I didn't plan to have 5 parts to PINE, but I was delighted when I realized it was going to take "Five Pines" because my very dear friend grew up on a farm in Iowa that they call Five Pines, and I have a set of "Five Pines" Christmas plates that I got marked way down to almost nothing last year after Christmas, which remind me of my friends every time I see them. So, how perfect that PINE has FIVE parts. Here's PINE, Part 5, before we move on to PINECONE!
All the reasons I gave for PINE being meaningful to me, so much that I made it my life motto (I had never really had a life motto before PINE, and I'd always wanted one) I hope you have heard in PINE, parts 1-4, and now in part 5, I will add some reasons I love PINE, that have nothing to do with PINE as an acronym, or a verb, but PINE as a tree.
It is here that I must tell you that I love trees! When I was a little girl in kindergarten, our class learned hand motions to a song called The Tree Song, written by Ken Medema, and I listened to The Tree Song over and over, as I had a record called "A Little Song of Joy for my Little Friends" recorded by Evie Karlsson, which featured The Tree Song. It is still one of my favorite songs, and I sing it often. I would sing it for you now if there was no copyright, or if I had permission. You'll have to look it up later if you'd like to hear it.
The Tree Song planted in me the idea that I am like a tree. I have always loved that idea, so when PINE became meaningful enough to me to become my life motto, the fact that PINE is not only a wonderful acronym and verb, but a beautiful tree, was just almost too good to be true!
The Tree Song had a companion for me, and that was (and is) Psalm 1. If you haven't memorized Psalm 1 yet, you really should. It's only 6 verses, and the promises are so rich!
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
It is good to remember the warnings, too, but my focus is always on the promises! When you choose the promises of GOD and make them your heart's home, the warnings take care of themselves. It is such a blessed life!
I said all that to say, I am happy that PINE is a tree, because it brings in all the truth of The Tree Song and Psalm 1 and every other promise about trees!
Furthermore, PINE is the state tree of Arkansas, my place of birth, and my home state. Arkansas is the 25th state admitted to the Union, so I like to think of our state tree as a Christmas PINE, since Christmas Day is the 25th, and Arkansas is the 25th, and a PINE makes a lovely Christmas tree!
Pine trees are evergreen trees. Evergreen trees remind me of Isaiah 9:6-7,
"For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this."
Isaiah 9:6-7 remind me of the day I met my husband, just 5 days before I flew from Dallas to Toronto to Tel Aviv, to live in Jerusalem, Israel for 10 months. I met Mark on 9.6.97, which to me, is Isaiah 9:6-7.
To wrap it all up, PINE is Pour IN Everything, which comes from the story of the "pour" widow in Mark 12, the woman who poured perfume on Jesus before His burial, in Mark 14, PINE, as longing, for the Kingdom of GOD, PINE: pour in everything, beginning with water, and to pour in everything, for the temple, the Body of Christ, the Kingdom of GOD! PINE is where I have been planted, Arkansas, the 25th state, like Christmas Day, a PINE tree, like a Christmas tree, and like Psalm 1!
Have you ever thought about what your life motto might be? Keep listening, because coming soon I will share why my life motto has grown from PINE to PINECONE. Everything I have shared with you about PINE is part of PINECONE, PINECONE just adds even more! I can't wait to tell you!
