Duck Feathers vs. God's Feathers!

Picture taken by my granddaughter
at our neighborhood duck pond.

Have you even wondered how ducks stay dry?

"If you can watch some ducks for a while you might notice that they spend a lot of time nibbling their feathers with their beaks. This is called preening. While the duck is preening she is spreading oil all over her top layer of feathers. The oil comes from a special place near her tail called a gland and when she spreads the oil over her feathers it makes her feathers waterproof. The water can’t get through the first layer of oily feathers and so all of her feathers underneath stay dry and fluffy and keep her warm all over."  (From Garth and Bev's website)

Swans and geese keep dry under their feathers in the same way.

As my granddaughter and I were talking about this yesterday,

I suddenly realized that God wants to take care of us in a similar way!

"He shall cover you with His feathers,

And under His wings you shall take refuge."

Psalm 91:4

He doesn't take us out of the water

(the storms or challenges in our lives),

but He keeps us "dry" and out of danger

by giving us refuge "under His wings"!

Click on Rock4Today to see my latest posting of "Names of God on Rocks!"

Do you believe in Guardian Angels?

Many times I have thanked God for His protection of my husband.  I have often thought that he must have more than one guardian angel because of the many close calls he has had.

One morning this week before my husband Gary left to work at his tree trimming business,  he prayed for safety.


...I prayed that God would put His angels around him and his helper to protect them.




I didn't know how important that prayer might have been until a little later in the day when Gary walked in looking a bit pale and shaken.

He greeted me with the words, "You are very lucky to have a husband, and not be a widow right now!"





They had been working on a dead tree cutting off the limbs near the bottom.  They had just repositioned the bucket truck to begin working on the higher branches, when  CRASH! A large limb from above where they had been cutting came crashing down on the truck, just missing my husband by about 10 feet!

               So, the next day when they went out to work on the job again,

I not only prayed ---

I also made frequent trips out to the job site.

I watched as they tied a rope around the remaining top

of the tree and secured it to Gary's pick up some distance away.

                    

The sawdust flew as they notched the tree.
 They placed increasing tension on the rope as they began cutting
 on the other side. 

 With relief I watched as it fell to the ground right
 where they wanted it to fall, with no damage to the fence, 
to the horses that were in the adjacent field,
or to the two humans who were doing the work!

 

Watching them repeat the procedure for the next

portion of the tree,  I was so aware of

 God's protection on us frail human beings.

...And so thankful when the next big hunk
again landed where it was supposed to land!

 

       The Angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and He delivers them. 

Psalm 34:7

"See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you..."

Exodus 23:20 

 "For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go."

 Psalm 91:11

 

What kind of angel experiences have you had?

Aren't you thankful for all the times God has used them to protect you?

Linking today with Laura's Brag on God Friday,

and Charlotte's Inspirational Spiritual Sundays!

Click here to check out this week's name for God!