A Season For Everything

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" This is found in Ecclesiastes 3:1. I believe almost everyone has heard or read about this. It tells us much about different things.


In our lives we have different seasons. Learning, growing, happiness, sadness, and other ones. Just as the earth has four seasons during a year. They are different from one another but they overlap, sort of speaking. As does the seasons of our life. There is spring, this is the season for planting, rain and new life, summer is for the growing of the harvest, fall is the changing of things, bringing in the harvest, and winter is for cold, freezing, and snow with all of its beauty. Each of these seasons have their own beauty. Different people prefer only one of the seasons or perhaps two.

During the spring the rains bring freshness and new birth such as crops, leaves to the trees, and the beautiful flowers, the smell of the new life is in the air. This brings to my mind babies as this is new life and it is a freshness. This is just the beginning of life and is so exciting.

The summer is the growing of plants. This is the growing season for the babies that were born. They learn new things, the most important thing is about Jesus. They learn this from a young age so that it will stay with them for their lifetime. This in itself is very exciting. Just think, this is what we are doing for the harvest.

Fall is an exciting time. Everything is changing. The colors are bright and brilliant, so exciting. This is the time for harvest, the time when many are ready to receive the gospel. Jesus says in Matthew 9:37; "Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;" Galatians 6:9 says; "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season w shall reap, if we faint not." I Corinthians 15:58; "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

Now that the harvest is over, winter is here. To me, this represents the time for judgment, this is the time we find out where we will spend eternity.

Each of the seasons in our lives are very important. We need to be working for the Lord at all times, not just when we feel like it. Whatever the Lord gives us or ask us to do for Him, He will give us away of doing it. He would never ask us to do something for Him and then leave us to do it ourselves without His help.

So, in our life we have birth, growing, accepting the Lord and going home to our heavenly Father. During each season of our life, it is important for us to keep our eyes and mind fixed on the Lord. Are we doing our part getting ready for the harvest?

Appearance

I waited for the Lord to reveal to me what I should write in my blog, well, I have waited and prayed and no answer or was there an answer and I wasn't listening?


Dave and I had gone to the store and I saw some apples and they looked so pretty and good. Thank goodness we only bought one. We were eating the apple and I told him the apples looked so good but I sure didn't care for the taste. The Lord spoke to me, it isn't what is on the outside that counts, it is what is on the inside. This brought to mind an email I had gotten four or five years ago with a story. The name of it was 'My Friend Ugly.'  The story is said but has a true meaning!

It was about a big old cat that people had named Ugly as he had scars from fights, a twisted leg, and had lost an ear. The parents warned the kids not to bother Ugly, stay away from him they said. Rocks were thrown at him and the parents would spray him with water when he would try to go in the house. Ugly would just stand there getting soaked until they tired of spraying him.

Whenever he spied the children he would run up to them bumping his head against their legs, begging for love. If you dared to pick him up he would begin to suckle on your shirt, earlobe, or whatever he could fine.

One day Ugly tried to share his love with some huskies (dogs) but they didn't respond to his love and Ugly was badly mauled. Someone heard Ugly's screams and rushed to his aid. It was apparent that Ugly's life was almost to an end. This kind person picked him up to see what they could do for him.

Then, a familiar tug was felt and a sucking sensation on the ear, even though he was in severe pain, he was giving some affection and was purring because he felt someone loved him. This person thought Ugly was the most beautiful cat they had ever seen. He died in the arms of this person that was giving him love.

We need to look beyond the outside of a person, this person that is not the most beautiful, popular, successful, or well liked may have more to offer than the person that might have some or all of these qualities and not have the inner beauty. The beauty of a person is what is on the inside and what comes from that person's mouth. The person not having beauty might say things that would sound like beautiful music to our ears. Jesus speaks in Matthew 15:18 about what defiles a man, also in Mark 7. Things said are the things which are in the heart and you react to them accordingly.

So, the next time we see someone that doesn't appear to have any beauty just remember it may be on the inside. Isn't this what counts?

Faith

Dave, my husband, and I have been in Israel several times. These were the most wonderful trips we have ever taken. Just to think we have been where Jesus had been and walked where Jesus had walked. I thought how exciting it would have been had we been living at the same time Jesus was living. Then my heart saddens to think, what would we have done if we would not have believed Jesus was who He said He was. This saddens me very much because as I am living today I know who Jesus is, that I love Him with all of my heart, and it is only because of Jesus that someday I will be home in heaven with the Lord. I am so glad I have the faith to believe in Jesus even though I have never seen Him, I know He lives in me.


