Christmas trees are beautiful all decorated, but all trees are special. On the last day before Christmas, it is the tree’s turn, to turn our eyes toward Jesus. How can a tree do that? Just by being a tree. God spoke trees into being with His voice. They do what God meant for them to do. Trees give comfort and shade, fruit, beauty, blossoms, seed for more trees and warmth through firewood. Trees are givers. A tree is what bore suffering of Jesus’ body. Even though we are celebrating Jesus’ birthday, it is all the more celebratory because we know what He came to do! He came to die for us. He shows us what sacrifice and love and grace mean. What a loving plan. He shows us through a tree.
I feel like Jesus was saying to me this morning. “Think of me.” So, I did.”
When You See a Tree
My child, see that tree? Please think of me. Be the tree that I need you to be. A giver of love with reaching boughs. Give to others. I will show You how.
Point to the sky as you seek my face. Stand strong in the storms and receive my grace. As my love rains down, soak it all in. I’ll water Your soul so your thirst will end.
Be warmth to the needy and shade to the tired. Give of yourself as I keep you inspired. As blossoms grow, you soon will see. Your fruit will grow as you’re rooted in me.
As the Spirit blows or rushes right in, allow His will to make your own will bend. Remember the tree that I died on for you. Dying to self is what I’d like you to do.
As you see a tree, please think of me. Be that tree I need you to be…do it for Me. Jesus.
Here are a couple of verses that can guide us to be like trees. It requires living for others. Dying to self is a high calling, a tough one. Our lives are meant to be sacrificial though and used to point others to a loving relationship with Jesus.
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. Psalm 1:3 NIV
They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:8 NIV
A thought for today…
He died on a tree so we can live like a tree.
Dear Jesus,
We are not naturally givers. Only with Your love can we truly love others like You do. Please help us to do better with that. Thank You for dying on the cross for die for our sins. Leaving Your Father in Heaven to be born so humbly on earth must have been hard on the human part of You. Sacrificing Your life sets an example for us to follow and obey. Please guide us to be more like You as we sacrifice ourselves to Your cause. There is no better honor than being used for You at the expense of us. We love You so much!! Amen
May you all have a Merry Christmas with trees, lights, snow and hopefully some family. I will pray for you in your trials, because I know you have them, even at Christmas and maybe especially at Christmas. I truly love you all with the love Jesus gives me,
Just His. Just me.
Glory in the Morning 