Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Encouragement

The Change Of Seasons

Encouragement

“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:”
Ecclesiastes 3:1

Watching the seasons change is such a beautiful wonder. When the trees start to show their vibrant colors we know winter is just around the corner. The changIng of seasons can teach us a lot about life.

Some seasons are much more enjoyable than others. And we must remember that while a season may seem to last forever, it’s only just a little while until something new comes along.

Some seasons of life are troublesome while others times of joy. They come and go. They are temporary times.

Most of the time we can’t wait for the next season to arrive. Sometimes we hate to see the current season come to an end. Either way, it is good that we go through seasons of change. It is good for us to understand that God intended for us to adapt to different things.

We must recognize that God has given us the gift of time. God is not restrained to time as we are. God is always in the present. That’s hard to comprehend because we base everything we do around the calendar or clock.

Time can be wasted or it can be used wisely. Time can go by slowly or it can go by quickly. One thing is for sure though, time will never stand still. Time keeps going if we want it to or not.

Our time on earth is to be appreciated. We should look back in time when we experienced good things and bless God for those great memories. We should also look back and remember when God brought us through some of the hardest times of our lives. And thank God He did.

Today’s verse reminds us that everything happening this very moment will not last forever. “This too shall pass” is what some say when they face difficulties.

Whatever you may be facing today may not be the case come tomorrow. You may land a new job that allows your financial worries to disappear. You may have an event take place that sets a new course for how or where you live your life. You never know what tomorrow holds. But God does.

We rest in the fact that God has all things worked out in advance. His provision gives us the necessary essentials to get through what we are facing. His grace is sufficient! We need to trust that God will provide and that God has a plan.

Just remember that as we witness the seasons change we need to be aware that God is changing us into His image.

Pray

Lord, help me to understand what I am going through right now. Allow me to see Your glory through everything I encounter. May Your name be exalted above all.

Do You Have Compassion?

Encouragement

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
I Peter 3:8-9

The phrase “be of one mind” refers to unity. It means to be one with with Christ. While we are not all the same, we are to be like-minded in Christ.

Jesus said in John 13:35, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Jesus said people will know that you belong to Me if you have the same mind and same love as Me. Do people know that you belong to Him?

Perhaps the greatest challenge in loving others is when we are wronged. This is when we need the love of Christ in our hearts, right?

The human side of us wants to return evil for evil. The flesh tells us to defend ourselves and to help others by showing them what they did to us. But that is not what Jesus taught.

Peter learned from the best. He studied under the best Teacher known to man. And yet even Peter had to keep himself in check.

When you are challenged with loving others keep in mind the kind of love that Jesus had for all people, even those who persecuted Him. It’s a kind of love or “mindset” that we are to have for all people.

The best way to be of “one mind” in Christ is to keep yourself centered in the love of Christ. Keep focussing on how much Jesus loves you and it will be easier to love others who have wronged you.

Pray

Lord, keep me in Your arms. Let me see how You love others and how I am to love them the same. Help me to understand how much love You have for me.

What Are You Seeking?

Encouragement, Trust

For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭2:13‬

Why would anyone ever forsake the Lord?  Could there be anything better than the Lord?  

God can only give good and perfect gifts and could never cause any evil on anyone.  Sometimes we encounter times in our lives when we drift away from the Lord and seek our selfish ways.

Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” (John 7:37)  Jesus wants to give us an endless supply of fresh living water.  A water that will last for eternity.  A living water that gives all.  

Why would we ever seek for anything else but what the Lord has to offer?  God said, “My people have created their own water pots that can’t even hold water.”  This is so true when we try to rely on our own power and strength.  Without God we are nothing and can do nothing.  God desires to give us the best that He has to offer.  The problem is when we think that we can do something bigger or better than God. There is nothing in this entire universe that could ever out do God.

Think about the things that you are seeking in your life today.  Are they the things of God or the things of your own desires?  Be careful not to forsake the fountain of living water that God has to offer.  His ways are much better than our ways.  His provision is much healthier and will sustain us for eternity.  If you are encountering a dry spell in your relationship with the Lord, the problem is not with God.

Pray

Lord, Your promise is that we I seek You, I will find You.  When I draw you close, You draw unto me even closer.  Let me experience Your power today.