THE TREE OF LIFE
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him." (John 3:16,17). One night I was watching a movie. At the end, the cowboy turned and put the name of his girlfriend in the window of his car for all to see. Then he put his arm around her and pulled her close. It has long been a custom for lovers to carve their initials in the trunk of a tree. Today, young romantics spray paint them on freeway overpasses or walls of abandoned buildings. It's the same sort of idea. Once, in high school, a boy carved my name in a heart-shaped wood sculpture. It was a long time ago, but the memory of being claimed that loudly, that openly has never left me. Who doesn't want to be loved like that? Wouldn't it be nice if there was someone to put all our names on the windows of a car, or a license plate, or a tree? Unfortunately, the names on windows, license plates and trees change. Some are left out, and some are never written at all. Once, long ago, there was another kind of tree; and this tree was able to hold all our initials. They were carved deeply for all to see, and they will never be crossed out. That tree was made into a cross, the cross where Jesus died. A King has claimed you and me. He has put His arm around us and pulled us close. He has put our names where they can be seen for eternity. Could anyone really love me that much? Sometimes it is hard to trust, even harder to believe, but the initials are there for all to see. And there they will remain FOREVER. Prayer: Lord Jesus, no one has ever loved me as You have. I ask that You come into my life today. Forgive me of my sins and teach me Your ways. Amen LCDR Bettie J. Davis, CHC, USN
"....and he said, "Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat; thus says the Lord to you, 'Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's. ~ You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you." 2 Chronicles 20:15, 17
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