Redwood trees are said to have a shallow root and without other redwoods to grow beside them they would all fall down. What holds them together is tangle roots that entwined together to make one strong structure and standing force against elements of this world. They grow in California, none here in the east and the only thing similiar is a pine tree in regards to unique root system. Pine tree roots go straight down and because of the root system with out little roots it would tople over easily as it grows.if it were not for the little roots that grow on the ground about six feet deep or less, and are not part of the main root system but are apart of the tree that dies off from the tree base after a year. Yet these roots are not the main root system that grows very deep below the bases of the tree in search of water. Redwood trees hold much water, but are relying on strength from their neighboring trees to stand. To be alone they can not hold to the ground in a harsh wind storm. They are not trees you want to just plant in your yard and hope it survives alone, because odds are it can not. As a Christian you want good solid base of roots to hold the tree part up and in place. You want that based rooted in Christ who provides nourishment and strength to each tree/person. To be a redwood is only to be a person with shallow belief system. In other words you mimick what others around you are saying about Christ but the foundation of roots are only as strong as your next door neighbor. Without the neighbor you may fall to the ground and your faith is destroyed. We need connections or roots that grow off of us like the pine tree has to help feed and strength the core root, but they are not necessary going to survive. The core root will stand on its own, but beware if planted in the wrong soil a pine tree will tople too. Go to the deep woods in the mountains and see pine trees standing tall and firm, go to area where marsh land and sandy soil and you will notice pine trees are sometimes laying down growing at a angle, not because root system failed, but they were in soil that did not allow the root system to have a solid anchor hold. The soil is Christ the root system is faith and the water is Jesus and is the nourishment for the tree. The anchor is the soil for the tree and root system is the deepness of faith in Christ, and it always searching for water and growing deeper in the word of God. Red woods planted together make a church but not all trees in the church are redwoods. Some are pine trees. The clicks within the group of a church, need pine trees with stronger root system, and sooner or later if a redwood tangles with pine tree they will want to be a pine tree of faith, and that when God transforms the redwood from being a redwood into a pine tree to be able to stand alone on the word of God and the truth of the word.

First thing we need to know about faith in Christ Jesus we are complete in him because the fullness of Godhead bodily is in him. God the Father, the word and the Holy Spirit. We are buried in baptism and circumcized by the hand of God. Marked as a believer and saved from all our sins. Not just a sin but all our sins. Does that mean we never make a mistake of course not, but it means the price paid for that mistake as already been paid for. Yet our strive in life should be not to sin, it should be to live for Christ because He died for us and paid the price for our sins. Now with this said, what else do we need to know. We need to grow in faith. The only way to grow in faith is to dig deep into the word of God. Baptism and circumcision is more then just the baseline of faith, but it is learning more about God daily. We do not need to be lassoed by the traditions of mankind as far as religious cermonies or national celebration in order to have faith. Martin Luther King was a liberator and his holiday was yesterday. I wonder if he be pleased as a minister of his holiday. As a political figure I say he would be quite honor at the day because of all his hard work toward equality. Yet I wonder if the world will understand that when you lay traditions aside long enough to examine faith, one learns alot about who God is without tradition of man but God's traditions fully ordained to reminding us of our faith. Luther was political freedom fighter and religious freedom fighter. What is freedom fighting. Trump makes a declaration of freedom yearly as a reminder to all of many faith's they have rights. Yet no one has asked anyone do you mind a devil worship their God right beside a christian child. Who you think will win if they understand the power of God and the cost of taking a stand for Jesus. Most children are still redwoods but those church that are encouraging salvation you need to help build those kids up in the word of faith. They need to be pine trees of faith and realize growth of a child whether of faith in Christ or not of faith is growing mentally at the same level in a since. What you can expect from both 9 year olds of different faith is understanding of faith at a nine year old level of comprehension of faith. With that in mind how you help your christian son or daughter share their faith, must come with child of 9 year old understanding including prayer. Don't expect children to be your warriors in faith, but allow them to learn and share naturally things they are learning with other students.

We are all were redwoods in faith at one time or another, but some point we become pine trees of faith if we going to stand alone on the word of God whether in crowd or alone. Our faith might not shine as brightly at different times in our life, not because of fear, but because we know our words are wasted upon unbelievers at times. Yet when we do share it should be by leading of God's Spirit always, because he knows the person's heart and we do not. We do not know the hour of God's spiritual healing of others, but we know God in his power is able to heal the lost needing Christ. We need to be praying for our children as religious freedom opens to the door to idolatary in our schools. Teaching tolerance does allow students to learn to work in the business world with people different then themselves in faith. Remember to not allow the things of this world to pollute our minds with vain philosphies and ideologies not of God. Children hear alot in history and even english class about faith. This knowledge of history about a people not of our own is not wrong to learn about. If one studies scripture other faiths are within the Bible. Not everyone believe in Christ, God (Jehovah) or the Holy Spirit. However we need to as Christian"s not to allow faiths of other people to ruin the knowledge and truth of God's word in our own hearts. Christian community pray that God will bind your children together in the knowledge and unity of Jesus.

Let us stand firm in our faith without waiving and rooted in faith of our Lord Jesus and the price he paid for our sin. That we serve a loving Heavenly Father and He sent the Holy Spirit as well to enable us to live for Jesus and also comfort us. As the base of faith grows as we learn about Jesus and His Father and the Holy Spirit, we will grow into people of depth in faith as long as we have faith.

Dear Heavenly Father help us not to be just a redwood of faith, but a pine tree of faith that when alone we are still standing. That our roots are so deep in Christ that fellowship is only at the base of the tree. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study for Devotion:

Ephesians 3:17 KJV That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,