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January 17, 2008
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
Flexible Trees, by Mike Barres
We have built a home on some property that is densely wooded. The trees
are mature trees and most of them are very tall. When the wind blows,
you can see and hear the trees sway. Watching these trees through the
changing seasons has reminded me of a few truths.
The Lord built a lot of flexibility in to those trees. The reason that
they don't break is because they are flexible. We must be flexible with
the storms and changes of life, too. Our ability to survive is because
of Jesus, who gives us strength to face any circumstance. Listen to how
Paul described his ability to be flexible:
I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and
in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both
to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ
who strengthens me (Philippians 4:12-13 NKJV).
I also noticed that during the winter, after most of the leaves have
fallen off, there are a few trees that still have growth on them. These
trees are affected by the wind the most. We may naively think that if
we are mature Christians, with growth, that storms won't come our way.
The devil may well attack mature Christians, because they are a threat
to him. The good news is that we will overcome him. John reassured
early Christians, "You are of God, little children, and have overcome
them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world"
(1 John 4:4 NKJV).
They have deep roots!
One of the reasons that these trees don't topple over is that they have
deep roots. We must have deep roots in God's Word to be able to
withstand the storms of life. Remember how Jesus used the Word of God
to overcome the temptation that the devil brought His way (Matthew
4:1-11).
Another reason that the trees don't topple over is that their root
systems are intertwined with the roots of other trees. Our fellowship
with other Christians will strengthen us. The Holy Spirit challenges us
with these words:
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good
works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is
the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more
as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Let's be sure that we are standing solidly on the Rock, who is Jesus
Christ, so that we can withstand the storms of life. Jesus said:
"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I
will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and
the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on
that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them,
will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the
rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on
that house; and it fell. And great was its fall" (Matthew 7:24-27).
---------
(c) 2008 Mike Barres <mbarres@dnet.net>.
RELATED LINKS:
* There are Trees and There are Trees
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200407/20040709_trees.html
* Learning from Trees
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200301/20030124_trees.html
* Creation's Accompaniment
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200104/20010404_accompaniment.html
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200801/20080117_flexibletrees.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
HOUSE, by Frank Peretti & Ted Dekker
Best-selling authors Peretti and Dekker join forces for an
adrenaline-laced thriller!
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?252
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