. Leave only one radio for the whole shantytown.
9. Move the nearest hospital or clinic ten miles away and
put a midwife in charge instead of a doctor.
10. Throw away your bankbooks, stock certificates,
pension plans, and insurance policies. Leave the
family a cash hoard of ten dollars.
11. Give the head of the family a few acres to cultivate on
which he can raise a few hundred dollars of cash crops,
of which one-third will go to the landlord and onetenth to the money lenders.
12. Lop off twenty-five or more years of life expectancy.
By comparison how rich we are! And with our wealth
comes responsibility to use it wisely, not to be wasteful, and to
help others. Think on these things.

What to do:
Remember, you should measure your wealth not by
what you have, but you should measure wealth by the
things you have that money cannot buy.

********************

The Cock

November 8

Bible Reading: Luke 22:1-34

Key Verse: Verse 34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter,

the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou
shalt
thrice deny that thou knowest me.
Key Words: the cock

In the Old Testament, domestic fowls are only

mentioned in connection with the daily provision for
Solomons table (I Kings 4:23).
In the New Testament, the cock is mentioned in regard
to warning and rebuke. For example, the Lord told Peter, ...
before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice (Matthew
26:34).
Rebukes are never easy to take and often difficult to
give; but when needed, a rebuke, if handled with wisdom, can
be very convicting as it was in Peters case.
I read where John Wesley and a preacher-friend of
plain habits were once invited to dinner where the hosts
daughter, noted for her beauty, had been profoundly
impressed by Wesleys preaching. During a pause in the meal,
Wesleys friend took the young womans hand and called
attention to the sparkling rings she wore. What do you think
of this, sir, for a Methodist hand?
The girl turned crimson.
Wesley likewise was
embarrassed, for his aversion to jewelry was only too well
known. But with a benevolent smile, he simply said, The
hand is very beautiful.
Wesleys remark both cooled the too-hot water poured
by his friend, and made the foot-washing gentle. The young
woman appeared at the evening service without her jewels,
and became a strong Christian.
A rebuke handled with wisdom and grace can be
productive! So rebuke, when necessary, but not to get even or
hurt, but to produce a good, Godly result.

What to do:
Use wisdom and grace in all your rebukes.

The Dove

Novembe 9

Bible Reading: Matthew 3

Key Verse: Verse 16 And Jesus, when he was

baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and,
lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the
Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting
upon him:
Key Words: descending like a dove

The dove is said to be unresisting (Matthew 10:16) and

gentle. The dove in Scripture is symbolic of the Holy Spirit
because of its unresisting spirit, its gentleness, and the fact
that it is a clean bird.
The Holy Spirit in the life of the believer is to us our...
Guide (Acts 13:2), and
Teacher (John 14:26).
We are sealed by the Holy Spirit
(Ephesians 4:30).
We are to be filled with the Spirit
(Ephesians 5:18).

Some said this about D. L. Moody in regard to the

Holy Spirit.
A group of pastors were discussing the possibility of
having D. L. Moody serve as an evangelist at a city-wide
evangelistic campaign. One minister was reluctant to have
Moody speak. Why Moody? he asked. Does he have a
monopoly on the Holy Spirit? The question was followed by a
hushed silence. Finally another man spoke up and said, No,
Moody does not have a monopoly on the Holy Spirit. But the
Holy Spirit does have a monopoly on D. L. Moody.
It was D. L. Moody that said, You might as well try to
hear without ears or breathe without lungs, as try to live a
Christian life without the Spirit of God in your heart.
Today, I trust that the Holy Spirit of God is your Guide
and Teacher; and I pray that you are filled with the Holy
Spirit.
What to do:
Let the Spirit of God work in you then you need
not fear what comes out of you.
********************

The Eagle
November 10

Bible Reading: Proverbs 23:1-12

Key Verse: Verse 5 - Wilt thou set thine eyes upon

that which is not? for riches certainly make
themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward
heaven.
Key Words: they fly away as an eagle toward

heaven

In the Scriptures, the eagle is known for first of all, its

swiftness (Deuteronomy 28:49). It is also known for its
inaccessibility (Job 39:27-28). The eagle sights its prey from

