Incy Wincy Spider and the 3 P's

 I had watched incy wincy spider weaving her beautiful web and here is episode two as the Lord certainly gave me something to think about and I call it Incy Wincy Spider and the 3 P's.

Patience, Perseverance, Peace
First of all the Lord showed me 'patience' - I for one certainly had patience as I stood and watched her weave for half an hour. And Incy Wincy had patience as she must have been weaving for well over an hour.
There are times when my 'patience' wears very thin but I realise that whatever I'm doing, I do need patience. For instance when I'm in the queue at the supermarket and in a hurry. The queue is moving slowly so I decide to change to another aisle only to find this one is even slower or the till jams or someone needs to change an item and if I'd only been patient and stayed at the one that I had been in in the first place I'd have been served by now.
Yes, 'patience' is very necessary. I once heard a little rhyme that went 'Patience is a virtue, virtue is a grace, Grace is a little girl who didn't wash her face'. I have no idea where it came from but whenever I think of patience being one of the fruits of the spirit or rather 'longsuffering' in the KJV I remember this little verse and give thanks for even the smallest amount of patience that I have.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Gal. 5:22)
Next I learnt 'Perseverance' - this spider persevered in making her web. Despite the wind blowing it too and fro, Incy Wincy hung on in there and completed the task she had started and the Lord again reminded me that at times I start something only to give up after a little while. Indeed 'perseverance' is very much linked to 'patience' in the KJV but some do we persevere.
I once picked up a pair of knitting needles only to find that it wasn't something I enjoyed as much as my mam did. I started a jumper and didn't persevere with it, I gave up and some 10 years later that wool was still on those knitting needles so my mam finished it off for me. It had been a jumper for my then husband but he outgrew it so mam finished it and my younger brother ended up wearing it.
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them (in other words persevere): for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. (1 Tim 4:16)
Incy Wincy finished her web and then just rested right in the middle of it. The Lord showed me 'peace, be still'. Oh I know incy was so still in the centre of that web just waiting for her next meal to come along but shouldn't we be like that. After the toil of the day we should be still and wait upon the Lord. Our food is the reading of the word which does indeed bring peace.
We can be in the midst of the biggest storm we've ever been in, but Jesus himself is the one who can bring peace and stillness to the situation. He rebuked the wind and the sea and said 'Peace, be still' and He can have the same effect on any storm that appears in our own lives.
And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm (Mark 4:39).

As much as I hate these creatures the Lord has taught me a valuable lesson through the 3P's and every time I see a spider I will think Patience, Perseverance, Peace.

Incy Wincy Spider ...

was not climbing up the spout .....
(I've shared this over at the KJV blogspot this morning but thought I'd post it on my blessed honeycombs. For those of you who don't get over to the KJV - there are some inspiring writings on there).

I have to admit though I do not like these little creature scuttling about my home but if they are outside and there is a pane of glass (usually the TV screen) in between then that's a little different and I can watch them for hours. This morning was a little different too as I opened the bedroom curtain. There, thankfully behind the pane of glass and on the outside, was a small spider and she was weaving her web.

I watched fascinated as the silk thread was released and she picked up the next strand of the web for it to be anchored to. It was quite windy this morning and I saw her skillfully weave this beautiful web, flawed in places but she persevered as the wind blew her about and she patiently placed each strand of silk where it would hold the best. She worked tirelessly until she reached the centre and then put her legs out and I'm guessing she is now waiting patiently for her next meal. (I will try to get a better photograph)
I was reminded that our enemy sometimes lies in wait for us, hoping to lure us into his web of deceit. We can be so busy doing things that we forget to pray, forget to spend time with the Lord and just as this little spider waits for some unsuspecting fly to come along and fall into her trap, Satan too hopes we will fall into his trap.
Wonderfully though, I was reminded of how the Saviour's hand weaves our lives and how He patiently guides us each day to be the person He wants us to be, persevering with us when we make a mistake and picking us up when we fall.
Watching this spider weave her web has given me a lot of food for thought and I may share more of these thoughts another time but whether I like this little creature or not I saw that the hand of our wonderful creator made the spider and I know he made me and he understands everything about me and I will continue to praise Him as he leads and guides me each day of my life showing me from his very creation spiritual things for me to grow by.

Psalm 139O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting