Faith

Some years ago, I asked the Lord to give me an image of my husband, the way to see him through God's eyes.So the Lord gave me the image of my husband being a tree .

But I am like an olive tree, flourishing in the house of the Lord, I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever.I will praise You for ever for what You have done;In Your name I will hope,for Your name is good. I will praise You in the presence of Your saints.from Psalm 52

In times when I felt hubby is not progressing according to (my !) standard...the Lord encouraged me to be patient. He reminded me that an olive tree is a slow,deliberate growing tree.Among it's characteristics are being deeply rooted,permanence, commanding respect, producing a canopy which gives shade to those underneath, branches for nesting and resting and fruit according to his kind.Furthermore the olive branch is a symbol of joy and peace.

Often I have encouraged friends to ask God for an image of their husband so as to be encouraged when times are hard in the marriage.

I Have not recently had reason to 'visit' my tree-image of my dear husband - or I thought the encouragement I need currently don't relate to him.It always astounds me the way the Lord is so absolutely predictable in loving us and at the same time so unpredictable in the way He works in our lives !I needed some serious encouragement to finaly become a home-staying wife/mother/woman after 20 years of working in a professional capacity,contributing considerably financially to our household. The Lord gave me all the signs I could ask for (kind of like in the Bruce Almighty movie where a truckload of signs is right in front of him) and yet, I needed that last sign, that putting out a fleece of some kind.

A Couple of weeks ago I had a dream where I was running through abnormally high wheat fields.The wheat was so thick and high that when I stretched out my arms, I actually got stuck.
I was reminded of Jesus's words in Matthew 9;37 - 38

The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
Ask the Lord of the harvest,therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.

I consequently asked the Lord afresh to send me out into His harvest field, seeing the 'new thing' He is doing in my life when I leave the formal work-place.I Didn't give this much more thought .

Then Guess what the Lord did ! He reminded me of my 'tree-husband' in such a wonderful personal way,that today I am strengthened in my faith to believe it is God's will for me to quit my job.

He gave me :

I will be like the dew to Israel;
He will blossom like a lily.
Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots
His young shoots will grow.
His splendor will be like an olive tree,
His fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.
Men will dwell again in his shade.
(They that dwell under his shade shall return;
they shall revive like the grain and blossom ...)
(Die wat in sy skaduwee sit sal weer koring laat groei; en hulle sal self bloei..)
He will flourish like the grain
He will blossom like a vine,
and his fame will be like the wine from Lebanon
I am like a green pine tree;
Your fruitfulness comes from me.

from Hosea 13:6 - 8 NIV/AMP/Afr 1938

I am greatly encouraged to 'go home' from my job and go flourish in the shade of my hubby.
I will myself be revived and blossom into God's harvest field to,by His grace, bring in my portion of wheat for His eternal storeroom of Children of God.

I am writing this down, more for myself than you, to be able to come back and be reminded of this great promise and encouragement ,when times get tough. Hope you are encouraged yourself a little by what I share here.

I recently heard someone say:
You can not get more faith by looking in the present, you need to remind yourself of the past milestones where God has come through for you and look forward to the great promises He has given you in His Word.

I can go along with this.

Love in Him

Petals