http://titus24u.blogspot.com/2010/05/mothers-day-give-away.html
And in other news, I've been trying to be more like a tree and less like a shrub!
Look at Jeremiah 17:
5 This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. 6 They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land.
7 “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. 8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.
7 “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. 8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.
It's so easy and so natural to rely on what we see, to rely on our own human strength. But God's Word always warns us that we weren't meant to handle this life on our own. His desire is for us to rely and trust in Him.
Don't misinterpret this thought. The Bible does NOT say we are to sit around and do nothing and hope God takes care of everything. But neither is their a verse in Scripture that says, "God helps those who help themselves".
It's so easy , when life is uncertain, to run to friends for comfort - to place our hope and confidence in what they might say.
But God desires for us to first go to Him. Yes, he has given us friends and mates to confide in and to go to for help and guidance. But ultimately, He desires for us to find our confidence in Him alone. When we do, several wonderful things happen:
- We see God reveal Himself to us. We are allowed to see His character.
- When we learn that our God is trustworthy, our confidence in Him grows.
- Because we are "abiding in Him", we are going to start growing what the Bible calls the "fruit of the Spirit".
God wants His children to develop Godly character. He wants us to be like strong trees, not little shrubs. When was the last time you had a picnic under a shrub? When was the last time you enjoyed relaxing under the shade a magnificent shrub?
And so, yet again our family is facing uncertainty. I won't go into all the specifics, but during this process, during these days of instability, I really want to stay away from "shrub thinking"!!! And if I am to be "tree-like" in my outlook, I choose the magnolia tree! They are blooming here in Texas and are absolutely beautiful!
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