Y

Yes, a simple Y. A letter that brings many memories to me. I was reminded of this letter a couple weeks ago when I painted trees at one of those Paint and Sip places. Then, last weekend on my way to and from PA to see a good friend, I saw the bare trees as the leaves fell and I was reminded of this story again.

Years ago when I first started learning about Israel and customs and teachings from Bible with Jewish understandings (since they were the ones who wrote the Words), an elderly Messianic Jewish lady taught me about the letter Y and I have never looked at a tree the same way. He father taught her this lesson.

The name of God is Yahweh. Sometimes spelled without the vowels as YHWH. His name truly is a strong tower.

The trees of the fields have many Y's in them. If you look at the way the branches spread out - they look like Y's. This is how the painting teacher told us to paint the branches.

There is a verse in the book of Isaiah 55:12

Yes, you will go out with joy,

you will be led forth in peace.

As you come, the mountains and hills

will burst out into song,

and all the trees in the countryside

will clap their hands.

The trees of the fields will clap their hands - and the Y's grown within them are YHWH. I love how God places Himself in all the pieces of the world He created. There are reminders of Him in everything.

The storms of our life mean the winds are blowing. And in the middle of those winds we can KNOW that He is God. We can KNOW that He is in the middle of the wind and the beauty of the trees. The trees truly clap their hands to Him, and so can we.

Today, as you look at the bare trees losing their leaves, look at the "Y's" and KNOW that He is with you. Know that He has His hand in all you do and loves you. HE cares.

YAHWEH is His name. And you can call on Him at anytime. You can cry tears that He will understand, even when you don't. The trees can remind us of this...

Shabbat Shalom,

Rose