A Time and A Season | October 2020
A Time and A Season | 24" x 30" original painting
painted for my Collectors Club, October 2020
original painting available, click here.
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
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 scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
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.
“He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him. I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, And have now made known to me what we asked of You, For You have made known to us the king’s demand.” Daniel 2: 21-23
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I’m not sure about you, but when autumn leaves turns to shades of fire, the air is crisp and the wind blows… I feel a transition. In the natural there is an obvious change in season, but spiritually I feel it as well. Especially this year. We are moving into a new season on the earth and in the heavenlies, I feel the transition. The Lord sure surprised many of us with the year 2020, not what most of us would have expected. But he knows what he’s doing, and I believe he used this “shaking” to wake us up to who he is and what he plans to do. Have we stewarded this season well? That is what I keep hearing in prayer. Have we used this time of pause to consider our ways, align with God’s will and promises, repent for wrong thinking, wrongdoing, come back to the Father’s heart… as the leaves fall, I pray everything dead in our lives falls away, goes into the ground for a time of rest and reset, and bloom in due season with even greater fruit than before. I was reminded of the famous verses in Ecclesiastes and the Scripture about the seed falling to the ground and dying:
“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” John 12: 24-26
Transition can be both unsettling and exciting. Not knowing what lies ahead, in our personal lives, in our countries and the world can be scary, but also exciting if we trust in the Almighty and partner with his plans that will come, he ultimately promises restoration and all things new. The Lord has been reminding me in these times, to remain focused on his Word, trusting his plans and dying to self so he can use me to multiply many seeds. What do we need to let go of in order for God to breath on according to his will? What areas do we hold onto that keeps us stuck in the past? These are questions I have been challenged with as I cross over to a new season.
Much like a tree losing its leaves in the fall, there is a purpose designed for this. The leaves go into a cycle where they do more good for the tree in the ground, to produce nutrients it needs for the winter months. When the tree is leafless, it can’t make food. But it doesn’t get hungry. Instead, it rests and prepares for the new leaves. Leaves are really important for the tree, but sometimes it’s better for the tree to let them go. They can save all the good bits and when there is enough water, they can use them to grow brand new leaves. Leaves “sense” the season changing and respond accordingly. We can learn so much from God’s creation.
I think that’s the biggest challenge in life, waiting on the appropriate time and season of the Lord. We need to learn how to be sensitive to his times and know the season we are in. Both personally and corporately. The best way to know, is lean into the Lord. Have that personal relationship with him, in the Word and in prayer… and he will give you wisdom, understanding and instruction to move forward in due season.
This painting is obvious. Beautiful fall leaves capturing the warmth of the season on display. Sometimes things should be just that simple. When I prayed about the October painting, I kept seeing the fall leaves and a Bible opened. And I heard the Lord say, “A time and a season, during transitions in seasons, we have to be have to be grounded in the Word and in prayer to hear instructions.” We may feel impatient at times and move in our own strength, but we must wait for it, keep praying and not move ahead of God’s timing. He purposes times for a reason.
“For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:3
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