afar (Job 39:29). But the eagle also soars above the earth, far
from the cares of this old world.
George Sweeting tells the following.
Several years ago our family visited Niagara Falls. It
was spring, and ice was rushing down the river. As I viewed
the large blocks of ice flowing toward the falls, I could see that
there were carcasses of dead fish embedded in the ice. Gulls
by the score were riding down the river feeding on the fish. As
they came to the brink of the falls, their wings would go out
and they would escape from the falls.
I watched one gull which seemed to delay and
wondered when it would leave. It was engrossed in the
carcass of a fish, and when it finally came to the brink of the
falls, out went its powerful wings. The bird flapped and
flapped and even lifted the ice out of the water, and I thought
it would escape. But it had delayed too long so that its claws
had frozen into the ice. The weight of the ice was too great,
and the gull plunged into the abyss.
So it is in the lives of those who cling to the world it
will carry you to destruction. Oh, the joy of breaking free
from the cares of this world!

What to do:
Remember to be careful what you attach yourself to
it may end up destroying you.
********************

The Elephant
Bible Reading: I Kings 10:18-29

November 11

Key Verse: Verse 22 For the king had at sea a navy

of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three
years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and
silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.
Key Words: ivory

Elephants have through the years been used as

bulldozers clearing out property for land-owners.
The
elephant has been used in war to carry heavy equipment. The
elephant has also been used for entertainment in the circus;
but in Bible times the elephant carried wealth. Ivory from its
tusks was known to bring in large sums of money. The
elephant in Scripture is symbolic of richness and wealth. But
what good is wealth if I gain the whole world but lose my own
soul (Matthew 16:26)?
John G. Wendel and his sisters were some of the most
miserly people of all time. Although they had received a huge
inheritance from their parents, they spent very little of it and
did all they could to keep their wealth for themselves.
John was able to influence five of his six sisters to
never marry, and they lived in the same house in New York
City for fifty years. When the last sister died in 1931, her
estate was valued at more than $100 million. Her only dress
was one that she had made herself, and she had worn it for
twenty-five years.
The Wendels had such a compulsion to hold on to
their possessions that they lived like paupers. Even worse,
they were like the kind of person Jesus referred to who lays
up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

What to do:
Make sure youre rich in Christ. It is more valuable
than any richness the world has to offer.
********************

The Fish

November 12

Bible Reading: Mark 1:14-28

Key Verse: Verse 17 And Jesus said unto them,
Come ye after me, and I will make you to become
fishers of men.

Key Words: I will make you to become fishers of

men
Fish are mentioned frequently in the Scriptures. The
fish which had scales were considered clean while the fish
without scales were unclean.
In the Middle East, even more than here in America,
fish is a primary food source.
Seven of the twelve apostles were fishermen by trade.
Jesus even compared fishing to soul-winning. As you read
Gods Word it becomes easy to see that soul-winning should
be the very essence of the Christian life. Imagine if no one
had ever told you about Jesus what a tragedy!
George Sweeting, in his book The No-Guilt Guide for
Witnessing, tells of a man by the name of John Currier who in
1949 was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in
prison. Later he was transferred and paroled to work on a
farm near Nashville, Tennessee.
In 1968, Curriers sentence was terminated, and a
letter bearing the good news was sent to him. But John never
saw the letter, nor was he told anything about it. Life on that
farm was hard and without promise for the future. Yet John
kept doing what he was told even after the farmer for whom
he worked had died.
Ten years went by. Then a state parole officer learned
about Curriers plight, found him, and told him that his
sentence had been terminated. He was a free man.
Sweeting concluded that story by asking, Would it
matter to you if someone sent you an important message the
most important in your life and year after year the urgent
message was never delivered?
We who have the good news and experienced freedom
through Christ are responsible to proclaim it to others still
enslaved by sin. Are we doing all we can to make sure that
people get the message?

What to do:

 Today and everyday, tell others about what Jesus

has done for you.
********************

The Flea

November 13

Bible Reading: I Samuel 24:1-15

Key Verse: Verse 14 - After whom is the king of Israel

come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead
dog, after a flea.
Key Words: after a flea

Fleas are annoying they are a pest. In the Middle

East they are a very common insect.
David in our text compares himself to a flea in order to
discredit King Saul.
In the big scheme of life, fleas are not very important.
In pursuing David, King Saul was showing his lack of proper
priorities in life.
In recent years a head coach divorced his wife of
twenty-six years when he left coaching a college team to
become head coach in the National Football League. He said
he needed a wife while coaching on the college level for social
functions and to show families that he would be looking out
for their sons. In pro football, however, she was an
unnecessary accouterment and a distraction to winning. He
said winning football was his number one priority and his two
sons second. How tragic!
In contrast to this, Tom Landry, former coach of the
Dallas Cowboys said, The thrill of knowing Jesus is the
greatest thing that ever happened to me ... I think God has put
me in a very special place, and He expects me to use it to His
glory in everything I do ... whether coaching football or talking
to the press, Im always a Christian ... Christ is first, family
second and football third.
Now, thats having your priorities in order. Are your
priorities of life in order?

