Artwork by @annie.adsit

Trees are more complex than we can imagine, declaring the everyday, glory of God. And in the Bible, they also tell the story of God.

First, fruit trees (Genesis 2:4-9). In the beginning, God planted a garden full of the tastiest, most abundant trees ever. And then people were made, placed in this garden to tend to and enjoy these amazing trees. God created us to enjoy the literal fruits of our labor.

But then a second tree enters the story—the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17). “Don’t eat of that tree!” God warned. But the enemy convinced the first humans that God wasn’t protecting them, but withholding. They saw the fruit and it looked good, perhaps tastier than the others around them. They disobeyed and brought down a curse upon themselves. But God rescued Adam and Eve from eating of the tree of life, which would’ve cursed them forever!

God didn’t abandon humans. He kept showing up in special places like the Oaks of Mamre (Genesis 18:1). Clusters of trees in the ancient world were often used as natural temples to idols. Abraham spent some time at one of these clusters, and met the true God! God promised him that one of his descendants would bless the whole world and make all things right, even for those who made mistakes.

The promised son of Abraham, the Son of God, shows up. He finds Zacchaeus, a sleazy and rejected tax collector who took advantage of his own people to make himself rich, watching him from a tree (Luke 19:4). But after meeting Jesus, he becomes a completely different kind of person, returning what he’s stolen with interest.

Jesus didn’t stop at rescuing Zacchaeus. He allowed himself to be hung on a tree to rescue the whole world from sin and death (Acts 5:30). He took on the tree-curse (Galatians 3:13) to undo the bad decisions of our ancestors in the original garden.

And, it gets better. In the final book of the Bible, humans are invited to eat of the Tree of life—the one from the beginning of the story that God had to protect them from (Revelation 22:1-2)! But now, instead of eating from it and being cursed forever, we can eat of it and find true, abundant life with God (Revelation 2:7).

Many of us want to change the world. We want to make an impact in global issues like modern-day slavery, poverty, and environmental pressures. But then we run into the size of the issues— entire states ravaged by a hurricane, the realization that most of the things we buy are made by sweat-shop labor—and we feel small and insignificant. Sometimes, their magnitude can lead us to give up altogether.

But we can impact big issues by small and consistent actions. For example: buying is voting. Every scan of an item is a vote for the types of items we’re looking for. If we consistently make ethical purchases, even big chains will begin offering more of those products and less of the others.

Or, what about the loneliness epidemic? We can’t fix it for everyone, everywhere, but we could be a friend to someone, somewhere, today. Perhaps the goal shouldn’t be “to change the world, but to make it our daily goal to change someone’s world” (Daniel Ryan Day, Ten Days Without).

If you want to make a difference, but don’t know where to start, here’s a scripture and a prayer to consider. 

𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’” (Matthew 25:34-36).

𝐀 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬
Ruler of the Universe, you’re big enough to handle global issues, and you invite me to join you in making all things right. Jesus, you initiated your kingdom, and then called your followers to continue the work on earth as it is in heaven. But as I think about how big these issues are, I’m overwhelmed and feel like I can’t make a difference. Help me trust you to draw my attention to the needs and people you’d have me care for today. And may my small, seemingly insignificant, acts of justice be multiplied by you in bringing your kingdom to earth. Amen.

#prayer #reclaimtoday

Contributed by @ymi_today
 
[ᴇᴅɪᴛᴏʀ’ꜱ ɴᴏᴛᴇ: 𝘖𝘰𝘱𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘦 6. 𝘐𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 Luke 12:32 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥.]
 
🙅‍♂️ When you’ve received countless rejections from the jobs you’ve applied and your confidence is completely shattered—what would trusting and obeying God look like?
 
Article written by Michele Ong.
 
#artistfeature #christiancreative #christianliving #encouragement #reclaimtoday #verse #bibleverse #verseoftheday #bible

“I looked a lot like a model ‘good’ Christian while fearing deep down that I wasn’t “there” yet. I was terrified that my faith wasn’t good enough.”
 
Move from fear-based faith into the freedom and relief God offers. Link for full article in bio!

Contributed by @anthonygurrola
 
Beloved, your worship to God is not limited to where you can “feel” it.
 
In fact, some of the greatest worship we will ever produce will come from a place of choice rather than emotion.
 
It will require obedience over ambiance.
 
Because God is on the mountain top.
 
He is at the height of Youth Camp.
 
He is in the spontaneous worship service.
 
He is in the mega church.
 
He is in the good business and bank account.
 
He is also to be found in the valley you deem a setback.
 
He is also back home in what we call the real world.
 
He is in the day to day. Because in every day to day, there is glory to glory.
 
He is in the hidden chapel the world calls irrelevant, but Yahweh calls faithful.
 
Beloved, if you want to find God,
 
Search for His dwelling place.
 
And if you can’t find His dwelling place,
 
Look no further than the mirror you’re afraid to face.
 
You are the temple of the most high.
 
You are seated in heavenly places.
 
You are His dwelling place.
 
Therefore, where you are is where you can worship.
 
Because it’s not about mountains and valleys and church buildings and homesteads,
 
It’s about spirit and truth.
 
And the spirit is not limited to one location.
 
For He has always hovered over the earth,
 
And the truth is not limited to one style.
 
For it has always set us free.
 
And who the son sets free is free indeed.
 
Free to shout on the mountain,
 
And pour out in the valley.
 
Free to dance in good health, and take joy during the pain.
 
Free to sing a song of hope with your church,
 
And free to do the chores of your house unto His glory.
 
Yahweh knows no bounds.
 
Neither should our worship.
 
If He is the fixation, we don’t have to worry about our location.
 
For where you stand is Holy ground.
 
And where you worship, is where He is found.
 
#artistfeature #christiancreative #christianliving #encouragement #reclaimtoday #verse #bibleverse #verseoftheday #bible

Not everyone will understand the decisions you make.

But if you take your biggest dreams and passions and place them in the hands of the One who gave them to you in the first place, it’s safe to go where he leads you. Praying for what direction to take in life can be affirming and powerful!

As you reflect on a passion or calling you feel like God’s placed on your heart, practice setting it in his hands by praying with us.

𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞
“…We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God…” (Colossians 1:9b-10).

𝐀 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞
Dream Giver, you inspire our hearts with passion, and invite us to join you in redeeming the world through our various vocations. Gift-giver, you equip us with the skills we need to do your will, and you walk with us when tasks are beyond our abilities. Give me courage to embrace your direction for my life. Give me wisdom to seek the advice of others, and discernment to know when their advice is true. And when necessary, help me step out in confidence, knowing that you are guiding me and with me always. Amen.

Contributed by @daniel_neuman
 
No matter how far you stray, Jesus is the shepherd who never stops searching for His lost sheep.
 
#artistfeature #christiancreative #christianliving #encouragement #reclaimtoday #verse #bibleverse #verseoftheday #bible

Rates of domestic violence have continued to increase over the last four years. Christians can help combat this rise by knowing how to identify and appropriately respond to domestic violence. Orsika’s story of survival and hope can help others in or around similar cycles of abuse spot the signs and begin to seek help. 
 
Full article link in bio.