|
We should always remember that God is able to do a new thing in our lives.
As long as we have breath in our lungs, it is not too late for us to start
afresh. It is important for us to remember God's love and forgiveness
because sometimes when we fall short, we believe the lie that we are not
worthy to be the redeemed of God. When Jesus died on the cross and shed
His blood for all mankind, He did it knowing of our frailty and our
sinfulness. The Lord knows that man is easily led astray, but He has given
us the Holy Spirit to lead us towards life and not death. We must simply
submit ourselves to His leading and forsake every carnal desire. The Bible
says sowing to the flesh leads to death, but sowing to the Spirit leads to
life everlasting. Be encouraged to submit your heart to the Lord again if
you have fallen away and allow the Lord to work in your life where it will
be changed for the better and used for His Eternal purposes. (Galatians 6:8)
I hope this message ministers to your heart to see that it is never too
late for us to spring forth to life again. The Lord is able to do a new
thing. We simply must trust the Lord and allow Him to work in our lives.
THE LIVING TREE
The small Canadian Hemlock shook her lacy branches in the wind, like a
little girl swinging her petticoats.
Like a small child, I had become alive with hope. We stood there, in the
windy Christmas tree lot, and each of us was filled with the joy of
Christmas. There was no way that we would say “no” to the small Canadian
wonder. For she was beautiful. The perfect tree.
Due to my deteriorating asthma, Christmas had become a struggle for me.
But this year was different. Due to the wonders of modern medicine, we
were looking for our first real Christmas tree in years. And she was extra
special, because she was a living tree. Costly though it was, we paid the
man and we considered it a bargain.
We made a promise to our living tree. We would take care of her, and we
would keep her alive until spring. Then we would plant her in a special
place in our garden. Our first hurdle was finding a pot to put her in. We
settled on a laundry tub. After we bumped the tree ball up the stairs and
negotiated the heavy weight of the root ball into the shiny tub, we filled
the tub with water, just like a potted plant.
Oblivious to the combination of moisture and electricity, we had our tree
lighted in no time. Standing back, in the living room, now darkened except
for the lights of the tree, was a breathless, magical moment. Tears rolled
down my cheeks, as I thanked God, for giving me back my Christmas.
We went a little wild, carefully placing every childhood token, every
home-made gift, and every bauble and bead, that we had packed so long ago,
only to be forgotten. But not this Christmas. Our little living tree became
filled with a lifetime of love and sharing.
Christmas came and went, all too fast. We carefully removed each ornament,
the lights and the garland. Tenderly, we moved our potted tree down into
the chilled basement, right in front of the patio door. I would frequently
slip downstairs and visit the little tree. Then standing before her, I
would whisper, “Stay alive, little tree. Please stay alive. I need you to
live.”
From January until early spring I made sure that our tree's root ball never
dried out. She even seemed to flourish. Then the needles began to drop.
Hastily, my husband dug a huge hole in our back yard. Into the ground,
with a mixture of perfect soil, went our little tree, along with all of my
hopes and dreams.
Was it too late? Was she dead? Would, by some miracle, she grow?
The spring weather was raw and I could not visit her often. Each day, with
more and more branches devoid of needles, our hopes flagged. We agreed
that we would give her until fall. If no new growth appeared, our little
tree would be pulled from the ground. My heart was heavy, as I approached
my own retirement. Perhaps I was like that little tree. Maybe I was
finished. I felt like all the hope had been sucked out of me, too.
The summer skies opened with life giving rain. After three years of
drought, there was a new day for our gardens and our little tree. Perhaps
by some miracle our Canadian princess would find life again. I must
confess that I talked to God every day. Like a small child, placing my
hand into the sheltering hand of my Father, I begged Him for that little
tree. One day, my husband and daughter shouted at me.
“Come outside!” they called. Hastily, I covered my mouth to protect my
lungs from the raw spring wind, and I hurried into the back yard.
“Look at the tree! Look at the tree! It's growing buds!”
Hardly daring to hope, I journeyed over to the garden, and I searched, as
my daughter gently guided my eyes to the tips of each tiny branch. There
they were! Tiny growth buds, tender and green. Tears dripped from my eyes,
as I thanked God for this wonderful gift. We hadn't killed her after all.
Now, as I await the first winter snows, our Canadian Hemlock is thriving.
It seems like a miracle, which I too have shared, for I am gardening again.
Along with our little tree (which now is thick with healthy needles) I too
have experienced a rebirth. Just as she was dormant, so was I.
I had given up. I, too, thought that my growing days were gone.
Well, a new day has dawned, and my little tree and I are spreading our
branches together.
Both of us are very much alive!
By Jaye Lewis
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Isaiah 49:13-16 “Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth
into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted His people, and
will have mercy upon His afflicted. But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken
me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child,
that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may
forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the
palms of My hands; thy walls are continually before Me.”
Habakkuk 3:17-19 “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall
fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields
shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there
shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will Joy
in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and He will make
my feet like hinds’ feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places...”
Philippians 4:4-7 “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let
your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for
nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which
passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
All scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: WORDS TO LIVE BY
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem180.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: WHO CRUCIFIED CHRIST?
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony192.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
