God Is in Control

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1

This past week, I figured it was finally safe to take the snowbrushes out of our cars, but as luck would have it just a few hours later – it was snowing! It wasn’t much, but I’m sure we can all agree we’ve seen enough of that white stuff until next winter!

The season has begun to change over the last few weeks, and between the warmer weather and greener grass, it’s been a welcome change. But the changes in our weather aren’t the only seasons that we experience in our life. In fact, King Solomon wrote in the third chapter of Ecclesiastes that “for everything there is a season.” Solomon gives many examples of “changing seasons” in that chapter and here are just a few examples: our life is merely a season in the wholeness of time. There’s a planting season and a harvest season, times of sadness and times of laughter, seasons to save and store, and there are times to spend and give.

However, for many of us, the warmer weather isn’t the only change of season happening right now. Some are getting married in the next few months. Others are expecting babies. Many are entering into a time each year defined as “lake season.” There are graduating seniors who are ending this season of life and heading off to college in the fall, and college seniors who are graduating, finding jobs, and maybe moving to a new place. And some are entering into a new relationship or beginning a new job. These are just a few of the many ways our lives change over time, and these kinds of things happen throughout our life!

At the end of his list of seasons in Ecclesiastes 3, Solomon says that this is the business God has given to us and that he has made everything beautiful in its time. 

And while many of the changes that we experience are wonderful, there are also changing seasons that are painful and filled with worry, sadness, and grief – an unexpected illness or diagnosis, a changing work environment or job loss, the end of a relationship, or perhaps the death of a loved one. Those seasons can last days or weeks, months or even years. One of the main points of the book of Ecclesiastes is that God is in control through all these seasons of life and that he is good to us – even if it may not always look like it. But we must remember God sees things from a different angle, a better and eternal perspective and he makes everything beautiful in its time!

Because of that, Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 that the best thing for people in whatever we do in any season is to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we live. He says that this is God’s gift to us. In other words, God’s in control so enjoy yourselves!

Sometimes changes in our life cause us fear, stress, or anxiety. By nature, we don’t always like change. If that’s you, whether you’re graduating from high school or college, getting married or having a baby, moving or retiring, going through a job transition, having a change in relationship, or experiencing any of the countless things that happen in our daily lives, just remember God is in the midst of all of it and working in all things for our good.

It suggests that the best thing for humans is to be joyful, do good, eat, drink, and take pleasure in our work, as these are God’s gifts. The verses encourage a mindset of contentment and gratitude for the good things in life, rather than focusing on what’s missing or unattainable. God is good to us and promises to always take care of us, so take time to enjoy whatever God has in store for your next season of life because God will make everything beautiful in its time.

Pastor Tony

May Flowers

The old saying, “April showers bring May flowers,” has always reminded me about hope. With all the rain we’ve been receiving lately it has me wondering if we can expect the flowers of May to bloom even more beautiful than normal this year.

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:”

(Ecclesiastes 3:1)

At times it feels like the showers of April can represent the many challenges we encounter in life – strangely enough, they never conveniently hit us only one month of the year.  These challenges could be health issues, financial struggles, relationship problems, stress at work or at school, tension within the family, or any number of other things. And while everyone is certain to go through some difficult times in life because no one is exempt from living “real life” – when you’re the one facing those “real life” issues, it’s easy to wonder what good can come from them.  

God’s Word reminds us that the difficulties of life can actually lead us to “hope.” Listen to the words of Paul in Romans 5:1-5, “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”

Did you notice the progression? First there are faith, peace and grace. Those are important to have when the problems of life come. Then Paul states that when suffering does come, it can produce perseverance, character, and finally hope. And it’s all made possible because of God’s love which is poured out on us.

We had plenty of showers in April (and most definitely over the past two years), so I invite each of us as we move through the seasons of our lives to pay closer attention for the hope-filled flowers in life that are certain to bloom in May and beyond. And if you are going through a difficult time right now, my hope is that you will continue to believe and trust in God’s promise that God is with you and desires to help you through it and ultimately fill your heart with hope!

Here is one of those “May flowers” I was talking about. Last week I received a thank you letter from the chairman of the Harvest of Hope Fund in response to the recent $2000 donation check we sent them – the result of YOUR generosity through BLAST collections, noisy offerings and an amazing matching donation. Hope filled signs of resurrection and God’s glory all around us.

“Thank you so much for your gift of $2000. I was having a very stressed week wondering if we were going to get through to the next milk check. It truly was a ray of hope.”

“Thank you for the generous gift we received. We appreciate the gift immensely. The funds will be used to pay our farm bills (vet bills, machinery repair, medical bills). We are truly thankful for this program and that it helps farm families. May God bless you and all your efforts.”

“A heartfelt thank you goes out to all who made it possible at Harvest of Hope to provide my family assistance during this trying and stressful time. The funds are very gratefully appreciated and will be put towards keeping our farm in operation. The generosity of others shows there is still good in the world. Hoping you, your committee and families are safe and healthy. Thank you again!”

Dear friends, as the seasons of our lives change, I pray that the April showers in your life will subside to reveal beautiful May flowers of hope and peace and joy immersed in God’s love throughout your life. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Pastor Tony