"Botanists say that trees need the powerful March winds
to flex their trunks and main branches, so the sap is
drawn up to nourish the budding leaves.
Perhaps we need the gales of life in the same way,
though we dislike enduring them."

- Jane Truax

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"Blessed are those who stand in my courts and wait upon my voice..."

Absolutely...It's like the quote, "We are like tea bags, we don't know how strong we are until we are put in hot water"

~Alanna

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"...It's all about you, all about you Jesus..."

You are sooo awesome lightbulb4hm!

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Until He Returns, I remain... About souls,
crucified_with_christ

thanks Joel

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"Blessed are those who stand in my courts and wait upon my voice..."

I'm the first to admit that I'm not fond of being stretched. Who does? But sometimes that's the only way we can grow. We're soooo stubborn! Sometimes we get so complacent that we would just rather stay in our comfort zone until our comfort zone gets uncomfortable, and then we bail out and find a new one.....

Lightbulb4hm,

I loved your post. It reminded me of a souteast TX oak tree in my randmother "Mumsey's" front yard. When I began to go back down memory lane God showed me an interesting thing...

We can also look at it and learn that it is the same wind that hits all the trees.

The Holy Spirit is "blowing" mightily through SouthEast TX and it is beginning to "flex" the beliefs and the comfort zones of many of the local churches (trunk) and their various ministries (branches).

How come when the "tree of southeast Tx" (The Church as a whole) begins to "flex" instead of "drawing up the sap to nourish the budding leaves" we pull the sap back to the roots that have been around for ages (that are already grounded and established) and starve the very leaves which we pray begin to grow?

It doesn't make much sense to me.

We need to realize that each new budding leaf is a part of the body. And as a part of the body we should also realize that even though we might seem way out on a limb some times, we are still part of the "trunk" (The Church Body as a Whole)and more importantly we are still totally dependent on the foundation that the "Roots" (Jesus Christ) provide. Without Him nothing is possible!!!

On the same note-- I would like to let the churches that are already out there know not to be afraid of new ministries. We have been grown, taught, and nourished by you...our "branches"... We need your help and support to push the "sap" to us in order for us to survive.

Please realize that we are a new generation that is born from you and is not wanting anything else accept to blossom for Christ just as you did when you were young leaves on your parent churches branch.

This generation is one that cries out for individualism yet needs more than ever your strength to hold us together. Southeast Tx is made up of many branches that have hundreds of leaves...and we need to recognize the fact that if we try to grow by using only one leaf of one branch our trunk will perish.

It's in the work of many leaves on many branches catching all the rain they can collectively that makes the great South East TX OAK grow to its majesty and strength.

So I say when we begin to look at it in that manner we can truley say --- LET IT RAIN!!


innerdawg

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