How Does Your Favorite Animal Remind You of God?

"A giraffe can kiss the clouds because it is long, andwrote, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall
God is long," says Tori, age 6. Well, the Psalmistbe as white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18).Jeremy, 9, says
wrote that "with an outstretched arm" God's mercythe tiger reminds him of God "because he is a hunter,
endures forever. I suppose "outstretched" qualifies asand God hunts us so we can become Christians."Not
long."God created the horse so people could ride ononly is there none righteous, but "There is none who
it," says Jacob, 7. "The horse takes care of its babiesseeks after God," wrote the Apostle Paul in his letter
like God takes care of us." Yes, God nurtures us as ato the Romans. Like a stalking tiger in pursuit of its
mare weans its newborn foal. Job wrote that God'sprey, God hunts us down.Many who have tried in
"pails are full of milk" (Job 21:24).Scotty, 6, likesvain to outrun God's persistent pursuit know him as a
cheetahs: "God created cheetahs because they arestalking tiger or "The Hound of Heaven." The
fast. God is everywhere, and He is fast."The nextbeginning of this autobiographical poem written by
time you're tempted to pull a fast one on someone,Francis Thompson reads as follows: "I fled Him, down
think of God as a cheetah. You may think you're slickthe nights and down the days;/ I fled Him, down the
and fast, but at 70 miles per hour, the cheetah canarches of the years;/ I fled Him, down the
run by you like you're standing still. You can neverlabyrinthine ways/ Of my own mind; and in the midst
outrun God because as Scotty said, "God isof tears/ I hid from Him, and under running
everywhere."It's hard to imagine how a deadly cobralaughter."Up vistaed hopes I sped;/ And shot,
could remind us of God, but Houston, 6, made theprecipitated,/ Adown Titanic glooms of chasmed
connection: "God loves everyone, even the badfears,/ From those strong Feet that followed,
animals."Houston, this is the heart of the good news.followed after./ But with unhurrying chase,/ And
The Bible says, "There is none righteous, no, not one"unperturbed pace,/ Deliberate speed, majestic
(Romans 3:10). Ouch! We all are born with the venominstancy,/ They beat -- and a Voice beat/ More
of selfishness. Good deeds can never change ourinstant than the Feet --/''All things betray thee, who
nature. In fact, we can easily become proud of ourbetrayest Me.'"Think about this: God wants you to
humanitarian efforts.Only a new birth and heart givensoar like an eagle.Memorize this truth: "But those who
by God to those who trust the Lord Jesus as theirwait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall
savior can remove the poison from our hearts. Thenmount up with wings like eagles" (Isaiah 40:31a).Ask
and only then, can we show compassion and mercythis question: Are you soaring through life on God's
to needy people without becoming proud of ourupdrafts of grace?Carey Kinsolving is a syndicated
goodness. When people know the source of theircolumnist, producer, author, speaker and website
goodness, they act in true humility and often withoutdeveloper. To see Carey's Kid TV Interviews and
recognition when performing charitable acts."Godmore, visit The Kids Talk About God website
created the zebra for their stripes," says Cade, 8.contains free, online content for children and families.
"The black stripes show sin, but the white stripesPrint free lessons from the "Kids Color Me Bible" and
show washed-away sin." Courtney, 6, also chose themake your own book. Watch for free the
zebra but adds, "They whipped Jesus, and it hurtadventures of an 11-year-old girl traveling around the
God."After the prophet Isaiah wrote that the Messiahworld, visiting missionaries in the Mission Explorers
would be "wounded for our transgressions" andStreaming Video. Print Bible pictures drawn by kids
"bruised for our iniquities," he wrote, "and by Histhat illustrate Scripture verses. Receive a
stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). Before Jesus wascomplimentary, weekly e-mail subscription to our
sentenced to death by crucifixion, his captors beatDevotional Bible Lessons. Bible quotations in this
and mocked him. As for the color of sin, Isaiah alsocolumn are from the New King James Version.