Palm Tree
Every body hates ups and downs! God even hates it although He knows that it’s part of our nature. Ups and downs are like this: Today things are good I love God, I love people and I love life; tomorrow things are a little tough I hate life, I hate people and I’m not sure of God’s love!
On the contrary God speaks a lot about faith and about faithful people (righteous) as: steadfast, single minded, single hearted …etc.
In today’s Q.T. it says: “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Psalms 92:12
The palm tree and cedar are STRAIGHT! They don’t bend even with a huge storm (temptation); you can knock it down but you can not bend it. God’s way does not change …God is always the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. God is the truth and the truth can not be bent.
Our heart needs to be straight first before our actions. Our conscience needs to be straight first and doesn’t bend. This will only happen if we hold unto the Lord ALWAYS …hold unto His word day and night …hold unto Him in the midst of temptation …ask Him before asking myself or the devil … go to Him before going to any human being.
Get the seed of doubt of the mind before it grows …get the seed of sin out of the heart before it grows to action.
Palm tree and cedar are always green, very tall, very strong, live long …basically they are a land mark! So as the faithful who always witnesses to the Lord …he is a tower that every one sees and praises God.
Are you a palm tree, cedar or grass?!
August 8th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
Thats really deep abounah. When I first saw the title I thought you were blogging about the next Palm Pilot or something.
I never thought of the palm tree that way as being firm and unbending. Thats been my message lately to be firm in God no matter what!! even in the storm or in the calm in His presence and during temptation. I’m always amazed by how King David was so confident in God’s love and forgiveness that he can write stuff like this.
August 16th, 2006 at 11:38 am
“Our heart needs to be straight first before our actions. Our conscience needs to be straight first and doesn’t bend.”
I read this sentence several time as it got my attention.
In order for my heart to be straight first I need to clean it and to keep maintaining that, it is hard, not an easy job but God has promises for that.
God has dealt to each one of us a measure of faith so if I repent on my sins, God will throw them in the forgettable seas and put a sign written “No Fishing” ( :)I just came from a fishing trip)
As St. Augustine said: Don’t be Afraid from Satan’s trials, as he can’t implants his traps on the road (way) because the Lord is the way, the truth, and the life but he can on the side of the way.
So it is up to me, to either stay on the road or to walk on the side of it.
I ask you Lord to teach me to keep the way, to do righteousness and justice, so you would keep your promise as you did for Abraham.
Let our church Lord be like the whole city of Jericho, the city of palm trees.
August 20th, 2006 at 12:04 am
What do you suggest you do during the “down times”? How can we overcome something like that?
August 20th, 2006 at 7:31 am
abouna i’m a grass so please pray for me 2 become a palm tree because evry time i try comming strong wind 2 take off from my roots so abouna pleeeeeeeeeeeeease pray 4 me
August 20th, 2006 at 9:49 am
Doing your quiet time daily makes you spiritual life stable to a big degree. check the QT material we have in our resources under St. Mark’s web page. May god be with you!
August 21st, 2006 at 8:04 pm
Very wise message Abouna- Thank you!!!!