Tag: Roots

History Review

On By cdyeagerwritesIn Children, Devotions, Fatherhood, ParentingLeave a comment

Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law–the blessings and the curses–just as it is written in the Book of the Law.  There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the aliens who lived among them. – Joshua 8:34-35 (NIV)

This scene will be repeated a number of times through the story of the Israelites.  An assembly gathered to hear the words of God read aloud, reminding them of their history, their purpose and their future.  This practice reminded them of who they belonged to and what defined their thoughts, words and deeds.  It was a discipline of remembering.

Children can be short-sighted and forgetful.  Practicing a discipline of remembering with them helps them overcome the shortcomings of our disposable society.  We have increased our information, but decreased our recollection.  The Israelites didn’t have thumb drives, kindles and the World Wide Web.  They had their ears and minds and a growing appreciation of where God had brought them from and where He was taking them.  Our kids need to have a sense of history if they are going to have the courage to face their future.

Spend time going over all that God has done in the life of your family.  Create time for your family to sift through the calendar and remember the triumphs and trials you faced together with God.  Encourage your children to keep journals and keep on yourself.  Become a family with a history and a vision for the future.

Lord, help us be a people who remember.  Gives us ears to hear and eyes to see where you brought us from and where you are taking us.  Lead us to moments of recollection and renovation through Your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Growing Up by Digging Deep

On By cdyeagerwritesIn Children, Devotions, Fatherhood, ParentingLeave a comment

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV)

Most of us have seen a sidewalk mistreated by the roots of a tree; as it grows the concrete buckles and cracks and another contractor finds gainful employment.  The power to do such damage is one of the unsung miracles of trees (a mature Oak can pump 50 gallons of water a day out of the ground).  The root structures of most trees are incredibly powerful, tough and extremely efficient at transporting nutrients and water from the ground to the highest branches.  Roots are crucial for healthy growth and act as an anchor for the tree in extreme weather. As believers we also must have strong roots that dig deep into the soil of God’s love so we can weather the storms of a fallen world.

There are several trees near our stream whose roots have been exposed by the slow erosion of soil by the water flowing in its course.  The exposed parts of the roots are just a fraction of the actual length and breadth of the total root system.  It is curious that the part of the tree that makes it grow and gives it stability is the one that is least seen by most observers.  This leads me to think that some of the most important ways for us to stay connected with the life of God take place where others do not see.

The life that Paul is praying for the Ephesians is a life that is “rooted and established in love” because having roots is not the same as being established.  In order for us to be established trees, we must be difficult to uproot.  This can only happen if the roots sink deep and wide and draw the life-giving water to the life that others see.  Trees are steadfast in this regard, growing their roots slowly but firmly to reach the source.

The roots are like the various spiritual disciplines – meditation, prayer, fasting, study, simplicity, solitude, submission, service, confession, worship & celebration – reaching into the depths of God’s immeasurable mercy and grace.  They are the means by which the Holy Spirit flows from Heaven into our branches to produce good fruit.  They are the strong ties to the soil of God’s love that hold us fast when the winds buffet and rages. A tree by itself does not produce fruit; a tree that is receiving all the nutrients it needs will produce fruit.  If we want to produce fruit, we have to sink the roots.

In our world, we have been told to take care of the outside so people will like what they see.  In another of God’s reversals of conventional wisdom, He has told us to develop the inner life so that it informs and transforms the outer.  So many have beautiful looking trees, with lush branches and thick trunks, but the slightest wind will uproot them.  Others have plentiful fruit at first glance, but it is only decorative and has nothing to nourish those who might try to eat what is offered.

Let me ask you a question: when you have just bitten into a juicy, flavorful apple, do you wonder if the tree it came from is attractive or impressive?  Probably not.  More than likely you pined at the possibility of having a tree like the one your apple came from in your back yard.  What makes a tree a blessing to others is its ability to produce good fruit season after season.

As Christians we do not grow fruit on our branches for our own sake.  No tree does.  We sink roots deep, grow our branches strong and thicken up our trunk to hold fruit out to those who need to eat.  It is interesting to note that each of the disciplines require a certain characteristic – stillness.  We must be still by the stream and sink our roots deep to allow God’s love to flow through us, producing fruit in its season for a hungry world.