What to do:
Make sure your priorities are in order.

The Fly
Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

November 14

Key Verse: Verse 1 - Dead flies cause the ointment of

the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so
doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom
and honour.
Key Words: Dead flies
The immense number of flies in the Middle East is one
of its most striking characteristics. The most common of the
flies is the house fly. Flies are pesky, dirty, and carry diseases.
Flies are the dread of every picnic. Ive never heard anyone
say anything good about a fly, and rightfully so.
In our text dead flies are compared to a person of folly,
who can ruin the best of things.
After the disastrous hurricane that struck Long Island
in November 1950, one of the residents took a walk along the
south shore. As this man was viewing the wrecked cottages
and sympathizing with the owners, he came upon a scene that
showed how a victims sense of humor had triumphed over
calamity. The white front door of an almost totally wrecked
house was propped up by a broken chair. On the door, this
message was printed in black crayon:

I am an insurance salesman.
I sell storm insurance.
I did not carry storm insurance on this cottage.
I am a dope.
-- Leslie B. Flynn
The surprising thing about young fools is how many
survive to become old fools.

What to do:
Apply wisdom or youll just end up being a fool.

The Fox

November 15

Bible Reading: Song of Solomon 2

Key Verse: Verse 15 - Take us the foxes, the little
foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender
grapes.
Key Words: the little foxes, that spoil the vines

The fox is mentioned nine times in the Word of God,

but never is anything good said about the fox. The fox is
compared to the false prophets in Ezekiel 13:4. The fox is
compared to wickedness in Luke 13:32. The fox is also
destructive. In our text it was the little foxes that were
destroying the vineyard. The farmer would put a fence
around the field, but the little foxes could work their way
through the small holes in the fence and wreak havoc on the
vineyard.
So it is in our lives as well. Its the little things that
wreak havoc in our lives, like...
Not being prompt for work or meetings,
Not finishing our task in a timely manner and
meeting deadlines,
Not obeying those who are over us,

Not taking time to say thank you or give a

hearty greeting,
Not taking time to spend each morning in
prayer and Bible study,
Not taking time to properly prepare for the
events of the day,
And so the list goes on and on.

But beginning today, we need to take time to make

sure the little foxes are taken care of.

What to do:
Remember, the devil is in the details.

The Gecko (Lizard)

November 16

Bible Reading: Leviticus 11:29-41 (Also Hebrews 12:15)

Key Verse: Verse 30 - And the ferret, and the
chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the
mole.
Key Words: and the lizard

While many of our day have fallen in love with the

gecko because of the insurance commercials, in the Scripture
the creature is considered unclean, primarily because of the
places it goes and the germs it picks up on its suckers (feet),
and then transmits those germs wherever it may travel.
Sounds a lot like a person filled with bitterness to me
for they, as well, carry the germs of bitterness and a sour
disposition wherever they travel. Bitterness can and will kill
everyone in its path.
London held its breath in June 1987. While working
on a building site, a construction foreman thought his workers
had hit a cast iron pipe while using a pile driver. After picking
up and then dropping the huge object, they realized the pipe
strangely resembled a bomb.

It was a 2,200 pound World War II bomb, one of the

largest the Germans dropped during the blitz which killed
more than fifteen thousand Londoners. After evacuating the
area, a ten-man bomb disposal unit worked eighteen hours
before finally deactivating the seven-foot device.
Hatred is like an unexploded bomb. Unless its
deactivated it can detonate and cause great damage.
I trust today that you will have victory over bitterness
in your life.

What to do:
Remember, if you want to be miserable, hate
somebody.

The Leopard
November 17

Bible Reading: Song of Solomon 4:8-16

Key Verse: Verse 8 - Come with me from Lebanon,

my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top
of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from
the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.
Key Words: mountains of the leopards

The leopard is a wily, active, and ferocious beast. Next

to the bear, it is the largest existing animal carnivore in the
region of the Holy Land. It has a beautiful spotted skin. It is
its beauty which makes the beast so popular. Its popular
because its skin makes beautiful rugs and garments. You
could easily say that the leopards beauty turns out to be our
beast. So it is in our world beauty is the beast.
Very early in life a child begins to learn the importance
of physical beauty. The values of our society cannot be kept
from their little ears. It is a dull child who fails to notice that
the ugly do not win Miss America contests. The ugly are not
your high school cheerleaders; they seldom star in movies;
and usually the ugly have fewer friends than do the beautiful.

