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Sunday, January 19, 2014

Will You Let the Son Melt the Ice?

In December of 2013, the frigid temperatures, the wind and the humidity swirled in a perfect combination and settled over Tulsa, OK in a thick sheet of ice.  Roads became impassable and the sounds of ice covered trees, snapping beneath the weight of the ice, filled the air for several days. Even from inside the house, we could hear the branches break and fall crashing to the ground.  Are there things in this life, Dear One, that are weighing you down? Are your burdens heavy and causing your will and your hope to snap and be torn in two?  Are you, like these trees, succumbing to the pressures of life?

Thankfully, there were trees that didn't crumple with the heavy ice.  But these trees, that once stood proud and tall, reaching toward heaven, were now, humbly bowed down, touching earth, frozen to the ground.  They were unable to free themselves and stretch their boughs to the sky.  I went out and stood underneath those branches, where it looked like I was in the middle of a frozen wonderland.  Limbs that I could normally never reach, surrounded me on all sides, with the ice shimmering in the sunshine.  It was as if I was standing among strands of diamonds!




Trees that once stood tall, now hung upside down with the weight of the ice!

Standing underneath branches that normally were high above my reach.

Not only were the trees encased in ice, but early blooms and buds, that had begun to come to life, were shrouded in a glittering shell.  It was all at once, beautiful and disturbing.  I wondered, would these delicate blooms be able to continue their growth and blossom and be fruitful, once the ice melted, or would they fall from the vine, unable to go on with life?  Do your troubles cover you, stopping you from going forward with life?  Do you feel stuck, unable to reach toward the Son?  Are you frozen in time by circumstances and fear?









Sure enough, after several days, the warmth of the sun began to melt the ice. You could hear small pieces of ice fall to the ground all around like the sound of breaking glass.  We watched in amazement as the biggest, strongest trees, broke loose from the ice.  They sprang right back to their proud position tall and reaching for the sky.  They basked in the sun, as strong as ever.  I wondered, if we drench ourselves in the presence of Christ, can our loads be lifted and can we be set free to reach toward the Son and all of His glory?

It was then, that I noticed something that broke my heart.  The youngest trees, the babies, the ones who were the smallest and weakest; they didn't bounce back when the ice left them.  I was confused and asked my husband, why those trees didn't stand back up, tall and strong.  The other trees were much heavier and it seemed as though it should have been those trees that had difficulty straightening up.  But it was not so.  The strong trees had roots that went deep and held firm to the earth that they were buried in.  The younger trees, my husband explained, came up by the roots, with the weight of the ice. They weren't deep enough, strong enough, to withstand the elements.

"Yes, that's it," I thought!  If we don't bury ourselves deep in Him, if our root system is shallow and not drinking in from rich deep soil, His Word and His Spirit, than we can be pulled up by the roots.  When life and burdens become heavy, we can be uprooted, lose hope and not stand tall and finish our race, our high calling!

If you are going through times that are trying and testing you, causing you to be weighed down, take heart.  I encourage you to make time with Him, in His Word, worshipping Him.  Send your roots deep, until you can't tell where you begin and the Son ends.  Become entwined, enmeshed in His heart.  Let Him bear your burdens and walk with you.  Tell Him your deepest hurts and fears.

The Son can melt that which is too heavy for you to bear.  He will be your grace and keep you strong.

From His lap,

14 comments:

  1. Oh, friend! How I loved this! I want my roots to be that deep!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Donna! I know that you are rooted and grounded deeply in Him!
      Blessings,
      ~Erin

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  2. Oh, Erin.
    The pictures are stunning, but the message is better still! May I share it with someone who is going through a horrible trial?
    God gave you such beautiful insight with this. Thanks for sharing!
    Love you,
    Susan

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Susan! Please feel free to pass it along!
      ~Erin

      Delete
  3. Hi Erin, great encouragement here. I especially love the bit about sending your roots so deep down until you can't tell where you begin and the Son ends! Very true!
    God bless
    Tracy

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    Replies
    1. Tracy,
      Thanks for your kind words! I pray that your heart & the Savior's heart are melting into one love!

      Blessings,
      ~Erin

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  4. Erin, I have been going through a deep freeze in my heart and life. The sadness is as palpable as the pictures. I hope and pray that my roots are deep enough to with stand the "change" that is happening all around me. I have been a Christian for 20yrs and have had many trials. This current is the hardest by far. And it began a lot earlier than the day I became unable to deal with it. Thank you so much for your inspiration.

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    Replies
    1. Thomasina,
      I know exactly what you mean! I have gone through some personal things in the past couple of years that I thought would rip out my soul and leave me broken. I have spent many hours on my face, in His presence. I have slowly thawed and His healing balm has made me whole again!

      I pray the same for you!
      ~Erin

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  5. I love the way you incorporated your love for writing with your love for photography. This is a wonderful post. So much truth!!!!
    Dianne

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    Replies
    1. My 2 favorite things, Dianne! Thanks for stopping by!
      ~Erin

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  6. Hi there! My name is Cameron and I was wondering if you would be willing to answer a quick question I have about your blog! My email is cvonstjames@gmail.com :-)

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  7. Good stuff Erin. What weights me down the most is the past. I recently broke up with my girlfriend, and I'm doing my best to move forward and forget about it. It's not easy.

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    Replies
    1. Kevin,

      It's so hard to move on once a relationship is over. It can actually feel like a part of your heart is ripped out. But we serve a God who can cover that pain with His grace and mercy. Lean into Him during this time. Spend time with Him and let him love on you!

      Blessings,
      ~Erin

      Delete

Thank you for giving us a little nugget of truth from your heart!

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