And He Said He Would.

And He Said He Would.

Psalm 128:1-6NKJV

The most-sacred symbol in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a tree: a sprawling, shade-bearing—an old American Elm. Tourists drive from miles around to see her. People pose for pictures beneath her. Arborists carefully protect her. She adorns posters and letterhead. Other trees grow larger, fuller—even greener. But not one is equally cherished. The city treasures the tree not because of her appearance, but her endurance.

She endured the Oklahoma City bombing. Before the bombing, the tree was important because it provided the only shade in the downtown parking lot. People would arrive early to work just to be able to park under the shade of the tree’s branches.

Timothy McVeigh parked his death-laden truck only yards from her. His malice killed 168 people, wounded 850, destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, and buried the tree in rubble. No one expected it to survive. No one, in fact, gave any thought to the dusty, branch-stripped tree.

But then she began to bud. Sprouts pressed through damaged bark; green leaves pushed away gray soot. Life resurrected from an acre of death. People noticed. The tree modeled the resilience the victims desired. So they gave the elm a name: the Survivor Tree.

Cuttings of the Survivor Tree are growing in nurseries all over Oklahoma. Owners of landscape nurseries, arborists, urban foresters and expert horticulturists from across the state and country have come together to work and preserve this piece of history.

None of these people have ever charged the Memorial for their work. Each year, the facilities and grounds crew at the Memorial provides Bays, and the nursery men hundreds of seeds. They plant the seeds and distribute the resulting saplings each year on the anniversary of the bombing. Today, thousands of Survivor Trees are growing in public and private places all over the United States.

It has a lasting legacy in its off-spring.

According to God’s word, you have a lasting legacy, that will go into multiple generations.

Before I read Psalm 128, Let me point out that, Zechariah 8:1–8, has many similarities to today’s text.

This psalm is titled A Song of Ascents. It is another of the 15 songs sung by travelers on their way to Jerusalem, usually for one of the three yearly feasts—Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. Like Psalm 127, it has a focus on God’s work in and through the family.

Psalm 128:1-6NKJV Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, Who walks in His ways. 2 When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. 3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine In the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants all around your table. 4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord. 5 The Lord bless you out of Zion, And may you see the good of Jerusalem All the days of your life. 6 Yes, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!

G. Campbell Morgan Pastor of Westminster Chapel in London from 1904 to 1919,“It is of real significance that these songs of home and of true civic consciousness are found among those which are sung on the way that leads to worship. It is ever good to carry into the place of our communion with God the interests of home and city. It is only by doing so that we can influence these for their lasting good.”

If you don’t hear anything I say today, hear this: If you walk in the fear of God and follow His leadership, you will be immensely blessed. Your wife will walk in favor, she will be known among God’s people, and your children will live in a well cultivated land. They will be fruitful. P.H

Psalm 128:1TPT How joyous are those who love the Lord and bow low before God, ready to obey him!

Fearing and loving the Lord is all about devotion. A devotion that leaves the normal and seeks for the exceptional.

At the beginning of the year I ask you to tell me about your assignment. Your assignment is what you seek, love and go after. P.H

My assignment includes you: I am to walk before my God, To fellowship with Him in many ways—through His word and daily devotion. I am to sit silent before God and listen. I am to read and finish 10 new books this year. I am to lead by example. To walk with reverential fear, I am to walk knowing who and whose I am.

Again verse 1 teaches, those who are joyous love the Lord, this is an ongoing joy, not based on circumstances, but based upon ‘ones’ love and devotion to their Lord.

Love and devotion, produces humility. Humility becomes a lifestyle. An ongoing lifestyle mass- manufacturing spiritual fruit and gifts.