Hello
How was your work week? Mine was hectic but very productive. And, with the winter showing up at full blast; for the first time in a long while I was truly saying “thank God it’s Friday!” As you can see from the time today’s Holy Nougat is posted, I have rested. It is very timely.
“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT
Several of us are challenged by the seasons of life; and in particular, the seasons in our own life. We fail to recognize them for what they are, and when we do; we often find it hard to actually embrace the new season.
Nature offers several lessons in adapting to the seasons – the hibernation of animals and trees is an awesome example. In the tropics, we might argue that hibernation doesn’t occur; but there’s a similar phenomenon with the plum tree, which goes leafless just about the time when it’s ready to produce fruit (That’s the one we call hog plum or Jamaican plum I think).
Interestingly, the dry twigs make a very nice fence. But, no matter how dry they seem; one of those dry fence posts invariably realizes that it’s stuck in soil, and it begins to take root and becomes a majestic fruit bearing tree!
How do you treat the seasons in your life? I wish I could say that I am an expert; unfortunately, I am not. But I am learning to recognize when I am tired. And rather than fight, I’m making time for rest. That however, is only one season. For me, there’s also time for creativity, dormancy; prayer, praise; basking, sorrow; celebration of life and coping with the loss of death.
What I am finding is that regardless of the season (and there are many others), My God, yes Our God is with us (Hebrew עִמָּנוּאֵל). As Refuge, Joy, Support, Comforter, Cheerleader, Peacemaker, Commander in Chief of the battles we face; Living Water in our dry season; Bread of Life when we are starving; Creative Power when we are stumped for ideas; and Personalized GPS system when we are lost in any way.
For everything there is a season, and there with us in every single aspect of our season, is Our God – just a prayer away. We may not understand or even sense God’s presence; but God is still with us, working things out through the best and the worst.
Good morning
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
