Dear FaithLine Partner,

Sometimes our lives get so very full that we feel like we “just can’t make it”. Today, I want to speak to you about such times.

Sister Renee and I love the Giant Redwood Trees in Northern California. We love to travel Highway #1 down, and then back up the Coast in the area where they grow. We always take a couple of days to make the trip. We stop at every grove, and get out to walk among these wonderful creations of our maker. If you have been there, then you know how being among these huge trees is like being in a very large church. You can, in the beauty and silence, feel the presence of God.

We stop at every roadside attraction along the way. We want to prolong the trip, and enjoy it all.

Sitting there among those magnificent giants, you can feel the Holy Spirit. There is a silence there that I have not found anywhere else on earth.

Now, Dear One, those trees do not appear in those wonderful groves full grown. They undergo trials that are similar to our own trials in this Christian walk that we share.

Even though Redwood Trees are the largest and tallest trees in the world, they produce very small seeds.

Our Christian faith is the same. It begins as a small seed of faith that must be nurtured to grow into its full potential.

Northern California is known for its weather. Huge storms come in off of the Pacific Ocean with high winds and heavy rains. It is a miracle that these small seeds are able to survive the pounding of these storms.

Our lives, too, are dotted with stormy weather. Storms that threaten to destroy our seed of faith.

These storms take many forms. The winds of darkness attack our health, our finances, our relationships. No area of our lives is immune from the effects of these storms. They will be with us until we reach Glory.

To be safe during these times we must pray for additional faith. We must be well rooted in the Word of God, or our small seed of faith will be blown away by the wind.

The forest where the Redwood Tree grows is damp most of the time. This dampness creates the perfect environment for beautiful ferns, and other plants that share the forest with the beautiful trees.

We always visit “our big trees” during the Summer. So, the dampness is a welcome relief to the Summer heat.

Here is the problem. This wonderful cool dampness, that is so essential to the plants of the region, causes to small seeds of the Redwood to stick to the moist earth. Mold begins to grow on their surface. The tiny seeds must remain in one spot to take root, but the immobility and dampness is ideal for the growth of mold.

Mold also comes from God. God made everything that there is, was, and ever will be. At first glance, we can not see why God would create mold, but He did. Of course He did.

Mold helps to break down those things that are no longer living, and of any use. Bacteria, molds, yeasts, and fungi break dead things down, and return them to the earth. God knew exactly what He was doing.

It is an interesting fact that all of these useful creations of destruction are killed by sunlight!

When our faith goes unused, it also begins to breakdown. It begins to decay just like the refuse in the forest. It is attacked just like the immobile Redwood seed.

Far too many Christians are self-satisfied in their faith. “I am saved, and that is good enough for me. Now, I have to go on about living my life.” Their prayer life is small, or completely non-existent. They attend church when it is convenient, or not at all. Financially, they give God what is left over.

Soon, the spiritual mold of darkness attacks their faith, and begins to break it down. Christians must be on guard for this spiritual mold in their lives every day.

To combat the decay we need to rekindle our fire, and bask in the light of Jesus Christ with praise.

Dear One, this is why daily prayer is so very important. Prayer filled with praise should be practiced every day. This brings the Sonlight into your life, and the mold of spiritual darkness withers and dies.

Also, we should testify to others about our salvation. When you build a fire in another, your own fire grows in intensity.

In my own life I never feel quite so at peace , and on fire for God, as when I preach, teach, or write these letters to you. The Holy Spirit is shining right here — right now.

Those little Redwood seeds are something else. Even though they are attacked by storms and mold, they survive. Not all of them survive, but enough of them do to build the forest that puts us all in awe when we experience it. We know in our hearts that God made this wonder, and Jesus is right there with us.

These Redwood seeds must experience more hardships to survive. How about those times when rain is scarce? Their tiny first roots are microscopic. They can not penetrate the surface of a dry and hard packed earth. Many of them die during these times of draught.

It is the same with our faith. Sometimes, God ordains that we undergo testing. During these times, God does not seem to hear our prayer. He does hear, of course, but it doesn’t seem like it.

These are dangerous times for us. We are so very carnal by nature! Our faith must have deep strong roots to survive. Without deep roots, our faith will wither and die.

“I have strong faith, Brother Jacob. I really don’t know what you are talking about.”

Maybe that is true. I will believe you. But, most of us waiver when the wind blows, and the dry spells attack our lives. It takes courage to hang on when everything looks hopeless.

I receive letters that tell me of such times. “Brother Jacob, I have lost my job, due to illness, and now my mate is leaving me over a lack of finances. God just doesn’t seem to hear my prayers. Why doesn’t God hear my prayers?”

These “dry spells” in our lives (I say it again.) require deep—deep roots. Roots that are deep enough to reach the water of the Holy Spirit. That water that will cause you to never thirst again. That wonderful Holy Spirit that dwells within you that can allow you to know that everything is in God’s hands. God is in control, and God loves you. To allow you to know, and to tell others, that God is good — all of the time. To proclaim to all who will listen: Everything is going to be all right!

Many Redwood seeds perish along the way. Straight is the gate and narrow is the way….. Only those seeds that are strong will make it. Only those Christians who are strong in their faith, and have deep roots in the Word of God will make it.

Storms, mold and dry spells all will used by Satan to attack you. Never doubt it for a minute! Satan never sleeps, God never stops testing our faith, and —– after all —– we are only human.

This is why we must pray, praise, and spend time in the Word every day. Putting down deep roots in Christ. Then, when the storms, mold and dry spells come, the storms will be quieted by Jesus, the mold will be killed by the Light, and the precious water of the Holy Spirit will quench our thirst.

The Redwood seeds have other hazards to contend with. Birds find them to be a tasty treat. They eat them, and their life is digested away.

In the Word of God birds are often used to depict dark spirits. Satan certainly sends many a demon to eat our seeds of faith.

Some churches today ignore this basic fact: We live in two worlds. We live in a physical world, and we live in a spiritual world. Spirits (both spirits from God, and spirits from the Devil) are all around us.

The Devil sends the spirit of worry to some. To others, he sends the spirit of fear. To still others, he sends the spirit of alcohol or drugs.

The basic fact of this is this: Satan uses what works on the individual. If you are easily tempted to fall into lust —– he will send those temptations into your life.

If your weakness is greed, he will send a spirit of greed to tempt you away from God.

If you look with your spiritual eyes (The eyes of the Holy Spirit that dwells within you.) you will recognize the demons that Satan has sent into your life. If your roots are shallow, you will not discern them. You may even believe that God is punishing you.

Dear One, God loves you. He does not want to punish you. God looks at you through the Blood of Jesus Christ. The price for your sin has been paid in full. But —— listen now —— you must exercise the spiritual power that God has given you.

Pray, attend church, read the Word, and (above all) follow the Holy Spirit in all that you do.

In the end the Redwood seed has such deep roots that it can hold a 300 foot tree firm into the surface of the earth during a storm of any force. Your deep faith in the work of Christ will cause you to overcome all.

Remember: God loves you, and so do we!!

In His Blessed Service,