Silent Sunday

Silent Sunday

Thank you Martha N. for allowing me to use this photo!

Finding God in Trees

The old Ohio farm and surrounding areas were covered with old apple trees. Local legend implied they had been planted by John Chapman a.k.a. Johnny Appleseed. I cannot verify this as truth although Johnny Appleseed's travels did take him through the state. We had a lovely old apple tree on the edge of our property. I would watch this tree from the kitchen window while having a cuppa coffee and daily bread (morning devotions). 

One autumn morning as the sunrise began to dispel the fog a doe and her twin fawns were eating apples from that tree. How good is the Lord to allow us a glimpse of His creation and provision? Moments such as that often serve as “eye spy” blessings in my daily life. Events such as this have become my little blessings of serendipitous opportunity. 

Watching that tree through the seasons was also a reminder that life changes and yet continues on even through the harshness of the seasons. Seasons of drought, searing heat, the time of flood, the lightening strikes and the ice storms that often seek to annihilate and sometimes do destroy. 

I love trees that produce fruits, flowers, colorful leaves, and wonderful scents. I miss trees that lose their multihued leaves in the autumn. I find it irresistible to view the bare branched trees during the winter months. Trees that have a dusting of snow that contrasts so wonderfully against their desolate unprotected bark. 

When the winter doldrums hit – those days of grey skies and indescribable grey moods, I would look to those naked trees with their upturned branches. It often appeared that the branches were raised in symbolic praise and prayer. Almost as if they were beckoning to God to be touched with life once again. Eventually they would be. The snow would melt, the scent of newness (spring) would be in the air and seemingly overnight buds would appear. It was always so miraculous and yet so anticipated. 

Weeping willows trees are a favorite. They are almost poetic when brushed by the wind. It is as if they are brooms that gently sweep the earth, cleansing the area in which they inhabit. Their flowing branches move in the form of a graceful ballet; bending, bending, ever bending and extending their branches to the birds of the air. Lord, do I help to cleanse the area I inhabit rather than pollute it or contaminate those with whom I come into contact with?

When we moved into our home in Arizona, there was a huge Mulberry tree growing from the side of the canal behind our house. It was well over 100 years old and displayed the scars of lightening strikes. Because it is the southwest and rampant with not too long ago history, I called it the ‘hanging tree.’ (It probably wasn't, I just called it that…) It housed a family of owls. I found it comforting when I heard them calling out in the evening. Sometimes in the morning I would find remnants of small animals they had caught and were taking back to the nest, only to drop them in the yard. As disgusting as those finds were, I hoped the baby owls didn't have to go without food during the night.

That century old tree was strongly rooted next to that canal. That’s how I want to be – strongly rooted in my faith – like a tree firmly planted by streams of water. And just like the ‘hanging tree,’ that takes time and seasons and even the storms of life as evidenced through the scars of life. Growth often seems slow but it is happening as long as we pursue it. We must faithfully pursue the Lord, study His Word, and fellowship with like minded believers. We must also talk to Him and allow Him time to speak to us. 

…and so I pray

Abba, Father - thank You for trees and nature that speak to my heart! Help me to slow down and admire Your creation. Through Your grace, may I grow into an oak of righteousness. May I not become so rigid that I break, but retain qualities of the willow, that of being pliable and malleable. May I have the joy of watching my loved ones and my community benefit in the shadow of my shade due only to Your goodness. In Jesus’ name ~Amen!

In what events do you “spy” God in your life?

Have the harsh seasons of life drawn you to God? Or have they served to turn you away?

When, my friends, do you feel the closest to God? When do you feel Him tugging at your heart?

…until next time,

Tamara

P.S.  He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. ~Psalm 1:3

Finding My Path

In the sacred ground of this present moment, I find myself seeking a path, a direction for the remaining years of my life. I want it to have mattered that I walked upon this earth. Has my life made a difference? Rhetorical questions without answers… for now.

Maybe it’s the Lenten season. I desire a closer walk with Him who loves my soul. I want to pour out the oil of my devotion on His feet, wash them with my tears and dry them with my hair… if only I had hair like that woman we have read of so often.

Or maybe just to get close enough to Him to touch the hem of his garment so I could be cured of my infirmity like the woman with the issue of blood. Can you imagine her? This poor woman couldn’t attend the temple and worship because of her “issue.” Mine may not be the same as hers, but I do indeed have an issue. What about you? What is your issue? What is it that keeps you from pure worship?

Lord, deliver us! Prepare us for worship. Keep us from evil that we may not sin against You or the family of believers. Help us to have the eyes of Christ and the stamina to do what You ask. Forgive us for the times we have turned our backs upon those in need.  In Jesus’ name I pray!

