In
English and other languages we read in the Psalms and Prophets words
like 'bless', 'thanks', and 'praise' and we group them all together. But
in the original Hebrew the authors used very specific words. For
instance, some words specify kneeling, others shouting, others praise with
the extended hand, and another with accompaniment by a stringed
instrument, and many more. This series studies many of the Psalms and
prophets in their context, understood as they were written, with these
very specific words reflecting and in some cases, instructing us who to
offer worship and praise to the Lord. You'll never read familiar Psalms
the same way again, and by following the author's intent, you can
greatly enhance your own worship and time with the Lord!
You may manage your subscription (change email, un-subscribe, etc) by clicking the link at the bottom of this page. And remember to use cwowi@aol.com to email me personally.
Hi all,
I
started this series talking about how the Lord moves in seasons while
we tend to move in minutes and seconds. But recognizing His seasons in
our lives is essential to walking with Him. Those seasons are at His
pace, not ours. We must learn to slow down and realize He takes the long
view - He has invested in us for eternity, already planning to show us
how much He loves us in the ages to come according to Ephesians 2:7 - so
we must learn to get our eyes off ourselves and our temporary human
frailties and just walk with Him.
We
tend to turn inward about how we have failed God, or what sinners we
are, or surely God must not like me, and that's just plain wrong. We
need to turn to the big picture by getting our eyes off ourselves, stop
dividing our thoughts between the present and looking in the rearview
mirror of life, and move on...He has!
The seasons of your life are no longer yours to control - they belong to Him
In
John 7:4-8 Jesus' unbelieving brothers sarcastically told Him to go up
to the feast for if He was from God then the things He was saying and
doing should be done in public. Fortunately at least 2 of his brothers,
James and Jude, later believed in Jesus and we have the New Testament
letters of James and Jude testifying of that. (Matthew 13:55 lists them by name)
But Jesus told them in v6, "My season is not yet, but your season is always ready."
Before
we knew the Lord we determined where we would live, where we would
work, where we would go to school - our season was always ready, always
subject to our slightest mood, whim, or change of plans. We determined
the timing of our lives in all things.
Now
that we know Him, we submit those seasons of our lives to Him for
guidance, input, opinion, and direction. This is where many stumble,
being so afraid of missing His perfect will that they won't make a move -
paralyzed by fear. But seasons are longer in duration and within each
season there is much room for movement and change. Spring can see
everything from snow to warm sunshine - there is great movement within
each season - and we shouldn't be afraid of missing it once we identify
what season with God we are in, and what His purpose is.
God's ability to teach within any season of life is unequalled
Ecclesiastes
3:1 starts out saying: "To every thing there is a season, and a time to
every purpose under heaven." Solomon goes on to list some of those
times and seasons which include a time to be born and a time to die, a
time to plant and a time to harvest, and many other times and seasons,
concluding in v10; "I have seen the travail which God has given to
mankind to be trained in it."
This
says God has given us these seasons of life to be trained in them.
Whatever you are going through, it is for training, the benefits of
which may not even be realized in this life, but in the age to come.
There is something God can use from what you are going through, even if
Satan in the midst of God's season, has done something horrible to you.
The larger picture is the Lord is the Master at turning that which the
enemy means for our destruction, into something that helps grow us in
Christ.
That which has past, is now...
Ecclesiastes
3:14-15 tells us "I know that whatever God does, it will be forever;
nothing can be put to it, nor can anything be taken from it, and God
does it that men would fear (reverential fear) Him. That which has been
is now; and that which will be has already been; and God requires that
which is past."
There
is a lot in those 2 verses, but know that whatever God is doing in you
right now, it is for eternity - it will be forever. How many things in
life that you experience or set your hand to do can you say will be
forever? Yet what the Lord does in us is forever - so go with the
process, learn what you can in this season - it is eternal!
The
other thing to see is this fact: That which has been, is now, and
whatever will be has already been. God requires that which is past. It
means if you don't learn the lesson now, you'll be faced with in on down
the road in your future.
I
was recently talking to a person contemplating moving to another part
of the country for a fresh start, yet I knew the character and maturity
issues the Lord was trying to work in them. So I told them they could go
to all the expense and effort of moving, but within a short time they
would be facing those same issues again - you can't run from God. Bloom
where you are planted. Deal with the issue in your heart now, or you
will see it again.
Verse
15 says God requires that which is past. It means He requires us to
master our past, master the issues in the past - whether that be working
through the injustices we've suffered, the mistakes we've made, or
blessings we've seen - it means we are expected to learn and grow from
what we've experienced!
Encouragement
If
you have ever noticed that God tends to make seasonal changes in your
life at the same time nature changes seasons, there is a reason for that
- He moves in times and seasons and as part of His creation, so do we.
So many people had a rough late winter and early spring ranging from the
death of loved ones to financial crisis to wondering what is next for
them in life.
What
I encourage you with is that God moves in seasons, and there is a
certain trust in that - that He has the seasons under His control, in
His timing, and we are to just learn what we can in these seasons. He is
faithful, but the beauty of each season isn't usually seen until near
the end of that season. Spring starts off looking like winter, but the
full beauty of springtime is seen very close to the end of the season of
spring.
Allow
each season to come to its fullness. What so many do is see off in the
distance the next season, and they want to jump right into that season
before experiencing the fullness of the season they are in...just
wait...let whatever season you are in fully develop within you - you
will know deep within, in your spirit, when the seasons change.
I
just wanted to take a couple of weeks to talk about changing seasons to
encourage you; whatever you are going through, something can be learned
from it, growth and character can be developed within, and a season of
rest will come after all that growth and stretching and character
building. A quote from Mother Teresa that is appropriate here is this:
"I know God won't give me anything I can't handle. I just with He didn't
trust me so much."
And
yet something the Lord told me, which is a play on words in English: "I
am; I am always present, so you must e in the present to be in my
presence."
Be
in the present. Be in the moment. See how you can know Him today, now,
in this season, in this day...be present with Him right now. Not
mentally nor emotionally in the past, nor watching with one fearful eye
on the future - but be in the present so you can be in His presence. He
is always present, so to walk with Him you too have to be in the
present.
That's
it...new subject next week...love people, build bridges when they allow
you to, and know the beauty of this season will be seen in its
fullness...
Blessings,
John Fenn
www.cwowi.org and email me at cwowi@aol.com
New CD/MP3 Series
In
English and other languages we read in the Psalms and Prophets words
like 'bless', 'thanks', and 'praise' and we group them all together. But
in the original Hebrew the authors used very specific words. For
instance, some words specify kneeling, others shouting, others praise with
the extended hand, and another with accompaniment by a stringed
instrument, and many more. This series studies many of the Psalms and
prophets in their context, understood as they were written, with these
very specific words reflecting and in some cases, instructing us who to
offer worship and praise to the Lord. You'll never read familiar Psalms
the same way again, and by following the author's intent, you can
greatly enhance your own worship and time with the Lord!
Just a word about our On-line Video Bible School
- these classes, so far; Old Testament I & II, Righteousness and
Our Authority in Christ - are a go-at-your-own-pace, no test, investment
in your own faith and understanding of the Word and Lord. Once
registered, your password is good for a whole year so you can take your
time, but as I'm hearing from students, once they start they have a hard
time stopping! Each class is about 45-55 minutes long, so they are in
easy to receive segments...consider investing in a deeper study of the
things of God!
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar