It is GOD who BLESSES and TRANSFORMS...

This is a blog for women (not just moms) who:

(1) Desire to be transformed by JESUS' LOVE, HOLINESS, AND GRACE;

(2) Believe that GOD'S WORD is the true Spirit food for HIS HOLY SPIRIT who lives within us;

(3) Submit to GOD and walk this journey of life with HIM transforming us more and more into HIS likeness.

It's a blog about the POWER OF TRANSFORMED LIVES. Let's begin with yours and mine and pass it on... 1 + 1 + 1...

Since GOD's HOLY SPIRIT lives inside a christian, let's choose to be nurtured and transformed by feasting daily on HOLY SPIRIT food - GOD's WORD - The Holy Bible..

My regular posts stopped in 2013, with a major move and the chronic illness and eventual death of our oldest daughter. Yes, we grieve daily, yet I am determined to continue to let the LIGHT of my LORD and SAVIOR shine through me. I have tried to start posting again, over the last few years, but have not been consistent. So, I think the biggest blessing for you and me both will be to intersperse some new posts while revisiting some of the former posts. Let's begin with "Oh, the JOY!" as we head into living through Fall 2019; meeting back here 1-2 days a week.

If you need daily encouragement, you will find plenty by clicky on past posts. When reading earlier posts, you will see that I often posted daily, following this format: ...Sunday in the SON, Meditation Monday, GratiTuesday, Women in the WORD Wednesday, Transforming Thursday, Family Fellowship Friday, Ketchup & Mustard Saturday.


There's a whole lot here! Take your time to browse.

Please come back and visit each week. Welcome!

Because of JESUS, we can be family,

Patti





TRANSFORMED MOMS:MOMS TRANSFORMED

Romans 12:1-2 "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

I HAVEN'T TURNED OUT YET...I'M LIKE A TREE...


.
In Genesis 1, God made trees! I am a tree watcher not because I have "gone green" but because of the spiritual teachings I see when I observe a tree. I taught a class one Sunday morning last fall to our ladies of the Pitman church and shared a few tree connections:

.

...When I look at any row of trees, I see that each one is different...just because they are different they are still trees...we honor and appreciate the differences...

.

.

...When I look more closely at a tree and I see the kind of tree that it is....

even it's age...

.

.

...When I look even more closely at a tree, I see hardships or difficult circumstances that the tree might have encountered over the years through wind, hail, sleet, snow, fire, etc...

.

.

...When life has me down, throws me twists and curves... or I feel beaten or battered, I am encouraged by trees...

.

.

Several years ago, during a really rough period in our lives, when circumstances at home, on the job, and even with the church were very difficult...when there was much judgment, little mercy, and hope that seemed elusive...I was encouraged by a tree...I sat in the parking lot of the grocery store before going in each time I visited and pondered a tree that looked like it had weathered many storms. There was nothing "pretty" about this tree, yet it was massive and majestic...it had survived...it gave me courage to go on...

.

After sharing that story in class, others began to tell me that they had become tree watchers. Below you will find some great scriptures about trees, my favorite video about a tree, and something that Stephanie surprised me with recently.

.

Following that class, Stephanie and her kids became tree watchers, taking their camera out and capturing unique trees. She made a collage of her pictures and presented them to me. What a friend! What a treasure! I am thankful today for God's teachings through trees, for lessons of mercy and hope that can be gleaned from them, AND for my friend Stephanie who gave me this wonderful gift of encouragement. Thank you, God! Thank you, Stephanie!

.




.

James 5:11 "Behold, we count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful."

.

.

Job 14:7-9
7 "For there is hope for a tree,

When it is cut down,

that it will sprout again,

And its shoots will not fail.

"Though its roots grow old in the ground,

And its stump dies in the dry soil,

At the scent of water it will flourish

And put forth sprigs like a plant..."

.

.

Psalm 1:1-3
"How blessed is the (wo)man who
does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his (her) delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law (s)he meditates day and night.
3 And (s)he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season,
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever (s)he does, (s)he prospers."

.

I believe that it has been God's compassion and mercy that have helped me to endure and given me hope through very difficult times. This week we will continue to consider the fifth beattitude: "Blessed are the merciful..." My friend, have mercy today on the little "trees" that are in your care! Listen to our theme song of this week, "I Haven't Turned out Yet!" with this post in mind!
.


3 comments:

Goat Gal said...

What a great lesson God has taught you (and continues to teach you) through trees. I am in awe of the ways God uses His creation to reveal Himself to us.

B and V Leonard said...

Thank you for that post! I'm going to join you in being a tree watcher!! :-D We saw some on the Theodore Roosevelt Island last week that amazed us. This post reminded me of them.

Anonymous said...

Patti
You are so amazing, such an encouragement to me and so so many. Trees are amazing, what a gift from God!! I can't believe this feeling I have inside when I look at different trees, it's like butterflies, it's exciting how God reveals Himself, you have given me a gift, a perspective on how I look at every tree. It's like looking in the sky and seeing the many rays of light from the sun spread across the sky. Every time I see that I just have to stop and thank God. Every time I see a sun setting or rising it looks amazing and again I just have to stop and thank God. And now every time I see a tree I just have to stop and thank God. Thank you, love you
Stephanie

TRANSFORMED MOM, LISA, REQUESTED PRAYERS FOR HER HUBBY: FULLY RESTORED! FULLY HEALED!