Spring, summer, autumn...
Seasons.
Seasons come.
Seasons go.
Seasons are here for a time, and fade into another;
Difficult to tell when one leaves and another comes...
but, seasons are always consistent,
always changing, always moving into another.
Whether weather, or life, seasons continually change.
We arrive in one season, then in only a short while, we are begging for the next...we simply are not satisfied. We long for what we do not have. In summer, we long for cooler days, in winter, we long for warmer days. When it's gloomy; "Where's the sunshine?" Then, when the sun is out, we long for a gloomy day so we can pull out a good book, kick back, and relax.
When we are single, we long for marriage, when married, we long for children, when we have children, we long for the time they are gone, and when they are gone, we long for children once again, then, that's when we have found most people get "DOGS!" Ok, sorry if I offended you "little" dog people, but it's true; so it seems :). We have a CAT! It was for the kids, but yes, it's a "baby" too!
Why can we not be content with where God has put us in our lives? Paul says in Philippians 4:11, "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." Paul found a way to be content, to be happy in God alone, wherever he was, and whatever he was doing.
When someone says we must be like Paul, we can't, because we are not all single men. He had no one else to think about, worry about, or provide for other than himself. What a blessing for those who have chosen to follow wholeheartedly in Paul's footsteps and remain single, but we must take Paul's heart of following and apply it to who and where we are in God's world, and in this season of life he has us in at the moment.
I believe once we know God's will, seek to obey Him, and not the world or culture, then it becomes easier to be content. Life becomes difficult when we listen and look to our peers, to the world, TV, radio, sales papers, catalogs; then, our vision of God's will becomes quite hazy. Or, when His will collides with our own initiatives, our agendas, our desires, our wants and wishes. We tend to fall off-track once again, til we see chaos around us and we look again to God and His ways, His paths, His desires and, when we line up with Him, He can bless beyond what any of us desire.
Go here to read an excerpt of a book by John MacArthur called Found: God's Will. (The giveaway is over, but the book is a super read!) Go here to buy it for $1.50!
In knowing God's will, are we in obedience? Are we willing to obey all He has called us to in this season of life? Reading His words, are we willing to sacrifice our own desires for God's desires? Are we willing to sacrifice what we want for what God wants? To fully obey His will, His commands, His desires, His heart?
Seasons of our lives will change for us as men and women, as we go through life. As women, we may have a career for a time, then we may be mothers for season, then again if God chooses, we may enter the career season once more. God's will does not change, we just move into different phases, different seasons of it. Are we willing to sacrifice one for the other?
With each season of life, I am convicted every time I pick up His words, for they pierce my heart; "the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
I pray you will let God look into your heart, and allow Him to pierce your soul, to examine your intentions. Don't be sad or upset if He brings convictions; know it is the working of His Holy Spirit in your life to bring you into alignment with Him. God's word is always clear, and right, and true.
So, "let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Heb. 4:16.
Where are you in your season of life?
Do you find joy where God has you at this time?
Let me know your thoughts and encouraging words...
Follow along, by clicking in the sidebar to follow and by signing up to have the posts joyfully sent to your email address whenever a new one is posted. I love hearing from friends...
Always Experiencing Him,
Jody
Seasons.
Seasons come.
Seasons go.
Seasons are here for a time, and fade into another;
Difficult to tell when one leaves and another comes...
but, seasons are always consistent,
always changing, always moving into another.
Whether weather, or life, seasons continually change.
We arrive in one season, then in only a short while, we are begging for the next...we simply are not satisfied. We long for what we do not have. In summer, we long for cooler days, in winter, we long for warmer days. When it's gloomy; "Where's the sunshine?" Then, when the sun is out, we long for a gloomy day so we can pull out a good book, kick back, and relax.
When we are single, we long for marriage, when married, we long for children, when we have children, we long for the time they are gone, and when they are gone, we long for children once again, then, that's when we have found most people get "DOGS!" Ok, sorry if I offended you "little" dog people, but it's true; so it seems :). We have a CAT! It was for the kids, but yes, it's a "baby" too!
Why can we not be content with where God has put us in our lives? Paul says in Philippians 4:11, "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." Paul found a way to be content, to be happy in God alone, wherever he was, and whatever he was doing.
When someone says we must be like Paul, we can't, because we are not all single men. He had no one else to think about, worry about, or provide for other than himself. What a blessing for those who have chosen to follow wholeheartedly in Paul's footsteps and remain single, but we must take Paul's heart of following and apply it to who and where we are in God's world, and in this season of life he has us in at the moment.
Go here to read an excerpt of a book by John MacArthur called Found: God's Will. (The giveaway is over, but the book is a super read!) Go here to buy it for $1.50!
In knowing God's will, are we in obedience? Are we willing to obey all He has called us to in this season of life? Reading His words, are we willing to sacrifice our own desires for God's desires? Are we willing to sacrifice what we want for what God wants? To fully obey His will, His commands, His desires, His heart?
Seasons of our lives will change for us as men and women, as we go through life. As women, we may have a career for a time, then we may be mothers for season, then again if God chooses, we may enter the career season once more. God's will does not change, we just move into different phases, different seasons of it. Are we willing to sacrifice one for the other?
With each season of life, I am convicted every time I pick up His words, for they pierce my heart; "the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
I pray you will let God look into your heart, and allow Him to pierce your soul, to examine your intentions. Don't be sad or upset if He brings convictions; know it is the working of His Holy Spirit in your life to bring you into alignment with Him. God's word is always clear, and right, and true.
So, "let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Heb. 4:16.
Where are you in your season of life?
Do you find joy where God has you at this time?
Let me know your thoughts and encouraging words...
Follow along, by clicking in the sidebar to follow and by signing up to have the posts joyfully sent to your email address whenever a new one is posted. I love hearing from friends...
Always Experiencing Him,
Jody
2 comments:
I'm in a busy season. Also I'm realizing the older I get the more there is to learn about. Wonderful post, Jody!!! See you soon!!!!
Missy
I agree with you, Missy! It seems like the older we get, the less we know too! I always appreciate your kind words!
Can't wait til we all get together!
Always Experiencing Him,
Jody
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