Sunday, March 20, 2011

Seasons

Sorry, this isn't about the weather...its about the seasons of life. I've been getting a lot of clarity lately about the direction of my life (from various books, messages, and other sources). Has anyone else ever wondered why some things are so much harder to achieve or attain than you would have ever imagined? So much so that it sorta becomes your biggest mission to achieve/attain it? Its like you almost obsess over it. Well, I've never fully obsessed, but rather constantly tried to figure out how to achieve/attain the unattainable it seems. I'm not even talking about anything tangible, but just dreams, goals, and emotions. My goals and desires have changed over the last two years, surprisingly. I never thought I would have a greater passion for anything more than my previous desires. God works in mysterious ways! Its not that I've given up hope on previous dreams, but I've just gotten a great sense of what I want more than others. Two very wise women recently mentioned to me, in so many words that God wants us to be content in the season we're in. I can't honestly say that I feel 100% content, but I feel content enough not to do anything erratic. So I'm reading Ecclesiastes 3:1-22, which I've shared below. Please share your thoughts and any scriptures that you think are relevant to this topic directly in my post or on facebook. Thank you and God bless...

Ecclesiastes 3
A Time for Everything
 1 There is a time for everything,
   and a season for every activity under the heavens:
 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 from embracing,
 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 do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their 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 people will fear him.
 15 Whatever is has already been,
   and what will be has been before;
   and God will call the past to account.[b]
 16 And I saw something else under the sun:
   In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
   in the place of justice—wickedness was there.
 17 I said to myself,
   “God will bring into judgment
   both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
   a time to judge every deed.”
 18 I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. 19 Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath[c]; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”
 22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?

3 comments:

  1. I think this is great. I've been hearing so much about seasons, and how important it is to recognize the season you're in, and make decisions accordingly! Like Pastor Rod says - if you're in a season of $20k a year - you can't AFFORD a $70k car! Of course, this is an extreme example, but it's important to realize where you are, and to work towards being prepared for the next season (saving, tithing, etc) so that you don't get stuck in a bad season for a long time.

    Also, something he gave us on Sunday, if you're not happy where you're at, don't wait for your employer to give you a raise, or pay you what you think you're worth (which may be more or less than you think... lol!) He preached on entreprenuership, and making your own way, finding a nitch, and making it happen for yourself. I thought that was a great word, and it really inspired me to do more.

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  2. I also like "a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing"...I feel like I'm in that transition period where I am refraining from embracing where I am and am looking to my next season. :)

    I also like the part about God's gift to us on earth: "know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God."...

    He really does what us to enjoy life to the fullest, and it seems He is saying we get there by working hard and doing good for the Kingdom. :)

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  3. ROFL at Pastor Rod! I know that's right. He seems to have a passion for making your own way, and it makes sense, the book I'm reading suggests that as well! @Sarah - you're right embracing. I didn't realize that and it helps me feel better about getting anxious and wanting more instead of living in the moment...

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