Today I drove up into the yard that my sweet mother-in-law recently moved out of.  The yard has many large trees.  I was mesmerized by the image of one of these trees as it had littered the landscape.   The falling of a mighty oak.  You could see that this tree that had stood as a sentry of time for many decades was felled by a storm that blew through last night.   On examination, you could see that it had spent most of its life with a twin tree that grew beside it.  A few years ago its companion had been destroyed in a storm, but its rotten stump still remained.  The connections that had held both of these trees up over the years was finally broken and a tree that looked to be in good health, large branches with fresh spring green leaves lay dieing on the ground.  As you surveyed the landscape, you could see the large indention in the earth where the tree fell and the gaping hole where the roots were at one time planted.   Looking up, you could see where the fall broke off many branches and even scraped the bark off other trees as it made its fateful crash in the night.

In all of this, for many years dwelling in the shadow of this great tree was a concrete angel.   I rushed over and peered through the debris and saw, that though the angel had fallen, it was not broken.   On considering this graphic display, a scripture surfaced in my mind.

“We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.   We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;”  2 Corinthians 4:7-9 KJV

Many times life has away of causing us to lose our footing and we might find ourselves knocked down, level to the ground.  A storm comes and things that seemed unmovable and some who seem to be pillars of stability fall in a moment and we may feel swept away in the catastrophic carnage.   As the sun even begins to shine on the day, we still feel the heavy burden of the limbs and leaves of lament; it seems that even the rays of the sun cannot penetrate the place where we lay.

But look, someone has come and clears away the burden and sets you back up, though the landscape has changed significantly, you can once again stand to provide a reminder, though all may fall, some will keep getting back up.

It may have seemed over, but it’s not over by a long shot,

The Angel was not broken, and you also will stand again in your rightful place with a greater appreciation for grace and mercy.

"Come on, here you go, standing right where you should be."  Shaking the dust off my hands I look at you, and there you stand to enjoy another day and weather another storm. 

In Him, By Him, Through Him,

Scott Phillips

www.newbirth.us

Forward this to someone who you needs to be encouraged.   Lets grow this list and the reach of these words.  Thank you for helping me spread the word!