Earlier this week I returned from an amazing 10 day vacation to Arizona and British Columbia. In just over a week I visited the Sonoran desert, hiked down into the Grand Canyon, visited lush gardens on Vancouver Island, and hiked in the mountains of Canada next to alpine, glacier lakes. As I went from place to place, soaking up the beauty of the natural settings, I began to notice a common theme. Everywhere there were promises of how God can bring beauty and restoration into our lives.





Springtime in the desert is beautiful. As I saw these flowers brightening up what could be a rather dull landscape, I was reminded that God can do the same in our lives. Sometimes we feel like we are going through a barren, desert period but God can make beauty come even out of this if we will look to Him in faith.

The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. - Isaiah 35:1



This is a Juniper tree and they grow all over Arizona. In very dry seasons when water is short, a portion of the juniper tree will die so the other part of the tree can survive. Jesus did this for us. He died that we might have life.

Hereby perceive we the love of God , because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. - 1 John 3:16



This flower at the Grand Canyon had come up even though all around it is big rocks. God is able to bring life out of situations that look completely lifeless. Nothing is impossible with God. Where we only see rocks in our lives, God is about to create a masterpiece!

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. - Isaiah 43:19





The Grand Canyon is the deepest "valley" in North America. Compare that to these 8000 foot mountains in British Columbia that I saw a few days later. Here is another beautiful object lesson for our lives ...



Sometimes our lives feel like a series of highs and lows - mountain top experiences followed by depressing, fearful valleys. God promises to provide stability and balance to our emotions if we will center ourselves in Him. This will give us a healthy perspective of our lives and the assurance that God is leading us in this path He has chosen for us.

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. - Isaiah 40:4, 5



In Buchart Gardens on Vancouver Island, there is a lovely garden that used to be a lime quarry. It was abandoned, ugly, and good for nothing. But the gardener decided to turn this "worthless" pit into a beautiful garden. So God promises to do in our lives. You may look at yourself and see nothing redeemable, but Jesus sees who you can become when the hands of the Master Gardener begin to work His masterpiece in your life. That is a promise you can count on!

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. - 1 John 3:3, 4



To see all the photos of my trip follow these links:
Southwest Vacation Pictures
Grand Canyon Hike Photos
Northwest Vacation Photos

That’ right. This post is being sent from the beautiful British Isle. I arrived here yesterday after a tiring overnight flight. Presently, I am in the city of Manchester for LETS (Lay Evangelism Training Seminar) where some 70 individuals are been trained in personal evangelism. This event is sponsored by the North England Conference. I’ve been quite impressed by their commitment to teach the members how to do door-to-door work. They have been on the streets for several hours since being here in a nearby town where they are planting a church.

Two Sabbaths a month I spend part of my afternoon doing choir rehearsal with the Lansing Church choir. We have a wonderful time praising God in song and bonding as a church family. This has turned out to be an evangelistic outreach as well. One of our more recent members, Stephanie, began attending our church last fall. She was in a rock band and often struggled with depression. This spring she felt God calling her to leave behind all that music. That Sabbath when she came to church she heard me make an appeal for ladies to join a special women's choir. She showed up at practice that afternoon and is now a member of our regular choir. She replaced rock music with sacred music. Amen!!! Two weeks ago she was baptized.