What should have been a lovely walk around the property turned into a sinking feeling when I noticed one of our pine trees loaded with bag worm cocoons.  This was one of the trees I've been nurturing since it was a wee little stick. Over ten years ago, I bought 10 pine trees for $1 from the National Arbor Foundation. They were so little that one or two of them accidentally got run over with the lawn mower. But I still have seven trees that are doing well and have grown significantly. These pictures were taken 9 years ago - they were just pine tree babies.

And how they grew.

So I was not happy to see one of those babies just full of bag worm cocoons waiting to hatch. Thankfully, Google gave me the information that they hatch in late May. Google also suggested several ways to take care of bag worms. One way was to let them hatch to provide food for the birds. Another way was to use chemicals to spray on them after they hatch. Or you could cut them all off the tree and get rid of them before they hatch. That is what I chose to do. I didn't want to mess with chemicals. I had already had some experience with spraying caterpillars and it wasn't a pretty sight. I really didn't think I could go through with that process myself. 

Yesterday was a nice day for working outside so I spent the morning cutting off those cocoons. I had to drag a ladder out to reach the top of the tree, but I managed to get all of them - I hope.

I filled a 2 gallon ziploc baggie full of those nasty things. I hope I got them all, but if I didn't, maybe the birds will have some to enjoy.

Cutting out those cocoons and dead branches can be compared to the pruning that needs to be done in our lives. Worms or sins that creep in and eat us up devastate us spiritually. But God, the Master Pruner, knows how to cut off branches that are diseased so that the rest of the tree will be healthier and more productive. 

I love to read and re-read John 15 where Jesus talks about the vine and the branches. Every vine needs to be pruned, taking away the dead to make way for new shoots. Pruning is painful, but it's necessary if we want to grow in our walk with the Lord. 

I met Dawn at Care One yesterday with her kids to visit Andy. I love the energy of the kids. I think Kira was a little sad over seeing Andy because she remembers how fun he was for and with her. But Kasey and Cole accept him as he is because it's the only way they've ever known him. All of the kids are developing a level of compassion, though, because of their association with their Poppop. Little Cole saw me feeding Andy, then he offered Andy his ice cream. It was so sweet. 

I am currently reading through the psalms in my morning time with the Lord. I love David's heart for the Lord. Even when he is in despair, he still finds something to praise the Lord about. Some of his circumstances were so difficult, but he focused on God's character. God's unfailing love, his righteousness, faithfulness, justice remain constant and true. 

A year or so ago, as I was reading through the Bible, I marked in red ink all the verses that talk about God's love for his children. The psalms in my Bible are full of those red marks.

Psalm 25:6, 7 ~ "Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old....according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD."

Psalm 25:10 ~ "All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful..."

Psalm 31:16 ~ "Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love."

Psalm 31:21 ~ "Praise be to the LORD, for he showed his wonderful love to me."

Psalm 32:10 ~ "The LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him."

Psalm 33:5 ~ "The earth is full of his unfailing love."

Psalm 33:18, 22 ~ "But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love...May your unfailing love rest upon us O LORD, even as we put our hope in you."

Psalm 36:5, 7 ~ "Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies...How priceless is your unfailing love!"

Isn't that such a comfort to know that God's love is described as unfailing. It is always there. It's who God is. "God is love," 1 John 4:16. And if God loves me, then I can be assured He will take care of me. He prunes out those hurtful worms, fertilizes and waters me so that I will grow and bear much fruit. He protects me from trouble and surrounds me with songs of deliverance. (another psalm - Psalm 32:7) 

Jesus loved the psalms, too. In his earthly ministry, he quoted often from the psalms. When he was talking with the two men on the road to Emmaus, he told them that "everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."

So here is something to think about till your head spins: Did Jesus quote David in the psalms, or did David quote Jesus because he (David) "spoke from God as [he was] carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21)?

If only growing spiritually was as easy as physical growth.

