its leaves are always green...

"but blessed are those who TRUST in the lord

whose CONFIDENCE is in... him. . . ."

But why?

Why are they blessed? What does this even mean. The Hebrew meaning for blessed here literally means “happy.” So why are they filled with happiness? The Lord gives us glimpses into their secret.

They are continually connected and being fed by the source. And their trust isn’t in the heat or the rain or the drought or anything going on in or around them, but in the Lord. their confidence isn’t in themselves or anything they can do, they are entirely reliant upon the Lord, and their confidence isn’t in themselves, but in him… before these verses we see those who are cursed, as the Lord says, those who put their trust in mere mortals, who depend on flesh for their strength, they will be like those in a barren desert, then he makes this contrasting case, for those who will be blessed, those who will experience true life and sustenance, thirst for their every need...

"... they will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream

it does not fear WHEN heat comes
its leaves are ALWAYS green
it has NO worries in a year of drought
and NEVER FAILS to bear fruit."

:: jeremiah 17:7-8

Since the first time that passage captured my heart, last fall and every time I read it, it fills me with an intense desire to be like that tree planted by the water. The woman the Lord desires me to be is described in these verses. This is a picture of the life He invites me to live each day, a life I am free to choose and accept.

To be continually near and fed and sustained by my Maker. To be fruitful in every season, in seasons of abundance and seasons of drought. That these things are PROMISES, rich promises from the Lord to His Beloved... These two verses carry so many promises, that the life we seek is possible.

All we have to do is remain planted by the water, and send out our roots.

He is there and desires to fill my life with His love, care and blessing.

To have my complete trust and confidence in him. Not in my circumstances or in those around me. Lord, make me this woman, a woman planted by the water, such rich promises in these two verses, promises possible for those who make the Lord their trust, who come, empty and needy, only able to offer themselves, and he himself will do the rest. Let me be one of those who trust in the Lord and find my confidence in him, who remain near to you and finds their hope, their moment to moment life, in you and you alone.

ITS LEAVES ARE ALWAYS GREEN...