Not Your Ordinary Fruit: A Time and A Season
FOS Family,
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 (NRSV) reminds us there is a time and a season for everything.
1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
As I continue to press through this life’s journey, hanging in and holding on to God’s unchanging hand, and trusting in God’s word, I grow more and more aware the pressing in necessary. The format of the text reminds there is a counter for each occurrence. It is challenging to know the positive without the negative and life without death. Just as the seed has to die to spring forth new life, we have to die to self that we may become a new creation. In the midst of the dirt, manure, weeds, droughts/floods, we must press through toward the sun (Son), that we may be cleansed, strengthened, and upright. As we draw closer to God, through Christ, we shall develop and become the fruit God has purposed. Keep pressing. Seasons are temporary, but what God promised is eternal.
Please be encouraged, this day and every day and keep pressing! Stay rooted in the word. You can weather the storm! Our challenges are not always the same; however, if you would like to receive continued encouragement, please join this fruitful movement by signing up via FOSMessenger, www.fosmessenger.com, and visiting the other ‘Fruit of the Spirit’ portals and get ready to receive your spiritual nourishment! Be ‘like a tree planted by the rivers of water’ (Psalm 1:3).
Stay blessed and favored!
Yours in Service to Christ,
Rev. Nichole
Nichole.Glover@fosmessenger.com