That Big Old Tree

"For me, trees have always been the most penetrating preachers. I revere them when they live in tribes and families, in forest and groves. And even more I revere them when the stand alone. They are like lonely persons. Not like hermits who have stolen away out of some weakness, but like great, solitary men, like Beethoven and Nietzsche. In their highest boughs the world rustles, their roots rest in infinity; but they do not lose themselves there, they struggle with all the force of their lives for one thing only; to fulfill themselves according to their own laws, to build up their own form, to represent themselves. Nothing is holier, nothing is more exemplary than a beautiful, strong tree."
Herman Heese

I love big, beautiful trees. They just make me smile. I saw this tree on my way to work and back home every day when I lived in Maryland. It looked majestic, healthy, and just, well, beautiful!

and in it's fall splendor from the other side . . .

Last week I was on the hunt for big, beautiful trees complete with Fall color. I normally look for lovely scenes, but this week I was focused entirely on mature trees, loaded with leaves and beautiful in Fall color.

It was also a week of enjoying friends I knew in Maryland for lunch in Lewisburg and Breezewood. My trips afforded me many opportunities to take pictures. Enjoy the beauty of the trees in Fall color . . . big, beautiful dazzling trees!

"Think of the number of trees and blades of grass and flowers, the extravagant wealth of beauty no one ever sees! Think of the sunrises and sunsets we never look at! God is lavish in every degree." Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)

"Does not all nature around me praise God?. . . Does not the thunder praise him as it rolls like drums in the march of the God of armies? Do not the mountains praise him when the woods upon their summits wave in adoration? Does not the lightning write his name in letters of fire? Has not the whole earth a voice? And shall I, can I silent be?"

 Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)

"The tree is full of poetry."

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

 

"I feel a great regard for trees; they represent age and beauty and the miracles of life and growth."

Louise Dickinson

"Consider a tree for a moment. As beautiful as trees are to look at, we don't see what goes on underground - as they grow roots. Trees must develop deep roots in order to grow strong and produce their beauty. But we don't see the roots. We just see and enjoy the beauty. In much the same way, what goes on inside of us is like the roots of a tree."

Joyce Meyer

And I'm patiently waiting for this beauty to turn completely! It's right here in Brookville, Pennsylvania!

The Fall color this year was brilliant. I hope you enjoyed seeing these few trees ablaze in color. We've had a good Fall so far. I don't know how long it will last, but I have enjoyed seeing God's creation in its splendor. If you haven't been out yet, you better hurry. Very soon we'll just be crunching leaves on the ground when we walk. Thank you Fall!

A New Meaning For Me

"The only lasting treasure is spiritual; the only perfect freedom is serving God."

Malcolm M

As a lifelong resident of Maryland, I always enjoyed visiting Pennsylvania. It represented wilderness to me: mountains, valleys and wildlife. When we moved to PA almost three years ago, I already felt comfortable with the land.


The move was still difficult because of the new area, new people and new customs. Leaving behind 60 years of friends was difficult. They weren't just an hour or two away. And everything I knew up to that point rested in the state boundaries of Maryland.

I've adjusted; I've learned, and I've acquired a few friends here. And I love the wilderness so close to me now. But recently, I read another reason that interests me about PA. I probably learned about it in school, but, well, right now school was a long time ago.

In Richard G. Lee's devotion book: In God We Still Trust, his October 3rd devotion shared about William Penn and his "Holy Experiment." Penn is the founder of Pennsylvania. He was imprisoned in England several times for his Quaker faith. He wrote 'No Cross, No Crown' and a statement in that book is quite compelling: 'No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown.'"

In 1682, Lee wrote, "Penn established the Pennsylvania colony as a land of religious freedom, granting religious freedom and tolerance to every denomination. He printed advertisements in six different languages and sent them across Europe. The Quakers, Mennonites, Lutherans, Dunkards (Church of the Brethren), Amish, Moravians, Huguenots (French Protestants), Catholics, and Jews from England, Sweden, Wales, Germany, Scotland, Ireland, and Holland began arriving to take part in his 'holy experiment.' To emphasize his goal of Christians working together, he named their city 'Philadelphia,' which is Greek for 'City of Brotherly Love.' He maintained that religion is not to be limited to some Sunday ritual, but should be an integral aspect of everyday life, characterized by people getting along with one another."

