In Everything Teach & Ignite - guest post by Sheri Hathaway

 

  

For everything there is a season,

A time for every activity under heaven.

A time to be born and a time to die,

A time to plant and a time to harvest.

A time to kill and a time to heal.

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

A time to cry and a time to laugh.

A time to grieve and a time to dance.

A time to scatter stones and a times to gather stones. 

A time to embrace and a time to run away.

A time to search and a time to quit searching.

A time to keep and a time to throw away.

A time to tear and a time to mend. 

A time to be quiet 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, NLT version

This poem appears in the middle of a great piece of observance and reflection on life written by someone who calls himself the Preacher. We think it’s probably King Solomon because of his references to his life as a king. Nearing the end of his life, the Preacher is taking stock, looking back and reflecting on how it all played out. He records his thoughts as he moves through his memories, most of which bring him despair. He certainly had his reasons, having built a wealthy and powerful kingdom and then see it decline. In the end of his thoughts, he arrives at a conclusion of monumental importance to him and to us: the purpose of our lives is simply to enjoy it! Yes, enjoy what God has given us and praise him. 

The Preacher felt compelled to record his thoughts as they unfolded in his mind. Perhaps writing them down gave him a way to process them, but for us, his words hold lessons and inspiration, leading us to look at our own lives and pinpoint the priorities. 

Isn’t that also the purpose of a Christian writer today? Friends, the year is almost over. The past twelve months or more have had times for ‘every activity under heaven’. I challenge you, pick up your pen or open your Word document, and reflect on this year. Write your God-inspired thoughts with the intention to both teach and ignite praises to God. 

Join with Sheri Hathaway on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter (@sherismusing) as she divides her time between writing and watercolour painting, enjoying life on both the Canadian prairies and the West Coast. 

A Season of Uncertainty by Lynn Dove

One of my favourite Scripture passages comes from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8:

A Time for Everything

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

²     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

When I was a young Mom, I lamented over the fact that I had no time to accomplish all the things I wanted to do during the day.  I was so busy chasing after two toddlers, caring for their needs as well as figuring out how to accommodate the schedule of my tweenager, there just didn't seem to be enough hours in the day to fit in other household chores, Bible studies, or eking out time for daily devotions.  I had no time for myself, let alone trying to have a date night with my husband.  Getting ready for Sunday morning worship services was a task all on its own, and I found myself so spiritually unprepared for the service because I knew I had probably broken a few commandments on route to church just wrestling kids into car seats! 

A Godly, older woman I admired for her strength of character and wise counsel, spoke into my life on numerous occasions.  This time she smiled at me sympathetically as I sought out her wisdom with regards to my time constraints and my guilt for not being a "perfect" wife and mother. 

"Lynn," she said calmly, "there is time for everything, and everything in its time.  This is an important season of life for you.  ALL seasons of life are important, and your walk with God will be different in each one, but your main priority in this one is looking after those three children.  God gave them to you.  They are His gifts to you.  They are your responsibility to train up in the way they should go so they will never depart from it.  You may not be able to spend time on doing everything on your "to do" list, but embrace this season of life.  It is fleeting. Your children are only babies for a short amount of time.  Enjoy this precious time with them.  There will come other seasons in your life, when they will be grown up and you will have time for all the things you may think you're missing out on now, but you'll never have that time back with your young children. So, take advantage of this season of life now before it's over and then prepare for the ones ahead."

My first cancer diagnosis in 2001, changed me in ways I never expected.  All of a sudden things that had been priorities before, now were not important.  I was fighting for my life, and all activities were put on hold as I battled.  My entire family joined me on the journey.  I am only now beginning to realize how that season of my life, affected each of my loved ones in a variety of emotional and spiritual ways.  We all grew in the Lord, especially my sixteen year old daughter.  She had to lean entirely on Him for wisdom and guidance as she took on the role of caregiver to her two much younger siblings when I was too sick to look after them myself.  She was determined to not burden me with the load she carried every day, trying to excel at school, and be available at home.  I didn't realize at the time what a toll it was on her, but I couldn't have managed without her. 

I was so immersed in the battle, I forgot time even existed.  My husband's role fluctuated daily with caring for me, his children and working full time too.  It was an exhausting season for him.  Then when I was declared cancer-free, I started to embrace life again.  As a family, we took a big breath of relief and started making plans again.  I lived one day at a time, thankful for each day.  I wrote my first book during that season, followed by two more in the years that followed my battle with breast cancer.  I went to seminary and got my Master's degree.  I helped plan my daughter's wedding.  I began blogging.  As I told everyone, who seemed to admire my new-found lease on life, I was a "thriver" not just a "survivor".  I embraced that season wholeheartedly.

When my two youngest children hit their teen and young adult years, they had outside interests that didn't include me.  I was so immersed pursuing my hobbies, my writing, and participating in Bible Studies, that I forgot my priorities.  Sometimes I over-extended myself, having the inability to say, "No" to some activities.  It came at the expense of spending good, quality time with my two adolescent children still living at home.  Even though I was involved in worthwhile activities, I was not as engaged with my younger kids at a time when they needed me most.  It was a hard lesson to learn and a hard season followed. 

