Thursday, June 11, 2009

SEASONS

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens...

...a time to be born and a time to die...

...a time to plant and a time to uproot...

...a time to kill and a time to heal...

...a time to tear down and a time to build...

...a time to weep and a time to laugh...

...a time to mourn and a time to dance...

...a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them...

...a time to embrace and a time to refrain...

...a time to search and a time to give up...

...a time to keep and a time to throw away...

...a time to tear and a time to mend...

...a time to be silent and a time to speak...














...a time to love and a time to hate...

...a time for war and a time for peace...


Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, TNIV

17 comments:

Larry Usher said...

Flexibility within the Spirit filled life: knowing when the time is right- requires "just-in-time" faith and moment-by-moment relationship.

Larry Usher said...

REGRET:

Reliving
Endlessly
Gross
Reinterpretations of
Events/
Torments

Anonymous said...

This is an example of wisdom by observation.

It is probably a favorite quote by many Americans. I like to quote the beginning of it for my own reasons and I especially like the version quoted here. "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens..." For me this says that it is time for me right now and those things that I have been made aware of, by communicating with Holy Spirit and others who are like minded, to be revealed for their specific purpose to be accomplished. I like the plural use of the word heavens here and see it as a better application of where the action is taking place. I also love the picture of the little girl in a time to keep silent and a time to speak. I see something like her often when the light of my imagination is dimming and it always makes me smile.

Without reservation the positive side of these times are more appealing to me. In continuity with that thought all that can be said is, it must be time for peace, healing and building. As that happens there will definately be dancing.

Northern Light said...

To everything turn turn turn , there is a season.......
And a time for every purpose under Heaven.........
A time for Peace, I swear it's not too late!

Can't stop that tune in my head today now.

Peace,
Northern Light

JR said...

Haven't been on the blog in a while
I've been dealing with a lot of stuff that. So I would appreciate it if you would keep me in your prayers.

Anonymous said...

Carpe Diem... Seize not only the day, but Seize the SEASON that you are in right now...whatever it may be. Enjoy where you are... learn from where you are... experience all that you can in the season in which you are.

We need to enjoy the "season" we are in. Enjoy "summer" and stop wishing for "fall"... so that when "fall" arrives you won't be wishing you had enjoyed "summer"
make sense?

Soak in all your heart can hold.

Brenda said...

It took me a moment to embrace this season of my life but now that I have I am enjoying retirement. The Life Skills classes has been a great help and I now wake up full of life expecting great things for the day.

Yesterday I was looking at Oprah and she had a young lady on the show that was in a car accident and her face was just messed up but she said I don't see the destorted face but the face of the pretty lady I once was, therefore she was happy to be alive. I thought to myself that was a streech because how could she say that. Last night I got the answer when you said the spirit of man sees more than the natural eye sees.
It also helped me to understand my cousin better with the stuff she is trying to take me through when you said the only reason you would judge someone is that you are judging yourself. I can see that because she knows she has wronged me but I can forgive her and not allow her to take me out of my zone. I went back to look at my notes and I said this is good stuff. If you keep putting out the bread I will keep feeding and sharing with others.

Northern Light said...

JR....come and spend a minute in the the prayer room. W2O3RG, many prayer filled "family members" hang out there, besides here.
In any case, know that you're covered in prayer~

Peace,
Northern Light

Unknown said...

...becoming like children...

...refreshing perspective on Eccl.3!

SCRIBE said...

Seasons.... sometimes they change gradually, so much so that we barely notice until we take a break from all that we have been busy with, then stop to take a look around us, assessing all that seemed to "come out of nowhere". However, we were in the midst of the change all along, just didn't take notice of those gradual shiftings.

Other times, it seems that the seasons change quickly, when actually it may simply be a sudden / drastic change in the weather around us. Therefore, we must be prepared at all times, being versatile to transition along with the varying temperatures, keeping enough clothes / covering with us that we may shell off / shed some when it gets too hot and humid, yet not totally doing away with our cold weather gear in case those dark hours bring on unexpected winds, hail, sleet, etc. Yet, whenever the sun does appear, it brings about magnificent light regardless of the seasons, where at the same time of year in a different place, the seasons tend to differ where some may be living it up on the beach while others are busy cleaning up after the storms.

