After extolling the virtues of Hilary’s Christmas pudding and talking about the cherry on top of the cupcake, I have been given another gourmet title for this blog in, ‘The Icing on the Cake‘
In Part 8 of this series I talked about how early on the Saturday after the election, Father said to me I should do a ‘Victory Lap‘ – a 25 mile cycle circle around the beautiful ‘tree’ lined, City of Lakes.
The blog was titled, “Choose your Trust’ and pointed to how scripture enjoins us not to trust in any man but to trust in God alone. As I joined with the creation singing my praise around the Twin Cities, it was to rejoice in God’s Victory, secured long ago.
When I arrived home that afternoon I witnessed the dead tree in the yard of the neighbor who had for a few years brought a dark cloud to the neighborhood, being taken out.
It seemed to me a ‘Victory‘ sign of life winning over death, and with the tree not ‘falling down’ – but UP!…. to represent an inflection point at this time as good triumphs over evil.
(Did you notice? The only word I picked out clearly in the recording was, “butterfly”)
Well yesterday, once again completely outside of our control, it came time for another dead tree…..one in the other next door neighbor’s yard! – to be removed! The bookend of a ‘double DEAD TREE witness’
Interestingly yesterday (when the electoral college was due to meet) was the feast of the Kings, Epiphany, and today is Christmas Day in the Orthodox calendar!
“The Icing on the Cake” title refers to our grandson Luke (LIGHT). Yesterday was his last day with us before flying back to Belfast with mummy and daddy. What a treat his heavenly Father laid on for him!
Trees in scripture represent men, and I believe these dead trees represented the ‘wicked’
“See, the STORM of the LORD will burst out in wrath, a driving wind swirling down on the heads of the wicked. The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart. In the days to come you will understand this.”
I believe the significance of how this tree was dismantled branch by branch and section by section speaks of how the STORM of the LORD will not happen all at once, but will continue to be a step by step process…….until God “fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart.”
Psalm 2 continues (from last week’s blog)……….
“He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
“I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.”
I will proclaim the LORD’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father.
Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.
You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
Authority is being transferred to ‘the saints of the Most High’ (Dan. 7:18) …….so let us then indeed, in these days of the STORM of the LORD….. with a kiss of loving submission to our King, celebrate with fear!
“Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling.
Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”
Let Nana have the last word.……
The chipper’ of those dead trees reminds us of how the wicked steward who proved unfaithful was ‘cut in sunder’ (Lk.12:47) According to the law however that cutting had a limit (Deut.25:3) for God’s “Mercy TRIUMPHS over judgment.” (James.3:13)
Once again I notice I am given this message about the Triumph of the Lord as Part 17...the number of Victory!
With both of these dead trees having been taken out, the result for us is increased LIGHT!
May we all experience in 2021 increased LIGHT, as with awed excitement and joy we join with little LUKE witnessing to the ‘cutting’ and ‘the chipper‘ and the ‘BUMP!’ of ‘evil’
…….and the TRIUMPH of ‘good’