It was only after they had both moved away from home that I remembered too late, the advice from my friend that time is indeed fleeting, and I should have embraced all those precious years more readily with each of my children.  It seemed I had squandered a lot of time "chasing after the wind" to find a lot of what I had accomplished meaningless.  I was unprepared for being an empty-nester and so I poured my heart out to God, asking Him for direction through this new stage of life, and try to redeem some time again with my adult children.  God was faithful.

I started to write again, particularly on my blog, Journey Thoughts.  As the readership and followers grew, I realized God was growing it from just a collection of my musings, to a full-fledged writing ministry. I was once again fully immersed in a new season of writing, reconnecting with my children, husband, and my church.  Grandchildren were born, and I found myself telling my adult children the same advice that was given to me when they were little: embrace this season with your young ones because it is fleeting.  Thankfully, they seem to be heeding that advice.

In April of this year, when I was starting to settle into a routine with blog writing, and was eagerly embracing the thought of spending my retirement years traveling with my husband, another cancer diagnosis, this time endometrial cancer, floored me.  Every plan I had made was immediately put on hold.  I once again had to re-evaluate what my priorities would be moving through a new season of uncertainty.  In the scheme of things, time cannot move fast enough to get me through this season, and yet, God is teaching me so much about Himself through this most challenging time, I hesitate to rush through it too fast for fear of missing out on all He wants me to learn. 

My life verse: "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9, has brought me comfort through every one of my seasons.  God has faithfully brought me through every season of life and I know He will get me through the ones to follow. 

Lynn Dove is the award-winning author, of the YA “Wounded Trilogy”- a contemporary Christian fiction series with coming-of-age themes.  A wife, mom, grandmother, and free-lance writer with articles published in several magazines and anthologies including Chicken Soup for the Soul books, her blog, “Journey Thoughts” is a Canadian Christian Writing Award winner.  Readers may connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and at lynndove.com   

Embracing Your Life’s Season(s) by Sandi Somers

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT

by Love Institute

This month’s topic has been interesting, as my thoughts have shifted from one way of looking at seasons to another.

As a former teacher, September meant a new teaching year for me, a new term, a new cycle of learning. On the home front, late summer and fall means picking my apples and harvesting my vegetables.

These two themes—a new season and reaping what the previous season has produced—have become metaphors for what autumn means in my life.

A new season of personal growth

I’ve noticed over the years that God has given me what I call “three-month” seasons, new “semesters” of learning. Often these cycles begin with a challenge or a change of focus in an ongoing process of challenge, such as a difficult relationship issue. Or an area of character development as a Christ-follower. Or an area to take courage and trust Him. As I walk through the unknowns, He wants me to take one step at a time, one experience at a time. Sometimes I'm not sure what God wants to accomplish in me and in others, but often it’s only in retrospect that I see God's resolution and I hear His "Well done, good and faithful servant."

A new season of ministry

God is surprising me in this season with new leadership and ministries.

One example came recently when I visited my cousin Gene in the hospital. Just as I entered the foyer, I unexpectedly met a neighbour, Lanny, and her two young daughters. Through her tears, she told me her father had just had a massive heart attack and wasn’t expected to live. (He died several days later). I was filled with awe and wonder at how God had arranged my meeting with Lanny at just the right moment.

Afterwards, I asked God to strategically give me more Divine encounters, where I could provide comfort, support, healing, or prayer for others—whatever they needed. I knew He was already doing this, but I want to open my life in a greater way to see God heal, encourage and support others.

A season of maturity 

Over my life I have gathered wide experiences with their challenges in forming my character, attitudes, relationships and spiritual life. Many of these experiences are bearing fruit now in my senior years—and will. I know that some of my most important life's work is yet to come. And I am not alone. Jack Popjes, one of our InScribers, wrote that his ministry path has widened, not narrowed in his senior years. My life purposes will continue as long as God wants me to live.

A season of asking Jesus for my future needs

Jesus heals Bartimaeus 

This month’s theme asked us to consider our current season in life and ponder the question Jesus asked Bartimaeus, “What do you want Me to do for you?” (A prompt suggested by Sharon Espeseth. Read her blog here) 

So through all these seasons I’m asking Jesus to deepen my faith and relationship with Him.

To maintain a positive and cheerful attitude as energies decline and when health issues arise.

To support, mentor and encourage the younger generations in my family and others.

To use my talents and abilities as long as I can, and this includes writing. My Mom and a neighbour were inspirations for me in this area. Mom prepared food for the Mustard Seed Street Ministry until she was ninety-two. Mabel prayed faithfully for her family until she passed away at 102.

To finish well.

To leave a legacy of faith and inspiration.

~ ~ ~

As I write this blog post, I know that God has a divine purpose for us in all of our seasons.

How would you describe your season(s) at this time? Is it a pleasant gift or are your difficulties gifts in disguise? What do you want Jesus to do for you? In turn, what is He asking you to do?

Whatever your season, God is urging you to launch out with His daily strength and direction. 

“Now may the God of peace…equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever!” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NLT).