Creation Inspirations Blog » Today’s Creation Inspiration

Ring Around the Lemur

Cheryl — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 00:25:41 +0000

Some animals have stripes or spots that help us identify them. Your cat or dog at home may even have one of these patterns. But at least one creature, has something a little different-rings!

The ring-tailed lemur is just one of many species of lemurs that live on the planet. Like their name says, the rings they have are on their tails. They are stacked in black and white and easy to spot.


 Photo via Flickr by Ella's Dad

In the wild, most species of lemurs, including the ring-tailed, live on the island of Madagascar. It’s a very tiny place compared to most other countries, and unfortunately, lemur habitat is getting smaller and smaller every day.

The forests they need to live are being destroyed so that farms and crops can be put there instead. Hopefully, people will figure out a way to compromise soon so that lemurs continue to have a place to live, too.

A New View

If you’ve ever gone for a hike in the woods with a group of friends, you probably chose someone to be the leader. That person walked ahead and either made a path through, or found a way to get where you wanted to go. The rest of you would have tried to keep your eyes on that person, so that you knew which way to walk.

Ring-tailed lemurs do this too. Whenever they walk together as a group, there’s always a leader. It holds its tail high in the air like a flag. The others keep that tail in sight so they don’t get lost and so they know which way to go.

In the Bible, we can read about another group that did a lot of walking and a lot of following. The Israelites walked for many years until they finally reached the Promised Land. During part of that time, they had the unique experience of being able to see and follow God himself! He appeared in a cloud and as fire in the sky moving ahead of them to lead the way. Imagine what that would have been like. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could do that today?

The next time you see a ring-tailed lemur:

Look at that fluffy ringed tail. Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to see them lead each other around. Remember the special way that God lead the Israelites and how confident they could be in His faithfulness to guide them in the ways they needed to go.

The ring-tailed lemur is just one of the animals featured in Creation Inspirations: A New View of the World Around You. If you don’t have your copy yet, consider picking one up on your favorite bookseller site, or if you order directly from this site, you can receive an autographed copy.

Did You Know?

Cheryl — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:33:35 +0000

Did you know that we understand less about the oceans of the world than we do about the moon? The oceans are so vast and so deep in many places and so full of creatures that new discoveries are made all the time.

(Leafy Seahorse Photo by Ed Bierman)

As technology improves, submarines are diving deeper and cameras are getting more detailed video exposing creatures and habits we’ve never seen until now. From tiny crustaceans to great white sharks, we can see the never ending care and creativity of our Creator God. And it’s a lot of fun to see all those cool things too!

Bats Aren’t Batty

Cheryl — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 20:38:13 +0000

Maybe at some point you’ve heard someone say, “I’m going absolutely batty” or “she’s as crazy as a fruit bat”. Both of these comments are meant to imply that the person being talked about is a acting crazy, or that they’re frazzled. The comparison is based on a notion that bats act crazy or frazzled.photo © 2010 Tambako The Jaguar | more info (via: Wylio)

People might get that idea because bats seem to fly in haphazard patterns, darting and dashing across the sky, especially when they’re chasing down bugs for a meal. However, science is learning that isn’t the case at all.

Recently, scientists have figured out that many bat species make adjustments in flight quickly and precisely because of the tiny hairs on their wings. They’ve discovered that this hair and attached nerves send signals that help the bat understand how the air around them is effecting their flight. This is similar to some of the gauges that pilots have on planes.

Think about that for a minute. It is no simple task to design an airplane so that it stays in the sky and flies safely, yet a bat does this naturally and precisely unless it’s hair becomes damaged. Do you think it was just by luck that the hairs lined up just perfectly and that the nerves connected to the brain in the right way? Of course not, Creator God knew what would help bats fly and gave it to them. God cared about what He made down to the finest detail. And He still does to this day.

The next time you see a bat: Remember how important the tiny hairs are on its wings, and how our loving God cares about such small details in all of His creation- including us!

How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Psalm 104:24 (NIV)

What Can You Learn About Marriage from a Zebra?

Cheryl — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 20:40:52 +0000

Sometimes when we think about animal families, we think they are very different from our human families. Sometimes that’s true, but not always. Zebras are a great example of that. In fact, they’re pretty good role models for what marriage should be like for us. They don’t get married of course, but see if you can think of the Bible verses they model very well as you read a few fun facts.

Zebras live in family groups of adult males and females and younger offspring. Single males only stay with the heard for so long-basically for as long as they are the equivalent of teenagers. After that, they find a female and start their own family unit.
photo © 2006 Geof Wilson | more info (via: Wylio)
The males are in charge of keeping zebra life on track. They stand guard and also are the first to cross something like a dangerous river. The females and children only cross after a male has tried his best to pick the least dangerous place. Scientists have also discovered that the males show affection for the females and young ones and lead their families through care and concern. We might call that love

The next time you see a zebra: Remember what a cool example they are for how husbands should lead their families through loving and caring for them.

