The Maple Trees by the Banks of French Creek are Preparing to Burst Open With New Life

Psalm1:1: How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
2: But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.
3: He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatsoever he does, he prospers.

This first book of Psalms is one of my favorites. It reminds me how much I need wisdom from the word of God when I make decisions. I do have a free will to make decisions on my own, but I have exercised that right many times based on what other people persuaded me to do. For many years I have spent time doing things for others that they could have done for themselves. I have gotten myself in situations that made me angry and depressed because I didn't spend the time in God's word seeing what He wanted and what was best for me. For several years, I was one of those people who thought you could be a Christian without being part of a church body. That statement is true, I suppose, but after what I have experienced in the last two years at the Cambridge Springs Christian Missionary Alliance, I have realized that I need the fellowship of my brothers and sisters in Christ. I need the Godly advice they give me, I need the prayers that are raised up for me when I need it. I need to be encouraged. I need men to hold me accountable in areas I sometimes struggle with. I need to share the teaching of the word with others, and I need to sit under others teaching. I desire to be part of Christ's body and I want Christ to be the head of it. For the first time in my life, I am excited to be a part of a church where those things are happening, and I am making wiser choices, and experiencing the freedom we can have in Christ when we follow His ways. I am firmly placing myself deeply into this group of believers and growing with them. I want to be well-rooted so we can reach others in our community and that in due season we will produce much fruit as we remain obedient to the call Christ has given to us to go and make disciples of men.

As I was going to work today, I was crossing the bridge crossing French Creek and the sidewalk was covered heavily with the debris that comes off the trees after the buds first break open and the flowery part on the maple trees first appear. It isn't really very beautiful to look at, but after those fall off it is shortly after that when we will begin to see the first leaves of spring begin to appear. It is such a wonder to watch this happen. It only takes about a week for this process to take place, then we will see full-grown leaves and spring will truly be here. Usually the trees close to the creek are about a week or two weeks ahead of those trees that are away from the source of water. It is also true that in years of extended drought that the trees by the source of living water do stay green longer and they look much healthier.

Let me leave you therefore with this thought this week from God's word:
Hebrews 10:23 : Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
24:and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
25:not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

I became tired of living my life as a mediocre Christian. I want to surrender to the life of abundance that Christ has planned and promised for me. The only way I can seek that life is by finding it revealed in His word.