I have been putting a lot of shots of Black locust on my blog lately. Almost all trees I have seen have had straight tree bowls. This tree is growing crooked. Trees around it have been pushed back. But why would they save this tree? In any event it has survived and will continue growing for years to come.
The tree grew crooked as it fought for sunlight amongst the forest foliage. People don't have pristine lives. They make mistakes and falter. God forgives a repentant heart. One that turns to Him for help in humbleness. God forgives our past and cares for us and helps us live for Him today. As we live for Him our way will become secure. Not that we won't have problems but we will be at peace with Him and know He cares for us.
Luke 18:11-14 "The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get."
13"But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!"
14"I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Let us return to the Lord in humbleness.
Father, help me be an encouragement to others.
I like trees that have been shaped by prevailing winds or reaching for the light. In our area we have 900 year old cedars that have survived in the rocky ledges of the Niagara Escarpment. Nature does teach spiritual lessons about perseverance in difficult situations.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting Ruth. God has 2 creations, nature and the Bible. We can learn of His nature from both.
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