Jesus' disciple, Thomas didn't believe it was Jesus until he touched Him. John 20:27; Then saith He to Thomas, "Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing." It was only then that Thomas believed. In John 20:29; Jesus saith unto him, "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." I give all the glory and thank the Lord for my faith that I am able to believe.

Without faith we are unable to be saved. Ephesians 2:8; "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." This is an awesome gift to receive from our Lord. With the faith we have in a definite person (Jesus Christ) who died for us, shouldn't it become stronger with our everyday living? We should develop an intense feeling of love for the Lord Jesus Christ.

II Corinthians 5:7; For we walk by faith, not by sight.

I would much rather be walking by faith than sight. I am thankful I have the opportunity to hear, read and learn the Word of God. Romans 10:17; "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." God is so faithful to all who believe and obey Him. Why would we not want to walk with the Lord? I know our walk with Him is not always smooth but we have the assurance He walks with us and know whatever comes our way we will be able to handle it because of our faith in Him.

Even though I think it would have been exciting to live and walk on earth at the time Jesus was here, I am thankful I am living my life now. I know I have the faith to believe who Jesus says He is and I am thankful for my salvation.

What about you?

What Joy

The joy of serving a magnificent Lord. Is there any greater joy?

Joy never ceases to come to a person that has given their life to the Lord. We know at any time day or night all we have to do is call on Him. We don't have to be in distress to call on Him. When everything is going fine is a great time to call on Him. Let praises come forth from our mouth. Let Him know how important He is to us and how much we love Him.

When we speak about the love God has for us, so much love that he gave His only Son, Jesus Christ for us, John 3:16; "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." We should shout with joy at the top of our lungs. While talking to someone about our salvation do we speak with joy and excitement? Our salvation is something to shout about. I like to think people can see the love of Christ and joy in me.

When serving the Lord the joy and excitement should shine in our eyes, He is a mighty God we serve. Is there anyone else but God that we can expect guidance, loyalty, assurance, everlasting love, compassion, and blessings from that continues and continues?

Perhaps there is someone that is needing help of any kind and you are the one to help them. This brings joy not only to you, the person you help, but the Lord also. You are serving Him.

You meet someone on the street and you smile at them and say hello to them. They may see the Lord in you. Perhaps they needed that beautiful smile and a friendly hello. You have just shown them a blessing,. You are serving the Lord. What joy this is!

Serving the Lord doesn't mean you have to be a pastor, teacher, deacon, but someone that is able to show the love of the Lord. We can serve Him in many different ways. Use what the Lord gives you and show the joy that He gives you.

When we have sinned and ask the Lord for forgiveness and it is given to us, it is enough to shout at the top of our lungs with joy.

When we are in prayer we can feel the presence of the Lord, what joy this is! Even saying a short prayer can bring the presence of the Lord. We don't have to say a long prayer, just talking to Him brings joy to our heart.

Will you show joy to the next person you see and greet them with a big smile and hello?

Taming Our Tongue

How many times have we gotten angry and then allowed ourselves to say things that should never have been said. I believe everyone of us have done this at one time or another. I know I am guilty of this. It was not to long ago that I made a remark and the minute it came out of my mouth I thought "why in the world did I ever say such a thing?" The Holy Spirit made me aware of this immediately. Once it is said there is no taking it back, yes, we can tell the person how sorry we are but it has been said and it probably hurt the person deeply.

The Word of God tells us in James 1:20, "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." Satan will and does everything possible to keep us from living a life God wants us to. I believe Satan causes our anger to grow, he will do anything to keep us from living a life God would have us to live. Anger can and will make us say and do things we would normally not do.

James goes on to tell us in chapter 3 verses 5-6, "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell."

When speaking harsh, unkind, gossiping, slanderous, or boasting words this is sinning. We need to learn to keep our tongue under control. The Holy Spirit will guide us and will bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, if we will just listen.

There is a righteous anger. Matthew 21:12-13 speaks of this. Jesus went into the temple and cast out all that sold and bought and then overthrew the tables the moneychangers were using. When we get angry because of something someone says or does to the Lord this is a righteous anger.

Saying sweet words is better to speak than the words of anger. Sometimes this will take a lot of work and prayer but it certainly is worth the effort. We need to turn away from evil in both words and deeds. If we are saying unkind words how can we say nice things? Evil and righteousness can not be said at the same time. Wouldn't you rather hear the sweet and righteous words than evil and hurtful words? It only takes a minute to think of words that will not hurt someone. I for one would rather say something nice than hurtful or unkind. What about you?