The Same in Every Season
Summer is coming to an end.
Classes are starting and children are returning to school.
Vacations are winding down.
Even the temperature in the air feels like it’s getting cooler.
Before you know it Fall will be here, my favorite season.
I love the rich colors and the crisp air.
But I do not love every season of life.
Some seasons in our lives bring unexpected and unwanted changes.
A sudden illness.
The death of a relationship.
Plans not turning out the way we hoped for or wanted.
Sometimes the news we get knocks us off our balance, and leaves us desperate to gain some sense of normalcy or control.
We search for something or someone to grasp onto.
That’s when I hold onto Him.
The One who never changes.
Not with the seasons.
Not with our circumstances.
Not ever.
Some changes are good, some are hard.
But whatever kind of season you find yourself in, trust that He is with you through it all.
And I am so grateful for that.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 ESV
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Like a Child
It doesn’t matter how old I get.
The sight of a merry go round instantly brings me back to my childhood.
From choosing my horse to listening to the organ music,
I am magically turned back into a little girl.Even though there was no real destination on the carousel, the journey on that ride felt like you were in another world.
Maybe it was the childlike wonder of it all.
There is a destination that requires that same childlike thinking.
Heaven.
God tells us in His word that whoever humbles himself to become like a child will enter His gates.
That doesn’t mean we have to become children again, but become like a child.
Teachable.
Humble.
Full of awe and wonder.
As adults, it’s easy to believe we know what’s best.
That we know better than God.
As we grow into adults, we change our way of thinking.
It’s easy to drift from that childlike faith.
But no matter how old we get, our Heavenly Father reminds us we are all children.
His children.
My prayer for you today is that you see Him with the awe and wonder of a child.
“Jesus called a little one to his side and said to them, “Learn this well: Unless you dramatically change your way of thinking and become teachable like a little child, you will never be able to enter in. Whoever continually humbles himself to become like this little child is the greatest one in heaven’s kingdom realm.”
Matthew 18:2-4 TPT
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The Beauty Ahead
Right lane closed ahead.
I was too far now to turn around and find another route.
Going through the construction zone was the only option.
What was being built would eventually make getting to my final destination easier.
But for now, it looked like everything had been torn apart.
And then there was the wait.
Before my thoughts could allow me to become upset with the extra time tacked onto my schedule, out of the corner of my eye I saw a butterfly.
A beautiful sight among all the concrete and machinery.
An incredible reminder that we can find beauty even when the path is not easy.
Maybe we are being rerouted or rebuilt.
The time might be longer than expected.
But regardless of the path, we can always find beauty as God leads us along the way.
Going through the construction zones in our lives won’t last forever.
But the beauty ahead that we can’t see now will.
Until then, I am grateful for the reminders that He provides that there is beauty right where we are.
We just need to look for it.
“So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.”
2 Corinthians 4:16, 18 MSG
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His Promises
I did not need to look out the window to know it was raining.
The sound of the water furiously hitting the ground made it abundantly clear.
The thought of going outside was less than appealing.
Almost as if the rain had rinsed away my motivation.
But life keeps moving forward, storms or not.
Similar to when the storms of life hit, I would much rather curl up inside and put the world on hold.
Sometimes it’s easy to believe when the storms come, that God has forgotten us.
But He sends us reminders that He has not forgotten us or His promise to His people.
As I emerged outside when the rain had finally stopped, there was a full and vibrant rainbow greeting me.
A sign of His promises and His presence.
Friends, I don’t know what storm you are facing today.
You might think that God has forgotten you and that the storm will never end.
But take heart.
He is with you always, rain or shine.
You are never alone.
“And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”
Genesis 9:12-13 NIV
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No Words Necessary
There are times that words fail us.
Like staring at a blank page and not knowing where to start.
Maybe it’s a personal prayer or a pleading for someone you love.
Maybe saying the words out loud feels too painful.
And yet God knows our thoughts without us ever speaking a single word.
The Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf, a companion walking with us in our time of need.
An interpreter of our hearts, making sense of our wordless groans.
What a comfort it is to be heard even without speaking.
How great His love is for us.
“And in a similar way, the Holy Spirit takes hold of us in our human frailty to empower us in our weakness. For example, at times we don’t even know how to pray, or know the best things to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises up within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words.”
Romans 8:26 TPT
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Sufficient
Frazzled.
Overwhelmed.
Sad.
These were the words my friend shared about their current situation.
My heart hurt for theirs.
Knowing the pain that is so real that it brings you to your knees and almost knocks the wind out of you.
Wondering how you will get through this or if you have the strength.
When we feel at our lowest point, that’s when God’s grace and strength shine!
God tells us in His word that His grace is sufficient.
Sufficient means having or providing as much is as needed.
Enough.
And when we are feeling like we don’t have what it takes, we can trust that He is more than enough!
He will provide whatever we need.
We just need to turn it over to Him and let Him take over.
We may have limitations, but we serve a limitless God!
“Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. “
2 Corinthians 12:7, 10 MSG
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Gifts and Wonders
What if we woke up and approached the day with a sense of wonder instead of worry?
If we picked up our heads to look at the gifts around us instead of looking down at our phones?
What if we paused to be fully present with others right where God has placed us?
Watch for His works today.
Don’t miss His gifts and wonders.
Give Him thanks for all He has done.
“Hallelujah! Thank God! Pray to Him by name! Tell everyone you meet what He has done! Sing Him songs, belt out hymns, translate His wonders into music! Honor His holy name with Hallelujahs, you who seek God. Live a happy life! Keep your eyes open for God, watch for His works; be alert for signs of His presence. Remember the world of wonders He has made, His miracles, and the verdicts he’s rendered— O seed of Abraham, his servant, O child of Jacob, his chosen.”
Psalms 105:1 -6 (MSG)
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The Middle
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Living Water
Yesterday it poured.
The skies opened up and the rain fell hard.
So it was not surprising today as I looked out the window that the small stream below was flowing.
But to be honest, there are some days I don’t see the flow of water beneath the window at all.
On the dry days, the small trickle of water is harder to see.
That is true in life as well.
When blessings are flowing, it is easy to recognize the presence of the Living Water in my life.
During the hard seasons, it may be harder to see that presence.
But whether I see it or not, His presence always there.
Friends, if you are in a dry season or struggling, take heart.
You can always come to the one who offers Himself to you in every season.
You may not be able to recognize it, but His love is always flowing.
He invites you to come and drink!
My prayer is that whatever season you are in, that you recognize the flow of His love never runs dry.
“On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from His heart.’”
John 7:37-38 NLTShare this:
Virtually Active
Today I am walking along the NaPali Coast in Kauai.
Virtually.
The treadmill at the gym gives me the options of walking all over the world.
From Kauai to France.
All different types of terrain.
People on their journey going at different paces.
I tend to revisit the same path because it’s what I’m comfortable with as I am walking.
But I need to get out of my comfort zone.
Using Virtual Active is a great reminder that I need to be virtually active in my faith walk.
It’s easy to get so comfortable on my own path, I forget others do not always have the same view.
They might be moving at a different pace.
It’s easy to judge others who are not on the same path as us.
We all come from different circumstances and have different life experiences.
Empathy is being able to put yourself in another’s shoes to understand the path that they are walking.
Without judgement.
Christ came from heaven to earth not to condemn or criticize, but to walk with His people.
He slowed His pace to walk in ours,, leaving the comfort of heaven.
And even though we may all walk different paths, our destination is the same.
We are all walking home.
“Jesus said, “Forsake the habit of criticizing and judging others, and you will not be criticized and judged in return. Don’t condemn others and you will not be condemned. Forgive over and over, and you will be forgiven over and over.”
Luke 6:37 TPTShare this:
