The Wild Seedling

As I look out my kitchen window, I see a tree in my neighbor's back yard that is not the prettiest. This particular tree grew from a wild seedling that had buried itself right next to the fence. You know the ones, you have to keep cutting them down or digging them up because a tree or weed is trying to grow. And you never know which one it's going to be. They drive you crazy. Well, this particular seedling was never cut down or dug up and was allowed to grow. Now I figure this happend because it was at the back of the yard, the house was up for sale and nobody payed any attention to it. By the time it was noticed, it had grown quite a bit and was probably considered too large to do anything with. Either that or no one really cared that it grew there, afterall it was in the back of the yard-hardly noticeable to the owner. So, for the past several years the tree has remained.

As far as I can tell, this tree has never been touched; never fertilized, never pruned, never given a second thought. It's limbs are growing awkwardly and the leaves are not very pretty, even in the spring. Where it sprouted, it does not provide any advantage to it's owner-no needed shade or fruit and it eventually will be destructive to the fence. If allowed to continue in it's wild nature it will be cut down or die. Now is that to say that the tree could never be beautiful? It would take a lot of care at this point because of the years of neglect, but nothing is usually impossible for a master gardener; one who is willing to take the time and give the attention required for transformation.

That tree is a perfect reminder to me of our lives without God. Without the One who plants us perfectly where needed, prunes us, waters and cares for us-we grow wildly. We try to plant ourselves where WE want to grow instead of letting Him plant us where we will grow best. Our rebellion against Him grows in all directions trying to survive. Our flesh sprouts and is awkward and ugly. We neglect our spiritual life, we don't give it a second thought. We provide no shade nor bear any fruit of benefit to anyone and eventually we are destructive to all that is around us. If allowed to continue we are cut down or we die in our sin. Is that to say that we could never be made beautiful? Nothing is impossible for the Master Gardener.

Don't let me be like that wild tree. Don't let my children be wild trees. Forgive our rebellion Lord. Plant us where we will grow best and prune us. Only You can transform us with care and love and attention. May we be willing...

Not Often Enough

Oh how fragile this life is! One moment we are here and all is well, the next we are gone or on our way out.

Are we really promised anything on this journey? Are we promised long life? Are we promised smooth roads? Are we promised no problems along the way? No to all. We are promised protection from the evil one. We are promised love, forgiveness, shelter. Well, shelter from what? We don't need shelter if there is never a storm. Don't need forgiveness if we never do wrong. Always need and desire love. Now that's the one thing it would be hard to live without and luckily, no faithfully, we don't have to.

So we make our plans, we dream our dreams and hope they all come true. But we must not forget the Creator of all we do, of all we are. Does it fit with His plans, His dreams for us? I do believe He has plans and dreams for us, I know He does. Do I move in such a way as to fulfill those dreams and plans? Probably not. Just like a child, I frequently want to go my own way and hope that it somehow fits in His plan. Not exactly what He had in mind.

And just as a young child longs to please his parents, I long to please my Father. And just as a parent is proud when his child does the right thing, so is my Father pleased when I follow Him and do the right thing.

How often does that happen?

My Letter to You

Dear Susan,

I love you so much. So much more than you would ever know or try to know. You are in my every thought. I go through every trial and celebration with you. I am always there.

I see how you worry sometimes about your boys. I see that you are trying to raise them on the path that they should go. Give them to Me. I promise to take care of them.

I see you with your mom. I know how much you love her and I see that you get frustrated with her at times. Know this, I love her too. Just as much as I love you. I see the impatience and intolerance on your part and I know her frustrations and intolerances too. Remember to give her to Me.

I see your love for your husband. You are faithful to him. He loves you. And I love him. With all his faults and inadequacies...he is Mine too.

I want you to draw closer to Me. I want you to read My word. I want you to be powerful in My name. I want you to be bold. Repent immediately when you hear My still, small voice-calling to you. Run to Me immediately when your burdens are hard to bear. I WILL give you rest. Turn back to your First Love. Love me like you did before. Don't let a day go by that we don't talk. Commune with Me. Be obedient to My word. Be more giving. I LOVE a giver who gives from their heart alone. With no strings attached. Stay close to My heart. Then I can talk to you and we can commune together. Sacrfice for Me. Pray to Me. Choose Me above all else. Love Me above all else. I love you above all else.