It is amazingly surprising just how effectively we teach

our children to appreciate the beauty cult. Why it is even
taught in our age-old childrens stories. Yes, you read it right,
our age-old childrens stories focus on beauty. How about...
1. The Ugly Duckling is a familiar story about
an unhappy duck that was rejected by
better-looking ducks, symbolizing the
plight of every unattractive child.
Fortunately for him, however, he had a
beautiful swan inside which surfaced
during adulthood. Oops, there it is, he was
only acceptable after becoming beautiful.
2. Sleeping Beauty why wasnt the story
entitled Sleeping Ugly?
Because ugly
doesnt sell unless, of course, in the end
they become beautiful which makes them
acceptable, like Cinderella, which is
another story based on physical beauty.
3. Rudolph you know him, dont you? He
wasnt accepted because of his ugly, shiny
nose until his shiny nose could save Santas
journey of delivering toys to all the good
little boys and girls.
4. And, of course, there is Dumbo, the
Elephant, ridiculed for his floppy ears until
he could use them to fly.
5. And what about Snow White and the Seven
Dwarfs? You know, Mirror, mirror on the
wall, who is the fairest (not ugliest) of them
all?
Lets face it, our children are taught daily the
importance of physical beauty. Its everywhere they go.
When was the last time you saw an ugly woman on a reality
TV series trying to be the one chosen to be the possible future
bride of a prince charming?
What a distorted value system we propagate! What
irreparable damage is done to those who do not meet up to
our beauty standards! Parents, our children are learning
and often we are the teacher of it, that outer beauty is far

more important than inner beauty. Maybe the title of this

article should be Beauty is the Beast.

What to do:
Make sure your beauty is focused within from the
heart. That is true beauty.
********************

The Locust

November 18

Bible Reading: Exodus 10:12-19

Key Verse: Verse 14 - And the locusts went up over
all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of
Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there
were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall
be such.
Key Words: And the locusts went up over all the

land of Egypt
In Ungers Bible Dictionary he describes the locust as
vast bodies of migrating creatures called by the Orientals as
the armies of God. They lay waste all that comes before them.
They observe regular orders and march as a mighty army. At
evening they descend from their flight and form as it were
camps. They rise in the morning and fly in the direction of the
wind. They travel in immense numbers and occupy miles of
space. They devour everything while it is green and leave no
life behind them.
Locust in the Scriptures is symbolic of destruction,
despair, and darkness; but its during these times that we can
know the presence of God.
During the Thirty Years War in the 17th century,
German pastor Paul Gerhardt and his family were forced to
flee from their home. One night as they stayed in a small
village inn, homeless and afraid, his wife broke down and

cried openly in despair. To comfort her, Gerhardt reminded

her of Scripture promises about Gods provision and keeping.
Then, going out to the garden to be alone, he too broke down
and wept. He felt he had come to his darkest hour. Soon
afterward, Gerhardt felt the burden lifted and sensed anew
the Lords presence. Taking his pen, he wrote a hymn that has
brought comfort to many. Give to the winds thy fears; hope,
and be undismayed; God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears;
God shall lift up thy head. Through waves and clouds and
storms He gently clears the way. Wait thou His time, so shall
the night soon end in joyous day.
It is often in our darkest times that God makes His
presence known most clearly. He uses our sufferings and
troubles to show us that He is our only source of strength.
And when we see this truth, like Pastor Gerhardt, we receive
new hope. Are you facing a great trial? Take heart. Put
yourself in Gods hands. Wait for His timing. He will give you
a song in the night.
Today, if the locust of despair and darkness is
consuming you, then I challenge you to be still and know the
presence of God.

