the beauty of trees

I love trees. Yesterday as I was driving and enjoying the beauty of the fall leaves, I started to think about how grateful I am for trees. I absolutely love trees. I love the bright green of the leaves on the trees in the spring. How that bright green color represents newness and life. After a long winter, spring has finally come. I love the trees now just as they are starting to change colors. The colors of Autumn- beautiful shades of yellow, orange, and red. I love the how beautiful trees are on a dreary rainy day. The green leaves are vibrant in the contrast of the clouds. The beautiful wet dark bark of the trees. I love trees in the winter. How the snow or ice will outline each intricate detail of the different little branches. Stunning. I love tree tunnels. I love running or biking through tree tunnels. The sunlight shining through the leaves overhead. Such incredible beauty. (The picture above was a tree tunnel that I biked through this summer in upstate NY)

Yesterday I ran 10 beautiful miles at a nearby park. This run was such a gift from God. A friend just happened to mention this park earlier in the day. It was my first time running there and I absolutely loved it. It was the most challenging trail run I've done with the level and steepness of hills but even that I loved. I ran on a quiet path through the woods, up and down steep hills, trees all around me. The blue skies and sunshine bursting through the green leaves overhead. The feel of fall, the cool chilly air felt amazing, as I ran. The sound of fall as the leaves crunched behind my feet. The smell of fall with the fallen leaves. The sights of fall with the leaves just starting to change colors...

This morning God reminded me of how I also love the references of trees in the scripture.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19

I often run past past a brook near my house. During a recent storm a huge tree was completely uprooted. It a reminder that even a huge tall tree will fall during a storms if it's roots are not deep. I desire instead to be like a tree that is firmly rooted in God's love. That no matter what storms or challenges I face, I will not become uprooted from God's love. That through each storm and trial, I will reminded firmly rooted and established in the width, length, height and depth of His great love for me. A love that surpasses all knowledge. My leaves and branches may sway in the fierceness of a storm yet my roots will remain grounded in His love. I pray that He allows my roots to grow deeper and deeper in His love. That I will know and experience in the depth of my heart His glorious love. I pray that my Abba Father will give me the power to grasp His love so that I may be filled to the measure of the fullness of God.

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:1-3

Lord, may I be like a tree planted by steams of water. May I yield much fruit for You. That whatever I do in Your name may prosper. May my delight be in Your Word. May I meditate day and night upon Your Truth. May I hide Your Word in my heart and so treasure Your Truth. I desire to be like that beautiful tree planted by streams of water that flourishes and yields much fruit.