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Listen to the devotional here: https://bit.ly/3sEmGL4
1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up 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 throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, 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 for war, and a time for peace. 9 What gain have the workers from their toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. 11 He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; 13 moreover, it is God's gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 New Revised Standard Version Bible)
Happy last Wednesday of the year, ConCafe Family! And may this be a great day of blessings and joy, Friend, as you journey towards the start of a New Year, and quite possibly, a NEW YOU! Thank you for your prayers for Eli; he's well! And may that be true also of those who have asked prayers of us. Pray for one another. Please pray for Mr. Enrique Ramirez, the husband of The Rev. Noehmi Ramirez, pastor of La Santissima Trinidad UMC, Seguin. Enrique had open-heart surgery with four by-passes on December 7th. He's home and recovering there. Pray for his well-being and recovery. Prayers for Mr. Michael Ramirez, of San Antonio, who underwent surgery and lost his right foot. Prayers for his time in rehabilitation. Michael is the son of the late Rev. Fortunato Ramirez of the Rio Grande Conference. Michael and his family are long time family friends of ours.
In 1959, folk singer Pete Seeger took the first eight verses of this passage and made the song, Turn, Turn, Turn. The Limelighters also took a shot of this song, but it wasn't until 1965 that the song became a number one hit on the Billboard charts on December 4, 1965 thanks to The Byrds' version of the song. It's still one of my favorite songs. If you've never heard it, I will place a link to a YouTube version you can hear, below.
The text is credited to King Solomon, known also as The Preacher of Song of Solomon, and this passage. Given his position and wealth, he certainly had the time to sit and ponder and compose all that is credited to him. The words are simple, but profound. They show one who has had time to reflect on life and the purpose behind life. What do you get out of this passage? How can it better your perspective towards life? Towards God?
"To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." Besides the four seasons that most parts of the world enjoy, there are seasons for other things that come during our lives. And to this, the writer says, these are "under heaven," meaning the jurisdiction of God. And what are these seasons? And how do we prepare for them?
There is birth. This is usually a beautiful "season," and one in which usually nine months, on average, in which to plan. I will never forget the birth of each of our four. The first saw me wait in the movie set that could have been the McAllen Medical Hospital in downtown McAllen. The room had well worn carpet and I added to it. The path was made by worred dads. After twenty-two hours of delivery pains, our doctor ordered an X-ray and deteremined a C-section would be best. By the time I got to the father's waiting room I was more than ready to see my baby. The doctor promised that it would not take that long for the baby to be delivered. Once I heard the cries of a baby, I knew it was my baby. There was a tiny elevator from the floor above where deliveries were made, and once the door opened, out comes the pediatrician with a mobile bassinet with our baby in it. "Hey, Dad!" the doctor said, "Here's your baby!" Our little one was crying her head off, so I thanked God for her healthy lungs, and I began to talk to her. Once she heard my voice she stopped crying and opened her eyes as if to say, "I know that voice!" I was in heaven! God had blessed us with our first baby, a baby girl, who I was going to name after her mother, Nellie Maria. (By wife's name is Maria Nellie, thanks to the baptizing priest who informed my in-laws that Nellie was not a "Christian name." So, I told my wife that if we had a baby girl, she would be named Nellie Maria, with Maria being her two grandmothers' name). Once Nellie was out of the surgery room, she was wheeled by me. "She's pink! She's beautfiul! And she looks like me!" was all I could think to tell my beautfiul wife. I could tell Nellie was happy but in pain. God had blessed us.
Then there's the season of death. We talked about it yesterday in the Revelation passage. No one can truly ever adequately prepare for death other than having the right relationship with God, trusting that everything we believed will see us through. I was never sheltered from funerals. I attended more Rosarys, wakes, funerals, burials, as a chid than I knew what to do with. I never got accustomed to hearing the crying and wailing, but soon enough came to know the why behind it.
There are seasons to plant, and to harvest what is planted. There are seasons to kill, a reality for kings whose nations were attacked or threatened with war, or for hunters who had to kill to eat, to live. And there is a healing season, in which we rest and allow healing to come and recovery do its work.
There is a season to take down that which has served its purpose and to make room for the new; and right along with it, a time to build up what was taken down.
There are season that bring reasons to cry, as there are season in which we laugh. There are mourning seasons as there are season in which we dance. There are seasons when throwing rocks is perceived as necessary, which was all the time for young boys in South Texas; and season come where we need to gather up stones. There are season in which we hug; and there are seasons when we refrain from doing that; you know, because of social distancing and pandemics. There are seasons when we seek that which we need; and a season in which we do lose. Seasons where we know to keep things, and a time for us to throw away things (these I need to visit and re-visit again and again!). There are seasons when we have to tear things, and seasons when we have to sew. There are seasons when we keep quiet and times when we don't. There are seasons when we love, and seasons when we hate. There are seasons when we go to war, and seasons when we need peace.
God has made all things suitable for their time, declares the preacher (author). And he adds God has placed in us a sense of past and future in our minds and still, we sometimes cannot figure out how God is indeed working in and through us. The writer then discusses what he believes God expects; He believes it is best for us to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we live; for he believes it is God's pleasure for us to eat and drink and take pleasure in our of the work we do. The key, of course, is to remember Who is in charge; what He has provided, and how He will guide us with each season in our lives, come when they do. Our prayers, worship times, Bible study and reflection, all aid us in keeping our eyes on Jesus.
PRAYER: Loving Father, in Your hands are all the seasons of our lives. You know exactly where this dear reader finds themselves right now, so guide and bless them. And help us all, draw closer to You, closer to each other, and to fully be in touch with ourselves; this we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Find out the season someone close to you might be going through, and help them!
Receive my blessings of joy and peace!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
Song, Turn, Turn, Turn: https://bit.ly/3HcYYJS