What to do:
Know that God will never leave you nor forsake
you!!
********************

The Moth
Bible Reading: Matthew 6:16-34

November 19

Key Verse: Verse 19 - Lay not up for yourselves

treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Key Words: where moth and rust doth corrupt

There are several species of moth families. These

moths infect wooden goods and furs. Its almost impossible to
guard against them in the Middle East due to the climate.
People wrap up their carpets and cloths with pepper grains
and pride of India leaves to protect their possessions.
In our text the moth is said to corrupt even our
treasures. The moth in the Bible is symbolic of the things of
this earth which cause us not to invest in the Kingdom of God.
George W. Truett, long-time pastor of First Baptist
Church, Dallas, Texas, was invited to dinner in the home of a
wealthy man in Texas. After the meal, the host led him to a
place where they could get a good view of the surrounding
area.
Pointing to oil wells punctuating the landscape, he
boasted, Twenty-five years ago I had nothing. Now, as far as
you can see, its all mine. Looking in the opposite direction
at his sprawling fields of grain, he said, Thats all mine.
Turning east toward huge herds of cattle, he bragged, Theyre
all mine. Then, pointing to the west and a beautiful forest, he
exclaimed, That too is all mine. He paused, expecting Truett
to compliment him on his great success.
Truett, however, placing a hand on the mans shoulder
and pointing heavenward simply said, How much do you
have in that direction? The man hung his head and
confessed, I never thought of that. Although that wealthy
Texan had succeeded in making money, he had failed to
prepare for eternity.
What about you? Have you failed to prepare for
eternity?

What to do:
Dont let your earthly investments supersede your
eternal ones.
********************

The Scorpion

November 20

 Bible Reading: II Chronicles 10:1-11

Key Verse: Verse 11 - For whereas my father put a

heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke:
my father chastised you with whips, but I will
chastise you with scorpions.
Key Words: I will chastise you with scorpions

In the Middle East there are about a dozen species of

scorpions. The poison is in the stinger located in the
scorpions tail. The scorpion is an emblem of torture and
wrath, not just outward torture but often it is inward torture:
things we live with daily and we can tell no one how we hurt.
I read a story recently about a man who was such a
golf addict that he was neglecting his job. Frequently he
would call in sick as an excuse to play.
One morning, after making his usual call to the office,
an angel up above spotted him on the way to the golf course
and decided to teach him a lesson. If you play golf today, you
will be punished, the angel whispered in his ear.
Thinking it was only his conscience, which he had
successfully whipped in the past, the fellow just smiled, No,
he said, Ive been doing this for years. No one will ever know.
I wont be punished.
The angel said no more and the fellow stepped up to
the first tee where he promptly whacked the ball 300 yards
straight down the middle of the fairway. Since he had never
driven the ball more than 200 yards, he couldnt believe it.
Yet, there it was. And his luck continued -- long drives on
every hole, perfect putting. By the ninth hole he was six under
par and was playing near-perfect golf. The fellow was walking
on air. He wound up with an amazing 61, about 30 strokes
under his usual game. Wait until he got back to the office and
told them about this!! But, suddenly, his face fell. He
couldnt tell them. He could never tell anyone. The angel
smiled.
What are you living with today that tortures you
within?

What to do:
You can always tell Jesus. So tell Him what you
cant tell others.
********************

The Serpent

November 21

Bible Reading: Revelation 12

Key Verse: Verse 9 - And the great dragon was cast
out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan,
which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into
the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Key Words: that old serpent called the devil
There are numerous types of snakes mentioned in the
Bible. There is the adder, the viper; but without a doubt, the
serpent is understood as the most deceitful of creatures.
Nothing good is ever said in Gods Word in regard to
the serpent. From our text you can see that Satan is referred
to as a serpent. In the Scriptures, the serpent acts as a
deceiver.
In a large city some very creative crooks broke into a
department store. They entered the store unnoticed and
stayed long enough to accomplish their mission. You may
wonder what they stole, but thats just the catch. They didnt
take anything. Instead, these thieves switched the price tags.
The tag on a $395.00 camera was removed and placed on a
box of stationery. The $5.95 sticker on a paperback book was
attached to an outboard motor. Everything was shuffled.
When the store opened the next morning, you would have
expected total chaos. Surprisingly, though, the store operated
normally at first. Some customers literally got some steals
while others felt the merchandise was overpriced. Incredibly,
four hours slipped by before the hoax was discovered. In the
department store of American Culture, Satan has deceptively
switched the price tags. Far more than four hours have
passed since he did it. Things are valued more than people,

pleasure is priced higher than faithfulness, profits mean more

than integrity, and God has been priced for clearance. The
tags have been switched, and we need to sound the alarm.

What to do:
Worship God, but worship Him in spirit (not flesh)
and in truth (not lies).

