c deborah kunzie

I have been primarily classified as a Bird Photographer but I choose the term Nature Photographer.  All of nature made by God’s hand is intriguing to me.  Alive in nature means being able to share in the delight of God’s Creations and having a chance to explore first hand, referring to God’s Word is even better.

Today while photographing these beautiful trees over the water surrounding the rivers edge, I recalled a Biblical scripture in Jeremiah chapter 17, verse 8.

“For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and [that] spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”

The passage also brought to mind the life of my Father. Though dying at a young age his life was committed to his belief in God. Regardless of the fact the last two years of his life he suffered with Leukemia. My father was like these trees, tall, strong, bold and confident.  When the year of drought came he remained planted in the right place. He remained beside the living water and refused to allow the water to become stagnate.  In the time of his sickness he continued to grow and not worry about what would happen to him.  His life was filled with a living testimony that touched the hearts of many people, including me.

Trees that are planted beside still waters, where life is abundant will continue to flourish and produce fruit needed to sustain life.  There are times when the water dries up and a time of drought sets in for a season.  It is during this time the tree is capable of sending forth strong roots reaching deeper to find water, the water of life, in order to remain strong. Never anxious because of the drought, but rather standing still they continue to produce fruit.

Because of my fathers faith his roots of life reached around me to carry me through troubled times. I have learned to stand strong and reach for that everlasting stream of life.

Troubled times, especially now days, with our economical conditions and stress and sickness, there is no greater resource to have than from the true living God.

I often wondered why God allowed my father, a devout believer in the WORD of God to get this terrible disease. I have learned through the course of life, that God used him as a contrast between a man that did not wither in time of drought, and a man that did because of his desire to do things his own way.  In giving in and allowing God to take over was the better way to live. God used him so the world could see there was a difference. Dad had resources when the troubled times came. He became a true witness to the dying desert. He became a resource for my life. He remained planted by the still, everlasting waters.