Seasons

Seasons

If someone were to ask us what our favorite season is, we can usually provide a quick, emphatic answer! For me, I would speedily reply with, “Fall - Hayrides, sweaters & scarves, bonfires, and pumpkin everything are just a few of my favorite things!” It’s easy to love everything about our favorite season, but if someone were to ask us to find some pleasant things about our least favorite time of the year, would we be able to respond with the same enthusiasm? So similar are the seasons in our life. We can effortlessly love the easy times in life when things are going well. Yet, we find it difficult to rejoice in times of pain. Scripture tells us, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Therefore, no matter how difficult or demanding a trial may be, there is hope of a new season ahead! We can always learn to find positive things about the season we are in. This type of uncertainty and change can often be intimidating and unnerving! Thankfully, there is an ever-constant God to whom we can cling. Malachi 3:6 says, “For I am the LORD, I change not”. James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning”. Our future is secured in Him, for He knows every part of our being and every detail about the season in which we find ourselves. 

Written By Laura Leach

And He Shall Be Like A Tree

"And he shall be like a tree…”

"And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
Psalms 1:3 KJV

I was using my phone screen to give off a soft light in the early morning hours, needing to be dressed for my morning run without waking my husband. My screen kept timing out. I thought to open my Bible app to keep the light shining longer. My finger must have touched verses I had highlighted in my moments of devotion. One in particular popped up on my screen- Psalms 1:3. This scripture has a special meaning to me because I had prayed for God to give one word at the beginning of the year that would be my focus of change for the new year. Tree was the word He had spoken to my heart. I searched scriptures that would back up my word and this one jumped out at me. I admit time has taken control of my mind and I haven't thought about this scripture in a couple months. However, I would like to think that in the hustle of my morning, He wanted to remind me of my special word and what it means to me. To be a tree that is planted by the waters means to be rooted, growing, by a continuous source of life. A tree may go through rough seasons that could be deadly, but it stands firm and plugged into that source that gives it constant nourishment. Our focus through the messages delivered by Pastor Tibbs has been on prayer and staying connected to God so that we can bring forth fruits of the spirit. Love, peace, joy, longsuffering....some of these may come easier than others, but through Him we'll flourish to our full potential as long as we continue to stay planted by rivers of living water.

-Submitted By Darla Dean