My husband had told me about a website: www.esvonline.org/
It has all sorts of Bible study tools
Specifically- you can listen to the Bible read out loud.
Last week I wrote about background noise...
so I figured that if I was going stir crazy in the silence,
I could have the Bible going in that background from time to time.
For some reason,
when I went the website, it popped up on Ecclesiastes 3...
which turned out to be strange
and he said he hadn't been there.
But God had a message for me,
so I don't doubt that he put me there :]
"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;
time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace."
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
I don't cope well with change... never have.
No matter how ridiculously good and blessed the present is,
I always tend to long to be back in the last stage of life.
I feel so blessed that God has brought David and I to Colorado,
provided him a wonderful job,
and placed us in a dear and loving church.
The present is beautiful.
Nevertheless,
I'm never content with the now.
In our next stage of life, I know that I will wish to be here...
unless i learn, like Paul says in Philippians,
to be content in every situtation.
A friend sent this quote to me a week ago...
I think it sums it up quite beautifully:
"We do not believe there is any force today to rival or recreate that beautiful yesterday. We linger in the ruins of the old tent, where once we had bread and shelter, nor believe that the spirit can feed, cover, and nerve us again. We cannot again find aught so dear, so sweet, so graceful. But we sit and weep in vain. The voice of the Almighty saith, 'Up and onward for evermore.' We cannot stay amid the ruins."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Lord, teach me to be content in every situation.
Have a blessed Lord's day!
♥
8 comments:
I'm find that hard too.
Although being that way (wanting to look back) can hinder you from fully enjoying the 'now', you could see that characteristic as something in you longing for heaven, where there won't be any more unsettling change.
When we are finally there, God will wipe away every tear from your eyes. There will be no nmore dying or sorrow or pain.....or harking back to a better past. I can't wait!!
I hope that helps.
Sarahxxx
I never used to be big on change, but I find I long for it at times. I guess that is what makes me a fairly good Military wife, haha. I want what is next, but I too need to sit and be content in where we are. The only time I look back and want that is with my kids. . .you know. . .the younger years. They are already 9 and 10 and it is going so fast.
Thank you for the Emerson quote. . .it really is perfect, Mandy. Have a wonderful day in the presence of the Lord ;D
mandy! i love this post. so heartfelt and honest. i too tend to wish for the past-and i need to appreciate and relish the present more often. moments fly by and i spend so much time resenting the fact that i have very little free time when in fact i should appreciate and grasp every moment that is now for it will be gone tomorrow.
hugs to you,
gina
This post really hit home. I, too, linger in the past from time to time and have a hard time dealing with change. Change on a small scale AND change on a large scale. This is something that I have to work on almost everyday. Im a "plan it" kind of person and if you veer from the plan, Kara starts getting a teensy bit of anxiety. I think I may right this verse down and keep it with me for a reminder...to just be thankful for the here and now.
Thanks Mandy!!
funny. My hubs is named David and we came to Colorado too.
I've always loved this passage of the Bible.
There is a very interesting book by William Bridges called "Transitions: Making Sense of Life's Changes" that I had to read for one of my psych classes. It is an interesting and easy read that makes a lot of sense.
what a wonderful post! thanks for the reminder. :)
Mandy, Thank you for the encouragement! I look forward to reading your devotionals on Sundays now =) Keep it up! Praying for you sweet friend!
-Lauren
I'm the same way, have been since I was a baby. I think it's a syndrome, or something. What a great message to remember, thanks for sharing.
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