Words from a Branch

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34 ESV             Humans wisdom has its limitations. Even where wisdom might succeed it is frustrated by other aspects of human finitude. That is to say there must and shall come times when we say of necessity, “I do not know what else I might do.” Our unnatural nature of sin, which demands self-reliance as a point of pride, despises such admissions. It is easy to give ourselves over to endless anxiety, and fretting over situations trying to find some way of controlling the outcomes. It is easy to spend today trying to guess what tomorrow will bring in order to be ready for it.             Where wisdom fails faith takes over to give us peace and rest. In faith there is room for love and patience and gentleness which have no home in the...

The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God. Psalm 51:17 CSB             We are so good at preserving our pride, and vindicating ourselves by our own devices. We would penetrate to God’s Throne with craft, and technique, and with formula, and sheer force of will. We humble ourselves in posture, but only in posture. Have we forgotten who we are? Have we forgotten who He is?             Even on our best day how could we come before God in any attitude but humility? On our very best day how could not be broken in His holy presence? I tell you there is great mercy in calamity whether it is widespread or immediate. Affliction is often the medicine we need to treat our disease of pride. Oh what a disease it is that can taint our offerings beyond acceptance, and cause our prayers to be ignored. If the spirit enters unbr...

Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 5-7 ESV             As I write this it would be easy to lose heart. The outer self is greatly threatened by disease, and so the inner-self may also feel threatened. The looming presence has drawn quite near and people have reacted. The momentary affliction seems heavy and appears to stretch out beyond the moment. Even if we overcome the fear of death and of disease there are worries are other worries which assail us. We can be overwhelmed; our weakness can be exploited to drag us down to despair. Our hearts can become lost in the maze of concerns and uncertainties. What if we get sick? What we die? ...

Wisdom cries aloud in the street,   in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;   at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;   I will make my words known to you. Proverbs 1:20-23 ESV             Wisdom is readily available. To make this perfectly clear the writer personifies wisdom as a woman who is standing in the way. You would have to try to avoid her. Moreover, she is calling out to the passersby. To those who heed her call she will make them wise and able to recognize wisdom. This is like the promise of James 1:5, which instructs those of us who lack wisdom to pray for it, and promises that prayer will be answered with the granting of wisdom.    ...