#SEASONSINLIFE

September 1st marks the change of the season for everybody globally. The South marks it as their first day of Spring and here in the United Kingdom it heralds in the Autumn season.

The seasons change; and you change, but your Lord abides evermore the same, and the streams of His love are as deep, as broad, and as full as ever~ Charles H. Spurgeon

NIV Concordance defines a season(s) as one of the four divisions of the year; a period of  a time; to enhance flavor or add zest which yields its fruit in season

In Paul's second letter to Timothy,he gives him 3 instructions; (2Tim 4:2). The second instruction really spoke into my spirit; "be prepared in season and out of season." 
How prepared are we when it comes to the different seasons we experience in our personal and spiritual lives?

When I asked myself that question, a picture of four trees in and out of season came to mind and Psalm 1:3.(This relates to a blessed person)
Psalm 1:3; He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. (NKJ)
The phrase "whatever they do prospers," does not mean immunity from failure or difficulties. Nor does it guarantee health, wealth and happiness. What the bible means by prosperity is this: when we apply God's wisdom, the fruit we bear will be good and receive God's approval. 

Paul instructs us to be always ready to serve God in any giving situation; whether or not it is convenient and to be sensitive to the opportunities God gives us. 

I looked at this and thought to myself, "It,s like comparing myself to a tree  and how it responds to the changes in season and then adopt that theory or principles accordingly as the Spirit of God leads me."
We all go through different seasons at different stages of our lives and just like different species of trees we bear fruit at different times of our seasons; some in winter, some in autumn, and so on.
But it is not just the fruit we bear that shapes us or hinders us; but also the different circumstances we all face throughout life.

1. Spring: When buds are blossoming and opening. A time of new 
     beginnings, new growth. A time to get what we need to
    grow: a)water, b)light, c)good soil, d)food. The time to see the
    splendour of our Lord; soak up the word and that life giving
    water and storing it for the summer season ahead.
   Just as a tree soaks up water and bears luscious fruit, we
   also are to soak up God's word, producing actions and attitudes
   that honor God. To achieve anything worthwhile, we must have 
   God's Word in our hearts(NIV Commentary)
  
    .
2. Summer: When the earth is dressed in beauty. When summer
    arrives, growth slows since there is less water in the soil. In the
    summer season of our lives we could be going through a 
    desert of dryness and barrenness, when we are not producing 
    much fruit or seeds or we could be firmly secure, planted at an
    oasis of water that we've stored up during the Spring.
    Zechariah 14:8(KJV)...It shall continue in summer as in winter.
    During the late summer the tree stops producing wood cells
    and puts its energy into storing reserves and producing buds, 
    soaking up the sun. In these moments we too should soak up
    the Son and the sunlight that only He can give us through the 
    power of the Holy Spirit.

3. Autumn: When leaves begin to change their colour and start to
    fall off the tree. A time when the seeds are spread to start new
    growth in the spring. This is the time to take stock of our 
    supplies and gather in the harvest. A time for spiritual sowing/
    planting. A time to get the seeds of the word to really take root: 
    Root work before fruit work! Ideal time for planting.
    Plant in the cooler time of your spiritual season to get the root 
    growth that will be ready to soak up water during the hot spring/
    summer temperatures.

4. Winter: In winter the tree seals the spots of new growth to
    prevent it from dying. They  loose their leaves and; stays 
    dormant, feeding on food stores. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to
    seal the spots of new growth and protect the under-developed
    buds on our spiritual trees.

    
    The cold snows and the piercing winds all remind us that He
    keeps His covenant with day and night and serve to assure us
    that He will also keep that glorious covenant that He has made 
    with us in the person of Jesus Christ. Winter in the soul is by no
    means a comfortable season, and if it is upon you just now, it
    will be very painful to you: But there is this comfort, namely, 
    that the Lord makes it. He sends the sharp blast of adversity
    to nip the buds of expectation. Let us draw near to Him, and
    find joy and peace in believing. Let us wrap ourselves in the 
    warm garments of His promises, and keep working. (Charles Spurgeon)

Galatians 5:22: fruits of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Note how the first fruit mentioned in the bible is LOVE. If we can produce that first fruit in abundance the rest I believe will follow but not without difficulty.

On 14 July 2014; I attended a training session and the speaker spoke to us about seasons; This stayed with me and continue to be a blessing to me:
1. Keep healthy and keep growing
2. Keep embracing seasons of preparations. #rootwork  
    #beforefruitwork
3.Keep focussing on a harvest
4.Keep cultivating a devotion to prayer
5.Keep following the ascended Jesus.

Be blessed
Shalom