Andy and I were doing a little bit of yard work yesterday morning before it got too hot. I am so pleased with all "my" trees that I've planted over the years. It must have been about 13 years ago, I bought 10 pine trees for $10. They were just barely past stick height. In fact, they were so small, one or two of them "accidentally" got killed by the lawn mower.
 

 

But look at them now! My babies are growing up nicely.

The crape myrtle was planted only a couple of years ago, mainly for the beautiful color in the summer. That tree outdid itself this year, bringing me great visual pleasure.

Then there are the western red cedars. These lovely trees were planted in the fall of 2012.

They were planted with plenty of space between them. But look at them now - only four years later. My goal of blocking the view of the street is almost realized.

Sometimes parents complain that their children are growing too fast, but in reality, if they didn't grow, those same parents would worry that something was wrong.

I like to think that I am maturing in my walk with the Lord. Although I have a lot of room to grow, I am embarrassed to think of some of the things I thought, and even said out loud, when I was young. 

In between my sophomore and junior years while in college, I spent ten weeks in Mexico City working with Wycliffe Translators. My time there was spent in their computer room, typing up translation documents. I remember telling my good friend that I was happy to be working with machines...it was easier than working with people. Can you believe it?  But the interesting thing is that even in that office, there were people. And those people had issues. In fact, I did not realize that there was adultery going on. When I got back to college that fall, I heard from a young man I had worked with. He wanted to come see me and talk. What he wanted to talk to me about was to justify his desire for divorce from his wife and remarriage to a colleague. 

Another thing I thought was that "theological" books were not for me. They took too much thought and I wasn't interested. I believed the Bible and that was good enough. I was happy that Andy studied and thought he had a lot of insight. I delighted to talk with him about the spiritual truths he was learning. 

But even there, the Lord was wanting to grow me up in Him. He changed my heart and I now can't get enough of learning about him and his ways. I am so grateful for his faithfulness to me and that he doesn't give up on me. 

There are so many books that have been helpful and meaningful to me, especially since Andy has become ill. God has used his word, theologians and biblical scholars to help me know him better.

I recently picked a book off the shelf by R.C. Sproul, Chosen By God.

 

 
It's about predestination. Talk about deep! Whew. I actually was challenged by what he said and enjoyed thinking about that subject. What is so amazing to ponder is that way back in eternity, God thought about me and chose me. It wasn't because I had done anything, either good or bad. I hadn't even lived at all yet. But he chose me to be his. "Chosen by God" is a phrase used to describe Jesus. In 1 Peter 2:4, Jesus is said to be "chosen by God and precious to him." Then a few verses later, he also says that [we] are a chosen people (verse 9).

He not only chose me to be his, but he also showered me with his grace and love through the death and resurrection of Jesus, then the gift of the Holy Spirit to live for him.

Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the One that guides my heart

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are, Lord, I am free
Holiness is Christ in me

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

Teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus, You're my hope and stay

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

You're my one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

 © 2011 sixsteps Music/worshiptogether.com Songs/Sweater Weather (admin. At EMICMGPublishing.com)(ASCAP)/Thankyou Music (admin. Wordwide at EMICMGPublishing.com), excluding Europe, which is admin. By Kingswaysongs)(PRS)/Valley of Songs Music (BMI)

Physical growth is somewhat automatic, given enough food and parental nurturing. But spiritual growth is something else. It isn't automatic, but takes time, surrender to our heavenly Father to his work in us. We experience growing pains through trials and difficulties, but those are designed to show us our inadequacy and insufficiency to effect our own holiness. 

We need Jesus and his righteousness - every hour and every day. And hopefully, we keep growing/maturing in our walk with him, coming to know him better and better.

Consider the mighty oak...another "stick" I bought when we first moved into our house. It is reaching to the heavens. Even though it is so tall, the trunk looks like it still has plenty of room to grow.




Oh, Lord, may my life be like the tree, putting down roots deep into your word, so I might grow with arms lifted high toward you and heaven, standing firm no matter how hard those storms blow and rage against me.