Rapture Watch

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods.

They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree

said, 'Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with

gold, silver and precious gems.

I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see

the beauty.'

Then the second tree said, 'Someday I will be a mighty ship.

I will take Kings and queens across the waters and sail to the

corners of the world.

Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.'

Finally the third tree said, 'I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest Tree in the forest.

People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens

and God and how close to them I am reaching.

I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always

remember me.'

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true,

a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to

the first tree he said,

'This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the

wood to a carpenter,

'and he began cutting it down.

The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would

make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree the woodsman said, 'This looks like a strong

tree.

I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.' The second tree was

happy Because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was

frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams

would not come true.

One of the woodsmen said, 'I don't need anything special from

my tree, I'll take this one,' and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into

a feed box for animals.

He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not

at all what he had prayed for.

The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat.

His dreams of being a mighty ship

and carrying kings had come to an end.

The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.

Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn.

She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the

feed box that was made from the first tree.

The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby,

but this manger would have to do.

The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew

that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from

the second tree.

One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out

on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it

was s trong enough to keep the men safe.

The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said 'Peace'

and the storm stopped.

At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings

in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree.

It was carried through the streets as the people mocked

the man who was carrying it.

When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree

and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill.

When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was

strong enough to stand at the top of the hill

and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus

had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be

going your way, always know

that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him,

God will give you great gifts.

Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way

they had imagined.

We don't always know what God's plans are for us.

We just know that His Ways are not our ways, but His

ways are always best.

Pass it on, so God may inspire more people on The Way.

May your day be blessed. And until we meet again, may

God cradle you in the palm of His hand.

Hi Linda. Thanks for sharing sister. Blessings