My Tree and Me

    

     I started my annual circling of the tree with lights in tow and carefully positioned the first 300 lights. It wasn't long before I had noticed that there was something not just right, so before going any further I put myself in reverse and removed them. Going over the lighting plan in my mind and thinking I had it all under control, I went right back to work and after stringing on 900 lights I realized that I had failed to leave an open end at the bottom to plug into the electricity. It was late, I was tired, my arms ached, I was frustrated with myself and quite honestly ready to completely give up and toss tree, stand and lights out the door into the freezing dark Wyoming night. But, at nearly 10:00 pm I mustered up my courage and strength and removed the 900 lights and tried a third time. This time, I would string them like I had always done years past…from the bottom up – instead of listening to others who have told me, “They are supposed to be strung from the top to the bottom.” Shortly after crossing into the next morning my perseverance paid off and to my delight I had a beautifully lighted tree.

     Tonight I sit quietly in my own thoughts, listening to the crackles and pops of the fire in the fireplace enjoying the soft glow of my beautiful tree that gave me such fits. I recall my friend JoEllen’s words to offer grace to my tree. The Lord has brought to my mind some similarities in me and my tree.

     I am so thankful that God does not give up on me and toss me out into the cold and dark:

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6)

     My light will never shine in this dark world if I don’t stay plugged in to the power source:

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:14-21 NIV)

     I am so grateful that when I fail in my service to God that He is a God of second chances:

“And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.” (Jonah 3:1-2)

     My successes will not be measured by following the ways of the world, but rather by my obedience to the ways of God:

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2 NIV)

While decorating the tree I generally spend a lot of time rearranging and placing ornaments where I feel they will be best displayed and shine the brightest:

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

     As the days go by I notice that some of the boughs become weighed down by the weight of the ornaments and are in need to lighten the load and I am reminded that we are not to bear the weight of this world on our own:

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30)

     My thirty-sixth tree is complete…fully arrayed in brightly colored lights and an assortment of precious ornaments of value only to me. We will enjoy its beauty for a season but one day it will have served its purpose and be discarded…but not me, praise God! When my work is done on this side of eternity I will become more alive than I’ve ever been. And I will be perfectly adorned by the Creator.

“’Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.’
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)
Then the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’”  (Revelation 19:7-9 NIV)

I encourage you to spend quiet time with the Lord and let Him speak to you.

Ten refreshing reminders God revealed to me through His gift of nature while He and I were out pulling weeds:

·        Waiting on God is always worth the wait!  We planted this slow growing evergreen tree our first season in this house – 9 years ago. At the time it was only about 18 inches tall…now it’s a whopping 7 feet tall…and growing!

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

·        When God prunes His children, whom He loves, it is for His glory and for their good…as God characterizes good.  Pruning encourages growth and a bountiful harvest. A couple summers ago the wind quickly and completely snapped off the top 6-7 feet from of our beautiful newly planted willow tree…you know…that flexible tree that bends and never breaks. Shortly afterward it looked like it had killed our beautiful tree. It drooped more than even a weeping willow should, all the leaves fell long before the fall season and its branches became crispy. Billy immediately wanted to pull it up. I looked closely and had seen new life at its base and asked if we could keep it another season just to see what happens. I love our newly formed shade giving willow bush!

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” John 15:1-2 NIV

·        Expectantly, look for and enjoy God’s little blessings by surprise!  Several years ago we planted bright yellow daisies! This year the yellow daisies came up just like they have in years past…along with some that are quite different!

“All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God” Deuteronomy 28:2 NIV

·        Don’t take for granted God’s amazing provision for his creation. Excitedly, I planted honeysuckle! I love the sweet fragrance of honeysuckle. It wasn’t long before I noticed the honeysuckle I had planted was not what I had expected…magenta colored blooms with absolutely no fragrance. I wanted to pull this wretched imposter! Until I noticed the bright red berries that came late that summer – and fed the birds in autumn!  I could never pull their “accidental” food source!

^“Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” Luke 12:24 NIV

·        Truly, the best things in this life are free!  We purchased and planted a few quaking aspens – wishing we were able to buy more – trees from a nursery are very expensive! I’m so thankful God has given us beautiful, healthy, free seedlings!  Hey, money may not grow on trees…but seedlings do!

