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| Animal Registered user Username: Animal Post Number: 635 Registered: 7-2008  |
Trees That Wood by: Author Unknown, Source Unknown Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty." Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull." Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me." After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter" ... and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest. At the second tree a woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship. When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree so I'll take this one", and he cut it down. When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark. The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time. Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat. Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it. The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best. ************************************************* I hope you find this story a blessing as you walk with the Lord. God has a plan for ALL of our lives. We might not clearly see it yet, but He does have a plan for all of us. See Jeremiah 29:11. ...Animal | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 7385 Registered: 3-2004  |
I have seen this before and always like to read it. God does have a plan for our lives. I just want to fulfill His plan. It must be awesome. Diana L | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 5382 Registered: 9-2006  |
25 years ago, I could never have foreseen what God had for me too do. I had my dreams, but God had my reality. I didn't do or become what I had dreamed, but yet I am happy with his reality. I still do not know whether he had a plan for my life, or used my life to fulfill a plan, I do not know that I have been pleasing to him, probably not, but he took what was displeasing to him and made it into what I am today and I am satsified with his reality. It is secret, between me and him and nobody will ever know my full weakness, nor his full strength which he has supplied, not even me. Since I cannot know if he has a plan, I just want to be filled with him. I have heard people say the same thing you say, that God has a plan for a persons life, if there was a plan in all the confusion, the trials, the heartache, I think it was to bring me to the place Of trust and surrender and that plan is still unfolding and I can see the outlines of the blueprints more each passing day. The more I give of myself to others, the more he gives of himself to me. Whatever the plan or lack thereof I become more and more satisfied with the outcome, the unexpected turns in the road my life has taken. It does seem to me like I am like a tree that was selected, ripped apart, delimbed and stored in a dry place until I am becoming seasoned and fit for whatever the master has in his grand scheme of things that I cannot see or know. I don't desire heaven, because he has given it already, I don't desire to see him, because I see him now, I am satisfied. River | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 10285 Registered: 12-2003  |
River: I had my dreams, but God had my reality. That is so good. It just sums up my life. Thank you for your post; I understand exactly what you mean. I relate to your sentence, "I still do not know whether he had a plan for my life or used my life to fulfill a plan." It has been freeing and amazing to realize my life isn't about my story, but God has graciously granted me a small role to play in His story. Colleen | ||
| Hec Registered user Username: Hec Post Number: 470 Registered: 3-2009 |
River, Coleen, Your post above give me hope. Even though my dreams are shattered, it gives me hope that God's reality may be better than my dreams in the long run. Part of my dreams were to be a "great one" in the SDA movement. God shattered that and gave me the reality of being a "nobody" in his kingdom. I think I'll stick with his reality. In the long run, it's a lot better. Hec | ||
| Seekinglight Registered user Username: Seekinglight Post Number: 352 Registered: 3-2009 |
Hec, this resonated with me today. Yesterday was the first day of classes. I'm not on campus. I miss my students & they miss me. I'm sad  I'm also grateful for God's reality. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 10287 Registered: 12-2003 |
Oh, Hec and Seekinglight, I so understand. God literally removed from my life, early-mid 90's, a part of my life that was a deep part of my identity. He took away music performance. I did not give it up easily. I spent a few years crying and praying that God would bring music back into my life--there was absolutely no explainable reason why that avenue of expression had just dried up. Friends in the SDA music field would recommend me, etc etc--nothing to speak of. I remember the day, right in the middle of our studying and discovering Adventism was a house of cards, that I clearly realized that God had removed performance from my life so I would find my identity only in Him. I realized with a deep "knowing" that the thought was true. God was changing my life, and He was now in charge of me. I had to surrender the shape and control of my life to Him. I NEVER could have imagined what He brought to me—and I NEVER would have chosen it. But God knew what His own plans were, and He gave me a job to do inside that plan of His. I would never go back or trade what He gave me for what I lost. That doesn't mean I don't ever think about it or miss it. Although it's not a continuous ache, there are moments when, if I hear Bach or Mozart or other great music being played, that I am seized with deep sadness and a sense of loss. I can cry very easily for no reason if I listen to music that reminds me of that part of my life. At the same time, I know that God has given me Himself in a way I couldn't foresee, and He has brought me work to do that He prepared for me Himself. I am grateful. He wastes nothing, Hec and Seekinglight, and He redeems everything we submit to Him. Colleen | ||
| Seekinglight Registered user Username: Seekinglight Post Number: 354 Registered: 3-2009 |
Colleen, thank you for sharing about your grieving/surrender process with the music performance aspect of your life. Perhaps one day, God will send some opportunities your way. Did you sing, play an instrument, or both? God has put faith in my heart that is so much different than when I was in Adventism. I do still struggle at times, but it is nothing close to the continuous worry, agony, and frustration that I had before. It's more like deep grieving for things that have been taken away for now. |
