‘TIS THE SEASON: AS WE JOURNEY INTO A NEW SEASON IN OUR LIFE, LET US REFLECT ON OUR LIFE, THE CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED, AND THE THINGS THAT HAVE SHAPED US. WHEN WE FINISH, LET’S THANK GOD FOR ALLOWING US EVERY DAY A NEW CHANCE TO START OVER, TO BECOME BETTER, AND FOR HIS MERCY THAT IS NEW EVERY DAY. WHEN WE ACCEPT JESUS AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, WE CAN BREATHE KNOWING THAT THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION AND WE HAVE THE ASSURANCE THAT THERE IS RESTORATION AND REDEMPTION IN EVERY SEASON OF OUR LIFE.
INTRODUCTION: ‘TIS THE SEASON: WINTER- PAUSE/SHIFT/CHANGE
SCRIPTURE: ECCLESLATES 3:1, 11, 15
1 “For everything, there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.”
11 “Yet, God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.
15 “What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.
“Tis the Season to be Jolly” and some of the lyrics in the song deal with the old year passing away and the new year coming. It deals with joy, winds, and weather and even though winter does not seem like the best time to celebrate, it really should be. This is why this season of Touched by Mercy and living on Grace is dealing with the seasons of life using the seasons that God created: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall in the spiritual aspects.
The first season that I wanted to reflect on is one of the seasons I have dreaded and rushed through for many years and the one we are in right now is Winter. I would begin to dread the winter season as soon as Daylight Savings Time would take effect and I would look into the next year to see when Daylight Ending Time would start, it starts March 12. But after this study, God has given me a new perspective and reminder of just how wonderful and helpful Winter is for my mind, body, and spirit.
He reminded me of some of the things I learned in science years ago. On December 21, 2022, around 4:47 pm Eastern time, the Earth goes into Winter Solstice. During this time, the Earth is closest to the sun and for 3 whole days, the axis of the Earth-PAUSES, SHIFTS, AND MOVES in the opposite direction. During this time, we may physically, mentally, and spiritually experience the standstill and shift of direction. I believe this is what God wants us to do in the Winter seasons of our lives, when the nights are long, the days are short, hard, cold, and even cruel. When it seems as if God and everyone around us are quiet, no one understands and you feel alone. This is the season when God is asking us to slow down, be quiet, and listen.
This season in our life is about God giving us rest, an ending and a new beginning, a time to reflect, and a time to dissect ourselves. During this time we should be preparing, experiencing patience, and hope. This is the season when God gives us new visions, new inspirations, and new ideas.
We see our shadow more in the winter, this is why we should pause and see that overshadow what God is trying to do in our lives, it should cause me to shift from being focused on ourselves to the things and goodness of God, and it is when we begin to seek changes that line of with the will of God because we have been resting, listening to God, and clearing out our mind and heart. 'Tis the season, because just like the seasons repeat themselves, things in our life will repeat and each new season grows us to deal with whatever comes our way.
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Gift Card Drawing: February 1
Remember my sisters and brothers, it takes GRACE TO MAKE IT!
Remember my sisters and brothers, it takes GRACE TO MAKE IT!