Seasons Change, God Never Does

Here in West Virginia we had what I think was a pretty easy spring and summer. We only had a few weeks where it was really hot. Now the beautifully colored leaves are falling off the trees and autumn is fading into winter. The seasons always change. I look forward to them every year - okay maybe not the winter so much - but I love looking at all the leaves of autumn, the beautiful flowers in spring and summer. I am so glad that I live in a place where we have the seasons change and we are able to enjoy God's amazing work. And no matter which season we like best, we can never stop the change of seasons. Only God can do that.

There is one thing that I am so grateful never changes and that is God's love. No matter what, God loves us! Our seasons change - we marry and become someone's spouse, we have children and become someone's parent, we lose a parent, we lose a spouse and become a widow, we move and become "the new kid on the block", we become ill and become dependent on others, we change careers, we go off to college and become independent of parents. There are so many changes (seasons) in our lives. But through all of these changes, God's love for us is the one constant. No matter what happens in our lives, He is always there to guide us, to love us, to carry us when we think we can't go on, to share the joyous times in our lives. He is always there. All of these changes are part of human life and we should always remember that God is there to guide us and love us through them all.

Lord, help us to see your will in all of the seasons of our lives. Help us to remember that there is a time for everything and that Your timing is perfect.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

ACCEPTING GOD'S PLAN

There was once a day when I had a major career. I was a practice manager for a physician. I loved my job. I loved working with the patients, with the doctor, with the other staff. I have to admit I loved being in charge and making major decisions for the physician, staff, and the practice.

Then one day, I lost it all. I became ill and unable to work. I felt like I lost my identity. Yes, I was a mother, which was and is my favorite job, but I had put so much into my career I felt lost without it. My daughter had even worked with me. I felt so in limbo.

And I felt guilty. I was relatively young and couldn't work anymore! And it didn't look like I would ever be able to work again. Well, God had different plans! While I don't work in an office anymore and I really don't make a salary anymore, I have became active again and it feels great! I am learning that I am able to write articles for different people. I buy and sell items on ebay and at flea markets. I can volunteer my time. None of these are the major career I had, but if I admit to myself, I am much happier! Sure, I wish I hadn't become ill, but God had a reason and one day I will understand it. Right now, I am just trying to follow His commands and do what He wants me to do with my life.

We may not always end up doing what we think we will in life, but if we follow God's plan, even if we don't understand it or like it at the time, things will work out! God always has our best in mind!

Thank you, God, for my life. While things may not have turned out quite the way I had planned, my life has turned out exactly how You had planned and I praise you for that! Help me to continue to accept the changes in my life and open my eyes to what you want me to do with my life!


A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God. Exclesiastes 2:24

OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART

Sometimes in our lifes we become so stuck in the same routine. We get up at the same time, go to work or whatever we do during the day, come home, sit on the couch and watch TV. Not much ever changes. We become complacent and content with the way things are.

But sometimes God wants to shake things up! He wants to change some things in our lives. But we become so used to the way things are, whether that is good or bad, that we close our eyes and our hearts to what God wants to do in our lives.

Recently, God has been speaking to me about some things He wants to change in my life. I have been guilty of having a hard heart towards these changes. In fact, I totally ignored what God was saying and pretended I didn't hear Him. Well, I woke up this morning and He was telling me loud and clear! I realized I truly need to soften my heart and open my eyes to what He wants to do in my life! God truly wants what is best for us if we will only listen to him and follow Him. While change may not be fun at times - it is easier just to keep things the way they are, if God is telling us to change things then we need to listen! Certain things have been the same in my life for a long time and while I won't say that I am really ready for change - it is scary - I will say that I am excited about what God has in store for me, even though I don't have a clue what it is! I am putting my trust in Him!

Life really is full of changes but the one thing that never changes is Jesus Christ!

Lord, I pray that you will soften my heart and open my eyes to what You want to do in my life. Thank you for always wanting the best for me and for never giving up on me, even when I don't always listen to You.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in his toil - this is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 3:11-13

OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART - MERCY ME