I'M SCARED OF—WILD ANIMALS,

 SNAKES AND BUGS!

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THERE ARE PROMISES ABOUT THINGS LIKE THIS TOO:

AFTER ALL, JESUS MADE THE ANIMALS AND BUGS AND EVERYTHING, HE WON'T LET THEM HURT HIS CHILDREN. 

Luke 10:19 "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

Psalms 91:13 "Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet."

Read all of Psalms 91 as it has promises for just everything!

Don't Worry--Come on in: He's Freindly!

One of the best ways to get over being afraid of animals, bugs, snakes, spiders or whatever, is to realize that Jesus made them all and they have their purpose. It is true that some animals in our sin-sick world are harmful, but God's angels can still guard us from them.

If you start to read about them and learn about them, you will like them more and more. Go somewhere that you can see real animals and birds and watch them and see what you can learn from them.

The things of nature were made to be a blessing to us and each living thing is special in some way. Remember, being afraid is a choice; you can decide not to be afraid and Jesus will take the fear away. I used to be afraid of spiders, but I made myself watch them and learn about them and now I don't scream and run away anytime I see one. 

In the Bible we read about Daniel, who got thrown into a den of savage LIONS for saying his prayers! But listen what he told the king the next morning: Daniel 6:22 "My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me:" 

Here are some stories about different animals that prove that Jesus can keep them from hurting His children!

COPPERHEAD!

A friend of mine tells what happened to him when he lived in a part of the USA where there were lots of poisonous snakes!

One day he was looking for a piece of pipe to do a repair job with. His friend said, "Look over there under that piece of metal, that is where I keep my pipes."

He went over there and reached under the metal to find the pipe he needed. He moved things around and felt piece after piece and finally, not finding what he wanted, he put the metal down. 

But for some reason he picked it up again, higher this time, and took one final look underneath. There in the middle of the parts was a BIG COPPERHEAD snake! and he was very angry! 

My friend called and the other man came over and they killed the big snake. It was for sure that an angel had stopped the angry snake from biting my friend while he rummaged under the sheet-metal.

THE CHINESE LADY AND THE RATS

One time, away over in China, there lived a little, old Chinese lady with a little, old Chinese man in a little, old Chinese house. Now they didn’t know anything about our Jesus. They worshipped the picture of a god called Josh. In the picture that hung on the wall, Josh looked like an old, old man, with big, long whiskers, and big long sleeves to his robe and he just sat there with his arms folded and his legs crossed and he didn’t do anything. He just looked, and looked, and looked.

When they wanted to pray to Josh, they took a piece of bread and they poked five or six little sticks of incense into it. Then lighting the incense they placed the bread in front of the picture and while the smoke of the incense was going up and up and up, they would get down on their knees, ring their gongs, and pray, and pray, and pray. But Josh couldn’t see, and Josh couldn’t hear and Josh couldn’t do anything. He just sat there in the picture with his arms folded and his legs crossed and he just looked, and looked and looked.

 One day the little, old Chinese lady was going downtown and as she hobbled along on her tiny little feet, suddenly she heard the strangest music. It was coming from a building which she was just passing. The door was open. She looked in, the room was full of people singing “Jesus loves me, this I know.” She had never heard anything like it before there was an empty seat sitting near the door so she stepped in and sat down.

Soon four or five people stood up and began to teach. Of course you’ve guessed what it was already, but she had no idea what a Sabbath School was, and she was surprised at everything she saw and heard that day. But when one of the teachers spoke kindly to her and invited her to come again; she said, “ I believe I will” and she did. She came again and again and she gave her heart to Jesus, she was baptized and became a Christian.

Then she longed for her husband to become a Christian too and she tried and she tried her best to get him to come to Sabbath School with her. “Husband”, she said one day, “ Why don’t  you worship my big God? Your Josh never helps you; he never does anything for you. He can’t see you, he can’t hear you, he just sits there in the picture and looks and looks and looks.”

“Yes I know”, replied her husband angrily, “I know he can’t see me, but I can see him. Now I can’t even see your God. When you pray, sometimes you look up; is your God on the roof? Sometimes you look down; is your God under the house? I know my god doesn’t do anything for me but I can see him and I can’t see your God.”

“But Husband”, said the little, old Chinese lady patiently, “You don’t understand; my God lives away up in heaven beyond the sun and the moon and the stars, that’s why you can’t see Him. But He can see us, and He can hear us, and once upon a time His people were very hungry and when there was nothing to eat, they just prayed, and our Great God heard and He opened a little window in heaven and down came food for them all.”

“Huh”, said the little, old man, “I don’t see your God opening up a little window and letting rice down for you. I have to buy all the rice that you eat.”

“But Husband, listen!” said the little, old lady, “Once His people had no water to drink and  they prayed to their Great God,  and he just told the leader of His people to strike the rock, and a spring of water came right out of that rock.”

“Huh”, said the little, old man, “I don’t see your God giving you any water to drink. I have to carry all the water from the river for you to drink, I do.”

