Wikipedia says this about weeds. “A weed is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation, “a plant in the wrong place”. Examples commonly are plants unwanted in human-controlled settings, such as farm fields, gardens, lawns, and parks. Taxonomically, the term “weed” has no botanical significance, because a plant that is a weed in one context is not a weed when growing in a situation where it is in fact wanted, and where one species of plant is a valuable crop plant, another species in the same genus might be a serious weed, such as a wild bramble growing among cultivated loganberries.”
The picture is of a a group of baby quaking aspens. We replanted a volunteer and now the first tree wants to start a family. I have been just sniping off the sprouts but in two Weeks or so I just have to do it again.
Sometimes sin in my life is like this. Its source is a root buried in my heart and every time it gets a chance it sprouts up. I can spend time sniping off the tops or I can dig down and get to the roots and yank it out by the source. Some times sin is the right thing in the wrong place. Like this little group of trees. Right thing, wrong place and time.
The writer of Hebrews mentions this while talking about how God disciplines us.
“Hebrews 12:9-16 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. “
Some things I deal with have origins in my childhood, some go back generations in my family. Chopping at the tops doesn’t kill these. I have to dig down to the root of the issue.
(Epilogue: quaking aspen grow from seed and grow from the roots. Cutting off the roots only creates two trees from one root. To stop the spread, The entire tree must come down. instead of doing that, I moved to another house with no trees. The spiritual application? Sometimes leaving a potentially dangerous situation, “flee youthful lusts”(?). I loved that tree but it was me or the tree that had to go. Turns out it was me that left. Sometimes we have to remove ourselves from a tempting situation or a situation that continues to be problem. Sometimes God as a good father just steps in and takes away the thing that is the problem, for example, we moved to a different house).
Peter’s Posts 
I’ve recently had a problem with weeds. They would be beautiful flowering plants in another location. Unfortunately, the vines were growing up under the porch’s shingles, destroying them and causing extensive damage to the porch. I had to hire a company to root them out.
Excellent linkage with temptation — thank you! Ann Miko
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