and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers."-Psalm 1:1-3
"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads."-Revelation 22:1-4
" But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."-Gal. 5:22-26
" Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”-Luke 13:6-9
There is a very speical reason that I put these verses on my blog. That reason is that these are the verses that was read at a old friend's (my 2nd dad's) passing. His passing is the best one I have been to out of all the other ones I have been to. That might be a strange thing to say and compare but it was. He lived a life that served God and his church. He loved doing and making things for people. He loved children (hint me). He would build things in his wood shop for the church and people. I still have a little wooden bookself that he built for me right by my bedside and that is where it has always been.
It was really beautiful that the friends and pastors picked these verses out for him because it did fit him perfectly. He loved animals and the outdoors. His wife and him lived out in the middle of the woods, with a lot of trees around them, on a farm on a gravel road where I grew up. He had cows, chickens, a lot of dogs and cats that I remember. I would go and try to help him milk the cows when I went to visit but I was more of an egg collector.
I remember the walks out in the small woods behind the house. On every walk, I use to pick up acorns and collect them. I have pictures of him reading to me outside. That's why I like to read outside when I get the chance to. I just never knew how much his wife and him liked the outdoors but I guess living on a farm you have to in a way. I wonder where I got the love of the outdoors and sewing and rustic things. Now I know. It is from when I was growing up on the farm.
I have been going back once a month to visit and it just feels like I am back home because it is so calm and easygoing. So quite too. It feels like I get recharged there on the farm. I thought it was strange because at his cermony I was the only one really crying and I was crying out loud I felt like. His wife (my 2nd mom) joked around with me like we usually do and told me it was okay. One of the relatives that was sitting by her said to her "I love her tender heart." It is hard to think of that person who raised you for the first 4 years of your life and during one week every summer after that until jr. high or high school.
It is strange how people in the country can be so much alike but yet so different. Country people do stick with their passions and things and people they love. They will never let their love ones down and will try to help all they can whether be building them something or teaching them something about life. They have hobbies and they do them. Sometimes they will spend all their lives doing that one or two hobbies that they love. It has just opened my eyes to so many different things and gave me more respect for people in my life that I should have had a lot more respect for before this all happened.
Strong like a Tree is what I want to be like. I want to take root and stand my ground on my passions and beliefs. Stand up for what I know is right and try to do it. Try to grow more and more in God so I can make a difference in a place where I know I can and will. I want to bare fruit where it is possible too. I do not want to curl up and die that is for sure.
Strong Like a Tree (5 steps):
-Take root and stand your ground
-Stand up
-Grow more and more in God
-Bare Fruit
-Don't curl up and die
If you can follow those 5 simple steps, you will be living a life for God but not in that exact order. Some of them might need to be changed around depending on the situation.
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