I want you to meet my new beekeeping friend, Lissa Magnuson. She spent years apprenticing for a beekeeper named, Gary (Different from the Gary in the Scouting The Divine Book and Bible study we’re diving into this summer!).
She soon started her own farmer’s market business and sell honey and products to support her hobby. I asked her to share what beekeeping has revealed to her about God:
1. The Creator is Amazing
I stumbled on a book about honeybees and was captivated. Sitting around the pool, I kept shouting bee facts around to anyone who would listen: “Did you know when a honeybee has found a nectar source she will come back and do a figure eight waggle dance, and the other bees will fly to that exact flower even if it is two miles away. A dance! Wow, the Creator is amazing!”
That day I got a bee in my bonnet. The more that I learned, the more I saw God’s invisible qualities, His eternal Power and His divine nature (Rom. 1:20).
When people stop to ask bee questions at the farmer’s market, I’ll share, “That’s how God designed them”…and explain amazing facts. My goal isn’t that people would leave my booth thinking, “Bees are amazing,” but rather, “Our Creator is amazing!”
2. God listens and speaks.
I apprenticed with a beekeeper named Gary who kept over 100 hives. Now I love Jesus, but Gary loves Jesus. Gary talks to Jesus all the time….out loud. As if Jesus is standing right beside him.
We’d be gearing up, double checking all of the zippers in the suits, sliding the boots on, and Gary would suddenly say aloud, “Lord! What do you think about those clouds? Do we have time to start working the hives before it rains, or would the time be better spent inside building frames?” Gary would wait for an answer and then proceed.
During the calm sunny afternoons I now follow Gary’s example and talk out loud to the Lord about my kids, my friends, my husband, and even about bees.
3. God turns wailing into dancing.
Bee stings are hilarious.
If you are around a non-beekeeper and you are stung most likely you will get all sorts of empathy and helpful suggestions such as: ice, baking soda, sugar cubes, scrape the stinger out, rub mud on it, suck the venom, and get the epi-pen!
However, if you are around beekeepers, we will probably just laugh. We all know its part of the job, and some bee stings hurt worse than others, but nothing can bring a beekeeper to tears of laughter than another beekeeper dancing around.
My beautiful beekeeper friend, Alyssa, got stung on the lip. Bee sting lips. We called her “Angelina Jobee”. This observation taught me that God can replace sorrow.
Laughter with friends takes the sting away.
4. God can bring honey from hard places
This past winter was rough on my bees. I lost a lot of hives. They all died at the same time in January. I was having a rough winter, too.
I have four kids and my youngest daughter, whom we recently adopted, was having serious struggles. There wasn’t a lot of peace in my home, and I was feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place.
I told the Lord, “I think I’ll take a break from bees. I don’t want to invest more money, so this year I’ll take a break.”
We had an unseasonably warm spring in the Pacific Northwest. The bees were happy, and swarm season started a month earlier than usual. Swarms are the method by which honeybees reproduce. The queen will leave with half of the hive to look for a new home.
In 3 days, I got calls to capture 4 swarms from people’s yards. Free-Bees!
The swarms were miraculously easy to capture. When I went to clean out an old hive to make room for the new- bees, I discovered a hive had already swarmed and made themselves at home in the empty hive.
My neighborhood was literally overflowing bees, and I had more than enough. As I was working the bees a few weeks later, Jesus and I had a good laugh, and it was a treat working the bees with him. “With honey from the rock I would satisfy you” (Ps. 81:6)
Laughter with friends takes the sting away.
5. God loves a celebration.
My birthday is in late August and it happens to coincide with honey harvest time. A beekeeper friend, Suzanne, and I had combined our resources to purchase a honey extractor. Since we had one of the only extractors in town, we invited few other beekeepers to bring their honey supers, and join us in a birthday/ honey harvest party.
We used our honey to make tables and tables of sweet treats such as: pistachio baklava, goat cheese with honey and lavender, honey cupcakes, whipped cream cheese and honey fruit dip, strawberry-honey lemonade, and more.
I wanted to bring friends, neighbors, and kids around to celebrate God’s extravagant blessings—over 100 people come through my house that day.
