Posted in The Beauty Of Gods Provision

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time for every purpose, under Heaven

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time for every purpose, under Heaven

A time to build up,a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time for every purpose, under Heaven

A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time for every purpose, under Heaven

A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time to love, a time to hate
A time for peace, I swear it's not too late

I remember that song by the Byrds, and also the passage in Ecclesiastes 3 so well (the above is a bit of a mix). It really is true that there are different seasons in each person's life, and we must be willing to accept those changes, to move on to the next stages of our journey in Christ and life.   Sometimes transitions are smooth, and sometimes they are gut-wrenchingly hard.  

My Mom uses the phrase " When the grace umbrella moves we better move with it or we'll get pummeled by the downfall."  In Exodus 13:21 The Lord went ahead of the Israelites as a "cloud of pillar by day and a pillar of fire by night, to give them light so they could travel."  One day they were moving forward and the next they were told to go back and camp near Pi Hahirath.  It may have seemed that they were taking two steps forward and one step back, but as long as the Lord was leading them they were safe.  Sometimes we have to trust God even when we can't see ahead.  We don't always know the season's we are about to embark upon, but one thing is for sure . . . as long as our hearts and spirits are fixated on Christ, as our solid foundation, there will be no shifting sand.

There are lots of changes going on in our life right now - some pleasant, and some not.  We've just come out of a very hard, but incredibly fruitful season, and have entered a new one.  The seasons must change, and we must be ready to embrace all that God has for us to learn in each one.  He is our ROCK, our fortress, our deliverer and in Him we will trust. I love that oldie, but goodie hymn . . .

Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

  ~ Edward Mote (1797-1874) ~

It is a great reminder that the world will change, and doubts, struggles and the cares of this world will try to invade, but as long as our faith is in Christ, our anchor is strong. He will never leave us or forsake us, and He is always the light that makes our path straight.  Thank you Lord for your grace, mercy and love towards us.  We don't ever want to step outside of your will or the covering which you have placed over our lives.  It is in YOU we trust during this season of change.

<>< Kelly