Skip to main content

Like a Tree



Don't groan if you are not one of these types, but I love mornings!  They are my most productive time of the day.  Today was our coldest morning of the year so far, and after thanking the Lord for somewhere to stay warm, I embraced the day - got in a cup of coffee, Bible study, a quick workout, load of laundry done, supper planned then headed out the door.

A local Christian radio station is hosted by a couple who bring a positive and encouraging word on the drive to town. This morning the conversation revolved around trees and some differences in trees.

All year long, we see evergreen trees, they remain the same, they continue to be steadfast living, growing and keeping the same color.

The type of tree we notice most during this time of the year are Deciduous Trees. These are the trees that produce the gorgeous, breathtaking color in their leaves before the die back for the winter. 
Trees are all living and serve a valuable purpose.  One of the noticeable differences is the leaves and the color.  

Some Christians can be paralleled like trees. Each is different, but needs the same things to grow in Christ. "Evergreen Christians" are stately, beautiful, steady, consistent, dependable and durable.  For years, I have been what could be considered 'an evergreen'.  Disciplined in growing in the Lord, faithful to church ministries, dependable etc.

But there is something spectacular about the deciduous trees, something that captures your eye and causes you to long to linger and absorb their beauty.  Have you ever known a Christian like that?  They are someone so vibrant, so alive that you take a deeper look at their life to see what brings out this beauty?  


It is interesting that when the deciduous trees are in the most splendor is when they are actually dying.  Their season of glory quickly fades and after a rest during winter, they come alive again and share beauty as they grow, thrive and blossom.


As Christians, the qualities of an evergreen surely need to be in place.  We must have a firm foundation in the Lord and seek daily to live, love and grow in Christ. But, to be a thriving Christian, we must change seasons sometimes.  We undergo growth, trials, sadness, joy and changes.  The beauty comes during those seasons and reflect where our faith comes from - in God.  These Christians do more than survive, they thrive!


There is a beautiful contemporary song out called "Thrive".  This morning after the radio show's talk about trees, this song came on.  What a beautiful compliment to what was going through my mind and heart.  Here are some of the lyrics:


Here in this worn and weary land
Where many a dream has died

Like a tree planted by the water
We never will run dry

So living water flowing through
God we thirst for more of You
Fill our hearts and flood our souls
With one desire

Just to know You and
To make You known
We lift Your name on High
Shine like the sun make darkness run and hide
We know we were made for so much more
Than ordinary lives
It's time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive

My heart is encouraged today to do more than survive, but to truly thrive, to know Him more and to make Him know.

Comments

  1. Seasonal living is hard, but oh so necessary for growth. Great thoughts!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love that song! It's such a good message for my heart every time I hear it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts at my place for Three Word Wednesday.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yes, even in the midst of trials God wants us to not just survive but to thrive. Living in the Pacific Northwest I am surrounded by so many trees - praying I can work toward the attributes of the evergreen.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thank you for sharing your commment. It is a joy and blessing to hear from you and your words are appreciated.

Popular posts from this blog

Sometimes We Score, Sometimes We Block

Our family is in the midst of little league soccer season. My youngest son is playing and his enthusiasm is contagious. He is pretty good at the sport, but what makes it so great is that he loves it! He counts the days until the next game or practice. He loves his coach and teammates. He has moved up an age level this year and the players are working more like team, passing to each other and watching out for each other during play. During the last game, my son scored two goals, they were the only goals of the game. In today's game the team scored eight goals. My son came up afterwards to me and said, "I didn't score today, but I blocked". What a powerful truth those words can hold. In life, sometimes we score, sometimes we block. Sometimes we do great things, we excel, we achieve, we meet our goal - we score! There are also times we see the needs of others, sometimes they are sad or hurting, we block their hits. We look out for them so they can score. We

Relationships and Redemption

In every friendship or relationship, there is a common hope that they will grow and flourish. There is something inside of us that longs for a 'happy every after' story. We dream about it and work to make that happen. But in reality, relationships are a challenge. The bridging of values, lifestyles, interests and sacrificing for another are simply hard things to do! No matter how much we dream of the perfect fit, some relationships will not endure the stress.  When differences appear and tensions arise, prayer can change situations, attitudes and ourselves. For the Christian, we know God can transform, change, heal. We cannot change others, but prayer opens us the door for God to step in and answer. God desires transformation, but does not demand it. The gift of free will allows us to choose to say Yes or No to Him.  Romans 12:18 says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” Take notice of the first two words: “If possible …” This implies that some

A Blank Page - A Great Way to Fill It

A blank page - that is the first view of a new blog post. It has been a while since I have faced the blank page of my little blog! A blank page can bring a variety of emotions - emptiness, anxiety, pressure to perform or emotions such as inspiration, encouragement or simply bursting to share something. But there is always something fresh and exciting about the blank page of a New Year. Happy 2023! This is always a time in my life where inspiration and plans are formed and ready to be implemented for greater change. Aspirations may start strong, but alone do not make a difference. It takes consistency to create change. The changing or adding small habits is a key to great changes. A habit that has been beneficial in my life for many years is rising early. It began when the children were small and was the only pocket of time I had to myself. Through the years, mornings have become my favorite time of the day. Now that my husband and I are empty nesters, we go to bed early and rise early.