The Sheep

November 22

Bible Reading: Isaiah 53

Key Verse: Verse 6 - 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.
Key Words: All we like sheep have gone astray;
Sheep were and are raised in great numbers in the
Holy Land.
We read of the tribute of 200,000 fleeces from the
King of Moab to the King of Israel (II Kings 3:4). Rueben took
250,000 sheep from the children of Ishmael (I Chronicles
5:21).
From our text its easy to see that sheep without a
shepherd will always go astray.
In Moody Anecdotes D. L. Moody says: Dr. Andrew
Bonar told me how, in the Highlands of Scotland, a sheep
would often wander off into the rocks and get into places that
they couldnt get out of. The grass on these mountains is very
sweet and the sheep like it, and they will jump down ten or
twelve feet, and then they cant jump back again, and the
shepherd hears them bleating in distress. They may be there
for days, until they have eaten all the grass. The shepherd will

wait until they are so faint they cannot stand, and then they
will put a rope around him, and he will go over and pull that
sheep up out of the jaws of death. Why dont they go down
there when the sheep first get there? I asked. Ah! he said,
they are so very foolish they would dash right over the
precipice and be killed if they did! And that is the way with
men; they wont go back to God till they have no friends and
have lost everything. If you are a wanderer I tell you that the
good Shepherd will bring you back the moment you have
given up trying to save yourself and are willing to let Him save
you His own way.
Today, quit trying to save yourself and turn yourself
over to the Good Shepherd of your soul, Jesus Christ.
What to do:
Realize without Christ as your Shepherd, you are in
danger, whether you realize it or not.
********************

The Sparrow

November 23

Bible Reading: Matthew 10:16-31

that

Key Verse: Verse 25 - It is enough for the disciple

he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If
they have called the master of the house Beelzebub,
how much more shall they call them of his household?
Key Words: Are not two sparrows sold for a

farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the

ground without your Father.
Sparrows were considered the weakest of all the fowls.
They had very little value to them, yet Gods Word reveals that
in spite of their lack of value, God still watches over them and
cares for them.
Charles H. Spurgeon loved to tell stories about his
grandfather, a minister, who was very poor. The one cow he

owned had died, and his ten children were without milk. His
wife asked, What will we do now? I cannot tell, he said,
but I know what God will do. We must have milk for the
children and He will provide for us.
The next morning a man brought Spurgeons
grandfather a gift of twenty pounds from the ministers relief
fund, even though help had not been requested. A few days
before, the relief committee had divided the funds for
distribution and an amount of five pounds was left over. One
of the members said, There is poor Mr. Spurgeon down in
Essex. Suppose we send it to him. Wed better make it ten,
said the chairman, and Ill give another five. That made it
fifteen. Another man added five more pounds. Those men
knew nothing about Spurgeons cow, but God knew.
I repeat: if God will take care of the sparrow, He will
take care of you.

What to do:
Thank God for His marvelous care and provision.
********************

The Raven

November 24

Bible Reading: Genesis 8:1-12

Key Verse: Verse 7 - And he sent forth a raven, which

went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up
from off the earth.
Key Words: And he sent forth a raven

The raven is the first bird mentioned in the Scriptures.

But probably the raven is best known for feeding Elijah as he
hid by the brook Cherith. The raven is known as a thief as it
steals food from other animals and even humans.
In Luke 12:24, the raven is used by the Lord as a
reminder that we are not to worry.

Milton Berle, the comedian of years ago, said: Life is

very simple. The first thing to remember about life is dont
worry about it. Really, there are only two things to worry
about; either youre successful or youre not successful. If
youre successful, theres nothing to worry about. If youre not
successful, there are only two things to worry about. Your
health is good or you are sick. If your health is good, theres
nothing to worry about. If your health is bad, there are only
two things to worry about: either youre going to live or youre
not going to live. If you live, theres nothing to worry about;
and if you dont live, you have only two things to worry about.
Either youre going to heaven or youre not going to heaven. If
you are going to heaven, theres nothing to worry about; and if
you go to the other place, youll be so busy shaking hands with
all your friends, you wont have time to worry.
While Berles theology is certainly flawed, the point is
clear. There really is no reason to worry. What problem do
you have thats too big for God?

What to do:
Remember, you dont get ulcers from what you eat;
you get ulcers from whats eating you.
********************

The Whale

November 25

Bible Reading: Jonah 1

Key Verse: Verse 17 - Now the LORD had prepared a

great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the
belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Key Words: Now the Lord prepared a great fish

The great fish, according to Jesus in Matthew 12:40,

was a whale. The whale in Jonahs life was a product of
running from the Lord. A real lack of faith was displayed in

Jonahs life. Jonah replaced faith with fear. What a shame!

