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We at Sanctioned Love Ministries have recently completed our third Amazing Pursuit Conference-themed Evergreen. During our conference, one of my tasks was to deliver a lyrical word; a 20-minute poem to give dimensions to the revelation of our theme.
There were so many beautiful truths that I wanted to add to the poem, but due to time, I had to keep the flow and the theme in proper movement. So this blog is a great opportunity to share some additional truths about how relative the Evergreen tree can be.
But first, a baseline of what evergreen means, as stated in my poem.
To be an Evergreen means to have the living DNA that remains; no matter if it is winter, spring, summer, or fall. It means that each tree has something within it that allows it to retain its freshness. This allows the leaves to stay green and functional. It also implies that to be evergreen is to be continually relevant. To maintain growth by not being limited to the changing of dates, seasons, or events. How can you tell if someone or something is evergreen? By taking a close look during the coldest part of a winter’s season as this is the truest time to evaluate its characteristics. Has this evergreen stayed fresh? Has it stayed functional? And most of all, its foliage remained strong and vibrant.
See, we too, have been called to be living branches, chosen and grafted into the Lord’s forever evergreen story–perpetually green and growing. Because of His abundant and merciful love, we can stay rooted, grounded, and abiding in Him. We must always remember that we were made for this union. When we call Him the Father of life, we are promised a hand-in-hand stroll through the gardens of His evergreen groves.
God must have such a great fondness for trees. We can see them woven in and out of His Word; from the first chapter of Genesis to the last chapter of Revelation, there is a tree. This is so beautiful to me; I love so many thoughts about this truth.
My creative mind begins to swirl with pictures of monkeys and birds, insects, snakes and tigers, elephants and giraffes. Living, climbing, eating, and traveling in the branches. Joy floods my heart at the thought of all this life, all interwoven and dependent upon the provisions of God’s marvelous creation.
Aren’t we all as dependent as this? The answer is Yes! We may not always realize it, but in some way, we are using the life of a tree. Even though almost all trees start out as seeds smaller than the palm of our hand, they ever so slowly grow, multiply, endure, and become strong. Then they become fuel for fire, food, shade, and lumber—objects of hobbies and painted as art.
Trees are so amazing and mighty; think about how many ways they give back as they oxygenate the earth. I want to be as versatile as this, always giving back to those around me no matter the cost, growing tall in the Lord as I live my days , knowing that my life is not my own.
As a child, did you have a favorite tree you used to climb in, hide in, and play in? I know I did. It was a fort, a refuge, and a meeting place for all of us neighborhood kids. We spent hours there every day. But as much as we loved our local trees we were rugged and very rough on them. As kids we would strip their leaves for mud pies and bug huts. We would break off branches so we could use them as whackers, diggers, and canes. We tore at their bark and poked holes into their vulnerable crevices.
Nevertheless, they stood faithful and tall and evergreen. Every day they welcomed us back, like a childhood home, a palace of our own. So forgiving, so constant, so present, its arms at perfect levels so my child-size legs could swing up to new heights. Giving me the opportunity to have a new perspective, a view from above like Zacchaeus.
Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. Luke 19:1-7
See, when I grew up, I was not told about the kingdom of God. I didn’t know the inside of a church or visit one of its services, and no one had ever read any of the stories about this kind and loving Man named Jesus to me. But I can say this: I do remember the warm and gentle breezes as they moved through the trees, the sounds of peace that rang in the silence of the woods, the warmth of the dirt as I sat by the tree roots, and somehow, I knew that in all of this was God. I cannot explain how or why, but I did feel the loving touch of His Holy Spirit. So quietly, He was telling me that He was right there in the beauty of His creation.
I could always feel Him in the wind, the snow, the wooden forests I grew up in. I am saying all this to say. God is everywhere. God is speaking through His trees of life. God is calling the lost. God is providing the truth. The truth is that it was He who spoke His DNA into all that we see. God Himself made nature this way; He made His divine Deity so simple that even a young child climbing her favorite tree could see Him to “have a knowing” that the Creator was calling her to climb up into His arms of Love. Calling me to be strong and evergreen.
To be an Evergreen means to have the living DNA that remains, no matter if it’s winter, spring, summer, or fall. It means that each tree has something within it that allows it to retain its freshness. This allows the leaves to stay green and functional. It also implies that to be evergreen is to be continually relevant. To maintain growth by not being limited to the changing of dates, seasons, or events.
Thank you, Holy Spirit, that you are the revealer. That Father has called me, and Jesus has grafted me into Him.
Love your daughter Melissa.
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. Romans 1:20
Melissa Norris
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