At first glance one would think that the live oak trees in our front yard and photographed below are dead.  After all, it’s October …. and everything is green and in fullness, right?  There’s been no “frost” or any other abnormal weather to blame.

Another kind of phenomenon occurred this year related to our trees. During July and August all of the leaves were eaten from the tree by small, black caterpillars that later morphed into oak moths. Now, it’s been reported that this development occurs every year but it hasn’t been obvious in our trees for at least the last 6 years.  We literally had tens of thousands of caterpillars all over our property and on our house …. it literally looked like Halloween in July and it was quite grotesque!!!  The trees became so barren I was convinced by their physical appearance that they were not coming back to life!!

…. But I was wrong and as Paul Harvey would say, here’s “the rest of the story” …. we now see new foliage forging it’s way back …. very slowly and surely as the leaves begin to reappear ….

In a similar way that the oak trees’  outside appearance seemed to be in severe deficit of fresh growth, Irene’s appearance has also paid a toll in a variety of areas.  But obviously that doesn’t tell the whole story ….

We have hope that slowly Irene’s internal body is recovering, healing and being restored …. and that the external will follow.  As we anticipate the oak trees’ return of complete foliage in the months ahead we hope and pray that Irene’s body will eventually burst forth into full radiance and wholeness.

Speaking to that end, our friends Ken and Shirley Churchill came to our home today but not merely for a social visit …. Shirley was “on mission”!!!!  Ken and Shirley have been among the praying faithful, reaching out to us in many ways behind the scenes.  Not only did Shirley pray with and for Irene today, but she graciously worked with her for over 2.5 hours, using specific physiology techniques to rouse the nervous system and kidneys.  What is even more astounding is that Shirley believes so strongly in this approach that she and Ken are driving from their home in Menlo Park to see us again tomorrow for more of the same protocol.  We’re overwhelmed with thanksgiving.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

God’s Word never changes.  God never changes.  He is the same yesterday today and forever.  God’s Word is true and He is good regardless of our circumstances.  We’re grateful that despite external appearances and circumstances that He remains in control …. and works on all of us from the inside out …. hoping that someday we produce foliage and fruit that reflects His glory.

Caminando con Fé
Dave