A Time for Everything

A Good Morning on this last morning of the year 2010! I finally had a pretty good night's sleep, with only being awake for one hour during the night rather than the usual two. I feel compelled today to make the most of this year's last day.

This week my mind has been really reflective of the timing of events, the purposes of situations and the unfolding of events that have occured in this last year. I sit here with tea in hand and turned to King Solomon's observations of life in Ecclesiastes 3. The general observation being that there is a right time to everthing. Verses 1-8 are about the time for different experiences and God's timing is perfect. The key to peace with God is to accept and trust His timing. That's so much easier to write down though than to put into action I find.

A Time to be born. Over the Christmas holidays I've marveled at God's perfect timing in sending Jesus in the form of a baby; to be born in only a manger, a most humble birth. God knew that our hearts would soften and rejoice with a babe so much more than if he'd sent Jesus as a powerful warrior or a rich King. I marvel at the process of pregnancy, how each stage is timed to give form and life to a baby. Although I have to admit it feeling a bit impatient for His timing in bringing this baby forth. I'm thankful that we will be welcoming a baby into our home in the beginning of the new year. I'm filled with a sense of renewed purpose and hope to start the year off right.

A Time to Die. A Time to Mourn. As I'm filled with joy over hearing of new births to come in the near future my heart also aches for those who are now dealing with death. Friends of ours from the community will be laying a daughter to rest in a couple of days. God chose this time to take her home, and no matter how expected or prepared they may have been for it, I can still imagine the deep sense of loss and heartche that would come with losing one's child. We may think there is an injustice in beginning a new year in mourning; in dealing with death. The bible says though Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.Matt5. It's difficult to imagine being blessed through the time of mourning. I've found though in my own time of grief that when we suffer in the Lord's presence He reveals so much more of His love and mercy. We can learn to savor his love so much deeper through suffering and grief than when life is always happy and joyful.
There are so many people in our community, church, and family members who are dealing with diseases; an uncertainty surrounds us in not knowing how long these loved ones will remain. Today my deepest prayer is that God will bless His people that are caught in suffering with comfort, hope and endurance for the process.

"The tears...

streamed down, and

I let them flow as freely as they would,

making of them a pillow for my heart.

On them it rested."

-St. Augustine

I wish you all a happy New Year. May you find purpose in all arising situations. Remember that God's timing is always perfect even beyond our understanding. May your year be filled with times of birth, to plant, to build up, to laugh, to dance, to embrace, and especially always finding the time to love. When God calls you to hard times, take time and call for Him.

love and prayers,

Christina