If you were a tree.......what type of tree would you be?

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!  Jesu Jevu!!

   Okay, I'm going to deviate from Peter today.  This came to me to share.  If you were a tree you would..............(finish the sentence).

Psalm 1:3  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 he does, he prospers.

A tree standing in your yard, beside the road, in a forest, anywhere usually does not cause one to stop, look, and wonder.  However, if it is a very large tree and tends to stand out we may wonder(a) how old that tree is, (b)what it has weathered (been through),(c) kinds of leaves it bears and the type of fruit it bears.   Also, we may want to know about the (d) depth of its roots.

  Now with a really large tree we tend to wonder how old it could be. There are many ways to determine how old a tree is, however, the only EXACT way is to cut it down, count the rings.  When this is done, the tree is of no use any longer unless for fire wood or BBQ.  So, when we fell a tree, it has lost it purpose in the world.  This is us if we forget our purpose in the world as a Christian; we are no better than a felled tree. We are dead in the word, gone, no longer beneficial to anyone.
      When you observe a tree, all most of us see is the exterior - bark, branches, twigs and leaves.  We do not know what all that tree has endured during its life span.  We tend to be much as the tree - people tend to see our outside, our bark, and they don't really know much more about us.  They have no idea what we have endured, as for a tree the rainy seasons, the dry season, the bugs, diseases, or anything else.  For us we also have rainy seasons - times when we are really close to God, revel in His Word, and enjoy the relationships through His Word.  There are also dry seasons, when God is still in the same place, but we have moved away, to a dry, still and desolate place.  God did not move, we did, and we have to move back to the rainy season.  The hardships, injuries, ailments we encounter most do not know of these.  When we go through the hardships we have an option to go through this situation WITH GOD; or to endure WITHOUT GOD!  What do you do? 

     When a tree is healthy it produces fruit - some edible and some not.  However, it does produce fruit.  We also, stand as a tree; some producing good fruit and some not so good.  For example, the buckeye, which carries a toxin and will make one ill (affects the gastrointestinal system).  We have to be careful of toxic people and not let them pull us into their lair.  Sometimes we refer to them as the antiChrists or false prophets.  It is important to surround ourselves with the saints of Jesus Christ, not isolate but surround.  Matthew 7:17-19

"So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

    Then on the other hand, there is fruit such as the pecan.  The pecan is good to eat, rich in fiber, and promotes colon health and facilitates regular bowel movements.  For you weight watchers, pecans also assist in losing weight by increasing metabolism.  This is more the type of fruit we need to produce from our tree.  Helping others understand the reason for Jesus; the purpose of His dying; and this promotes, through salvation, eternal life.  Proverbs 11:30  The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who is wise wins souls.

   And finally, the roots.  If a trees roots are shallow they will not with stand strong winds, will topple, and create undo hardships.  Some roots, such as the aspen, are invasive and grow or sprout off of a single root winding its way under ground. It appears in places it should not; takes over in places it is not welcome. This is like the darkness or the evil that lurks in the world.  It is constantly invading different places, creating situations that are not necessary, and silently moving about to lure people.
   But, consider the oak tree, that started out as a little nut.  It is a popular wood for its strength, longevity, and wood properties.  Its roots go deeper and maintain a steady base and the tree may grow to be magnificent. A tree many will go to for rest, shade, or just to be near it.  This should be our walk in the LORD.  Where we grow in our faith, wisdom, knowledge and become a beacon for others to pursue and come to. A safe place of refuge.  A place where other may come to rest, be encouraged, and enjoy the fellowship.

  So, I ask again, what type of tree are you; OR, do you want to be? A buckeye or pecan; an aspen or an oak?  The choice is yours. Thank you for rambling through the woods with me today.  I do hope this makes sense to you. Love you all.

Soli Deo Gloria

Johnny