Saturday, November 2, 2019

Seasons of Life






Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace."





         Today's blog is about change and the seasons of life that we go through.  As you look outside, you can see we just went through a change of season, summer to fall.  It is unstoppable, unchangeable, and so powerful because it is God-ordained.  Some of us, may not like this particular season change but our turn is coming back.  The shorter days, the cooler temps, the foliage dying, and heavier clothes are some of my own reasons I have an aversion to fall.  Others may love fall for those very same reasons. 

        Matthew Henry says "these verses show us  that we live in a world of changes, that the several events of time, and conditions of human life, are vastly different from one another, and yet occur promiscuously, and we are continually passing and re-passing between them, as in the revolutions of every day and every year .  Every change concerning us, with the time and season of it, is unalterably fixed and determined by a supreme power; and we must take things as they come, for it is not in our power to change what is appointed for us."

        There are also seasons of our life because life is not all good or all bad.  There are transition times to learn and grow from.  Did you notice that it doesn’t just say that there is a time for good and a time for bad? It also says there is a purpose!  So, what season are you in? Is it a time to prosper or a time to want? Is it a time for sickness or for healing? Knowing the answers to these types of questions can be important to knowing what you might expect from each day.  I don’t know about you but knowing that there is a reason for something means there is hope. No matter how hard something may be, knowing there is a purpose for it makes it a little easier to swallow.

        "It is easy to give into the taunts of the enemy and believe that a season of hardship will last forever. It is hard is to look deep within yourself to find what the purpose may be. Finding an ounce of joy amongst the sorrow is what will hold you together on your darkest days.
       Where do you find that joy? Look within the promises that are in God’s Word. Read the words, pray the words and seek God through them. In doing these things, God will show you how to face the obstacles that lay within your current season." [J. Cannon]
        As for myself, I have sowed the seeds of sorrow over the past year, but now I am reaping joyous rewards.  This year was like a mini-season in my life.  
        If I had to break my life down into 4 seasons, they would be:  Season 1 [age 0-5]= where my life was all that it should be, without concern, Season 2 [age 6-16]= where my life was entrusted to God and physical, health trials tested my faith, Season 3 [age 17-29]= where my life was my own and God took second place to my worldly desires, Season 4 [age 30- present 48]= where my life desires were fulfilled by putting God first and above all.
        When we look at others, we must not be too quick to judge them because we don't know their struggles or the season they are in.  Remember, the valleys are right up next to the mountains and the trek of life is always changing.  Give grace, because if you haven't been where someone is already then you may be soon.  Young or old, sick or healthy, lost or forgiven... we can all relate to each other and still obey the commandment to 'love one another' in every season of life.
4 Strongholds To Remember in Your Season
  1. I am here by God’s appointment
  2. I am in his keeping
  3. I am under his training
  4. He will show me his purposes in his time
        

14 comments:

  1. Thank you dear Angie,
    I like your blog and it encourages me to trusting God for the future knowing that He promised never to forsake us. we are in His loving hands.
    Love
    Ferdine

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  2. This was so good, Angie. It meant a lot to me this morning. Love you!
    Twylia ❤️

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  3. Angie,

    This was a fantastic blog. I agree we have seasons of life and if we allow God to be in control, then it is fixed and determined by His supreme power. It is up to us to accept and learn from the changes and find purpose where we are. Yes, the promises within God’s word will help us through the difficult times. I remember when my oldest sister was murdered that often I couldn’t sleep and I would get up and read in the Bible; it helped me through that time—He will not leave us, but is there to help. Good instruction to say “we must not be too quick to judge them because we don’t know their struggles or the season they are in”. I remember last year, there were a couple of times when you said you just wanted to go to hospice. We knew this was not like you, the medicine was affecting your thinking; as you stated in this blog “I am here by God’s appointment and I am in his keeping”. We must leave the timing of when we join Him in eternity to Him. I am not saying hospice is wrong for some situations; I just think in every situation we should not give up hope and keep praying for God’s will to be done.

    Love,

    Mom

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  4. One of your best blogs so far sweet Angie! �� I love this one so very much. It filled my eyes with tears as I reflected on how we as Christians can truly injure someone during their “season” by our flippant comments or gossip. 1 Cor. 13:1
    Thank you Angie for your tender insight of this! ❤️❤️❤️ Love you!
    Beth P.

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  5. Peggy Hearne... Very timely and meaningful.

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  6. Angie Riffle Bridger always brings honest truth! Love her! ❤️
    Jennifer P.

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  7. Thank you, Angie for this insightful blog. As I get older I am more and more realizing the importance of recognizing each season of life as a blessing from God. Our hymn of the month this month is from Psalm 42. I will send it to you. It's interesting how people received different blessings while reading this blog.

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  8. Yes. This is true. So many times I live life anticipating what is next, even though I have no way of knowing what that is. But I realize that when that next season comes, I will find a reason to hope for something different. Asking the Lord to help me enjoy Him so that whatever season I am in I can rest in His love and find purpose and joy because the purpose is not found in what or where but in whom we abide.

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  11. Thank you Angie. It has been so long since I had experienced your wisdom I had forgotten how much I missed it. Thank your dad for me for showing me your blog.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Bob for coming back to my blog. ;-]

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