As I was looking at the forlorn misshapen tree standing in the snow on the cover of a book, I was reading last week, I was reminded of the Christmas tree we had at my house when I was a child.
When I was six years old, my parents had very little money to spend at Christmas. In order for my parents to have enough money to buy a present for me, they decided to cut a branch from our juniper tree in the yard for our Christmas tree. I remember at the time, I thought it was ugly, straggly, and misshapen and I was disappointed. I wished they would buy a tree from a Christmas tree lot in town like other families.
However, I recently found a picture taken that year with me standing by the branch (tree). After we had decorated it with a garland made of popcorn and cranberries, hung a few ornaments, and silver tinsel; the tree did not look too bad. Remember when the silver tinsel was popular?
Now when I remember what the straggly juniper branch looked like and compare it to the beautifully, decorated shaped tree in my home I see it differently. I see the straggly forlorn branch as a person’s life without God or one depleted from nourishment and the beautifullyshaped tree in my home as a person’s life filled with God’s love, purpose, and decorated with ornaments representing the fruit of the Spirit.
God can take a straggly, forlorn life and transform it into a beautiful shaped fulfilled life. Jesus tells us in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” He can change the straggly life into a beautiful new life, a flourishing life, filled with love, peace, and joy if we believe in him.
Often, our lives can become damaged and appear like a straggly, forlorn tree, misshapen by the trials, challenges, and disappointments of life. However, our lives can be transformed by the renewing of our minds with His Word into flourishing lives.
God promises that when we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, giving Him every area of our lives, we will take on a true and proper shape. We will become a flourishing tree pointing others to God.
When you see a Christmas tree this year, I hope it reminds you of the new life we can have in Christ Jesus, everlasting life when we invite Him into our lives and trust Him with the challenges and disappointments of life.
- Do you or any of your family members feel like a tree twisted, damaged, and made crooked by the fears, circumstances, difficulties, or sin in their lives?
- Do you or any of your family members feel all alone in this world?
God is waiting to give you and your family members' new life, nourishment, and fulfillment.
- Ask God to show you, your family and friends areas that need to be humbly submitted to the Lord, laying down all before Him as the wise men did when they brought their gifts to baby Jesus.
- Ask God to help you, your family and friends to give the damaged, flawed, and misshapen areas of life to the Lord, resulting in flourishing beautiful God-shaped lives for Him.
This post was taken from the book Grandparenting with a Purpose available for purchase at http://www.grandparentingwithapurpose.com. at a discounted price of $15.00 including shipping. It will make an excellent gift for the grandparents in your family.
By Lillian Penner, Prayer Director for Christian Grandparenting Network
Comments
Heavenly Father,
We all know people, some close to us, whose lives are twisted, damaged or lack in some way. Please take them and transform them into beauty and glory for Your sake.
This will be a harder Christmas worldwide than ever before. Please focus our eyes on You and fill us with Your wonderful joyous Presence.
Transform this Christmas in a time of hope in the Savior of the world.
Thank You, in the Name of Jesus Christ, amen.