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- RESTING/REFLECTING/RENEWING
SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 8:22- "As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day, and night.”
PSALM 74:15-17
15 You caused the springs and streams to gush forth, and you dried up rivers that never run dry.
16 Both day and night belong to you; you made the starlight and the sun.
17 You set the boundaries of the earth, and you made both summer and winter.
Galatians 6:9- “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessings if we don’t give up.”
A king had four sons. To teach them an important lesson he decided to ask them to visit a cherry tree in the deep forest of their kingdom.
During the peak winter, he asked his eldest son to go and see the tree and write a description of the tree. The prince came back and told that the tree is barren, old, and hopeless. Not even birds are coming near the tree. It looks useless and maybe it is better to cut it down and use the wood before it rots.
During the middle of the spring, the king asked his second son to visit the tree and write a description of the tree. The prince came back and told that the tree is not barren, rather it is full of beautiful cherry blossoms and looks young and promising. The tree is surrounded by butterflies and bees who are enjoying its flowers.
Then, in the summer the king sent his third son to go to see the tree and come back with a description. When the prince returned, he told that there are no blossoms, rather the tree is loaded with delicious cherries and looked mature and valuable. Many birds are living on the tree and enjoying the fruits.
Finally, in autumn the king asked his youngest son to visit the tree and bring back a description of the tree. The prince returned and described that the tree now has no fruit or flowers as his brothers described. But it looks beautiful with its colored leaves with lovely shades of gold, red and orange. It looks like an ideal object for a painting.
Then the wise king asked his sons “What did you learn from this experience?”
The other three princes were still thinking when the youngest son shared his understanding:
· Like the tree, we experience different seasons of life and we are greatly affected by them.
· We should not judge our life based on only the current season in our life.
· Every season has a purpose.
· No matter what the current season is, it will change again.
As I end, remember that we need to stop waking things up before we are ready for them because they may destroy us.
Please continue to listen every 1st Thursday of the month to TOUCHED BY MERCY & LIVING ON GRACE PODCAST.
You can find us on FB, Instagram, Google, Apple iTunes, Spotify, Buzzsprout, and YouTube. Continue to share, tell a friend, tell somebody.
3 $25 gift cards giveaway to Amazon, Walmart, and Visa Wednesday, February 1!
Remember my sisters and brothers, it takes GRACE TO MAKE IT!
Remember my sisters and brothers, it takes GRACE TO MAKE IT!