Acorns ….pride..

 Acorns….pride….

For several years before the end of my dad’s life, he propagated acorns…trying to replenish areas that once had a “forest” of oak trees…some he was successful with, others not so much…

So, anywhere I went that had oak trees and acorns, I would pocket a few acorns and send them to him…Ming tombs in China, the 911 memorial in New York City, pastures along the way….(the oak trees at the Ming tombs have leaves the size of a plate, so big and beautiful). Those acorns have grown into trees now, not needing fencing from the cattle which range there.   I wish my dad could see the fruit of his labors now and tell  the stories of each tree and where they came from…he would be so proud….(he was a story teller)…

In Daniel 4 , King Nebuchadnezzar tells of his dream of a tree…

 “I said, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. These are the visions I saw while lying in bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed. “In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven. He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.“‘

Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him. “‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’ “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. 

Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.” 

Your Majesty, you are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth. “Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’ 

“This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. 

Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.” 

All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” 

At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.His dominion is an eternal dominion;his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing.He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.No one can hold back his hand-or say to him: “What have you done?” 

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.”

Dan.4.9,Dan.4.10,Dan.4.11,Dan.4.12,Dan.4.13,Dan.4.14,Dan.4.15,Dan.4.16,Dan.4.17,Dan.4.18,Dan.4.22,Dan.4.23,Dan.4.24,Dan.4.25,Dan.4.26,Dan.4.27,Dan.4.28,Dan.4.30,Dan.4.34,Dan.4.35,Dan.4.37

Pride…. Exaggerated self-esteem, conceit…Merriam Webster…

Pride takes us down a road of “me” and what “I “ accomplished…leaving out the real creator and His control…we can look at all we have acquired, all the good things we have done, the “trees” we planted, but, they were only given as gifts from the One who controls all…

Thank YOU…

 In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

Ps.10.4

 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,but with humility comes wisdom.

Prov.11.2

 Pride goes before destruction,a haughty spirit before a fall..

Prov.16.18

 The eyes of the arrogant will be humbledand human pride brought low;the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. The arrogance of man will be brought lowand human pride humbled;the Lord alone will be exalted in that day,     and the idols will totally disappear.

Isa.2.11,Isa.2.17,Isa.2.18

Humble thy self…

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=humble+thyself+to+walk+with+god+hymn

The Story of the 9/11 Survivor Tree and What It Means