A Focus On Him

photo and writing by Lillian Cucuzza

Wonders of God’s Creation

Hummingbirds are one of the most amazing wonders of God’s creation, armed with phenomenal skills. They are incredible flying machines, moving in any direction instantly. They come in a variety of iridescent colors, like tiny jewels. The males are the most colorful, flashing their glittering throat (gorget) feathers to attract females and to warn male competitors away from their territory.

Did you know that hummingbirds are the smallest of the migrating birds? They weigh less than an ounce, ranging from 0.07 to 0.85 ounces, depending on body size. They migrate alone, not in flocks, for up to 500 miles at a time at a top speed of 34mph.

Their name comes from the humming sound created by their wings, which beat anywhere from 12 to 80 beats per second. Most birds fly forward, but these avian ninjas are the only birds that can also fly backward. However, they don’t spend all their time flying. That would take too much energy. They spend the majority of their time perching and preening. To conserve energy at night, they enter into a state of torpor, similar to hibernation, and slow their metabolic rate to 1/15th of their normal rate!

Did you know that hummingbirds cannot smell? Their great color vision attracts them to colorful flowers. These tiny yet exquisite birds drink the nectar found in feeders by moving their tongues in and out about 13 times per second while hovering perfectly still. They can consume up to double their body weight in a day. (Public Service Announcement: Please do not put red dye in nectar as it is poisonous to them. Also, NEVER put honey in their feeders—it will cause their tongue to develop mold spores, and they will not be able to retract their tongue, causing certain death.)

Hummingbirds do not mate for life like cardinals or other birds. In fact, they mate for only a few minutes! The males have no role in building nests, incubating eggs, or feeding and raising the young.

Hummingbird nests are built with spider webs, and the female typically lays two pea-sized white eggs—the smallest of any bird—which are incubated over a two to three-week time period. The chicks fledge about three weeks after hatching!

If you’ve ever seen a hummingbird fly in person, it looks like a leaf floating through the air on the wind, until you see it suddenly stop and hover in mid-air while feeding on nectar from a flower. It is at that moment you realize you are witnessing their God-given precision-flying skills, and you marvel at how they maneuver effortlessly to and fro, with purpose from their Creator.

FOR WE ARE GOD’S HANDIWORK, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS TO DO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED IN ADVANCE FOR US TO DO. (DEUTERONOMY 31:6 NLT)

God created this tiniest of birds with amazing abilities to fly forward and backward, hover, distinguish colors of flowers to find nectar, feed, rest, defend territories, and migrate thousands of miles without stopping. He gave it beautiful colors to attract mates and the capacity to reproduce, survive, and thrive despite all the challenges it meets; all for His glory.

If He has equipped the smallest bird with all these features and skills, how much more ability and purpose has He given us? The psalmist writes in Psalm 139:13-16, For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be (NIV).

God has a plan and a purpose for us (Jeremiah 29:11) and uniquely qualifies each of us for that purpose, which He has pre-ordained. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10 NIV).

Humans are the most wondrous creation of the God of the universe. He has given us the ability to think, speak, and do. God alone prepares and equips us for the work He had planned for us before we were born. We don’t have to wait to be qualified before we answer the call to fulfill the purpose He has for us. God qualifies the called!

It’s time to get to work for His glory. God will take care of the rest. As a result, we will be armed with magnificent skills and abilities to maneuver effortlessly to and fro, with purpose, for His kingdom’s sake.

Lillian’s passions are nature photography and serving God. She is a best-selling author, award-winning photographer, and a regular contributor to Voice of Truth magazine. Lillian uses her photography and writing talents to glorify and honor God for His beautiful creation.

Visit, like, and follow her websites: www.HisCreationsLLC.com, www.LillianCucuzzaPhotography.com, Facebook and Instagram @HISCreationsLLC, or email her at Lillian.HisCreations@gmail.com.