SEASONS

Here in the southeast the seasons are changing. Fall is probably just about my favorite season. The leaves are so beautiful. When I lived n the desert of Arizona they used to say the leaves did not change color, only the license plates did, meaning fall in the desert signaled the entrance of thousands of winter visitors(aka snowbirds) from places such Iowa, 'Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and anywhere on the western side of Mississippi River that received lots of snow.So the color of automobile tags was the color change.

I don't know about you, but the seasons are a wonderful treat. I even love winters. We anticipate so much with the changing of these seasons.

Life has it's season as well. Author Charles Swindoll has a book entitled 'Growing Stronger in the Seasons of Life". Things often happen for a reason and a season. We have to be prepared in life for changing seasons that come our way.

I think of the seasons of life in terms of things like raising children then finally letting them go from the nest to the next big adventure God has in store for them. It could be perhaps you are in a season of saying goodbye to elderly parents or grandparents who have passed on. Maybe it is the season of life with moving and living in a new area and the new things God has in store for you. Whatever your season God is there to see you through to the next one.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says "to everything there is a season. A time for every activity under heaven." Look up this chapter in the old testament and read the entire thing. Seasons of life come and go. Things happen whether good or bad and we get through them. God is there lighting our path and guiding us in each transition. See your new seasons as a new opportunity God has in store for you. Be willing and flexible to journey where he wants you as you enter a new phase of life.

PRAYER: Father I thank you so much for your love for me. I thank you for guiding me through good times and bad. Thank you for opening doors that need to be opened and shutting doors I should not go through. Thank you for your love for me. In Jesus name. Amen.

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR EVERY SEASON

Often times at Christmas we see cards,decorations, and ornaments that say 'Jesus is the Reason for TheSeason' and oh how true that statement is when Christmas seems to get lost in the make believe world of Santa Claus, elves, reindeer, and candy canes.  As we approach the Easter Season we too remember that Jesus is the real reason for this holiday too. It is not about bunny rabbits, chocolate eggs, pretty Sunday dresses, Easter egg hunts, and little baby chicks. It is hard to find anything 'religious' at  all in stores around this holiday unless you venture into Christian bookstores. This day is in fact about Jesus being crucified and raising from the grave 3 days later and being alive today! Easter vacation is  even called 'Spring Break' in our modern world where God is put up on a shelf.

 Jesus is, and should always be, the reason for each and every day and each and every season of life. It is because of him we live and move and have our being. (See Acts 17:28). He is the maker of all things and because of Him things exist. 2 Timothy 4:2 tells us "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." God is always in season and every season is His! Jeremiah 51:19 says "But the God of Israel is no idol! He is the Creator of everything that exists, including his people, his own special possession. The LORD of Heaven's Armies is his name!" Every day should be a Jesus day! Jeremiah 10:12 reminds us "But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding." It is all His so every season is His!

 Our world today wants to make 'believing in God' illegal and persecute those who dare to name the name of Jesus. Our own government is getting to the point where it will not respect the 'right of conscious' of those who oppose something because of their strong Christian convictions and beliefs. If we speak up against something we are called hateful.  More and more young people are being re-educated and desensitized to sin. We need to get back to teaching a Christian world view and pray for revival in our land. Isaiah 5:20 says "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter." Look out trying to take away God from our world. It is His world after all.

Jesus is Lord over all and no government decree will ever stop that! Psalm 118:24 says "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Every day is His!Every season is His! Rejoice!

 PRAYER: Each and every day is a gift from you Lord. I thank you for making me and placing me where you have me. I know each day is special to you. Help me be a light in a dark world and speak up against injustice and evil and do it in love. Help my senses be trained to recognize evil and sin. I love you whether it is Christmas, Easter or an ordinary day. In Jesus Name. Amen.

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