Weekly Devotional-Trees by Rachel W.

Hey Ladies-

Rachel has blessed us with a devotional for this week that ties PERFECTLY to our upcoming discussion of spiritual disciplines! Don't forget, you too could be featured on our blog by just submitting a piece of writing about anything: what this ministry means to you, what God is teaching you or anything else! Enjoy this one and thanks Rachel for blessing us with your gift!

Trees by Rachel, USMC wife

I’ve always loved trees. As a young girl, I would walk around our backyard in South Carolina with my father, and he would teach me all about the names of the trees, examining their colorful leaves. In college, I took pictures every season of the same tree on our campus, in every stage of its beauty. In winter it was bare and naked, and when spring came along, the tree would come to life and bloom with soft pink flowers. I was in awe of God’s creation, a love letter in the form of a tree just for me! When my husband returned from his first deployment, I placed a yellow ribbon around his favorite tree, our Japanese Maple. We both have not had the heart to take the ribbon off, even after he returned from his second “long trip.” In a way, I must have always related to trees. The Lord created them to grow and change each season, weathering the storms of life, yet remain the same in who they were created to be. This morning in my devotions, I read that just as a tree requires water in order to flourish and thrive, men and women need the Scriptures in order to enjoy fruitful and abundant lives!

He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. (Psalm 1:3 NKJV)

Of course I have always known that we as believers need to read God’s word, but I didn’t really think about the reason why. Isn’t just hearing praise and worship music, fellowshipping with believers, and going to Bible study enough to be fed?  A corporate relationship with God has been easy for me over the years, but the one on one, face- to- face time with God was more of a challenge. Getting into the scripture is sometimes painfully difficult with two boys pulling at my pajamas in the morning. And yet still, we were created to know God’s word, just as trees were made to know water. If either one of these is neglected of that need, they do not fulfill what God has created them to be. When either are not properly fed, they do not bare fruit, and will whither away.

I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure I don’t want to whither away! Start with five minutes a day, reading the Word. Most Bibles, and even Smart phones Apps, have reading plans that can help you begin. You have a great reminder to read God’s love letter to you, and a bird is sitting on it, right outside your window.