The Lone Cypress Tree

"We live by faith, not by sight." ~ 2 Corinthians 5:7

I woke up this morning, feeling better from the symptoms of sinus pressure and right ear pain. I ended up going to the Urgent Care yesterday and the doctor told me that it was a good thing I did because my right ear was starting to get red, that was why I was feeling pain on my right jaw, close to the ear. He said he could tell my allergy was bad just by looking at my eyes. He gave me a nasal spray and a 3-day course antibiotic. Which I took immediately as soon as I got them on my hands.

With faith, I asked the Lord to bless those medications and at the same time, thanked Him for all His provisions and bringing in His children who love to intercede right away.

Thank you to all of you for your encouragement and for immediately folding your hands together and bending your knees to lift me up to His throne of grace.
This morning, for some reason, I started going through these old photos as I opened the cabinet on top of the computer monitor and saw this picture I took from one of my family's vacation in Central California:

The verse caught my eye right away! And the truth to it just penetrated my heart!

"If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all." ~ Isaiah 7:9

And the picture brought me back to that day when the Lone Cypress Tree had my jaw almost dropped to the ground in awe because of its beauty. It was by itself on that huge piece of rock, overlooking the ocean with unpredictable, strong currents sometimes. The thought it evoked of how it continue to thrive despite the roots being so far from the water and had to thread through those pieces of rock. Yet, for so many years, it was gazed at by millions of visitors that made the place famous.

And how true it is, that in our lives, if we remain standing on the Rock, living by faith will make us fare better than by fulfilling rituals or rules. Because God commanded believers to live by faith not by sight! As we do so, this challenges us to grow more in faith and to live in obedience to God each day. And as we face many unpredictable currents of trials, it is only by standing firm on this Rock that will make us weather any storm.

"For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith."
~ 1 John 5:4 [NLT]

"But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind."
~ James 1:6 [NLT]