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Psalm 1:1-3 "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers."- NIV
I woke up thinking about oak trees. Probably because oak trees are usually massive, strong, long branches, and the roots are remarkable in their own way (sort of reminds me of Father).
So, true to nature, I looked up some facts about oak trees. There are many varieties, with different kinds of leaves - some do better around water, some are fine in the middle of a field. We basically have a good idea of what oak trees look like above ground, but what going on underground?
They have what's called a 'taproot' that goes deeply into the earth - perhaps several feet. The taproot searches for nutrients and water. As the tree grows, other roots grow off of the taproot. Sinker roots form about the same depth of the taproot, as the taproot recedes. These then start bring up the nutrients and water. Buttress roots are a little more closer to the top and grow from the taproot horizontally to give support to the tree so that it will not topple when the winds come. Lastly, Winter Feeder roots grow several feet beyond the tree. These are horizontal and are the most shallow, most vulnerable, but very vital when the keep the tree alive with water and helps with bringing in some nutrients during the winter months.
Another fascinating fact is that an oak can live for around 1,000 years if left alone. The provide shade and even living quarters for certain animals (shade for humans also - and something to climb if so desired).
So, let's see what all of this means to us.
Well, for one - we're all different and we all have different gifts or service that we do for the Lord.
When we first become a Christian, is our Taproot. He nourishes us and sustains us with Food (The Word of God, being discipled by a more mature Christian) and He quenches our thirst with Living Water (The Word of God, Holy Spirit). He wants His Truths to go deep inside of us.
We receive power and illumination and the ability to see our own lives (resentments against others, unforgiveness, woundedness) from His Holy Spirit. So, those 'sinker roots' - Holy Spirit strategically places Himself right next to those areas to help (or is it prod) us to do something about them. Because Father doesn't want His little tree to become decayed in one place or another.
Jesus begins to pull back a bit - temptations and trials of life come at us and we have to rely on what we have been taught. Speaking the Word outloud, praising Father or Jesus for what He's already done and that He will get us through this also. Those Words that have been put into our spirit are the 'buttress roots'. If the Word isn't there - when the winds come, we more than likely will topple.
The during the winter months, the times we totally do not sense the Lord's presence around us and wonder what we've done wrong, the 'winter feeder roots' pulls in encouragement from friends, from sermons, from reading our Bibles, by remembering what the Blood of Jesus did for us, and reminding ourselves and others Whose we are, Who He is, and Who we are in Him.
Now, we may not be on this earth for 1000 years, but we will someday live thousands, upon thousands of years.
So, true to nature, I looked up some facts about oak trees. There are many varieties, with different kinds of leaves - some do better around water, some are fine in the middle of a field. We basically have a good idea of what oak trees look like above ground, but what going on underground?
They have what's called a 'taproot' that goes deeply into the earth - perhaps several feet. The taproot searches for nutrients and water. As the tree grows, other roots grow off of the taproot. Sinker roots form about the same depth of the taproot, as the taproot recedes. These then start bring up the nutrients and water. Buttress roots are a little more closer to the top and grow from the taproot horizontally to give support to the tree so that it will not topple when the winds come. Lastly, Winter Feeder roots grow several feet beyond the tree. These are horizontal and are the most shallow, most vulnerable, but very vital when the keep the tree alive with water and helps with bringing in some nutrients during the winter months.
Another fascinating fact is that an oak can live for around 1,000 years if left alone. The provide shade and even living quarters for certain animals (shade for humans also - and something to climb if so desired).
So, let's see what all of this means to us.
Well, for one - we're all different and we all have different gifts or service that we do for the Lord.
When we first become a Christian, is our Taproot. He nourishes us and sustains us with Food (The Word of God, being discipled by a more mature Christian) and He quenches our thirst with Living Water (The Word of God, Holy Spirit). He wants His Truths to go deep inside of us.
We receive power and illumination and the ability to see our own lives (resentments against others, unforgiveness, woundedness) from His Holy Spirit. So, those 'sinker roots' - Holy Spirit strategically places Himself right next to those areas to help (or is it prod) us to do something about them. Because Father doesn't want His little tree to become decayed in one place or another.
Jesus begins to pull back a bit - temptations and trials of life come at us and we have to rely on what we have been taught. Speaking the Word outloud, praising Father or Jesus for what He's already done and that He will get us through this also. Those Words that have been put into our spirit are the 'buttress roots'. If the Word isn't there - when the winds come, we more than likely will topple.
The during the winter months, the times we totally do not sense the Lord's presence around us and wonder what we've done wrong, the 'winter feeder roots' pulls in encouragement from friends, from sermons, from reading our Bibles, by remembering what the Blood of Jesus did for us, and reminding ourselves and others Whose we are, Who He is, and Who we are in Him.
Now, we may not be on this earth for 1000 years, but we will someday live thousands, upon thousands of years.
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