In so many places around Addis, the capital city of
Ethiopia where I live and work, are palm trees. They line the streets and back
alleyways. And they tower over things, slender and graceful, almost regal.
Recently I read a passage in the Bible that talked about being like a palm tree- and that brought them into focus even more…
My I grow upright in my God, my eyes and heart fixed on Him always…
B ut the palm trees weren’t breaking. And they were still
standing after.
B UT… I’M NOT
LIKE A PALM TREE…
Recently I read a passage in the Bible that talked about being like a palm tree- and that brought them into focus even more…
Psalm 92:12-15
The righteous will
flourish like a palm tree ….planted in the house of the Lord, they will
flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they
will stay fresh and green, proclaiming,
“The Lord is upright, He is my Rock … “
Having recently passed another birthday and still wanting
to “bear fruit” as time continues to go by, I researched a bit more on palm
trees… and their characteristics… and God challenged me in that with some
questions back about my own life …
PALM TREES GROW
UPRIGHT… they always seem to be facing up.
Is my focus always “up,” on God? Is my perspective for my
day and my life gained by looking at Him first and most? Or is my focus quickly
diverted from God to other things? There is ONLY ONE who can tell me which way
to go and fulfill the deepest longings of my soul. Am I steady in a position of worship and
praise and trust in His direction? 
My I grow upright in my God, my eyes and heart fixed on Him always…
Romans 12:1-2
…let us throw off
everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run
with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the
author and perfecter of our faith…
2 Corinthians
4:18
We fix our eyes not
on what is seen, but what is unseen… for what is seen is temporary, but what is
unseen is eternal.
Colossians 3:1-2
Set your hearts on
things above, where Christ is seated…Set your minds on things above, not on
earthly things…
PALM TREES ARE
GREEN IN ALL SEASONS AND ARE NOT AFFECTED BY DROUGHT
Am I? Am I nourished enough and rooted into God enough-
that no matter what circumstances come- I show a freshness, an energy, a hope,
a joy- fruit that comes from being in Jesus?
Or do I look stale and dying, withered by drought and
fatigue? In times of drought- maybe in times of extreme loneliness or long
periods of closed doors – does my faith falter? Or do I stay green and healthy,
able to flourish even in desert times, like a palm tree?
Am I giving a fresh word to people from God? Or is it a
thing of the past?
Is there a spring in my step, a song in my heart? Am I
discouraged about getting older, or do I actually feel younger, more spiritually
fit than ever before? Is inner beauty growing? It can. If I’m rooted in God,
allowing Him to pour Himself into me- to water my soul and satisfy my thirst- I
can share that with others.
May I be green in ALL seasons and not affected by drought
…
Isaiah 58:11
…The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs
in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a
well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
John 15:1-5
I am the true vine,
and my Father is the gardener… remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch
can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. If you remain in me, you
will bear much fruit…
Philippians
4:11-13; 19
I have learned to
be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I
know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in
any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty
or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. … God will
meet all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.
PALM TREES ARE
KNOWN TO BEND, but NOT BREAK
I was trying to watch the news and see video, pictures,
of the recent hurricane that hit Haiti as it was happening. Several videos I
viewed showed palm trees literally seeming to bend in half at the force of the
winds. 
When wind comes or storms in life, does my faith break,
my confidence in God?
When I’m stressed or overwhelmed, do I give up or press
on, hold on, rooted deep?
Sometimes I feel like I could break because there is too
much to do. Other times, I feel broken because of myself- mistakes I’ve made.
Other times, I’ve felt broken by others or just because of life’s circumstances.
But God can help us withstand anything or anyone we face. We may bend, but God can help us not to
break.
2 Corinthians 4:
7-9
… we are hard
pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
Matthew 7:24-25
Everyone who hears
these words of mind and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built
his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew
and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation
on the rock.
PALM TREES SHOW
PROOF OF A WATER SOURCE
If we’re truly grounded in God, our lives should show
proof of a living water source. Do people see Jesus in me … that He is flowing
in me and working in me? Or do they see someone whose source is self or culture?
May my life point people to the only source of living
water!
Psalm 1
Blessed is the one
whose delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law He meditates day and
night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in
season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
John 4
Everyone who drinks
the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will
become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. …
But the good news for us all is that doesn’t have to be
the end of the story for me or you. God is always calling us to return. He’s
willing and able to uproot us from where we need uprooted from and replant us
in Him. We just need to call on Him…repent, and allow Him to begin to renew and
restore us… and grow us into beautiful palm trees. He is able!
Joel 2:12-13
Even now, return to
me with all your heart…rend your heart, return to the Lord your God, for He is
gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love…
Jeremiah 30-31
I am with you and I
will save you… I will restore you to health…I will build you up again… they
will come and shout for joy…they will be like a well-watered garden, and they
will sorrow no more… there is a hope for your future…
Isaiah 40
He gives strength
to the weary and increases the power of the weak. … those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength. They will soar… they will run and not grow weary;
they will walk and not be faint.
2 Chronicles
7:14
If my people, who
are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and
turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive
their sin and will heal their land.
It’s interesting in Scripture that most of the people
used in great ways by God first passed through the desert, a time when they
didn’t feel like a palm tree. When brokenness, disaster, fatigue, loss of
focus, sin, self… was the dominant characteristic of that person’s life.
But in humility and repentance, renewal and beauty came.
God grew palm trees of these lives and examples that we can all learn from.
May our lives also tell a unique and beautiful palm tree
story!
Onward!
Prayer Requests…
-I can’t believe its early November. This fall season is
speeding by. I have 260 students this semester between the two schools. Please
pray that I have good creativity, good stamina and good time management- but
mostly that I can stay planted in God, nourished and green and healthy in Him,
maximizing all opportunities in and out of the classroom to share about Him.
-Ethiopia continues to be under a “state of emergency”
with social media still largely blocked. Things seem much more peaceful than
they were even just a month ago. But please pray for the leadership of the
country and good governance and peace to prevail for this beautiful people and
land.
-Please pray for the USA and our presidential election
this coming week. We’re praying here and the world is watching.
-Please keep my Mom, Dad and sister in prayer. I praise
God they have this time together. Please pray good health for them. Pray for my
sister that as she works at our home church in missions, that her heart will
stay encouraged. I’m so honored to have
this family of mine!!!
-Please keep my students and staff teams here in prayer.
Also, our ETC staff- as we’ve moved forward with a building project- that God
will bring in the funds needed to finish the new building so we can continue to
equip churches. This past week, we
traveled to the building project and stood on the foundation, literally in the
walls, and prayed a miracle of funding and blessing on the land. I’m so honored to be part of this team of incredibly
humble servants of God!
I do plan to come home at Christmas/New Years for a few
weeks. I will need to fundraise before then for my ticket home and for supplies
to be bought there for my return. Also, I will need to find more monthly
supporters. If God leads you to give one time or to join my monthly support
team, please let me know and I can give more information. For those of you currently giving monthly,
thank you so much. For those who have given one time, thank you so much. I’m
grateful to you all and wouldn’t be here without your support and prayers!
God bless you this month of November. Thanksgiving is
soon, I hope to post another blog again before then.
Much love from Addis,
Holly