Bare Trees, Human Hearts, and Faith: A Correlation

Greetings Everybody,

(fyi...This is going to be a LONG Post...just wanted to let you know that in advance:) )

It's January 16th, the month's half-gone...and the holidays good and truly behind us.

I said THAT in order to say THIS: In January people tend to focus on:

Reflection!

We are big on Reflecting on the previous year and Setting Goals for the coming year.

Lots of people clump such thinking under the category of New Years Resolutions.

But this post is NOT about Reflecting on
     New Years Resolutions
...it's wayyy deeper than that.

Instead...Let's talk about Trees.

      Correlations can be made between         Trees and "The Human Experience".

For Example:

1. Look at a bare tree in the winter.  No leaves.  Ever notice how the trunk of that 
    tree leads to big thick branches...then to smaller branches...and then even  
    smaller ones...and finally to twigs?

    Trees Really Are Masterfully Designed!

2.  Now let me ask you to compare that bare tree formation to your understanding of   
     the Human Circulatory System.  

     We start with the Heart with its Aortas & Ventricles and then eventually we move   
     on to the Arteries, Veins and Capillaries.

     Upon consideration, that system looks alot like this bare tree...doesn't it!

Let's continue talking about Trees...

3.  What you see ABOVE ground on a tree is mirrored BELOW ground on a tree.
     (Though we can not SEE all that support, we KNOW that those roots exist!)

     We also know that the circumference of a tree at its widest above ground...is 
     mirrored by the circumference of it's roots below ground. 

     Though The Support is Very Real we know that IT IS FELT, YET IS UNSEEN.

http://www.fotosearch.com/illustration/root.html

    Two Key Observations about Trees: 

- If the Roots fail to do their job, Trees die.

   - Trees can only grow bigger & stronger if the Roots grow deeper & fuller.

    

3.  We can learn alot of lessons about 
   "The Human Experience" from TREES.

4.  A tree is supported by its roots.
     Those roots supply nourishment.
     Those roots stabilize the tree against big winds and against the force of gravity.
     

     In a similar fashion...
     Humans are supported by a collection of Roots called FAMILY.

AND 

     We too are Masterfully Designed. 

     Afterall, we were created by God, in His image! 

    (see Genesis 1:26)

     Families feed us physically, mentally, psychologically, socially and spiritually.
     They help us grow.
     They stabilize us.
     They give us strength to draw from.
     They lift us up. They teach us. They protect us. They celebrate with us.
     They help us stand when things of this life would try to bring us down.
     
    Some of this support is quite visible, but the deepest aspect of Family Roots is not.  

    

It is Felt, Yet It Is Unseen.   

Correlations can be made between 

Trees and "The Christian Experience".

5.  A Christian is supported by Roots too. We have Spiritual Roots called FAITH.

     Because of Faith we are Baptized, for the remission of sins, and we receive the 
     gift of Salvation and the Holy Spirit

     Because of Faith live a different life than before baptism.

     By Faith we begin to sink our Spiritual Roots.

     We sink our Spiritual Roots and are fed by them when we Read Scripture, Pray, 
     Seek God's Will in our lives, Submit to His Will, Praise Him, Edify Each Other, 
     Bear One Another's Burdens, and Teach Others About God & His Son Jesus Christ.  

   We sink our spiritual roots and thus are fed:
...When we Visit the Sick and those in Prison,
...When we Support the Widows and Orphans,
...When we do The Right Thing when it would be easier to do the Wrong thing,
...When we Give of Our Time, Our Energy, and Even Our Money to help those in need.
...When we live like Jesus was right there with us, because we know His Spirit IS! 

Our Faith is Felt, Yet it is Unseen

And this is not works leading to faith...it's just the opposite

When the Human Heart/Mind is focused on Spiritual Matters, 

The Human Body Responds with Physical Actions/Deeds.

Where the Mind Goes the Body Follows. 

It's just that simple.

There are many ways to sink your Spiritual Roots. 

But it starts with that which is felt but unseen.

FAITH  

http://www.fotosearch.com/illustration/root.html

    

   Two Key Observations about "The Christian Experience":

  - If our Spiritual Roots fail to do their job our Faith dies.

   -We only grow bigger and stronger in Faith if our Spiritual Roots grow deeper 

   and fuller too.

Remember

itty bitty roots=itty bitty trees  

And

Itty Bitty Faith=Itty Bitty Christians.

    We have to develop our Spiritual Roots of Faith.   

    Because Our Spiritual Roots of Faith Support Us. 

    They give us strength to draw from.

    They lift us up. They teach us. They protect us. They celebrate with us.

    They help us stand when things of this life would try to bring us down.

    Some of The Christian Experience is obvious to all who observe it.

    But FAITH,  just like the roots of a tree, is invisible to the casual observer.

   

    It is Felt,Yet It Is Unseen.

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

    Just like trees, The Faith of a Christian can only grow bigger and stronger if 

    our Spiritual Faith Roots grow deeper and fuller too.

    Spiritual Faith Roots supply Christians with Spiritual Nourishment.

    Our Spiritual Faith Roots stabilize us against the big winds of life and against Dark 

    Forces that (not unlike gravity) will try to bring us down.

 And now this topic comes full circle....

    Here is it, Mid January...the holidays are behind us...many of our New Years 
    Resolutions may already have been abandoned....

    But we still have time to Reflect.

   Did your Spiritual Faith Roots grow deeper and stronger this past year?
   Did you find you that you could cope with the things that tried to knock you down?
   Did you grow Spiritually bigger and stronger this past year?

   If YES...well done and Praise God!

   But If NO?

   If No, then Perhaps today you can sit down and ask God to help you.
   Perhaps you can SEEK HIS WILL in your life

Matthew 7:7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

   Perhaps you can SUBMIT to HIS WILL in your life and PLANT yourself in The Word.

Psalms 1:3 "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."

   We are like trees... we are either spiritually growing or we are spiritually decaying.

   Which of those would YOU rather be doing?

   As for me, I Choose to be Growing In Christ.
  

   And I pray that you do too!

   In Him,
   Grace

..