Trees don't talk--unless you're a writer and you MAKE them talk--and that's what I'm about to do! First, let's take a stroll in the Ozarks where I live (see link below) and enjoy the gorgeous fall foliage in our part of the world--about to fall down and create a couple of raking chores for two rascal sons who would rather rack up Nintendo points...they are expert "tale-talkers" and will try to talk their way out of work - but TREES? Surely, they don't talk.....or do they?
When you hear YOURSELF talking to YOURSELF, you know you've got problems (and I do it all the time - grin), BUT when you hear TREES TALKING to you, you'd better come up with a good, logical reason for this phenomenon, or the little men in the white coats will be knocking at your door.......Before I answer it, let me share with you how the trees are talking to me - if they talk to you too, I'll know we're both either in the "don't-go-there zone" OR we've just discovered another FUN way to remember God's Word.....for when TREES TALK, we REMEMBER!
Let's go talk to the trees - I mean, let's be quiet and let THEM talk to us!
Someone's HIDING under my tree - A discouraged saint!
I'm a tree in Bible-times Israel, and never thought I'd see the day when a prophet of God would rest under my branches....not in delight, but in discouragement. A saint of God discouraged? How can it be? Must be that these humans are very human--even the saintly ones! Of course, I'll shade him from the heat of the day; I'll reach out to offer as much help as I can--but then I'm just a tree.
Wait...there's a sound and a smell....Someone's COOKING a meal on these premises. What is going on? I peek through my branches--and to my astonishment, I see an ANGEL cooking a meal for the tired-out, worn-out, way-down prophet of God under MY tree. GOD must have sent that angel to do what I could not do--He must understand discouragement. Know what? Seems like He doesn't FAULT it, either - instead, He sends an angel to bring His discouraged saint some nourishment.
...And the tree lovingly bowed its branches a little lower to offer Elijah the shade he so sorely needed that day.
God must surely love Elijah--and I reckon He loves YOU too--if you're sitting under my tree, also discouraged and disheartened. Don't give up hope - He sees, He knows, and He has an angel on the way to uplift you too!
"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me?
Hope in God; and I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God (Psalm 43:5)."
Someone's UP in my tree - A disreputable sinner!
I'm a tree in Bible-times too, and never thought I'd see the day when a tax collector would climb my branches.....not for a physical fitness test--but to see Jesus! A sinner, known all over these parts--I've heard it in the wind: he is dishonest, a schemer, a trickster, a preyer on the poor. I don't want HIM in MY tree. I'll shake myself and set him loose.....but no, he won't be shaken...He's here to see Jesus. Maybe Jesus will change him - that would be nice. So sit here, wherever you please, Zacchaeus, and get a good glimpse of Jesus - He might even change your life if you let him!
Well, of course, we know the story. The little man called Zacchaeus heard and met Jesus for himself that day. He DID climb down that tree to go his way, turning a new "leaf," receiving a new lease on life that would change him--forever. "It was well worth climbing you, mister magnificent tree," he thought. "You served well your mission in life this day."
...And the tree waved in the wind and rustled its leaves with joy to be a part of helping a sinner see Jesus.
Are you climbing a tree today? It's something like "climbing the walls!"--same feeling! Not as a disreputable sinner - but as a distressed saint, up to your head, neck and ears in blows, woes, foes - all sent from Satan himself who is of GREAT disrepute. Well, climb the tree and wall no longer....Jesus is here and He bids you come down from that tree. He wants to walk and talk with you. He wants you to share with Him all your troubles--there's no need to climb a tree or a wall--when HE is here!
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27)."
Someone's ON my tree - A not-defeated Savior!
I'm the most famous tree in Bible-times, for on my beams hung the Son of God, dying for the sins of a sinful world, carrying the burdens of burdened-down saints, healing the ills of wounded bodies, souls and spirits. I'm humbled to be a part of the greatest act of Grace this world has even known. I humbly hold the weight of God's own Son, as He gives His life, not for trees, but for people--real people with real needs.
I see them coming--the wounded, the broken, the fallen; the discouraged, the distressed, the depressed. They bring their burdens to the Cross, to MY tree, not because of ME but because of the One I bear. They lay their burdens down; I hear them leave with a song - a song of praise to the Christ of the Cross who has lifted the load and set them free.
...And the tree listened in awe as the One it bore bowed HIS head and cried, "It is finished." Mission accomplished--the greatest miracle in all the world.
Do you need to be set free today? From sin, from sickness, from Satan's attacks on your life? "No weapon formed against you will prosper." Believe it--come to the Tree today--lay the heavy load down at the Cross and know His love, His joy and His peace this day!
Read HIS prayer for you todoy!
Long-winded trees, you say? Blame it on our writer--we've inherited her windy ways--and do hope you've enjoyed and been blessed by our testimony today. Whether you're UNDER a tree, UP a tree, or need help from the One ON the tree, now our resurrected Lord, take hope! Take His Word with you into your world today, wherever you live, whatever you're carrying--leave it at the Tree of ALL Trees and know HIS victory in the Name of the Lord!
--Copyright 2002 by Peggie C. Bohanon. All rights reserved.
Oooh and aaah at the magnificent trees of God's Creation, then bow in adoration at the Tree of His Son, My Indescribable, Personal Christ!