You call that a shade tree?! - from November 12, 2006

 I don’t know how many of you were able to go to the Ray Vander Lann conference this weekend, but I was there. Ok, I was there only Friday night, but Daddy told me about the rest. One of the coolest things I have heard in years, or just under a year, was about Isaiah 32. Here in the Text God declares that one day a King will reign in righteousness, i.e. Jesus, and then each person will become like shade and streams of water. Get it? Not yet, huh...let me explain a little, but it will only be a little because I don’t want to mess up RVL’s teaching.
In the desert of Israel it gets to be extremely hot, like 120, during the day and the problem is, there is no shade. Well, that is to say that there is no shade like we are used to. There are no giant oaks waiting to bring relief to the shepherds. Truly the only form of shade is from small bushes, just enough to cover the head. Shepherds will lie down during the heat of the day and have their head covered, so that they might make it through the day. The shade brings them life.
So to does the living water, or fresh water that comes from springs throughout the desert. Obviously, there is not an abundant supply of water in the desert, hence it being called a desert, and what little there is becomes a precious gift of life to those living there. God is that living water and shade we need to make it through the trials of life. But here is the cool part about what Isaiah tells us, “each person,” or all believers become that shade and that water. We are given the blessing of being God’s relief to those in need.
I cannot begin to express how great the experience of shade and water we have felt over the past many months is. So many of you have reached out to us to cover us with His shade or to refresh us with His living water. We have experienced God’s presence through the Body of Christ. Through family and friends, and even people we have not yet met. You have given us the shade and water we have needed in the times we needed it most. I know I might sound like a broken record, but to experience the  Body of Christ in action like we have is an overwhelmingly humble and incredible experience. We bless God for you.