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"Praise the LORD from the earth...lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do His bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars...kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and maidens, old men and children." Psalm 148:7-12 A Trying TimeWhen I was young I had been taught to love Jesus, but I became a problem child, a troubled teen, and finally a divorced mother with lots of issues and no hope. Years went by that I did not attend church and prayer was very rare. I was full of pride. I did not praise or glorify God at all. During my divorce, I had to move into my mother's house. It was a very trying time for us all. I Could No Longer StandThere was a wild plum tree in my mother's back yard. It was a small tree with a lot of diseased branches on it and it bore no fruit. One evening as I was watching a rain storm through a back window, I was suddenly moved to thank God for the rain that was watering that sickly tree and for the wind that would strengthen it. Before then I can't really remember thanking God for anything. I was still giving my meager thanks when the sky turned black as night, the wind became so loud it was frightening, and my little tree fell. I felt wounded. The next day the tree was cut up, the stump was removed, and only the roots remained. That was about 14 years ago. My life spiraled steadily downward. I became sick in spirit and in body. I lived a life of indulgence and sin, and faced numerous squalls and subjected myself to many elements. I was beset on all sides by my storms till finally I could no longer stand. Like my sick and fruitless plum tree, I fell. Praise God for my storms! From where I lay I had nowhere to look but up and what I saw there was the Lord Jesus whose love I had forgotten even though as a child I had been rooted in Him. I beheld a Savior who forgave me all of my sins, lifted me, filled me with His Holy Spirit, and fed me His Word. Our Father's GraceThe Lord has healed me of many sicknesses and delivered me from much. Through our Father's grace I grow and flourish. Fourteen years have passed since the evening when I thanked God for the wind and rain that knocked down my sickly little tree. I now own that house where the tree was apparently destroyed. However, now when I look out my window I see a very large healthy wild plum bush that has grown up from the roots that were left intact. The winter wind against the house is softened by this massive shrub. I have lovely flowers, scents, and shade all summer long. Birds sing and nest in the branches. God knew, as I thanked Him for the wind and rain that evening, where I'd be today and was even then planning my future temporal home. Much better though is the place Jesus is preparing in His Father's house for all who love and accept Him as Lord and Savior. Thank God for storms! Marie G., Pennsylvania Share or Bookmark This Page       |
