Thoughts from the Past - Two Kinds of Trees

Roane County Park, Tennessee

Two Kinds of Trees

Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

A pastor friend of ours preached at both a funeral and a wedding on one weekend. He was highly praised by various people after both events. This is not because he's some kind of Baptist wonder boy or the next John MacArthur. His strength is only in the fact that he trusts and hopes in the LORD, so he has access to the water. He strives to be faithful in giving God's word to saints and sinners because of that.

Those flatterers - and it was nothing but flattery, for as he put it, "somewhat less than one" of them showed up Sunday at the church fellowship he pastors - but, those flatterers' problem is that they trust in man and the arm of flesh, and have departed from God. They are in a desert spiritually. They get all excited when someone passes by and spills some water on them from his full bucket, but the next day or so they've forgotten all about it.

Now if you ever tried to water plants in a desert area you know how that works. Parched ground in a desert place can absorb water with great speed and require more again tomorrow or it "forgets" it had any. And, when a large amount is dumped on it at one time, it often runs off at a fierce rate and leaves little lasting benefit.

Proverbs 30:15 …There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough: 16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.

So it is with those who trust in man. They recognize the water when it comes near them, but no lasting benefit comes from it. Their roots are in parched places. They seem to drink it up but in a day or two they're as dry as ever. (By the way, there a lot of people like this, and they are not all in dead beat churches!) 

[As a side note:  God’s word does not return unto Him void, Isaiah 55:11.  It will accomplish something for Him.  Maybe some of these people will one day have a desperate need and will remember where the water is, or perhaps it will serve for “evidence for the prosecution” when they stand in judgment before God.]

In the Arizona desert south of Tucson there are many mesquite trees. They are usually rather runted as trees go. They are scrubby and not usually well developed. They survive in that dry, hard soil and they are better than nothing, but they aren't much either. They provide a little shade and a little food for animals.

My parents, though, once had the opportunity to see what mesquite trees could do when planted by water. They found a spot where the trees are growing right by a river where many gallons of water must be available to their roots. Never had they seen such mesquite trees as those! Big, huge trees like oaks - well developed and beautiful. Obviously they never suffer from drought.

The trees up on the desert plain have no idea what good things an abundance of water would do for them. The ones in the river bed have no concept of drought. The ones in the desert are small and emaciated both to preserve water and from the lack thereof. The ones by the waters know not heat nor drought. They flourish.

And so it is with people. Those who have walked away from the Lord, His word and His ways and are trusting in man and the flesh, live in a barren wilderness but cannot realize it. Those who trust and hope in the Lord find continual water to bear fruit and green leaves even in these days when spiritual drought has covered the globe! May God grant us the strength to follow hard after Him, to hope and trust in Him, that we may be among those who do not feel the heat or drought of these times!

Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 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.

John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water... 13 ...Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

-------------
Written Sept. 5, 2006; edited Sept. 2012.

Evening Song - The Great Redeemer

Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 

Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 

I have no control over ads.

Texas Memories - That Cloudy Evening

Psalm 113:3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised. 

Oil of Joy for Mourning - by Martha Snell Nicholson

 

Oil of Joy for Mourning

When mother gave me medicine

She always used to say,

"Here is a lump of sugar, dear,

To take the taste away."

Through all my life the LORD has poured

His oil of joy for me

Until my cup was running o'er,

So bountiful was He.

When I must drink some bitter draft

Of sorrow or of pain,

How quickly to my lips He puts

His cup of joy again!

Martha Snell Nicholson

Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Evening Song - Good Old Gospel Singing

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 

I have no control over ads or suggestions. Or teen boys who keep looking behind them. :-)

Texas Memories - Hot August Evening

Psalm 65:8 They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice. 

August 2026 Writing and Journaling Challenge

Make a list of small ways to bless or encourage children and/or teens.

In the next few weeks a lot of children and young people will be headed back to school. This is a good time to think about some little ways to be a blessing to them. In the last decade or so, it has become more and more common for people to do big, grand gesture type things for children - trips to Disney World, cruises, excursions to expensive and exciting places, etc.

I think sometimes that social media and the deadly comparison disease have made people do things that make them feel like their "keeping up" with others, rather than thinking about the things that really matter. Occasional adventures are not necessarily bad, depending on what it is and why you're doing it, but sometimes the simple things are the ones that will have the lasting benefits and blessing in the kids' lives.

Continue Reading.

Evening Song - Victory In Jesus

1 Corinthians 15:55-58 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 

1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us. 

