Trees and leaves – Page 9 – Skelton Sketches

Tree Trivia

Posted on October 15, 2010April 29, 2017 by lindaskelton

Did you ever notice?

In the beginning there was a tree–

“The tree of life was in the midst of the garden.. (Gen.2:9)

And in the end there will be a tree–

“also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations…” (Rev.22:2)

And in the middle was a most significant tree–

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us–for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’ “(Gal.3:13)

How happy is the man who trusts in the Lord!

“He is like a tree planted by water…and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” (Jer.17:8)

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (II Cor.9:15)

–LS

Dandy!

Posted on March 10, 2009April 30, 2017 by lindaskelton

There are signs that the cycle of seasons has not gotten lost in a fog but is on its way. I found this little wonder near my herb garden bed poking through the half frozen topsoil in all its glory.
Thanks Nola!

My snowdrops are celebrating the lengthening days too!

The sun lured me out today to hike up Scout. It was a bit of a trick because it was quite cold and windy despite the sun’s brilliant invitation.
Along the way I spied the year’s first dandelion! It grows here predictably each Spring, the first of its kind, in the protection of the roadside drainage ditch. Not a glamorous spot or a particularly glamorous sight but a bright spot nonetheless. Blooming where it’s planted.

There’s not much new along this familiar trail today, but change is just around the corner! The buds are swelling lending a reddish cast to the alders’ branches. The sun is still bright in this wood, for now. This will soon be a very shady path. I’ve taken this photo in hopes of following spring’s progress here with my camera…

On the final ascent to the top of our little ‘Scout’ I found winter still hanging on. No wonder I was so cold!– it’s freezing up here still. Will these be the season’s last icicles?

Today wasn’t one for long meditations on the mountain… too shivery. Rather than retrace my steps I went down the other side of the mountain. Coming down a small ravine I was delighted with this contrast– a wall of dancing ferns above and beside me.

They had caught the afternoon sun and put it to good use.
Hard and cold as ice or dancing in carefree abandon– I guess it’s all a matter of where you stand in relation to the Sun.
If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with each other and the blood of Jesus washes us clean from all our sin…
“God is light, pure light. There’s not a trace of darkness in Him.”
I John 1:5 The Message
Wishing you the joy of His presence in your days…
-Linda

Waiting in Hope

Posted on November 14, 2008April 29, 2017 by lindaskelton

All the leaves are gone now. The stark skeletons stand with arms outstretched bracing for winter. I like to think of them living in hope of the spring to come–much as we do on those days when our bodies give notice that they are subject to decay… Reminds me of those verses in Romans about all creation groaning waiting for God’s children to be revealed ‘and even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us.’

Mind you I can be a little melodramatic. An ache or pain here or there sets me thinking I must have cancer or some permanent disability. Then it passes. Oh. But when all is not well in my physical world it does give opportunity to reflect on our true home and the temporary-ness of this one. And that’s a sweet hope.

I noticed this sweet little tree as if for the first time now that it’s reduced to its skeleton. What a shapely beauty. There’s substance there beneath all the frill of foliage. May that be true of me too. Under the surface of appearances, may there be substance to weather the winter and burst out in beautiful foliage come ‘spring’ ( :

“For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever. So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over but the joys to come will last forever!”

Wow. That perspective just makes me smile inside. Hope it does the same for you!
–Linda

Romans 8:23; 2 Cor.4:17(NLT)