Skipping Rocks: Getting Life from the Source

On By cdyeagerwritesIn Children, Devotions, ParentingLeave a comment

This is the second in a series this week on spiritual growth.  May we help our children sink their roots deep into the truth of God’s word and way.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 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. – Psalms 1:1-3 (NIV)

Trees depend on two critical sources of energy and life; water and sunlight.  Having one without the other can be devastating to a tree and an absence of both is deadly. I believe this is why so many passages in scripture are clear about trees growing near streams. God has seen fit to give us all life, but He has also made eternal life available to us as well.

The life that is given to all of us is like the sunlight to a tree.  It is readily available and there are no pre-requisites – if you are a tree, you get sunlight.  “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians  1:15-17 NIV) This doesn’t require belief in God anymore than a tree has to believe in the Sun.  The Sun provides light to the tree because that is what the Sun does and God creates living things because that’s what God does.

The tree that is planted by the stream, however, has another source of life that it must be connected to in order to grow even stronger.  Just as the water in the stream brings life and strength to the tree, so the living water brings newness and strength to our souls as it flows from the Father.  If we want to grow strong, we must stay connected to the source of water. It is ridiculous to picture a dry and weary tree making its way from a barren land to the stream for a quick drink, only to return to the barren land.  And yet that is exactly what we do in our own lives.

Too often we live in the dry places and difficult landscapes because that’s where the other trees are hanging out.  From time to time we grow thirsty and edge ourselves near the stream to rejuvenate, but we never truly connect to the source.  This makes for fragile trees that do not bear the burden of seasons very well and produce little fruit.  It is the tree that sinks its roots into moist soil of the banks that will thicken its trunk and strengthen its limbs.

Our relationship with God has been compared to being plugged in, like a cord into a wall socket, but that breeds the idea that we only need to have the connection when we need a charge.  The truth is that we need a constant connection with God like the tree has with the stream.  It is the life that is rooted in God rather than the infrequent religious jolts that will grow strong, weather the seasons and bear much fruit. The question for all of us is where are your roots sinking?  Are they digging into the rich soil of the stream bank or tangled up in the dry soil of a dead forest with other lamenting trees?  I may not be at the stream just yet, but I’m certainly going to try and get there because the stream is calling.

History Review

On By cdyeagerwritesIn Children, Devotions, Fatherhood, ParentingLeave a comment

Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law–the blessings and the curses–just as it is written in the Book of the Law.  There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the aliens who lived among them. – Joshua 8:34-35 (NIV)

This scene will be repeated a number of times through the story of the Israelites.  An assembly gathered to hear the words of God read aloud, reminding them of their history, their purpose and their future.  This practice reminded them of who they belonged to and what defined their thoughts, words and deeds.  It was a discipline of remembering.

Children can be short-sighted and forgetful.  Practicing a discipline of remembering with them helps them overcome the shortcomings of our disposable society.  We have increased our information, but decreased our recollection.  The Israelites didn’t have thumb drives, kindles and the World Wide Web.  They had their ears and minds and a growing appreciation of where God had brought them from and where He was taking them.  Our kids need to have a sense of history if they are going to have the courage to face their future.

Spend time going over all that God has done in the life of your family.  Create time for your family to sift through the calendar and remember the triumphs and trials you faced together with God.  Encourage your children to keep journals and keep on yourself.  Become a family with a history and a vision for the future.

Lord, help us be a people who remember.  Gives us ears to hear and eyes to see where you brought us from and where you are taking us.  Lead us to moments of recollection and renovation through Your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Growing Up by Digging Deep

On By cdyeagerwritesIn Children, Devotions, Fatherhood, ParentingLeave a comment

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV)

Most of us have seen a sidewalk mistreated by the roots of a tree; as it grows the concrete buckles and cracks and another contractor finds gainful employment.  The power to do such damage is one of the unsung miracles of trees (a mature Oak can pump 50 gallons of water a day out of the ground).  The root structures of most trees are incredibly powerful, tough and extremely efficient at transporting nutrients and water from the ground to the highest branches.  Roots are crucial for healthy growth and act as an anchor for the tree in extreme weather. As believers we also must have strong roots that dig deep into the soil of God’s love so we can weather the storms of a fallen world.

