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My Tree

This is my tree. In a certain sense it represents me. As I grow, it grows. As I mature, it matures. It stays in its one place as I typically remain in one general place. Both of us bloom right where we’re at.

This tree was meant to be my tree. My father planted a tree for every Shannon child the years we graduated high school. This is the tree he planted for me. It has flourished since day one. For reasons out of our control, the others have each gone through multiple trees. But somehow mine was able to immediately thrive.

This tree is usually one of the first things I see. It sits in the middle of our front yard, directly outside our front window. When I start my day there’s no way I can miss it. In fact, most summer days I spend the first thirty minutes of my morning sitting before it on my driveway. I’m out there to enjoy the sun and consider the day ahead. And there that tree is alongside me.

This tree encourages me. There are many times where my limits seem to hold me back, but when I see the tree I don’t have to worry about that. I am assured that I am growing. That my branches of influence are extending further and further out. With the right kind of nourishment I too can thrive right where I’m at. I gratefully appreciate that!

This tree inspires me. It’s the reason I’m writing now. And it’s not the only time that’s been the case. No, I’ve never written directly about it before, but it’s significance has often spurred on my work. It’s not going anywhere, so I believe it will keep serving this inspiring purpose.

This tree is a gift. A great gift from God! A constant reminder of all that’s been done and all that’s in store. This is my tree. And it will continue to represent me.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” – James‬ ‭1:17‬

Yo, I’m Broke

Fun fact: I’m not making any money! Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing because that’s not why I do what I do. I’m not writing, speaking, and ministering to make a quick buck (and God help me if I ever do it for that reason). My work is intended for an eternal gain, not a material one. But that doesn’t change the reality that you need to make a living in order to live. Especially for handicapped living. It’s expensive, people! And that’s why it’s so intimidating that I’m currently taking in next to zero income.

My lack of revenue and a viable salary has certainly played a role in the impatience, fear, and discouragement that I have recently written about. Which is pretty sad, because it reveals that I am trusting in money far more than I should. I’m not proud of this, but I’m not really surprised. Who of us hasn’t struggled with the worship of mammon at some point or another?

Riches are so easy for us to trust in. Money gets stuff done! And we’ve got stuff to do! It doesn’t take much for greed to slowly begin to control you. The search for immediate gratification and satisfaction of your goals breeds the behavior with ease. Are these not our natural tendencies? Of course they are! Otherwise Christ would not have shared these words in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

We can only serve one master. Jesus makes it clear that the godless world’s preferred master is its money. Without a sovereign authority to trust in what else could drive you but the currency everything operates under? Logically speaking, nothing. Yet we know greed is fundamentally wrong, so we hope for an alternative. The only way to find one is through a supernatural means. In a deity that is pleased to meet our needs. We find it in the almighty King of kings!

In Luke 4:4 Jesus also reminds us, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’” This is a great comfort because that means we don’t have to be consumed by attaining material substance in order to live through life. We can be certain that relying on the words of God and trusting Him to be our supplier will always lead to our needs being met. He undoubtedly meets the needs of the rest of His creation; Is it too much of a stretch to believe He’ll do the same for us? (Matthew 6:26)

I wholeheartedly believe He’ll do it! So yeah, I’m broke. I barely have a dollar to my name. And so what?! Maybe it’s better this way. All that I have has been granted to me by another anyways. I’ll gladly let Him handle the means of my sustenance. The only thing the gracious lender asks of me is to be faithful with what I have. To multiply His kingdom by attributing all to Him and spreading the wealth of His goodness!

In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) Jesus actually addresses those who use what they have to multiply the Kingdom of God in this way, “‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’” I must assume that this promise still applies when I have what seems to be virtually nothing. I say virtually because in reality, I actually have more than enough. Which, as the Lord meant to convey, puts me in the exact same category as the story’s servants. And while I do my best to be faithful with my little bit of a lot, I continually find the promise to ring true!

If we allow God to use us to accomplish His will, He will continually use us to accomplish even more. Then we will enter into the joy of our Lord! And only then will we truly be rich. By faith, continue in faithfulness, regardless of the material the work may produce.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” – Matthew‬ ‭6:33‬

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.” – Philippians‬ ‭4:19-20‬

Discourage Your Discouragement

In my latest post, Silence The Fear, I discussed how to overcome our greatest fears by looking instead to Jesus, our only great Hope. I’d like to expand on that idea this week by identifying a specific root-cause of most fear.

This major behavior that usually feeds the fears we all face is listening closely to and believing the voice of discouragement. And I find that the source of discouragement’s voice is more often than not some form of comparison. Among other things, you can compare yourself to people, compare your circumstances, and compare lifestyles. Each of these comparisons will only leave you discouraged, eventually filling you with fear. Comparison, discouragement, and fear are basically a crime syndicate of joy thieves working to steal our confidence!

I think to these words penned in Psalm 42, verse 11: “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.” Why does my soul get cast down? Because I feel discouraged. Why am I disquieted by these discouragements? Because I am drawn to comparing myself to others. And the comparison game is not one to be won.

I could give you a list of who and what I compare myself to, but it would do us no good. It could only lead me down the path of discouragement that was never meant for me. And it could only tempt you to make your own comparisons too. So that’s not what we’ll do. We’ll instead turn our gaze to a better place. Set our eyes on the one who says we’re enough!

Look to the Father, the Spirit, the Son! See the Godhead three in one! He is our Hope. He is our Help. He is Home. He is our God. Hope in your God; give Him your praise! He loves you as you are and only wants a heart change. The calming of your soul exists in this phrase. So be who you are, but be renewed where you must. We can all be content, for He made each of us.

Take joy in your uniqueness today and all fear will run away. Discourage your discouragement by knowing for whom you were made. Kill your comparisons by giving thanks for your existence in grace.

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” – Theodore Roosevelt

“But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.” – Psalm ‭3:3‬

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.” – Psalm 139:14‬