One Season Following Another

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven...

Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV

It's winter in south Texas - at least that's what the calendar indicates. However, a balmy 76 degrees Fahrenheit does not equal winter weather in the USA; although there is a storm front expected tonight that may usher in some cooler temperatures. Personally, I like mild warmer weather. I hate snow - much to the dismay of my youngest grandchild. (I'm sure the difference in age has everything to do with that.)  I have found myself wishing part of my life away by hoping to quickly advance to Spring which is unequivocally the best season in Texas... well, in my humble opinion, anyway. At any rate, we all have our favorite seasons. 

What about our seasons of life? Unlike Earth's seasons which range from 3 - 6 months long, hard life seasons seem to stretch on indefinitely sometimes. So much so that when the Spring arrives we may miss it because we're still focused on the bad "winter". Have you ever done that - been so caught up in the tough stuff that you miss the good? We have to take our eyes off the circumstances and look to Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Remember that Heaven is our goal and every day that passes means we're one day closer to eternity! 

Hebrews 12:2&3 in the Message read, Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! 

Seasons come and go; even bad ones eventually end. We need to be ready for the final season. Are you?

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for choices of where to live in climates we prefer. Thank You for seasons that change even if it's only from hot to less hot. Help us to leave past seasons behind and to look forward to Heaven. Thank You for always teaching us no matter what the season and help us to stay focused on what You want us to learn in the current season. We don't want to miss any of it. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Changing of the Seasons

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Philippians 4:6 NLT

In South Texas, we sometimes dream of changing seasons. We only see pictures of beautiful leaves or else we have to travel to see them. Those trees are not in our yards. Here, we jokingly tell you we have two seasons: Summer and Lesser Summer. Right now, it's still summer. It was 100 degrees Fahrenheit today. TODAY. No kidding. It's October! It was so humid this morning that I thought I was going to need snorkel gear just to walk to my car. I walked outside and my face melted off into my hands...  

That's okay, though. In another 6 weeks, when the rest of the country (north of our border) is freezing and enduring winter weather, we will be soaking up our lesser summer. We're ready now.

And that's just like life. Some days, some times, some seasons are harder than others. The good news is times and seasons are known to change (in most places). The BEST news is, God does not. His love doesn't change. His ways don't change. His expectations of us don't change. His Word doesn't change. His plans for our lives don't change, either. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. 

No matter the season in life, we can weather it as long as we follow Christ (pun intended.) Seasons change. God does not. If you need a season to change, pray. Tell the Father. And be sure to thank Him.

Prayer:

Father,

            We thank You for being with us and leading us through all the seasons of our lives. We thank You for the peace that You promise us - peace which exceeds anything we can understand. No matter the season, guard our hearts and minds as we live in Christ Jesus. Help us to keep our thoughts fixed on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Help us to think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Strengthen us to keep putting into practice all we have learned about You and received from Your Holy Spirit. Be with us, Jehovah Shalom, according to Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen