“Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.” Jeremiah 17:7-8

One more time I was reminded as my wife said, “did you see the avocado tree? Its leaves are turning brown at the ends!” The answer was ‘Yes, I saw.” I had just noticed it the day before myself. In fact… I am SICK of noticing. That stupid tree is nothing but a big disappointment to the both of us. I wish we didn’t even have it!

We are growers of weeds. I have written about this so many times it is now a joke. But my wife likes plants and flowers… so she buys, or receives them from others…we plant them… they get diseases, bugs or die. If they could, they would unite and flee from our yard. In fact, I wish they would. If a plant has any value at all, and if it had a mouth, it would be SCREAMING, “NO…. DON’T PLANT ME THERE!!!!!!” If they COULD talk, they could TELL me what they needed to thrive.

Lots of people have LOTS of advice for how to grow plants. UNLIMITED advice can be found on the internet… I know, I look. But I am convinced that the majority of advice is just personal opinion. Because when applied, it either doesn’t work or it makes the situation worse. The SAME problem can be applied to ME. But in my case… I CAN talk!

There are areas in my life that produce brown tipped leaves and no fruit. I have invented, sought and tried opinionated advice from others at times, only to find that it only made MY situation WORSE. Truth be told, I have ALSO found that when I am heeding opinions, it is because I have not planted my roots near the stream of Jesus Christ. But I also have to admit… sometimes I LIKE it that way!

I have had conversations with folks lately that have opened up my eyes and made me look at myself. Richard Bach wrote, “argue for your limitations, and sure enough they’re yours!” If I take the time to really look at the fruit of my life, there are areas that SCREAM out to God, “NO…. DON’T PLANT ME THERE!!!!!!” Unfortunately then… He doesn’t!

The Bible verse today spoke VOLUMES to me. I CAN get PLANTED beside His Stream… BY Him… but only AFTER I have placed my trust and confidence IN HIM. Would you not agree that the person required to make to first move toward fruit-bearing has to be ME? OUCH! There is that Free-will thing that keeps coming up! And to change, I have to speak up AND be willing to be moved! Or I can just stay planted where I am!