They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said,

Touching the heart of Washington County, Oregon, with Christ's love

Tell Me A Story

They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the
first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure
chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and
precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate
carving and everyone would see the beauty.
"Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a
mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the
waters and sail to the corners of the world.
Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength
of my hull."
Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the
tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People
will see me on top of the hill and look up to my
branches, and think of the heavens and God and how
close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest
tree of all time and people will always remember me."
After a few years of praying that their dreams would
come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees.
When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks
like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell
the wood to a carpenter" ... and he began cutting it
down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the
carpenter would make him into a treasure chest. At the
second tree a woodsman said, "This looks like a strong
tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard."
The second tree was happy because he knew he was on
his way to becoming a mighty ship. When the woodsmen
came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened
because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams
would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, "I
don't need anything special from my tree so I'll take
this one", and he cut it down." When the first tree
arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box
for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled
with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.
The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing
boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying
kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into
large pieces and left alone in the dark. The years
went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then
one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave
birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed
box that was made from the first tree. The man wished
that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this
manger would have to do. The tree could feel the
importance of this event and knew that it had held the
greatest treasure of all time. Years later, a group of
men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree.
One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they
were out on the water, a great storm arose and the
tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men
safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and
said "Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the
tree knew that it hadcarried the King of Kings in its
boat.Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It
was carried through the streets as the people mocked
the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop,
the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air
to die at the top of a hill. Then Sunday came, the
tree came to realize that it was strong enough to
stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as
was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.
The moral of this story is that when things don't seem
to be going your way, always know that God has a plan
for you.
If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great
gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted,just not
in the way they had imagined. We don't always know
what
God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are
not our ways, but His ways are always best. Keep it
moving...pass it on, so it could inspire more people
on His way.

IS YOUR HUT BURNING???
The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a
small,uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for
God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the
horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little
hut out of driftwood to protect him from the
elements, and to store his few possessions.But then
one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home
tofind his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to
the sky. The worsthad happened; everything was
lost. He was stunned with grief andanger."God, how
could you do this to me!" he cried.Early the next
day, however, he was awakened by the sound of
aship that was approaching the island. It had come
to rescue him."How did you know I was here?" asked
the weary man of hisrescuers. "We saw your smoke
signal," they replied.It is easy to get discouraged when
things are going bad. But we shouldn't lose heart,
because God is at work in our lives, even inthe midst
of pain and suffering. Remember, next time your
little hut is burning to the ground, it just may be a
smoke signal that summons the grace of God. For all
the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God
has a positive answer for it.

Megan