"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being" (Revelation 4:11).

We had an abundant harvest of tomatoes and peppers in our home garden this year. We've been picking them off the vine and eating them fresh all through October. However the frost was finally predicted this last weekend and we picked off the remaining ones prior to the first frost. Since the pepper plants were loaded I carefully examined each plant so I wouldn't miss any small, hiding peppers.

I could easily have missed seeing it, but at least one pepper plant had a praying mantis clinging to the vine. As I removed the peppers it was easy to overlook due to the way it matched the background. Of all the shades of green it's amazing to me and a testimony to the Creator/Designer of how well the colors on the praying mantis matched the colors of the pepper plant.



I brought the praying mantis in the house with a part of the plant to show Brooksyne and Ester. Ester was terrified, but Brooksyne, being the country girl she is, had no problems picking it up and demonstrating its colors against her skin for my camera!



There's so much debate today about origins. In fact, in our own area, there's a trial dealing with "Intelligent Design".  An evolutionary worldview would draw an entirely different conclusion based on the observation of the praying mantis.   It would assert that over millions of years this creature slowly evolved in this manner so that its colors matched the plants it would adhere to.

We all start with some assumptions and beliefs and I wholeheartedly hold to the great faith statement in Hebrews 11:3, "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible."

I believe in the altogether intelligent (omniscient) Creator/Designer. Our daily verse so powerfully states, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."  Amen!


Be encouraged today,


Stephen C. Weber

Brooksyne's prayer – Lord Jesus, when I consider the infinite variety of Your creation I stand in awe at Your unlimited power, Your incredible creativity, and Your attention to detail.  How amazing that You care for the birds, animals, insects, water and plant life and You have a purpose for each of these creations.  How much more amazing that You created human life for Your pleasure and for fulfilling Your purpose to redeem mankind.  By the testimony of my life may I bring You glory and honor. Your vast power is manifested in my life as I live faithfully for You and overcome the daily assaults the enemy hurls at me.  I, with exuberant and victorious joy, proclaim with the twenty four elders "You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power!"  In the glorious name of Jesus I pray, Amen. 

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Here's my all-time favorite praying mantis photo I took last summer with a friend of mine holding it. (This is a larger file and will open slower on dial-up connections. However the color contrasts, resolution and detail are outstanding.)

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For some thoughtful articles about worldviews in regard to the origin issue I recommend this page.

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"Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten Him, and who taught Him the right way? Who was it that taught Him knowledge or showed Him the path of understanding?" (Isaiah 40:14).

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One of the earliest Scriptures I recall singing to music was the daily text. It remains a beautiful song although you don't hear it sung much anymore. Here's an instrumental piano version.