When it comes to snakes, I definitely do not want to be surprised by one, no matter what color or size it is. We found this snakeskin in the yard a few months ago. Judging by the size of it, I’m glad we didn’t see the live snake! Although the one that was on our front porch light could have been the same one. The brown snake in the woods was dead when the picture was taken.

In the last couple of years we have had an increase in the number of spiders, especially the one they call the Joro spider. Around our house, we have seen many of these spiders and their webs. It is amazing the designs that are made when you look closely at the webs. They are beautiful! Even the spiders themselves have colors not common to spiders.

The picture of the butterfly shows that it is caught in the spider’s web. Sir Walter Scott was the author of the famous quote “Oh what a tangled web we weave/When first we practice to deceive”. In our world today there are so many things that leave a question as to what is real and what is not. Not only can we be deceived by things we see, but also by words that we hear. There has to be a standard by which to judge the truth in our world. That standard is the Bible, the Word of God.

Even though the Joro spiders are new to this country, they are not supposed to be harmful. Most of us are used to grandaddy long leg spiders. At times I have picked one of these up by a leg to get it out of the house. Unfortunately there are some spiders that can hurt us. I am not sure about this black one. It is possibly a black widow spider, which is dangerous, especially to its mate!

Reading and studying the Bible for ourselves can help us to avoid deception and know truth when we hear or see it. Knowing the Word can also protect us from deceiving ourselves.

Many of us have had the unexpected and unpleasant experience of walking into a spider web, sometimes face first!  The next time you see a spider web, take a closer look at the beauty of its creation. But be careful not to get tangled in the web or meet the spider up close!!

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (I John 1:8 NKJV)

Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. (I John 3:7)