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On Cue

Posted by: David Carroll

I was out walking in the forest last week (March 23) and took this picture of a ridge and a ravine. The weather was delightful and you could tell the forest was waking up from it’s winter slumber.

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Nine days later (yesterday April 1) I was walking the same trail and took a picture of the same ridge (below).

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Now I was standing a litte further up in the second shot but you can tell it is the same location by examining the roots of some of the trees hugging the ridge.

The astonishing thing I’m sure you notice is the difference in green foliage. A little rain, a little warmth, longer days and the program kicks in to high gear. I say program because that is what it is, it does this every year automatically. Such astonishing beauty and unbelievable and complex innerworkings of sap rising and photosynthisis. I’m glad I got to see this as I ponder God’s unfathomable excellence in His design for life.

Psalm 8:1,3–4

O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?

 

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Pat wrote:
God is just amazing,just now I thought I look up Bible Blogs and I came up with your site first.I decided to click on it.Just now coming from a walk I thought just yesterday all this was a bunch of dry looking plants and today I see flowers and it seems like babies on the catus Plant also.We have a few tree that because of the cold that hit seem to have dried up,but I ask God to let them live and praise God! I see the green coming fourth after watering a bit. We have two really dry plants and I just can't wait to see what God has to say about that.Where there was no grass even that is coming up.I was touch and surprise by what you wrote.God speaks to us when we least expect it. Wow! God is Awesome. I just felt to share this with you.Be Richley Blessed
Stella wrote:
Hi Dave,

It so nice to see someone love the Lord, and being born again, the gift of Salvation!

Stell,
Canada
Michael Earls wrote:
What a great entry. I love the "before and after" It's also interesting to see that the last entry you wrote before this one was written in November. It never fails; I am always uplifted by your respect for God.
Veena wrote:
Helo carroll,
Dis z Veena from India. I was jus browsing d net n got 2 c ur blog. Its jus awesome dear.I truly praise God for His wonderful ways....Keep it up..gud work...
BYeeee
Veena
Shana Tobesman wrote:
My father is a spiritual storyteller like the holy men of days gone bye. Here is one of his stories:

The Torn Leaf


By

Rabbi Rachmiel Tobesman



Never ask a storyteller a question without expecting a story for an answer. I did not know what to write for this week’s chaplain’s column, but then I remembered a story about a verse in the Scriptures:

Everyone that is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, I have formed him, I have made him

(Isaiah 43:7)

It was summertime, a time for relaxation, and for restoring one’s strength. A holy rabbi was spending some time with his son in the fields and forest outside their village. The two used to take long walks through the countryside, marveling at the beauty of G-d’s world.

The fields were ripe with their golden harvest of wheat. The swollen sheaves swayed gently, promisingly, in the gentle breeze, swishing softly to and fro. It felt good to be alive!

They walked along in silence, enjoying the peace of the area, suddenly the father turned to his son, saying, and “Just look at the marvel of nature! See how G-d has a plan and a purpose for every single stalk of wheat, every puff of wind, the swaying of each blade of grass. Everything is included in G-d’s overall master plan of creation! Is it not marvelous that One so exalted and mighty should consider every tiny, minute speck on this world?”

They continued along the country road, breathing in the fresh air, each one silent with his own thoughts. Soon they came to a forest and continued walking leisurely among the trees. Engrossed in his thoughts, the boy absent-mindedly plucked a leaf off a branch. He held the leaf in his hand and from time to time would unconsciously tear off a bit and throw it away.

His father noticed what he was doing and commented, “I don’t understand how you can do something destructive like that without thinking. Don’t you know that even a leaf is part of creation, that it has its purpose? Did I not just tell you how G-d guides the destiny of every tiny thing, even a leaf? Don’t you realize that a leaf is also a living thing; it breathes and grows. Why is the ‘I’ of a leaf any different than the ‘I’ of a human being? To be sure, you can think and speak while it is only a plant. Still, just as you, a human being, have a task to fill in this world, so does this leaf have a purpose to accomplish during its lifetime on this world.”

It is important to remember that “when G-d created the first human beings, He led them around the Garden of Eden and said: “Look at my works! See how beautiful they are. How Excellent! For your sake, I created them all. See to it that you do not spoil and destroy My world: for, if you do, there will be no one else to repair it.

(Kohelles Rabbah on 7:13)

Please visit my blog to read more of his magnificent stories. www.projectshalom2.org?WordPress
Bible Artist wrote:
Hi Dave
Even the dog on the left has grown!
Kids Bible Craft wrote:
Amazing. How excellent God is to create such an amazing process.
Dr. A. Lee Black wrote:
Thanks for the blog, and the great pictures and artwork. I really like these two pictures; having grown up on the west side of the Rocky Mountains these pictures reminded me of the springtime, flowers growing at different elevations at different times of the year, and of frozen brooks melting with the spring warmth.
Thanks!
Dr. Black