Category: bible

Big strong tree

 
One of my early children’s song was inspired by a verse from Hosea 14 where God likens himself to a tree.
 

“Israel, have nothing to do with idols. I, the Lord, am the one who answers your prayers and watches over you. I am like a green pine tree; your blessings come from me.”

 

The original Hebrew word for “pine tree” is sometimes translated as fir tree, cypress tree or juniper. And the word “green” is variously translated as “evergreen”, “luxuriant”, “flourishing”, “growing”, “glorious”.

What a beautiful picture for God, who watches over us and makes our lives fruitful, if we put our trust in him.
 

 
BIG STRONG TREE
by Irene Bom (from Shepherd King Project)


 
Chorus:
Lord, You are like a big strong tree
And You help us live fruitfully
Lord, You are like a big strong tree
And You help us live for You.

1. You are like the dew
You make us all blossom like the lilies
You are like the dew

(Repeat chorus)

2. You are like the vine
We will grow if we live in You
You are like the vine

(Repeat chorus)

3. You are like the stream
You fill us up with life-giving water
You are like the stream

(Repeat chorus)
 

Thank you. For fruit-bearing trees


Apples ready for harvest  (Photo: Irene Bom)
 

Then God said, ‘Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.’ And it was so.

 

Thanksgiving Litany

For summer’s passing and harvest home —
we thank you!
For autumn’s splendor and winter’s chill —
we thank you!
For seed that has fallen, the promise of spring —
we thank you!

As a part of nature’s wondrous cycle
of new birth, growth, fruitfulness and death
we rejoice in the creation of new life.

May our lives blossom as the apple tree in Spring
May we become fruitful in thought and deed
And may the seed of love that falls to the ground
Linger beyond our time on this earth.

 
~ posted on Third Space blog (excerpt)
 

Like a tree

 

Blessed is the one
       who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
       or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
       and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
       which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
       whatever they do prospers.

 

From the blog
Flowers fall, but …
Lord of the dance
Bend down low
 

Walk the walk


Canal tour in Paris, while waiting at one of the sluice gates  (Photo: Irene Bom)

 

He has told you, mortals,
      what is good
      in His sight.
 
What else
      does the Eternal
      ask of you
but to live justly
and to love kindness
and to walk
      with your True God
      in all humility?
(Micah 6:8, VOICE)

 
 
 
Take time to meditate on this verse and consider how you might put it into practice in the particulars of your life and relationships, including your relationship with the one True God-with-you, who loves you and knows what is good and what is good for you.

No doubt, there will be things to confess and put right, as well as new prayer-inspired, prayer-supported initiatives as your move forward.
 

From the blog
First love
The last may be first
In the school of prayer with St Francis of Assisi
 

The promise of carefree play


I’m glad you are here

 

The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
      and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
They will neither harm nor destroy
      on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
      as the waters cover the sea.

 

 

From the blog
Wild animal praise
Tree of life
Little eyes
 

Sing a new song

 

– keep on singing –

 

Go ahead — sing your new song to the Lord! Let everyone in every language sing him a new song. Don’t stop! Keep on singing! Make his name famous! Tell everyone every day how wonderful he is. Give them the good news of our great Saviour. Take the message of his glory and miracles to every nation. Tell them about all the amazing things he has done.

 

Call to Worship

based on Psalm 149  (The Message)

Hallelujah!
Sing to God a brand-new song!
Praise God in the company of those who love Him!
Let God’s people celebrate their Sovereign Creator,
and praise His name with music and dance!
For God is here among us,
and He delights to hear our praise!

 
source: re:worship
 

Extra
Sing a New Song ~ by David Mathis
5 Ways to Teach a New Song ~ by Gary Durbin
Scripture-in-song as genre ~ by me
 

Song in the night

at night you give me a song as my prayer to you, the living Lord God. Psalm 42v8 CEV
at night you give me a song as my prayer to you, the living Lord God  (Psalm 42:8, CEV)
 

What songs have you received from God at night to sing as your prayer to him?

