Women of Faith - A Time for Everything: Discovering the Beautiful Rhythms of Life

2013 Thomas Nelson

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All Scripture quotations are taken from THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION. 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Page design: Crosslin Creative

978-1-4016-7623-0

Printed in the United States of America

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Contents

Introduction: A Season for Everything

Breaking Down and Building Up

Faith in Gods Faithfulness

I love watching Spring win over Winter. Take the hyacinth: she butts her pretty little head against the half-frozen earth and somehow wins. Up she comes from the darkness shouting victory in pink, purple, and white regalia. And even when she finds herself petal-deep in late snow she shakes it off and lifts her curly bob to the sun. You can almost hear her sing, I got rhythm, I got rhythm because that girl knows how to move to the music of her design. And Hyacinth is aware as she pushes through the hardship of her circumstances that its her season to bloom. And nothing is going to stop hernot winters icy grip and not earths dark tomb.

We hear the Creators song throughout creation in white-capped waves as they lap the shores, we see it in the drifting art of shifting sands, we listen to it in the soprano performance of a sparrow on a fence post, and in the raucous pattern of luminous raindrops splattering across rooftops. We also experience it in our lives again and again as Spring skips into Summer, and Summer cools into Fall, and Fall snowballs into Winter, and Winter melts back into Spring.

I remember, in the Spring of my life, being a young mother nestling with my infant and feeling the reassuring beat of his heart against my body. Theres just something about rhythm that communicates the harmony life was meant to have. Today I am in a very different season as my autumn oh-so-quickly turns to winter-white. Now I watch and applaud my sons children as they lean into the wind to test their wings and write their names in the sky.

This study will help us, regardless of our season, to realign our hearts with the Lord so we too, like our friend Hyacinth, can shake off hardship, gain strength, and get into life-changing rhythms. Balance is such an elusive butterfly, but when we hear Christs voice and move in that direction the cacophony of our chaotic existence settles down to a comforting lullaby. Oh, no doubt, our circumstances will still swirl, but our thoughts and heartbeat find their quietness and confidence in Christ. For His way is peace and His paths light and grace... all notes in His divine song that He sings over us. The Lord has a prescribed plan that will add balance to the relational and emotional landscape of our life.

Cmon girlfriends, the world is full of toe-tapping music placed there by the Creator. Yes, lets pat our hands and even kick up our heels to celebrate the rising of the sun and the setting of the same. Solomon, the writer of Ecclesiastes, puts it this way: To everything there is a season (3:1). And in this study we will examine verses for mind-counsel and emotional encouragement. So once youve finished twirling about, settle inwith perhaps a glass of iced sweet tea, or a cup of steamy hot cocoa, depending on your seasonand lets listen for the rhythms that keep us in bloom.

Patsy Clairmont

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Matthew 6:33

Imagine trying to stay balanced on top of a ball. How long could you last? A few seconds? A few minutes? Perhaps longer?

As busy women, so many of us want more balance in our lives, but balance is impossible to maintain. Sometimes life picks up speed without warning or slows down unexpectedly. Sometimes were pulled in many directions all at once. Sometimes we find ourselves pushed by our schedules, commitments, and unexpected needs in life. And any sense of balance is lost.

Instead of trying to stay perfectly balanced all the time (an impossible act!), the Bible challenges us to pay attention to the season of life were in and recognize that theres a time for everything. Some seasons of life will naturally be fast-paced; others will be more relaxed. Some seasons of life will be marked by transition and change; others will be defined by their steadiness. Some seasons in life will challenge us to give; others will teach us to receive. Some seasons of life are marked by new beginnings; others by necessary endings.

The a-m-a-z-i-n-g news of being a child of God is that no matter what season of life we find ourselves in we have the opportunity to seek and celebrate God right in the midst. We can choose to grow in the fullness of all God has called and created us to be. Becoming more Christlike isnt something thats just awaiting you in your next season of lifeits available to you right now!

In this study, were going to look at some of the seasons of life spotlighted in the book of Ecclesiastes. This book of the Bible is a powerful reminder that life is meaningless unless centered upon God. Scholars debate over true authorship of the book, but tradition has attributed the book to King Solomon.

My hope and prayer is that through this study youll not only recognize the wondrous season God has you in right now but that youll embrace it as a gift and, in the process, become more Christlike each and every day.

Blessings,

Margaret Feinberg

Have you ever found yourself wondering, Why did this happen right now? or Why did this happen so soon? or Why couldnt this have waited to happen? Sometimes its easy to forget that Gods timing is not our own. Rest assured that God has a time for everything under heaven. And He is with you every step of the way.

To everything there is a season.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

1
A Time for Everything

Whats your favorite season of the year?

Some people come alive in spring. The scent of flowers blossoming, the sight of lime-green leaves, and the sound of baby birds chirping all tend to remind us of the gift of new life.

Others adore summer. The long days of this season encourage us to get out and about. Summer invites us to become more active and engaged in our neighborhoods and communities, embracing the warmth of the sun, the splash of cool waters, the gentleness of shade on a hot day.

Still others enjoy fall. Cooling temperatures, the crunch of colorful leaves, and the occasional whiff of smoke from a neighbors chimney are all reminders that change is in the air. The new life that budded in spring has come to a beautiful end. Fall invites us to unpack our snuggly warm clothes and enjoy gathering indoors again.

And still others love winter. The crisp, cool days are short; the colder starry nights are long. This is where the end-of-the-year holidays await. Winter beckons us indoors, often slowing our pace and inviting us to rest.