"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence,
and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace." Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
We have heard it a million times, "there is a season for everything," "this too shall pass." Within two weeks of each other, I packed up my family of 6 for skiing in the snow only to turn around, got it all washed (still not all put up I am afraid) only to turn around and pack us up for a weekend at the beach! From bulky layers to one piece swimsuits, boots to flip flops, funny that both required sunscreen and sunglasses! Although we had planned the family trip to the snow 3 months prior, giving me ample time to find all the gear we would need and make reservations on the slopes, the beach trip was a surprise for my 40th birthday from my Husband. I did request a beach day, but he went the extra mile and made it 3 days! So nice.
Even though it was much easier to pack for the beach, less gear, less amount of clothing, less degree of change to anticipate for, I was still thrown into the whirlwind of unpacking to packing for two completely different seasons. Both of these destinations required me to prepare and adapt what was normal for Houston. Both of these seasons brought hardships along with great joys.
For example, the snow sure makes everything slushy and muddy. Our car needed a HUGE wash...a few times:) Evidence of the mountain clay remains on my driveway to this day. And yet, the majesty of the mountains and the memories we made were priceless. The beach left us with sand, everywhere and yet the sounds of the beach-side melted my soul! Oh, the joys and the pains in every thing.
This is how our seasons with the Lord are. Seasons can come by our invitation or the Lord in His sovereignty sometimes grants us awareness of their upcoming arrival. We sometimes have ample time to plan and prepare for them. However, there are also seasons that surprise us and throw us into what feels like a whirlwind. God tells us there is a season for everything, some of it will be fun (a time to be born, plant, heal, build up, laugh, dance, gather, embrace, seek, keep, sew, speak, love, peace), while other times are not so fun (a time to die, kill, break, weep, mourn lose, tear, hate war). To each season there are joys and pains.
Since we cannot always anticipate the change of season, we must "be ready in and out of season." What does that mean? How do we prepare for the seasons? Well, one thing we know for sure, no matter where you go, you will need gear, clothing and sunscreen and sunglasses. And something that that has become crucial with our large families and especially a family with more independent people (older kids with more freedom and younger ones learning how to do more things) is a meeting point, a bearing and accountability. When we have freedom to go our own ways for a time, it is important there is a specific point where we will unite. Even at the beach, it was super crucial to pay attention to your bearing as the current slowly but surely carried you downshore. You could not hear the warnings of those yelling out across the winds so it was up to you to continuously check your whereabouts before you went too far.
There are basics common to all seasons. They just function differently. No matter where you go, what season you are in, you should be equipped with the basics: God's Word (Bible and Prayer), Armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-18), Faith Fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) and others (II Corinthians 13:11, I Thessalonians 5:11). In good times or bad, we need God and others. No matter where we are, we need to keep our bearing which comes from time spent in His Word. We need the meeting point which comes thru accountability.
Every season requires love. Every season demands our faith, hope and commitment to truth. We need to not only love God and others fully, but allow God and others to love us fully. Our greatest defenses are the Word of God applied in our heart, mind and soul and the intercession of others. There is a reason God instructs us to love one another and pray for one another. There is power in the Name of Jesus and that power covers us in every season. (I am resisting the urge to blog on the importance and preciousness of intercession!!!)
"And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through Him and for Him.
God Bless You and May God Bless Me!!
To GOD be ALL glory, ALL the time, in EVERY season!!!!!
AMEN!!!!!!!
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