Notes from the recent ice storm
On my drive in, I saw the trees from the recent ice storm. I don't have a journal here, but I wanted to journal and share what God was telling me today.
Many thousand trees between Tulsa and Bartlesville were put under severe strain under the weight of the ice. Many trees that once stood tall and proud, with their limbs reaching high into the air were split into sections, broken in two, and ripped apart. Some had their tops ripped down, broken like twigs. While others still had a section or two upright, with several thick limbs literally ripped from their trunks. Their once-majectic members now laying at the base of the trees.
And then there were some that were bent low to the ground, as if kneeling before God, their creator. Nothing was broken. Nothing was damaged, but the tops of the trees rested in an arc on the ground.
In that silent moment, God asked me:
Jerry... When you come under pressure, do you bow before me? Do you submit to my will put your face to the floor and seek my face? Or do you try to continue to stand tall and proud doing everything yourself, despite the immense pressure on you? If you continue to try to stand on your own, stubbornly sticking your stiff neck upward against the pressure, something is going to break! You will be torn apart, ripped into segments like these trees. Humble yourself and bow before me!! Take a few moments in the pressure of the moment and seek my face, grace, favor, and will.
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, fall to their knees and seek my face, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sins and heal their lands."
Jerry, I gave you warmth and shelter for the past three days. You did not earn any of it, but it was freely offered to you. Your meals were not cooked by your hands, but were offered to you without expectation of repayment. You slept in protection, though not in your own house. You shared time with others, not just within your own thoughts. You had your blessings beside you at all times, and my hand was constantly over you, never letting so much as a scratch come upon you. I, your God, protected you. I, your God, provided all things for you. YOU did not purchase or provide anything in the past three days that I did not provide for you, directly and indirectly. I set all this before you, yet where was the praise?
So today, (with my house still out of power) I can write to you from work. Many of you probably won't see this for a couple more days because you may not have power yet either. But when you do get this, take a significant amount of time -- not just a few seconds, but carefully consider every detail you can recall -- and look back on the time that you were under this pressure.
How did you respond during it? Did you bow, or try to force your way through it, upright? Were you like the might oaks, or the tender pines?
How did God bless you through it? Count each good thing that God did FOR YOU during this time. Don't focus on your discomfort, for we weren't called to be comfortable. Instead, focus on the opportunities, blessings, and favor that God has brought into your life.
Father, forgive me for my stubborn pride. Forgive me for now bowing immediately, but waiting for you to call me to bow. Thank you for your joy, even in unpleasant times. I may not be happy with my situation, but you have given me joy as I recounted this morning all of the things that you have given me. I praise you for your awesome power, and I kneel before you today for the amazing joy and grace you've shown me today. Thank you, Father. Thank you for your blessings -- both those that I see, and the blessings of darkness that is deflected away from me, for your name's sake. Today, I praise you out loud for your grace and mercy on my life this week. Today I bow, thankful that as I bow, you give me grace to stand tall again, not torn apart into segments, but able to stand again when this is lifted from us.
--Jerry
Many thousand trees between Tulsa and Bartlesville were put under severe strain under the weight of the ice. Many trees that once stood tall and proud, with their limbs reaching high into the air were split into sections, broken in two, and ripped apart. Some had their tops ripped down, broken like twigs. While others still had a section or two upright, with several thick limbs literally ripped from their trunks. Their once-majectic members now laying at the base of the trees.
And then there were some that were bent low to the ground, as if kneeling before God, their creator. Nothing was broken. Nothing was damaged, but the tops of the trees rested in an arc on the ground.
In that silent moment, God asked me:
Jerry... When you come under pressure, do you bow before me? Do you submit to my will put your face to the floor and seek my face? Or do you try to continue to stand tall and proud doing everything yourself, despite the immense pressure on you? If you continue to try to stand on your own, stubbornly sticking your stiff neck upward against the pressure, something is going to break! You will be torn apart, ripped into segments like these trees. Humble yourself and bow before me!! Take a few moments in the pressure of the moment and seek my face, grace, favor, and will.
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, fall to their knees and seek my face, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sins and heal their lands."
Jerry, I gave you warmth and shelter for the past three days. You did not earn any of it, but it was freely offered to you. Your meals were not cooked by your hands, but were offered to you without expectation of repayment. You slept in protection, though not in your own house. You shared time with others, not just within your own thoughts. You had your blessings beside you at all times, and my hand was constantly over you, never letting so much as a scratch come upon you. I, your God, protected you. I, your God, provided all things for you. YOU did not purchase or provide anything in the past three days that I did not provide for you, directly and indirectly. I set all this before you, yet where was the praise?
So today, (with my house still out of power) I can write to you from work. Many of you probably won't see this for a couple more days because you may not have power yet either. But when you do get this, take a significant amount of time -- not just a few seconds, but carefully consider every detail you can recall -- and look back on the time that you were under this pressure.
How did you respond during it? Did you bow, or try to force your way through it, upright? Were you like the might oaks, or the tender pines?
How did God bless you through it? Count each good thing that God did FOR YOU during this time. Don't focus on your discomfort, for we weren't called to be comfortable. Instead, focus on the opportunities, blessings, and favor that God has brought into your life.
Father, forgive me for my stubborn pride. Forgive me for now bowing immediately, but waiting for you to call me to bow. Thank you for your joy, even in unpleasant times. I may not be happy with my situation, but you have given me joy as I recounted this morning all of the things that you have given me. I praise you for your awesome power, and I kneel before you today for the amazing joy and grace you've shown me today. Thank you, Father. Thank you for your blessings -- both those that I see, and the blessings of darkness that is deflected away from me, for your name's sake. Today, I praise you out loud for your grace and mercy on my life this week. Today I bow, thankful that as I bow, you give me grace to stand tall again, not torn apart into segments, but able to stand again when this is lifted from us.
--Jerry
posted by Jerry Hanel @ 12/12/2007 08:02:00 AM
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