“But Husband, listen!” the little, old lady kept on, “and once they came to a river and there was no way to get across and the people prayed to their Great God, and He told the leader to hold out his rod over the water, and do you know, the waters divided and there was a roadway immediately and they all went across.”

“Huh”, kept on the old man, “But I don’t see your God doing anything like that for you. I have to give you money to cross the river in a ferryboat every time you want to go across the river, I do. Why don’t you tell your God to do something for you that I can see? Then maybe, I’ll go to worship your God with you.”

“But, Husband, He is doing many things”, began the little, old lady but she was interrupted by the little, old man who said with great excitement, “Say, Listen! I’ll tell you what. Our house is full of rats. They eat holes in our blankets, they eat up our rice. Look; you tell your God to chase the rats out of our house and if He can do that, then, then maybe, I’ll go to worship your God with you.”

But the little, old Chinese lady wasn’t quite sure that God could chase rats out of a house. Of course He could bring manna down out of heaven and water from the rock and raise the dead; that was easy. But RATS! RATS? She had never heard of God chasing rats out of anyone’s house. So she thought and thought for three days.

Then she said to her husband, “Come here and sit down. I’m going to ask my Great God to chase the rats out of the house. You close your eyes now and keep very quiet and when I am finished, you say Amen, and we’ll just see what my Great God will do for you.”

Then that humble little, old Chinese lady kneeled down and prayed; “Dear Father, I think you can do it alright. It isn’t nearly as hard as bringing manna down from heaven, or raising the dead. And Dear Father, Thou hast heard what my husband says. He says that if You only do something that he can see, then he might worship You  too. Please, dear Father, Couldn’t You just send an angel to frighten the rats. I think…”

And do you know, while that little, old Chinese lady was praying, a rat poked its nose out of the hole where the floor and the wall come together. And it went sniff, Sniff, sniff; then something seemed to frighten it and it scampered right across the floor, out of the front door, on to the street.

“Oh, thank You Lord” Said the little woman still praying, “I knew you could. Please send some more…”

And do you know, another rat poked its nose out of the hole and it went sniff, sniff, sniff, and then it scampered across the floor and out of the front door onto the street. Then another one came and it scampered across the floor, and another one, and another one, until every rat in the house ran out onto the street. And they never came back again.

The little, old Chinese man was nearly frightened to death; he sat there wondering of the great faith his little wife had in her great big God. And when the rats began to run out of the house, his eyes bugged open; he swallowed hard; he moved his chair in terror. The little Chinese woman’s big God had done something he could see. And the next time the little, old Chinese lady went to Sabbath School, the little, old Chinese man went too.

 

A Wall of Horses!

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The horses had come through the village once before, and a wild and savage sight it had been. Rounded up from the prairies, they had suddenly turned down the narrow dirt road between the houses, and with the thunder of a thousand hoofs had raced madly through.

That was years ago, and the people who now lived in the village never dreamed it would happen again. Surely there would never be another stampede like that, not in their life­time.

So time passed, and children were born. They grew up and played on that same dirt road. Horses from nearby farms passed peacefully to and fro, and the children knew most of them by name; but of the wild horses of the mountains and prairies they knew nothing, except what their mothers had told them of the big stampede. Sometimes, perhaps, they dreamed, as children do, of that terrible day when the whole frantic herd went galloping through their village.

Life was very happy and peaceful there, far from city noises and railroads and speeding automobiles. Nothing very special happened from week to week until one afternoon--Yes, it was a Sabbath afternoon. Lucy and Lillian had studied their Bible lesson with their parents that very morning. It had been about Daniel in the lions' den, and the two children had enjoyed it very much, especially the part where the angel came and shut the lions' mouths so that they would not harm the prophet of the Lord. They had asked Mother if the angels would go to the rescue of other people who might get into trouble like that, and Mother had said they surely would.

The lesson over, the children had gone out for a little walk by themselves. They had planned to go down the dirt road, across a field or two, then back again. But they did not get that far.

Suddenly, while they were still in the village, they heard a strange noise in the distance. Looking up, they saw a great cloud of dust which seemed to be coming nearer and nearer.

Then, amid the dust they could see horses, galloping horses, galloping madly—straight toward them.

They were standing near a little bush not much taller than themselves, and no protection at all, but now they knelt beside it, saying a little prayer, and wondering what would happen.

Meanwhile Mother had heard the horses too. Instantly she had recognized the dreadful sound that had frightened her so much long ago. At the same moment she thought of her children. Where were they? Surely they must be on the road, right in the path of the wild, plunging beasts. She ran out to look. Yes, there they were! She called to them, but they could not hear her. Meanwhile the wild horses, scores and scores of them, were rushing madly, blindly, frantically, right through the village toward them!

"Save them! O Jesus, save them!" Mother cried in desperation, turning her head away lest she should see them killed.

Then something very wonderful happened. You do not need to believe it unless you wish to, but I know it is true. The mother told me about it herself. And the oldest girl too.

