The Seasons of Life

Vickie and I used to live in Orlando, Florida. It was back in the early 1990s. I could especially remember the winters. It would get cold but not as cold as Ohio. We would come home for Christmas in Ohio, get our snow fix, then head back down to the sunshine of Florida. We enjoyed living there but we enjoy experiencing the different season changes better. Vickie really missed the different season changes so we decided to move back up north. We moved to Cleveland of all places. To say it lightly, that was a shock to our system. We went from no snow to snow squalls. I had never heard of that before. Living near the lake, we would have these gusts of snow called snow squalls. It would be an immediate whiteout. I will never forget the two years we lived in Florida and sometimes look back and wonder if the exchange was worth it. The older I get the more I think on those things.

One of the advantages of living in Ohio is that we have five seasons. We have Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring, and construction. The season of construction seems to never end. If you get on I-75 and travel north or south, the chances of having a delay are pretty good either direction since there are a plethora of the dreaded orange cones.

All throughout Scripture it talks about seasons. In Ecclesiastes 3, Solomon begins by saying that “there is a time for everything season for every activity under the heavens”(Ecclesiastes 3:1). He goes on to list many things from being born to dying, from planting to uprooting, from tearing down to building up, the list is exhaustive.

I have noticed that people tend to experience different seasons in their life. Some may be in spring with new exciting things taking place while others are in winter where things are dark and dreary. Not everyone lives in the same season at the same time. I have also noticed that If we stay in a season too long then there seems to be side effects that are unavoidable. Seasons need to be constantly changing for proper growth and maturity to take place. This summer has felt like spring in so many ways. Flooding is the side effect of too much rain. I think Sunday started our summer season if you were to ask me. There is one thing that is certain, God plans to mature us in our seasons.

The disciples have always been fascinated with when Jesus was going to return and establish His kingdom. Even today people get caught up in trying to predict His return. In Acts 1:6 it says, “Then they gathered around Him and asked Him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom of Israel?’” Jesus responded by saying, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7-8). In the English Standard Version of the Bible, it refers to “knowing the times or seasons.” Ultimately, seasons are set by the authority of our Father in heaven. He ultimately determines the seasons and we experience them as they come.

In the church there are seasons as well. This fall will be a season of harvest as people return from vacations and get back into the routine again. We strategically place revival on the calendar in October. Revival doesn’t happen because we place it on the calendar. It has to be sought after, prayed in, and willingly entered into. I guess some also come kicking and screaming. To experience fully a season and get out of it what God intends, there has to be a preparation. If the farmer didn’t sow seed, then the harvest would not be plentiful.

On Wednesday, we have set aside time from 6 a.m. – 7 a.m. to pray for our church, our nation, our families, and whatever the Lord brings to our hearts. If our prayer time on Wednesday determined the amount of revival we would experience in our services, then we would be in trouble. I want to change the time to 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. beginning in August. This may allow others to join us as we come together as a church for this hour of power. We have revival scheduled for October 18-21. I need several people from our church to join me in praying for the spirit of revival to fill our church. Would you join with me as I pray? Let’s prepare for the season of harvest the Lord wants to bring our church.

I’m looking forward to seeing the Lord move in power and strength on Sunday. Pray with me as we anticipate His presence.

Joy in Jesus!

Pastor Mike

www.findlayfirstnaz.org