“For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die. A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted. A time to kill, and a time to heal. A time to break down, and a time to build up. A time to weep, and a time to laugh. A time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together. A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing. A time to seek, and a time to loose. A time to keep, and a time to cast away. A time to tear, and a time to sew. A time to keep silence, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate. A time for war, and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3
As this scripture flowed from the lector into my heart that day at my mother’s funeral, deep down there was a pressing feeling that life that had been so comfortable, was about to transform. As children our life seems as if it will last forever and we come to realize those beliefs aren’t enough in a life that has journeyed in trial and tribulation, true love and joy. The path can be narrow, but for the soul who believes it is widened in great love. Where we once enjoyed love in one way, God gives us hope in greater love in the season of change. Seasons change and so must we as we walk through life. There comes a time we realize our thirst is greater and unquenchable, and we need God in our life. In the stillness and tides of life, the more we draw nearer to God, the more he will help us navigate our life.
What we do with our time is precious. In my youth I had many dreams but I was a bit of a procrastinator. One day, a good friend challenged me, to give it up and do what I needed to do. It changed my life. My husband smiles and says, he has never known me to procrastinate. In it all there are still a great many things I hope to accomplish. The greatest of these with the time given is to grow in my faith. Grow in doing God’s will. Recently I again realized, in my writing that I put aside many times, even though I feel God has called me to it most of my life. God’s inspiration is so powerful but instead I place it aside. A few weeks ago, while in prayer and adoration a voice came to my heart pouring into it, “If you wait until you are perfect, then nothing will be accomplished in my name, in love. Be not discouraged. Trust in me. I have made you to spread joy. Encourage others. My joy and light will guide you. I am alive in you.” In that surreal moment, it answered many things for me. It pains me greatly to think on all the times I have fallen from carrying out God’s will. Our time here is to grow and share pure love and help others reach heaven. That’s what matters most. Do we choose what the world see in us or God’s will and everlasting love and hope for us?
Time is precious. In legal circles they say, “carpe diem” “seize the day”. To some, time is money. Time is the passage a child of God travels to become a follower of His love. Time allows the gifts of virtue to bloom. Time can be deafened by noise instead on in the presence and stillness of God’s love. Time is the span of truth that lies between a soul that has passed to one that you will someday see again. God’s time and season can come alive in us. In all aspects of our life. God is omnipotent. His love has no boundaries. He calls us to love Him first and foremost and one another. Love one another in His way. God calls us to spend our time with Him and, “meditate on his word night and day”. Jesus withdrew from people to pray always. Life can be ruptured but a heart steadfast in allowing God to lead, it a life of great hope. In prayer and silence, He calls us. God wants to guide our actions and words. This season of Lent is an opportunity to spend time getting to know God in deeper way in in turn oneself. In prayer, fasting and almsgiving we can heal and grow in love.
In the early morning I awake and set my thoughts and actions in ways that glorify God. Whether at home with family, at work with children, in my hobbies (sewing, crocheting, writing) and in all times, deep in my heart is the resolve to to do all for the sake of others. “We are pencils in the hand of God” says Saint Mother Theresa. Even if I fall I will always rise with God’s help. Do all from a place of love and humility.
I pray your life is filled, spending time with God. May your worries be light, your burden shared, a dimness never disperse, for in it all God awaits to hold you and share with you the deep love he has for you. For love opens eyes and hearts, in ways we can’t ever imagine. God’s love allows sin to flow out and allow living water to pour in. God’s love can raise us up. May God heal and keep you. May you always feel the light upon you. May you be blessed with peace and joy that God gives. Amen.
5 Verses of God’s Perfect Timing
- God’s Timing- Ecclesiastes 3:1
God’s timing is perfect. We are not promised that life will be easy, but we are promised a life full of hope if we follow him. If we read every line of this verse and consider each one in the spirit of our life, we can uproot and plant new seeds in our heart and the way we live.
2. Hope and a Future-Jeremiah 29:11-12
“For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans to proser you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you.” Teaching in the public school, sadly any talk of faith rarely happens or is discouraged, but I recall years back, while monitoring at recess, a young girl approached me and showed me her bible. She showed me this verse and then she shared how this verse was so helpful to her, at that time in her life. It was precious for her to share this with me. It was a moment I hope I was able to share some inspiration but one that truly inspired me. It was at that time, things were difficult. My mother had recently passed away, I my first accident where a car rear ended me, my co-workers were being difficult. So it was time of mourning, weeping and embracing for me. Things far greater than I understood at the time. Angels are all around us. That evening and many to follow it became my mantra. It became my hope. Difficulties come but then can be washed in love. Pain can bear fruit. Prayer can put us on the path to peace. Blossoms can grow beneath the blanket of snow.
3. Be Still and Know- Psalm 46:10
“Be still and know that I am God.” . The passage presented itself in a deep way, when I first introduced to centering prayer. The depth and breadth of being in awe of God is immense. In centering prayer we grow in union with God. It is a most beautiful way to purge sin and uneasiness that can dwell in us and fill it with God’s love. Many fear the silence and allow overwork, technology, shopping, idol chatter to fill every moment, but disciplining oneself to listen and lean closer to God, can give us such peace and joy. Cultivating the art of listening to God, nature and others move to the the rhythm of life, allows us to confront what needs be and move on to love oneself and others.
4. God Directs our Steps-Proverbs 16:0
We plan, others plan, agendas, email after email, others try to plan the next step in our life. It can get draining especially when God has other plans for us. My father had a simple reminder, “everything in moderation”. God tells us, “In their hearts human plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”. Things that can seem the center of other people’s lives sometimes can spill over as they try to impose their ways into another’s life. As painful as it can be at times, I try to avoid this. My center is my faith and family and serving God. I steer away from allowing things infringe on the peace and joy of the course God wants me to be on. In your faith, whether at the start or rooted deeply and have the wisdom of Moses we have to stay strong on God’s path. He will guide us.
5. Live for Today-Proverbs 27:1“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.”
Many like to control all the parts of their day, life, those they love, but I believe the more we let go, the more we grow in love and trust for God the more we become a humble people. When we admit we have little answers it allows us to be open to God providing what we need. We can release the splurge of thoughts of what others think and know that what God thinks is most important. We can be silently grateful for blessings and moments placed before us, even the sticky parts and know in all things we can find God’s grace. All we accomplish is because God has allowed it. We can ask God to help us glorify him in word and actions. My amazing family and siblings and I share a similar way of rarely being idle rather we share our gifts in a way to allows us to never loose sight of what matters most. Many people boast of things that are fleeting like the wind but if we open our heart to what God may bring in the day, we think differently and can become conduits of great love. God is in all our moments, in nature and in people. Think higher. Look up. Be grateful. Think of the moments as little treasures on God’s great journey of love.
Peace,
Claudia
OurNourishedSoul