New Beginnings

REach for the Son and Let Him Reign

On Friday during my lunch break, I went out to the parking lot to walk and pray.  It was a gorgeous day.  The first sunny, rain-free day we've had in a while.  The wind was blowing gently.  The sun was bright.  The sky was a beautiful blue, with little while clouds that honestly appeared to be brushed stroked on a canvas in the perfect places rather than the usual little puffs. 

Despite being in a industrial area, there are a lot of trees on the outskirts of our parking lot on certain sides.  As I was walking, I was looking at the trees and noticing their beauty. 

There was a huge cluster of trees that stretched out on one whole corner of the parking lot.  It was very dense and thick.  The trees were tall and full.  Thanks to my "artsy" daughter, I now notice that you cannot just say trees are "green".  Each type of tree has just a slightly different shade of green and the leaves are different enough that even in such a densely wooded area, you can tell one tree from another.  Each is unique--not unlike people. 

As I was looking and praying, God called my attention to something.  One of the biggest, tallest and fullest trees stood in the middle of many others.  It really was gorgeous, but at the top of that tree stuck out a little cluster of branches that was bare--no leaves just the "naked" branches.   Over on the right side of the tree was another cluster of almost -naked branches sticking up through all the beautiful green.   It was a little smaller than the one on top and you could see tiny leaves beginning to sprout. 

It looked as those these "naked" branches didn't belong there with the rest of that beautiful tree.  Yet, at my first glance, I didn't notice them at all.  But when I did, I smiled.  I imagined that the naked cluster of branches was once hidden amongst the fullness and greeness of that big tree and just fought its way up through it all until it exposed itself. 

Then when it was finally exposed, it reached as high as it could toward the sun --instinctively knowing that only the sun and rain from above could make it flourish with the rest.  Even the little small cluster of branches sticking out oddly from the side of the fullest part of the tree had its tiny branches curved out then straight upward toward the sun.

I quickly scanned the tree line.  There were some almost perfectly shaped trees.  Some tall and thin others thick and full.  A few trees stood tallker than the others--reaching their highest potential.  Others were fighting their way through the denseness.  A few had those odd, naked branches sticking out of their full green leaves and reaching up like the one tree I was focused on.

God revealed something to me in that moment and tears came to my eyes.  Tears of gratefulness to God for speaking to me on a 15 minute walk, in the middle of a huge parking lot full of cars on a day when I was very eager to be done with work and on my way home!

Those trees are not unlike us at all.  Especially the one tree that caught my eye. 

As a person and a Christian, I am strong in many aspects of my life--spiritually, emotionally, and physically.  We all are.  Those full branches of that tree represent those areas of strength in our life.  It represents different things for different people.  It may be that you are very outgoing and talking to people comes easy.  So, you flourish in that area of your life--never meeting a stranger.   Maybe you have a great strength for prayer or visiting the sick.  Maybe your are very strong physically or intellectually.  Most of us are strong in multiple areas and the full, green areas of the tree represent those areas.

Yet as imperfect humans, there is at least one area of our lives that we struggle with--especially spiritually.  Maybe we struggle with worry or anxiety.  Maybe it is addictions.  Maybe it is being able to talk to others about God.  Maybe it is a fizzled out prayer life or a faith that needs a boost.  Whatever it is, those little clusters of bare branches represent those things in our life. 

At a glance, everything looks great, but inside of us are these bare branches waiting to expose themselves-- trying to break free and break through to the surface.   Meanwhile, Satan tries to keep them buried amongst all the green and fullness.  He wants them naked and bare--not bearing fruit or leaves.  Keeping the tree (us) from reaching its full potential. He doesn't want those things to break free and reach for the SON! For Satan knows when that happens, he is losing the battle for sure.

Just as the tree branches reach high for the "sun and rain" knowing that is their only chance to shine and flourish, so it is with us.  We must expose those areas in our life that need spiritual growth, rejuvenating or life in general.  We must break them free of Satan's grasp.  We must hold them up high and reach out to the "Son" and let Him "reign" over them!  If we do so, those areas will begin to bud and bloom like the others!

THe Lord showed me that there are certain areas of my life that are bare.  I need to expose them by confession of sin and admitting to Him that I need help.  Then I must put them "out there", hold them up high toward Him and let Him work.  Just as leaves slowly bud and then gradually grow, I must not expect one rain drop to fix it all for me!  I must keep reaching toward the Son, higher and higher, closer and closer to get the "full effect" and see my growth in that area.

As I drove home from work that evening, I could not help but pay attention to all of the trees along the highway.  Short ones, tall ones, fat ones, skinny ones, crooked ones, straight ones--all unique, all reaching upward.  Some weathered, some new and tender.  And , of course, with a closer look, many with little bare branches sticking out here and there reaching out and up.   I smiled and thanked God for His revelation and for the SonShine and Reign that He is pouring on those areas of my life that still need work.

Jesus said: No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.  I Am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. .....This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.  John 15:  4-5 and 8 NIV

One of my favorites:

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and His law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yelds its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers.  Psalm 1:1-3 NIV

Jesus, thank you for speaking to me in the midst of traffic, smog, parked cars, a frustration with work and only 15 minutes to be alone with You.  You are truly an awesome God that is eager to spend time with me and so rarely give myself to you as I should.  Thank you for tree revelation.  Please help me to recognize those bare branches in my life if I don't already know what they are.  Give me the courage to expose them to You and allow You to reign over those areas of my life that are dull and fruitless.  Grant me continuous revelation and wisdom to know You better and to reach for You more and more.  May all those areas that I hold up to You flourish in a way as to bring You glory.   Amen 

Hey!

9:33 AM, Apr. 22, 2008 .. Posted by dixiefiddler

Hey Mrs. Brandi!!

I loved this entry!

Yeah, the poison ivy wasn't fun. But I'm doing much better. I really need to figure out the difference between it and regular leaves. They say leaves of three. But I didn't see any. I think it was in the vines that I was pulling out though.
^_^

Have a blessed day,
Sarah