The Lord Is?
Hot weather brings the need of a shade and working in the sunshine we long for the shade of a tree to have a cold drink and a rest!
But for us who have faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus, we know that our Lord Jesus, Holy Father God will be our shade in the strife of our troubles and worried to?
He is a righteous and merciful God full of compassion meeting the needs on all who call on Him!
Psalm 121:5, Songs of Solomon 2:3, Isaiah 4:6, Mark 4:32.
Failures in Society?
God has promised never to leave those who have to journey, wither from tradition or having to flee persecution and economic hardship!
He also cares for the widow and the orphans, the suffering and the persecuted, but it is we who have to examine our hearts to know if we are right with God?
In the current culture of anti-Immigration we need to stop and think about who, why and what are we protesting about and who is taking advantage politically of our anger!
Psalm 146:9, Exodus 22:21-22, Deuteronomy 10:18-19, Psalm 10:14-15, 147:6.
Itinerant Workers?
Today the word itinerant is usually associated with the travelling community and are seen as the lowest in most societies, but this is perhaps more son in Europe than many other parts of the world!
The shepherds were out in the field looking after the sheep, near a tree for cover and sleep, when the Angel of the Lord appeared to them and they were startled?
In the Old Testament we are told they lived in tents, since if this was winter that where they would be, moving on daily to a new place!
Genesis 47:3, Psalm 23:1, Song of Songs 1:8, Luke 2:8, 20.
Witnessing to Travelers?
What worries many settled people is that of getting kidnapped and put into slavery by some of the communities, but this is not so for all and again it has become another stigma in society to isolate people not like themselves!
But those of the outside and of the community are continuing to have great success and many continue to come to faith, while not abandoning their traditions or culture?
Standing up to evil, reading the cards and spiritism will save us from getting lost, while from within we have the opportunity to witness to the outside to, as to the dangers of these matters, now that Halloween is upon us!
Ezekiel 34:5-6, 11-12, Matthew 9:36, 1 Timothy 1:6, 6:10, Hebrews 4:12-13.
From the forest to the Oasis?
The ships of the desert find a resting place by the watering holes in the sand and the shade of the trees to rest from the long and weary journey, while it is also a safe place!
We have a slightly different take in the New Testament to the trees as that of failing to share faith, God will cut you down and off from Salvation?
Genesis 1:11-12, Exodus 15:27, Matthew 3:10, Luke 3:9, Hebrews 7:25, 9:26-27, 10:26-29, Revelation 7:3.
God appearing to Moses!
Moses was fascinated by this site of a flame on a bush, but the bush not catching fire and one would be, but he was in the presence of God and he was on Holy ground for a reason that he would soon learn about!
He was their to be commissioned by God to be the leader of the Hebrews people and bring them out of slavery, after challenging the Egyptian leaders of their rebellion to the creator God!
But Moses had many issues a stammer, did not listen well, took on more than he could chew and refused to hear Caleb’s account, that would lead him to do great things with God, but he would not be allowed to enter the promised land, because of his failings
Exodus 3:1-3, 5, Deuteronomy 26:15, Acts 7:33.
The arrival of the Magi!
Travelers from the gentile world came with their respective gifts to the King of Israel and the savior of the world, but they also came to worship Him!
Most people like a good chin wag a dance and to praise God if we have the faith to believe, others are to conservative or proud to tap or dance, even to sin a tune or to worship?
For many this is the end of the Christmas story, but it is the beginning of a reign that continues to this day and will until he returns to establish the Kingdom of Israel and to gather all the believers that make up the Ekklesia!
Matthew 2:1-16, Luke 6:23, John 4:22-23, 5:35 Acts 7:7.
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Sleeping under the trees!
In the caring for livestock one needs to be out with them, sometimes in all weathers and you need to try to keep warm and dry as these men were doing in the field, when the were startled by the Glory of God or in Hebrew the ‘Shekinah, where Heaven and Earth met!
This Glory was only in times past reserved for a few, the prophets, the Patriarchs and the priests who served in the Temple in Jerusalem, but now it was to be seen by simple men, the base of society of whom King David once was as a shepherd boy!
The announcement of the promised Messiah was also a revelation that not only could Israel be saved, but as the Savior the gentiles too would know God as the Jews had?
Luke 2:8-20, Exodus 40:34-38, Leviticus 9:23, Numbers 14:10, Daniel 2:37.
Under the tree! 