BEAUTIFUL WEATHER!

One of the things I love most about living in the Cincinnati area is the changes in the weather. It is absolutely beautiful today! After a hot, dry summer, I love the cool, fall and beautiful colors and then my favorite is the winter and snow! I was listening to the radio this morning and they had the lady from the Farmer's Almanac on and they are right on target when it comes to the weather. She made my day when she said we would have above normal snow this winter, Yeah! I can't wait to get the fireplace going and start wearing my warm, winter clothes. I can hear some of you saying she is nutty, but there is just something about going through the seasons.
I was reading a devotional this morning and it made me think about the seasons.
I know it is long but it is worth reading. Have a beautiful day!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Ecclesiastes 3:2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a timeto plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

Just as there are seasons, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter to the weather and surroundings, there are seasons of our lives. We each experience most of them.

"A time to be born" - in the Spring of our lives, we are young and needful of teaching. Our parents teach us in ways that build our character, the "WHO" we are part of us. We derive from them our moral ethics and codes. Our teachers at school also build upon this character by building upon our abilities in different subjects throughout our years in school. The more we study, the more we learn in which ability we are stronger.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

"A time to plant" - in the Summer of our lives, we go about using what we have learned in the Spring of our lives. We get out of school/college, get a job in which we can demonstrate our talents. We get married and raise a family. Some of us are farmers - we "plant" food to harvest to be sold to the rest of the nations.
The Lord wants us to be 'planters of the Word' - to reach the nations, to be obedient stewards.
Psalms 136:25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 Corinthians 9:10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness)

"A time to pluck up" - Harvest times comes in the Autumn of life. We draw on the resources we have 'planted', just as we harvest the vegetables from our garden to be put up for "another day". The American Dictionary gives one of it's definitions for 'pluck' as "Resourceful courage and daring in the face of difficulties; spirit."
Matthew 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
Matthew 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

"A time to die" - To each of us, there comes a time in our lives, when material things no longer matter. We have reached the end of the road - the path that leads to eternal life. The destination of your soul depends on how you have lived during the 'spring, summer, and autumn'. You want to be found faithful, "hold fast (our) profession" (Hebrews 4:14), because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has gone before us to prepare a place in the heavens! The Apostle Paul said in I Corinthians 15:31 "I die daily". He died to self and gave himself to God.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

LESSONS we have learned:
SPRING - Listen, read the Bible, Study, be obedient to the Spirit of God.
SUMMER - We continue to study the Bible, to learn all we can from teachers/preachers of the Word. Guide others to the Truth of the Word. Plant the Word whenever we have a chance into the hearts of man.
AUTUMN - If we have truly lived the life that JESUS set forth for us, followed in His footsteps, then we have resources in abundance to share with others, to win them for the Lord. We are in the 'autumn' of our journey down the path of life, and the way we have lived, learned, shared, and taught will be a bearing on where we spend eternity after the 'winter' of our lives - and on the rewards which each of us hope we have laid up for eternity.
WINTER - Hold on to that which we have learned, give of it freely to others. We have become more aware of our destiny - a time that each of us has to face.
Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.