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...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...
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...When I look more closely at a tree and I see the kind of tree that it is....
even it's age...
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...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...
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...When life has me down, throws me twists and curves... or I feel beaten or battered, I am encouraged by trees...
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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...
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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.
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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!
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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."
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.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..."
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.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."
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3 comments:
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.
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.
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
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