Let All The Trees Of The Forest Sing For Joy

The hike in Maui's Bamboo forest along Pipiwai Trail was mysteriously chanting, leaving Brian and I with an unforgettable memory of beautiful scenery and sounds.

At the time the wind was gently blowing through the bamboo forest causing the stalks to bump into each other which made the sound of a beautiful chime. The trees of the forest were indeed singing for joy!

"Let the fields be jubilant,

and everything in them;

let all the trees of the forest

sing for joy."

Psalm 96:12 (NIV)

Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants in the world. It can grow between three to ten centimeters tall in one day.

Bamboo also has higher compressible strength than wood, brick or concrete and an equal tensile strength of steel.

God in His marvelous wisdom made bamboo to sing for Him!

All My Fountains Are In You

By the time our week in Maui had ended, Brian drove around the whole island of Maui, while I sat terrified trying to enjoy the scenery. The roads in Maui are extremely windy and narrow with no shoulders and numerous cliffs. There is even one part where the road is several kilometers long that only one car can travel on. I think I held my breath the whole time. It is a good thing my husband is a professional driver because he actually enjoys these times of roads and even having to drive backwards.

When we drove from Kapalua to Wailuku, we took a break and stopped at Nakalele Point to view and take pictures of the Nakalele Blowhole. There the ocean wore away the shore below the lava shelf. As a result, with each wave, water is forced through a hole in the lava shelf, causing an eruption of water similar to a geyser.

"For You are the fountain of life,

the light by which we see."

Psalm 36:9 (NLT)

"As they make music 

they will sing,

'All my fountains are in You.'"

Psalm 87:7 (NIV)

His Works Are Perfect

When Brian and I hiked the lava trails of Honokalani Black Sand Beach in Wainapanapa State Park, the scenery was wondrous. This beach is situated among lava cliffs and the sand is made of small, black, smooth, lava pebbles. There were small sea arches, sea caves and seaside lava tubes to behold. The colors of the blue sky, black lava rocks, bright green foliage, and turquoise waters made spectacular pictures for me to take.

"He is the Rock,

His works are perfect,

and all His ways are just.

A faithful God who does no wrong,

upright and just is He."

Deuteronomy 32:4 (NIV)

The Waters Swarm With Fish And Other Life

"Then God said,

'Let the waters swarm

with fish and other life.'"

Genesis 1:20 (NLT)

On one of the days Brian and I stayed in Maui, we rode on a catamaran to snorkel with three other couples near Molokini. 

Molokini is a small, crescent moon-shaped island located about three miles from Maui's southwestern coast. There we discovered an underwater paradise of coral and tropical fish! 

The deckhand of the boat caught a small tuna on the excursion.

And the captain spotted a large Manta ray which I was able to take a picture of because of the clear waters below.

The waters indeed swarm with fish and other life!

When I Look At Creation, God And I See The Same

I love wildlife, especially birds! Here are a few of my favourite pictures of birds in Maui.

"So God created the great creatures of the sea

and every living thing with which the water teems

and that moves about in it,

according to their kinds,

and every winged bird 

according to its kind.

And God saw that it was good."

Genesis 1: 21 (NIV)

Japanese White Eye

Red Crested Cardinals

Myna Bird

Rock Dove

Cattle Egret

Myrna Bird

Peacock

Japanese White Eye

You Rule The Oceans

"You rule the oceans.

You subdue their storm-tossed waves."

Psalm 89:9 (NLT)

Many times Brian and I stopped at Hookipa Beach which is a world-renown beach for professional surfers and windsurfers. Brian  enjoyed watching these athletes, while I enjoyed chasing around birds with my camera. However, I managed to get side-tracked for a few moments when the birds weren't cooperating and take pictures of some of the surfers and windsurfers.

As I watched these people enjoying the ocean waves, I wonder how many of them know it is God who rules over them.

Like The First Gleam Of Dawn

While Brian and I stayed in Maui, we got up early in the morning to sit outside in quietness and solitude to watch the morning sunrise.

When we as God's children walk the way of His righteousness, we are described in Scripture as being like the first gleam of dawn which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. In other words, we are God's sunrise.

"The way of the righteous

is like the first gleam of dawn,

which shines ever brighter

until the full light of day."

Proverbs 4:18 (NLT)

When The Rooster Crows

Hawaii's official state bird is the Hawaiian Goose, or Nene, but during the whole week I stayed in Maui, and traveled all over the island, I never even saw one Nene. However, what I did see were wild brilliant-coloured roosters and brown hens everywhere. The roosters were crowing day and night, and these wild birds could be seen running around the parks, beaches, mall parking lots and jungle trails.

The wild chickens of Hawaii were produced after Hurricane Iniki in 1992. This powerful hurricane destroyed many of the chicken coops and released domesticated hens and roosters which were being bred for cockfighting into the wilds. 

Today these wild hens and roosters delight many tourists, including me. I even enjoyed hearing the roosters crow in the early morning. It reminded me of a verse in the Bible that we to always keep watch because we never know if our Lord and Master will come back when the rooster crows.

"Therefore keep watch

because you do not know

when the owner of the house will come back

---whether in the evening,

or at midnight,

or when the rooster crows,

 or at dawn."

Mark 13:35 (NIV)

He Makes Springs Pour Water Into The Ravines

Wherever we hiked on the island of Maui, we always came across picturesque waterfalls. They were the handiwork of God revealing His magnificent splendor.

"He makes springs pour water

into the ravines;

it flows between the mountains."

Psalm 104:10 (NIV)

Covered With Silver And Glistening With Gold

I loved watching the birds on Maui and taking pictures of them. One Hawaiian man with laughter in his voice approached me on the beach and asked if I came to Hawaii for the sole purpose to take pictures of birds. I laughed and responded, "Yes, of course." 

Here are just a few I took of White Doves. They were fun to watch!

The Bible uses the dove as a symbol of love, peace, grace, promise, comfort, hope, purity, holiness, devotion, and sacrifice. The dove is also a representative of God, the Holy Spirit and of us, His children.

"When you lie down among the sheepfolds,

you are like the wings of a dove

covered with silver,

and its pinions with glistening gold."

Psalm 68:13 (NASB)