Suddenly, as the horses neared the children, those in front stopped. Neighing frenziedly, they reared up on their hind legs, their hoofs pawing the air. Then the next row piled onto those ahead of them, their front legs straddling the others backs. Behind them still others did the same, until, in the space of seconds, there was a wall of horses right across that village street. With their manes flying in the wind, and clouds of dust billowing about them, it was a never-to-be-forgotten sight.

In that brief pause the children slipped away and hurried home. The horses plunged and tossed a little while longer, then dropped their hoofs to the ground and started off again on their mad and thunderous flight.

"But weren't you afraid?" asked Mother as Lucy and Lillian came sauntering up to her. "Afraid?" they said, quite unconcerned. "Oh, no. We knew the angel of the Lord would look after us, and he did."

Then they went indoors to play, while Mother, who had been sick with fright, marveled at their faith.

   

ANGEL ON A HORSE

It was early autumn and the first snow had already fallen in Manitoba. The very sight of it made Patsy and Peggy long for their old home in the country where they used to live before they moved into the city.

"I'd love to go and see it again," said Patsy, who was just over twelve at the time.

"So would I," said Peggy, who was eleven.

"Then why don’t we?” questioned Patsy, “It isn’t far. Not more than three or four miles at the most. We could walk it some afternoon."

"Lets", said Peggy.

And so it came about that one afternoon a few days later the two girls set out together for their old home. The paved city road soon changed into a winding country road that led them through a forest. With snow on the trees and bushes it was a very pretty walk, and the children enjoyed it immensely.

Two hours later they arrived at the clearing where the old cabin stood in which they had enjoyed so many happy years. They walked around it several times, peering in at the windows and recalling all the pleasant times they had spent there in days gone by.

The afternoon went by all too quickly. Soon dusk began to fall, and the girls decided it was high time they started back to the city. They didn't want to have to pass through the forest after dark.

So, bidding the old cabin farewell, they began their homeward journey. In the fading light and the awful stillness of the snow-covered forest they began to feel very much alone.

"Isn't it quiet out here?" said Patsy.

"Dreadfully," said Peggy. "I wish we hadn't stayed at the cabin so long."

"So do I,” answered Patsy. “It’s getting very dark, Isn’t It?"

"I'm feeling a bit frightened," whispered Peggy. "Are you!"

"Yes, I am," said Patsy. "They say there are bears in this forest, especially in wintertime."

 "Bears!" cried Peggy. "I hope we don't meet one. It might tear us to pieces and eat us up."

"Don’t!" said Patsy, “You make me feel creepy.”

They walked on in silence for a while. Even their footfalls, cushioned by the snow, made not the slightest sound. What little breeze there had been in the afternoon had died down. There wasn't a movement anywhere. Or was there?

Suddenly Patsy stopped.

"L-l-look over there!" she stammered, her teeth chattering with fright. "D-d-d-id you see something?"

Peggy looked as Patsy pointed.

"You mean that bush over there on the right?"

"Yes," whispered Patsy. "Watch the lower branches. I'm sure I saw them move." "Y-y-y-ou're right," said Peggy, now all atremble herself.

"They are moving! Oh, dear, what can it be?" Then they saw it. A big black head with a long nose peering out at them!

"A bear!" they cried together, petrified with fright.

"Oh!" wailed Peggy, "what shall we do? He'll eat us up; I know he will."

"Ssh, be quiet," cautioned Patsy, who could hardly speak for fear.

"But what shall we do?" wailed Peggy. "What shall we do?”

"We can't do anything but pray," responded Patsy. "If we run he will chase us. Can you pray, Peggy?"

"No, you pray, Patsy, and I'll say amen."

So Patsy prayed. It was a very halting, frightened prayer.

"Please, Jesus, there's a bear in the woods close by us, and we can't get away. Please help us. Please save us from the bear."

Then it was that they heard another sound, and at first they thought it was another bear. It was coming straight toward them through the forest.

But this time it was not a bear. It was a man on a white horse. And the horse was so white that it seemed to be part of the snow as it moved swiftly through the trees.

"Look out!" the children called to the rider. "There's a bear over there! He's behind that bush. We saw him ourselves."

 But the man on the white horse did not seem to mind. In­stead, he rode right up to them. Then he smiled and, turning his horse toward town, said kindly, “Follow me.”

Not knowing what else to do, and more than glad for company, the children followed. On and on they walked, the man on the white horse just in front of them.

"Who can it be?" whispered Patsy.

"I don't know," said Peggy. "I don't recognize him. Perhaps he will tell us when we get to town."

But he didn't. When they reached the edge of the woods, the rider on the white horse turned, smiled again, called good-by, and galloped away, vanishing as mysteriously as he had come.

"I wonder who he was," said Patsy as they hurried on into town. "I don't know," said Peggy. "But don't you remember how we prayed for help, and it was just afterward that we saw him? Could it be that Jesus sent an angel to save us?"

"It could have been!" exclaimed Patsy. "Maybe it was! Maybe it really was!" Maybe it was. Anyhow, when I met Patsy some time ago she was still quite sure that Jesus did send someone to save them from the bear. And I believe she was right, don't you?

So learn about the animals, and see how wonderful they are, and when there is real danger, ask Jesus to send His angels to protect you.

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