"A free will is not the liberty to do whatever one likes, but the power of doing whatever one sees ought to be done, even in the very face of otherwise overwhelming impulse. There lies freedom indeed."

George MacDonald (1824-1905)

Many of us hear from time-to-time Philadelphia being called "City of Brotherly Love." But I wasn't a history buff and never took time to dwell on the name and anything I learned in school has long been forgotten. But at this juncture of time and history, I was encouraged to read these words about Pennsylvania and hope that there are many out there that still strive to live with "brotherly love."

"Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants."

William Penn (1644-1718)

Eavesdropping on Eternity

 
I like titles. When I took a writing course many years ago I was told titles are everything. They pull you in and shout anticipation to the reader. When I started writing for publication I was always very careful in choosing a title.

So when I read "Eavesdropping on Eternity" it really caught my attention. I found it in Warren Wiersbe's devotion book "Prayer, Praise and Promises: A Daily  Walk Through the Psalms." Jerry introduced me to Wiersbe many years ago and we've read and listened to him numerous times. When I purchased this devotion book I knew I'd found a good one.

Eavesdropping. It's not considered polite or good to eavesdrop, but if you're near others and they're talking loud, well you just can't help hearing what they say. In this October 8 devotion though, Wiersbe shares good news as we eavesdrop on David's words in Psalm 110:1-7:

"The Lord says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.'" God is talking to Jesus. "What does this Father-Son conversation say to us? . . . It speaks of our Lord's majesty, victory, ministry and security."

"God the Father gave God the Son His majesty . . . Jesus is victorious; He has won every battle . . . Jesus serves us . . . Jesus ever lives to make intercession for us."

That's a good conversation to overhear. This is what Charles Spurgeon writes on verse oneof Psalm 110:

"The LORD said unto thy Lord - - - Jehovah said unto my Adonai: David in spirit heard the solemn voice of Jehovah speaking to the Messiah from of old. What a wonderful intercourse there has been between the Father and the Son! From this secret and intimate communion springs the covenant of grace and all its marvelous arrangements. All the great acts of grace are brought into actual being by the word of God; had he not spoken, there had been no manifestation of Deity to us; but in the beginning was the Word, and from of old there was mysterious fellowship between the Father and his Son Jesus Christ concerning his people and the great contest on their behalf between himself and the power of evil . . . How greatly should we prize the revelation of his private and solemn discourse with the Son, herein made public for the refreshing of his people! Lord, what is man that thou shouldest thus impart thy secrets unto him!"

If you're going to eavesdrop, make sure it's someone you can trust and believe. And there's no better person to eavesdrop on than our Father God, the creator of all things!

Just recently I heard two older women talking about the physical pains of old age. I laughed when I heard one say: "I have A G E." I certainly can agree with that!

Choose Wisely a Friend

"Friendship is a spiritual thing. It is independent of matter or space or time. That which I love in my friend is not that which I see. What influences me in my friend is not his body, but his spirit."

John Drummond (1851-1897)

 I was reminded recently how rich it is to have godly friends. In Charles Stanley's devotion book, "Wisdom from Above," the September 27th devotion shared these words:

"It is wonderful to have a friend you can go to for counsel, who you know will be wise and discreet in the guidance he or she gives you. But before you take any recommendations from another believer, it's critical that you look at his or her life and ask, 'Is this individual living in God's will.' The last person you want to get counsel from is somebody who is actively disobeying the Father . . . A good friend will always have your spiritual well-being in mind and will keep your conversations confidential for your protection. Likewise, a godly counselor will be motivated to guide you to the truth--even when it is uncomfortable or it hurts--because he or she will want to see you break free from bondage and follow Christ in obedience. So look for people whose desire is for you to have a strong relationship with the Father so you can experience life at its best. Because that's the kind of friend whose counsel you can always trust."  

