He
who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the
Almighty. Psalm 91:1(NAS)
Browsing in a garden store one day I found a terra-cotta watering can with the words "Toad Abode" over a little arched doorway.
Once in my backyard it was soon inhabited by a handsome toad. Each night "Buster" camped out under the porch light feasting on insects that were drawn there. At dawn, he returned to his safe abode. He grew so large I marveled that he fit through the small doorway.
One morning finding his home empty, I fretted that perhaps a snake had eaten him or that he had met his demise under the wheel of a car.
That need not have been the case if he had continued to abide in his shelter enjoying the nearby bug blessings that the light provided.
This offered a wonderful illustration the following week when my Sunday School class of 11th and 12th graders gathered on my porch.
We talked about what it meant to abide in the shelter of God—how abiding cannot be intermittent. To abide in Christ means to live in Him, not visit occasionally. When we abide, He meets all our needs and we are safe in the shelter of His love. We can live in confidence and peace.
At the close of class we gathered around Buster's home to see if he had made a wise choice and returned to the safety of his shelter. I held my breath and gently lifted his abode.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as Buster woke up blinking in the bright sunlight!
Father, we thank you and are assured that abiding in You nothing can touch us without first being sifted through Your loving, protective hands. Amen.
Browsing in a garden store one day I found a terra-cotta watering can with the words "Toad Abode" over a little arched doorway.
Once in my backyard it was soon inhabited by a handsome toad. Each night "Buster" camped out under the porch light feasting on insects that were drawn there. At dawn, he returned to his safe abode. He grew so large I marveled that he fit through the small doorway.
One morning finding his home empty, I fretted that perhaps a snake had eaten him or that he had met his demise under the wheel of a car.
That need not have been the case if he had continued to abide in his shelter enjoying the nearby bug blessings that the light provided.
This offered a wonderful illustration the following week when my Sunday School class of 11th and 12th graders gathered on my porch.
We talked about what it meant to abide in the shelter of God—how abiding cannot be intermittent. To abide in Christ means to live in Him, not visit occasionally. When we abide, He meets all our needs and we are safe in the shelter of His love. We can live in confidence and peace.
At the close of class we gathered around Buster's home to see if he had made a wise choice and returned to the safety of his shelter. I held my breath and gently lifted his abode.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as Buster woke up blinking in the bright sunlight!
Father, we thank you and are assured that abiding in You nothing can touch us without first being sifted through Your loving, protective hands. Amen.
©2015 Bonnie Mae Evans
1 comment:
Hello, Bonnie. I can relate to your love for animals, even the hopping, green kind. I have lots of "Freddie's" at my house. They must have followed me when we moved from the other country home. Ha! I can just see the "toad abode" with the frog inside. The children must have learned a sweet lesson of nature and if asked, I'll bet each one of them still remember it, because of you and your sweet love of God and nature. God bless you.
Evelyn
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