When I get on the elliptical each morning, my eyes first focus on the silver maple tree out of the window I am facing. Since I have been writing this blog, that tree has shown/taught me many things about God. And here I am again with what God showed me this morning. You see, this tree has been so confused, as other plants have, with our warmer winter, brief cold spell, warmer temperatures, brief cold spell, warmer temperatures, snow, and now a high of 62 degrees (with 40’s coming tomorrow!).
The maple produced its “winged seeds” about a month ago. I was rather sad to see them because I knew what would happen. And sure enough, those seeds began to wither (picture above) when the weather turned cold, and we had the snow last week.
However this morning (picture below), God showed me the whitish colored buds at the tips of many branches! New Life!! Even though the “winged seeds” had withered, they had new growth coming from those withered pieces. Wow!! This picture has some withered seeds hanging and some new buds showing.
Look at these beautiful buds below! You would never know that the former winged seeds had budded and died unless you saw them hanging there.
God is showing us first hand that even though we have been through those trials time and time again, we have a hope in Christ! We will ALWAYS have that hope as long as we stay connected to Him - to the main source of life - and believe in Him.
This maple tree shows us hope. Among the withered winged seeds are new buds of new growth and new life. This hope is planted in us, and it is called Emmanuel or God With Us. We must stay connected to the main trunk of the tree, like these branches, to absorb the nutrients (the Word) which bring new life. If we become disconnected from the main source (like branches broken from the tree), we would not have a continuous "feed" line to bring us new growth when the first growth has died from various causes. The enemy is pressing harder and harder on those who want to and are spreading God's Word. He will not stop unless we stop, and if we stop, we have lost everything!
God created us with hope, love, compassion for others. All we have to do is believe it, claim it, and walk in it. Thanks be to God!!!
Thanks for stopping by,
Rachel
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