You Are The Potter

The tropical flowers and plants that grew on the island of Maui were exqusite! Many times I was awestruck in God's creativity.

Just like God formed every beautiful kind of flower on this earth, He also formed every beautiful person on this earth.  Everything is formed by His hand, and every thing and every one has a special beauty or charm, a rare and appealing excellence.

"And yet, O Lord,

You are our Father.

We are the clay,

and You are the potter.

We all are formed by Your hand."

Isaiah 64:8 (NLT)

Blessed Are Those Who Dwell In Your House

At Black Sands Beach, I spotted close to shore a breeding colony of Grey Noddies or Grey Ternlets on a small rocky island covered with soft green foliage.

While the Grey Noddies were sitting on the rock island, they made the sound of a soft soothing purring call.

The loveliness of these birds dwelling place cannot even compare to the dwelling place of the Lord God Almighty! We are so blessed to be able to dwell in God's house. Praise His Name!

"How lovely is Your dwelling place,

Lord Almighty!

My soul yearns, even faints,

for the courts of the Lord;

my heart and my flesh cry out

for the living God.

Even the sparrow has found a home,

and the swallow a nest for herself,

where she may have her young---

a place near your altar,

Lord Almighty, my King and my God.

Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;

they are ever praising You."

Psalm 84:1-4 (NIV)

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