As long as we dwell in GOD, we shall be able to endure through all seasons, for the Holy Spirit may serve as an umbrella and covering in the monsoons and our shade tree in the hot and humid times. And before we even recognize the adjustments that were made for the sake of survival, our seasons may have shifted once again into the Autumn where the colors change, the foliage is shed and many things alike go into hibernation. And when the Spring arrives, everything is made new, and it is time to plant again for preparation of future seasons.

Lise said...

Awesome tree pic! And NL, I'm humming along with ya! Ah, the oldies... songs, that is!

Izumi/JOY said...

What this says to me is everything is God's design. Even time. Occasions? Already noted on His calendar.

Man, it's ancient.

There's a time for contractions

A time to stop

A time for Solomon's seal, daffodil and lady's mantle. A time for sedum and laurel and baby's breath. For coral bells and globe thistle.

A time to sing; a time to whistle

A time for lamb's ears, and creeping phlox

For sweet Alyssum in window boxes

For bug zappers, and Iodine

For sand castles, sand fleas, and Calamine

For Legos, and painted toes

For periwinkles, and ice-cold sprinkler sprays

Faucet's fun familiar gurgles

Wisteria-delirious, perfumed pergolas

There's a time for family pets to exit

Time to house-sit for friends, away

A time to slow dance on the back patio

To sway to grilled briquettes aglow

A time to clean a fish bowl's gravel

Or rake my mental Zen-like pebbles - yay!

Time to babble songs I hardly know

Time for a bear hug, to cut a rug, a pie or even ties

There's time to clean the 'fridge

A time to speed-dial Domino's

A time to rip my favorite old Levis

And a time for a new quilt patch

A time to refuse to retort

Another to trumpet, "God made me like this. Help 'em Lord!"

There's a time for sage and a time for starflowers.

And, dear God, take Your time - bless the cosmos.

Iris said...

Seasons… Some known… but some leave you with a question “Why?”… I’m not sure how it all works… I’m not sure why God does things the way He does… But one thing I know for sure… Is God will be God no matter what season we are in…

Last weekend I had to get away… I was not sure where I was going but I knew I was going to drive until I hit water… After the decision made that West was defiantly out of the question, I went south. I knew if I could sit on the beach somewhere, and be quiet, maybe I could tune into God who I desperately needed to speak up in the microphone.

Before my feet hit the sand, God started to show up… I won’t go into every detail, as I am still absorbing it all… but, I want to tell you one instant out of many how God spoke… I was driving back to my hotel room from the store, when I said one very minor word spoken in a passing thought, one small instant in hours of questions and a lot of confusing answers, one passing quest for a moment of enjoyment, in a long weekend of tears… I said “I would really love to see some dolphins. That was it. It wasn’t heartfelt or strived… it was more said with a sigh…

Then after a long weekend of God speaking moments… I was ready to leave, I decided to walk out on to the balcony and take one last look at the ocean before driving home. Once again I sighed, knowing that my life is going to go into a direction I would rather not go… it is definitely not my first choice for two very significant and cherished relationships in my life… But knowing that this path would be one I had to walk through… and in the end God would be God, and I will be fine…and I will chose to see this through the “Tree of Life.”

Then in an instant I saw them… plain as the nose on my face… God sent the dolphins… And with a still small voice, He whispered in my spirit… “I am here… I know what you are going through… I know every detail of your desires… I even know about the dolphins.”

As tears streamed down my cheeks… I felt God very present that very moment…

Even though this season in my life is one of many questions and tears… God is always here, ever loving…never leaving… He knows every detail… even down to the dolphins.

My future seen through the Tree Of Life… I love you all…
Iris

Anonymous said...

I love the pics of the children. It feels as if they are seeing through the Tree of Life.
Sissie

Pastor Nancy said...

Thank you Bishop-
That was beautiful

Iris said...

Come to the orchard in spring, there is life and wine and sweethearts in the pomegranate flowers. If you don’t come… these do not matter…If you do come these do not matter…

(Rumi – Poet of the heart)

River said...

Seasonal Seasons
Emotional Seasons
Seasons Of The Soul
Seasons May Last The Night
BUT
Joy Comes In The Morning