When we grow as branches from the tree that is God, storms of life blow against us. We hold to the knowledge that the strength of God, the trunk, will withstand the storms. Small and large branches that we are, we hold fast and strong to the tree. The squalls, torents, and even hurricanes of our life only serve to strengthen us. We may see them only as troubles that seem to rip our leaves from us, but as they happen, we are strengthened.
The tree that grows in a green house, away from wind and storms, can grow BIG and very FULL! BUT, take that tree, even after many years, and transplant it out into the world, with all its storms, and it will fall. With no strength built up from facing storms throughout its life, it will not be able to handle what may be just a small storm in the real world. It's branches will be ripped from it, and the trunk may even snap under the strain that it is not used to.
Don't look at the troubles of life as something that will destroy you and take what you want from you. Look at them as things that God can use to strengthen you in Him. The stronger the wind blows, the stronger we can become in God.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Beauty truly is only skin deep
Dirt. Crud. Trash. Scum. Rot. Mess.
No matter where you see it, it's not pleasant. Then comes snow. A dusting, then a bit more, then inches, and even more! Suddenly, all of the crap is covered and no longer seen. Everything looks completely beautiful and now is definitely pleasing to the eye.
But snow eventually melts when things warm up...and all that "stuff" reappears.
The enemy may try to help one cover the crud of life with a picture of beauty that others marvel at, but inside we know the truth.
Only one thing takes care of the dirt and scum of one's life - the Fire of the Lord God. He burns away the trash. Cleans out the rot. Sure, it may be quite uncomfortable, and even painful in some ways to have the stuff burned out, but the clean and fresh life that's left is well worth it.
No matter where you see it, it's not pleasant. Then comes snow. A dusting, then a bit more, then inches, and even more! Suddenly, all of the crap is covered and no longer seen. Everything looks completely beautiful and now is definitely pleasing to the eye.
But snow eventually melts when things warm up...and all that "stuff" reappears.
The enemy may try to help one cover the crud of life with a picture of beauty that others marvel at, but inside we know the truth.
Only one thing takes care of the dirt and scum of one's life - the Fire of the Lord God. He burns away the trash. Cleans out the rot. Sure, it may be quite uncomfortable, and even painful in some ways to have the stuff burned out, but the clean and fresh life that's left is well worth it.
T.I.M.E.
What is Time? What do we use it for? Some have fun, some work, some mourn, some suffer, some heal, some make war, some do nothing, some think, some are peace-makers, some joke it away, some live their dream.
Some use time
To
Intimately
Meet
Emmanuel
Some use time to
Train
Instant
Messengers of
Eternity
Still others
Think
Infinitely on
Messiah's
Everlasting word
How are you using the time you have been given? Whatever you are doing, don't waste it by
Throwing
It to a
Messy
End.
Some use time
To
Intimately
Meet
Emmanuel
Some use time to
Train
Instant
Messengers of
Eternity
Still others
Think
Infinitely on
Messiah's
Everlasting word
How are you using the time you have been given? Whatever you are doing, don't waste it by
Throwing
It to a
Messy
End.
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