Adults tried their hand at using the uncapping knife, and toddlers dipped their whole hands into streams of flowing fresh honey. We extracted in the kitchen, but honey is sticky and it ended up everywhere. As I was scrubbing the floors late that night, I found myself talking to Jesus again, “It was fun to celebrate your goodness and grace with You today. Thanks for the party!”
I so appreciate Lissa’s insights! She’ helps bring the richness of God’s creation to life.
What have learned from this week’s homework and video from the online summer Scouting the Divine Bible study? What surprised you most about bees?
Beeautiful
Huge hug, Judi!
I think that even though I am not officially part of the study, I am reading the book. Everything I’ve touched for the last 2 weeks (at least) is about beekeeping! Literally, 3 random magazines, devotions, even Facebook posts–beekeeping is everywhere. Now I’m interested for sure, and trying to figure out what I am supposed to do with that information! I am certainly enjoying Scouting so far….and the one free video which was….the beekeeping one. 🙂
I’ve not opened my bible study or book I ordered..life is a struggle with health issues and more mountains and troubles that seem Im possible .. But I know he has proved Himself that he is able ..
But I love reading this devotion about his provision honey from the rock … I have huge financial crisis as a 6 year widow and unable to work .
I don’t know where to even start on reading the book and lessons they seem quite long
Compared to the joy study but looks so good ..suggestions ?
And my legal name and I like to write I hope to publish someday but my writing name is Deborah Anne ..Debby, Deborah means busy, productive as a “BEE”
I think that fits me I’m hyper add type and it’s frustrating when I cant in this season
But I think the study this week maybe I should just pull out not worry about the book since its on bees this week .
Wish I could have afforded the videos the first free one was so good ..
My church did the joy one in spring but no bible in summer so had no option I think that s what help motivate me to do study even with my challenges is the fellowship .
Prayers for me ladies
Debby
Deborah Anne Daughter Anne of The King
Debby, whenever it is that you do decide to crack the study open, may you live with eyes wide open to God’s nudgings and voice in your life. Huge hug to you.
Your sunflower photo captured me at first glance. It’s been one year since my Mom passed away. She loved sunflowers and I always sent her items with them decorating photo albums, clothing items, etc. Then I read more about the bees and the five things that beekeepers taught. The article gave me pause as I realized how wonderful it is to talk to the Lord about EVERYTHING! I am sure your beekeeper friend has been blessed by her listening and speaking to our loving Father. Thank you for this picture of how God can use bees to demonstrate His amazing ways.
Kathy, mourning the loss of your mom. Huge hug to you.
I learned even more about the details God put into His creatures. Who knew there are so many roles in Bee Ville?!?!? I am a Nursing Bee on or off the hive.
I seriously am going to miss this study. I am trying not to project, but we are almost near the end. That makes me sad. 🙁 I can’t get enough of this. The season is right, both in the weather and in my heart for this study.
I am not reading the bible the same, it is so cool. For example, I read Psalm 126:5 “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!” Does that not bring Fighting Back With Joy and this study together so cohesively? MY HEAD!!! I love this was a Feinberg double header for me this summer.
Robin, your comment brought a HUGE smile to my face. Love that this study has come during the perfect season for you. May you continue to scout the Divine– living awake and aware to God’s movement in your life.
I just started bee-keeping this past Spring. It has been a rough introduction. (I lost a hive to SHB) However, I’ve learned so much and I see God in front of every hive as the bees soar majestically in and out and go about their dancing and effort.
I really hope to make my journey in beekeeping as joy filled as your post indicates. I’m already fill ed with joy over it but I want to include others in my joy. I’m sure some gifts of honey will help. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your journey.
Nick, I’d love to continue to hear what you are learning as a beekeeper!
Since then we’ve moved from 1 hive to 11! Started a non profit called “V.I.P.’S. BEES” with all the profit going to local missions. This year we were able to donate $1000 total to 3 local missions. We got 12 gallons with only 1 1/2 hives producing. Can’t wait to see how much we get this year with 11 producing hives. We should go over 100 gallons easily which will allow us to give a ton!
Love bee keeping!
Our website!
http://www.vipsbees.com/home.html