Daily thoughts

We cannot abandon life because of its storms. The strongest trees are not found sheltered in the safety of the forest, ather they are in the open spaces -- bent and twisted by the winds of all seasons.

-Tammy Felton

I remember walking the Oregon coast as a boy and being amazed at the twisted, windblown trees that marked the summit of the hills overlooking the rocky shore. Those trees saw wind and rain and cold and even snow at times. They were molded by the storms that flowed steady off the endless ocean, only to be stopped… or at least slowed by the leaves, branches, and woody trunks of these ready standards. “How would I fare?” I would wonder. Was I ready to take the storms of life and stand my ground… was I willing to be molded by the storms of life… or would I just become detached and spin out of control like a tumble weed bouncing along the road… ready to be caught by a passing car?

As Christians, we find that life is full of storms providing us opportunities to test our faith; to stand our ground; to fight for what is right. If we are to take a stand as a Christian, we never stand alone. Because we stand firm with Jesus… who told a parable once…

“Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 Let anyone with ears listen!” Matthew 13:3-9

A sower went out to sow… the seeds of your life… Are they firmly planted in the soil of the Kingdom of God? Do you have your taproot sunk in deep into the Good Soil of God? Do you draw your nourishment from the Lord? Strengthen your roots.