Seasons

Seasons, we have them in nature and we have them in our lives.  Right now, here in South Carolina, we are beginning to enjoy Spring (although not the pollen that comes with it).  Ecclesiastes 3:1-9 says:

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:   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.

This is true for the ladies of One Purpose and our families.  We are experiencing a change of season in our lives as well.  In two weeks The Christys will celebrate the marriage of their daughter Ann-Marie to Tyler.  The Beachams experienced this change almost three years ago when their son Jimmy married their daughter-in-love Lindsey and this fall they will become grandparents as Jimmy and Lindsey welcome twins into their family.  The Greers have already sent their daughter Blakely off to college two years ago, but this fall will send their youngest and last at home, Jordan, off to college as well, and become “Empty Nesters.”   In the midst of all these wonderful seasons, we are all experiencing the season of either caring for or helping with elderly parents.  This brings with it some challenges that are at times very difficult.

One of the songs we love to sing is Desert Song (by Brooke Fraser).  Read the verses here:

This is my prayer in the desert
When all that’s within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides

This is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flame

This is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on its way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I’ll stand

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I’m filled to be emptied again
The seed I’ve received I will sow 

These verses seem to represent the different seasons in our life.  Some of our seasons seem like we are in a desert, while others feel like we are going through the fire.  Still others seem like we are in the battle of our lives.  Thankfully, there are seasons that are like a harvest when things are good.  The bridge of the song brings the message home though.  It says:

All of my life, in ev’ry season, You are still God.  I have a reason to sing.  I have a reason to worship.

That is truth!  No matter what season you are in — whether the desert, the fire, the battle or the harvest — He is still God and you do have a reason to sing and to worship.  No matter where we are in life — no matter the season — there are four things that are true about God:  1) He is completely sovereign; 2) He is infinite in wisdom; 3) He is perfect in love; and 4) He is good.

So, rejoice in whatever season you are in, even if it’s a hard one.  God is faithful and will bring you through to the next season and you will be more like Jesus because of it.  Romans 8:28-29 tells us that the Lord takes “all things” and uses them for our good to make us more like Jesus.

As we — the ladies of One Purpose — go through our seasons, would you pray for us and our families.  Pray for a blessed and beautiful day on April 13th for The Christys as they celebrate and for Ann-Marie and Tyler as they begin their life together as husband and wife; pray for Lindsey Beacham and the twins — for safety and protection for her and the babies these next 6 1/2 months and for Jimmy as he prepares to be “dad”; and for The Greers as they celebrate Jordan’s graduation from high school and then prepare to send her off to college.  Pray for all of us as we care for and lend help to our elderly parents.

Let us know how we can pray for you, too, in whatever season you are in.  We would be honored to do that.