Springtime - Thomas Trock

A New Thing II

May 1, 2023 by Thomas Trock

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. The wild animals in the fields will thank me, the jackals and owls, too, for giving them water in the desert. Yes, I will make rivers in the dry wasteland so my chosen people can be refreshed. – Isaiah 43:19-20 NLT It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. – Galatians 6:15 …

Trillium II Springtime in the Mountains VIII

June 14, 2021 by Thomas Trock

…knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. … because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you. 1 Peter 1:18-19, 24-25 Like the orange salmon which spawn near my home …

Ruffed Grouse – Springtime in the Mountains – VII

April 19, 2021 by Thomas Trock

Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD! Psalm 150:1-6 NKJV Except for their springtime drumming, Ruffed Grouse tend to be relatively quiet birds. Sometimes I have seen them slipping through …

Springtime in the Mountains VI

March 11, 2019 by Thomas Trock

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. Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. Psalm 84:2-5 NIV Nuthatches are one of my favorite birds. They seem to always be in motion, and …

Elk Meeting

June 11, 2018 by Thomas Trock

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:11 (NLT) There are reasons why many animals do not wander their territory alone in the wilderness. It’s true that there is strength in numbers, not to mention protection and safety. Instead of just one set of ears and eyes, this small herd of elk has the benefit of six pairs to help warn them of approaching danger. Elk always make me think of wilderness and the wild country of the …

Springtime in the Mountains V

April 16, 2018 by Thomas Trock

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 NLT About twenty years ago, it was rare to see a turkey in our backyard. When I would see one, I’d study it as it sauntered into the brush. Now we often see flocks of twenty or more birds in our neighborhood. The turkey shown above is a male in full display to attract a mate. I took the picture this week from my kitchen window. …

Flood Waters II

May 8, 2017 by Thomas Trock

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. Isaiah 43:2 I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears …

A New Thing

March 27, 2017 by Thomas Trock

Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19 Have you ever noticed – when there is snow on the ground in the spring – that there is often a circle of open area around plants where there is no snow? I had my suspicions when I observed this recently, but I admit I had to do a bit of research to make sure. From what I’ve seen, and the best I could find out, the …

Springtime in the Mountains IV

March 20, 2017 by Thomas Trock

Then, at his command, it all melts. He sends his winds, and the ice thaws. Psalm 147:18 NLT Signs of a long awaited, and much welcomed, thaw are beginning to reach my small corner of the world. There is still a lot of snow in the high country. Several feet, actually. But in the foothills where I live, signs of spring are struggling to emerge. Psalm 147 speaks of God’s love for those who put their hope in His unfailing love. How He provides food and the changing of the seasons without us even asking Him to do it. It …

Metamorphosis

June 6, 2016 by Thomas Trock

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Each springtime in the mountains where I live, new activity seems to creep in from most every direction. Things that have looked bleak and dark and grey for months appear to take on a whole new expression of life. There are times when I don’t get very far on my hike before I start to realize all the change that is taking place around me. More times than not, I don’t travel quite the distance I used to on …

Snowshoe Hare Color Change I

March 14, 2016 by Thomas Trock

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18 I took this picture of a snowshoe hare last year whilst hiking the mountains with Star the Wonderdog. It was early springtime, and had there been much snow on the ground, the hare would have been difficult to see. As it was, I noticed it from quite a distance away. I couldn’t quite make out what the white patch was from where I stood, …

Mountain Treasures II – The Treasure Hunt

March 7, 2016 by Thomas Trock

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. John 1:1-3 It is treasure hunting time once again where I live. A lot of the mountains at higher elevations are still inaccessible, but I’ve been fortunate enough to find a few places to hike while waiting for the high-country snows to melt away. Hiking the mountains in the early spring is often a mixed bag of events. Sometimes a cold, …

Fawn

July 15, 2015 by Thomas Trock

Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close. Psalm 27:10 NLT A few days ago my next door neighbor called me over to his yard. At the edge of his garden lay the above pictured fawn, curled up in a ball and trying to look invisible. I took a few pictures from a distance, then both my neighbor and I left the area. One time, I came upon a spotted elk calf lying in a field. I was walking with a couple other employees of the Fish and Game Department. Had we …

Springtime in the Mountains III

May 7, 2015 by Thomas Trock

As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. Galatians 6:14-15 A while back, Star the Wonderdog and I were seeing lots of bear sign during a springtime hike. Quite naturally, I had bears on my mind, so I kept Star close by as we ascended the mountain. …

Springtime in the Mountains II

April 14, 2015 by Thomas Trock

Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Ps 96:1 When we first moved here several years ago, I rarely saw or heard a wild turkey while hiking. As the years went by, the turkeys have done very well for themselves. They are not native to where we live; they were introduced over 50 years ago. I don’t know what data was gathered before turkeys were brought to my home state those many years ago. The idea of introducing a new species to an area – be it bird, fish, or wildlife …

Springtime in the Mountains

April 2, 2015 by Thomas Trock

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new…” Revelation 21:5 One of the welcome signs of spring in my part of the world is the flowering of the trillium. After months of early darkness, along with ice and snow, seeing a trillium blooming in the mountains is just plain good for my soul. Trilliums are found in many areas of the world and the flowers can vary in color. The ones I see most often on my hikes are white, although I sometimes see the red and pink varieties as well. They …