Pastor's Blog

 From the Pastor’s Pen

Becoming A Spiritual Tree for The Lord Psalm 1:3

 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

 As I think about the coming of Fall, I think about all the changes that are about to happen. The trees and their leaves will soon display many vibrant colors for us to gaze upon. Fall brings with it not only the visualization of God’s beauty but a time of transition and transformation. As you gaze upon God’s beauty, remind yourselves that His presence is among us in the cycle of the seasons and the changes surrounding us. My scripture comes from the book of Psalms. If you have not had the opportunity to read Psalms you should. It is an incredible book that contains so many descriptive images. The presence of the Lord comes alive in hundreds of ways within the book of Psalms as it speaks to us of how a person can be like a tree, a bird, or a sheep. Be imaginative and picture the words written in the book of Psalms, it will take you to heights far beyond what you’ve ever imagined. Let us take a closer look at scripture from Psalm 1, verse 3. Question: When you look at an ordinary tree outside, what do you see? Be very descriptive now, it’s important. I want you to truly examine that tree from its roots to the trunk to its branches and leaves. Does the tree look healthy or unhealthy? Can you really see that by just looking at it from your perspective? Sometimes it is very difficult to know if a tree is truly healthy; some parts of it may be and other parts of it may be dying. For a tree to be healthy, it must receive the required nutrients and nourishment provided by the sun, the air, and the rain. Without those essentials, it 

will wither up and die. Healthy trees provide us with food and oxygen while others provide us with shade and lumber to build our homes. The importance of trees is significant, as they serve a definite purpose in our lives. Reread Psalm 1:3 scripture, and read it in the context of how we as Brothers and Sisters in Christ are compared to the strong, healthy trees planted by the rivers of water and how we bring forth fruit and leaves. Like an everyday tree, we must be nourished in order to become fruitful. One may wonder how this can be done; how can we maintain our spiritual tree for the Lord? In maintaining our spiritual tree, we can start by standing upright and forward for our Lord, and by living a life that reveals Christ-like characteristics that are gracious to behold. In Galatians 5:22-26 the Apostle Paul identifies the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Each of these fruits is needed for us to maintain our spiritual tree and grow. Maintaining our spiritual tree for the Lord can also be done by being strong and being well-rooted in the Word of God so that when we are faced with adversities and temptations, we can confront them. The significance of continuous growth is important as it provides us with grace. We as followers of Christ should always be vigilant in providing others with blessings of spiritual food and comfort, so that they can go forth and build others up in the Lord. As a spiritual tree for the Lord, some day we will be transplanted in the garden of Heaven, where our fruit will never wither, and our leaves will never fade. That day will be a glorious one, filled with a love and light that will sustain us forever and ever. Remember, stand straight, be strong, keep growing, and share your blessings with others. What does your spiritual tree look like? 

Blessings,

Pastor Susan