"The heartfelt counsel of a friend in as sweet as perfume and incense."

 Proverbs 27:9

I thank God for godly friends whose counsel I can trust. I'm fortunate to have a bouquet of friends, each with their own special qualities, that have enriched my life. If you have no family near by, friends stand beside you and help you, celebrate with you, pray with you, support you and become your family. And Christian friends share your faith and your heart's desire.

Are you a good friend? To have friends you must be a friend. You must make regular contact with a friend, support a friend, pray for a friend, cry with a friend, listen to a friend, help a friend, and I could go on and on. It takes time and effort to be a good friend. 

"The glory of friendship is not the out-stretched hand, nor the kindly smile nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to me when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him."

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Let me suggest something I've done before. Alexandra Stoddard suggested it in Cheri Fuller's
book, "The Fragrance of Kindness."

"Sit by a crackling fire and read some of your favorite letters. While sitting there soaking up all the love and support, think of one person you love and write a beautiful, loving letter to that person. Let the flame in your hearth warm your heart. One letter in a lifetime ... to a special friend, could make a greater difference than you dare to believe."

And that one letter will settle in your friend's heart and you might hear her/him say: "I have walked on air all day since getting your letter." Vita Sackville West. And it might just change her/his life!

"Do not keep the alabaster boxes of your love and tenderness sealed up until your friends are dead. Fill their lives with sweetness. Speak approving, cheering words while their ears can hear them and while their hearts can be thrilled by them."

Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887)

Slow It Is

"The best things in life move slowly. They can hardly overtake one who is in a hurry. We are making haste to ill purpose if we haven't time to read good books, to think quietly, to visit our friends, to comfort the sick and sorrowing, to enjoy the beautiful creations of God and man, and to lend a hand to a struggling brother. Time is precious, but more precious than fleeting hours are truth, love, benevolence, friendship, service, a serene mind and a happy heart, for these are the essence of life itself."

Gilbert Hay, "Serenity Is . . ."

I use to have a sign in my room that said: "How beautiful it is to do nothing and rest afterwards . . ." There are several books out to promote this theory such as "The Art of Doing Nothing: Simple Ways to Make Time for Yourself" and "The Joy of Doing Nothing."

 In Catherine Marshall's book, Stories From the Heart, she told this story about the picture of peace:

"There once was a king who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The king looked at all the pictures. But there were only two he really liked, and he had to choose between them.

"One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

 

                                                                                                                                                 Brothersoft

The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky, from which rain fell and in which lightning played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all.

 

"But when the king looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest--in perfect peace.

"Which picture do you think won the prize? The king chose the second picture. Do you know why?

"'Because,' explained the king, 'peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace.'"

 

You may not be inclined to live slowly, having the energy and desire to be on the move, and I admire that, but I invite you to set aside some time to consider how you spend all your hours.

When I gave talks on note writing and wanted to stress the importance about taking time to write a note, I would tell this story from the Hallmark book "God Always Has a Plan B." "It seems that some African missionaries had hired a number of native workers to carry their supplies from one village to another. The Missionaries, possessed of the American 'push-rush-hurry' mentality, verbally prodded their native employees every day to go a little faster and a little farther than they had the day before. Finally, after three days of being pushed and hurried, the native workers sat down and refused to move. 'What in the world is the problem?' the American missionaries wanted to know. 'We have been making excellent time. There's no need to stop here.' 'It is not wise to go so rapidly,' the spokesman for the native workers explained. 'We have moved too fast yesterday. Now today we must stop and wait here for our souls to catch up with our bodies.'"

 During this season of fall, let's slow down and enjoy the splendor of God's handiwork. We're all invited:

 October gave a party

The leaves by hundreds came

The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,

And leaves of every name.

The Sunshine spread a carpet

And everything was grand

Miss Weather led the dancing

Professor Wind the band.

George Cooper

"I cannot be the man I should be without times of quietness. Stillness is an essential part of our growing deeper as we grow older."

Charles R. Swindoll (1934- )