About Todd D. Nystrom

Christ's Servant, Husband, Dad, Grandpa, USAF Veteran, MSU Alumni, Hiker, Backpacker, Explorer & Aspiring Photographer of God's Amazing Creation Psalm19:1 | Romans 1:19-20 | Mark 6:31-32

By the Breath of God Ice Is Given

Posted on January 4, 2014 by Todd D. Nystrom

Job 37:10-13 – By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast. ¹¹ He loads the thick cloud with moisture; the clouds scatter his lightning. ¹² They turn around and around by his guidance, to accomplish all that he commands them on the face of the habitable world. ¹³ Whether for correction or for his land or for love, he causes it to happen.

The waterfall on Flat Fork Creek is nearly frozen over with ice after a bout of sub-zero temperatures. Caesar Creek State Park, Waynesville, Ohio.

Today’s passage from the book of Job reminds us that God is sovereign over all of his creation, even the winter weather, for “By the breath of God ice is given.” One question often asked by those who doubt God’s sovereignty is, how a loving God can let bad things like storms or natural disasters happen?” Even as Christians we do not always understand God’s purpose behind the events in our own lives, let alone those in the larger world around us.

But, as we read here, God is most certainly in control and his purposes are achieved, for the clouds “turn around and around by his guidance, to accomplish all that he commands them on the face of the habitable world.” We also read of some possible reasons behind God’s actions, they may be “for correction or for his land or for love,” even though we may not fully comprehend the reasons at the time.

With prayer, patience, and perseverance perhaps in time we will understand God’s purposes, whether in the little things or the big, or perhaps not. Either way, in the mean time we need to rest in the hope and promise of Christ and in the words of Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

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We Were Dead in Our Trespasses

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Todd D. Nystrom

Ephesians 2:1-9 – And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ² in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience–³ among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. ⁴ But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ–by grace you have been saved–⁶ and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Fallen sycamore leaf on a wet, algae-covered rock. Caesar Creek Gorge State Nature Preserve, Oregonia, Ohio.

From the world’s perspective people are all basically good, it is just that sometimes we make mistakes, or the circumstances of our lives or upbringing cause us to do bad things. This, “basic goodness of humanity” philosophy is quite pervasive in the world today, even among some Christians. This philosophy is deceitful. It is like looking at this fallen sycamore leaf, seeing the green that remains, and presuming that the “greenness” is a sign the leaf is still alive.

In fact, as we read in today’s passage from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we are all “dead in” our “trespasses and sins.” We are not just a little bad; we are “sons of disobedience” who are “following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air,” Satan, that is. We need to realize this is not just a case of being sick and needing a little medicine to make us better, just like this sycamore leaf, we are dead!

Thankfully, the story does not end here for those who are in Christ. Thankfully, we have a merciful and loving God who, “even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.” Make no mistake, though, without Christ’s atoning sacrifice, without his blood shed on the cross to pay the price for our sins, we would remain “children of wrath,” fully deserving of the eternal punishment God would mete out for all of our trespasses.

And, lest we think we can make it right on our own, through good works, or trying a little harder, or by being a little nicer person, we need to remember what Paul says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

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Praise the LORD from the Earth, You…Snow

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Todd D. Nystrom

Psalm 148:7-13 – Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, ⁸ fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! ⁹ Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! ¹⁰ Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds! ¹¹ Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! ¹² Young men and maidens together, old men and children! ¹³ Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven.

Freshly fallen snow blankets the trees in our back yard early this morning. Morrow, Ohio.

Here is another great passage from the book of Psalms where we read about all the earth praising the Lord, even the snow! It is not too difficult to see God’s handiwork in an enchanted scene like this. And yet, Psalm 148 tells us it is not just the majestic and beautiful parts of creation, but even the fire, hail, mist, and stormy winds that fulfill his word.

God in his sovereignty commands all of his creation; he can create storms (Jonah 1:4) and he can calm storms (Mark 4:39). With all of his magnificence on display in the world around us it should be evident, “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).

So, who is it that is without excuse? Not only does the psalmist tell us who it is, the “Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and maidens together, old men and children!” He then goes on to tell us what it is that they should be doing and why, “Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven.”

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The Light of the World

Posted on January 1, 2014 by Todd D. Nystrom

John 8:12 – Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Looking out our front window at the first light of 2014. Morrow, Ohio.

As a new year dawns and we take down the decorations and lights to pack them away in some dark and dusty corner of our house until next Christmas, we need to make sure we don’t pack Christ away into some dark and dusty corner of our life.

As Jesus tells us in today’s verse, he is “the light of the world.” And, if we follow him, he promises that we “will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” As his followers we need to resolve daily to let that light shine brightly in our lives. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

God’s blessings for a wonderful New Year!

Yours in Christ,
Todd the Hiker

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