The Ice Storm and Storms of Life

We had an unusually cold winter this year, lots of snow and one very severe ice storm.
Covered with a coat of ice  our world was transformed into a jewel studded wonderland.
Beautiful as it was to see, when the ice melted we saw the incredible power it had to leave damage in its wake.
Trees everywhere  were split down the middle, branches and limbs broken off, some trees dead on the ground.
I was sad to see how many trees  were lost or suffered extensive damage but then I noticed something that caught my attention.   Not EVERY tree suffered damage - two trees could be standing side by side - one damaged , the other standing strong, having come through the storm untouched.

I saw the spiritual lesson pictured in the drama of the storm.

Before the ice storm all the trees looked healthy and strong. It would have been impossible to tell which would be vulnerable to the onslaught coming against them.

So also, as believers, we can all look strong and full of faith on the outside, but a storm of life will show how strong our faith really is.
It is when the difficult times come, those unexpected seasons of life that hit us in our most vulnerable places - that is when it is revealed what we are really made of.
Is our faith only lip-surface?  Are we only strong in the sunshine of life? Do we stand only as long as we are surrounded by the securities we love and lean on?

When suddenly our faith is tested, are we completely shattered?  Do hard times break our limbs of faith and cause us to doubt?  Are we so distraught that we lose all spiritual life?

There was one tree that taught me the best lesson.
It was one of our own trees that stands in our back yard. A tall white birch tree, maybe thirty feet tall.  Looking out of our kitchen window the morning after the storm,  my husband called me to come look.  This birch tree was bent over double with the weight of ice clinging to it. My husband commented, "I guess we lost that tree, there is no way it can recover."
But, lo and behold, when the ice melted, the birch tree stood back up, as straight and tall as it was before!  It is pictured below, the tallest tree in the middle of the photo. (I'm sorry I don't have a photo of it doubled over)

I smiled when I saw the tree standing up once again, and thought, I want to be like that tree !
A verse came to mind, the words of Paul from II Corinthians 4:8,9.

"We are hard pressed on every side ---   yet are not crushed; 

we are perplexed  ----- but not in despair.

persecuted ---- but not forsaken 

struck down --  BUT NOT DESTROYED!"

When we are tempted, when we are tested, when we are tried, may we all be like my birch tree. 

May we  courageously say with Paul...  'we may be struck down, but not destroyed'. 

In Christ , though we are weak, we are strong.
"Let us put on the whole armor of God, and so be able to stand against anything that comes against us."
(my paraphrase Eph. 6:11) 

The storm WILL pass , the Lord WILL take us through ... will we then be standing upright, strong in our faith?

The Great Artist

Yesterday we spent some very enjoyable hours with our grand girls at the 

Bloedel Conservatory in Vancouver. 

I am posting some of our photos to give glory to our God who filled our earth with so many reasons to be awed at the beauty created by a Mind so infinitely greater than ours. 

Scroll through these photos as an act of worship to our God of Wonder. 

"Oh that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! 

Let them exalt Him.... !" 

 Psalm 107:31,32a

Hmmmm..... wonder if that would work for my nest ! 

      Worth a try ...

Its hard to see but there is a bird inside the nest trying to pull the plant into his nest !

 Every spring this bird loses his long tail, and then grows it again.

 "Just sayin' ......"

"It was just Christmas, wasn't it ?"

"Green with envy ... nah ... just like the color."

"Thought I'd dress up for the photo-op."

"Ain't I the brightest bird out on a limb !"

"Do you like my new eye liner?|"

Latest designer colors....  wouldn't these colors make the prettiest room decor?

"All these feathers make me itchy ... uggg"

"There .. that feels a little better .... "

"Ok.... I'm all feathered down again !!"
This bird is apparently the 'naughty' boy ....  and he speaks 40 phrases.
I was sorry he refused to converse with us! 

Perhaps the black-headed is the male? the red-headed the female?

 Like my new fascinator?

And a few of the lovely plants creating a Paradise for the birds 

Treasures in Dark Places

It was a life-changing revelation to me when I realized that in God's Kingdom I was NOT just one of the crowd, as I had grown up surmising.

I am unique  - a one-of-a-kind creation.
I am made in His image for His wonderful purposes.
Because God took the care to make me someone He knows by name ... I know He also knows every detail about me.
He knows how I work,
He knows what interests me,
He knows what gets my attention,
He knows what motivates me,
He knows what excites me,
He knows what delights me !
It is all this He takes into consideration when He plans the path of my life -
when He chooses those things that will best teach me what I need to know,
when He allows those circumstances/events/trials into my life that will mature me without breaking me,
when He comes to me in relationship and fellowship, when He draws me into friendship with Him.

I am not alone in being so chosen !
Every one of God's children can boast of the same uniqueness.
Since  I am a ferocious reader, I have read  many people's life-journeys of faith and how God worked in and through them. One thing is common in all of them - whether they lived in Bible times or in the thousands of years after Acts -  their stories all are of a personal nature, fitted to their personalities and purposes.
Just when I think, I can't possible read someone's story that is radically different than any other I have read ... I come across a story that expands my mind-folder  in which I have filed all the ways God interacts with His children.

"Treasures in Dark Places"  is such a book! 
 (it can be found here)


 It drew me in, it excited me, it deeply inspired me and tore down the walls we all so easily erect to separate this earthly realm from the heavenly.
The author, Leanna Cinquanta, is modern day proof of the truth of Jesus' prophetic words in John 14:12, 
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do because I go to my Father."

Leanna's story, while definitely outside any box,  leaves no doubt in the reader's mind as to it authenticity - the proof is built in.
Leanna holds a paint brush instead of a pen, the words flowing across the page are so rich, that the descriptions she paints draw you into the movie produced in living colour on your mind's screen. Your emotions and your senses are heightened and engaged  - and you are loath to put the book down.

I love this book ... and have read it aloud to my husband - and I have ordered hard copies to give to my grandgirls.
I am not a book spoiler (smile)  so if you desire  a mind-blowing, inspiring read I highly recommend "Treasures in Dark Places."