Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Pastors’ Column – 10/20/14



We can now see the red, the orange, and the yellow colors in the landscape of this beautiful area of Minnesota. I love our seasons and especially the fall colors. As the colors come, they are a reminder to me of God’s beautiful creation, His protection and provision. Going for a long walk and viewing all of it is a time of worship for me.

Science tells us that chlorophyll gives the leaves their green color in the summer months. And as the days get shorter and the weather cooler, chlorophyll is no longer produced, and the green color of the leaves slowly change to red, orange, and yellow, as other pigments become visible.

During the summer, necessary food for the tree is produced through photosynthesis, as the chlorophyll absorbs the sun’s rays. Then, in the fall, as the leaves change color, nitrogen and phosphorus are slowly withdrawn from the leaves and stored in the twigs and the branches in order for the tree to have necessary food for the winter months. What an amazing God. What an amazing Creator!

As I view all of it, I’m reminded of God’s greatness, and also reminded that God takes care of us through all seasons of life. We have Him “stored up” within us so that we are strengthened for every challenge we face.

As we look at all that God has done in the beauty of the fall colors, I’m also reminded of the growth that happens in our lives as we spend time being fed and nourished in God’s Word. And I pray that we would store it up in our “twigs and branches,” so that we are strong during the “dormant” times.

We have a tree in our yard that has green leaves all year long. It’s very different from all the others. I think that we, as God’s people, can be full of color that lasts even through the winter, and be like “the tree that is firmly planted by the stream, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither.” (Psalm 1:3)

I want my roots to go down deep into the Lord and into His Word. Colossians 2:6-7 says, “Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

May we be like trees firmly planted, rooted and built up in Him with roots that go down deep, nourished and strengthened in His Word so that we will not be uprooted, bearing fruit in every season.

Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”








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