Grief

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Sometimes the news comes quick. Sometimes the news comes slow. No matter how or when it comes, grief travels in the wake of the news. Grief is heavy, weighty, a burden, especially when it involves someone deeply loved. Grief is not meant to be carried alone. It’s too heavy and may last a while—and that’s ok. That’s what family and friends are for, to share the load. Jesus stood outside the tomb of his friend and wept but He did not weep alone. It was a deep, human moment. “ Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted ” (Matt 5:4). If anyone knows how we feel in grief, it’s Him. But His grief did not linger long, as at the mention of his name, Lazarus came forth. We are not meant to dwell in grief, but should leave room enough for it. Let it run its course. Like the song says, “ Every Storm Runs Out Of Rain .” Another song says, “ The storm We will dance as it breaks The storm It will give as it takes And all of our pain is washed away Don't cry or be afraid Some things...

Tu B'shevat: Happy New Year, Trees!

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Celebrate, Ents everywhere!

You know how it is--you just get all settled in, snug under the covers, sound asleep then the next thing you know, the alarm clock goes off. Just five more minutes. Just five more minutes. Just five more minutes, etc. The past few weeks have been unseasonably warm here and I can’t help but wonder if the trees have been thinking, “Really? Already? Just five more weeks.” Trees don’t have snooze alarms. Or do they . . .  ?

Today marks the new year for trees, so if Ents celebrate, they do it slowly today. Actually, Tu B’shevat is the Jewish observance of this kind of new year, recognizing that trees begin waking from their winter naps and start blooming for fruit-bearing. Produce growers in the Holy Land separate out tithes from everything grown and the day is observed by eating fruit, specifically of the “seven kinds” described in the Torah (wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates).

Four thoughts and one question from God's unchanging Word concerning trees: 

  1. God originally intended that man be nourished from the fruit of the ground and of trees (Genesis 2:9);
  2. Man’s relationship with God was broken after deceived man disobeyed God by eating from the one tree disallowed by God among all those that were available (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-7);
  3. “When you besiege a city a long time, to make war against it in order to capture it, you shall not destroy its trees by swinging an axe against them; for you may eat from them, and you shall not cut them down. For is the tree of the field a man, that it should be besieged by you?” (Deuteronomy 20:19) What is the mind of God here concerning humanity? 
  4. Man’s redemption from the penalty of sin was purchased by our Lord and Savior who being nailed to a cross, dying, then rising from the dead three days later to ascend to heaven.
  5. The throne of God and the Lamb is called the Tree of Life from which flows a river and bears twelve kinds of fruit for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:1-2).

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