Jesus

The Answer

He sits on his bed with his head in his hands
Wondering where life is leading him.
He longs for a cure from past mistakes.
He doesn't notice the love around him

How did he get to this point
His childhood memories so pure
When did the road turn the other way
Leaving him so unsure.


The Answer so clear and yet escapes him
He cannot lift his eyes to see.
And there You sit by his side, feeling every tear
Longing to set him free.

Open his eyes, open his heart
To see beyond the hurt
And find You,right there
Where you've always been.

EVERY DAY IS THE SAME DAY

I wonder if some of you remember the movie "Groundhog Day". You know, that day that never ends...never changes. Same thing keeps happening over and over til you finally learn the lesson. Well, welcome to my world.

I have found that with the holidays coming up, my life seems to reflect that movie. Only it's not all me. Oh sure I have my routine that involves work, relaxation, family time. But the boys. Their lives are just the same day over and over again. It doesn't matter if it's Thanksgiving day or Christmas day or Tuesday. Every day is the same day. Get up, do what I HAVE to do to satisfy the folks and get on with MY day. There is no real sense of family, being together, laughing together, sharing life together. There is only MY life and those things that concern ME.

Now we are all selfish to a degree, but teenagers are a whole different breed. The world revolves around them. What will make ME happy today. What do I want to do today. What can satisfy ME today. I wonder, am I all THAT different? I mean, I go to work so that I can have the resources to give the kids and family the things they need, to give me resources to have the things I need and desire from time to time, to supply food, clothing, shelter and on it goes. They have jobs so that they can buy the gas that will take them to the friends house, or the bar, or the nearest fast food joint. Heaven forbid they give that money to anything other than themselves. Christmas, birthday? Oh they expect presents, but do they consider others when those times come around? Their attitude is more, just give me my stuff so I can leave and go to my friends house for the day...oh and thanks. I am to the point where I don't want to give them anything anymore. I don't want to force them to be with the family or go to church anymore. I don't want them living here anymore. And that is so sad, because I love them so very, very much and I don't think they have a clue as to how much.

And that's when the lightbulb goes on. This sounds so much like us with God. We go about our day, doing the things WE want to do, spending OUR money the way WE want to spend it and giving an..."oh thanks" on our way out the door. I have to believe that He gets so tired of us. He just doesn't want to force us to church anymore, or give us blessings anymore or even be around us anymore. And that is so sad because He loves us so very, very much and we don't have a clue as to how much.

But thanks be to our Great God, for He does not turn his back on us. Just as we would never give up on our children, God never gives up on us. We get weary and tired, but God does not. So when those times come, when we want to give up on those that we love so much, give them back to God and let Him handle it. He's had a lot more practice and He has unending love and patience. And in His sight, NO day is the same day....they are ALL a new day. Thank God!!

The Lord is my Father...

The Lord is my Father.
He loves me unconditionally.

He teaches me right from wrong.
He loves truth and turns His eye from evil.

When I stray, He disciplines me with His love.
When I am obedient, He empowers me with His love.

He watches out for my safety and protects me.
His mighty hand reaches out and saves me from calamity and death.

He feeds me from His abundance.
I do not hunger or thirst.

He comforts me in times of pain
And rejoices with me in times of success.
He keeps me close to His heart for His purposes.

Though I may walk the wider path,
He never leaves me. He never stops loving me.
He stands in the doorway expectantly watching for my return.
His house is always open and His arms are outstretched.

Surely He will keep me and I will dwell with Him all the days of my life.

Love Found

One lonely tree on a hill stood
Its future completely misunderstood
Those who saw it thought it shame
And the One who bore it would take the blame

Jesus carried that tree down a dark lonely road
Tired and weary from His heavy load
But He didn’t stop at all that day
For He knew the end would pave the way

I found Love on a hill that day
He hung from a cross and some would say
That He deserved it, to hang from that tree
But giving all, He did it for me

He opened His arms and gave His last breath
For God had ordained it to be His death
The final sacrifice so we could be saved
That tree would be the only way

I found Love on a hill that day
He hung from a cross and some would say
That He deserved it, to hang from that tree
But giving all, He did it for me