There are earthly seasons of nature and seasons of human life.  We have all read articles concerning these metaphors:  how spring represents new birth and beginnings of life, and summer represents our strong, productive years; that autumn is our time of slowing down, enjoying the grandchildren, and retirement, and winter is a time of reflection, writing our memoirs, contacting what friends we have left, and preparing for our eternal rest.

God has His seasons, too.  They all are His, and He situates Himself into every aspect of our earthly journey, regardless of what season WE happen to be in at the time.  Our childhood, our education years, when we begin a career and/or marry and start a family, when the time comes to retire and most of life's struggles are behind us, and even in our old age, which is often filled with infirmities and medical problems.

Interestingly, I see a common thread woven throughout life from the cradle to the grave.  It is the thread of fellowship and service in and through Christ.  We are to grow as we go, so that by the time we are ready to pass over into the arms of God, we have gained a mature understanding of our Lord, which we are to pass along to the next generation.

This gives a leg up to our children, as they start their lives.  Their walk will begin at a higher point of understanding God, and as they begin to accumulate their own experience and knowledge, they can then impart an even greater faith to THEIR children.

I have noticed when observing ministers, that the most solid ones come from a family of preachers.  If we raise up our children in the ways of the Lord, when they are older they will not depart from God (despite a bit of backsliding that some may experience during their teen years).  It is a precious legacy that they, in turn, hand down to their children.

Each season is to be full, vital, and enjoyed.  Various people are sent into our lives "for a season."  They either SEASON our lives, or are there for a season, or both!  High school chums tend to fade out of our lives as we go our separate ways after graduation.  If we move, change jobs, churches or spouses, most of our friends (and families, in case of a divorce) tend to drift away.  Sometimes these are people we thought were lifetime comrades, and we miss them.

Many people who become widowed suffer a double loss.  They are no longer in the "inner circle," and most of the other couples move on without them.  Our children leave home and there can be various reasons as to why they may no longer be in contact with us.

We suffer separation in various ways, sometimes for our good, and sometimes with great pain.  I have been through several types of separation in my own lifetime.  My grandparents died, then my parents, and eventually my husband.  Two of the three kids married and left home, and all live in other states.  All my siblings moved to Arizona.

Very recently, my beloved Chihuahua, who had been my faithful, loving companion for over 12 years, suddenly passed away.  Chi-Chi had lived a wonderful life and was full of days, but I was not ready to part with her.  It was a great loss to the whole family.  We buried her at our home place, near the woods, with a tearful graveside ceremony.

The house seems so empty, but I don't want another dog, for it could never compare to the "Cheech!"  Maybe in time I'll change my mind, but for now, I'm not ready to face the challenges of puppy-hood!

Now, after this latest loss, I have begun another new season in my life.  The Apostle Paul tells us that we must release those things which are behind and press on to the high calling of God (Philippians 3:13 ).  We don't know what all that can involve.

Just prior to Chi-Chi's death, I received an invitation to go to Africa as a missionary.  I have wondered if her passing at this time was in order to free me up to go.  I don't know.  I just know that we can't play guessing games as to why God does what He does.  I also know that all things work together for good to we who are the called, according to HIS purpose (Romans 8:28)!

We are told in God's word to be ready in season and out of season.  Pardon the play on words, but I think it is a valid example (2 Timothy 4:2).  The Amplified Bible expounds on this scripture to the point where there is no misunderstanding about its intent.  Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, we must preach the true Gospel.  Whether we feel like it or not, we must be about our Father's business (Luke 2:49).

We need to be aware that we don't go anyplace, answer a phone, write a letter or email, without being on our spiritual toes.  I no longer JUST go shopping.  I usually meet someone in the parking lot or in the grocery store who wants to stop and chat.  (That's one of the blessings of living in a small town!)  If people don't know me personally, they might remember my voice from my old radio program.  The point is, I can never really plan out my day.  I never know who will be sent across my path that needs a word of encouragement, a prayer, or just a listening ear.

This even happens to me when I'm in a different town.  A stranger in a checkout line, or even a cashier, may strike up a conversation with me.  There usually isn't much time to talk, but something can be said to draw that person's mind back to a "God consciousness."  My first teacher of the Word used to say that a lot.  One simple "God bless your day" will bring an individual into the spiritual realm for an instant or two, and may be recalled later.

We are not in the times of Abraham or Moses, or Judges, or Priests, or Prophets, or the Apostles to do the soul-winning, and be the spokespeople of God.  We are living in THE DAY OF THE SAINTS!  It is the anonymous saints of God who are going to launch this last-days revival.  We each have our part, our place, and our own harvest field.  This is the ingathering season, and the fields are "white already to harvest" (John 4:35).

It doesn't matter what season of life we find ourselves in; there is a place where we are assigned to work.

I have visited many nursing homes in my life, and even worked in several.  It always saddened me to see people who were of a sound mind just sitting there, vegetating.

There is a women's personal care home that I have visited on a regular basis since I have become a pastor.  The residents there are an extension of my church flock, as the owner is part of our congregation.  I tell the ladies that this is the season of prayer and intercession for them.  I give them prayer requests that they can work on until my next visit, when I update their lists.  I ask them to memorize verses of Scripture so they can quote them back to me when I return.  I ask them to keep track of the Bible chapters they read to see how far they've gotten by the time I see them again.  This not only gets the Word in their hearts, but it keeps their minds sharp.  It also changes the atmosphere of the home!

I labored in the field of child evangelism many years ago, and kids were my first "flock."  Their hunger for the Lord and His Word was amazing.  They were like little sponges, and their faith to believe that God answered their prayers was inspiring.  They would even lay hands on each other and pray for healing, and they were healed.  Childhood can be a season of service.  Jesus was in service as a child (Luke 2:40).

I led a young people's group in my uncle's church in the late 1960's.  Working with teens was a blessing.  We did door to door witnessing and nursing home visitations.  The kids learned first-hand evangelism, and it was such a fulfilling ministry for me.  The teen years can be a time of not only new independence, but of adult temptations.  When you keep them busy in God's vineyard, teens can get through that troubling time, as well as minister to others. Certainly the teen years are a season of service.

Even before that, as a pastor and a lay minister, I have worked with people in every season of life, besides my own seasons of service.

My first outreach was to my younger brother and sisters, after I received Jesus as my Savior at age 12.  I was asked to attend church by a classmate in my 7th grade English class.  Her parents went out of their way to pick me up for church, and they were faithful to do that until I was old enough to drive myself.  As a young girl, my new friend, Judy, was doing the work of an evangelist, and she will have a part of any rewards the Lord gives to me.  She served the Lord in the season of her junior high school years (Luke 2:42,47).

The Evangelist who preached the revival that night when I went forward to the altar was in the autumn of his life, and he was vibrantly serving God.  Of course, he will receive that reward and any that I might get, since he was the one who led me to Christ.

In summary, I haven't found any season in life where we cannot serve God.  Age doesn't matter, nor circumstances, nor wealth, health, or any situation one can think of.  I've seen God use the mentally retarded, and even the mentally ill.  (I have worked with both.)  I have even seen Jesus at work in the winter season of the terminally ill.

What season of life are you facing?

Won't you seek the Lord as to where to serve and what He has for your life?  Even if you are in a prison, Christ is there.

Wherever you are, He needs your service to help get in the last of the harvest, before He comes for His Bride.

If you don't know Jesus as your personal Savior, or if you want prayer, click on the salvation link, and then write to me.

God bless you all,

Pastor Moser
May 2005