WHERE THE LEAVES DANCE

A soft breeze, a gentle sigh,

I’ll be where the leaves dance.

I’ll look up through at skies of blue

and fall within a trance.

In relaxed state, I’ll contemplate

and hear the wood thrush echoing.

His gorgeous tune releases me,

a distant place is beckoning.

How could God make these woods so fine?

All worries are asunder.

I’ll close my eyes and take it in,

this quiet place of wonder.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27

WHERE THE LEAVES DANCE

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

John 14:1-2

As I sit back and look up through the tree branches, I remember the words of Jesus and that He is preparing a place for us. Today. That is one of the things the Son of God is doing right now. How cool is that, my fellow believing forest dweller?

Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.

John 14:10

How amazing that Jesus revealed to the people around Him and to us great truths from Heaven on high! Creator God dwells in His Son. Being born of the virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was born perfect and sinless. There is no sin in God. There is no sin in Jesus. The Son's words are God's words and, we can say, vice versa.

And the Holy Spirit dwells within the believer. Another marvel! His Holy Spirit works with the believer's spirit, reshaping, re-aligning, renewing, and restoring.

Now, let's look at scripture back in the days of the prophet Ezekiel when he was made a watchman for his countrymen, and how it relates to this year's study of the word repent.

So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me.

Ezekiel 33:7

Ezekiel, or son of man, did his job and told his fellowmen that God was giving words of warning. Did you know that God warns? May you hear His warning as clear as you hear the birds sing. Creator God warns. I think we had better listen to His warning.

The beginning of Ezekiel chapter 33 features a trumpet announcing a sword coming against the land to take lives. The results of those who heed God's warning will live but those who will not heed the warning will perish. Here are the words of God:

When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you shall surely die!' and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. Therefore you, O son of man, say to the house of Israel: 'Thus you say, "If our transgressions and our sins lie upon us, and we pine away in them, how can we then live?" Say to them: 'As I live, says the Lord God, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'

Ezekiel 33:8-11

Turn! Turn from evil ways. The call to repentance is as clear as a blaring trumpet. There are additional verses in the 33rd chapter of Ezekiel and I encourage you to read them.

As I stroll about Veery Glade, I'm reminded that the way of the Lord is just. Heed the warning from God that to be where He is is to be redeemed by His atoning work, relying on His righteousness and not our own righteousness. To be where the leaves dance is to be covered by the blood of His compassionate Son, the Messiah, the anointed, the Christ, the merciful Lamb of God who bore our sins on the cross. Then rose again. He, the Redeemer, lives! He, this very day, is preparing a place for those who put their trust in Him.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

John 1:29

And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:40

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

Quiet yourself and let not your heart be troubled because you heard the wood thrush sing the song that moved you to repent.