Seasons

Life is hard. It can get you down. If you fail to realize the absolute necessity of taking time to work, rest, play, love, laugh; and instead all you do is work, you will experience burn out. 


I used to be a very serious minded person who felt the need to manage, control, dictate and perfect my every experience- and everyone else around me. 


As a result of years of that routine, I can tell you what happens- you will burn out, lose your self, and quite possibly the people you love- at least for a season. 


The Bible speaks very clearly to the seasons of a person's life- Listen and take this wise instruction.

Ecclesiastes 3

A Time for Everything

 1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

 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,

 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.

 9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 

10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men.

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 

12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 

13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. 

14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men        will revere him.

My controlling ways were ultimately a distrust in the plans God had for me. I was going to do it my way, which is not the way to finding yourself.


I had to learn this truth; that the one who created me knows me the best. The way to finding myself was the way of losing myself. I had to learn this the hard way, and with great cost. 


I think of the many times I've heard it said; if only I had listened to wise instruction, or listened to my parents as I grew older... or if only I knew then, what I know now. Truth is, I did know enough to see where changes were needed. I just refused to obey.

So today I follow the divine design of my creator God. He instructs me and tells me to take the time to go outside and play, to laugh, to love, and to share my life- and most importantly, to rest in Him. 


It's really not that hard, if I remember the command, to love others as Christ loves me. It's just not all about me.

How about you? Has it been too long since you played with your kids, ate a hot dog all messy and just let it drip on your shirt or walked the dog who worships your every move. 


Do you give love freely? Just now my husband jumped up spontaneously and grabbed me to dance to one our favorite Van 
Morrison songs. 


What inspires you?  Do you wake up and spend time alone with God, or in the evening watching the sun set. When was the last time you ended your day down on your knees, praying for your family and friends? 

Oh, loved ones. I know how miserable it is to live inside the walls. So I ask with honest care and concern. What's blocking your life from a life that flows? What dams have you built up to control your life? 


You know it will break down, for you weren't made to carry the heavy burden alone. The dam will break and over flow, leaving you, and those close to you, with only the remains of rubble, and trouble. 

Listen as I say this again, life is hard, yes, but it doesn't have to be as hard as we make it. 

Let go. Live in God. Life can be good and you know it, for your heart beats in the secret place with a plan and a purpose- placed inside of you long ago. 


So go, and get outside of your own self, and let God lead you to the life He designed; a life of love and laughter. 

Pause

 

Yesterday my husband said something to me that hurt my feeling's. He turned to me and said, "Would you just pause for a moment?" He was a bit frustrated with my habit of jumping in with suggestions on how he should do something. I thought I was being helpful (thus the hurt feelings), but instead I was being inconsiderate.

Later that day I was thinking about this habit I have of speaking before thinking. I considered the word pause and what it would look like if I took the time to stop and wait before making a judgement, correction, or rendering even well intended advice.

I had to admit to myself that this is an area in which I could use God's wisdom and instruction. I thought how often God tells us to be still, and rest in him- trust him to do the work that is his to do, and for me to just be quiet.
.

Consider Psalm 46:10-  "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth".  

     

The "be still", means in Hebrew translation- to let go, release, surrender. Webster's dictionary defines the word pause as a temporary stop, or rest- as in music. Both mean to give in to something (time/God).

My husband wanted something more than for me to stop talking- he wanted me to recognize that he had everything under control. I need to just rest (pause) and let him take the lead. God deserves the same respect and recognition. "Trust me" he is saying , or simply put- hit the button and...

 let go (pause) and let God.(rest).

Stand

Yesterday I wrote a post in my blog "Dreams Do Come True" entitled "Stand". The focus was on the tradition of standing and placing our hand over our heart in honor of our American flag when she passes by- and how many Americans will stand simply because the crowd does, but they will not place their hand over their heart.

I ended the writing with the saying, "If you don't stand for something,  you'll fall for everything."


I don't know about you, but I personally have a fear of falling. It hurts. Then there's the scraped knees or busted ankle to deal with, taking a while to heal, and most of the time leaving me with a scar. 

 Looking back, most of those accidents could have been avoided had I  just paid a little more attention to what I was doing, and not rushing into some decisions without giving proper consideration to the potential outcome.


Some of the falls I have encountered in life that hurt the most- came later, during times I let complacency guide me. Most of those times I was spiritually lukewarm and living in the "all about me and my needs" phase of life. It's one of those pits you can easily slip in to and not even realize you've fallen until it starts to get dark and lonely.


These lukewarm days of living in Christ ( but not really living for Christ) produced some serious mental and spiritual falls, and they were very painful, taking years to heal the wounds, leaving some tender scars.


An excerpt from my journal during a season of recovery from one of those times reveals the importance of standing in the grace of God. I wrote this-


"The spring rains and thunderstorms are here to replenish and renew mother earth. The blooms of scattered jonquils in my yard, produced perhaps from another time of rain, washing the bulbs down the hill. There is no pattern or bed- just naturalized."


I am reading your word and praying for the thunderstorm in my life to wash over me and renew my soul- strengthen my connection to God. I am dedicating (standing) this season to focus on my renewed relationship to God and to continue to seek repentance (change ) in areas of my life that need correction. Today I read in Romans 5:1-


"Therefore (because of that), having been justified (to be proven right) by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we also have access by faith into the grace (unearned favor with God) in which we stand, and rejoice in the hope and glory of God.


And not only that, but we also have glory (praise) in tribulation, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance and perseverance, character and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."


My Bible foot notes says that biblical peace means having a right relationship with God and others. Spiritual peace describes a sense of well being and fulfillment that comes from God and is dependent on His presence alone.

God protects our heart and mind from fear and anxiety. It transcends all logic. To receive this protection I must always stand close to God. However, being human, if I slip, trip, and fall, He will understand and pick me up and heal my wounds, just as any loving father would. I just had to reach out one arm in love, repentance and trust. It was always my choice to give Him my hand...

Stand firm (believe) in God loved ones. Do it now, on your knees .Stand tall, hand on heart, pour out your deepest hurts, disappointments and falls. Reach out your hand, putting down your false guard (our pride), and let God go to battle for you, and your battle wounds will begin to heal.

It was a choice that saved my life. It can save yours too. Trust God, right now. Do it dear one. I'm praying for you.