Scriptures of Encouragement ~ Beauty in the Season of Rest

The aged apple tree stretched toward the heavens with its thin, finger-like branches. It grew on the forest's edge surrounded by pine, oak, and hemlocks. It grew in spite of its conditions, quite obviously a happenstance, a surprise to its forest shadows.

I watched this tree throughout the seasons - its burst of fresh green in the spring, blossoms like delicate voile against the rough and ancient bark. Apples red embellished the forest's edge and fed the deer grazing below. And now, just today, my eye saw something new in this season of rest.

The sun shone bright on Chestnut Hill as I walked Blue in the noon of the daylight. The apple tree, dwarfed by the towering pines, rested in the shade. But, the sun - as only the sun can do - squeezed its radiant beams through the forest canopy and lit up the fingertips of the apple tree. There, on the ends of the sky-high branches remained apples - fruit from another season, another time.

But the Light gave them new life.

The Light presented a new beauty in this season of rest.

I thought of my own winter season. Evidence of fruit and God's faithfulness abounds, yet at times the fruit seems to be leftover, rather than fresh and new. Could it be that as I lift my hands to heaven like the limbs of the apple tree, the Light of the One I love will break through the canopy of shadows and illuminate His beauty within me?

Could it be that it is the Light of His Presence that makes all things new? 

Could it be that it is the Light of His Presence that makes all things beautiful in His time?

"I would have lost heart,unless I had believed 

that I would see the goodness of the Lord 

in the land of the living. 

Wait on the Lord; 

Be of good courage, 

and He shall strengthen your heart; 

Wait, I say, on the Lord!"

 ~ Psalm 27:13 & 14

*********************************************************
If you received Morning Glory via email, please visit the Morning Glory  page. I'm featuring a music video by Nichole Nordeman titled, "Just As I Am". She does a beautiful job of incorporating the timeless lyrics we're familiar with into a new song peppered with lyrics that reflect what the old lyrics represent. I think you'll enjoy it.