Rooted and Established as Winter Lingers

My fascination with the intertwined trees continues.  Each time I pass these trees, I pause and take them in.  Sometimes I snap a new picture.  This pair...this couple has become representative of marriage in my mind; and there is often a new thought when I gaze upon them.  Sometimes it is a fleeting thought and other times requires some pondering.  I love their pose...they depict a lifetime of commitment...joined together...an embrace of sorts.  Us against the world, the elements, whatever comes...we will stand together.

With snow on the ground right now and spring imminent, our weather has been wildly unpredictable.  I don't seem to know how to dress for the day and realize I'm not the only one.  If you look closely at the trees, they are wearing buds...dressed for spring but standing in the snow.  Regardless of the weather, they are still together...making it work...planning for the next season...arms uplifted and praising their creator.

I know God has the seasons in His hands...not just for the trees, but for me and those I love as well.  I will try to enjoy each season, each day, looking to Him for what comes next and knowing that He will provide what is needed.

Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said:  "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.  He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others.  He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.  He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him." (Daniel 2:21b-22)  

Rooted and Established in the Spring

Here is a recent photo of the tree (or two trees) of my fascination because of the depiction of marriage that I see in it (them).

Just a few short months ago, the trees appeared devoid of life as they weathered the winter and days of intense fog.

Like the trees, every marriage goes through difficult seasons at some point - financial problems, car breakdowns, communication issues; and sometimes marriages are subjected to things that feel more like a lightening strike...trials that are harder than "normal" issues. A lightening strike may be a horrific blow like infidelity, the death of a child, or maybe a serious illness.

When those times come (and they will), a marriage may appear to be devoid of life and the only thing that holds a couple together is a decision...a decision that no matter how hard it gets, they will weather the storm together and come out on the other side. They decide to look to the One Who knows their story already - they trust in Him and cling together.

Now that spring has arrived, the trees are full of life. They have survived the winter's siege and lived through that harsh season; and with spring, buds appeared on the lifeless limbs - signs of hope - that became rich foliage. The spring rains seem to wash away the effects of the winter and coax the tree into a productive state once again. Only God knows what lies ahead for these trees - but the choice was made long ago for the two to become one and remain one until death parts them.

However, just because winter is past, doesn't mean the trees are safe. Danger still abounds. Storms, hail, and tornadoes openly threaten the trees but there are other dangers that quietly seek to destroy them and their union. There are insects and diseases that can destroy, as well as vines like poison ivy and bind weed that can kill the trees or seriously affect their health if not tended to. For married couples, dangers exist even when the season is seemingly calm and carefree. Addictions, complacency, and things that separate us from God and each other take a toll on relationships. Like killing bugs and weeds around the trees, we must be actively working to eliminate things that threaten our marriages.

While sounding the alarm about dangers, I recognize that we should count our blessings and joyfully experience spring when it comes. Praise and thank God for the sweet seasons in your life and look to Him. Dig into the truth of His Word and take it to heart. Enjoy spring.

Deuteronomy 11:13-15 “So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul—then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied."

Rooted and Established in the Fog

"The tree" continues to capture my attention...and I'm not alone...the analogy of the first "Rooted and Established" post was not lost on some precious Four Sisters Farm blog followers. There is something so satisfying in knowing I am not alone in my affection for the way God shows Himself in creation. If we are watching and/or listening, there is a message for us. Check out Romans 1:20, "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."

We recently had some extremely dense fog around the farm and as I drove past "the tree" I was struck again. Pop and I have often found ourselves in two different types of fog in our lives together.

The first type is just like what you see when you look around in fog. Your vision is limited. Things around you are obscured. You feel a need to stay tucked in close to familiar surrounding because what might be in the fog is scary - you could get hurt. When you are drivng, it doesn't matter how bright your headlights are, you can't see well and neither can a driver coming toward you. It is unnerving to be in a place where you can't see what is ahead of you. Sometimes the right thing is to stay in and sometimes the right thing is get out and navigate as best you can while trusting that everything will be okay. You want to be careful and to move slowly. (2 Corinthians 5:7 "For we live by faith, not by sight.")

Pop is a man who carefully considers options and thinks things through to their "logical conclusion." I am more spontaneous and likely to act out of emotion. We're a pretty good combo really...we've learned to listen to one another and I've learned a lot from Pop about thinking things through. He can be spontaneous too (much to my delight), but even when we do something crazy (like mudding with the go kart), he is safe. I love that about him!

The second kind of F.O.G. is what we call the "Favor Of God." We first heard this phrase when we were preparing to move to Charleston, SC in 2005. After several years of waiting and watching God brought about the creation of the training academy where Pop would be a teacher and trainer of people who work in his field (and I don't mean the field at Four Sisters Farm). Looking back, we see very clearly that we have often been in this kind of F.O.G. even when we didn't recognize it. It is God Who gives us favor with men at times - maybe it is a job we really want, a move we hope to make, a house we would like to buy - you get the picture. If we are alert to God's movement in our lives, we see Him move on our behalf...opening doors, closing doors, bringing people and opportunities into our lives. It is a wonderful F.O.G. in which to be!

Proverbs 3:3-4 says, "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man."

I hope that when you see fog in the future, you will be seeking God and asking for His favor as He directs your steps. He loves His children and wants only good for them (even when we can't see or feel it). Now that is good stuff!

Rooted and Established in Love

I've recently become intrigued by a tree near our farm…or is it two trees? I’m not a horticulturist so I really don’t know - I haven't inspected it below ground level (The neighbors would probably think I'm strange since it isn't my tree).

This tree appears to actually be two trees that decided to work closely together. One trunk is sturdy and looks like it has been growing longer than the other; or maybe they started out at the same time and one was better suited to the ground from which it grew.

For me, this tree is a beautiful depiction of marriage. Two people choosing to intertwine their lives, their assets, their very beings into one. They share the seasons and are sustained by the same soil and environment. Each season brings different challenges and joys, various struggles and growth. These trees will never be separated except by the death of one or both.

This current season is cold and seemingly lifeless; and the trees, devoid of any evidence of actively growing, cling together and weather the season. I wonder what is happening during this dormant stage these trees go through each year...perhaps it is similar to times in marriage when things are less than fun, warm and friendly. When a couple is committed to God and to each other, there continues to be growth even when we can’t see it. Simply by staying together, something is happening…shared memories, resources, and relationships…things that shape a couple even when they are not aware. God is always at work conforming us in the image of Christ. I praise Him for the promise that He will not stop until the work is complete (Philippians 1:6)!

Ephesians 3:14-21 (NIV)

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.