What a tragedy!
Have you ever read stories of what fear produced in
the lives of people?
For some, fear produces cowardice. During his years
as premier of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev denounced
many of the policies and atrocities of Joseph Stalin. Once, as
he censured Stalin in a public meeting, Khrushchev was
interrupted by a shout from a heckler in the audience. You
were one of Stalins colleagues. Why didnt you stop him?
Who said that? roared Khrushchev. An agonizing silence
followed as nobody in the room dared move a muscle. Then
Khrushchev replied quietly, Now you know why.
In others, it produces paranoia. It is said that the
Soviet dictator, Joseph Stalin, so feared for his safety that his
residence in Moscow contained eight bedrooms. Each night
Stalin chose a bedroom at random to ensure that no one knew
exactly where he was sleeping.
For still others, it produces wisdom. During World
War II, a military governor met with General George Patton in
Sicily. When he praised Patton highly for his courage and
bravery, the general replied, Sir, I am not a brave man... The
truth is I am an utter craven coward. I have never been within
the sound of gunshot or in sight of battle in my whole life that
I wasnt so scared that I had sweat in the palms of my hand.
Years later, when Pattons autobiography was published, it
contained this significant statement by the general: I learned
very early in my life never to take counsel of my fears.
But Jonahs fear was different from all others. Jonah
feared to do the will of God, and as a result, he faced another
fear: the chastisement from God.
So today, let me encourage you dont run from God
when you face fear, but run to God. Thats where your safety
lies.

What to do:
Avoid the whales of life: run to God, not from Him.

********************

The Wolf

November 26

Bible Reading: Matthew 7:1-20

Key Verse: Verse 15- Beware of false prophets, which

come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are
ravening wolves.
Key Words: Beware of false prophets, which come

to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are

ravening wolves.
The wolf is the terror of the sheep, but usually flees
from the shepherd. Wolves are very numerous in the Middle
East.
Sheep are never more in danger than when they
wander off from the shepherd.
Our Scripture today warns us of, not a visible foe but a
deceitful one: false prophets, who pretend to be sheep. God
tells us to evaluate those who say they are the man of God, not
solely by his work, but by his fruit what he produces in his
life. We would all do well to heed the warnings of God.
A man who lived on Long Island was able one day to
satisfy a lifelong ambition by purchasing for himself a very
fine barometer. When the instrument arrived at his home, he
was extremely disappointed to find that the indicating needle
seemed to be stuck, pointing to the sector marked
Hurricane. After shaking the barometer very vigorously
several times, its new owner sat down and wrote a scorching
letter to the store from which he had purchased the
instrument. The following morning on the way to his office in
New York, he mailed the letter. That evening he returned to
Long Island to find not only the barometer missing, but his
house also. The barometers needle had been right there
was a hurricane!
So it is with Gods Word, it is always right so go by it
and live by it.

What to do:
Know Gods Word and heed Gods warnings.

The Stork

November 27

Bible Reading: Psalm 104

Key Verse: Verse 17 - Where the birds make their

nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
Key Words: as for the stork, the fir trees are her

house
The stork is an unusual bird in that when it sleeps, it
stands on one leg with its head bent backwards.
The stork is said to be a very kind bird. The Bible
name means goodness or affection. The stork takes great
pains to secure its young ones.
Gentleness puts concern for others before itself.
The Greek word praus means power under control. A
three-year-old girl called to her mother to come and see a
doggie. Her mother thought it was another imaginary dog,
but she went out anyway. To her surprise she saw the girl
petting an injured Mexican wolf. The mother told the girl to
back off from the dog slowly, and she did. The mother called
a vet, who gave the animal a shot. The wolf recovered and
stayed in the girls backyard. She played with the wolf as a pet
for twelve years. The wolf had power under control. That was
gentleness.
Today and everyday, let me encourage you to be gentle
with those you come in contact with.

What to do:
Be gentle, like the stork. It beats the alternative.