There are several trees near our stream whose roots have been exposed by the slow erosion of soil by the water flowing in its course.  The exposed parts of the roots are just a fraction of the actual length and breadth of the total root system.  It is curious that the part of the tree that makes it grow and gives it stability is the one that is least seen by most observers.  This leads me to think that some of the most important ways for us to stay connected with the life of God take place where others do not see.

The life that Paul is praying for the Ephesians is a life that is “rooted and established in love” because having roots is not the same as being established.  In order for us to be established trees, we must be difficult to uproot.  This can only happen if the roots sink deep and wide and draw the life-giving water to the life that others see.  Trees are steadfast in this regard, growing their roots slowly but firmly to reach the source.

The roots are like the various spiritual disciplines – meditation, prayer, fasting, study, simplicity, solitude, submission, service, confession, worship & celebration – reaching into the depths of God’s immeasurable mercy and grace.  They are the means by which the Holy Spirit flows from Heaven into our branches to produce good fruit.  They are the strong ties to the soil of God’s love that hold us fast when the winds buffet and rages. A tree by itself does not produce fruit; a tree that is receiving all the nutrients it needs will produce fruit.  If we want to produce fruit, we have to sink the roots.

In our world, we have been told to take care of the outside so people will like what they see.  In another of God’s reversals of conventional wisdom, He has told us to develop the inner life so that it informs and transforms the outer.  So many have beautiful looking trees, with lush branches and thick trunks, but the slightest wind will uproot them.  Others have plentiful fruit at first glance, but it is only decorative and has nothing to nourish those who might try to eat what is offered.

Let me ask you a question: when you have just bitten into a juicy, flavorful apple, do you wonder if the tree it came from is attractive or impressive?  Probably not.  More than likely you pined at the possibility of having a tree like the one your apple came from in your back yard.  What makes a tree a blessing to others is its ability to produce good fruit season after season.

As Christians we do not grow fruit on our branches for our own sake.  No tree does.  We sink roots deep, grow our branches strong and thicken up our trunk to hold fruit out to those who need to eat.  It is interesting to note that each of the disciplines require a certain characteristic – stillness.  We must be still by the stream and sink our roots deep to allow God’s love to flow through us, producing fruit in its season for a hungry world.

Skipping Rocks: Getting Life from the Source

On By cdyeagerwritesIn Children, Devotions, ParentingLeave a comment

This is the second in a series this week on spiritual growth.  May we help our children sink their roots deep into the truth of God’s word and way.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 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. – Psalms 1:1-3 (NIV)

Trees depend on two critical sources of energy and life; water and sunlight.  Having one without the other can be devastating to a tree and an absence of both is deadly. I believe this is why so many passages in scripture are clear about trees growing near streams. God has seen fit to give us all life, but He has also made eternal life available to us as well.

The life that is given to all of us is like the sunlight to a tree.  It is readily available and there are no pre-requisites – if you are a tree, you get sunlight.  “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians  1:15-17 NIV) This doesn’t require belief in God anymore than a tree has to believe in the Sun.  The Sun provides light to the tree because that is what the Sun does and God creates living things because that’s what God does.

The tree that is planted by the stream, however, has another source of life that it must be connected to in order to grow even stronger.  Just as the water in the stream brings life and strength to the tree, so the living water brings newness and strength to our souls as it flows from the Father.  If we want to grow strong, we must stay connected to the source of water. It is ridiculous to picture a dry and weary tree making its way from a barren land to the stream for a quick drink, only to return to the barren land.  And yet that is exactly what we do in our own lives.

Too often we live in the dry places and difficult landscapes because that’s where the other trees are hanging out.  From time to time we grow thirsty and edge ourselves near the stream to rejuvenate, but we never truly connect to the source.  This makes for fragile trees that do not bear the burden of seasons very well and produce little fruit.  It is the tree that sinks its roots into moist soil of the banks that will thicken its trunk and strengthen its limbs.

Our relationship with God has been compared to being plugged in, like a cord into a wall socket, but that breeds the idea that we only need to have the connection when we need a charge.  The truth is that we need a constant connection with God like the tree has with the stream.  It is the life that is rooted in God rather than the infrequent religious jolts that will grow strong, weather the seasons and bear much fruit. The question for all of us is where are your roots sinking?  Are they digging into the rich soil of the stream bank or tangled up in the dry soil of a dead forest with other lamenting trees?  I may not be at the stream just yet, but I’m certainly going to try and get there because the stream is calling.