October 24, 2022
Seasons
I live in a beautiful part of the country where I am blessed to see the seasons change. I It reminds me that God is in charge. Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Each has a beauty of its own. Each has a reason. The scriptures contain numerous verses that tell us about how God is in charge of the changing seasons.
“He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down.” Psalm 104:19
As I wake to changing temperatures and cooler mornings, I watch the brown oak leaves fall and the maple trees turn a brilliant red and orange. Soon the leaves will cover the lawn. Raking will begin. It has been a very dry, warm autumn. A long awaited rain fall is forecasted.
“The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands.” Deuteronomy 28:12
I remember that in the 60’s a band called the Byrds put the verses from Ecclesiastes to a song and titled it “Turn, Turn, Turn.” These verses from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 describe how God has a time and season for everything.
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
“Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration.” Jeremiah 8:7
What marks the change of seasons for you? Which is your favorite? Why?
What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” John Steinbeck.
In Spring everything is new and we have the feeling we can accomplish so much. Time to plant the garden. Time to clean the house. Plant some spring flower. Celebrate the Resurrection.
Summer brings growth and excitement. We accomplish the list of plans that have been waiting for sunshine and good weather. Time to play in the river, maybe even travel, and visit family and friends. Then take time to relax before the harvest.
Autumn arrives with a burst of color. Buy new school supplies. Pull out the warm sweaters. Spend time in the garden gathering the harvest and then in the kitchen canning. Watch the leaves fly. So many reasons to be thankful.
Winter blows in with rain. Rain gear is ready by the door. Hot cocoa and warm mittens. Life slows down. Snow falls and the magic of winter arrives. Bring in the firewood and snuggle with the family. Prepare for the upcoming Christmas celebration.
Jesus taught His disciples about the seasons too. There is a “time for everything.”
“And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.” Mark 11:13
We get to observe changing of seasons in nature. We also have changing seasons in our lives. Our lives go thru seasons physically and spiritually. Each season brings opportunities, challenges, and blessings.
Childhood; youth; adult; and old age - these have been written about often as the physical seasons of one’s life. They have been compared to spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
Seasons change, we change and grow, but God never changes. Each season is unique and amazing. It may not be your favorite, but you can’t stop it or change it. I think the best solution is to learn from it. Grow in it. Embrace each season.
"Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.” Henry David Thoreau.
God wants us to grow thru the seasons of life and become strong in Him. As we learn more of the Word, He wants us to not remain babies, but mature and become all He has called us to be. We are to grow up and be strong in Him. He wants us to use the gifts He placed in us. He wants us to be His disciples and share Jesus with the people in our world, those we have contact with, and those who are lost.
“Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” Acts 14:17
In our lives we will have seasons of joy, contentment, pain, sorrow, regret, or hope.
God is in all the seasons of our life. God is in the changing seasons of nature and in the changing seasons of our lives. Embrace them. Flourish like the tree in Psalms 1:1-3.
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
As I finish writing these thoughts on the changing seasons in nature and our lives, the long awaited rain fall has arrived. God’s timing is perfect.