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

·        Sometimes you just have to face it…there are things that simply are not going to happen and we need to make wise and prudent choices. We’ve spent a small fortune planting vegetable gardens in this Wyoming prairie…trying various “spots.” We’ve tried different watering systems. We’ve tried to protect the tender new shoots from the fierce winds up here on “windy hill.” Our tomatoes, always a success…nothing else is. A successful garden can save you thousands of dollars; an unsuccessful garden can cost you hundreds. I promise Billy, no more Wyoming vegetable gardens…we will plant some beautiful perennials in our latest “spot” then we can sit back and enjoy them year after year after year while we gratefully enjoy any bountiful gifts from generous friends.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5 NIV

·        Once in a while take a break from the task…look up and take notice of the things around you…you never know…you just might catch that rare hummingbird sipping some nectar!

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 19:1 NIV

·        As long as we are on this side of eternity sweat and labor will be required. I look at what was a few years ago…a couple acres of centuries old Wyoming prairie. Today, our little house on the Wyoming prairie sits off-center with a wonderful view of the Wind River Mountain Range; we have laid sod, planted trees, shrubs and flowering plants – many of which did not survive their second season. We have experienced sunburns, smashed thumbs, swollen blisters, stickers in fingers and toes, and quite literally a sweaty brow. If you are wondering, yes, this is my dream home…it is a home filled with all that I need and a lot of life’s little luxuries that I really don’t.  But, most of all, it is filled with love.

“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken, for dust you are and to dust you will return.” Genesis 3:19 NIV

·        Make sure you pull the weeds in your life as quickly as they appear. Don’t let the weeds grow and flourish in your life choking out all the beauty that God wants you to be. Surround yourself with the fragrance of all that is beautiful! And mirror that beauty to all who God brings to your path.

For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” 2 Corinthians 2:15 NIV

·        No task is mundane or tedious when God is right there with you – speaking to your heart and opening your eyes to His glory that surrounds you! Even when it’s pulling weeds! Open my eyes, Lord! I don’t want to miss out on a thing that You have for me!

“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” Psalm 119:18

   Open my eyes, that I may see

   glimpses of truth thou hast for me;

   place in my hands the wonderful key

   that shall unclasp and set me free.

   Silently now I wait for thee,

   ready, my God, thy will to see.

   Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!

   Open my ears, that I may hear

   voices of truth thou sendest clear;

   and while the wavenotes fall on my ear,

   everything false will disappear.

   Silently now I wait for thee,

   ready, my God, thy will to see.

   Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit divine!

   Open my mouth, and let me bear

   gladly the warm truth everywhere;

         open my heart and let me prepare

   love with thy children thus to share.

   Silently now I wait for thee,

   ready, my God, thy will to see.

   Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine! ~~Clara H. Scott, 1841-1897~~

 Rearranging the Mountains

 



Togwotee Pass, a winding stretch of U.S. Highway 26/287 that runs from Dubois, Wyoming to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. 

 



After many decades of travels, the highway had become quite deteriorated and was in very bad condition. There was constant wildlife crossings of critters of all sizes and near nonexistent visibility with passing winter storms. Throughout the years there had been a lot of fatalities along that stretch of scenic highway.

It was decided that this mountain needed to be rearranged.

The rebuilding project was expected to last nearly a decade and cost more than $100 million.

After 7 years and $146 million the new road is complete - the drive is pleasant and the first view of the Grand Teton Mountain Range - displaying God's spectacular beauty and awesomeness - will bring tears to your eyes - it has mine for nearly13 years now!

 

Did you know that if your faith was as big as the tiniest of seeds—the mustard seed—you would be able to move mountains?

“And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

‘Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is a lunatic, and sore vexed: for oft-times he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.’

Then Jesus answered and said, ‘O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you?

how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.’

And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, ‘Why could not we cast him out?’

And Jesus said unto them, ‘Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith  as a grain of mustard see, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you'" (Matthew 17:14-20)

"And the apostles said unto the Lord, 'Increase our faith'" (Luke 17:5)


I love the Rocky Mountains! They remind me of great, snowcapped cathedrals, sheltering much more than a little church mouse. I enjoy gazing at their vast expanse from our front porch and thinking of the great variety of animals that call the mountains their home. So much life—from the amusing, playful little chipmunks to the deadly, massive grizzly bears—all living, eating, playing, scampering, sleeping and striving to survive in their respective homes. I feel so very small when I visit the mountains. Envision in your mind for just a moment the immense amount of area a mountain takes up. I went to a thesaurus searching for an adequate adjective to describe the enormity of a mountain. All of the words made the mountains seem somewhat small!


Imagine what it would take to move just one of those majestic, lofty peaks!

For many years now we have driven over a mountain pass that is undergoing extensive road construction to widen the road and make it safer. We can watch as the workers are digging deep into the earth, scooping it up in huge dump trucks and unloading in another location. Slowly (very slowly!) but surely the diligent workers are literally moving and rearranging the mountain.

Jesus tells us if our faith in Him is even the size of a tiny, tiny mustard seed we could move that obstacle in front of us, we can overcome that difficulty, we can get through that crisis, we can move that mountain! With God, nothing is impossible!

I encourage you to have the desire to increase your faith. With increased faith you and the Lord will be able to get through life’s hardships and difficulties.

   

She Used AWhat...to Make A What!

While reading of the amazing story of Dorcas (Tabitha) in Acts chapter 9 it seems I always tend to just scan over verse 39: “Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them" in order to get to the exciting climax of the story - the part where Peter raises her from the dead.

When I hear people speak of the Proverbs 31 woman my mom immediately comes to my mind…with a slight exception (you see, there is none that is perfect but One!). My mom would send us off on our first day of school, no matter the year, with one firm and specific instruction; she would firmly remind us that she does not sew…she would gladly bake cookies or cakes, she would be a room mother, she would plan games, prepare snacks, participate in and or clean up after a school party…but, “I do not sew!”   And, she was right…she did not sew!

Every Easter I’m reminded of my Easter’s past; a new dress generally with ruffles, shiny new patent-leather “Sunday” shoes that made a grown-up sound on tiled floors, new white anklets and gloves to match! Then to top it all off, something springy to adorn the head…a floral headband or…a bonnet! I was newly outfitted from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet! As I grew older the gloves, anklets and headdress were forgone. It was at the awkward time in a young woman’s life – between the bonnets, gloves and anklets, and just a nice new spring dress and shoes—when we were supposed to bring an Easter bonnet to school. The bonnet would be worn in a school-wide Easter parade up and down the halls for all to see and later judged for prizes. When I told Mom she assured me that I would have a bonnet to wear and I just knew in my heart it would be the finest that there was.

I don’t think anyone can possibly imagine my surprise when I saw the finished product. It looked nothing like I had envisioned. In great disbelief and a little shock I gathered up my “bonnet” and bravely brought it to school.

It was time for the parade, time to muster up my courage and “don my gay apparel” to literally parade in front of friends, foes and everything in between. I watched as others put on their bonnets…there were bonnets made from beautiful wide-brimmed straw hats, cowboy hats, baby-doll sunbonnets, baseball caps…even paper plates were covered in an array of spring blooms, furry pink bunnies, yellow fuzzy chicks, pastel eggs nestled in grassy green nests, there were buttons and bows, streams of lace and cascades of ribbons, everything I thought an Easter bonnet should be. I remember, with great embarrassment, putting on my bonnet…everything theirs was not. I found my place in line and marched up and down the halls. 

My bonnet was unique, to say the very least. It was made up of plastic autumn flowers, and some sort of ribbon entwined all somehow attached to a beigeish toilet seat cover. I would have run to hide in the bathroom – but what irony that would have been.

I’ll never forget, while parading past the office, the principal looked me square in the eyes and asked, “It that what I think it is?” Sheepishly, I grinned and said, “Yes.”

Much to my surprise, when at the end of the festivities, my mother’s creation was awarded the prize for most creative.

If the Lord should tarry in His return and take my mom home to glory before his coming again there will be time of immense sorrow and mourning; for everything about her will be greatly missed. There may not be a bringing out of all the “robes and clothing” she had made during her years on this side of eternity for that was not where her spiritual gifts lied. We will, instead, be sharing and remembering her deep love, joy and devotion for her family and friends, her warm hospitality and inviting home, and most of all, her unyielding love to tell the sweet story of Jesus, and we will have wonderful stories she has given us that have been safely reserved and treasured in our hearts and memories.

If you are a child of God, you too have been given at least one spiritual gift. I encourage you to use the gift God has given to you to further His kingdom and for other’s to recall when you are remembered.