The fear of man bringeth a snare: But whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. Proverbs 29:25 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/pro.29.25.KJV

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I thought this would be fun to share. It reminded me of when I was learning to write poetry in school. I hope you enjoy the video. Click on the link above to watch.

I just finished day 1 of the @YouVersion plan ‘Real Hope: Overcoming Stress and Anxiety’. Check it out here: http://bible.com/r/5a0

Day 1. Devotional: Rainbow After the Storm:

Scripture Verse: Isaiah 41:10-*Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy *God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my *righteousness.

Scripture Verse: Deuteronomy 7:9-Know therefore that the LORD thy God , he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations.

DAY 2. DEVOTIONAL: A Place of Peace

Scripture Verses: John 6: 5-9 – When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

V.6.- And this he said to *prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

V.7.- Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

V.8.- One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him,

V.9.- There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

Day 3. Devotional : Magnify the Lord

Scripture Verse: Psalm 103:1- Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Scripture Verse: Philippians 4:4-6-Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

V.5.- Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

V.6.- Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Scripture Verse: Colossians 2:7- Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Day 4. Devotional: Our Stronghold

Scripture Verse: Psalm 27:1- The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Day 5. Devotional: Learning from Stress and Anxiety

Scripture Verse: Psalm 121:1-2- I lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

V.2.- My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

I have enjoyed sharing this Bible Study with you all. I hope you will visit You Version by clicking on the link above. I pray God will speak to you through His amazing Word. God bless us all.©2022 F.f.t.S.

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 1 Peter 5:10 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/1pe.5.10.KJV

Growing up we have always been around trees but we didn’t exactly know the names of them, or what kind of fruit grew from them. We have made swings from their branches, climbed them, turned them into tree houses, and the birds and other creatures have made them their homes, but we never think about this: They All Started Out As Saplings just like us. Everything starts out as a seed being planted in fertile soil.

We know that that’s the beginning of life; it’s where roots take place. When we look at the trees around us, we know that they have been around for a very long time by the height of it, or by counting the annual rings on the stump if it has been cut down.

Trees are very resourceful. We use them to build furniture, houses, decks, to make pencils and paper, toys, and lots of other things that we use everyday. Fruit trees produce the fruit that’s ingrafted in their DNA. Peach trees produces peaches.

Pear trees produce pears. There are so many different varieties of pears. I remember the pear tree that was in my grandparents front yard. They grew so big, round, and full of juice. They were so good.

Plum trees were plentiful in the country where I grew up. We had one on on our bank outside of our fence. They were so sweet, especially the yellow ones. The green ones were sour and good, the red ones were tart and sweet. My grandma made jellies and jams out of them. This memory takes me back to my childhood days of Summer fun. I never had to want for fruits, they were plentiful. See, growing up in the country with everything around me was a blessing. It taught me how to stay humble and to appreciate the things that I had. I am still that way.

Persimmons are fruits that grows on a tree. They are orange with black seeds, and no bigger than a nickel. They are sweet and juicy. There were a tree in my yard where I lived in 2014. When they were green I didn’t recognize them. I picked one and placed it in the sun to see what color it would turn, and low and behold it turned orange. I had fruit for years. I was so happy. I wish I could have taken the tree with me when we moved, but it was rooted and grounded in the earth.

Getting to know the trees around me was fun. I learned about different types of trees that were in my yard, and I am still learning about the trees that’s around me now. There is a big Pecan tree right beside my house in my back yard, but it doesn’t produce good pecans; they’re wormy and small. It is good for shade and a home for the little bird families, squirrels, and raccoons. Sometimes I may see a little green lizard playing on a low branch.

What kind of trees do you have living around you in your yard, or just in the neighborhood where you live? Trees are beautiful. I love looking at them wondering about all of the things they have withstood for many years. I especially love seeing their leaves change in Autumn before Fall comes and blow them away. I believe that every tree has a special story to tell, but we just have to stop and take a good look at it to find the story in it.

I am thankful to have trees around me to enjoy, and to feel the breeze they share when they wave their branches. I am thankful for the shade they provide to sit underneath on a warm day to stay cool. How are you thankful for the trees and what they provide?

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section. As always, stay safe, stay blessed, and thank you for joining me on my journey with Food for the Soul.