08-14 January 2021 – Manna by Dorothy & Tony
Jeremiah 17:7-8 “The one who trusts in the Lord . . . will be like a tree planted by the water.”
While living in Chino, California, my parent had a former ranch home that was almost like a desert and we often had tumbleweeds. As a teenager, I walked over to the next house where my deaf sister and her family lived. One day it happened when there was a high wind as I walked toward the house. My eyes got wide when sudden appeared was the rolling tumbleweed chasing me until I got out of the way. Then rolling tumbleweed went by. Whew! It scared me because tumbleweed had thistles, prickly, sharp stinging plants. It was about 4 feet high and it came off from their weak root after it became dry.
We also have two tall trees with full of leaves that cover the back lawn with shade from the sun. One at my mom’s and one at my deaf sister next door neighbor. The trees look strong and both have a very deep roots. They held very well during the high winding days, especially the “sand storm.” Trees were beautiful and enjoyable to look at.
*Tumbleweeds and trees both have roots. Tumbleweeds, however, don’t stay connected to their life-source, causing them to dry out and die. Trees, on the other hand, remain connected to their roots, enabling them to flourish and thrive, anchored to that which will sustain them in times of difficulty.” [*Our Daily Bread, Kirsten Holmberg]
*Tumbleweeds are what I picture when I read Jeremiah’s description of a person “whose heart turns away from the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:5). Jeremiah says that those who draw their strength from “mere flesh” will be like “a bush in the wastelands” and be unable to “see prosperity when it comes.” In sharp comparison are those who put their trust in God instead of people. Like trees, their strong, deep roots draw strength from Him, enabling them to remain full of life, even in the midst of drought-like circumstances. [*Our Daily Bread, Kirsten Holmberg]
Dorothy: Now we see comparison of tumbleweeds are like people who do not put their trust in God. They are lost and have no roots in their lives. On the other hand, the born-again believers are like a tree holding on to God for strength, encouragement and wisdom only found in the Bible. Talking to Him in prayer, we can experience the life-giving and life supporting nourishment that only God provides for us. Hallelujah, what a Savior!
We have a choice: Tumbleweed or tree?
Dorothy
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