The Horse

November 28

Bible Reading: Job 39:1-25

Key Verse: Verse 19 - Hast thou given the horse

strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?.
Key Words: Hast thou given the horse strength?
You can read about horses throughout the Word of

God.
Horses were used in three major areas: for plowing,
for transportation, but they were primarily used in war.
In Proverbs 21:31, we read, The horse is prepared
against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.
Its interesting that the horse reminds us of war in a
world searching for peace. Speaking of wars and peace, I
found the following article quite interesting.
When General Dobey, British commander of Malta
during World War I, was stationed in the Holy Land in 1916,
an aide approached him and said, Sir, this is a funny war
were fighting. The Muslims wont fight on Fridays, the Jews
wont fight on Saturdays, and the Christians wont fight on
Sundays.
With Solomon-like wisdom, Dobey replied, Well, if
you can find four other world religions that refuse to fight on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, because of their
holy days, you have solved the problem of world peace.

Now, we know that there will always be wars and

rumors of wars until the Lord returns on His white horse and
sets up the Millennial Kingdom.

What to do:
Share the God of all peace with a world in conflict.

The Mole
November 29

Bible Reading: Isaiah 2:5-22

Key Verse: Verse 20 In that day a man shall cast
his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they
made each one for himself to worship, to the moles
and to the bats;
Key Words: to the moles
The mole is only mentioned twice in the Scripture.
One is in Leviticus where it is named among the unclean
animals, and the other is in our text.
Have you read about the first missionaries who went
to the Sandwich Islands? And do you remember that
although the people had always been worshippers of idols,
they had cast them all away just before the missionaries
came?
That was a very wonderful thing to happen; and it
seems as though God was making these poor people ready to
hear about the Savior, when the missionaries should come.
Well, this verse in Isaiah declares that the same thing will
happen by and by over the whole earth. You know that there
are now millions and millions of poor heathen who worship
nothing but images of gold, or brass, or stone; but the day is
coming when not an idol shall be seen, and no being shall be
worshipped but the true God.

The mole lives under ground, and the bat in gloomy,

dark caves where nobody thinks of going; so when it is said
that the idols shall be Cast to the moles and to the bats, it
means that they shall be thrown away in dark and neglected
places, just as we throw away old shoes, or anything that we
care nothing about.
While the mole is symbolic in false worship, true
worship focuses totally on God.
When Robert Kennedy visited the Amazon, he
conversed with a Brazilian Indian, who had recently come to
Christ but was not known to Kennedy, through a translator.
What do you most like to do? Kennedy expected an answer
like hunting with bows and arrows or canoeing. The
Indian answered, Being occupied with God. Kennedy said,
Ask him again. Something may be lost in translation. But
the Indian gave the same answer. This was an excellent
definition of worship.
So let me ask you, is your worship true, or is it false?

What to do:
Make sure your worship is being occupied with
God.
********************

The Kite
November 30

Bible Reading: Ephesians 6:1-10

Key Verse: Verse 10 Finally, my brethren, be
strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Key Words: be strong in the Lord
The kite is mentioned but once in the Word of God: in
Leviticus 11:14.

The kite is very much a dreaded fowl by those who

have ducks and chickens, because the kite preys on such
animals.
The kite eats frogs and moles. It is said that more than
twenty of the latter have been found in one kite nest.
It is a cowardly bird and does not attack any animal
strong enough to defend itself.
There are not only animal kites; there are human kites
as well: those whose joy comes from preying off those weaker
than themselves.
In this day when Christianity is the brunt of many
jokes, it takes courage to do right and stand right in the world.
A young Italian lad, who had gone far in the ways of
sin, was converted.
He turned right-about-face.
A
Chautauqua came to town. He purchased a ticket. A
magician furnished the entertainment one evening. He
needed a helper, and the lad volunteered. Presently the
magician produced a deck of cards and asked the lad to cut
the deck. He said, No, I will not touch them; never again.
Oh, said the magician, they will not hurt you. I am not
asking you to play cards, bet, or anything like that. Use your
head. Dont be a fool. I cannot do this trick if you do not
cooperate. There they stood before a large audience. The
elite of the town was there. What would you have done under
the circumstances? The lad said, No, I
will not touch those cards. They almost
ruined my life. The magician threw up
his hands, and the audience burst out in
prolonged applause. Do you have the courage to say no?

What to do:
Be strong in the Lord. Protect your Christian
faith. Put Bible principles into practice.

Notes

Notes

Notes

I deeply appreciate the

help of
Mary Parsons
Glenda Myrick
And my lovely wife, Linda

Without God using these

people to help, this
devotional would not
have been possible.

Dr. Mike Rouse

is a ministry of

5568 Chalkville Mountain Road

Birmingham, AL. 35235
(205) 854-2741
www.mountainviewbaptist.org