Staying forever green

I don't know about you but I am tired of cold, dreary weather.  I am ready for the Lord to send Spring so I can see a little life around these parts of Alabama.  I believe this is the coldest Winter that we have had since I was a small child.  And snow, are you kidding me?  We don't see snow in Alabama and we've already seen it on at least two other occasions and it is forecasted for this week!

The only sign of life around our house is a holly tree and a cedar tree in our yard.  They thrive all winter long no matter what the conditions!  You know, the Bible speaks of cedar trees, actually it speaks of the cedars of Lebanon.  Psalm 104:16 reads, "The trees of the LORD are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon he planted". 

Cedar trees are large evergreens that are common in the forest areas that have a good deal of annual rainfall.  They often live a long time because of the moist habitat around them keep them relatively free of fire.  Cedar trees make a great addition to any landscape for their beautiful year around color and nice fragrance.  They have also been used as an excellent source of fuel.

Do you see the significance of the "trees" the LORD has planted?  If WE will sink our roots into His Word and drink from the stream that runs from His Word, we will become as tall and hardy as an evergreen.  When hardships come, and believe me they will, our leaves will remain green instead of withering up and falling off like other trees at the first cold snap.  If we will KEEP the "soil" around us moist by "drinking" often from His Word, when fire comes, and it will, we will survive!  If we are truly a cedar, we should be adding beauty to the lives of others we come in contact with by displaying the love of God to them.  We should emit a pleasant fragrance as we go about our everyday life by mimicking the holiness of God.  We should be an excellent source of "fuel" when we feed the word of God into the lives of the brokenhearted, depressed, etc.  Others should draw from our strength in the Lord.

Bottom line, if we will make it a point to keep our roots deep into God's Word and drink from the Living Water that flows from His Word, He will make our soil fertile.  We will stand strong and tall and not be moved when a storm blows into our life.  Are you up for the challenge?  Will you put forth the effort and allow your roots to grow deeper? 

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers...Psalm 1:3