WINTER TREES

WINTER TREES

Hi Everyone,

Being winter here in the southern hemisphere, I have been considering 'winter trees'.  I've always loved the look of the bare branches against the sky, but trees that are full of leaves, fruit and colour are delightful to see.  In the end, a tree that is always a 'winter tree' is a dead tree.

Psalm 1:3 says that a tree planted by the river will bear fruit, 'in its season'.  This indicates that there is a specific time for trees to be fruitful.

The issue isn't whether the tree is bearing fruit so much as where the tree is planted.  

Psalm 1 is all about being planted in the Word of God.  Drawing nourishment from the truth.  In this age of false information and passionate opinions, we must be planted in The Word of God.  I have often been reading the news or social media on my phone, then go to the Bible App.  The shift in my levels of anxiety when I settle in His Word is telling!  Opinions come and go, but the Word of God stands forever. 

The grass withers, the flower fades,

But the word of our God stands forever   Isaiah 40:8

The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart to all generations.  Psalm 33:11

It's all about the root system.

If the root system is good, the fruit will come.  Winter trees planted in the right place look dead, but their root system ensures that they are not dead; they are just winter trees.

Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:17 is that our hearts be rooted in God's love.  If our hearts are planted in His love, not planted in success, popularity or easy circumstances, we can be assured that the winter tree is not a dead tree.

One word of warning... Hebrews 12:15 warns us of the danger of a root of bitterness springing up.  It is worth reading this verse in context to find out what causes the root of bitterness.  This root of bitterness will eventually cause the tree to shrivel up and die or cause such weakness and instability that a fierce wind will topple it.

Whatever we do, we must take care of our root system by planting our hearts deep in His Word and in His love.  

And remember that Winter trees become Spring trees... Summer trees... Autumn trees and the cycle goes on.

Please don't judge yourself by what's going on above the surface; just take care of the hidden places of your soul's root system, and rest in the fact that you will once again become a summer tree.

Much love,

Lynda xx

PATIENCE IN TIMES OF VULNERABILITY

PATIENCE IN TIMES OF VULNERABILITY

Have you ever been primed and ready for action and then been forced to stop - and REST!!!  It feels so counter-intuitive, but there are times when this is absolutely the right thing to do.  

Joshua 5:8 "After all the males had been circumcised, they rested in the camp until they were healed." 

This was a critical time for Joshua and all those he was leading. 

Flush from the miracle of crossing over a dry riverbed that was ordinarily in flood, and knowing that their enemies were shaking with fear, they were ready for the next miracle.

Instead, they got some pain as they took the time to be circumcised.  There is a whole other message right there, but suffice to say here, this meant that instead of pressing forward in their great quest, they were forced to take time out and rest.  

Then we come to Joshua himself in verses 13-15  

"When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and demanded, “Are you friend or foe?” “Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the Lord’s army.” At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence. “I am at your command,” Joshua said. “What do you want your servant to do?” The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did as he was told."

Joshua was under the pump.  He was in charge and needed to know his next steps.  Finally, he meets The Man Himself, ... "Yes! Now I will know what to do".

Before he got his instructions, he was told to take off his shoes.  I love this thought. I heard it many years ago from Dr Lois Burkett when she talked about the time Moses was at the burning bush.  The truth of this has stayed with me ever since, and I want to share it here.

Joshua was a commander, poised and ready to lead his people in battle.  The land where he was was rough, quite possibly with dangerous critters and rocks.  Taking off your shoes means you cannot confidently or quickly move on that rough ground.  In taking off his shoes, he was acknowledging God's holiness and authority and his own vulnerability and humanity.

There is a place in our lives that is deeply personal and is between our Lord alone and us. That place of prayer is a place where we can and should 'take off our shoes', be absolutely at home with the idea that we are vulnerable, that He is Sovereign and holy, and therefore in charge of what is happening.  

Then when we come to take our place of service and leadership, we put those shoes back on and walk confidently forward into the plan and purpose that He has given.

Joshua and his people stood in an absolutely critical juncture - it seemed, as I said, counter-intuitive to take time out to rest, to be vulnerable. But in doing this, they perfectly positioned themselves for what was to come.

May we also learn to take the time to rest and heal when we need to, and also be at home with our own vulnerability in the presence of a Holy and Almighty God.