OUR DAILY BREAD : TIMES AND SEASONS

[cimi]

December 31
Wednesday


TIMES AND
SEASONS

READ:
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
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To everything there is a
season, a time for every
purpose under the heaven.
__Ecclesiastes 3:1
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The Rev. Gardner Taylor has been called "the dean of American preaching." Born in Louisiana in 1918, the grandson of slaves, he overcame the segregation of his youth to become the pastor of a large New York congregation and a leader in the struggle for racial equality. For 6 decades he traveled the world as a much sought-after preacher.

But at age 89, Rev. Taylor's health gave way and he could no longer accept speaking engagements. He told Rachel Zoll of the Associated Press: "I at first felt rather crestfallen." But then he spoke of his belief that "there are seasons and eras, and we have to see what they are as best as we can, and to find what is positive in them."

In an effort to face the challenges of life, we often turn to Solomon's words: "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven" (Eccl. 3:1). But we readily admit that we would rather laugh than weep, dance than mourn, and gain than lose (VV. 4,6).

Yet we know that as we embrace the lessons and opportunities of every season that comes to us, we find that "God is our refuge and strength" (Ps. 46:1).

Whatever season we're in, it's always the season to trust in Him. __David mcCasland
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```````````````````Just as the winter turns to spring,``````````````
`````````````````Our lives have changing seasons too;`````````````
```````````````````So when a gloomy forecast comes,`````````````
````````````````Remember--God has plans for you. __Sper`````````
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Whatever the season of life,
attitude makes all the difference.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ Ecclesiastes 3:1-8***********

1 To everything there is a
season, a time for every
purpose under heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a
time to die;

A time to plant, and a time
to pluck what is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time
to heal;

A time to break down, and
a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a
time to laugh;

A time to mourn, and a
time to dance;

5 A time to cast away
stones, and a time to gather
stones;

A time to embrace, and a
time to refrain from
embracing;

6 A time to gain, and a time
to lose;

A time to keep, and a time
to throw away;

7 A time to tear, and a time
to sew;

A time to keep silence, and
a time to speak;

8 A time to love, and a time
to hate;

A time of war, and a time
of peace.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In this passage, Solomon affirms God's sovereignty over all human
life. Solomon listed 14 opposite statements (a figure of speech called
merism), beginning in verse 2 with birth and death, and therefore
everything in between. This symbolizes the totality of a person's
activities (vv.2-3) and all his emotions and responses (vv.3-8) to life's
happenings. God's control is timely and purposeful (v.1), and He
makes everything beautiful in its time (v.11). Paul puts it this way:
"All things work together for good to those who love God" (Rom.
8:28). __Sim Kay Tee