I have no control over ads or suggestions.

The Thousand Word Project - Roses Are Red

 

Short Thought - Are We Given What We Can Handle?

 

2 Corinthians 5:7  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

I'm tired of seeing and hearing people put forth the idea that "God only gives us what we can handle." That's a lie. If we only ever got what we could handle where would the "living by faith" come in? Being given more than we can handle kind of is the whole point. It drives us to cast ourselves upon the power and strength of the Lord. Life will always be more than we can handle in some ways.

God gives us more than we can handle so that we will learn to cast our burden on Him. 

Psalm 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Jesus told us that we would have tribulation and conflict in this life.

John 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Matthew 10:34-36  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 

Our trials and weaknesses and sorrows are opportunities for God to show us how much strength and comfort He has and wants to give to us if we will let Him.

Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Apart - A poem by Hannah K. Burlingham

 

Apart

Ps. 25:12

LORD Jesus, 'tis exceeding gain

If but Thyself I know;

I thank Thee thus for hours of pain

That come to pay below:

The message Thou art pleased to send,

In mercy from above,

Appoints the silent hours I spend,

Reposing in Thy love.

I leave awhile the thronging crowd

To be apart with Thee;

I hear not now the strivings loud

That vex the distant sea:

The heavings of its restless tide

Sound faintly on mine ear,

And from Thy Haven fair and wide

I see my Home so near.

I know not what may be in store;

The charge is This to keep:

Perchance my bark need never more

Launch forth upon the deep;

But whether toward the golden strand

Be set the vessel's prow,

Or whether sailing far from land,

Doth not concern me now.

Thou art Thyself, O precious LORD,

My one eternal gain;

Thou art my solace and reward

Alike in ease and pain.

Because Thy love enfoldeth me

No ill can e'er befall;

'Tis perfect peace to rest in Thee,

My LORD, my all in all.

Hannah K. Burlingham

Psalm 25:12-13 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. His soul shall dwell at ease...

Mark 6:31-32 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.

Ship painting by Carl Rasmussan (from rawpixel.com)

Evening Song - Praise His Name

Revelation 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 

Philippians 1:10-11 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. 

1 Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

I have no control over ads or suggestions.

The Thousand Word Project - In Hope of Squash

Worth Repeating - Sexual Abuse In the Church - Warn, Report, Resist

Acts 20:29-32 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

1 Peter 5:8-9a Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith...

Due to the recent events involving the pastor and popular IFB youth conference speaker, Kenny Baldwin, I thought this particular article was worth repeating. This article relates to an extensive expose that was done by the Star-Telegram of Fort Worth, Texas in 2018. That expose is more pertinent than ever at this point. My own thoughts are on the subject of what you can do, and what are the proper responses to these situations.

Excerpt:

We have been lectured, warned, rebuked, and admonished about gossip for so long that it is intimidating to cross that boundary and actually speak up. I know. I also believe that this has been done on purpose by some men in order to squelch any accountability and to avoid having to address unpleasant situations. The church (not just IFB) has made it hard to do the right thing in these cases with its strong and uncompromising definitions of "gossip." But, when someone is behaving in a suspicious or even obviously ungodly manner in this area, it is necessary to speak up.

Continue Reading.

Evening Song - Zion's Hill

Hebrews 12:22-24 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 

Hebrews 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 

Revelation 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion...

I have no control over ads or suggestions.

The Thousand Word Project - Summer Prettiness

 

Word of the Day - Deep - Part 2

Genesis 2:20-22 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

Genesis 15:12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.

Daniel 10:8-10 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground. And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.

Acts 20:9-11 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.

Continue Reading.

Evening Song - It Is Well with My Soul

Jeremiah 38:20 But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live. 

Hebrews 13:12-15 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 

I have no control over ads or suggestions.

Tennessee Memories - Ruffled Trumpets

Angel's Trumpet

High Road or Low Road by Martha Snell Nicholson

 

High Road or Low Road

Whatever path Thou takest me-

It matters not which road it be,

If it but lead me home to Thee.

O joy, O bliss beyond compare

If Thou shouldst call me from the air,

To rise at last and meet Thee there!

Yet in my longing heart I know

If through the valley I must go,

I would not laggard be, nor slow;

For Thou wouldst closely hold my hand

And lead me through that shadow-land

To heaven's bright and blessed strand.

It matters not. That road is best

Which leads me soonest to Thy breast

Whereon this weary soul may rest.

Martha Snell Nicholson

 

Philippians 1:20-21 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.