5/21/2018 - SEASONS

"For, 'All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flower of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall.'" 1 Peter 1:24

In New York, we get all four season; we get summer, spring, fall, and winter. So, I do not get green grass and bright flowers all year round. We see the grass when it is bright green and thick, to it wither to its winter state. We see the flowers bud and bloom, then we watch them fall and die. Up here it is around spring where everything starts to grow and bud, this is their "up," and then around fall is where everything starts to whither and fall, this is their "down." Just like the seasons of the environment and the ups and downs of the grass and flowers, we go through the same thing. We go through seasons. People come and go, friends leave, people die, you stumble and fall. Sometimes we are in the desert, this is when we are down. When we are in the desert we are in a dark place, but that does not mean you have to stumble and fall. It is all about the way you go at it. Jesus went through the same thing, he was in the desert, too (Matthew 4). The best news is that Jesus conquered it, he walked right out of the desert. He defeated the devil. We have to follow this and his example, he was equipped with the Word, he was ready with it every time the devil tempted him. We have our seasons, it is going to happen, there is no stopping them. We are going to have our ups and downs. We have to stay the same during throughout the seasons. We have to continue to glorify God in our downs, we have to trust him and his purpose. We have to stay humble during our ups, and still rely on him even though we are "prospering" (we are not prospering on our own, it is because of the grace and power of God). We have to keep our eyes on the eternal prize. This verse comes from the Old Testament, from the book of Isaiah (40:6-8). The main part of this quote from Peter is in verse 25. Verse 25 states, "but the word of the Lord endures forever." We go through seasons, but God's word does not. God's word endures forever. The Word is the same from when it was written all the way up to now, it is still relevant and it is (and will always be) sharper than any double-edge sword. The Word helps  in every circumstance, and that is the love behind the concept of the Bible, this is what God had in mind. God is always there for us, no matter situation and no matter the season. He is there during the ups and he is there with you while you are crawling in the desert. He will always help us and he will always love us. Do not lose hope, we all go through seasons (I am currently rocking the desert), but he have to keep moving forward. We have to trust in God. The desert helps us grow and allows us to appreciate the ups and the goods. No matter the circumstance you are in, trust in God, he is allowing us to grow and learn from every situation and every circumstance. 

Lord, thank you for the seasons. Thank you for all you do. Thank you for sending your son Jesus to be that perfect example to follow. I know you're with us in our ups and downs, continue to help us grow in you and be with you. Give us the strength to trust and stay humble. In Jesus's name, Amen.

#LetsBeAMovement