Trees

I appreciate how God uses objects we know to explain concepts beyond our full understanding.  There are countless verses on planting, seeds, plants and trees.  Our faith and even our own humanity is often compared to each of those.  Trees are often talked of in the psalms in specificity.  I know there is a reason why a palm, cypress, oak or olive tree is named in each instance.  This alone has heightened my curiosity.  Why would a I want to be a tree and not wheat plan or grapevine?  In visions and prophecies trees stand for mighty events and people.

This is a topic I will further explore but the simplest part of this has become clear during these horribly hot dry summer days.  All of my grass is brown.  I have to water my gardens to maintain color and life.  I have learned there are some plants that thrive with little water and others you can't water enough.  All plants need constant care to look there best, sun and water isn't enough.  To sell the plants the dead pieces must be removed and constant pruning is necessary for them to look as they were created.  I have been working at a nursery and I have noticed something, other than I will never own a petunia plant.  There is one thing, no matter where it is that is doing fine, trees.  All the trees, despite lack of water and horrible heat, are fine.  The leaves are green and the grass beneath them enjoy their shade.  The only thing green in my yard are my trees. Seedlings have begun to sprout up all over the crisp, brown, hard yard.  I stand amazed and slightly annoyed.  I don't want a forest in my yard after all.

So I began to skim the hundreds of verses regarding trees, plants, withering etc and  I have noticed something.  Just tough times in life - droughts - cause flowers and grass to wither.  The only time the trees wither is when God takes away something from them and causes them to wither for a time and a purpose.  I see withering as a lack of faith.  I don't want to be a flower that is here for a season or less because I can't find Living Water in the tough moments in life.  I want to be like a tree that has roots so deep into the Living Water that despite what goes on around me I can live.  Live for year and years, even thrive.  When for a time the Living Water reroutes itself I can still stand on the Rock holding to the knowledge of the Hope of Living Water.  Some of you will be able to see the changes in me from my time of drought and fire.  Some may even see me in the season of fall or winter and wonder if maybe I had died or given up.  Really all the time I am living with my roots deep and my branches stretched out high!  Waiting. Learning. Loving.

The Other Side

It has been one of those days that you spend stuck remembering as much as you can about the one you have lost, wishing you could touch, smell, or listen to him.  Lost.  That is the word we use for someone who has 'gone before', passed away, moved on, died.  We try to use the word to make the reality of what has happened a little more generic.  Lost.  Like we misplaced our cell phone, car keys or favorite shirt.  I will admit it is how you feel when it first happens.  I soon realized, with a little divine intervention, that I hadn't lost Daniel.  How can you lose something when you know where he is.  I heard many times deep in my heart "MOM, you Know where I am."  It wasn't like we had walked to a store and I could no longer see him or we were at a park and despite my constant counting of children, "1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4" I was missing ONE.  No, it is much different.  I do know where he is, therefore he isn't lost.

It has been five years since I last heard him speak.  Since I last helped him with anything.  Since I last saw his smile and heard him laugh.  It has been five years since I have watched him play soccer, catch a fish, play with his sisters and little brother.  I have been waiting five years to hear him sing in church, chase him and give him a punch kiss.  I knew five years ago that it is better to think of the time yet to come.  Not to think of counting the time since the last but instead look forward to the future, when I get to do all those things again.  I can't wait to hear all he has been up too. A friend helped me think of it more as getting closer to when I can see him again.  She wondered if Daniel celebrates the day he moved to heaven!  What a wonderful thought!  I am sure he does, I know the angels rejoice when we first move in!  I am sure they would be glad to rejoice each year!

The Sweet Spot

Sweet!  A word that conjures up delicious smells, growling bellies and wonderful memories of favorite dishes and the ones that make them.  Of course "SWEET!"  could also mean that one is celebrating a victory!  Or vocalizing that the gift received or recent event is very much to their liking!   Hearing or saying the word in this manner reminds me of a very good time in life.  Let me describe for you where this spot in my life has existed!

Depending on what personality you are the perfect spot may look slightly different but the end result is the same.  You wake up in a good mood, getting ready for the day goes smoothly and you are ahead of schedule.  You hear all the right songs, say all the right things, traffic is good, kids are happy as they begin their day.  The evening schedule is just as you like it and even the weather is cooperating.  Just when you can't think the day can get any better God surprises you with little epiphanies through out your day.  You have been obedient to begin your day with God and through out it offer prayers of praises and petitions up to Him on behalf of yourself and others.  This is just happening as part of who you are with no effort and in return you notice and see little things and big things that only God could show you!  For this reason they are all the sweeter and enrich your life in ways that you never would have imagined.

Imagine this happening in the midst of not so smooth days..maybe you don't even get to pray because you are woken early by a terminally ill kid. As you rush healthy kids off to begin their day, you run to one of multiple doctors appointments this week, alone with your child, with hope against hope that your husband can get out of work and show up so you don't have to hear all the information alone.  EVEN or should I say AMAZINGLY then God shows up BIG and little at all the right moments.  Why?  How?  I can only explain by saying when you pray for your brothers and sisters when they can't pray for themselves you stand in the gap of their relationship with God and enable these things to happen.

My Sweet Spot comes amongst turmoil and chaos with BIG and little joys when God showed up and all because of people like you!  I long to live in My Sweet Spot!  I thank God everyday that it is possible without gaining my hearts attention with the distraction of chaos.  Many of the following posts I will share are BIG and little moments where God met me.  Yes, tis Soooo SweEETT!!

Seed AND Sower???

The Parable of the Sower from Matthew 13: 1-9,18-23

I was listening to the sermon this morning when it occurred to me that a seed could be a sower.  Jesus tells us when a seed is planted in good soil it will grow and produce fruit.  Later Jesus plainly states that is what our lives as Christians are like when we hear His word and understand - we produce fruit!

My heart took this a step further, within that fruit are seeds! I am no biologist but I remember learning that to be a fruit it must contain seeds. When we share the fruit, we are in turn planting seeds. I mean...the seeds will end up in the soil one way or another...I won't get into the biology.  A sower plants seeds.

We have come full circle!  Isn't this a perfect picture of what we as Christians are to BE? We listen and learn from God's word and in turn grow!  We bear fruit through His grace and power.  His fruit in us allows us to share God's love with other hearts!  I guess the key is to be growing IN God..not chocolate, media, worries, lists, and, shall I say, selfish desires but God. We daily need to choose to make the conditions right for listening and learning from His words. So by BEING in Him we are DOING for Him.

What kind of tree are you?  "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.  Each tree is recognized by its own fruit.  People do not pick figs from briers.  The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his hear, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.  For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."  Luke 6:43-45

Now go be a good tree!