Preparing for the Oregon winter? Preparing my mind!

As I sat in the seemingly sweltering 95 degree weather complaining to myself how I was too hot and sick and tired of being pregnant God spoke to me in that still silent voice. "Remember my words in Ecclesiastes? There is a time for everything." I all too often catch myself complaining about daily life. Pregnancy, fighting and grumpy children, Aaron's lack of a job (in no way due to his lack of trying to find one), the weather, ect. When what I should be doing is praising God for the TIME he gives us every day. 

I thought about my attitude a while and then enjoyed putting my feet in the cool sprinkler. I took in the smiles and laughter of my children as they played "rainy weather". Trying not to think about the upcoming winter weather when the umbrellas will have to be over heads and the mud will be drug into the house and cars and every nook and cranny. focusing on the fact that that rain creates the beauty of Oregon. And then I thanked God for finding such a creative way to remind me that all things only last a season, then they are gone, so I need to enjoy my life through every activity. Enjoy the pictures.

So when the kids finished playing in the "rain" I came in and had a little quiet time. I looked up the verses in Ecclesiastes 3 that had been put on my mind.

The Mystery of Time

There is an occasion for everything, 

and a time for every activity under heaven:

a time to give birth and a time to die;

a time to plant and a time to uproot;

a time to kill and a time to heal;

a time to tear down and a time to build;

a time to weep and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn and a time to dance;

a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;

a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing;

a time to search and a time to count as lost;

a time to keep and a time to throw away;

a time to tear and a time to sew;

a time to be silent and a time to speak;

a time to love and a time to hate;

a time for war and a time for peace.

Pretty much sums up life!

I have heard these things so many times but what I never really put into my head was what comes next. This is the part that I think many of us fail to commit to memory and act out in our lives. Ecclesiastes 3:9 goes on to say:

What does a worker gain from his struggles? I have seen the task that God has given people to keep them occupied. He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has put eternity in their hearts, but man cannot discover the work God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the good life. It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks and enjoys all his efforts. I know that all God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of Him. Whatever is, has already been, and whatever will be, already is. 

I thought about these words a long time today and probably will for a long tome to come. God is in control is what it comes down to. Always has been, always will be. Nothing is unknown to Him and we need to be putting our trust in just that.