Tabebuia donnell-smithii: a primavera or gold tree in Hawaii Kai
Good Morning God!
It was a wet, grey and rainy day yesterday. So when I saw that one of the Gold Trees on Hawaii Kai Drive was starting to bloom — I pulled into the JAIMS parking lot and came to a full stop to take this photo.
I LOVE these trees. And today I realized that I consider them PRAISE TREES. No, not just because I give thanks and praise YOU when I see them. There is something about dropping leaves and then blooming with these radiant yellow blossoms that epitomizes the very act of praise. Praising. REJOICING.
a Gold Tree on Hawaii Kai Drive last year - in sunlight.
Mind You, God, the one in Sunlight seems far more radiant. But the effort is the same — the blossom is the same. It isn’t in the spotlight, but You see it.
These glowing blossoms are a delight to me. They make me smile and rejoice. Somehow, in my mind –or is it my heart — Our Praise seems linked to these blossoms. Does our praise make You SMILE?
Many years ago I learned the POWER of offering up the sacrifice of praise. (Hebrews 13:15) Praising You, GOD, FOR problems, disasters and illness — opens us up to RECEIVE all the help and love and peace that You LONG to give us. It is a sacrifice of our Feelings. It puts our Will to TRUST You over our fear and despair.
Offering the Sacrifice of Praise EXPANDS US. It EXPANDS US so that MORE of YOU can get into us. Praise YOU, God! PRAISE YOU! Truly! YOU do inhabit the praises of Your People.
Story teller,
A Moment with God 
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