Psalm 25:4-6

The Message

⁴ Show me how you work, God;
School me in your ways.

⁵ Take me by the hand;
Lead me down the path of truth.
You are my Savior, aren't you?

⁶ Mark the milestones of your mercy and love, God;
Rebuild the ancient landmarks!

Tamara

BRING THE SPRING

Psalm 1:3

New Living Translation

³ They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.

Perhaps you noticed the more colorful blog background. I need color… I need spring… I need the joy of the Lord to fill my soul. Therefore, beginning today I am going to expound upon the positive and minimize (but not ignore) the negative. Oh, this does not mean that I am going to be wearing 'rose colored glasses' but as long as it is possible, I will seek to find the good in life. I choose to live a life of dignity and grace.

No one, not one person wants to read a sad and depressing article, letter or blog! We need articles and information that help to build us up and now bring us down. Amen?

I received my feedburner update from Julie Gillies blog and it was timely indeed!

Tamara

Arizona Highways

Arizona Highways is a monthly publication with wonderful photographs and articles from around the state.  I once carried the magazine in the prison library until it was determined to be an escape aid.  It does have maps that could be utilized for that purpose and was thus administratively eliminated.

We live in rural southeastern Arizona. To travel to Phoenix, an approximate 3 and half hour trek, we must exit the community on Highway 70, which then turns into Highway 60 in the Globe, Miami, and Superior area.

Streams in the Desert

Rainy seasons in Arizona are a curiosity. Even though it is called the Monsoon Season more often than not, it is a non-soon. This year has been a blessed exception for a dry and barren desert, one fraught with savage wildfires.

An 11-year-old drought has bruised Arizona's billion-dollar cattle ranching industry, pushing one of the vaunted “Five C's” of the state's traditional economy closer to extinction. Arizona's five major resources: Cattle, Citrus, Climate, Copper, and Cotton are commonly referred to as the “Five C’s”.

Proverbs 11:30 (New International Version)
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.

Winter was difficult here in the Southwest. Freeze and thaw, freeze and thaw… I don’t recall how many times that happened this past winter but it took a toll on trees in our area. We contracted with a professional tree trimmer who came this week and fell our eucalyptus tree. We’d had the fast growing tree for 15 years, had it ‘topped’ at least twice and it was still probably close to 40 feet tall. It was a difficult decision to make, but it was more dangerous to let her stand. (Why have I given the tree a feminine pronoun?)

The tree doctor and his assistant came at 6 a.m. to begin their work. I left for work early as I knew I would fret and mourn the loss of this tree and its shade – a valuable commodity here in Arizona. Even though the tree did not produce leaves this year and was obviously dead, it was still a difficult (and let’s not forget pricey) decision.

So the contractor began laying out his equipment. The saws, the ropes, the harnesses, the safety belts and the spikes for his boots… That’s when I saw him, he placed the safety belt/harness around the tree, then held the tree with both hands, bowed his head and prayed. I was amazed and comforted!

I left for work and at the end of the day dreaded what I would find (or better - not find) in my back yard when I returned home. The contractor cleaned up so well and even stacked the wood for our later use in the fire pit. The tree trunk was level to the ground. My husband Dennis had planted some geraniums around the patio, moved the Mexican clay chiminea to a new spot and had moved the water fountain to a new spot where I can sit on the patio and look and listen to it.

Dennis said the tree doctor found three nests in the tree – two old and unused and one that still had eggs in it. He said the tree doctor prayed over the nest before removing it. We had some Mourning Doves that we’re thinking were the eggs owners/family.

I am comforted by the fact the birds are still visiting what we had deliberately designed as a sanctuary for them and for the care, comfort and concern of our contractor! What a blessing in spite of loss. The remaining portion of the tree trunk is now holding a bird bath.

And so I pray:

Abba, Father – thank you for Your provision in not only the tree but in also leading us to the right contractor for its removal. Thank you that it was only one tree that needed to be removed and not the other two in addition. May our back yard be a place of respite and comfort for our grandchildren and for the birds that come to feed. In Jesus’ name I pray ~AMEN!

Yours, because we’re His,

Today's Thoughts

To all my Blog Friends,

I'm going to be taking a bit of a break from posting blogs for a bit. With all the health issues and it seems some emotional issues that have resulted due to the heart attack, I just need some time to get things in perspective.

I so appreciate your well wishes and prayers, but for this time and this space, I just need to retreat to a solitary place and bask in His presence and healing.

I have been having such difficulty sleeping with being awake until 3:30 - 4:00 a.m., and my mind is racing, racing, racing. I will also be seeking my doctor's input about this, too.

Love you all,
Tamara