Ephesians 5:28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. (NIV)

Be Inspired!
Cheryl Pickett

8 Legs and Amazing

Cheryl — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:58:41 +0000

There are many people who are either not a fan of spiders or who are quite afraid of them. While a spider arriving unannounced as they often do can be momentarily unnerving, they are still incredibly miraculously made creatures and powerful examples of the genius of our Creator God.

This post by Dr Dino today offers lots of amazing and fascinating facts that will hopefully inspire at least a little love for those little 8 legged guys.

Be Inspired!

Cheryl Pickett

New Year New Time

Cheryl — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 21:14:21 +0000

Have you ever stopped to think about that fact that time was created just like everything else in the universe? In Genesis it says God set the sun and moon to divide day and night-He created time. Humans have added the clock and calendar elements of measure, but God’s designed and set it into motion.

In a few days, we will welcome in 2011. For many, the New Year is viewed as the time to start fresh, set goals and put dreams into motion. For Christians, it can also be a reminder that we are made new through the Christ of Christmas and a new year offers new opportunities to serve our loving & creator God.

A happy, joy-filled and inspired New Year to you all!

Cheryl Pickett

At the Heart of It All

Cheryl — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 20:40:43 +0000

Did you know that in a transplant situation, once the recipient’s body is brought back to normal temperatures (it’s cooled for surgery) most of the time the new heart will start beating on it’s own? I just heard that fact the other day from a heart surgeon.

Think about that-as complicated an organ as the heart is with all the valves and vessels running through it, it can get right back to the job it was designed to do even after going through that much trauma.

Put your hand over your heart for a minute. Feel that? That’s God’s awesome design at work in you, right now!

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

Be Inspired!

Cheryl Pickett

God’s Paint Brush

Cheryl — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 20:45:25 +0000

Conversations with kids about God and faith don’t need to be complicated to be effective. If you are blessed to live in or visit an area where fall colors abound either in the trees or fields of pumpkins and gourds, one simple conversation starter can go like this:

Look at how beautiful those trees are! (If the child is younger, ask him/her how many colors they can name). Look at that entire field filled with all that orange.

Earth is sort of like a big canvass for God isn’t it? He paints gorgeous pictures for us every day just like this one. He does a great job doesn’t He?

What colors do you like best? What if you could help God color the trees or the pumpkins, what colors would you tell Him to use? Why?

And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. Genesis 2: 9a

Be Inspired!

Cheryl Pickett

1 Fish 2 Fish… 1000 Fish!

Cheryl — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 00:35:39 +0000

Whether you like to fish or not, this is a fun story. A man named Steve Wozniak now holds a unique title-the person who has caught 1000 different kinds of fish probably the most ever! It’s also interesting to note that fishing is not his full time job. He accomplished this feat using his free time as he traveled the world for business, fishing during his breaks/time off.

What does this have to do with Creation Inspirations? Plenty! First, it’s yet another example of how there is inspiration all around us. This story, as written, has nothing to do with God or faith, but we can find a faith lesson in it without looking very hard.

Just think for a moment, he didn’t catch 1000 fish, but 1000 different kinds of fish. According to the article, he caught common species like perch and tuna but he also caught soapfish, goatfish and a spotted wobbegong (which I am totally going to research, I can’t wait to to see what they look like).

This story is full of Creation Inspiration because I find it nearly impossible to consider that list and not feel a sense of how awesome our Creator God is. He knows each of these fantastic creatures along with the hundreds ore even thousands we know nothing about yet. Also, as weird and strange as they may seem to us, each has its place in the grand scheme of things and God knows how that works too. Again, how awesome is that!

And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.” Genesis 1:20 NIV

Be Inspired!

Cheryl Pickett

Comfort from the Creator

Cheryl — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 22:56:04 +0000

I’m sure I don’t have to tell any of you that life can be stressful-very stressful at times. Sometimes you don’t know what to do or where to turn to find a little peace, respite or comfort. When that happens, take a moment and go outside. You can go someplace special or just in your own backyard, driveway or porch.

Take a minute to really look and listen to what’s around you. Maybe you’ll hear chirping crickets or the power of the wind blowing. Maybe you’ll see a butterfly float by softly, find a flower that just bloomed or simply a clear blue sky. Maybe something will show up that’s just meant for you.

Take comfort in these things. Breathe. Allow yourself to be at peace. Remember the love the Creator has for His creation and that includes you. Take comfort.

Be Inspired!

Cheryl Pickett