perspective.

here is a good friday video for you.. Perspective on things can change so quickly. I think this could help.. especially with the thanksgiving season around the corner.

video



thanks to ragamuffinsoul.com for sharing.

seasons.

I don’t know about the weather where you are, but back in Alabama the signs of seasonal change are everywhere. This is a season that I love. When the leaves begin to transition from glowing growth of green to an array of tones in orange and browns. There is an undeniable beauty in looking unto the clusters of trees around me and see the variety of creativity in the colors. I really love this season. I love that the Creator chose to give us these transitions in the seasons. That He can capture my heart by the falling of the leaves as I cruise through the streets of my life now, moving from one thing to another.

Change of the seasons are all around us. Nature is revealing the change of seasons. Our nation is in a season of change. The life of Meredith and I is preparing for things to change. We do not know what the future has in store… but we know the One who does. We know the One who changes all seasons.

“Daniel answered and said:
Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
to whom belong wisdom and might.
He changes times and seasons;
he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding;
he reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what is in the darkness,
and the light dwells with him.
To you, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise…”

- Daniel 2:20-23

Often times these seasons of change can become overwhelming. We can feel the darkness in the mornings. We look around the world to see no glimpse of any light. We can have major doubts if the next season will ever come.

My question rests in this? How will we chose to act if the One in whom the light dwells does not reveal that light right away? What if He has greater lessons of trust and faith to be learned in this season of change? He has promised to walk us through all seasons, but often we don’t chose to live like He is. I have been seeking Him for some lessons in this season and have been challenged greatly by the words of Habakkuk 3:17-18 –

“Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”

I think this is the greatest of responses that we could have in any season. His understanding is so much higher than our wisdom. We often don’t get what He is doing in our lives. But He wants us to see Him at work in all seasons and situations. He is our only promise of light to come.

You might be currently in a pretty steady season. Things might be going well for you. Or your world might be completely upside-down with no fruit being produced on the vines. You might be really feeling this season of change. I do not know where He has you.

But I can tell you this.. in every situation of my past - and there have been some tough ones - the Lord has been completely faithful. He has come through in ways that I never would have dreamed, where credit can only go towards Him. He has revealed his light in the most perfect of timing. Its not always the easiest answers to our situations… but He is faithful to carry us through them, if we let Him. He has been faithful in seasons of the past, and that puts me trusting Him for this next season of our future.

Lord,

I will trust and I will rejoice,

I will have faith and take joy,

I will give thank and glory,

I will sing and praise — You, the God of all our seasons.

relevant.

I've been reflecting a lot on church styles lately. There are so many different ways to approach how you "do church".

Some churches are outstanding at maintaining the traditional form of worship and church services. People connect with the richness of the hymns and order of the worship.

While others offer a quality towards the more modern scene of life today. They remain faithful to the Message of history, but aim to present it in a more "relevant" style. They often use music of pop-culture to influence the thinking of God in the world today.

I see the value in both approaches... and in this video I can see... well, I'm sure you will see what I see.. when one style tries the approach of the other --- Pure Awesomeness.

What do you see??