From: "Gospel Messenger Service" Subject: Tree Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2004 16:07:49 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0007_01C3D46F.3F029CA0" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Unsent: 1 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4133.2400 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0007_01C3D46F.3F029CA0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable THE TREE By "Rebekah" the Bride (Gen.8:22; Ps.104:16; Eccl.3:1;=20 S.of S.2:11,12; Isa.61:3) *** There was a tree, a barren tree, One day, that I walked past, With most leaves gone, at winter's end, Though spring was coming fast. The only leaves the tree displayed, And there were just a few, Were old and brown and all curled up; Dried leaves, so old, not new. *** I heard the rustling of those leaves, Those few leaves old and brown, As winds blew hard on them that day, But could not blow them down. Those few leaves clung, had not let go, Through wind and snow and cold; Those dry leaves, oh, so stubbornly, Would not release their hold. *** I knew that tree, that barren tree That looked like it had died, Was really very much alive, For there was sap inside. And then, I thought, It won't be long, For spring is, oh, so near, Before green shoots upon each branch Of that tree will appear. *** And when those new leaves, fresh and green, When they start to appear, I'll see life on that barren tree, Of course, for summer's near. And those dry leaves, so old and brown, Will fall, they'll just have to; The growth so new that's springing forth Will push them off, it's true. *** That barren tree will then abound With leaves so fresh and new, And it will look so beautiful For all around to view. In summer, when I go that way, And walk on past that tree, I'll see the life inside revealed Outside so beautifully. *** I learned a lesson from that tree That I walked past that day, For I can go through winter times Just like that tree, and say: "I know God's life's inside my soul, But outside I don't see That inside life revealed upon The branches of my tree." *** And, yes, there are some dried up leaves That to my branches cling; So old and lifeless, how I wish That I could do something To shake those dead things from my life, But they just won't let go. I want the fresh new life to come, And on my branches grow. *** God is the only one who'll grow Those "leaves" upon my tree; And when the season comes for that, On me, those leaves will be. This nature lesson is such an Important one to learn: That God's the one who brings forth life, When for that life I yearn. *** No need to struggle anymore To get new life to show; For God's new life will push the dead Things from my life, I know. The winter season of my life Is coming to an end; And spring and summer soon begins, They're just around the bend. *** Your winter season, child of God, Does it seem, oh, so long? Your adam nature (natural man), Does he cling on so strong? Remember, spring and summer Follow winter every year; And God, who lives inside of you, Will make new life appear. *** "Trees of the Lord," the Bible calls Those who belong to Him. They're "full of sap," it also says; That sap's God's life within. Those dried up "leaves" that cling to me Will soon fall to the ground, And on the branches of my life God's "green leaves" will abound. ------=_NextPart_000_0007_01C3D46F.3F029CA0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
THE = TREE
 
By "Rebekah" the = Bride
 
(Gen.8:22; Ps.104:16; Eccl.3:1; =
S.of S.2:11,12; = Isa.61:3)
***
There was a tree, a barren tree,
One day, that I walked past,
With most leaves gone, at winter’s end,
Though spring was coming fast.
The only leaves the tree displayed,
And there were just a few,
Were old and brown and all curled up;
Dried leaves, so old, not new.
***
I heard the rustling of those leaves,
Those few leaves old and brown,
As winds blew hard on them that day,
But could not blow them down.
Those few leaves clung, had not let go,
Through wind and snow and cold;
Those dry leaves, oh, so stubbornly,
Would not release their hold.
***
I knew that tree, that barren tree
That looked like it had died,
Was really very much alive,
For there was sap inside.
And then, I thought, It won’t be long,
For spring is, oh, so near,
Before green shoots upon each branch
Of that tree will appear.
***
And when those new leaves, fresh and green,
When they start to appear,
I’ll see life on that barren tree,
Of course, for summer’s near.
And those dry leaves, so old and brown,
Will fall, they’ll just have to;
The growth so new that’s springing forth
Will push them off, it’s true.
***
That barren tree will then abound
With leaves so fresh and new,
And it will look so beautiful
For all around to view.
In summer, when I go that way,
And walk on past that tree,
I’ll see the life inside revealed
Outside so beautifully.
***
I learned a lesson from that tree
That I walked past that day,
For I can go through winter times
Just like that tree, and say:
"I know God’s life’s inside my = soul,
But outside I don’t see
That inside life revealed upon
The branches of my tree."
***
And, yes, there are some dried up leaves
That to my branches cling;
So old and lifeless, how I wish
That I could do something
To shake those dead things from my life,
But they just won’t let go.
I want the fresh new life to come,
And on my branches grow.
***
God is the only one who’ll grow
Those "leaves" upon my tree;
And when the season comes for that,
On me, those leaves will be.
This nature lesson is such an
Important one to learn:
That God’s the one who brings forth = life,
When for that life I yearn.
***
No need to struggle anymore
To get new life to show;
For God’s new life will push the dead
Things from my life, I know.
The winter season of my life
Is coming to an end;
And spring and summer soon begins,
They’re just around the bend.
***
Your winter season, child of God,
Does it seem, oh, so long?
Your adam nature (natural man),
Does he cling on so strong?
Remember, spring and summer
Follow winter every year;
And God, who lives inside of you,
Will make new life appear.
***
"Trees of the Lord," the Bible calls
Those who belong to Him.
They’re "full of sap," it also = says;
That sap’s God’s life within.
Those dried up "leaves" that cling to me
Will soon fall to the ground,
And on the branches of my life
God’s "green leaves" will abound.
 
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