For further study and reflection

Article:
Singing Songs In The Night  (from bible.org)

Case study:
Acts 16:16-40  (Paul and Silas in prison)
 

From the blog
Singing creation’s song
Newness of life
Up to us
 

Tree of life


 
 

Recently I’ve been experimenting with frottage, often using the bark of a tree as my substratum, and posting results to my instagram account (@irene.bom).

Here I’ve used the technique to help illustrate Proverbs 15:4a (NLT): “Gentle words are a tree of life”.

My main inspiration for featuring this particular verse was a blog post entitled, “100 Healing Words for Every Harmful Syllable” by Scotty Smith.
 

Words of assurance

(inspired by Revelation 21:1-6)

Behold:
there is a new heaven,
    a new earth
        and a new city,
where the river of life flows,
where the tree of life bears fruit in every season.

This heaven,
    this city,
        this river,
            this tree
are a vision of your life
    reborn, restored, and renewed.
Thanks be to God!

 
source: re-worship.blogspot.com
 

Tip: Word study on “Tree of life”

Check out the bibleproject.org video on Tree of life. Also check out their many other materials to enrich your study of the Bible.
 

The First and Last

 

I wrote this song in 1999, but it really came into its own last year, more than 20 years later – sung in church as an encouragement to my congregation during lockdown, and accompanied on the ukelele at the bedside of someone who was dying. Now it’s my privilege to share a recording of this song with you, with my friend, Margriet, singing harmony.

 

THESE ARE THE WORDS
by Irene Bom

These are the words of the First and Last
The one who came, who died, who rose again
These are the words and the words are true
These are the words of Jesus to you.

I know, I know what you’re going through
I know, I know ’cause I’ve been there too
And be sure my love will carry you
all the way, all the way through.

These are the words of the First and Last
The one who came, who died, who rose again
These are the words and the words are true
These are the words of Jesus to you.

Fear not, fear not, there’s no need to fear
Fear not, fear not because I am here
And be sure My love will keep you strong
every day, all the day long.
 
—

Vocals: Irene Bom and Margriet van Overbeeke

Inspiration

This song is inspired by Jesus’ words to the church in Smyrna, as recorded in Revelation 2:8-10.

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know … Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. … Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

 

First love


‘You yourself know what you need’  (Photo: Irene Bom)

 
In his letter to the church in Ephesus, Jesus said:

“I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.”

Revelation 2:3-4 (ESV)

 
Here is a prayer written by Scotty Smith that helps us prayerfully consider if and how Jesus’ words might apply to us.
 

A Prayer for Keeping Our First Love First

Dear Lord Jesus,

Even as we first needed grace to respond to your love (Eph. 2:8-10), so we need grace to stay alive to your love, and to grow even deeper in our affection for you. Your love for us is the one constant in our lives—for you love us with everlasting, unwavering, unabated affection. Everything else changes—everything else is subject to whim and fancy. But, unfortunately, our love for you does ebb and flow.

Jesus, give us fresh grace to love you with an undying love. May the cooling of our affections for you bother us more than the fragile economy, our broken relationships, political upheaval in the world, concerns about our health, getting older, or anything else. Jesus, don’t let us get used to status quo, middle-class, business-as-usual love for you.

If, by the Holy Spirit, we hear you saying to us this morning, “I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first” (Rev. 2:4), may we welcome it as a great gift, and respond with humility, gratitude and repentance.

For it means you are pursuing us, and that you delight in us; it means your banner over us is love and your jealousy is current. That you are jealous for our love, Lord Jesus, is the greatest compliment you could possibly pay us. So very Amen we pray, in your glorious and grace-full name.

 
~ written by Scotty Smith, posted on thegospelcoalition.org (excerpt)
 

 
From the blog
Seed
In the school of prayer with Ignatius of Loyola
Forget not