A time for everything and a season for everything

Days are getting shorter. Temperatures are dropping and soon the leaves will begin to put on their magnificent colors. It can only mean one thing. Fall is here. When we come to the fall, we see the apparent transition from life to death. Leaves let go from their branches and flowers wither and brown. The high point is one final burst of color from the trees and then the starkness of winter takes grip until spring once again emerges several months from now. With all of this transition and death we sometimes lose focus on what is actually happening. Life is beginning again. Without the falling away of the current leaves the new shoots could not grow and the trees would fail and die, but with the falling of the leaves come the spreading of the seeds to complete the cycle. Something new is being birthed. We cannot see the immediate results of the process but we will eventually see the seed sprout into a sapling and then grow into a new tree that will grow and shed its own leaves.

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read there is a time for everything and a season for everything. Most of us have a favorite season. I love the fall evening blue sky. It is so majestic and bold. In our lives we have our favorite seasons as well. Some are full of life like the spring and still others seem stark and cold like winter. When our children leave for college although we feel the heat of the summer, in our hearts, we experience the fall of transition to an empty nest. The heat of the summer drives the roots down deeper to search for water and in our lives during the summer we seek the same thing. Adversities and trials come and we search for the cool water of much-needed counsel. The seasons of our lives are very real and each one of us regardless of want has to go through them.

If you find yourself going through a tough season, I have a great promise of Scripture for you. In the same chapter of Ecclesiastes in verse 11 Solomon writes, that He, that is God, has made everything beautiful in its time. The hardship or struggle that you are going through will come to an end and you will make it through the summer, fall, and winters. At the end of your journey, a new growth has started. The fresh green lushness of the meadow now stands where decay once was. In our hearts, God does the same work. The sin in our lives that kept us from a true relationship with God was taken by Jesus Christ and placed on the cross. Because of his winter, we now can have spring, a new life in Him. He died so that you and I could live. Solomon was right ? there is a time for everything, and now is the time to recognize the creator and accept this free gift of salvation.

If you want to find out more about this journey with Christ, come visit with us. Our services are Sunday 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. We are located at 1602 E. Washington St. You can find out more about us on facebook and follow us on twitter.